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Tel: 212-828-2424; 800-235-3658; Fax: 212-828-4538
www.afsi.org; afsi@rcn.com
Contact: Helen Freedman, Executive Director
August 22, 2011
RESTORING COURAGE with Glenn Beck in Israel
By Helen Freedman
I had made the deliberate choice to leave New York and travel to Israel this August in order to participate in the Glenn Beck RESTORING COURAGE events. The three part program would take place over a period of four days - Sunday night, August 21, in Caesarea, would support the Courage to Love. Monday evening, August 22, at the Old Train Station Plaza. would focus on the Courage to Stand, and Wednesday evening, August 24, would be the Courage to Declare." It would take place at the Davidson Center near the southern wall of the Old City and at Safra Square.
At this writing, the Caesarea event has taken place. I joined a busload of people departing from our meeting place in Jerusalem to Caesarea. We arrived there at 6:30 PM on Sunday, as the late afternoon sun was spreading its rosy glow over the 2,000 year old stones. Throngs of people, mostly Christians, had already arrived and thousands more were being delivered by buses from all over Israel.
The mood was one of excitement and high expectancy. People met friends, along with old and new acquaintances. The warmth and friendliness of spirit emanated from everyone. As the huge theater stadium filled up with about 3,000 people, we had to admire the production features. The stage was lit beautifully; the sound equipment was working perfectly; the glorious backdrop of moving color photos of Israel's deserts, cities, mountains, rivers and Sea, gave us a beautiful look at Israel's amazing topography.
Dave Barton, President of Wallbuilders, proudly announced that eighty nations were represented in this demonstration of Standing with Israel. David Brog, Executive Director of CUFI, Christians United for Israel, spoke of the reality of shared Judeo-Christian values, having to do with loving thy neighbor as thyself. Venissa Mitchell and her choir of 23 men and women, along with a small orchestra, performed intermittently with some lovely inspirational songs.
Glenn Beck appeared on stage, greeted with wild applause. He seemed genuinely touched by the outpouring of love and the fact that so many people had come from so many countries, traveling at their own expense, to join with him in making his mission, their mission. The opening benediction emphasized Isaiah's vision of nations not learning war anymore.
Pastor Mike Evans told an amazing story about his Jewish mother and his anti-Semitic father who would beat his wife and threaten the boy whom he never called, 'son.' Evans has now spent forty years defending Israel. Pastor Tom Mullins spoke about G-d's divine love and the love of Nehemiah for the people of Jerusalem. He declared, "Have done with lesser things, and concentrate on doing great things together."
Glenn Beck, who was clearly turning over most of the stage time to the procession of speakers, then interjected that loving Israel also meant loving Jews. They are inseparable. Rabbi Shlomo Riskin continued with the theme of love and expressed the need to applaud the differences of "others" while having the courage to love them. He evoked cheers when he declared, "The Jewish people has never been alone. We have always been together with G-d."
Pastor John Hagee, leader of 750,000 Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and Pastor to 20,000 active members in his San Antonio church, electrified the audience by stating, "Our hope is not in Washington, but in G-d." He reaffirmed the belief of the Jews as the chosen people, pledged to always stand with Israel, and vowed that Israel's enemies were his. Affirming that "Israel is a tiny outpost of democracy in a sea of tyranny," he declared, "I am an Israeli," and led the crowd in chanting this over and over again.
Glenn Beck again took the stage to remind us that "We have to get off at the exits...We're speeding along the freeway, heading to the cliff, and we must exit." He concluded by reminding us that "G-d is not running for re-election, and we are entering the age of G-d's miracles."
The closing benediction was given by a Christian Arab from Bethlehem, Pastor Khouri. We listened to his words of love, recognizing that his appearance at this event, with Christians and Jews, in a demonstration of mutual love, took a great deal of courage on his part.
Fireworks illuminated the sky as the program ended. Everyone seemed to be uplifted and exhilarated by this outpouring of love and brotherhood. The bar of expectation has been set at an extraordinarily high level for the remaining events. They should dazzle, if Sunday in Caesarea is a sample of what's to come.
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