Category Archives: Jerusalem

Jeffress at Embassy Opening

Yesterday’s terrible events on the border with Gaza, in which 58 were killed and 2,000 injured – events which Haaretz termed a “predictable disaster” – have caused even some strong supporters of Israel to be critical. All of this came on the day that the new US embassy in Jerusalem was officially opened.

Given the dramatic events at the border, the presence of Christian leaders at the embassy opening seems like a small detail in a tumultuous day. However, this should not pass unnoticed. One of those present was Pastor Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist who claims that you cannot be saved by being a Jew and who has a history of making derogatory comments about other faiths and the Catholic Church.
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A sad but incomplete story

By Dexter Van Zile, CAMERA:

One of the most moving and sad moments at the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference that took place in Bethlehem early last month came on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 when Lynne Hybels, co-founder of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, addressed the crowd.

During her talk, in which she described to the audience women she has met over the past few years who have inspired her peacemaking efforts in Israel and the West Bank, Hybels spoke movingly about a family whose one-story home in East Jerusalem was demolished by Israeli officials on Oct. 12, 2009 because it lacked a building permit. This is a common problem, Hybels said, because it’s “very difficult” for Palestinians to get building permits.

But does the story Hybels told to several hundred people attending the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference actually check out?

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One Jerusalem

Yesterday was Jerusalem Day, a Yom tov, when we celebrated the liberation of the Holy City in 1967and remembered those who gave their lives in Zion’s defence in
1967. Let us never forget that freedom has a painful price. Forty years ago Jerusalem was a divided city, a border city, with sniper fire and terrorist attacks ocurring almost daily. Jews and Christians were forbidden to worship at its Holy sites. Today many of us take for granted the safety, security and freedom that the Israeli government has provided in Jerusalem for 39 years. Unfortunately the liberation and unification of Jerusalem is once again under assault. Please take a few moments to sign the One Jerusalem Petition:

http://www.onejerusalem.org/sign.asp

Hundreds Participate in Jerusalem-Bethlehem Marathon

Israeli, Palestinian and Italian Athletes today participated in the Third Annual John Paul II Peace Run. Israeli and Palestinian runners were accompanied by more than sixty Italian participants, Olympians Andrea Zorzi and Roberto Masciarelli among them, on today’s annual Peace Marathon between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

The event is named after former Pope John Paul II. The 10-kilometer race is supported by Italy’s Olympic Committee, The Israel’s Tourism Ministry, the City of Jerusalem, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Italy, and the Vatican’s Opera Romana.

Runners began the race at Jerusalem’s Notre Dame Hotel. Israeli participants then handed the marathon flag to Palestinian counterparts to continue on to Bethlehem.

Jerusalem municipality hands out Christmas trees

From David Frankfurter:

Thanks to all of you who responded to this morning’s letter, forwarding it to friends, and even translating parts to other languages. By coincidence, sometime after sending it, I received the following Press Release from the Jerusalem City Council. It makes an interesting contrast to see how the “ultra-orthodox” Jewish mayor of Jerusalem relates to his city’s Christian residents.

Jerusalem, December 19, 2005

THE JERUSALEM MUNCIPALITY TO DISTRIBUTE HUNDREDS OF CHRISTMAS TREES

The Jerusalem municipality will hold its annual Christmas tree distribution on Thursday, 22/12/05, at the Jaffa Gate Plaza, between 09:00-12:00.

The trees are given free to everyone who asks and shows an ID (For registration).

The trees were donated by “Keren Kayemet Le’Israel – Jewish National Fund”.

The Christmas tree distribution is a long standing tradition of the Jerusalem Municipality, taking place for dozens of years, and is symbolic of the way Jerusalem unites all three monotheistic religions.

The mayor of Jerusalem, Uri Lupolinaksi, wishes a Merry Christmas to the Christian residents of Jerusalem and a year of peace, tolerance and brotherhood. The mayor invites people from all religions to come and visit Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.