Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Nov. 4
Promoting understanding and building relationships between the Jewish community and other faith communities, is the mission of the outreach committee of the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
“Any time people, who might have different and conflicting views, can sit together and learn and talk it is very beneficial—If the views on common issues are not in conflict, it also helps to have both groups get to know each other, understand the thoughts and motivations of both groups and to gain trust with each other when future issues may come up,” says Jerry Kantor, chair of the outreach committee.
Two international organizations will visit Tidewater to offer explanations why they work to support Israel. Both events are free and open to the community.
Pastor Victor Styrsky, eastern regional coordinator for Christians United for Israel (CUFI) will be speak about “Why Christians Support Israel” during a CRC Learn@Lunch on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 12:15 pm on the Sandler Family Campus.
Styrsky has been a pastor, music director, and pro-Israel activist in Northern California for more than 25 years and is the author of “Honest to God—Christian Zionists Confront 10 Questions Jews Need Answered.” Styrsky assumed CUFI’s eastern regional coordinator position after serving several years as CUFI’s California director. A Christian Zionist for more than 30 years, he has been a frequent speaker at AIPAC, on college campuses, Zionist Organization of America, Eagles Wings, the Israel-Christian Nexus and other pro-Israel organizations across the nation. In 2007, Styrsky addressed the 25,000-person rally outside the United Nations in protest of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s appearance.
CUFI, with more than 1,000,000 members, is the largest grass roots, pro-Israel organization in the world. Their purpose is to provide a national association through which every pro-Israel church, para-church organization, ministry or individual in America can speak and act with one voice in support of Israel in matters related to Biblical issues. This will be Pastor Styrsky’s third visit to Tidewater’s Jewish community. Stop by the Cardo Café and pick up lunch while Pastor Styrsky speaks about the mission of CUFI, why they support Israel, and then takes questions.
USA director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Susan Michael will speak over a light breakfast at Temple Emanuel on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 10 am in a partnership program between the CRC and Temple Emanuel. Michael is director of the U.S. branch of the ICEJ and a member of the international board in Jerusalem, having served in various capacities with the ICEJ for 30 years. For more than 30 years, the ICEJ has stood by Israel, showing their support in a variety of ways, both in the land and around the world. They administer several aid projects, engage in advocacy for Israel, and assist in Aliyah to the Jewish homeland.
During his visit a year and a half ago, Ethan Felson, vice president and general counsel for the Jewish Council of Public Affairs, the CRC’s umbrella organization mentioned, “if you want to get Jews to understand why Christians support Israel, you MUST have Susan Michael speak.” Michael’s talk will be on “Should the Jewish community work with Evangelicals in support of Israel?” and is not one to be missed.
Nichole A. Kushner, vice chair of the CRC outreach committee says, “The mutual respect and understanding of our local Christian community comes at a time in history when the need for outreach and tolerance has never been so great. Cultural and religious understanding also enriches our community, and affords us all the foundation for relationships to grow.”
At this time, Israel needs all the friends she can get. Show support of the work that Christians United for Israel and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem do by attending one or both of these events. For more information or to RSVP to these free and open to the community events, contact JJohnson@ujft.org.
by Robin Mancoll