Strange Bedfellows Indeed
An Orthodox Jew doing an unorthodox job, stumping for money from evangelical Christians to support Jewish settlements in the occupied territories -- land she calls biblical Israel. A recent stop finds her in Melbourne, Florida, visiting Pastor Gary Christofaro at his First Assembly Church of God. Christofaro and his flock take their Jewish roots so seriously that on Friday nights they observe the Jewish Sabbath with Hebrew prayers.
Christofaro's Florida congregation responded with money -- all while singing a prayer for peace in perfect Hebrew.
This is not just religious ritual. They support Israel -- which to them includes Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank. Church members have donated more than a $100,000 to support them.
"If it wasn't for what the Jews brought to Christianity, there would be no Christianity," Christofaro said. "There is a promise to those who bless Israel to be blessed. Those who curse it will be cursed."
Christofaro and Baras are part of a growing alliance between evangelical Christians and Israelis.
A recent poll found that 59 percent of American evangelicals believe Israel is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates 85 million evangelicals believe God tells them to support Israel -
One of the most successful Jewish fundraisers, raised $39 million last year from Christian Zionists.
Christian Zionists often converge on Washington by the thousands to lobby members of Congress in support of Israel.
"The support of Christian Zionists today is critical to Israel's security and strength and to America's security and strength."
Back in church, Baras told the congregation: "We need to stand together so that our governments will believe that the land of Israel, the entire land of Israel, belongs to the Jewish people."
"I was never fully American, ( the trouble with most of todays various nationalities living in America ) " she explained. "I was Jewish." Judaism was not only her religion but also her nationality.
"We learned how to read Hebrew before we learned how to read English," she said. Her parents, who narrowly escaped the Holocaust, sent her to Zionist summer camps that championed the Jewish homeland.
Some people say Jews and evangelical Christians make strange bedfellows, given historical anti-Semitism. "Because of this doctrine of a Jew being a Christ-killer ... so much hatred and anti-Semitism has been propagated throughout the Earth," Christofaro said.
Now such historic anti-Semitism has given way to an urgent support of Israel among some evangelicals, many of whom believe that only when Jews live in all of the Holy Land - -- only then will Christ return and true believers be raptured up to heaven. (Scariest idea yet)
"It is a controversial issue here in Israel as to whether we should be partnering with the Christians in any way," Baras said.
It's controversial in part because in the judgment day scenario embraced by some evangelicals, Jews who don't convert to Christianity burn in hell. But Baras said she isn't worried.
"I know that I'm not going to burn in hell because I didn't accept Jesus, because I don't believe Jesus is the Messiah," she said. "So how could I possibly be threatened?"
"Israel has many enemies," she said. "We have to take advantage (what they do best) of every single one of our friends.
Remember jews suppport & believe in NO ONE but themselves, they only USE you to their advantage
Full story here
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