Let me preface what I’m about to say that this is not intended as an attack on Israel. I think I’ve shown in recent days that I think Israel is a good ally for the US in the Middle East and the best hope for democracy there. I won’t say that Israel has done no wrong, but what country could claim that honestly?
Anyway, I’ve been thinking lately on the subject of the nearly universal and unwavering support for Israel under all circumstances from elected officials on both sides of the aisle and, even more staunchly, from Christians. In fact, the Christian support for Israel is at times even more strong than that of Jewish groups, if that’s possible.
The thought popped in my head the other day: What if the modern state of Israel had been called something else? What if in 1948 the kept the name “Palestine” or chose something else, something distinctly unrelated to Scripture? Not Israel or Judea or Zion or anything like it. Would Christians, especially Evangelicals, be such staunch supporters?
In other words how much of the support for Israel is based on nothing more than an identification with the Israel of the Old and New Testaments? After all, we read those Psalms over and over again with their invocations of Israel and her oppression at the hands of others. This came to the fore when that ancient Book of Psalms was found in an Irish bog and the initial (erroneous) reports said it was opened to a psalm describing Israel under siege. So many were quick to identify it as some kind of prophecy regarding the current conflict with Hezbollah.
But that Israel of the psalm bears little connection to the modern-day Israel except for location and the religion of the people. Even modern-day Italy could make a better argument for a connection with the ancient Roman empire. Yet, can we say that reading about Israel over and over again in the Scriptures has not affected our attitudes about the Israel of today?
Again, this has nothing to do with Israel’s right to exist or even the fighting with Hezbollah. This is entirely about our attitudes and how they may be subconsciously affected by certain religious beliefs. Something to think about.
In one of the readings last week (Maronite Rite), the Gospel was about the vineyard owner whose servants were killed again and again by the workers. He sent his son, who was also killed. Then went and threw out the workers and got new workers who respected him.
Father said that we must be aware that the Chosen People are not necessarily those who are the blood decendants of Israel, but those who keep God’s Covenant. The Chosen People, Israel, is us!
Obviously, the Jewish people were God’s Chosen People, and we pray for their conversion to the fullness of Truth in the Catholic Faith – just as we’d pray for anyone. But you have a good point. If it was named Palestine (which was supposed to be the name of the other country, 90% of which is in Jordan, but was rejected by the Palestinian Arabs), would it be different? It might. And it might highlight just what the Bible has to say about it, which was Father’s point, I think.
Like you, I believe that Israel has a right to exist, and I am a strong supporter of the country. Mine isn’t necessarily a religious-based support, though. Most of my views on the situation there are a result of reading From Time Immemorial a few years back.
If we agree that Israel has a “right” to exist, then we also agree that the USSR had a “right” to exist.
Somewhere along the line this particular point should be of interest…
Ninenot,
Israel was carved out of land that Palestinian Jews had been living on for centuries. They were being forced out of other countries (including Europe) for centuries, as well. At the same time, the UN (where the deal was made to create Israel out of what was essentially an empty wasteland with a few nomadic tribes) offered to create a Palestinan state. It was turned down flatly because the Jews got their own country at the same time. To this day, the PLO refuses to make any deals, create a country of their own, unless Israel is eliminated. And 90% of the land that would have been the Palestinian state is in what is now Jordan.
Remember, too, that much of the Middle East has only been self-ruled, as opposed to being colonies of various European states, for about a century (if that).
By contrast, the USSR invaded other countries and took over by force. Their armies invaded, they killed off their foes and advesaries, and they ruled through terror and fear. How one could make a serious comparison between the establishment of Israel and the USSR is beyond me.
Didn’t the Vatican delay recognizing Israel because of theological difficulties with its name?
If there were no Israel, the Muslims in the Middle East would be going after the next best thing, the Christians. They’re next anyway. And we’re in line too, make no mistake.
What’s silly is that you completely missed the point. The secular state of modern-day Israel, founded in 1948, is not the same as the Israel of the Old Covenant.
You are identifying all Jewish people with Israel. Funny, my great-grandfather was a Russian rabbi. He was never an Israeli.
Use some critical thinking before popping off and insulting others.
I have a friend (we’ve known each other most of our lives) who is Jewish. When we were in school together, I asked her and her family about Israel. I forget the exact question, but they said that they did not believe it was exactly the Promised Land because the Promised Land is given by God, and this land was given by a government. They viewed it differently, too. And they are pretty faithful Jews (not just cultural, “use-the-name” Jewish).
Well, let’s see. It’s the home of the chosen people of God (the Jews). I know I’m attached to my “elder brothers”.
Another reason for my support of Israel is their policies with regard to war. As soon as the Arab states start rooting out the terrorists who target women and children, I will put them on equal moral footing.
Until then, Israel, surrounded by the pack of nasty bullies who don’t fight fair in the Middle East “playground” get my support.
This is just the thing I’m talking about: While Israel is home to many Jews, it is also home to Arabs, both Christian and Muslim. And even more Jews live outside of Israel than in it. So why the identification of Scriptural Israel with the modern-state of Israel?
As I said, this had nothing to do with whether it is right to support Israel because of its policies. I just want to question whether so much support for Israel is based on an identification with ancient Israel.
This is just the thing I’m talking about: While Israel is home to many Jews, it is also home to Arabs, both Christian and Muslim. And even more Jews live outside of Israel than in it. So why the identification of Scriptural Israel with the modern-state of Israel?
This is the nature of the Israeli (Jewish) morality, that people of many religions are welcome to live with them if they are peaceful.
How many Jews do we have living in Muslim controlled territory? How many non-Muslims are living in Saudi Arabia?
So is there anyplace where it is written that biblical Israel needs to be purely Jewish?
Well… yes, everywhere. The Israel spoken of in Scripture is a religious reality, not a political one. In the Old Testament times, you wouldn’t separate the two, but when it comes down to it, it was the fact that Israel was identified with Judaism/Hebrew worship of the One True God that made it special. After all, Israel was wiped off the map several times, but the Jews remained, even as a Remnant, the Chosen People.
There’s no need to separate the two. The Old Testament speaks of required hospitality to visitors. Don’t you think that hospitality applies to allowing foreigners to live in your Holy Land?
I think this distinction is silly, and is an attempt to siphon support away from Israel by trying to paint them as a strictly secular nation just like any other.
Tony: I said right at the beginning that I support Israel and I’ve written several blog entries recently in support, so it’s silly to say that I’m trying to siphon support away from Israel.
I’m genuinely wondering if there is a connection. What does worry me a little is that people might indeed view the secular state of today founded in 1948 as indistinct from biblical Israel with all the religious and apocalyptic implications of that.
I can support Israel as I would support another democracy under siege by totalitarian governments, like say South Korea, without having to make it a matter of faith.
I have a visceral connection to Israel, as a Jew, even though I am not Israeli. This may be hard to fathom if you weren’t brought up Jewish.
Personally, I think Olmert and Halutz should be riden out on a rail for humiliating the IDF, and their poor leadership. I can agree or disagree with various aspects of the country on a secular level.
However, it is my homeland, and that is never more clear than when, on visits there, I have seen ancient Hebrew inscriptions on stones in the desert, or walked among the large dressed stones of the destroyed Temple, or visited the “Burnt House” exhibit, where the remains of a priestly family were found and given a proper Jewish burial, 2000 years later.
I don’t think the name of the country has a whole lot to do with why people “support” Israel.
Dom, I can’t relate to your comment that the modern Israel bears little relation to the Israel of the Psalms.