The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews partners with Israeli F4 Championship Driver Ariel Elkin to Drive Support for War-Torn Homeland
November 2, 2023
CHICAGO, Ill. (Nov. 2, 2023) — The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) today announced its partnership with Israeli native and F4 driver, Ariel Elkin, ahead of the F4 SpeedTour race in Austin, Texas this weekend, from November 2-5.
Elkin reached out to The Fellowship following its partnership last month with a NASCAR driver, having been inspired by that car’s Israel-centric design. A native of Haifa, Israel, Elkin is the country’s only F4 driver—an honor he treats with a great deal of pride and responsibility.
“I’ve been racing since I was 5 years old, and it’s always been in my DNA to represent Israel, but doing so is especially important during these times,” Elkin said.
The decision to participate in this weekend’s race didn’t come easily for the 16-year-old high school student. “It was really a challenge to leave my homeland in order to come here. I’ve thought a lot about what the right thing to do is – do I stay in Israel and help my family and friends, or come here to compete and raise awareness for Israel on the world stage?” he said. “And I think what I’m doing – representing Israel – is the right thing.”
“Ariel is such a bright light for our nation,” said Yael Eckstein, The Fellowship’s President and CEO, who is also based in Israel. “His determination to not only follow his dreams but to so proudly represent our country despite the horrors we have suffered in recent weeks is such a shining example of the strength and resilience of the Israeli people—it’s unmatched.”
To celebrate the new partnership, Eckstein hosted the young driver on this week’s episode of her podcast, Nourish Your Biblical Roots, where they discussed his childhood growing up in the Holy Land, his racing career across the globe, his partnership with The Fellowship, and how much Israel’s friends around the world mean, especially in times like these.
The Fellowship, Israel’s largest provider of humanitarian aid, was on the ground providing lifesaving supplies and equipment for evacuees, first responders, and volunteers within 24 hours of the conflict breaking out on October 7. Since then, the organization has allocated $15 million in emergency aid to continue providing basic needs like food, water, clothing, and medicine to evacuees and elderly. The Fellowship is also providing flak jackets and medical equipment bags to first responders and monetary assistance to evacuees and families of injured IDF soldiers, and has installed dozens of bomb shelters across the country.
“My message to the world is very simple. I believe that this is God’s war, and it is just Israel that happens to be fighting it,” he said. “My message is that if you can help and support, if you have friends in Israel, just do your best to help them, even if it is just a phone call.”
Elkin started his racing career in the Israeli karting circuit, and last year, earned the Italian IAME Series Championship title as well as a bronze medal for Israel at the Motorsport Olympic Games in Karting SR. In 2020, the Israel Automobile & Karting Association awarded him the honor of “excellent sportsman.” His ultimate goal is to race in the Formula 1 series. To learn more about Ariel, visit www.arielelkin.com or follow him on Instagram at @ariel_elkin.racing.
To learn more about the Fellowship’s war response efforts or make an emergency donation that will provide lifesaving aid, visit www.ifcj.org.