*** NEWS RELEASE ***

For Immediate Release
July 20, 2010

2.5 Million Africans Want a Share of the Promised Land

Institute of Jewish Studies Examines How God Especially Prepared the Promised Land for His Chosen People

Bellmawr, N.J. Israels government reports that two and a half million Africans are eagerly waiting on Egyptian soil for a chance to illegally cross over the borders into Israel, established as Gods Promised Land for His people in the Old Testament. 

Many Africans seek a new life in Israel filled with opportunities to improve their financial situation while avoiding military service in their home countries.

The Friends of Israels Institute of Jewish Studies is offering a brand new online course, Jewish History: Modern, open to all who want to learn about the modern history of Israel this fall, 2010.  This new course examines the modern state of Israel, from the return of the Jewish people to the formation of the nation, and its wars and relationships to the Arab people. Other new courses include Major Prophets and Holocaust and Anti-Semitism.
 The Promised Land for a Chosen People, will be offered in the Spring of 2011, which will be a course dedicated to examining the land of Israel and how God prepared and blessed it just for His chosen people. This course may give insight as to why so many Africans and others wish to be a part of Israel and why Israel is unlike any other nation.

Bill Sutter, Executive Director of The Friends of Israel, states, One of the newest additions to the course list this fall is Holocaust and Anti-Semitism.  This course is extremely important, especially in light of some of the recent events on college campuses and around the country.  We want to help communicate the history of the Jewish people and why The Friends of Israel has a heart for this tiny nation.  With the addition of new courses in the spring, such as  The Promised Land for a Chosen People, we are more excited than ever for new and existing students to enroll in The Institute of Jewish Studies online courses.

Enrollment in the Institute of Jewish Studies starts August 2, 2010 and sessions begin on August 16 and end September 25. The six-week online courses are taught by highly qualified instructors. Class size is limited to 20 students and the courses follow a discussion-driven educational design. Assignments include readings, directed research, study questions and a weekly summary. For more information or to register as a student, visit http://foi.org/registration or contact Sarah Fern at SFern@foi.org. For more about the Institute of Jewish Studies or other programs of The Friends of Israel, visit www.foi.org or call 1-800-257-7843. 

The Friends of Israels distance-learning Institute of Jewish Studies, is a uniquely focused program for committed Christians who are interested in detailed studying of the Scriptures and how they apply to todays world. Since The Friends of Israel founded the Institute of Jewish Studies in 1986, it has offered a program that emphasizes the place of the Jewish people and the land of Israel in understanding Gods plan and purpose for the ages. The Institute of Jewish Studies transitioned to online courses last year, offering people worldwide an opportunity to study Gods Word at an affordable cost, on a flexible schedule.

The Friends of Israel was founded in 1938 by Christian leaders in response to the desperate needs of Jewish people afflicted by the raging torrents of Nazi hate during the Holocaust.  Through this Christian ministry, funds were raised and aid was distributed to Jewish refugees in their darkest hours of need. Today, The Friends of Israel is an important evangelical Christian voice communicating biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah, while fostering solidarity with the Jewish people.

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For more information or to arrange an interview with Bill Sutter, contact Deborah Hamilton at Hamilton Strategies, (610) 584-1096, (215) 815-7716 or dhamilton@hamiltonstrategies.com.