Our Mission

The Friends of Israel Project, also known as the Chaver Yisrael Project, is dedicated to eliminating prejudice and discrimination against the Jewish community and Judaism. We achieve this by fostering deeper connections between Jewish and non-Jewish communities in the United States and Israel through shared learning, respectful dialogue, and collaborative efforts.

Our mission is rooted in raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by Jewish people in the U.S. and Israel, while promoting understanding and solidarity. We stand firmly against antisemitism in all its forms, actively combating hatred and discrimination through advocacy and education. At our core, we champion Israel's right to exist as a sovereign nation, working toward a future of peace, shared values, and mutual respect for all.

As a non-profit organization, we are committed to transparency, community involvement, and positive change. Join us in our efforts to promote unity and combat misinformation—together, we can create a world of greater understanding and support.

Guided by our core values of connection, advocacy, understanding, support, and education, we engage in meaningful activities to build bridges.

Connection: We foster relationships by participating in community activities, getting to know and working alongside Jewish communities in our local areas, and building friendships with Jewish communities in Israel and around the world.
Advocacy: We fight all forms of antisemitism by engaging—both verbally and on social media—with individuals and organizations that are misinformed or intentionally seeking to harm Jewish people and communities.
Understanding: We celebrate cultural differences, holidays, and history through listening and respectful dialogue, ensuring our sources of information are legitimate and not agenda-driven.
Support: We stand for Israel's right to exist, defend itself, and thrive as a nation.
Education: We focus on history and current events by producing short videos about Israel for social media, creating informative handouts, and seizing opportunities to educate others about Israel's rich history.

Our
Core Values

Our Story

On October 7, 2023, the Hamas attacks on Israel profoundly changed Senator Craig Brandt's perspective. As a pastor and conservative State Senator from New Mexico, he had been apathetic toward Israel despite recognizing it as a key ally and the Jewish people as God's chosen.

That day, the senseless violence broke his heart, and God asked him why he was ignoring His people. The Senator was appalled by media and protests blaming the victims while spreading misinformation.
Feeling limited in a liberal state, he drafted a Senate Memorial condemning the attacks, but was told it would never get a hearing. Undeterred, he spoke daily on the Senate floor, sharing facts from research and books like Noa Tishby's Israel: A Simple Guide. He highlighted Israel's history: land returned post-WWII, immediate attacks upon independence, and ongoing defense against aggression.

Post-session, he advocated on his podcast. In November 2024, the Israeli Consulate invited him on a diplomatic trip. Visiting sites like Kibbutz Nir Oz and the Nova Festival in December revealed the horror firsthand—the Bibas family's kidnapping and a child's execution left an indelible mark. As the church, we're called to stand against such evil, inspired by Genesis 12:3.
Since returning, Senator Brandt and his colleagues have formed a pro-Israel caucus, supported antisemitism legislation, and challenged university divestment.

While is Israel he was told by several Israeli's that the US was the only true "friends of Israel". This sparked the Friends of Israel Project—a call to connect, advocate, understand, support, and educate. We're just beginning; join us in standing with Israel and the Jewish community.