On Christians and Sukkot in Jerusalem 2009

This year, I spent Hol Hamoed Sukkot in Binyanei Ha’Uma in Jerusalem. I was a vendor selling artwork at the Tabernacles Festival organized by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. The event is held every year and brings to our capital evangelical Christians from all over the world. If I would use a single word to describe my feelings at having spent a full five days in the company of so many believing Christians, that word would be “strange” or “unusual.”
I take it as a priori and as a given that in order for them to fulfill their mission and purpose as believers in their faith, I and every other Jew needs to be here in Israel. That way, their messiah will come (again). I am not offended by their belief, or by anyone else’s belief. It is what it is.
On the one hand I met some absolutely wonderful people. I met uncommon people with whom I found commonality. Of those who stand out was a Texas oilman who has been drilling for oil here in Israel for the last 20 years. I wish him much and continued success and hopes he strikes it BIG here for his and our benefit. I met a pastor from British Columbia, Canada and another from Durban, South Africa; yet another from Stellenbosch in South Africa and one from Gaborone in Botswana as well as a Cameroonian man who minister in Gabon. I discovered that we had a very common language. I don’t know why that surprises me, but it does. I suspect it’s because I have never before had such an intense encounter with so many ardent Christian believers.
While I took an occasional peek at the goings on in the main auditorium, and while I confess I truly enjoyed some of the music that would leak out into the vendors’ area, most of my contact with these folks was in the selling area. I conversed with tens, perhaps hundreds of the participants over the five day period. Most didn’t bother trying to engage me in a conversation about our differing faith. Most of those with whom I spoke came out of a genuine love for Israel, Jerusalem and the Jewish people. Five people (including one Holocaust survivor) tried their hand at explaining to me the grave error of my ways, but I swiftly (and once quite rudely) sent them packing. When opposing worldviews came up in other conversations, I politely drew my line in the sand and explained that we can still embrace over that line… but the line remains in place.
I engaged in numerous conversations with pastors and ministers from a variety of countries. Once they discovered that I had been a community rabbi, it was easier to develop some common ground. With some I even found common friends in the far-flung places of our planet.
The one thing that was for me somewhat surreal was the presence there of (too) numerous messianic Jews. This being my first exposure to this event, at first I never knew who was who. Turns out, some folks there thought I was of the messianic persuasion too! It seems like an orthodox rabbi selling art at a Christian event, is indeed a little weird. However, once we got to talking it became apparent who was and who wasn’t. I must confess my dislike for those messianic Jews. They seemed far more ardent in their desire to “convert” and justify the “correctness” of their belief than the Christians. A little too much “Amen” and “Helleluya” for my liking.
I don’t know if I will ever attend this type of event again. It was a little too far out of my comfort zone. However, I believe I will maintain contact with some of the people I met there. They were genuine people. They are our friends in a world that grows increasingly hostile to us. And friends are those with whom we can disagree agreeably.