Shalom friends,

One of our UMJC member congregations is located near Jerusalem, and is led by Dr. David Friedman. David has lived in Israel for nearly twenty years, and worked as a professor of Jewish Studies for much of that time. In recent years, he has also become involved in Jewish-Arab reconciliation. As Messianic Jews and allies we walk a fine line that unites our support for the state of Israel with obedience to Yeshua's commandment to love our enemies and make peace. David's story illustrates this calling, and I'd like you to hear it in his own words:

"Last month I was in Amsterdam at a Jewish-Arab reconciliation conference, followed up by a similar reconciliation conference in Prague. The one in Amsterdam was simply superb. Thirty of us came, serving as a steering committee for a reconciliation movement, as we've been meeting for three years. Over a dozen Arab believers from various lands, including Israel, issued an emotional, heart rendering and very appreciated apology to Messianic Jews from Israel regarding the hatred of their people towards our people. They then prayed long for us, mostly for protection for Israel, and expressed solidarity with our country's existence behind secure borders. What a tremendous time! The European Christians there issued an apology for the church's past and present anti-Semitism, as well as for their anti-Arab attitudes in history, as exhibited in the Crusades, for example. It was simply powerful. These Arab believers who made such a strong step in our direction are real lovers of Israel (as they love the Torah!).

"In Prague, it was a bit different. There I was with a group of thirty European Baptist pastors, professors, and Bible college deans. They were mostly from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Russia. I spoke on two subjects: the anti-Semitic nature of ‘replacement theology', and then on ‘why there is no peace in the Middle East.' I spoke opposite a man who kept attacking Israel for wronging Arabs and Palestinians. He made such bombastic statements that it wasn't hard to refute them and show the other side of the story. One example, he said: ‘Israel always only does evil to Arabs and Muslims, ever.' I then gave the life story of my friend who was a heart surgeon in Israel who used to fly Arab children with heart defects to Israel at his own expense, and operate on them pro bono. He and his group of Israeli MDs treated over 1,000 Arab children with no charge. I also talked about how Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael took in 600 Bosnian Muslim refugees during the Yugoslav civil war, when no other Muslim nation did so. The speaker who denounced Israel could not answer back to these points.

"The Prague group is currently working on a declaration on the situation in Israel, which will be an eastern European Baptist recommendation to their churches. They will affirm Israel's right to exist without the threat of annihilation and will also denounce the Church's anti-Semitic history. I am happy with these basic affirmations. The PR battle for Israel continues."

(Click here for Rabbi Friedman's full editorial) 

Just last month, we celebrated Chanukah, which marks a military victory in the land of Israel-something that seems relevant today. But its dominant symbol is light. Chanukah balances zeal for Jewish triumph with a universal hope for light during the darkest days of the year. In the same way, we support Israel and recognize its need for military victory. But as followers of the one who said "I am the light of the world," we hope for the light of Messiah to bring peace and reconciliation even between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East.

May 2007 be a year of light and peace in Yeshua!

Russ Resnik