Brussels - The New Year could hardly have started on a more tragic note. Just a little more than a month after the terrorist massacre in Paris, jihadists struck again - this time in Copenhagen. Less than two months into the New Year, Europe has been hit with two major terrorist attacks, where Jews have been the target alongside advocates for freedom of expression.
ECI had the great privilege to be invited to the funeral of the slain guard Dan Uzan. Among the guests were the Prime Minister of Denmark as well as the Crown Prince. But our solidarity with the Jewish people cannot be limited to attending funerals of murdered Jews - we need to stand up for them before terror strikes again, and regardless of whether the victims are in Jerusalem or in Copenhagen.
There were no marches of solidarity in Europe when the four rabbis were shot down in cold blood in a synagogue in Jerusalem in November. There would probably have been no rally in Paris either if it were not for the attack against the journalists at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
As I write this note, we are only a few hours away from Purim. (You will receive this letter after Purim.) Once more, the spirit of Haman is back in our midst. (You can read more about the plot of Haman to destroy the Jews in the book of Esther.) It comes in different shapes and forms but its origin is the same - Jew hatred to the point of wanting their complete extermination.
Today it is perhaps most visible in the form of radical Islam but it can also be found in neo-Nazism and left-wing extremism. But not only there - as Jew hatred is taboo in the intellectual classes of today it does not mean that they are immune to anti-Semitism. What can no longer be said against the individual Jew can be said about the Jews collectively - the modern State of Israel. Let there be no mistake: behind the calls for boycotts and divestments from Israel is the same. age-old, deadly virus of anti-Semitism.
This is a time when we need to remain vigilant and pro-active. As ECI activists across Europe you can make a difference through prayer, education and advocacy.
To give you an example; when a seasoned radio journalist from Sweden recently asked the Israeli Ambassador whether Jews were not partly to blame for the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, the public reacted immediately. Later the head of Swedish Radio had to issue a public apology. It happened simply because someone reacted.
At ECI, we hear about events like this almost every month when people like you take action.
This month, let us make a difference. Pick up the phone and talk to your editor or local MP. Write a letter. Say a prayer. Just like Queen Esther at Purim, you can also make a difference !
What can the ECI offer the US?
As the situation in Europe worsens every week, we need the help of the outside world. As many believers in the US and elsewhere in the world are worried about the situation in Europe we want to be your diplomatic boots on the ground, simply by raising the Christian voice that was missing in the 1930´s. Only we, as European Christians, can raise that voice, but it would be foolish to pretend that we do not need the help of others. We do.
We do have American friends. For the last few months and until May, we are being assisted in Brussels byFaith Collins from the US. In Florida we have Steven and MaryAnn Lewis who are helping us to connect with churches in prayer and whose non-profit organisation can receive tax deductible donations on behalf of ECI. (Please write us for more information.)
Needless to say, the focus of ECI will continue to be in Europe and at the UN, but in a globalised world we are happy to partner with our friends in the US and elsewhere in the world. If you, or your church, want to become a partner, please write us at info@ec4i.org.
ECI seeks solutions at the UN in New York and Geneva
Similar to our relations with the European Union, ECI has chosen to engage with the UN Secretariat in a constructive way. This work has already been fruitful in that our efforts have received the support of the Secretary General and many UN missions have come together in support of Israel due to our various initiatives. For the first time ever, Yom Kippur is mentioned in a UN resolution because of its universal importance and meetings are to be avoided on this Jewish holiday. This is a first step towards the recognition of Yom Kippur as a UN holiday.
In the second week of February we visited New York again to plan our next event at the UN - a luncheon to recognise the importance of the Jewish holiday of Passover and its importance in the context of the struggle for freedom of slavery worldwide. Many nations are eager to join the luncheon and find inspiration from the story of Moses and the Hebrew people as we continue to face new forms of slavery in the world.
Over the years, the African nations as well as the black Civil Rights Movement in the US have found much inspiration from the experience of Moses. As Israel is portrayed as an apartheid state by its enemies, we want to debunk this myth by showing what the Jewish aspiration for their own homeland is all about - freedom from slavery and the right to self-determination.
In the last week of February we had similar discussions with the acting Director General of the UN office in Geneva - Michael Moller, who showed great interest in our initiative and was very helpful in trying to find solutions.
If we want to stay relevant in the international fora of influence and decision-making, we need to come up with constructive and creative ideas as to how we can help the Jewish people and Israel. This does not prevent us from also criticising the UN (and the EU) and holding them accountable for their policies.
Thank you for your continuous support for this work.
Upcoming events
The European Coalition for Israel is organising an educational tour in Israel from May, 10th- 17th, 2015.
The tour includes the Global Prayer Call conference from 10th - 13th May. The 4-day advocacy tour will include:
(1) addressing current geo-political issues facing Israel
(2) meeting with Middle East specialists;
(3) hearing from leaders from different spheres of Israeli society (i.e. media, government and legal) who will offer a first-hand perspective on the main challenges for Israel and the region.
From Jerusalem, the participants will go to the Gaza border, pass the security fence at Betlehem, and visit disputed territories and Palestinian cities. They will also learn about the relevance of the Temple Mount in the Arab-Israeli conflict and visit governmental institutions such as the Knesset and other official places.
For more information, visit:
http://www.ec4i.org/component/content/article/253
Editor Tomas Sandell tomas.sandell@pp.inet.fi
Copyright © European Coalition for Israel