Posted on 04/27/2005 10:49:01 AM PDT by rhema
A longtime columnist and author has birthed a new organization made up of Jews who are committed to battling anti-Christian bias and discrimination in the culture.
Don Feder, a Boston Herald writer and syndicated columnist for 19 years, is president of Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation, or JAACD.
Members of the group's advisory board include rabbis, commentators, academics, authors, activists, Zionist leaders and an entertainer.
"Members span the spectrum from Orthodox to secular, but are united in their determination to support our beleaguered brothers and sisters in the Christian community," a statement from the organization said.
Feder said for years he has written about incidents of anti-Christian discrimination in the public square – from the prohibition of crèches on public land to the silencing prayer in the nation's schools.
Don Feder
"What I consider an epidemic of anti-Christian bigotry and persecution is something that has concerned me for a long time," Feder told WND, noting that in 1996 he wrote a book entitled "Who's Afraid of the Religious Right?" which covers what he sees as the left's attack on traditional Christians.
"Particularly pernicious is the leftist idea that it's legitimate to base your politics on anything except religion," he said. "You can say that my politics are based on the views of Karl Marx or Ayn Rand or Jane Fonda … and that's OK, but as soon as you say your worldview is based on the Bible, that's considered an illegitimate basis for embracing certain political views."
Feder says about a year ago he decided there should be a distinctly Jewish organization dealing with anti-Christian prejudice, which he considers a "political pogrom."
"If a Jewish organization complains about these things," he explained, "no one can accuse us of self-interest, because we're not Christians; we're Jews."
Added Feder: "The fate of America hinges on whether or not Christians – I mean authentic Christians – succeed in the political arena."
Feder credits Ted Baehr, founder of MovieGuide, with helping to get the organization off the ground.
Speaking at a press conference announcing the new group were syndicated columnist Mona Charen, Barry Farber, longtime New York City talk-show host, and two rabbis – Joshua Haberman and Rabbi Yehuda Levin.
Others involved with the group include: David Horowitz (Center for the Study of Popular Culture), Morton Klein (Zionist Organization of America), Herb London (Hudson Institute), Bruce Herschensohn (professor, Pepperdine University), Rabbi Daniel Lapin (Toward Tradition), syndicated talk-show host Michael Medved, Rabbi Jacob Neusner (professor, Bard College) and comedian Jackie Mason.
Drawing a connection between his faith and Christianity, Feder said, "Christian morality comes from the Jewish Bible, hence the expression 'Judeo-Christian ethic.'"
The group, therefore, "is also standing up for the morality of the Torah."
Said Feder: "By maintaining their loyalty to the eternal values revealed at Sinai, Christians have become pariahs in the eyes of the establishment, but heroes in our eyes."
"Jews and Christians serve God differently. But our morality is the same," states promotional material for the group.
Feder says his group is in the process of setting up a website and will work to educate Americans "on the toxic nature of what has been called the last acceptable form or prejudice."
The organization's founder ridiculed the notion that religious Americans want the nation ruled by a theocracy.
"It's just absurd," Feder said. "If what the left is talking about constitutes a theocracy, then America was a theocracy in 1961.
"American had school prayer, in many states there was Bible reading in the schools, public display of religious symbols, abortion was outlawed except in rare instances, if anyone talked about same-sex marriage they would have been met with derisive laughter," he noted. "I was alive in 1961; if we were a theocracy then, somehow I missed it."
Feder's latest book, "The Tattered Flag: The Fight for America in the 21st Century," will be released this year.
"It's just absurd," Feder said. "If what the left is talking about constitutes a theocracy, then America was a theocracy in 1961.
"American had school prayer, in many states there was Bible reading in the schools, public display of religious symbols, abortion was outlawed except in rare instances, if anyone talked about same-sex marriage they would have been met with derisive laughter," he noted. "I was alive in 1961; if we were a theocracy then, somehow I missed it."
From the Boston Herald!! WOW, this is GREAT news!
I agree, Jews and Christians are brother and sister in faith values. I see I am not the only one who has had it with all this crap, especially in MA, and now CT!!
Fabulous!!! Thanks to our Religous Jewish friends for doing this!! God Bless You!
Don Feder is a great read and I'm delighted it is him that founded the organization.
It's about time. Jews and Christians need to stand together on many issues. Most Jews I know that bitch and moan about Christianity are totally secular, cultural Jews with a definite agnostic-socialist bent. Maybe at one time Jews could legitimately point a finger because of anti-Semitic attitude of the churches. But haven't great strides been made with the actions of the last Pope and other Christian bodies. The only beef I would have with Christians if I were a Jew would be the efforts made by certain Evangelical groups to convert me. Other than that there should be no problem.
These are historic times indeed. One of my friends emailed me to state that the Chief rabbi of Rome was invited by Pope Benedict to attend Sunday's installation. First time ever the chief rabbi was invited.
i agree. There's a lot of commonality of interest here.
Taking a step back, its interesting to speculate on what this means to political alliances in the US. Black evangelicals are starting to openly question the knee-jerk Democratic voting habits of the black community based mainly on cultural issues (although having very bright blacks in the current administration doesn't hurt the cause). Maybe JAACD is the beginning of Jewish groups questioning their historical support of the Left? We could be seeing the beginnings of the crumbling of the Democratic constituencies.
Imagine 5-10 years from now when the only people who vote Democratic are (1) feminists, (2) atheists, and (3) angry college professors - all three groups being primarily Caucasian.
Don Feder is fantastic. I appreciate him so much.
Hopefully JAACD will have more success than the Cold Steel Caucus.
Thanks, Don! I for one appreciate the support.
He just gave up his newspaper column, probably to concentrate on the new group.
God Bless Don Feder. Well done, brother.
Wow, this is great news!!!
PING ! Very interesting and touching article about a new Jewish American Conservative group standing up for Traditional Christians in the United States.
Another great point about this story is that if Jewish people who suffered terrible persecution for centuries in Christian (or pseudo Christian) Europe from both Catholic and Orthodox regimes could move beyond the past and become defenders of modern day authentic Christians, than genuine Orthodox and Catholic Christians simply MUST become friends ! There is simply no excuses for them not being friends with or without reunification.
Actually, much of the animosity between Orthodox-Catholics emanates from official Kremlin controlled Russian Orthodox Church Leadership, and it definitely does not represent views of all Orthodox worldwide (incl. all Russian Orthodox). Hopefully transformation will come to Russian Orthodox Church too so it becomes independent moral power rather than Kremlin Decoration.
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