In the Forest of Eden

“This solitary Tree! a living thing;   Produced too slowly ever to decay;  Of form and aspect too magnificent  To be destroyed. ..” William Wordsworth

How can we differentiate between a dislike of a government, some of its citizens and the country itself?

So many have a distaste for Israel citing reasons like accusations of bad behavior, Israel’s lack of empathy for the Palestinian cause and the fact Israelis fly here by the planeload looking for handouts as if all American Jews have credit card cash machines attached to their touchas. Okay, it is obnoxious and a huge turn off. I get it.

I also get the fact that humanitarian sentiment is a tenet of Judaism that is deeply engrained in our nature.

Too many Jewish organizations turn off potential donors and volunteers with an attitude of elitism and, quite simply, holier-than-thou behavior toward others. Their egos and its-all-about-me mentality have taken center stage while the State of Israel suffers under the weight of their own personal agendas.

The mainstream press has become anti Israel, the Arab press has won the PR war and beaten the Jewish people at a game they invented.

With so much animosity toward Israel, Jews toward one another and the constant hype and propaganda spewed out of the Islamic extremist war machine, what are Israel’s chances for survival? I believe we all accept that there is ultimately only one man who will make that decision. God willing, he will never have to push the button to ensure Israel’s survival and prevent another holocaust.

It is indeed interesting to note there is approximately the same number of Jewish people in Israel today as were killed in Hitler’s camps. Think how the evil amongst us must be salivating at that knowledge.

So, with the hateful rancor amongst the Jewish people, who will step up to save Israel? Can she be saved?

Let’s be honest. Jewish people have always been the most controversial humans on the planet.

Their presence always incites arguments, debate and strong feelings. Whether you like them or hate them, the sentiments are never clouded with indifference.

Blood pressure rises, tears fill eyes and fights break out among even the most rational among us. Why do they elicit such a strong response in the hearts of man, even between fellow Jews?

It is difficult today to find a gathering of Jewish people who may not come to blows when the subject of Israel comes up in conversation. Shocking? Not really, that controversy was bound to spread to us eventually.

Make no mistake, it isn’t just Jews who battle within the ranks, Christians cannot agree on much either.

I use as an example Israel. The Catholic Church is mute on the subject, and the Pope’s actions seem to be predicated upon his fear of Muslim retribution and appear to be anti-Israel. Many Christians side with the Palestinians, and believe Israel is wrong thinking.

Few moderate Muslims stand up against the extremists fearing retaliation and one can understand their hesitancy to do so; although the world would be better for them speaking out.

The evangelical Christian movement has stepped into fill the void left by an ambivalent Jewish population.

Today, I watched a woman listening to the Israeli national anthem weep openly. What amazed me about her emotional response was the fact she was not Jewish. It has been a long time since I saw a Jewish person weep openly listening to the anthem of the Jewish State.

I become so angry when I hear criticism of Christian support for Israel. There are accusations of self-serving intentions, hidden motives of conversion, using the return of the Jewish people to Israel as a means of implementing the return of the Messiah.

Of course there may be some who share these goals, yet most support Israel from a sense of Christian charity, for it is a tenet they do so. They have aligned themselves in the struggle to protect Israel from her enemies, understanding it is a mutual and deadly foe we share.

Sadly, many Christians have not accepted the reality their destiny is intertwined with the fate of the Jewish people or will openly admit a holy war rages between Islam and the Judeo-Christian world.

It is also sad for all of us, whether Jewish, Christian, atheist Buddhist, Hindu and every other religion that stands in the way of the Islamicizing the entire world.

As long as man is driven by religion, religion alone can either destroy or save him.

This is the choice man has made and he must live within the parameters of that decision.

It will remain an unresolved conflict until man either refutes organized religion or settles upon one acceptable to every man woman and child upon the planet.

Thousands of years ago holy wars raged between Muslims and Christians. At that time weaponry consisted of swords and spears. Now man faces the same battles with a greater threat, weaponry that can destroy his planet. An arsenal so far reaching every living, breathing organism on the planet faces death and extinction.

