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"What Do They Really Want?"

11/07/2019 12:33:02 PM

Nov7

Rabbi Reuben Israel Abraham, CDR, CHC, USN (ret)

Many members of the People Israel do not know what to make of Christian support for Medinat Yisrael (the State of Israel) and Am Yisrael (the People Israel).  Many respond with profound suspicion if not outright hostility.  A colleague of mine who serves as Rabbi of what is known as the National Synagogue in Washington, D.C. once told of how he ran into an elderly Christian woman in Atlanta.  He described her as being a "frail but feisty lady" who, when she met  my colleague, was wearing a bulky cast on her arm.  My colleague told her that he hoped she would feel better soon and that G-d should bless her to which she replied: "I am already blessed.  G-d blesses me because I bless Israel."  The church where my colleague met her was on a busy Atlanta street.  It displayed no fewer than eight enormous Israeli flags on its front lawn as well as a giant banner which read: "I will bless those who bless you."  These words are found in one of the verses (Bereshit 12:3) that comes from this week's parashah, Parashat Lekh Lekha, and it is considered the main "mantra" for millions of Evangelical Christian Zionists.

Pastor John Hagee, founder of "Christians United for Israel" (CUFI) has written a book entitled In Defense of Israel.  In the chapter of his book entitled "Our Debt to the Jews," Pastor Hagee points to this verse as the secret to Jewish success and prosperity: "Based on the population of the Jews in proportion to the rest of the world, it's surprising that we hear about them at all beyond a brief mention in a high school geography class...Yet throughout history, Jews have been at the center of the world's creative, scientific, and cultural achievements."  He goes on to say that Jews "are disproportionately high as Nobel Prize recipients, they are over represented in the field of medicine, and their contributions in the area of scientific research are staggering."  Millions upon millions of Christians take the words of the verse from this week's parashah both seriously and literally, and they do all they can do to "bless" both Medinat Yisrael and Am Yisrael in order to reap what they consider Divine reward and benefit from HaShem's blessing.

Yes, I will admit that it is very hard for many of the People Israel to believe that after centuries of church-instigated "curses" directed toward us, millions of Christians are suddenly interested in becoming a source of blessing for both Medinat Yisrael and Am Yisrael.  But the key to the change in heart of Evangelical Christianity can also be found in the last words of this verse found in this week's parashah: "...and there shall be blessed with you all the families of the earth."  The People Israel have been waiting since Mount Sinai for these words to become true.  Now is the time for us to respond with enthusiasm and joy for the support we are receiving.  After all, you know what they say about approaching a "gift horse" don't you?  

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784