Churches Take a Stand Against Anti-Semitism
On the occasion of the Jewish High Holidays, Sept. 24–Oct. 16, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), in partnership with the Broward County Pastors Network (BPN), is urging churches and ministries in South Florida to take a stand against rising anti-Semitism and to encourage their members to bless and stand in solidarity with the Jewish people.
In response, Christian leaders representing hundreds of churches and organizations issued a statement condemning recent anti-Semitic acts in South Florida, and urging individual pastors and leaders to make their congregations and members aware of this growing concern.
Anti-Semitic vandalism has targeted a number of Jewish communities and Miami-Dade synagogues over the last few months. Several have been desecrated with hate symbols and vandalized with spray painted swastikas. Furthermore, the motive of the murder of visiting Rabbi Joseph Raksin of Brooklyn, New York is not yet known. The fact that it took place within close vicinity to several incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti on synagogues and cars has brought a sense of unease to the local Jewish community.
Susan Michael, U.S. Director of the ICEJ explained that “it is due to that sense of unease that it was important to let the Jewish community know that local Christians stood with them and would be doing what they could to alert their congregants to the problem.”
The ICEJ and BPN urged Christian leaders to take this opportunity to not only make a statement, but also to educate their members, and motivate them to bless the Jewish people, and pray for their wellbeing.
In order to equip pastors and leaders to make a statement during services or in publications, the ICEJ released Remarks Concerning Rising Anti-Semitism for their use as well as resources for further study on the subject.
Eric Stillman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Broward County found the initiative to be very impacting and said, “I am grateful for the demonstration of solidarity from the Christian community in standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Jewish community in these trying times.”
For more information contact the U.S. Branch of the ICEJ at (615) 895-9830 or [email protected].
