Progressive Jews can partner with evangelical Christians

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By SHARON UNGERLEIDER

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Should progressive Jews engage with pro-Israel Christian fundamentalists?

I attended the Night to Honor Israel hosted by Christians United for Israel in Eugene on May 25. I believe that, yes, Jews and Christians can and should work together on behalf of Israel and CUFI is an excellent vehicle for developing that partnership.

I discovered that CUFI and many of its members have a firm understanding of Israeli history and the Holocaust, and they have been active in the support and rescue of a number of Jewish communities around the world.

CUFI Executive Director David Brog spoke at Eugene’s Night to Honor Israel. Brog, who is Jewish and a former chief of staff for Pennsylvania Republican turned Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter, outlined CUFI objectives and some of its achievements.

Among CUFI’s central objectives, he said, is to reach out to other Christian groups (not just evangelicals) and to openly and honestly engage the long and sorrowful history of Christian anti-Semitism.

Brog highlighted and commended the heroic acts of righteous Christians who risked their lives to protect Jews and others during the Holocaust. I found these inspiring historical accounts important and necessary for Jews to understand, especially if they have misconceptions about the intent of righteous Christian activities, such as were expressed in the Jewish Review recently by Eugene Rabbis Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin and Maurice Harris who elected not to participate in the Night to Honor Israel (Progressive Zionism and Christians United for Israel, Jewish Review, June 15, page 15).

Brog and CUFI West Coast Political Director Randy Neal made it clear to the students, rabbis and pastors present at an afternoon exchange that CUFI does not seek to impose its views on Israel. Rather, it seeks to persuade the U.S. government not to pressure Israel, rather, allow it to govern itself, regardless of whether we agree with decisions about the land, settlements or any other issue.

The two men said CUFI does not believe that Americans have a right to decide what is best for Israel. This is altogether contrary to the “obstructionist politics” referred by the authors of the June 15 Jewish Review op-ed article.

After hearing Brog, Neal and Pastor Brian Cuff of Eugene’s Church of the Harvest describe CUFI’s approach to Israel activism in the U.S. Congress, I wholeheartedly support CUFI’s political outreach. They partner well with organizations that I am familiar with including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Rabbi Norman M. Cohen of Bet Shalom Congregation in Minnetonka, Minn, recently published an article in support of CUFI. He wrote, “When our youngsters are bombarded on college campuses with anti-Israel rhetoric and demonstrations, who comes to their defense? Christians who share their love for the state of Israel. And when Israelis are killed and wounded in terrorist attacks, which organizations raise thousands of dollars to provide needed assistance and relief for the victims? Organizations such as Christians United for Israel.”

Cohen also commented on Jewish concerns about Christian rapture ideology and conversion, “Not all fundamentalist pro-Israel Christian groups try to convert Jews or claim that Jews have been replaced by Christians as God’s chosen people. CUFI, for example, has denounced such proselytizing philosophies as inappropriately triumphalist.”

I was proud that some members of my local Jewish federation chose Save a Child’s Heart in Holon, Israel, as the recipient of funds raised that night for humanitarian purpose. SACH is a group of cardiac surgeons who operate on Palestinian, Israeli and other children in the Middle East.

CUFI routinely does not choose the recipient organization of their fund-raising efforts. They ask the local Jewish community to select an Israeli organization. A film about SACH was shown and several thousand dollars were forwarded to the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland as the conduit to Israel for those funds. Two University of Oregon students representing Oregon Hillel and Alpha Epsilon Pi, both of whom had just returned from a birthright Israel trip and who had interned at SACH, spoke to the CUFI crowd about their personal experiences in Holon. They accepted the funds for SACH on behalf of the Jewish community.

I want to offer a heartfelt thanks to Jewish Federation of Greater Portland Executive Vice President Charles R. Schiffman and Robert Horenstein of the federation’s Community Relations Committee for stepping in after their many years of working with CUFI leadership in Portland to allow this first Christian gesture for Israel to be realized on behalf of Jews and Christians in Eugene.

My issue is with the obstructionist politics of some in our local Jewish community who are not familiar with complexities of CUFI or do not understand the significance of a Night to Honor Israel.

As a progressive Jew, I found it important to tease out other personal political issues from the mix in order to appreciate the profound relevance of this event. This flexibility of spirit is what progressive Jews routinely afford our friends—practicing Catholics, Muslims or Palestinians with whom we may also disagree on some other issues.

My wish is that Jews of Oregon find a way to stand with each other when it is time to support Israel, to share our passion, to give generously from the heart and not to undermine the opportunity for others—especially Jews—to learn, cherish and support the land of Israel and all her diverse populations.

My personal ethics and commitment to Israel are validated and enhanced by my contact with organizations such as CUFI. I am grateful that CUFI exists and expands Christian sensitivity at a time of rising anti-Semitism.

I strongly encourage other progressive Oregon Jewish leaders to learn more about CUFI through attendance at Nights to Honor Israel and thank CUFI for their generosity of spirit that reaches out and supports Jews and Christians who live and work in Israel, saving lives every day. We could not find a better or more passionate Christian partner.

Sharon Ungerleider is a member of the board of Hillel International, Jewish Family Life Media, Oregon AIPAC Council and Oregon’s Shomer Achi exchange program, among other Jewish affiliations.