In his weekly newsletter to members of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), presdient Rabbi Yeckiel Eckstein recommended Mitchell Bard's new book, Israel Matters.
"Many people are simply indifferent to Israel; it’s something they hear about on the nightly news, but pay little attention to. To them, the dedication to the Jewish state shown by Israel’s friends is difficult to understand at best, fanatical at worst. Others think that Israel does matter, but not in a positive way. For these critics, Israel’s every motive is suspect, every action subject to intense scrutiny and criticism.
Supporters of Israel must be prepared to address, and challenge, these latter views. We need, of course, to inform, and to counter false criticisms with truth. But we also need to explain to people whose attitudes about the Jewish state stem from ignorance or indifference why they should care about the Jewish state and its future, to explainwhy Israel inspires us.
Now, there’s a new book that can help us do just that. Israel Matters, by the respected scholar, historian, and foreign policy analyst Mitchell Bard, tells us, in a way that speaks to scholar and layman alike, why the world should care about the Jewish state. It does so, not just by countering criticisms and exploding common myths about Israel, but by painting a picture of the Jewish state that encompasses its politics, history, culture, and people." ---------From Rabbi Eckstein's newsletter.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews was founded in 1983 to promote understanding between Jews and Christians and build broad support for Israel and other shared concerns. The organization's vision is that Jews and Christians will reverse their 2,000-year history of discord and replace it with a relationship marked by dialogue, respect and cooperation.
You can read the full article at the IFCJ website here.
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