A series of widely-aired commercials soliciting donations for elderly Jews in Ukraine is coming under intense scrutiny, with accusations that the appeals are exaggerated and misleading at best – and an outright scam at worst.
The commercials in question come from ForgottenJews.org, a website run by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). They feature emotional interviews with ostensible Holocaust survivors and other Jewish seniors living in poverty and desperation in war-torn regions of Ukraine. The ads implore viewers to visit ForgottenJews.org and make a donation of $45 to provide food, medicine, and other aid to these “forgotten Jews.”
Critics Blast “Fake” Sob Stories and High Salaries
But an increasing chorus of critics is calling these commercials into question. Comments on social media and charity watchdog sites slam the production for what they call “fake” representations and unlikely stories designed to pull on heartstrings and open wallets.
“Can you say SCAM!” writes one critic. “If someone is starving there is no way they look as healthy as these actors.”
Others point to the high executive salaries at IFCJ – including nearly $700,000 for the CEO – as indications that donations primarily support overhead rather than urgent aid. Some even go so far as to label the organization an outright “fraud.”
Identity of “Holocaust Survivors” Doubted
Much of the skepticism focuses on doubts that the people appearing in the ads are actually Jewish survivors of Nazi persecution. Critics ask why none display the infamous tattoo ID numbers applied at Nazi death camps. One commenter with Ukrainian heritage states bluntly that the seniors “don’t look Jewish Ukrainian to me!”
While a responder notes that only some concentration camps tattooed prisoners, the basic questions around the true background of those featured remain. If these are not Holocaust survivors, critics query, then why does IFCJ leverage such stories to drive donations? Wouldn’t the real poverty and wartime struggles of Ukranian Jews be tragic enough on their own?
Others Bring Politics into Critiques
Apart from doubts over the claimed Jewish identity and starvation conditions shown in the IFCJ spots, some comments reveal political motives behind their attacks. One critic admits they refuse to donate solely because conservative commentator Mike Huckabee appeared in an ad. Such politically-charged accusations may or may not hold water, but they do highlight the range of objections being leveled at ForgottenJews.org.
IFCJ Denies Wrongdoing
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews firmly rejects accusations that their outreach is deceptive or financially unethical. But the growing storm of criticisms clearly threatens their prominent marketing campaigns. Supporters urge allowing more research before passing judgement on what they view as a “legit organization.”
But specifics around what percent of donations go directly to Ukranian aid – and just who appears in the haunting televised pleas – remain unclear. Whether fair or not, the online indignation stands as a warning to non-profits that transparent operations matter more than ever. For IFCJ, addressing questions around overhead costs and identity claims may prove the only path to rebuilding public trust.