Ani Yisraeli
Nearly fifty years ago, John F. Kennedy stood in front of a crowd in Berlin and announced Ich bin eine Berliner (I am a Berliner) in response to the Soviet siege against the Western part of the city. And last month, Pastor John Hagee stood up in front of the fifth annual Christians United For Israel Washington Summit and announced Ani Yisraeli (I am an Israeli). Our world is divided into two groups: those who support Israel and those who do not.I've said many times on this blog that US support for Israel is far more dependent on Christians than it is on American Jews. We see more and more that non-Orthodox Jews are abandoning Israel (and Judaism) for the idol worship of Liberalism. The Orthodox Jews - most of whom strongly support Israel - are becoming what the Talmud in the tractate of Kiddushin describes as 'finely sifted flour.' We are strong, but we are few. The fact that Israel still has support from America is largely to the credit of Christians in general and Hagee in particular. (And yes, I would love to reverse the trend of non-Orthodox Jews buying into Liberalism, but I have no idea how to do it).
There is no middle ground.
Because the ghost of Hitler now walks the earth in a renaissance of anti-Semitism and because the enemies of Israel sense America's reluctance to defend Israel against a nuclear Iran, those who stand in solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people must send a loud and clear message to Israel, to Iran, to the UN and to the world:
We stand with Israel today, tomorrow, and forever.
There are several questions supporters of Israel must answer:
Can we sit in silence when the president tells Israel it cannot build homes in Jerusalem?
No we can't.
Can we support any peace process that rejects Israel's right to exist?
No we can't.
Peace is a two-way street. Israel cannot make all the concessions for peace; the Palestinians must make concessions also.
Can we support any treaty that does not recognize Israel's right to defend itself against all enemies?
No we can't.
Can we support toothless sanctions that allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons and risk the horror of a nuclear holocaust?
No we can't.
What do you do when Iran's leader denies the Holocaust? You do what you have to do to make sure there will never be another Holocaust.
Iran with nuclear weapons will give terrorists around the world an umbrella under which to operate - and that includes America.
...
Today, I stand in the capital of the greatest nation on earth, the United States of America, at a time when Israel is a tiny outpost of freedom and democracy in a sea of tyranny.
I stand here as Israel is surrounded and hounded, boycotted and threatened. I stand here with a strong message of solidarity with you, my Jewish brethren, the apple of God's eye.
At this difficult juncture in our history, permit me to say something to you straight from the heart. Please know that what I say now is a sentiment shared by millions of Christians across America and around the world.
Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ani Yisraeli - I am an Israeli."
Read the whole thing.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:34 AM
4 Comments:
We ought to multitask. Our lips can say to them, "Thank you for your support," during which time our eyes and hands make sure they're not attaching any strings to us.
I don't want, and neither should any believing Jew, to be in a few years in such a situation where Jews are being robbed of their inheritance in the world to come, and then, when the Jewish authorities try to put a stop to that, the White House tells our leaders their support is contingent on acquiescing to the missionary activity. America has shown its willingness to use its lever over us, which right now is just military aid; the situation I describe would be infinitely worse ("Garua hamahti'o min hahorego").
Among the halakhot of statecraft brought forth by Maimonides is the one that says the Jews must not make any alliances with the non-Jews. There must be only plain dealing (they sell us weapons, we buy weapons from them). "Thanks for the kind words, but no thanks, we don't want any material support." Because it always comes with strings attached ("Hesed le'umim hatat").
Historically, even the most conservative presidents we have had in the U.S. have _never_ asked Israel to change its position on proselyting. Myself, as a Christian, I don't support that position, but I have never even thought it should be on the radar in American-Israel interactions, and it never has been on the radar. Not with Reagan, not with Bush, not at all. If any of you (e.g., Ziontruth) think you have that to worry about, you're not living in the real world.
What was the real problem as far as Bush arm-twisting Israel? Well, of course. Carl ably documented it here at Israel Matzav. Bush pushed Israel on talks with the "Palestinians," building in Jerusalem, etc. The difference between Bush and Obama was that Bush wasn't as rude as Obama is, that Bush didn't hate Israel as Obama does, and that Bush didn't push as hard. But America is always pushing Israel on the same dumb things, the same challenges to Israel's security, etc. Never on some sort of "Christian" agenda.
Carl is completely right on this one. American evangelicals are Israel's best friends. And some of them take flak for it, too, I might add.
Lydia,
Since 1998 The United States government has directly interfered with Israel's attempts to establish anti-proselytizing legislation via the Congressional International Religious Freedoms Act of 1998; yearly State Department reports which censure Israel; and lobbying efforts on the part of evangelical groups. For starters,you can read all about it here and here and here
And now that we have this love affair with evangelical groups, we are even more reluctant to put our foot down and say "no". This is evident from dramatic increase in the presence of Jews for Jesus on the streets of Israel and the growing Christian messianic community in Israel. BTW several of the regional directors and executive board members of CUFI are actively endorsing one of the most aggressive missionary organizations in Israel.
Lydia,
Since 1998 The United States government has directly interfered with Israel's attempts to establish anti-proselytizing legislation via the Congressional International Religious Freedoms Act of 1998; yearly State Department reports which censure Israel; and lobbying efforts on the part of evangelical groups. For starters,you can read all about it here and here and here
And now that we have this love affair with evangelical groups, we are even more reluctant to put our foot down and say "no". This is evident from dramatic increase in the presence of Jews for Jesus on the streets of Israel and the growing Christian messianic community in Israel. BTW several of the regional directors and executive board members of CUFI are actively endorsing one of the most aggressive missionary organizations in Israel.
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