Legislators take 'Christianity 101'
Legislators take 'Christianity 101'
Etgar Lefkovits, THE JERUSALEM POST
In the latest sign of the ever-warming Israeli-Christian relations, Knesset members from the 'Christian Allies Caucus' and representatives of the Chief Rabbinate on Thursday took a snap course in Christianity, and then visited the heads of different Christian denominations represented in the Holy Land in an effort to bolster the cooperation between the two faiths.
The initiative, carried out in conjunction with the Jerusalem office of the American Jewish Committee, which hosted the seminar, offered the legislators an opportunity to learn more about the varied and diverse branches of Christianity, which they are trying to court as supporters.
"We must understand and internalize that the Christians represent a strategic interest for the State of Israel," said caucus co-chairman MK Yuri Shtern (National Union) at the event, adding that "it is incumbent upon us not just to look out at the Christian world with preconceived notions based on relations in the past."
The Knesset's increasingly influential Christian Allies Caucus, which was established last year with 12 MKs from six parties, aims to garner the support of, and work with, pro-Israel Christians around the world.
The meeting Thursday, attended by nearly all of the Chief Rabbinate's delegation for relations with the Catholic Church, was indicative of the growing awareness Israel is placing on the Christian world at large, and the Evangelical Christian community in particular.
"It is important that members of the caucus have a better understanding of the Christian world at large, and the potential alliances as well as pitfalls, and it is equally important that they know that they have the support of the rabbinical establishment," said Rabbi David Rosen, the International Director of Inter-Religious Affairs at the American Jewish Committee who presented the group of legislators an overview of the different Christian denominations.
After the lecture, several of the legislators went to the Old City of Jerusalem for separate meetings with the Latin and Armenian Patriarchs as well as with a representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.
Calling the interfaith meet, attended by a delegation from the Chief Rabbinate, a "breakthrough in Judeo-Christian relations," caucus director Josh Reinstein said that the caucus had opened the doors to cooperation between Christians and Jews "in a way we never thought possible before."
Posted by Ted Belman at January 30, 2005 09:46 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.israpundit.com/mt-tb.cgi/7658
1
.
BobW
said:
The once world class newspaper, JERUSALEM POST, has transitioned into a British tabloid.
"Israeli-Christian relations" is a term more akin to Metternick calling Italy "a geographic expression". "Israel" is a meaningless term used here because Israel is divided and Etgar Lefkevits lacks the fortitude to admit this. "Christian" represents such a vast collective noun, Lefkevits lacks the knowledge base to grasp the significance of this.
That a State of Israel currently is in existence is tracable to certain Christian denominations such as America's Southern Baptists and Pentacostals. Lethal threats to this same Israel eminate from certain groups found within the Presbyterians, amongst others.
What can the cancer, the American Jewish Committee, do by hosting a meeting about the splits in Christianity? Was the abortion issue discussed and explained? Was the Christian problem on both sides of Cyprus explained? - - or Northern Ireland ?
No Jewish Committees in Israel?
"Ever warming relations" can also relate to burning at the stake. In lieu of the JERUSALEM POST, I'll read ARUTZ SHUVA.
Of course, Jewish Israel can be saved if we can find a Garabaldi and also a Charles Martel. We do need certain Christian help. We do not need the American Jewish Committee.
Kol tuv,
BobW
Posted by: BobW on January 31, 2005 03:34 AM
Legislators take 'Christianity 101'
Etgar Lefkovits, THE JERUSALEM POST
In the latest sign of the ever-warming Israeli-Christian relations, Knesset members from the 'Christian Allies Caucus' and representatives of the Chief Rabbinate on Thursday took a snap course in Christianity, and then visited the heads of different Christian denominations represented in the Holy Land in an effort to bolster the cooperation between the two faiths.
The initiative, carried out in conjunction with the Jerusalem office of the American Jewish Committee, which hosted the seminar, offered the legislators an opportunity to learn more about the varied and diverse branches of Christianity, which they are trying to court as supporters.
The meeting Thursday, attended by nearly all of the Chief Rabbinate's delegation for relations with the Catholic Church, was indicative of the growing awareness Israel is placing on the Christian world at large, and the Evangelical Christian community in particular.
"It is important that members of the caucus have a better understanding of the Christian world at large, and the potential alliances as well as pitfalls, and it is equally important that they know that they have the support of the rabbinical establishment," said Rabbi David Rosen, the International Director of Inter-Religious Affairs at the American Jewish Committee who presented the group of legislators an overview of the different Christian denominations.
After the lecture, several of the legislators went to the Old City of Jerusalem for separate meetings with the Latin and Armenian Patriarchs as well as with a representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.
Calling the interfaith meet, attended by a delegation from the Chief Rabbinate, a "breakthrough in Judeo-Christian relations," caucus director Josh Reinstein said that the caucus had opened the doors to cooperation between Christians and Jews "in a way we never thought possible before."
Posted by Ted Belman at January 30, 2005 09:46 PM