During the week covered by this review, we received 13 articles on the following subjects:
Arab Believing Community
The Pope and the Vatican
Christian Zionism
Christians in Israel
Bible
Christian Sites
Archeology
Art and Culture
Arab Believing Community
Yisrael HaYom, July 9; The Jerusalem Post, July 11, 2013
Yisrael HaYom and The Jerusalem Post report on the latest development within the Christian Arab community in Israel, which has been torn apart by the very sensitive issue of serving in the IDF (see previous Media Reviews). Now, Christian Arabs who support the call for young Arabs to join the army are forming a political party to promote their cause. The new party will be named “The Sons of the New Covenant – the Israeli Christian Party” and will be headed by Bashara Shlayan. “This,” writes Dror Idar, “is a historical event with very far-reaching and deep ramifications for Israeli society.”
According to The Jerusalem Post, “the party is a response to current Arab parties that do not meet the needs of Christians.” Says Shlayan: “A person should belong to his or her country. … If I were in America, would I not be an American? At least in Israel [as opposed to other Arab Middle Eastern states] whoever chooses to stay here is given the right to become a citizen and integrate into the society. … I am demanding that we Christians will be recognized as citizens who are loyal to the State.”
HaEda, June 28, 2013
Religious paper HaEda mockingly describes how MK Shaked, of the Mafdal, has intervened on behalf of Father Nadaf to request that the Greek Orthodox priest not be dismissed by the church for his support of Christian Arabs who wish to join the IDF. The article is critical of the Mafdal, since it is not a Torah-keeping party; of the IDF, which it renames the “Zionist army”; and of Nadaf, “who is suddenly a representative of the government and a Zionist” because of his “ridiculous” endeavors.
The Pope and the Vatican
HaModia, July 12, 2013
HaModia reports that “after 60 years, Netanyahu’s government has given in to pressure from the Vatican” and will concede its rights to key sites in Jerusalem and across the country. The disputed sites include King David’s Tomb on Mount Zion, “which the Christians claim is an important site in the life of ‘that man.’” According to the agreement between Israel and the Vatican, Jews will still be allowed to visit David’s Tomb. Other sites that will be handed over to the Vatican include Mount Tabor, Caesarea, and the largest church in Nazareth. Furthermore, all churches across the country will be exempt from paying municipal taxes as part of the agreement. According to the paper, “experts on the Christian world warn that this is a step that might cause a war that will harm Jews all over the world.”
Christian Zionism
Yediot Ahronot, July 9, 2013
In this two-page article, Danny Spector interviews Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which is one of the largest philanthropic organizations in Israel. Of interest is a short paragraph in which Eckstein stresses that the only people/organizations he refuses to receive monetary donations from are those with a missionary agenda. On the other hand, much of Eckstein’s support comes from Israel-loving Christians “who sometimes give the little they have just so that things will be better for us [Jews] – they are willing to do anything for us.”
Haaretz, July 12, 2013
On the eve of Tisha B’Av, Tomer Parsiko examines the theological underpinnings of current-day evangelical Christian Zionism. He explains how these Protestant Christians believe that God has not replaced Israel but that his covenant with the Jews is as strong today as it ever was. Indeed, writes Parsiko, these Christians believe that Israel’s sovereignty over the Holy Land has messianic implications: that Jesus’ return is now imminent as a result of the formation of the State of Israel. Some evangelical leaders have even gone so far as to claim that the most important date since the death and resurrection of Jesus is May 14, 1948.
And yet, writes Parsiko, “two months ago we celebrated 65 years since the establishment of the State of Israel, and Jesus has not yet returned. How does one explain this delay?” The answer, according to some evangelicals, is in the destruction of the temple: Jesus cannot return until the temple is rebuilt. At this point, Parsiko delves into the history and development of Christian dispensationalism and futurism in the tradition of John Nelson Darby. “This apocalyptic scene,” concludes Parsiko, “means that [Jesus’] followers must believe that for salvation to come, the Jews must establish a state (which, as we know, became a reality in 1948), they must rule Jerusalem and the Temple Mount (1967), and they must build the temple. Building the temple is critical.”
Parsiko then explains the role of the temple in dispensational theology according to Hal Lindsay’s bestselling book The Late Great Planet Earth, which has sold more than fifteen million copies. The book encourages Christians to find organizations in Israel that are interested in rebuilding the temple, and working together with them. This is why, “apart from the political and financial support of the Israeli right wing, evangelical groups donate finances to organizations that want to rebuild the temple.”
Christians in Israel
Makor Rishon, Yisrael HaYom, July 12, 2013
Two papers ran the same five-page article, which focuses on the life of Gregor Pawlowski, a Catholic priest with Jewish origins living in Israel. It is a Hebrew translation of the same article that appeared in The Jerusalem Post in April of this year (see April 9, 2013, Media Review).
Bible
HaUniversita, June 17, 2013
Researchers at Hebrew University are embarking on a project to study the many Arabic translations of the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) that were made during the Middle Ages. The scripts are mostly located in monasteries across the Middle East. The team will work with post-doctoral students in Israel and in Germany.
Christian Sites
The Jerusalem Post, July 5, 2013
Meital Sharabi visits the pastoral village of Ein Kerem, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, “which was home to the multitudes of Crusaders who flocked to the Holy Land as well as the birthplace of John the Baptist, an important character in the New Testament.” Sharabi’s tour begins at Mary’s Spring, where Christian tradition holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, met her cousin Elizabeth, when both were expecting their firstborn sons. “Legend holds that Mary stopped to drink from the spring, and as a result many people believe that it is a holy place.” Among the other sites visited, Sharabi describes the Church of the Visitation, which commemorates Mary’s visit with her cousin. “Christian tradition tells us that when Mary visited Elizabeth here, the baby began to move within her womb – at which point Elizabeth blessed Mary. Mary then sang a hymn called the Magnificat.”
Archeology
Nachon LeHayom, July 4, 2013
Archeologists believe that some recent findings at Tel Shiloh are indicators that the tabernacle was, in fact, situated there as is described in the Bible. The findings will be presented at a conference of the Shiloh Association later this week.
Makor Rishon, July 11, 2013
A pottery shard with an inscription dating back to the time of King David has been found at the archeological dig on the south end of the Temple Mount. It is the oldest known inscription ever to be found in Jerusalem. The inscription is incomplete, however, and its meaning is as yet unknown. Archeologists believe it might be the name of the person who owned the clay pitcher or that it details the pitcher’s contents.
Art and Culture
Haaretz, July 9, 2013
This article focuses on Italian playwright Romeo Castellucci and his latest play, titled “The Four Seasons Restaurant.” Of interest is a short paragraph in which the reviewer suggests that one of the scenes in the play reminds him of Jesus’ final words – “My God my God, why have you forsaken me?” – an interpretation that is adamantly denied by Castellucci.