During the week covered by this review, we received 5 articles on the following subjects:
Israeli Attitudes Towards Christianity
Christian Zionism / Political Issues
Literature
Interfaith Dialogue
Israeli Attitudes Towards Christianity
Aliton, July 23, 2021; Aliton, July 23, 2021
Both articles provided context for two Christian terms. The first was about “Yehuda Ish Krayot”, the Hebrew name for Judas Iscariot. It explained why the name “Judas” has become synonymous with betrayal. The author described how Judas betrayed Jesus by giving him up to the Roman authorities in exchange for 30 shekels of silver. Judas later repented and hanged himself.
The second article explained the meaning of “the Last Supper”, which, in the Christian tradition, refers to Jesus’ final meal with his disciples before being sentenced to death. During the meal, Jesus gave out bread, calling it his flesh, and blessed a cup of wine, calling it his blood. By doing this, Jesus symbolically passed on his flesh and blood to his disciples so that they would continue in his path. The ceremony has become one of the most important in Christianity, and the Last Supper has been commemorated many times in works of art.
Christian Zionism / Political Issues
Maariv, July 28, 2021
In this piece by Meir Uziel, he tells of a letter drafted by 80 American Christian leaders from the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions, and sent to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The letter declared Christian support for the State of Israel, and acknowledged that Christians historically were often the perpetrators of violence against Jews. The leaders said they were united in their desire to protect the Jewish nation and the sovereignty of Jerusalem. A similar letter of support was sent from the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem. Uziel noted that Christian leaders had asked to meet with Bennett, but that neither Bennett nor Yair Lapid have acquiesced to this request as of yet. Uziel argued that Christian support should not be taken for granted, and that it was strange to him that he was one of the few journalists reporting about the phenomenon of Christian love for Israel.
Literature
Iton 77, June 30, 2021
This was a long-form article looking at Christian motifs used in the post-Holocaust poetry of the Jewish poet Paul Celan. The article explored themes such as the incarnation, Christ’s identification with those who suffer (Holocaust victims in particular), the Eucharist, and the influence of Christian mystic Meister Eckhart on Celan’s ideas.
Interfaith Dialogue
Israel Hayom, July 29, 2021
Christian, Muslim, and Jewish religious leaders from the Haifa area will sign a joint declaration calling for interfaith unity and understanding, while condemning violence in Israeli society. The declaration will be signed at the summit for peace and common life organized by Archbishop Yosef Mata, head of the Greek-Catholic community in the Galilee, and will be attended by President Isaac Herzog.