Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation
The Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation or CJCUC is an educational institution at which Christians who tour Israel can study the Hebrew Bible with Orthodox rabbis and learn about the Hebraic roots of Christianity. The center was established in Efrat in 2008 by Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin, who has been described as "the most prominent rabbinic spokesperson to Christian Zionists". CJCUC partners with major Christian interfaith organizations such as Christians United for Israel and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Since Riskin's retirement as president of Ohr Torah Stone in 2018, the overseeing of all CJCUC activities has been turned over to David Nekrutman who has served as the center's chief director since its inception.
Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation
CJCUC Chancellor & Founder, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, and CJCUC Executive Director, David Nekrutman, meet with Pope Francis in Rome, Italy, 26 October 2016
CJCUC Founder, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, CJCUC Chancellor, Rabbi Kenneth Brander, CJCUC Executive Director, David Nekrutman, Pastor John Hagee and Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Tzipi Hotovely, at an event held in honor of Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 11 November 2018
COGIC Bishop of Israel, Glenn Plummer, and First Lady Pauline Plummer handing out Food Care Packages as part of the center's "Blessing Bethlehem" initiative to help the persecuted Christian community living in Bethlehem, 24 July 2019
Shlomo Riskin is an Orthodox rabbi, and the founding rabbi of Lincoln Square Synagogue on the Upper West Side of New York City, which he led for 20 years; founding chief rabbi of the Israeli settlement of Efrat in the Israeli-occupied West Bank; former dean of Manhattan Day School in New York City; and founder and Chancellor of the Ohr Torah Stone Institutions, a network of high schools, colleges, and graduate Programs in the United States and Israel.
Shlomo Riskin
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin at the central Day to Praise event in Gush Etzion, 12 May 2016
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, and CJCUC Executive Director, David Nekrutman, meet with Pope Francis in Rome, Italy, 26 October 2016