Religion & Beliefs

Christians (and Controversy) Descend on Israel for Sukkot

By Christiane-Marie Sarah / October 15, 2009

Comments (8)

Jerusalem was busy last week as thousands descended on the city for Sukkot and the annual Jerusalem March. This year’s march drew around 70,000 people, up from the 35,000 who participated in 2008. 20,000 police stood by on Tuesday to oversee the controversial event, after what has already been a tense week in Jerusalem. Thousands of Christians also took part in the march, attending as part of a Feast of Tabernacles celebration hosted by the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem (ICEJ).

Christian presence is a by now a familiar part of the Sukkot milieu, but Israelis have yet to decide what to make of these "friends of Israel." Rabbi Tovia Singer has warned that the Christian congregants want to "prey on" rather than "pray for" Israel, and in 2007 the Chief Rabbinate forbade Jews from taking part in the march and other events with ICEJ presence. Minister of Tourism Stash Misezhnikov, however, has justified the event, stating that the Feast of Tabernacles is the largest annual tourist event in Israel, and is expected to generate between $16 and 18 million in revenue. Who are these "Christian Zionists," and should they be welcomed by Israelis? These questions return each year, and have also surfaced occasionally during events like the death of Christian fundamentalist Jerry Falwall in 2007. Israeli journalist Evan Goldstein at the time pointed out that "philo-Semites, like Falwell, seem to relate to Jews more as mythical figures from the Bible than as real living, breathing people." His analysis was based on the thoughts of German philosopher Ernst Bloch, who wrote that a "philo-Semite is an anti-Semite that loves Jews." As an American Christian who has lived and worked in Israel, I think Goldstein’s diagnosis strikes at the heart of the problem. For many Christians the term "Jews" is understood to denote a homogenous group, often conceptualized as characters in a modern retelling of the Biblical narrative. To visit Israel is to enter into that narrative, as is reflected in the names of Christian Zionist tours: Bridges for Peace offers "Land of the Bible" experiences, the ICEJ gives "Grafted In" tours, CFOIC runs tours of "Judea and Samaria," and the Christian Friends of Israel lead a "Meet the People" tour. With the ICEJ you can even "adopt a holocaust survivor" for $250 a month.The problem of "meeting the people" is that in these discourses, the people are the tourist attraction, living figurines in a life-size diorama of Biblical past and prophecy. When I moved to Israel in 2005, I came equipped with this American Christian picture of Israelis as "Biblical," religious, and European. What I found was a diverse and modern nation of secular, traditional, and religious Jews. Some were of European descent, but there were also Russian, Ethiopian, Iraqi, Yemeni, and many other ethnicities. Among Israeli society I also found a broad variety of opinions on the conflict, and a greater freedom of dialogue than exists in American politics (where the conflict is reduced to a choice between being "pro-Israel" and being labeled an "anti-Semite" or "self-hating Jew").

My "philo-Semitic" understanding of Jews changed quickly, because it was shallowly grounded in media and assumption. However, many Christians who visit Israel leave with their construction of Israel and the Jews intact. Misezhnikov’s comments offer a clue as to why: accepting this discourse is lucrative, and challenging it could hurt tourism. However, perpetuating this discourse keeps Christian-Jewish relations frozen at a choice between "overzealous affection or disinterest" on the Christian side, and "distrust" and even "disgust" on the other. The Sukkot celebrations this week are yet another indication that the relationship between Christians and Jews must change. The view of Jews as "objects" or passive players in prophecy is dangerously dehumanizing. Furthermore, the radical political support Christian Zionism offers Israel is no blessing. It empowers Palestinian, Israeli, and American religious fundamentalists and impedes progress toward peace. Christians and Jews must work together to encourage a more complex understanding of Israel and of the Jewish people. Additionally, Israelis must find new ways to engage with Christians, especially in the area of tourism. Any relationship that emerges is bound to be more complicated, but ultimately it will better benefit both sides. Sociologist Johan Galtung has said that "Every religion contains, in varying degrees, elements of the soft and the hard. For the sake of world peace, dialogue within religions and among them must strengthen the softer aspects." In this way, Israelis can interact with Christians on a more honest level, and forge a better future for Christian-Jewish relations.

Comments (8)

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By ciscotx 11/13/09 at 4:13 p.m. UTC

I hope at least once to go to Israel.

I will not be going to show my religious superiority. (I am christian)

I will not be going to show my support for Israel against her enemies, unless that would be requested of me. (It looks like right now Israel is doing well defending itself)

I will not be going to show my racial superiority.(I’m not sure how I would do that anyway)

I don’t view the Jews through the lens of the "Old Testament" – except when history is the subject

I realize, like any reasonably well-read person, that Israel is a mix of people from all over the world. I know very few people who don’t realize this.

Maybe you could call me a "philo-Semite". If philo is given its true meaning – I do have Jewish friends.

I will be going because in the land of ancient Israel my faith was born.

To see where Jesus taught and lived and died would be very moving for me.

I obviously can’t speak for all Christians, but those I know would always be respectful.

Maybe Israel should sacrifice and set quotas on the number of tourists?

Or require the passage of a course on modern Israel for all tourists?
By Zeevico 10/21/09 at 12:15 a.m. UTC
never mind. What Asher said.
By tex 10/20/09 at 10:28 p.m. UTC
I know many of these "pro-jewish" christians, and your analysis is spot on. They are not as dangerous as Erik might want to think, but they are harmful in there own way.
By Erik Kolacek 10/19/09 at 5:19 a.m. UTC
If you were to switch the words "Israel," "Jewish" and "Christian" with the terms "Africa," "African-American" and "white" in that article, it would quickly become obvious that the author is largely unaware of her own instituional prejudice.

