The JW Marriott ballroom was filled with Washington heavyweights and power brokers drawn from the Bush Administration, Congress, policy wonk and K-Street lobbyist communities.
We heard some very stunning and charismatic speakers and a wonderful human interest story that is a living testament to the power of the IFCJ and its dynamic founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.
Through the kindness and generosity of Lebanese Christian Israel advocate Brigitte Gabriel of American Congress for Truth (ACT) and our co-host, her husband, several of us were extended an invitation to attend the IFCJ awards dinner. We were seated at the ACT table with board members, the family members and friends including Dr. Walid Phares, noted MSNBC counter-terrorism commentator and senior fellow at the foundation for the Defense of Democracy. Brigitte Gabriel our co-host and founder of ACT was out in California on several important speaking engagements in San Diego, Newport Beach and Los Angeles
At registration, I chanced to meet one of the forum speakers Richard Baehr of The American Thinker where I have been a contributor and brilliant French émigré writer, Olivier Giutta. who lives and works in Washington, DC.
The IFCJ awards dinner was surprisingly bi-partisan Among the people who attended I spotted were Watergate Break In "crazy 'and radio talk show host G. Gordon Liddy, Conservative Christian lobbying powerhouse, Ralph Reed, Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York a liberal Democratic stalwart and Neil Goldstein, executive director the American Jewish Congress.
The first honoree was Rudy Giuliani, former NYC Mayor. There were people running around the ballroom floor with Giuliani for President buttons. Tom Delay introduced Mayor Guiliani. Delay, former GOP House Majority leader was indicted on a single count of criminal conspiracy for allegedly laundering corporate contributions to the GOP that morning by liberal Democratic Travis county prosecutor Ronnie Earle down in Austin, Texas.
The second honoree was Connecticut U.S. Joe Lieberman a long time friend of the IFCJ. Lieberman was introduced by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, dynamic founder of the IFCJ. Since it's founding over 28 years ago by Rabbi Eckstein, the IFCJ has shown its mettle by saving Soviet Jews, Ethiopian Jews and Christians in the Sudan
Prominent conservative Family Values Foundation chieftain, Gary Bauer former Reagan white House Domestic policy czar, was a powerful closing speaker.
Mayor Giuliani did his usual "New York Capitol of the world" shtick. He gave his accented version of the late Pope John Paul's famous Central Park Sheep Meadow intonation of the same tag line that hizzoner Guiliani had used to great effect in browbeating a number of US mayors in major cities who objected to his seizing the title as his own. Rudy also paid court to PM Sharon by noting that on a recent visit to New York he brought his children-rambunctious Andrew whom many of us remember from his first term- to meet an honest to goodness living patriot.
Bauer gave the best speech of the evening followed in rank order of performance by Joe Lieberman, Eckstein, Guiliani and dethroned House GOP majority leader Tom DeLay "how was your day-I hope better than mine."
Bauer was trenchant on the threat of Islamofacism and the importance of the steadfast friendship between the US and Israel. His send up on the founding Pilgrim fathers anthem of "the two shining cities on the hill"-was magnificent. His closing clarion call resonating with the IFCJ audience: "The way to defeat an enemy who worships death is to rededicate ourselves to a God who tells us to choose life ... He is the author of our liberty."
Israel's U.S. Ambassador Daniel Ayalon gave the IFCJ laudatory high marks and read a letter from PM Sharon. A White House aide, Tim Goeglien, special aide to George W. Bush, read a letter of greeting and congratulations from the President Bush.
But the shining moment at the IFCJ awards dinner was a compelling human interest story introduced by eloquent Detroit Afro American pastor Glen Plummer
Jewish members of the IFCJ wanted to contribute $50,000 in funds to help out a distressed church in New Orleans devastated by Hurricane Katrina. So they approached the IFCJ executive office about finding one that needed help. As told by Pastor Plummer they found a suitable candidate- the Gideon Christian Fellowship, an African-American church.
The Jewish members of IFCJ wondered if Gideon Christian Fellowship knew about Israel. They were astonished to find out that this church has a covenantal apostolic mission to pray for Israel, every day!
