Why do Christians Support Israel?
One of the fundamental reasons is biblical. They hold to God’s words to Abraham from Genesis 12:3: “I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse.” By blessing Israel with their support, Christians believe that they will partake in this biblical promise.
There are other reasons as well. Some Christians see their support of the Jewish people as atonement for millennia of Jewish persecution at the hand of Christians. They have faced up to the most shameful chapters of Christian history and mean to put things right by standing against anti-Semitism and anti-Israel rhetoric.
Many Christians also see in Israel a faithful ally with whom they share common values. Among these values are faith in God, a common Judeo-Christian heritage, a love of freedom, and a belief that freedom is best secured through a democratic political system.
For nearly 40 years, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has followed the vision of founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, z”l, in building bridges between Christians and Jews, and now others have followed suit. The billions of shekels raised by The Fellowship - thanks to the love and support of mainly Christian donors - have been invested in helping disadvantaged communities in Israel in the areas of welfare, Aliyah, immigrant absorption, emergency needs, and security. Organizations such as Christians United for Israel (CUFI) and in the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) are also dedicated to bringing Christians and Jews together to support Israel.
For the first time in history, the Jewish people truly have millions of friends who support and stand with them. And that, for anyone who cares about Israel and the Jewish people, should be cause for celebration.
Yael Eckstein
President
IFCJ
