Kesher Talk

"Stand for Israel" to be a Christian version of AIPAC? Christian Coalition founder Ralph Reed has joined with Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, to laucnh "Stand for Israel," a non-profit tax-exempt grass roots organization. It will be unable to lobby on specific political issues, but aims to activate the fervent Christian support for Israel found in thousands of churches around the country.

What will Stand for Israel bring to the table? "The ability to mobilize the groups' 100,000 affiliated churches and 250,000 donors to call into Washington at crucial times."

While some Jewish leaders cringe at working with fundamentalist Christians (their stated objection is that their theological beliefs will prevent them from supporting peace initiatives), Stand for Israel's leaders say their organization won't oppose the Israeli government on its peacemaking efforts — regardless of the deal on the table. "Israelis know better than Americans what policies are best," Reed said. "Our role will not be to tell Israel what to do."

"To increase their numbers and to raise funds, Stand for Israel has just launched a $400,000 media campaign aimed at major newspapers, and radio shows including Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura Schlessinger and other nationally broadcast conservative shows."

posted by Howard @ 6/25/2002 01:37:20 PM