Key moments in Jewish-Christian relations

Rabbis and pastors discuss Israel with U.S. Representative Max Miller (R-Ohio), January 31, 2024. (Photo: Israel Allies Foundation)

by Dr. Susan Michael

Even a casual observer of history cannot help but notice the astonishing relationship that has developed between Jews and Christians over the past 80 years. None of this would have happened without the birth of the modern state of Israel in 1948. Since then, several pivotal moments have strengthened Jewish-Christian relations, opened new avenues for dialogue, and spurred significant growth.

1980 – The Birth of the Movement

The first was the birth of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ) in 1980. Christian leaders from several different countries founded this organization in Jerusalem to represent the love and support of millions of Bible-based Christians around the world who wanted to bless and help Israel. The mission of the ICEJ was to demonstrate that support for the people of Israel through practical assistance and partnership.

This was revolutionary because for most of Christianity's 2,000-year history, Jewish-Christian relations had been terrible. The New Testament records incidents of Jewish persecution of early Christians, and as the Christian faith grew and became more established and non-European, it fought back and turned against its Jewish roots. Centuries of Christian anti-Semitism followed, paving the way for the Holocaust and creating a chasm of mistrust.

This history explains why the founders of the ICEJ had to overcome great skepticism in Israel and, as a result, pioneer a completely new relationship between Jews and Christians. As the organization expanded its presence in many countries, it had to do the same with local Jewish communities who were frightened, and much of the Jewish press reinforced that fear with accusations of ulterior motives and agendas. Israeli diplomats who were more familiar with the world of Christian Zionism tried, but often failed, to convince Jewish community leaders otherwise.

The Second Intifada

This distrust began to dissipate almost overnight during the Second Intifada in 2000. A wave of suicide bus bombings traumatized the people of Israel and brought tourism to a standstill in the Holy Land, as both Jewish and Christian tours were cancelled. But then came the time for the ICEJ’s annual celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, and thousands of Christians showed up. Some pilgrims went to downtown Jerusalem to ride city buses in solidarity with the suffering Israeli people.

When news of this reached the United States, I was invited to speak to leaders and boards of Jewish organizations to explain who evangelical Christians are, what we believe, how many support Israel, and whether the Jewish community should work with us. Some of these organizations made formal decisions to begin Christian outreach to expand their work. Others decided not to do so on a national level but to foster relationships on a local level.

By that time, a growing number of Christian organizations were focused on supporting Israel, further improving Jewish-Christian relations. One such organization was Christians United for Israel (CUFI), founded by Dr. John Hagee in 2006. Many American Jewish leaders were first introduced to Christian Zionists through CUFI events, and the impact changed their lives. Since then, a multitude of Christian ministries have been formed at the local and national levels with a mandate to support Israel, and they are finding a growing number of Jewish pioneers willing to work with them.

October 7, 2023

This brings us to a more recent, sobering, yet profoundly significant turning point in that relationship. Following the horrific terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took another 250 hostages in Gaza, a wave of support for Israel reverberated around the world. Unfortunately, this was quickly followed by angry protests and anti-Semitic slogans on college campuses and in the streets of capital cities on five continents. The American Jewish community was not only frightened, but shocked to discover that many of the more liberal movements they had supported were now turning against them.

When Christians showed up to stand in solidarity with them at rallies around the world—especially one attended by 300,000 people in Washington, D.C.—there was a collective sigh of relief that Christians were indeed their friends and were publicly standing with them. In response, leading rabbis representing vast rabbinical networks reached out to Christian clergy and organizational leaders. Tens of thousands of churches pledged to pray in solidarity with synagogues the weekend of November 17-19, 2023. Prayers were raised for Israel and for the release of the hostages. Within days, about 110 of the captives had returned home.

In January 2024, 70 rabbis, pastors, and Christian and Jewish leaders joined together for the first time in history to ascend Capitol Hill to meet with Democratic and Republican lawmakers. This historic partnership reaffirmed to our nation’s political leaders the breadth and depth of American support for Israel, but it also signaled something new: a blossoming relationship between Jewish and Christian clergy and a game-changing moment in the history of Jewish-Christian relations. It moved beyond organizational missions, fundraising, or projects to now encompass the relationship between the clergy of both faith communities, as demonstrated by the second day of advocacy attended by 300 pastors, rabbis, and religious leaders in May 2025.

Conclusion

In 1943, in the midst of World War II, 400 Orthodox rabbis traveled to Washington, D.C., on behalf of European Jewry. They were alone in their mission to meet with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who refused to see them. Now, more than eighty years later—and two years after the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023—Israel still faces relentless hostility and growing anti-Semitism around the world. Unlike in 1943, however, Jewish leaders no longer stand alone. A growing number of Christians stand with them in prayer, advocacy, and solidarity.

While we cannot take this flourishing relationship for granted, and must protect and nurture it through any difficulties, despite the challenges, it truly is a new day in Jewish-Christian relations.

Dr. Susan Michael is the director of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem for the United States, director of the American Christian Leaders for Israel Network, and creator of the website Answers for Israel.

She is the author of "Encounter with the 3D Bible" and hundreds of articles located on her blog.