16 Friday, March 21, 1986 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Have We Been Misreading Jerry Falwell? In an exclusive interview with The Jewish News, the minister of Lynchburg, Va.'s Thomas Road Baptist Church reveals that he desperately wants to be a friend to the Jews, but his media image haunts him. By PHIL JACOBS Special to The Jewish News • • 4.4.4,004 440 , 7 .49 . 4K : • • .t%)( • r) J. ' /4 :71 * ft v4 44 4 T.py,J • . , Jerry Falwell greets you with a friend- ly, downhome handshake in his elegantly styled early American office at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynch- burg, Virginia. He apologizes for the flesh colored makeup on his face. He's just finished a taping session for his Old Time Gospel Hour Show. But in this case the makeup couldn't be more appropriate. For years American Jews have wondered what's behind that makeup, that smile and the outspoken support that Falwell and his church have given to the State of Israel. In an exclusive interview with The Jewish News, Falwell talked about his standing in the Jewish community. He readily admitted that his Jewish support is questionable and controversial. He blamed the media for the suspicion Jews feel toward him. He talked about his church's undying support of Israel. He talked about Jews and what they are miss- ing in life. He talked about church and state issues, ERA, abortion and sexuality. But he kept coming back to his image. He desperately wants to be a friend to the Jews. But the image haunts him. Falwell has been accused of calling for the Christianiiation of America. He hds been accused of being anti-Semitic, of us- ing the political influence of his Moral Ma- jority to help defeat several pro-Israel American politicans in their re-election bids. His staunch support of Israel has been characterized by many Jews as simp- ly a front for his alleged real intentions: to see Jesus Christ return. Indeed, Biblical prophecy said that Israel must be secure and that Jews must be saved (except Jesus) for all of this to happen. And while he is much maligned in a large part of the Jewish community, he does have his Jewish supporters. This support comes mostly from the Orthodox commun- ity that backs his pro-family and pro-Israel stance. It cannot be forgotten, after all, that former Israeli Prime Minster Mena- chem Begin bestowed the coveted Jabotin- sky Award on Jerry Falwell. Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church stands in a quiet Lynchburg neighbor- hood. It is a large brick complex that houses schools and a sanctuary much like any large Detroit synagogue. Walking into the sanctuary, it is almost surprising to see the bright television lights and the cameras and sound equipment all around. It looks almost Hollywoodish. Lynchburg is a factory town. Its leading business seems to be religion. There are . e. 1. f, 4't 4 4'4 s f' 4 ,0,41,t,i0 ji. A744