During the 2 weeks covered by this review, we received 8 articles on the following subjects:
Christian Zionism
Archaeology
Christian Organizations
Interfaith Relations
Anti-Missionary Activity
Christian Zionism
Maariv, November 11, 2018; The Jerusalem Post, November 12, 2018; The Jerusalem Post, November 13, 2018
The first article was an opinion piece, arguing that Israelis have to make mental adjustments. They need to adjust to the fact that Benjamin Netanyahu will not be prime minister forever, that the economy won’t always be thriving, and that the conflict will get worse. On the positive side, however, Israelis also need to adjust to the idea that they have global supporters, and “hardest of all, to love those who love us.” There are hundreds of millions of Evangelicals worldwide who love and support Israel, because Israel features prominently in their faith. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is partly responsible for this phenomenon. But Israelis still know very little about Evangelicals and are uneasy with the relationship. The media, in addition, reports very little about Evangelicals. The author concluded that Israelis need to adjust to the support of Evangelicals, which will also allow Israelis to overcome feelings of inferiority when it comes to international politics.
The second and third articles reported on a joint event, organized by the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding, in honor of Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg. Scheinberg is known both for his revitalization of the Orthodox Jewish community in the 1970s, as well as his strengthening of ties between Jews and Christians. Present at the event was Pastor John Hagee, head of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), who has been a good friend of Scheinberg’s since the early 1990s. During the First Gulf War, Hagee reached out to Scheinberg as an ally, and in the aftermath of that alliance, Hagee and his wife established CUFI, which now boasts over 4 million members. At the event, Hagee said that the Jewish people “are still the cherished people, covenant people, chosen of God; they have not been replaced…” In response, Scheinberg said to Hagee: “You honor me, but there is no greater honor that I have than to have met Pastor Hagee and [his wife] Diana, and to be with them on the journey that will lead to the days of the Messiah, speedily in our days.” CUFI has played a vital role in pro-Israel American politics, to the extent that Netanyahu has called it a “critical component of our national security.”
Archaeology
Haaretz, November 13, 2018; Makor Rishon, November 16, 2018
A rare early Christian image of Jesus has been found in the ruins of Shivta, an important Byzantine town in the Israeli Negev. The image, which is believed to be a portrayal of the baptism of Jesus, shows him with short curly hair, a sharp face, and elongated nose (in contrast with western images of Jesus, in which he has long flowing hair). Archaeologists took a high-resolution photo of the wall where the painting has since eroded, in order to generate a clearer image. This is the second painting found in Shivta. The first depicts the transfiguration of Jesus.
The second article reported that according to a new study, the fish from the iconic fish and loaves mosaic in the church in Tabgha, are not local Galilee fish, as was once thought. Instead, the mosaic fish are said to have been the sort that was imported from Egypt, which would have been popularly consumed and traded around the time the mosaic was commissioned. As a result, the mosaic fish do not accurately represent the New Testament story of the fish and the loaves.
Christian Organizations
Kalkalist, November 15, 2018
This was an ad from the ARISE Summit, signed by Calev Myers and Marianne Cohen, thanking all those who participated in the ARISE business matchmaking Summit in Tel Aviv. In attendance were more than 550 people from 46 different countries. There were 275 business meetings conducted between Israeli and foreign business people, in an effort to create new financial alliances as a means of strengthening Israel’s economy.
Interfaith Relations
Yedioth Ahronoth, November 16, 2018
Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, was welcomed by Pope Francis for a formal visit at the Vatican. Rivlin brought up the subject of Israeli soldiers and citizens held by Hamas and said that political stability was contingent upon their return. In addition, the two discussed plans for advancing the baptismal site of Jesus as a pilgrim site. It is estimated that developing the site will bring an unprecedented number of Christian pilgrims and tourists to Israel.
Anti-Missionary Activity
HaMevasser, November 22, 2018
For the past few months, children from Haifa have been participating in after-school clubs such as art, chess and computers at a “missionary center” in the city. Yad L’Achim began running parallel clubs, but the “stampeding” to the missionary center did not stop. Finally, Yad L’Achim decided to meet with one of the chess teachers. The man was stunned to find that he had been used as a “pawn” in the hands of missionaries, who were only interested in “converting Jews.” The teacher decided to cut all ties to the missionary site. Now, “hundreds” of children who once attended clubs at the missionary site are learning chess at the Yad L’Achim center.