Since the horrific and barbaric October 7 attack on Israel, the world has witnessed a meteoric rise in anti-Semitism. Still mourning the loss of life in Israel, Jews around the world face pro-Hamas ralliesviolence in the streets and increasingly hostile posts on social media, making it clear that the centuries-old scourge of anti-Semitism was bubbling just beneath the surface of society.
For years, the rallying cry since the Holocaust was “Never Again,” and yet here the world found itself – once again – with mothers, babies, old people and young people mercilessly tortured and murdered. The reaction of some was shock, as one Hamas supporter said: “It was the best day of my life.” The noisy minority in the United States is just that: loud. But their pro-death stance in no way reflects the views of the majority of Americans. A recent Harvard-CAPS poll found that 74% of Americans believe the Hamas attack was genocide and 80% said they support Israel over Hamas, including 57% of 18-24 year olds. Many young people have been indoctrinated by the incumbents liberal professors which teach that Israel is an apartheid state, a colonial project established in 1948 that deliberately displaced the indigenous population. Indeed, not a Christmas can go by without Arafat’s most persistent propaganda – that Jesus was a Palestinian – being relayed in various media.History tells its own story
The spectacular collapse of two lies, that Jesus was a Palestinian in Palestine and was also killed by the Jewish people who did not live there, makes about as much sense as pro-Hamas protesters claiming that Hamas does not is not even in Gaza or that Israel orchestrated October 7 against itself.
As part of a historic faith-based advocacy mission, their goal was to represent the breadth of support for Israel in America. The rally was organized by the Allied Israel Foundation, the Zionist Rabbinical Coalition, American Christian Leaders for Israel, the Jerusalem Connection, Eagles Wings and the National Hispanic Pastors Alliance. More than 60 leaders, who collectively join and represent millions of Americans, gathered to thank and encourage members of Congress to continue to stand with Israel. What they found was deep support for Israel in Congress that resonates with the majority of Americans.
“I will not willfully ignore the way the administration chooses to be, whether it is supporting UNRWA or not recognizing the lies sent by Palestinian terrorist groups. If you choose not to be ignorant, then the only result you will get is to support Israel,” Rep. Brian Mast remarked to a group of rabbis and pastors. Congressman Mast, a retired Army Ranger who also served in the Israeli military, was one of 32 House or Senate offices the group met with. Mast wore his IDF uniform to the Capitol a week after October 7, as a sign of solidarity with Israel. The day of advocacy at the Capitol was by no means the only event in Washington focused on Israel. The day before, 100 pastors gathered at the Israeli embassy to view footage of the Hamas massacre. The event was hosted by Keren HaYesod and Pastor Larry Huch, founding pastor of New Beginnings Church outside Dallas and board member of the Israel Allies Foundation. “By showing the real images, leaders are better equipped to help counter the fake news, false narratives and dangerous anti-Israel policies presented to the public. Israel has both the right and the obligation to protect its citizens from murderous terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, whose sole objective is to destroy Israel and its citizens. We will continue to be a pro-Israel and pro-Jewish voice within the Christian community in America and around the world,” noted Pastor Huch.DURING World War II, 400 Orthodox rabbis traveled to Washington, DC in 1943 to defend the interests of European Jewry. They were alone in their mission and President Franklin D. Roosevelt refused to meet with them. This time, in the worst tragedy since the Holocaust, Christians want the Jewish community to know: “You are not alone.”
Many Christians remember the Holocaust and read stories of Europeans, many professing to be Christians, who failed to help their Jewish neighbors. Doing so would have put their own lives and those of their families in danger, linking their fate to that of their Jewish compatriots.So we ask ourselves: what would we have done? Would we have been brave enough? Enough discernment to see through the propaganda and lies spread by the media and society? Today we can answer this question at this time. The consequences we may face today are nowhere near what Europeans faced under the Nazi regime. What will we do now, when the Jewish people face another existential threat?
Participants in the January 31 Advocacy Day made their choice, joined arm in arm with their fellow Jews, and boldly declared to our nation’s leaders: “We stand with the Jewish State of Israel . Although the world may have failed in Never Again, Christians in the United States, and indeed around the world, want our Jewish brothers and sisters to know that they are never alone. The writer is the American director of the Israeli Allies Foundation. The IAF works to educate and empower pro-Israel faith-based legislators around the world.
