Recently I had a young person ask me “Why do you love Jewish people so much?” I thought that’s a pretty interesting question. One answer could be, “Go to our website and read our stance on antisemitism.” But I didn’t want to just give somebody a task. So I explained as briefly as possible that as Christians we are too hate injustice against any people anywhere at any time. Specifically, the Bible as God’s Word, tells us that we must love the Jewish people and that the Jewish people and the nation of Israel are part of God’s plan through all of earth’s history. This young person nodded in agreement. I also went on to say, “You know for only being 2 to 3% of the world’s population, the Jewish people and Israel seemed to get the brunt of hate and persecution throughout history and even to this day.” Again this young person nodded in agreement and said, “You are right on that.”
But what else is going on? A recent study said that support for Israel is down almost half among Christians between 18-29 over the last three years.
According to a study done in Tel Aviv, as reported by The Jerusalem Post, Support for Israel is declining among the young people of the evangelical sector, and support for a Palestinian state is increasing. Support dropped more than half. Albeit the position that Jerusalem should remain the capital of Israel has remain constantly supported at about 75%. The support for the Palestinians seems to be about compassion for a suffering people (which is a good thing if properly addressed!)
Now, think about the atmosphere in the US, often decidedly “unchristian.” In Los Angeles last week a visibly Jewish boy playing on his scooter was punched in the faced by a 50 year old man who also said he was going to kill the boy’s entire family! While the assailant has been arrested, no mention of a hate crime charge—just battery.
In Philadelphia on Father’s Day food a truck event called “Eat Up the Boarders,” designed to celebrate diversity and cultures, banned the Israeli-food truck from the event after pressure from other participants.
Tell me this is blatant antisemitism is not rampant and the news media is largely silent on this particular Social Justice issue?
To turn this tide, we want to do our part. Prayer, at the forefront, and then actionable steps. The Jerusalem Connection is dedicated to reporting to all our supporters, viewers, readers and network the news of the day, with Biblical views of that news, and what we can do to address it. Our educational programs including our books is also an avenue, as well are other ministries we directly support. Our Hebrew University Scholarship fund is another and the latest as of 2021.
We are raising funds so that each year we can support at least one Christian university student to Israel for a full semester of learning at Hebrew University (in any discipline they are studying) and to experience and live with the people and in culture of Israel, take in the land they have read about in the Bible and learned about in Sunday school, and to be ambassadors upon their return, who bring that experience, that truth and passion for the Biblical land and peoples, back to their home colleges, universities, churches and communities and be equipped to defend and support Biblical Zionism and manifest it in their daily lives, careers, and paths, for the rest of their days. We want to turn that tide of waning support, often the result of progressive narratives making their way to campuses and pulpits, that are untruthful and antisemitic in their missions—swaying and lulling young people—Christian, Jewish and other, to an ideology eerily reminiscent of what to the atmosphere in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s. Be our partners in teaching young people that love for truth, justice, human and civil rights and Christian compassion does not stop with the Jews or at the boarders of Israel. That Israel is the bastion of Judeo-Christian morality and ethics in a sea of hostility in the Middle East and no revised history or social media narrative can undo that truth.
Go to our website and learn about our scholarship program. Donate to help equip or next generation. If you are a college aged Christian or know some who may find this opportunity exciting, please refer them. The more we can support these young people, the more we complete our mission.
Shavua Tov, have a great week.