Posted on 06/06/2014 5:39:00 AM PDT by Sam's Army
In a sign of the precarious state of Presbyterian-Jewish relations, the rabbi who heads the largest branch of Judaism in North America will appeal directly to the Presbyterian Church (USA) to step back from a series of critical resolutions aimed at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Invited to address the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Detroit, which begins next week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs said the Presbyterians have the choice of making things worse, or better.
“It’s a critical moment,” said Jacobs, head of the Union for Reform Judaism, representing about 1.9 million Jews. “Much is at stake.”
At issue are a handful of proposed statements on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories that will be considered at the biennial meeting of the 1.8 million-member Presbyterian denomination.
Some of the resolutions are new, and some have come before the General Assembly for years. All seek to highlight Palestinian suffering under Israel, which has occupied Palestinian lands in the West Bank since 1967, against international law.
But even to many Jews who are critical of Israel’s occupation, the measures that will be debated in Detroit are an attempt to vilify the Jewish state, question its very existence, and blame Israel alone for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There is fear that passage could spur similar movements in other Christian denominations.
A 2012 resolution to pull church investments in three American companies doing business with Israel — deemed abettors of Israeli violence against Palestinians — failed by just two votes after a passionate debate at the last General Assembly.
“In 2012, we got within a whisker,” said the Rev. Jeffrey DeYoe of the Israel/Palestine Mission Network, a PCUSA-chartered group that is supporting the measures. He hopes delegates in Detroit are moved to make a strong statement this year.
“This is oppression, and Christ tells us what to do in the face of oppression — and that is not to put ourselves in the position where we are appeasing the oppressors,” DeYoe said.
The Rev. Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the Presbyterian General Assembly, which has long debated divesting from certain companies that do business with Israel. Photo courtesy of Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Jacob’s invitation to address the delegates came directly from the Rev. Gradye Parsons, the Presbyterians’ stated clerk, or top elected official. While it’s not unusual for a Jewish leader to speak to delegates, Jacob’s stature is particularly high, and he has been outspoken against what he considers unfair attacks on Israel.
And though Parsons said he takes no position on any issue before the group, and will carry out whatever decision it makes, he is nonetheless keenly aware of rising tensions between Jews and Presbyterians on Israel. He attended a March meeting between Christian and Jewish leaders to revive the Christian-Jewish Roundtable, a group that had fallen apart after Christian members of the group urged Congress in 2012 to give greater scrutiny to U.S. aid to Israel.
Parsons’ invitation to Jacobs also comes in the wake of the January publication of “Zionism Unsettled,” an IPMN booklet on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict sold in the church’s online store.
“Zionism Unsettled” infuriated Jews and some Presbyterians, who criticized it for painting the Jewish state as inherently racist, and failing to consider the Holocaust, Palestinian attacks on Israelis and Israeli efforts toward peace. The document rejects the idea of a two-state solution — one for Palestinians and one for Israelis — a goal endorsed by the U.S., Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the PCUSA itself.
The alternative to a two-state solution, its Jewish supporters say, would be no safe homeland for the Jewish people, or haven from anti-Semitism.
On Wednesday (June 4), Parsons reiterated the church’s support for a two-state solution, adding: “It’s a false statement to say you either have interfaith relations with our Jewish brothers and sisters or you can have peace and justice in Israel/Palestine.”
“I think you can have both,” he said.
In addition to the divestment proposal, the biennial General Assembly this year (June 14-21) will consider a proposal to boycott Hewlett-Packard products because the company sells equipment used by the Israeli military. Other measures ask the delegates to agree that legal definitions of “apartheid” apply to Israel, and call for a study on whether PCUSA’s support for a two-state solution should stand.
The proposals reflect the goals of the larger “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” movement, which seeks to pressure Israel out of the Palestinian territories. The movement, which has an active base of support within many mainline churches and among Presbyterians in particular, has come under criticism for demonizing Israel and tolerating anti-Semitism within its ranks.
“I am certainly one to criticize Israeli policy,” said Jacobs. But the resolutions to be considered by the Presbyterians are part of a very different conversation, he continued, one “about the very legitimacy of the state of Israel.”
