As Christians, we stand with heart and hand by Israel and the Jewish people.
Our mission
Our mission is in our name: Christians standing with Israel. That is who we are, and we invite others to join us. This position is given to us by the Bible and our history, and we live it out in practical and diverse ways.
We support social projects in Israel, organize exchange trips, advocate for strong German-Israeli relations and against antisemitism and hatred of Israel, bring biblical teachings about Israel into local communities, and connect young people who are passionate about Israel. Furthermore, we cooperate within national and international networks and maintain numerous connections within the Jewish world. We are motivated by the deep desire to be a blessing together—in the church and in society, in Israel and among Jews worldwide. This is our mission and our heart.
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3
We are Christians standing with Israel
Luca-Elias Hezel
Chairman of the Board
Tanja Bolay
Management
Sonja Hezel
Assistant to the Management
Nora Winterstein
Design, Layout
Tobias Schabel
Digital Assistance
Alexander Gaa
Head of Administration
Evi Steiger
Assistance with aid projects
Markus Neumann
2nd Chairman, Head of Aid Projects
Paula Grohmann
Social media, marketing
Anja Weippert
Assistance Communication
Dina Röll
Head of
Young CSI
Young CSI
Georg Steiger
Digital Assistance
Bithja Röll
Executive Assistant
Tobias Krämer
Head of
Theology and Parish
Theology and Parish
Bernadette Terschüren
Assistant
Politics and Society
Politics and Society
Dr. Klaus Eber
Board member
Sieglind Schneider
Human Resources
Dr. Ansgar Niehoff
CSI Business
Josias Terschüren
Head of Department
for Politics and Society
for Politics and Society
Dana Nowak
Head of Communications
Anemone Rüger
Aid projects – Ukraine
Ralf Hermann
Chief Financial Officer
Simon Schauer
Young CSI
Luisa Bolay
Israel Academy organization
Dietmar Kern
Editorial Assistant
Martina Bertsch
Head of Department, Office
Delly Hezel
Aid projects – Israel
Stephan Mannl
Young CSI
Anja Schumacher
Office Assistant
Carola Steiß
Office Assistant
Kerstin Schade
Assistance with events
Our story
Founding
- The work was founded by Theo Ellesat on May 14, 1998 – the 50th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel
- The newspaper "Israel Heute" (now: "Israelaktuell") was founded under the editorial direction of Joachim Kudlek
office
Opening of the branch office in Zierenberg near Kassel
Change of line
- Harald Eckert takes over the leadership of Christians on the Side of Israel eV from Theo Ellesat.
- The staff is growing, and prayer, project, and networking work in Germany and Europe is becoming increasingly important
1st Community of Israel Congress
Participation in the 1st Community-Israel Congress in Berlin. The largest joint event of Christian Israel organizations in Germany.
Comfort my people
To mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel and the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht on November 9, 1938, a new branch of our work, "Comfort My People," is being launched – our commitment to needy Holocaust survivors in Israel
First youth trip
First youth trip to Israel. This later led to the development of the ministry for young Christians under the heading "Israel Connect"
Commemorative event
Commemorative event in the French Cathedral in Berlin on the 70th anniversary of the Wannsee Conference (January 20, 1942)
Theology and Church
- Tobias Krämer takes over the "Theology and Community" department
- Participation in the 2nd Community-Israel Congress in Berlin
Moving to Bad Homburg
Relocation of the office from Zierenberg to Bad Homburg following the retirement of the Lehmann couple
Regional conferences
Six conferences in six months in Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich
Reformation
Start of the youth movement ReformaZION
Anniversary and Community of Israel Congress
- Anniversary conference in Würzburg: 70 years of Israel / 20 years of Christians standing by Israel
- Participation in the 3rd Community-Israel Congress in Berlin
- Large demonstration with 700 participants in front of the Brandenburg Gate: "Against antisemitism. For Israel. For Jerusalem."
Change of line
Luca-Elias Hezel takes over the leadership of Christians on the Side of Israel eV from Harald Eckert.
Relocation and growth
- Relocation to a new office
- Dana Nowak takes over as editor-in-chief from Joachim Kudlek
- New department “Politics and Society” headed by Josias Terschüren
Anniversary and opening of the Israel Academy
- Anniversary year with diverse events and offerings to mark 75 years of Israel / 25 years of Christians standing alongside Israel
- Opening of the Israel Academy under the direction of Tobias Krämer
Founding
- The work was founded by Theo Ellesat on May 14, 1998 – the 50th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel
- The newspaper "Israel Heute" (now: "Israelaktuell") was founded under the editorial direction of Joachim Kudlek
office
Opening of the branch office in Zierenberg near Kassel
Change of line
- Harald Eckert takes over the leadership of Christians on the Side of Israel eV from Theo Ellesat.
- The staff is growing, and prayer, project, and networking work in Germany and Europe is becoming increasingly important
1st Community of Israel Congress
Participation in the 1st Community-Israel Congress in Berlin. The largest joint event of Christian Israel organizations in Germany.
Comfort my people
To mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel and the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht on November 9, 1938, a new branch of our work, "Comfort My People," is being launched – our commitment to needy Holocaust survivors in Israel
First youth trip
First youth trip to Israel. This later led to the development of the ministry for young Christians under the heading "Israel Connect"
Commemorative event
Commemorative event in the French Cathedral in Berlin on the 70th anniversary of the Wannsee Conference (January 20, 1942)
Theology and Church
- Tobias Krämer takes over the "Theology and Community" department
- Participation in the 2nd Community-Israel Congress in Berlin
Moving to Bad Homburg
Relocation of the office from Zierenberg to Bad Homburg following the retirement of the Lehmann couple
Regional conferences
Six conferences in six months in Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich
Reformation
Start of the youth movement ReformaZION
Anniversary and Community of Israel Congress
- Anniversary conference in Würzburg: 70 years of Israel / 20 years of Christians standing by Israel
- Participation in the 3rd Community-Israel Congress in Berlin
- Large demonstration with 700 participants in front of the Brandenburg Gate: "Against antisemitism. For Israel. For Jerusalem."
Change of line
Luca-Elias Hezel takes over the leadership of Christians on the Side of Israel eV from Harald Eckert.
Relocation and growth
- Relocation to a new office
- Dana Nowak takes over as editor-in-chief from Joachim Kudlek
- New department “Politics and Society” headed by Josias Terschüren
Anniversary and opening of the Israel Academy
- Anniversary year with diverse events and offerings to mark 75 years of Israel / 25 years of Christians standing alongside Israel
- Opening of the Israel Academy under the direction of Tobias Krämer
Shall we stay in touch?
- Receive media conveniently as a print or digital subscription
- Invite our speakers
- View the anniversary brochure “25 Years of CSI”
- View the 2025 annual report
- View the Letter of Intent with the Jewish Agency