In fact they did better than that. They collected $25,000 from the church members and called the PMO in Jerusalem, actually talked to an aide of PM Sharon and told him they wanted to give money to the State of Israel. The quick witted aide to PM Sharon who fielded the phone call suggested they buy $25,000 in State of Israel (SOI) Israel Bonds. The pastor from New Orleans said at the IFCJ awards dinner that "they wanted to give money to Jews, and here were the Jews giving them money."
Well, it didn't end there, a committee from the Gideon Christian Fellowship went and lobbied the State of Louisiana and darn if a public ceremony and announcement was made by the State Treasurer's office about the purchase of more than $25 million of SOI bonds-a terrific counterweight to the mainstream Protestant and their patently racist divest Israel campaigns here in the US.
All of us seated at the ACT table -Christians and Jews alike- thought that story had a resonating message of compassion and brotherhood for all Americans and steadfast support by Americans for Israel and the Jewish people.
All in all this was a most impressive occasion because Israelis, Americans, Jews and Christian allies gathered to praise the IFCJ pioneering efforts and the common cause that motivates all this-Ha Shem's blessing, Israel-the hope of mankind. As many of the speakers, but especially Bauer, Eckstein and Lieberman repeated that Cassandra like quote from Zionist visionary Theodore Herzl-"if you will it, it is no dream."
The IFCJ's Stand up for Israel Awards dinner was a wonderful tonic for all Zionists-Christian and Jew alike. Solidarity was the real "glittering prize of the evening on last Wednesday in our Nation's Capitol.
__________________
Mr. Gordon is a former U.S. military intelligence officer, writer, activist who resides in Connecticut.
Solidarity-The Glittering Prize at the IFCJ Washington Dinner
By Jerry Gordon, a former U.S. military intelligence officer, writer, activist who resides in Connecticut and Israpundit's newest contributor.
-------------------------------------
It was an evening of stunning surprises and brilliant oratory at the Stand Up for Israel Awards dinner of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews on Wednesday, September 28th in Washington, DC in the ballroom of the JW Marriott hotel.
Solidarity between Evangelical Christians and Jews, Americas and Israel was the glittering prize for all who attended.
My own personal experience with Evangelicals and Pentecostals, among them my good friend, Ken Lamb- accomplished journalist and radio talk show host in Pensacola, Florida- has demonstrated their solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people ordained by Ha Shem's covenant with his people:. "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you."
The JW Marriott ballroom was filled with Washington heavyweights and power brokers drawn from the Bush Administration, Congress, policy wonk and K-Street lobbyist communities.
We heard some very stunning and charismatic speakers and a wonderful human interest story that is a living testament to the power of the IFCJ and its dynamic founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.
Through the kindness and generosity of Lebanese Christian Israel advocate Brigitte Gabriel of American Congress for Truth (ACT) and our co-host, her husband, several of us were extended an invitation to attend the IFCJ awards dinner. We were seated at the ACT table with board members, the family members and friends including Dr. Walid Phares, noted MSNBC counter-terrorism commentator and senior fellow at the foundation for the Defense of Democracy. Brigitte Gabriel our co-host and founder of ACT was out in California on several important speaking engagements in San Diego, Newport Beach and Los Angeles
At registration, I chanced to meet one of the forum speakers Richard Baehr of The American Thinker where I have been a contributor and brilliant French émigré writer, Olivier Giutta. who lives and works in Washington, DC.
The IFCJ awards dinner was surprisingly bi-partisan Among the people who attended I spotted were Watergate Break In "crazy 'and radio talk show host G. Gordon Liddy, Conservative Christian lobbying powerhouse, Ralph Reed, Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York a liberal Democratic stalwart and Neil Goldstein, executive director the American Jewish Congress.
The first honoree was Rudy Giuliani, former NYC Mayor. There were people running around the ballroom floor with Giuliani for President buttons. Tom Delay introduced Mayor Guiliani. Delay, former GOP House Majority leader was indicted on a single count of criminal conspiracy for allegedly laundering corporate contributions to the GOP that morning by liberal Democratic Travis county prosecutor Ronnie Earle down in Austin, Texas.
