During the week covered by this review, we received 6 articles on the following subjects:
Christian Zionism
Anti-Missionary Attitudes
History
Arab Believing Community
Christian Zionism
The Jerusalem Post, September 27, 2020; Maariv, September 29, 2020; The Jerusalem Post, October 2, 2020
The first two articles reported that Yael Eckstein, CEO and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, thanked Evangelical Christians for their donations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eckstein said this was the first instance in which donors were themselves facing the same challenges as the communities they donated to. Through the generosity of Evangelical Christians, the Fellowship was able to provide food deliveries for 150,000 Jews in need. Eckstein further said Evangelical Christians are Israel’s greatest allies and partners.
The third article reported that the Israel Allies Foundation published a list of Israel’s top 50 Christian allies. Paula White, chair of the Evangelical Advisory Board to Donald Trump, came top of the list. The list also included such Christian leaders as John Hagee, Pat Robertson, Mike Huckabee, Jurgen Buhler, and Rebecca J. Brimmer. The list was published in time for Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, which the article noted is a significant Jewish holiday for Christian Zionists. Usually during this time, tens of thousands of Christians travel to Israel to celebrate, though this year, festivities are to be held online.
Anti-Missionary Attitudes
HaModia, September 27, 2020
Yad L’Achim has said that it will continue to work to save Jewish souls, and that the work of saving souls is the “best defense a man can buy for himself in preparation for judgement day”. Yad L’Achim said it would put the names of donors on prayer stands to be interceded for in holy places during Yom Kippur.
History
HaModia, October 1, 2020
In a longer piece about the history of Ethiopian Jews, the author claimed that Ethiopian Christians were influenced in their customs by the presence of the historic Jewish community in Ethiopia. It was argued that this is why Ethiopian Christians are different from Christians in the rest of the world – they circumcise their sons and rest on the Sabbath. The article also noted, however, that Jews in Ethiopia were badly persecuted by the Christians.
Arab Believing Community
Colbo, October 1, 2020
Leaders from the Melkite Catholic Church in Haifa have protested against cuts made to the Christian Home Institute by the Municipality of Haifa. The Christian Home Institute is said to host children’s clubs, workshops, and professional development opportunities. The Municipality has claimed that the facility was used to run a profitable nursery, which is not within the rights of its financial allocation. Leaders have responded that funds were not allocated towards a school or nursery of any sort. The Reverend Dr. Youssef Matta said the Institute has been running for more than 40 years, and without funding allocation it will have to close, resulting in damage to the hundreds of families that rely on it.