Peggy Shapiro

December is the most important month in most Christian religious calendars. Late December was also the most dangerous time for my parents when they grew up in southwestern Poland in the 1930’s. From Christmas Eve until well after sunset Christmas day, Jews stayed indoors, and when they could not avoid stepping out, they walked quickly, heads bent, trying to be invisible and never nearing a church. Hapless Jews caught on the street while parishioners were exiting their services could expect public humiliation, beatings, and worse. My mother and father were in the U.S. for several years before they dared walk in front of a church on Christmas.

My parents could never have imagined what thousands of Christians will be doing in San Bernardino Valley, San Diego, and Freemont, California doing this December. Any Jew in 1939 Poland would have been thought mad if he had anticipated the Christian celebrations  that will take place in Portland, OR, Salem, OR, Mesa, AZ, St. Petersburg, FL, Tallahassee, FL, Vancouver, WA and Las Vegas, NV. I am not talking about community prayer meetings, gift bazaars, neighborhood holiday decorations, or caroling practices.  While all these Christmas traditions will certainly continue, Christians United for Israel (CUFI), representing many congregations, are joining together in evenings of solidarity with the nation of Israel. In both English and Spanish-speaking churches, they are learning how to tangibly and effectively stand with Israel and send an encouraging message of hope that the Jewish people have seldom heard, "You are not alone." The song they will all sing this December is Hatikvah, the national anthem of Israel.

Gift giving, an integral component of the holiday season, is also taking a new twist. Along with traditional fruitcakes, toys, and sweaters, CUFI are promoting holiday gift purchases from Israel. The organization website encourages it members to buy art, books, ceramics, coins, Dead Sea cosmetics, gifts, Holy Land replicas, jewelry, Judaica, olivewood items, pottery, and many more products from Israel.

Today Christians United for Israel celebrate Christmas by standing up for the land and the people who gave birth to Jesus Christ.  They take to heart the Biblical commands to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), to speak out for Zion’s sake (Isaiah 62:1), to be watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:6) and to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3).  The overriding message at every CUFI gathering is, “As Christians, we have a Biblical obligation to defend Israel and the Jewish people in their time of need.”

My parents grew up in a world in which Christian holy days were linked to Jewish suffering. During the Holocaust and before too many Christians were silent or complicit in the destruction of European Jewry.  CUFI acknowledges the sins of the past and sets forth a future that is a blessing to both Christians and Jews. “Today, Bible-believing Christians must speak up and stand up for Israel. We must act to do whatever we can to protect Israel’s 6 million Jews from the second Holocaust. We must get it right this time. Our faith demands it. The times require it. Silence is not an option.” http://www.cufi.org/site/PageServer 

My mother and the few remaining Holocaust survivors have cause for hope this month of December.