EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Courageous Voices And Deadly Silence

threat of terrorism, suicide bombings and all other attacks
ne of our most beloved champions of ecumenism,
that prevent Israel from being all that it can for the world,
the Rev. James Lyons, a devout Christian whose
and especially for the region."
healing outreach,and friendship made us better
A frequent visitor to the Jewish state, Blewett acknowl-
Jews, died six years ago. But the fruits of his labor
edged
that Christians in America have a vested interest in
against hatred and prejudice glistened in Sunday's cold rain.
ca
safe
and strong Israel." He said the Christian population
The setting was Detroit Jewry's pro-Israel rally at Temple
in
Israel
is growing at the same time that the Christian
Emanu-El in Oak Park.
population
in Palestinian areas is dropping amid persecu-
"Today, I thank God for the Christian clergy who have
tion
by
Palestinian
leaders.
had the courage to speak out on Israel's behalf," said Rabbi
Blewett
recounted
Pope John Paul II's 2000 visit to Yad
Daniel Syrne of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township.
Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial, where the pontiff
In a stirring speech that warmed and energized the 1,000
declared that all Christians must ."remember for a pur-
rally-goers, Rabbi Syme rapped weak-kneed
pose."
imams who won't denounce the terrorism
"Today is such a purpose," Blewett said. "When we say
of the latest Palestinian uprising.
with
you, 'Never Again,' we Christians mean that never
He contrasted American Christian sup-
again
will we stand idly by as Jews are murdered simply
port for the Jewish cause with the lack of
because
they are Jews. Never again means now The killing
outrage among American imams toward
of
innocent
Jews must stop now!"
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's penchant
for suicide bombings and anti-Semitic
A Differing View
textbooks.
ROBERT A.
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on
In light of the wave of anti-Semitism sweeping Europe,
SKLAR
America, Rabbi Syme said he was inclined
Southfield's Simon Kresch appreciates the outreach and
Editor
to separate Osam. a bin Laden's Al Qaida
support of Christians in the U.S. "We're very blessed to
terrorist network from Islam and accept
not have such anti-Semitism here," he said.
the worldview that Islam is a religion of peace and love.
In a post-rally interview, he harkened back to Blewett's
But few imams at the interfaith services he took
assessment that in the Mideast "it seems as if only
part in had the courage to renounce barbarism.
Israel cares for my Christian brothers and sisters."
"What sort of religion countenances Passover
Kresch lived in Jerusalem with his wife, Ruchy,
seder massacres?" he asked. "What sort of religion
and their seven children for 13 months during
countenances 18-year-old girls walking into the
1997 and 1998. The Young Israel of Oak Park
supermarkets with explosives placed on their bod-
member said Israel's care for its Christian citizens
ies? What sort of religion of love and peace creates
doesn't necessarily translate into Israeli Christians
curricula that teaches hate and killing — and the
"chumming up" with Israeli Jews.
imperative to wipe out Jews from this world?
Israeli Christians, he said, "seem more anxious
David B lewett to be friendly with the Palestinian leadership —
"Where are the religious leaders of the Muslim
community? Where are the voices of the imams of
and that's sad, unfortunate and not solvable."
this community?"
The reason, he said, is because Israeli authority is based
His words resonated in the afternoon chill when he
on law and Palestinian rule is based on loyalty. "The vari-
added, "When Baruch Goldstein slaughtered Arabs in
ous Christian sects know they have an independent judici-
prayer [at Hebron's Tomb of the Patriarchs in 1994], every
ary to secure their rights under Israeli authority, but that
rabbi in America denounced him. Yet, with two lukewarm
they require being friends with the Palestinians because
exceptions in our community, the silence of the imams has
their areas, like the Church of the Nativity, are likely to be
been deafening. We have to ask ourselves, 'Are they afraid,
turned over to the Palestinian Authority, where there is no
or do they agree with the position the terrorists
court of last resort."
have taken?'
Jim Lyons understood the need to break stereo-
A cascade of umbrellas obscured the stage set up
types, dispelling myths about Jews and Jewish val-
in the Temple Emanu-El parking lot, but there I
ues to Christians, while urging Jews to learn more
stood, applauding — convinced the rabbi was
about Christianity to change their own misconcep-
making eye contact with each of us as he said, "We
tions. In the hospital near the end of his humbling
have, in many ways, become complacent. We have
battle with diabetes, he wrote: "It is in the positive
assumed that Israel will always be there. We have
thrust of living relationships that life becomes cre-
taken Israel for granted."
ative and exciting."
Simon Kresch
Jews dominated Sunday's pro-Israel rally, but
make no mistake: There were Christians eager to
Israel A Linchpin
foster friendships. Take Georgia Elliott of Detroit
David Blewett, executive director of the Southfield-based
and
her
daughter Joan Hutchison of Bloomfield Township.
Ecumenical Institute for Jewish-Christian StUdies, which
The
Charismatic
Christians were dressed in blue and white
Rev. Lyons founded in 1982, spoke next. "I do stand in
out
of
respect
for
the Israeli flag.
solidarity with you, today and always," he said, and there
"As
a
Christian,
I believe our roots are in Israel,"
was no reason to doubt his heartfelt pledge.
Hutchison
said.
"The
Lord said he would bless them who
Blewett is also president of the Novi-based National
bless Israel. I do feel the media are giving a skewed view of
Christian Leadership Conference for Israel. "We know that
the situation."
Christians in the Middle East need Israel as never before,"
Elliott visited Israel two years ago and became hooked.
he said. "The fUture of my brothers and sisters in the
"That
gave me an inordinate love for the Jewish people —
Middle East depends on a strong and secure Israel. Their
the
rest
is history!" ❑
future demands that Israel be liberated from the constant

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5/3
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