The Books of Daniel and Revelation compliment each other when studied.
Posted on 11/30/2005 8:03:52 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
ADL Director Abraham Foxman's wide-ranging attack on evangelical Christians, whom he has accused of launching a campaign to "Christianize America," is still reverberating in the United States. The leader of the Reform movement, Rabbi Eric Yoffe, echoed Foxman at that movement's biennial convention by condemning zealots on the religious right.
The issue has always been highly sensitive in Jewish quarters. Most Jews back a total separation between church and state even when it conflicts with crucial, long-term Jewish interests such as seeking state aid to subsidize the secular curriculum of Jewish day schools.
For some time there has been a simmering disquiet among liberal Jews over being regarded as allies of a group they regard as right-wing fanatics seeking to impose their standards on the community as a whole. That discomfort has intensified with the growing power of the evangelicals.
However, the truth is that while evangelicals are indeed a growing group representing up to 60 million adherents, like Jews they are not the monolith their critics seek to portray. They incorporate a wide variety of diverse opinions, some of which would undoubtedly be regarded as an anathema to Jews. But the vast majority, in addition to being law-abiding citizens, are simply seeking to promote their values - including those that mirror the Judeo-Christian heritage.
For example, Orthodox Jews are also distressed at what they perceive to be a breakdown in public morality and family values, and cultural nihilism in Western society. Traditional Jews ask why they, of all people, should be opposed to publicly displaying the Ten Commandments, one of our greatest contributions to civilization. And Orthodox Jews (as distinct from many liberal or secular Jews) are also strongly opposed to same-sex marriages and abortion on demand.
Evangelicals believe that human beings are involved in a struggle between good and evil - concepts which have effectively been purged from the lexicon of many liberals. This belief has some resonance with Jews living in a world suffused with a modernist penchant for drawing a moral equivalency between killers and their victims.
UNLIKE OTHER Protestant denominations evangelicals do not subscribe to replacement theology and regard Judaism as a component of the formation of Christianity rather than being replaced by it. Their attitude toward Israel also contrasts starkly with the disgraceful behavior displayed toward Jews by other Protestant churches, many of whom now lead the pack in demonizing, and even promoting, divestment from Israel.
Of course Jews differ radically on many fundamental aspects of their religious belief. In that context we would do well to hearken to the words of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, who warned Jews to avoid becoming involved in theological dialogue with Christians - as distinct from jointly supporting the promotion of our Judeo-Christian heritage in its broadest social sense and accepting their friendship toward Israel.
My discussions and correspondence with evangelicals over these past years have convinced me that during this difficult time for the Jewish people, when many of our liberal friends have forsaken us, we are fortunate to have the support of such a group who strongly back Israel and seek no quid pro quo in exchange for their friendship. I cannot recollect a single example of a mainstream evangelical leader making demands on the Jewish community in return for support for Israel.
And, contrary to what is frequently alleged, the attitude toward Israel of the vast majority of evangelicals is not related to ulterior motives such as a desire to convert Jews, or in order to hasten the Christ's return as the messiah. Most act unconditionally out of genuine love for those whom they consider to be God's chosen people.
These Christians pray regularly for the well-being of Israel and the Jewish people; they politically support our right to live in peace and security, including lobbying Congress to support us; and they even raise considerable funds to help Jews in distress.
Many Jews simply cannot comprehend that there are Christians who genuinely love them as the source of their own religiosity.
IN THIS environment, Foxman's incredible onslaught against "institutionalized Christianity in the United States," an attack that is not limited to evangelicals but blankets all Christians, is a regrettable lapse of judgment by a man who has an excellent track record of serving the interests of American Jewry with distinction.
As though he were paraphrasing an outburst by anti-Semites, Foxman warned of a conspiracy to "Christianize all aspects of American life, from the halls of government to the libraries, to the movies, to recording studios, to the playing fields and locker rooms of professional collegiate and amateur sports; from the military to the Sponge Bob Square Pants."
Such a statement is especially inappropriate for a Jewish leader whose life has been devoted to combating libels against Jews.
In these times we desperately need allies who accept us for what we are and do not make demands on us in return for their support. The evangelicals fall into this category.
And let us not play with words. Today evangelicals represent the greatest source of political support for Israel in the US. Even if many Jews feel that the evangelical stance on Israel is to "the right" of what they would support, that in no way invalidates the enormous benefits this support provides to Israel.
It is therefore highly regrettable that organizations devoted to promoting pluralism and combating anti-Semitism would paint friends as adversaries. This is hardly the way to retain the support of the one American major group that consistently and unconditionally supports Israel. It is surely wrong and counterproductive to insult friends and allies, even if we differ with them on many other issues.
If we had 50 million evangelicals in Europe the situation for Jews would be dramatically different. Conversely, we would do well to ask ourselves what the status of Israel and Jews in the United States would be in the absence of our evangelical supporters.
True. For that matter, if you had 50 million faithful Catholics in Europe the situation would be drastically different. Europe is scarcely Christian any longer, and it's no better in the formerly Calvinist or Luther countries like Holland and Scandinavia.
