By Ellen W. Horowitz
September 5, 2007
 Bookmark to del.icio.us
In his article, Don't reject Christian friendship (Sept.4), Malcolm Hedding, the executive director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, accused me of prejudice and applied the analogy of apartheid to my defense of the Jewish heritage.
His indictment is untenable. That I maintain the Jewish right , as well as the rights of all religions, to function as independent faith communities -- with distinct traditions and theology -- would surely not fall into the category of racism.
I can't recall whether Mr. Hedding and I have ever met, but he feels that he knows me well enough to state, "For her, there can be no such thing as Jewish-Christian friendship, solidarity and collaboration...I note that, while Ms. Horowitz is very strident in her claims, she has never come in to see us. Isolation is always a good breeding ground for prejudice."
I can assure Mr. Hedding that many of my concerns and reservations regarding Judeo-Christian trends, and calls for a Messianic Jewish restoration, are based on personal observation through my direct involvement with the Christian Evangelical community.
I was featured in a widely promoted and televised documentary with Donna Holbrook, the Canadian Director of ICEJ -- Mr. Hedding's organization. I've worked at ICEJ's Feast of the Tabernacles, have lectured to and engaged in business dealings with the Evangelical community, and have welcomed groups of Christian tourists to my moshav in the Golan Heights. I have also consulted with and collaborated with Christian friends on my articles covering these very issues.
I did not accuse Christians of robbing the Jewish people of their birthright, but I did suggest that my own people have lost a part as themselves (sold their birthright, so to speak) in an attempt to relieve themselves of their universal role and responsibilities to all of mankind.
I certainly won't reject Christian friendship, as long as our relationship is built with an understanding and respect for differences, rather than an insistence on seeking out common theological denominators.
Ellen W. Horowitz
Golan Heights
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