Long before global warming poses any serious threat, man will have ended his reign on earth.

We are poised for the ultimate battle, the showdown of all time, Armageddon, the word is consistently put out in the universe by its evil supporters.

The Christians who have seen the future clearly understand all that will remain in the forests of Eden will be its strongest trees. Jews and Christians sprouted from the same soil and root systems and although their branches grew apart, have now conjoined to form the mightiest of oaks.

Alone we crumble and break under the ax of Islam, together we withstand the onslaught.

Supportive Christians understand well an Israel under Jewish control affords them access and protection for their holy sites.

The cowardly who are silent in Rome, London or evil Spain know, although they won’t admit it openly, Israel is the easiest target. It is merely Islam’s first stop on the way to defeat an entire Christian world. With a scant 14 million Jewish people and over two billion Christians, do the math. Destroying Israel will serve to demoralize the Christians and cut off the bloodline at their religious center.

The world is a different place, yet old belief systems remain, coloring our worldview and distorting a new reality.

Years ago Lucy and Ethel sang about the perfect friendship as they ripped away at one another’s similar dress. Jealousy seemed to overtake them in their temporary rage and cloud the blue sky of their usually wonderful relationship.

And thus it was with the Christians and Jews. History colored their friendship a dark black. Now, like the pictures of schoolchildren who color a white page with bright lively shades of every hue and then cover it over with black, Jews and enlightened Christians are erasing the darkness to uncover beautiful colors beneath.

Who cares what purpose a branch has for enjoining its compatriot, when once the bond is formed it will gain in strength and become unbreakable?

There are still many trees in the Judeo-Christian forest standing alone basking in the solitude of the sun and soil, content to be set apart. They will succumb quickly to the blight of hatred that threatens their existence.

The Christian world that has chosen to align with Israel will achieve invincible strength. For those who criticize the motivation, a flower needs no reason to grow toward the sun, a soul requires no reason for turning toward God. No one should question what nature deems necessary to sustain life.

If Israel were only to rely on Jewish people for its survival it would have fallen. Too many Jews have turned their backs on what was once the most delicate flower in their garden, a source of joy. They watered it daily, showed it off to visitors and spoke of it in loving terms. Now they have let it go to seed.

I am not only comfortable in the company of Christians who have attached themselves to us in this battle, I am gratified and thankful they are beside us.

They do not criticize Israel, they praise. They do not ignore, they nurture. They do not promise, they bestow. They do not politicize, they protect.

Israel has lost the hopes of Jewish people and been replaced with self-blame, ridicule, consternation and indifference.

The Christians who have picked up the standard are marching not in front of us, nor behind. They are marching side by side. Together, growing in strength and power with each new ray of sun and drop of water.

In the Forest of Eden, a new tree has grown from an ancient root system and is overtaking its old, weakened branches. May it thrive and blossom to strengthen the State of Israel.

### In the series “Postcards from Israel,” Ari Bussel and Norma Zager invite readers throughout the world to join them as they present reports from Israel as seen by two sets of eyes: Bussel’s on the ground, Zager’s counter-point from home. Israel and the United States are inter-related - the two countries we hold dearest to our hearts - and so is this “point - counter-point” presentation that has, since 2008, become part of our lives.

There was a time in my life where I wondered why America supported Israel and just thought of Islam as any other religion. That changed on 911.

Our government scowls at Jews and Christians, yet bows to islam.

Armeggedon is not evil, it is inevitable.

To be honest I’ve only known two or three American Jews and of those I met, they never expressed any love for Israel or the Jewish religion what so ever. I believe that (most) American Jews do not realize that, most but not all, Christians are the greatest friends of the Jewish religion and of Israel. From what I’ve seen the Evangelicals and Baptists are the biggest fans. Probably because they believe Bible doctrine which teaches us that God will bless those who love his people and curse those that don’t. They take the Bible literally. (as do I) I’m a Christian that Prays for the peace of Jerusalem.

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