Contrary to what many think, Jews and Christians have not always had the best relationship. Initially, Christ followers were Jews, but Gentiles were invited into the saving grace of the Messiah, and soon became the “champions” of Christianity. Divisions grew.

Fast forward through the centuries to the Crusades, where we find a series of 8 crusades between Christians and Muslims over who would control the Holy Land, including Jerusalem. Many Jews were slaughtered in those crusades, some in the name of Christianity, all in the name of conquering the Jewish city.

Later came the Spanish Inquisition in which Jews were expelled or killed if they refused to convert to a legalistic form of Christianity. Centuries later, the most heinous act of Jewish extinction occurred…the Holocaust. Though the Reformation brought a bit of renewal to European Christianity a couple centuries prior, some loose theology left the door open to Replacement Theology. (ie – God’s rejection of the Jews because of their rejection of Jesus as Messiah.) That opened the door of neglect of the Jewish people and the slaughter of 6 million of them.

Is it any wonder the history of Jewish-Christian relations has been rocky?

But things began to turn a bit once Israel was reborn as a nation in 1948, and Christians began to better understand the link between Judaism and our Christian faith. Slowly, trust-building became bridge-building. It is ongoing, but still far from perfect.

Interestingly, though, one comment I heard over and over again while leading a service trip to Israel in February was this: “It’s the Christians who come. It’s the Christians who care. It’s the Christians who stand with us.”

Yes, October 7 opened new opportunities for Christians to offer support to our Jewish friends. Then, when President Trump was re-elected and built an unashamed pro-Israel cabinet and staff around him, desire for Christian support reached a new level in Israel.

Recently, Amir Tsarfati sat down with Knesset (parliament) Member, Ohad Tal, an Orthodox Jew, to talk about the importance of Jewish-Christian relationship. Tal is leading a charge to reach out to the evangelical community, and with Mike Huckabee, the first Evangelical Christian ever named US Ambassador to Israel and an unabashed supporter of Israel, I am hopeful for great things in the current bridge-building efforts.

The interview is an hour long, so I share it today, with hopes you will make some time this weekend to view it. As Christians, it is important for us to be aware of the efforts made, and reciprocate those bridge-building efforts. Please take the time to hear this important conversation! Enjoy!