The second honoree was Connecticut U.S. Joe Lieberman a long time friend of the IFCJ. Lieberman was introduced by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, dynamic founder of the IFCJ. Since it's founding over 28 years ago by Rabbi Eckstein, the IFCJ has shown its mettle by saving Soviet Jews, Ethiopian Jews and Christians in the Sudan
Prominent conservative Family Values Foundation chieftain, Gary Bauer former Reagan white House Domestic policy czar, was a powerful closing speaker.
Mayor Giuliani did his usual "New York Capitol of the world" shtick. He gave his accented version of the late Pope John Paul's famous Central Park Sheep Meadow intonation of the same tag line that hizzoner Guiliani had used to great effect in browbeating a number of US mayors in major cities who objected to his seizing the title as his own. Rudy also paid court to PM Sharon by noting that on a recent visit to New York he brought his children-rambunctious Andrew whom many of us remember from his first term- to meet an honest to goodness living patriot.
Bauer gave the best speech of the evening followed in rank order of performance by Joe Lieberman, Eckstein, Guiliani and dethroned House GOP majority leader Tom DeLay "how was your day-I hope better than mine."
Bauer was trenchant on the threat of Islamofacism and the importance of the steadfast friendship between the US and Israel. His send up on the founding Pilgrim fathers anthem of "the two shining cities on the hill"-was magnificent. His closing clarion call resonating with the IFCJ audience: "The way to defeat an enemy who worships death is to rededicate ourselves to a God who tells us to choose life ... He is the author of our liberty."
Israel's U.S. Ambassador Daniel Ayalon gave the IFCJ laudatory high marks and read a letter from PM Sharon. A White House aide, Tim Goeglien, special aide to George W. Bush, read a letter of greeting and congratulations from the President Bush.
But the shining moment at the IFCJ awards dinner was a compelling human interest story introduced by eloquent Detroit Afro American pastor Glen Plummer
Jewish members of the IFCJ wanted to contribute $50,000 in funds to help out a distressed church in New Orleans devastated by Hurricane Katrina. So they approached the IFCJ executive office about finding one that needed help. As told by Pastor Plummer they found a suitable candidate- the Gideon Christian Fellowship, an African-American church.
The Jewish members of IFCJ wondered if Gideon Christian Fellowship knew about Israel. They were astonished to find out that this church has a covenantal apostolic mission to pray for Israel, every day!
In fact they did better than that. They collected $25,000 from the church members and called the PMO in Jerusalem, actually talked to an aide of PM Sharon and told him they wanted to give money to the State of Israel. The quick witted aide to PM Sharon who fielded the phone call suggested they buy $25,000 in State of Israel (SOI) Israel Bonds. The pastor from New Orleans said at the IFCJ awards dinner that "they wanted to give money to Jews, and here were the Jews giving them money."
Well, it didn't end there, a committee from the Gideon Christian Fellowship went and lobbied the State of Louisiana and darn if a public ceremony and announcement was made by the State Treasurer's office about the purchase of more than $25 million of SOI bonds-a terrific counterweight to the mainstream Protestant and their patently racist divest Israel campaigns here in the US.
All of us seated at the ACT table -Christians and Jews alike- thought that story had a resonating message of compassion and brotherhood for all Americans and steadfast support by Americans for Israel and the Jewish people.
All in all this was a most impressive occasion because Israelis, Americans, Jews and Christian allies gathered to praise the IFCJ pioneering efforts and the common cause that motivates all this-Ha Shem's blessing, Israel-the hope of mankind. As many of the speakers, but especially Bauer, Eckstein and Lieberman repeated that Cassandra like quote from Zionist visionary Theodore Herzl-"if you will it, it is no dream."
The IFCJ's Stand up for Israel Awards dinner was a wonderful tonic for all Zionists-Christian and Jew alike. Solidarity was the real "glittering prize of the evening on last Wednesday in our Nation's Capitol.
__________________
Mr. Gordon is a former U.S. military intelligence officer, writer, activist who resides in Connecticut.
Posted by Jerry Gordon at October 1, 2005 10:42 AM