Don't forget the Roman Catholics, (smeared by our licentous
clergy, though we be!)
Those of us of true faith are strong supporters of Israel.
The world is choosing up sides. The Bolsheviks and the Islamists vs. the Christian West. I know who I'm going to stand with. The author of this article does too.
Good article. It's so easy for the ADL to attack evangelical Christians (I suspect fundraising is at the bottom of this), rather than their true enemies: islamofascists, and the secular liberal leftists who want to get rid of all religion, no matter what faith it is.
"if you had 50 million faithful Catholics in Europe"
There's still a few million faithful Catholics in the Republic of Ireland, but the multi-culti internationalists are busily diluting away, even there.
"Many Jews simply cannot comprehend that there are Christians who genuinely love them as the source of their own religiosity.
IN THIS environment, Foxman's incredible onslaught against "institutionalized Christianity in the United States," an attack that is not limited to evangelicals but blankets all Christians, is a regrettable lapse of judgment by a man who has an excellent track record of serving the interests of American Jewry with distinction. "
Leibler is a good guy, but misses the point about Liberal Jews (because it is painful for Jews to see. Being a Jew, I know.) The fact is, Foxman is an enemy of the Christian Fundamentalists. He is not confused there.
In reality, Foxman is an enemy of Israel too. I have come to understand that Liberal Jews will stand by the Left, no matter what. The Left now stands for the destruction of Israel. Incredibly, American Jews now support policies that will lead to such destruction. The difference is, the Jews think this is for Israel's good. Others on the Left (when the Jews leave the room) are frankly looking forward to a second Holocast, in my opinion.
Yes, I understand that. I have had quite a number of Jewish friends and colleagues over the course of my life. I have sometimes found myself in the odd position of arguing in defense of Israel against some of these Jewish colleagues.
When Edward Said died, the Dean at NYU organized a special memorial service for him. When it was announced through the department email, I was the only person who dared to complain about it and question why we were honoring someone from another university in this way. Several Jews in the department supported it and said I was wrong. Several reported that they had Jewish friends who had written dissertations at Columbia under Said, and that he was very understanding and not at all antisemitic.
Sure. That's why he went over and threw rocks at the IDF.
I even had a dear Jewish friend who joined me in being the only two faculty at a university out west who spoke up on behalf of Israel at the start of the Six Day War, when it looked for a couple of days as if the Arabs were about to overrun the country. Everyone else was silent. Yet I never could get this friend to sympathize with the religious Jews out in Brooklyn. To him, they were beyond the pale.
It certainly is a suicidal blind spot.
Yes. You are right. And that is all I can say when I read an article such as this because it reduces me to tears.
"I even had a dear Jewish friend who joined me in being the only two faculty at a university out west who spoke up on behalf of Israel at the start of the Six Day War, when it looked for a couple of days as if the Arabs were about to overrun the country. Everyone else was silent."
Remember that moment well. I was in high school. I remember being willing go over and fight, even though the Left had already turned me against our own war (Vietnam).
When the Jews won, it was unbelievable. I can now look back and see that a very long process began there for me---the road to courage. Thanks for standing by us, Cicero.
"Yet I never could get this friend to sympathize with the religious Jews out in Brooklyn. To him, they were beyond the pale."
Yes. I have come to appreciate these folks as tremendous allies, though my religiousity will never match theirs. They have inspired me to at least do better in my practice.
"It certainly is a suicidal blind spot."
Simple, but for me very painful, truth. Even in my synagogue, where we say a prayer for American troops every Saturday and for the President of the US and other officers, I realize that they are mostly Democrats, though I suspect some voted for Bush. Jewish Conservatives like myself need to face reality about Jews. They will not change.
"Others on the Left (when the Jews leave the room) are frankly looking forward to a second Holocaust, in my opinion."
Christian fundamentalists will be targeted, right along with the Jews, the next time. But, their time will be short, according to prophecy, not all of which is New Testament. The Book of Daniel speaks of this as well.
"when many of our liberal friends have forsaken us, "
News for you:
They were never your friends.
Great, great op ed.
Bravo, ISI LEIBLER!
The participation of Jews in the so-called neo-conservative movement, beginning in the Reagan era, is a sea change that has and will benefit our country enormously. In contrast, the professional Jewish-centric lobby groups should and will fall.
*ping* Didn't know if you had read this, but thought you might be interested.
I suspect fundraising is at the bottom of this
Nooooo that never ever entered into it I'm sure...just a coincidence that people sent them money.
"The Left now stands for the destruction of Israel. Incredibly, American Jews now support policies that will lead to such destruction. The difference is, the Jews think this is for Israel's good."
I truly don't understand why American Jews are so uncaring about the future of Israel. Setting aside everything else, Israel is a democracy in the middle of a cesspool, and we should all be in favor of supporting strong, pro-American democracies whatever our faith.
It's easy to criticize when you have no fear of being beheaded for it.
That isn't the Catholics, doing that. All of our churches have been infiltrated by evil. It's a test of our strength and faith to drive them out.
The Books of Daniel and Revelation compliment each other when studied.
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