I mean, honestly Asher. I get it…we’re all supposed to play nice. But how generous of Christians to tolerate Jews. Are there any other things I should be thanking them for? The right to own property?

Asher, I’ve lived in the belly of the beast. I am "blessed" with relatives by marriage who are Christian, Protestant and Evangelical. I attended a Jesuit business school where I was compelled to take classes on Christian doctrine. Even my ex-wife was a Christian and to be quite blunt – there is no making excuses for them.

I’ve tried, believe me.

Clearly I don’t know you as a person, but I would put money on the liklihood that were you to hear firsthand what is said in most churches about Jews you would be absolutely infuriated.

I appreciate your diplomacy for my perceived intolerance, but honestly brother…I stand by what I said.
By Asher Weiss 10/17/09 at 2:47 p.m. UTC
Sarah, in your respectful piece, you go out of your way to identify what you see as a problem in the way Evangelical Christians typically view Israel and the Jewish people. In return, Erik accuses Evangelical Christians, and you by association, of a "one sided, horribly misinformed, and dubiously racist" world view. As a proud Jew, I think he ought to extend the same tolerance to you and your ilk that you extent to him and his ilk.
By Sharyl Cobb 10/17/09 at 10:28 a.m. UTC
I thought that all three posts about the subject of Christians and their love of Israel were insightful of vastly different perspectives. As a Christian, I too love Israel. I have examined her history and realize that God is doing something significant in that land. I also realize that Jews in Israel welcome our money but not our religious perspective. Perhaps sometimes they even resent it.

Israeli Jews should welcome Christian visits, not only for their needed revenues, but so that real understanding of one another can be fostered through on-site, one-on-one, respectful dialogue. Israel needs American/European support. Those who love Israel need to know her personally for what she is and understand what is truly going on. This does not have to happen just by visiting. There is plenty of information on the Internet, in books, and even by watching Jewish television productions from Israel, keeping up with the daily news over there via the Internet. Yet, nothing beats personal contact, eye-to-eye meetings to help foster, not only Israeli, but world peace.

I can understand the skepticism of Jews toward visitors who view themselves as Christians. The "Christian problem" is that there are so many different types and stripes of those who call themselves Christian, and not all varieties have been very good to Jews in the past. Also, Jews resent that we have picked a "Messiah" for them that they want nothing to do with. I wonder how much they really know about the Christian "Messiah" from reading his own words. They might be pleasantly surprised! For those who fear that we "Christians" want to just exploit them somehow, those who believe in the prophecies in the Tanaach about the future glory of Israel are actually preparing to help re-build Israel after its enemies and various land upheavals leave everything an impossible mess. Regardless of how they feel about our "Messiah," should they not welcome help freely given? Real Christians don’t want to exploit anyone. The others are fake and should be treated as such.

It seems that Jews and true Christians have much in common. While they may disagree about the identity of one crucified long ago over his claim to be Messiah, we can certainly agree that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the one, true God who loves all people, Jews and Gentiles, and wants us to live together in peace and mutual support. If Jesus is Messiah, as we believe, He will show up in good time and end this question. Until then, we can "agree to disagree" and do so agreeably, in total peace and freedom.
By Erik Kolacek 10/16/09 at 4:36 a.m. UTC
"When I moved to Israel in 2005, I
came equipped with this American Christian picture of Israelis as
"Biblical," religious, and European. What I found was a diverse and
modern nation of secular, traditional, and religious Jews. Some were of
European descent, but there were also Russian, Ethiopian, Iraqi,
Yemeni, and many other ethnicities."

How nice for you.

I can only speak for myself, but I have only had interactions with Christians that were one-sided, condescending, horribly misinformed and based on the dubiously racist Evangelical Christian view that "blonde white Jesus, the magic super-Jew" will slide down a rainbow and deliver Christendom (otherwise known as "Israel") from the scary brown Muslims. That goal being achieved if (and only if) we Jews will hurry up and fullfill their utterly ludicrous end-time fantasies.

While most of us are well aware of who we are, I’m happy you’ve discovered that Jews come in all colors and are not a monolithic race of tragic German stereotypes. Really I am. Congratulations as well for your amazing discovery that Jews as a whole are dehumanized by Christians.

As far as your assertion that "Christians and Jews ‘must’ work together for a better understanding of the Jewish people?" Frankly I don’t have to do anything a Christian tells me to do. All I need to do is follow G-d’s law and strive to be a better Jew.

Let me know how all of this works out for you.
By veganesther 10/15/09 at 8:45 p.m. UTC
We will never know the full effect of Christians’ impact on the modern state of Israel ,If it is "Good for the Jews"? or not. Who can know for sure whether a Christian’s love for the land of Israel and the Jewish people is motivated by benign factors or if it is motivated by a desire to ultimately oppress the Jewish people.

Peace with the Palestinians is our goal. We desire to co-existence and share our holy sites, to cooperate with one another financially, artistically, educationally. I take umbrage at the athors saying that American Jews who are not hard liners are labled self hating Jews. This attitude is no longer prevalent. American Jews can love the land of Israel, the Israeli people and simulataneously disagree with Israels’ policys towards the Palestinians.

Ha Kodesh Baruchu has blessed us with the protective sheild of the Shechina. We can not other wise explain why Israel has suffered so few causulties while the Palestininans and the Lebonise suffer casualties at higher rates. This protective sheild has its disadvantages too, because the rest of the world then accuses Israel of unevenhandedness. So we must deal with their hatred and jealousy.

During the time of the Beit ha mikdash non Jewsih rulers desired to offer thanksgiving sacrifices and the Cohanim accommodated those wishes. So too, in the modern era Christians want to aknowledge the Holy days of Sukkot and Israel is wise to accommodate them.