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Jewish leaders and Christian Zionists unite Thursday
By Eileen Flynn | Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 01:59 PM
The Jewish-Christian Alliance for Israel, a local group that formed a few years ago, is holding a panel Thursday on the partnership between Jews and evangelical Christians to support the state of Israel. Last year, a Jewish group from Austin traveled to San Antonio to controversial pastor John Hagee’s Cornerstone Church to rally for Israel, and another group will do it again this fall.
Anyone interested in the religious and/or political aspects of Israel should check this out. For one thing, Michelle Perris, a local real estate broker and one of the leaders of J-CHAI, said the panel may help dispel misconceptions about the friendship between Jews and conservative Christians who are at odds theologically.
Many people, she said, don’t realize that most Christian Zionists no longer try to proselytize to Jews and that one of the reasons they support Israel financially is a sense they owe the Jewish people restitution. After centuries of religious persecution by Christians, Perris sees this as a “miracle of miracles.”
Still, some Jews say they feel exploited by Christians who need them in Israel in order to fulfill a biblical prophecy that eventually will lead to the return of Jesus. And then what, some Jewish leaders have wondered, the Jews are left behind?
Perris, a native of Tel Aviv who is moving back to Israel Friday after 36 years in Austin, has a simple answer. She doesn’t believe Jesus is coming back. So why worry about it? She’s more concerned with what people do than what they think, and she’s eager to work with Christian Zionists when she returns to Israel.
Here’s the info on the panel: 7 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 11) at the Jewish Community Association of Austin Social Hall, 7300 Hart Lane. Speakers will be Malcolm Hedding, executive director, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem; Rev. Rick Randall, pastor of Cornerstone Church, Austin; Rabbi Kerry Baker, Congregation Kol Halev, Austin.
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By staff September 10, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
PhilNLeBlanc,
Please clarify: Who is a Christian extremist posing as a journalist?
Please defend your answer with at least three examples.
September 10, 2008 7:21 PM | Link to this
Why does the Statesman continue to be a platform for this right-wing Christan extremist (posing as a journalist) to advocate hatred and abuse of human rights in the name of religion?
When will the Statesman provide those Israeli Jews and Palestinian opposed to the theocratic abuse of “the Holy Land” equal access?