Jacobs said Pope Francis, in his May visit to the region, modeled a different approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
“He said so clearly that love and compassion for both peoples is the Christian response,” Jacobs said. “How can that not be the bar?”
DeYoe advised Presbyterians to focus on those who are suffering. “The occupation is illegal,” he said. “The occupation is breaking a people.”
“We have divested from other places in the world,” he said. But with Israel, “we are somehow turning a blind eye from the same kind of conditions we have divested from before.”
So, the PCUSA stands on the cusp of boycotting Hewlett-Packard for doing business with Israel, yet can't bring itself to discuss, much less condemn, Hamas/Iranian sponsored terror against civilians.
Well stated!
I'll bet a cup of coffee that this guy votes Dem. Ironic that he would talk about appeasement as a bad thing.
Thanks. The whole thing sickens me.
Indeed.
Between the ELCA, the Presbyterians, Methodists, and Episcopalians, its tough to take protestants seriously anymore.
I realize that Missouri Synod, and the Southern Baptists are still Biblically based, but the others, not so much.
That they even have a stand on any of this is inappropriate. That American Jews care is surprising.
Pope Che Guevara got the ball kicked off with his comments about Israel I suppose. Pope Che should retire. He got the same reception Obama did starting out, and the new is wearing off very quickly.
To start let me say I am a member of PCUSA and I have traced my Scottish ancestors back nearly 400 years and they include many Presbyterian ministers. That said...
A while ago I was watching a documentary on the Viet Nam war and in one battle (I can’t remember which) the Viet Cong infiltrated the defensive perimeter of the base at night. Fearing that the strategic base was about to be overrun the ranking officer called in air strikes on his own position, knowing that both US soldiers and enemy alike would be hit. It was either this or lose the base at a greater future cost.
Lately, as I watch the moral decline in the US and now this in my once-beloved Presbyterian Church I’ve been wondering if I should pray to God to send down his wrath on us. The enemy has infiltrated, the cost will be high, but it may be the only way save our position.
At the national level, they put lefty politics first, and salvation somewhere much deeper on the list.
Broken Arrow.
This hits close for lots of us. Unfortunately a lot of local congregations that don't spend any time worrying about anything other than very local congregational issues (such as who brings what to the covered dish fellowship) will need to stand up, and possibly get splintered in the process.
>>>Between the ELCA, the Presbyterians, Methodists, and Episcopalians, its tough to take protestants seriously anymore.<<<
The “Presbyterians” in this article are the liberal “USA” crowd that do not adhere to traditional Christian or American values.
Philip
“Reform Judaism” isn’t Judaism and it has no valid rabbis.
>>>“Reform Judaism” isn’t Judaism and it has no valid rabbis.<<<
Rabbi means master; and there is only one valid master, which is Christ.
Philip
Because he said so. That proves it.[/sarcasm]
I am neither a chrstian nor a dispensationalist so I have nothing to do with your silly little quarrel with them. I have never intervened in any of your posts; kindly show me the same courtesy. Thank you.
>>>I am neither a chrstian nor a dispensationalist so I have nothing to do with your silly little quarrel with them. I have never intervened in any of your posts; kindly show me the same courtesy. Thank you.<<<
This is a forum. If you post, expect people to comment.
You are welcome to comment on any of my posts. I, however, do not consider it “intervention” when someone comments on my posts, unless they write something petty.
Philip
Since I am a Noachide and not a chrstian, your post was petty and childish.
Your argument is not with me.
>>>Since I am a Noachide and not a chrstian, your post was petty and childish. Your argument is not with me.<<<
My argument is with anyone who posts anti-christian arguments. I suspected you were anti-christian when you “claimed” your faith has superior rabbis to the Reformed; and it was confirmed when you mocked Jesus.
I repeat, there is only one valid rabbi (master,) and that is Jesus Christ. All others are imposters pretending to have access to God, who teach that their “race” or “religion” or “whatever” makes them God’s chosen people, thus leading all who listen astray.
Philip
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