because I am Jewish.
"I'm not in favor of declaring war
on Islam or declaring war on Arabs,
only in fighting back against those"
people he identifies as "Arab fascists
and holy warriors who have declared
war on us."
He points to Iran's belligerence
and Holocaust denial, Al Qaida's fight
against "crusaders and Jews" and
Hamas' reverence for The Protocols
of the Elders of Zion as an unfortu-
nate reality that must not be ignored.
"You may not be interested in war,
but war is interested in you:' he says.
"You have to be obtuse or trying very
hard not to understand what is going
on to dismiss it."
Chafets says he understands Jewish
concerns about evangelicals, given
Christian anti-Semitism, proselytiz-
ing and differences on hot-button
issues like gay and abortion rights
and prayer in school. But, he says,
evangelicals are not being successful
in changing national social policy
and their greatest impact is in locali-
ties where there are few Jews.
"There is a good reason to fight
over matters of principle and not just
practicality;' he acknowledges, "but
you have to prioritize what your issues
are in a time of war. These issues are
cardinal for the American Jewish
community, but they don't have to be
approached with such rancor.
"I would be very happy if the
people I most enjoyed having dinner
with were in agreement with me on
[these social issues]," he admits. "But
life is not a guest list. Maybe when
this war is over, the relationship [with
evangelicals] will weaken or wither.
That's fine. I'm truly pragmatic; it's
nothing more than that."
And pragmatism and reason sup-
port a civil working relationship.
"I just think from the American
Jewish point of view, it is profoundly
stupid to try to antagonize them:'
Chafets says of the 60-70 million
Christian evangelicals, "especially
since the remainder of the American
population is much less friendly
toward Jews and their communal
causes."
Though the Jewish community is
heavily Democratic, he says, we must
realize evangelicals are "a little bit
bigger and a little more important"
than many other groups, given their
influence in the Republican Party.
But beyond policy differences,
Chafets sees Jewish dismissal of
evangelicals as "snobbery, a question
Hours:
Monday-Saturday 9:30-6:00
Closed Sunday
265 Old Woodward
248-642-2555
1173740
•
Restaurant
Italian
Cuisine
248.476.0044
love me for the wrong reason, but
For the
month of
January take an
additional
10% of
that is different from if they hated
if your name is
Zev Chafets: "I can worry that they
me for the wrong reason," says the
author about evangelical Christians.
of social class and outdated stereo-
types:' as well as distrust of people
who claim a personal relationship
with God.
While Chafets turns up some char-
acters that will likely strike readers
as a bit odd, he's done the same in
pretty much every book he's written,
including his book about American
Jews. But from the people in the pews
to his visits with Jerry Falwell at
Liberty University and Pat Robertson
at Regent University, institutions he
found strikingly different, he hasn't
found anything dangerous or that
should keep Jews away from the
evangelical embrace.
"I never encountered the faintest
whiff of anti-Semitism:' Chafets says,
and I was looking. I can worry that
they love me for the wrong reason,
but that is different from if they hated
me for the wrong reason or are indif-
ferent to me for the wrong reason."
Chafets admires that evangelicals
seem to have an easier time [than
others in] recognizing fascism and
evil around the world."
Ever the pragmatist, he says there
"is something to be said for those
who reach the proper conclusion,
even if the reasoning causes you to
cringe!"
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Salads, pizza, sandwiches and ribs for 2 excluded.
011C
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apires: 1131107
Farmington Hills • Corner of Grand River & Haggerty Road
Auburn Hills • 1 1/2miles south of the Palace of Auburn Hills
1203200
Lone Pine (17 mile)
Susineso Hour*: Mon-Sat 11:30am - 10:00pm
Sunday 4:30 - 9:00pm
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"
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■ BBQ Grill on the Table
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Dine in only • Not good with any °the- offer expires 1131107
((
Zev Chafets speaks 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 25 at Temple
Beth El, 7400 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Township. There is no
charge, and the public is invited.
(248) 851-1100.
ew Seoul. Garden
Authentic Korean & Japanese Cuisine
Phone (248) 827-1600
www.newseoulgarden.com
newseoul®hotmail.com
Open Daily
Catering Available
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27566 Northwestern Hwy.
of $50.00 or more - With Coupon only - Expires 2/28/07
_ ..
January 18 • 2007
45