Dear Christian Leaders,

We hope this email finds you all well and safe in the midst of this unprecedented event in our lifetimes!

As we shelter in place while the corona pandemic sweeps the world, another deadly virus – antisemitism – is on the rise. As has happened countless times throughout history, antisemites take advantage of any crisis to demonize the Jewish people, and more recently, the Jewish State. The lethal pathogen of Jew hatred is an ancient plague, nourished throughout history by various blood libels that blame Jews for disease. So it is, in the age of corona, Jews and the State of Israel are being blamed for the spread of COVID19. 

According to Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant rise in accusations that Jews, as individuals and as a collective, are behind the spread of the virus or are directly profiting from it.” Furthermore he said, “The language and imagery used clearly identifies a revival of the medieval ‘blood libels’ when Jews were accused of spreading disease, poisoning wells or controlling economies.” Kantor warned that as unemployment rises due to efforts to slow the spread of corona, “more people may seek out scapegoats, spun for them by conspiracy theorists.” Indeed, history teaches us that conspiracy theories and defamation of Jews inevitably progresses from hate-filled words into violent action.

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In light of this very real threat to the safety of Jews individually and collectively, all leaders - and in particular Christian leaders - need to be ready and willing to address the dangerous rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel extremism that is manifesting around us. In this time in which we live, it is critical that we as leaders oppose all efforts to demonize, dehumanize or delegitimize the Jewish people and the Jewish State. Let us take the lead for all those in our sphere of influence and oppose antisemitism, combat anti-Zionism and tell the truth about Israel!

For the sake of Israel,
Tricia Miller and Dexter Van Zile

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CAMERA's Partnership Speaks at Annual NRB Convention
 

CAMERA's Christian analysts spoke at a Media Summit during the annual National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville in late February. The Summit was hosted by Laurie Cardoza-Moore, founder of the Tennessee-based Proclaiming Justice to the Nations. Summit participants challenged Christian media outlets to join in the fight against antisemitism wherever it manifests in the church, the media, public schools and academia.

Tricia spoke about two primary ways the church is influencing and encouraging antisemitism, anti-Judaism and anti-Zionism. The first is through the overt embrace of replacement theology, while the second is through the promotion of confusion concerning the facts - both historic and facts on the ground – in relation to Israel’s existence as a Jewish State. 

Dexter spoke about how Christian peace organizations such as the World Council of Churches and Churches for Middle East Peace have facilitated the spread of antisemitism in the United States and Europe. 

For more details, please watch both videos below: