Comments on: Yechiel Eckstein’s Mission to the Evangelicals http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2005/07/28/yechiel-ecksteins-mission-to-the-evangelicals/ Essays on politics, culture and ideas about Israeli-Arab peace and world music Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:07:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jerry James http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2005/07/28/yechiel-ecksteins-mission-to-the-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-144372 Jerry James Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:17:14 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/?p=835#comment-144372 I guess that I am one of these people that Richard Silverstein wrote about on September 1, 2005 at 9:31 AM Richard Silverstein wrote: “the most uneducated, simplistic variety. They know nothing about Israeli society nor of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Their support is knee jerk & unidimensional. If evangelicals bothered to learn anything about Israel and its environs I’d feel much more comfortable with their support.” I received an email this morning from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Asking for a donation to help the poor Jews. I watched the video showing poor Jews receiving food boxes and then I felt compelled to send a donation. However; I performed a Google Search on Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein to try to determine if he and his organization are actually helping the poor among the Jews. I confess that I really am an uneducated Christian when it pertains to the modern day Jew and modern day Israel. I have only been to Israel once and that was in the spring of 2009. I (along with about three hundred other simplistic Christians) was housed in a very nice hotel inside Bethlehem during our trip to Israel. I had the opportunity to meet two of the hotel staff and to learn a little of their perspective regarding their relationship with Israel. They asked me this question: “who do you like most---the Jews or the Palestinians”? My first impulse was to say the Jews because as Christians we are taught that the Jews are “Gods’ Chosen People”. I tried to explain to these two staff members that Christians are to love all the people of the world even if they are not always lovable. I failed in my attempt to explain my view because I cannot explain the hatred and division that different groups have toward one another. On my plane trip back to the United States I sat beside a very religious Jewish businessman. He informed me that I should be reading the Jewish Law more. He told me that The Law was the most important thing and that I should never attempt to “convert” any Jew. Prior to this experience; I never realized that my sharing my belief in Jesus was an attempt to convert anyone. I personally find it very difficult to understand how anyone could hate a Jew, Christian, or an American just because of their place of birth or the religion of their ancestors. I do believe that God loves all of His creation and that God’s saving power is available now, in the present day, to all who call on Him in faith. I do believe that I should give my donations to the poor here in my own home town. I guess that I am one of these people that Richard Silverstein wrote about on September 1, 2005 at 9:31 AM
Richard Silverstein wrote:
“the most uneducated, simplistic variety. They know nothing about Israeli society nor of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Their support is knee jerk & unidimensional. If evangelicals bothered to learn anything about Israel and its environs I’d feel much more comfortable with their support.”

I received an email this morning from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
Asking for a donation to help the poor Jews.

I watched the video showing poor Jews receiving food boxes and then I felt compelled to send a donation.

However; I performed a Google Search on Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein to try to determine if he and his organization are actually helping the poor among the Jews.

I confess that I really am an uneducated Christian when it pertains to the modern day Jew and modern day Israel.

I have only been to Israel once and that was in the spring of 2009.

I (along with about three hundred other simplistic Christians) was housed in a very nice hotel inside Bethlehem during our trip to Israel.

I had the opportunity to meet two of the hotel staff and to learn a little of their perspective regarding their relationship with Israel.

They asked me this question: “who do you like most—the Jews or the Palestinians”?

My first impulse was to say the Jews because as Christians we are taught that the Jews are “Gods’ Chosen People”.

I tried to explain to these two staff members that Christians are to love all the people of the world even if they are not always lovable.

I failed in my attempt to explain my view because I cannot explain the hatred and division that different groups have toward one another.

On my plane trip back to the United States I sat beside a very religious Jewish businessman.

He informed me that I should be reading the Jewish Law more. He told me that The Law was the most important thing and that I should never attempt to “convert” any Jew.

Prior to this experience; I never realized that my sharing my belief in Jesus was an attempt to convert anyone.

I personally find it very difficult to understand how anyone could hate a Jew, Christian, or an American just because of their place of birth or the religion of their ancestors.

I do believe that God loves all of His creation and that God’s saving power is available now, in the present day, to all who call on Him in faith.

I do believe that I should give my donations to the poor here in my own home town.

]]> By: Peter Stark http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2005/07/28/yechiel-ecksteins-mission-to-the-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-115485 Peter Stark Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:50:46 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/?p=835#comment-115485 Richard, Remember, if the good rabbi is listed at making $380,000 he probably makes four times that....and has all his expenses paid by his outfit to boot. Nifty gig- Richard,
Remember, if the good rabbi is listed at making $380,000
he probably makes four times that….and has all his expenses paid by his outfit to boot.
Nifty gig-

]]> By: Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2005/07/28/yechiel-ecksteins-mission-to-the-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-115481 Richard Silverstein Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:50:05 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/?p=835#comment-115481 <blockquote>You can’t exactly say Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein is a bad guy.</blockquote> Oh, but I can & I do.

You can’t exactly say Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein is a bad guy.

Oh, but I can & I do.

]]> By: Evan Kim http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2005/07/28/yechiel-ecksteins-mission-to-the-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-115440 Evan Kim Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:56:46 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/?p=835#comment-115440 http://www.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/rabbi/return_to_zion??#id=1&num=ep24 You can't exactly say Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein is a bad guy. He does help a lot of people. He probably earns most of his salary from his TV show Journey to Zion, where he teaches Christians about the Jewish roots of their faith and how Jews feel about certain subjects. http://www.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/rabbi/return_to_zion??#id=1&num=ep24

You can’t exactly say Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein is a bad guy. He does help a lot of people. He probably earns most of his salary from his TV show Journey to Zion, where he teaches Christians about the Jewish roots of their faith and how Jews feel about certain subjects.

