During the week covered by this review, we received 6 articles on the following subjects:
Christian Zionism
Christians and the Holocaust
Political Issues
Christian Tourism
Anti-Missionary Attitudes
Christian Zionism
The Jerusalem Post, February 2, 2020
This was a piece about British Christian Zionist, Laurence Oliphant, who was an important advocate for “Restorationism” – the term used to describe the return of Jews to their homeland prior to “Zionism”. Oliphant’s activism included a tour of Palestine, a meeting with the Sultan (in which Oliphant’s plan for the political restoration of the Jews was rejected), and financial support of Jewish settlements. In 1880, he published The Land of Gilead, his book outlining his plan for political restoration.
Christians and the Holocaust
Kol Israel, January 31, 2020
This was another piece about Yad L’Achim’s request for disclosure from the Dutch King and the Vatican. In a letter, Yad L’Achim asked for assistance in finding the identities of Jewish children adopted by Christians parents during World War II.
Political Issues
Yedioth Ahronoth, February 2, 2020; Merkaz HaInyanim, February 3, 2020
The first article reported on an interview with American ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, which aired on the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). In the interview, Friedman discussed the so-called “Deal of the Century”, saying that it would give Israel sovereignty over certain areas in Judea and Samaria, thereby reinstating some of the biblical borders. He also said that the deal would be a boost for biblical tourism, which he expected to thrive in those areas.
The second article expressed concern that nobody is discussing the religious motivation behind the “Deal of the Century”. The deal is being pushed by Evangelical Christians, who believe that in returning the land to Israel, we are drawing closer to the return of “that man” (the term used by religious Jews to avoid saying “Jesus”). According to the article, Evangelicals believe that once Jesus returns, Jews will either accept him or be destroyed. Dr. Mike Evans was quoted as having said: “for Evangelicals Christians, the plan is everything we hoped for – everything.”
Christian Tourism
Eretz Kinneret, February 4, 2020
This was an article about a recent conference held in the Galilee, to do with new archeological findings, as well as the ethno-religious histories of the Kinneret area. Most of the 250 people in attendance were tour guides who wanted to deepen their knowledge of the area. They heard five lectures from leading scholars, about which the article went on to provide detailed summaries.
Anti-Missionary Attitudes
Kol Koreh, January 28, 2020
This article reported that in a number of central cities in Israel, missionary tracts were put up by representatives of the “Messianic Jewish cult”. The article said that missionaries know it is “passé” to evangelize with a cross, so instead they package Christianity in a Jewish wrapper. Yad L’Achim also said that missionaries have been distributing materials into mailboxes and homes of late.