MK Benny Elon – Does his constituency realize who he hangs out with?
Photo: Reuters
Lovers of Israel?
For evangelicals, return of Jews to Israel is only first step
Many years ago I traveled to the United States. I had no particular plans, landed in New York, and by evening time found myself sitting on the shore of the Atlantic in New Jersey. To my left and right extended a deserted promenade with dozens of abandoned wooden benches, identical to my own bench.
I didn’t say a word, but the woman turned to me suddenly, and asked why I chose to sit on her bench of all benches.
As I was enjoying the quiet and solitude, a big old car appeared, driven by a uniformed chauffer. An elderly lady disembarked from the back seat, carrying a large book in her arms. She made her way to my bench and sat down next to me, opened the book – the Bible in English – and began reading.
Lobby Group
Chaim Shivi
More than a dozen Knesset members are part of the ‘Jewish-Christian’ lobby in the Knesset, and have traveled all over the world to address Christian groups and to drum up support for Israel
I told her I didn’t know it was her bench. She asked where I came from and I said I arrived from Jerusalem. The woman was very excited. She told me members of her church, an evangelical church in a town nearby, really love Israel and the Jews and the Bible. I thanked her from the bottom of my heart, and she wondered how I ended up arriving from Jerusalem to this God forsaken promenade. I shrugged and said it wasn’t on purpose.
In response, the woman said it’s impossible for a man to leave Jerusalem and the next day land of all places on the same bench where she reads her Bible every evening. She said she had no doubt the Lord himself directed me there.
I told her I agreed, and she invited me to come to her church the next evening to deliver a speech on Jerusalem and the Bible.
Thirty years have passed since that day and I already forgot that story, but recalled it this week when it turned out I’m not the only Israeli invited to address evangelical churches in the United States. But as opposed to me, the other invitees are not mere tourists, but rather, Knesset members, and not just any Knesset members, but members of the “lobby for promoting ties with Christian communities abroad,” no less.
Hoping for en masse conversion
I must first note that in contradiction to the disparaging charges heard around here this past week, I don’t think this lobby was formed because of the free flights these evangelicals kindly fund for the MKs. Indeed, life often brings most of us much greater joys than church lectures – unless you are Knesset Member Gila Gamliel, a special, unique case.
What’s more interesting is that members of the lobby characterize these evangelicals as “Lovers of Israel.” We should give some thought to this description, because most members of the lobby are right-wing MKs, and the evangelicals believe in our right to settle within the borders of the country promised to us by God in the Bible. In my opinion, only haters of Israel should wish this for us, but why ruin the affair? We are only left to wonder that left-wing MK Ran Cohen also joined this lobby.
In any case, since the lobby includes some distinguished religious Knesset members, it’s worthwhile reminding them that under the evangelical vision, the return of the Jews to their country is not the end of game. Rather, it is only a stage on the way to Jesus’ return – he, the Messiah, the son of God, in case you forgot.
They should also be reminded the evangelists hope for a Jewish recognition of our historical mistake and en masse conversion to Christianity, following the war of Gog and Magog, including the conversion of Knesset members Gila Finkelstein and Shaul Yahalom from the National Religious Party, Yair Peretz from Shas, Yuri Stern and Benny Elon from the National Union – all of them members of the lobby for promoting ties with Christian communities abroad.
It’s not that we have any objection to the future conversation of all the above-mentioned MKs. To the contrary. Not only Christianity, Judaism too will gain from such move. Yet their constituencies may have something to say in the matter, and should know what their elected representatives do in their leisure time.
As to that bench owner, the American evangelical who invited me to deliver a speech in her church – I obviously agreed, and even asked when to arrive. She said “eight o’clock” and pulled out a pen and paper to draw a map for me.
“There’s no need,” I told her. She became worried. “How will you find the way?” she asked.
“God, who led me from Jerusalem to this bench,” I told her, “will show me the way to your church.”
The firm belief of this lovely lover of Israel seemed to be clouded by a hint of doubt. “Perhaps you’ll write down the address at least?” she asked.
I refused. We, the sons of Israel, who were led by God in the desert, won’t be able to find our way to some church five miles away?
I bid my new friend farewell and returned to my motel. The next day, I entrusted the wheel in God’s powerful hands, and several hours later found myself in a splendid nature reserve I was unaware existed.
That’s the way it is. The ways of God are mysterious, but we must accept them with subservience.