]]> By: Joe Zias http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2005/07/28/yechiel-ecksteins-mission-to-the-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-103377 Joe Zias Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:32:45 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/?p=835#comment-103377 It's a holiday here in Israel, Succot or what the Christians call the Feast of Tabernacles and as usual the press here is running in English large ads for Eckstein, under the guise that he and his organization are raising money for the poor. The same press reported that last year his salary was nearly one million dollars, not bad for someone using the blind, the lame and the halt to further his own interests. Sounds more like 'pimping' off the poor and the Bible that helping the poor. For those concerned with this Jim Baker style of living, go to Guidestar to see where all those funds are going. It’s a holiday here in Israel, Succot or what the Christians call the Feast of Tabernacles and as usual the press here is running in English large ads for Eckstein, under the guise that he and his organization are raising money for the poor. The same press reported that last year his salary was nearly one million dollars, not bad for someone using the blind, the lame and the halt to further his own interests. Sounds more like ‘pimping’ off the poor and the Bible that helping the poor. For those concerned with this Jim Baker style of living, go to Guidestar to see where all those funds are going.

]]> By: Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2005/07/28/yechiel-ecksteins-mission-to-the-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-1825 Richard Silverstein Sat, 24 Dec 2005 08:50:47 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/?p=835#comment-1825 Thanks for that information, Peter. I couldn't find the link to the Give website (do you mean "iGive"?). At any rate, <a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/14/CH0212.html" rel="nofollow">Forbes.com</a> lists the good rabbi's 2004 salary as a cool $381,500! Witnessing to the evangelicals is quite lucrative! Thanks for that information, Peter. I couldn’t find the link to the Give website (do you mean “iGive”?). At any rate, Forbes.com lists the good rabbi’s 2004 salary as a cool $381,500! Witnessing to the evangelicals is quite lucrative!

]]> By: peter stark http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2005/07/28/yechiel-ecksteins-mission-to-the-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-1824 peter stark Sat, 24 Dec 2005 06:54:29 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/?p=835#comment-1824 I note on the "Give" website that investigates charities that Rabbi Eckstein takes down $350,000 annually. At $350 per Jew, that would repatriate 1,000 Jews a year. Now THAT'S charity of the right kind. Moreover, why on earth does a rabbi earn such high salary? Does he think he's an Endodontist? I note on the “Give” website that investigates charities that Rabbi Eckstein takes down $350,000 annually. At $350 per Jew, that would repatriate 1,000 Jews a year.
Now THAT’S charity of the right kind.

Moreover, why on earth does a rabbi earn such high salary?
Does he think he’s an Endodontist?

]]> By: Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2005/07/28/yechiel-ecksteins-mission-to-the-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-1229 Richard Silverstein Sat, 03 Sep 2005 04:24:47 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/?p=835#comment-1229 Yes, they make evangelical pilgramages to Israel. But what do they see? They essentially see the ancient Holy Land. They go to BIblical & New Testament sites, the Kotel, etc. They probably visit some settlements & maybe an IDF base. After that, what do they see? Do they visit any of Israel's working poor? Do they visit women's shelters? Do they get any realistic perspective on what life is like for the average Israeli? Do they ever learn anything about Israeli-Palestinian relations or the peace process? Or is the only message they hear that Israel cannot afford to compromise with the Palestinians, God granted the entire Land of Israel to the Children of Israel & returning a millimeter would violate God's will, etc.? When you say evangelicals support Israel politically, I reply that is precisely the problem. Within the U.S. the political line they espouse is Tom DeLay's give no quarter Mideast philosophy which outhawks even the Bush Administration's policy. Within Israel, they support the hardline settler movement. When you say that "they" are pro-Palestinian," here you are confusing mainline Protestant denominations with evangelicals. There are NO evangelicals I'm aware of who are pro-Palestinian or pro-divestment. <b>Chrisitianity</b> is not a monolith as far as the ME is concerned. But the evangelical movement, I'm afraid is a monolith & this is very dangerous for the prospect for peace in the ME. Yes, they make evangelical pilgramages to Israel. But what do they see? They essentially see the ancient Holy Land. They go to BIblical & New Testament sites, the Kotel, etc. They probably visit some settlements & maybe an IDF base. After that, what do they see? Do they visit any of Israel’s working poor? Do they visit women’s shelters? Do they get any realistic perspective on what life is like for the average Israeli? Do they ever learn anything about Israeli-Palestinian relations or the peace process? Or is the only message they hear that Israel cannot afford to compromise with the Palestinians, God granted the entire Land of Israel to the Children of Israel & returning a millimeter would violate God’s will, etc.?

When you say evangelicals support Israel politically, I reply that is precisely the problem. Within the U.S. the political line they espouse is Tom DeLay’s give no quarter Mideast philosophy which outhawks even the Bush Administration’s policy. Within Israel, they support the hardline settler movement.

When you say that “they” are pro-Palestinian,” here you are confusing mainline Protestant denominations with evangelicals. There are NO evangelicals I’m aware of who are pro-Palestinian or pro-divestment.

Chrisitianity is not a monolith as far as the ME is concerned. But the evangelical movement, I’m afraid is a monolith & this is very dangerous for the prospect for peace in the ME.

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