Evangelical Trappings at Show Upset Many Jews in Audience

Hundreds of angry Jewish concert-goers walked out of a gospel music concert here last week when the event assumed the trappings of an evangelical prayer service.

The Aug. 1 concert, billed as a “Celebration of Gospel Music” by the Jerusalem municipality and the Jerusalem 3000 organizing committee, caused a stir when it took on definite missionary overtones.

While Jewish members of the audience said they were well aware that gospel music is Christian in content, many appeared shocked when Max Lucado, the event’s master of ceremonies, repeatedly urged the audience to give prayerful thanks to “the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.”

Nor were they prepared to hear two Israeli performers, Barry and Batya Segal, sing “gospel” songs in Hebrew.

The Segals, who perform at many Christian gatherings held in Israel, are Messianic Jews.

For many, the last straw was receiving Hebrew-language leaflets distributed by Christian missionaries inviting members of the audience to accept the love of Jesus.

Although Israelis often attend music festivals held in churches across the country, the concerts tend to be non-sectarian in nature.

Those events intended solely for a particular audience — such as concerts for Orthodox Jewish women — are usually advertised accordingly.

Many who attended the gospel concert complained that the event was falsely advertised.

“I expected to hear gospel music centered around Christian themes, but instead the music was presented in a proselytizing manner,” said Eddie Harwitz, a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.

“It was advertised as a gospel concert, but it was essentially a prayer meeting.”

Harwitz, who left the event early, said he felt “terribly uncomfortable” when Lucado gave “what amounted to two sermons,” then asked the audience to stand and pray to Jesus.

“Both sermons addressed the issue of non-believers, and the evening wasn’t a celebration of music or culture, but of Jesus Christ,” Harwitz said. “Last month, an American Christian group declared that its mission is to convert Jews, and the concert seemed to express this desire.”

Debra Litwack, a teacher at a Toronto Hebrew day school, said “the purpose of the concert was misrepresented.”

“Had it been presented properly, there are many people, including myself, who would not have attended,” she added.

“Encouraging people who were obviously not of their faith to pray to Jesus as their Messiah showed great insensitivity.”

Others disagreed.

A Christian student who identified herself only as Lena said, “When you come to a gospel concert you can expect to be witnessed to. Still, I’m sorry that some people were made to feel uncomfortable.”

Eduardo Hubscher, the producer of Jerusalem 3000, said his office had received about 20 complaint calls about the concert.

He stressed that the event, which was part of a weeklong gospel festival, had been sponsored and organized by the American Gospel Association.

“It is a pity that people were offended, and perhaps parts of the evening were distasteful,” Hubscher said. “What you have to understand is that [prayer] is a part of [the Christians’] way of living.

“The message of Jerusalem 3000 is universality. Jerusalem is loved not only by Jews. In their unique way, the concert expressed” the Christians’ love for Jerusalem.

Hubscher added that at a time when many tourist groups are avoiding Israel for security reasons, the 2,000-strong delegation of gospel enthusiasts never considered canceling its visit.

“They’re very pro-Israel and very pro-Jewish,” he said. “They’re here to show their support and attachment to the people of Jerusalem.

“After the bombings in Jerusalem this winter, the drop in tourism was almost catastrophic. They’re here in spite of this.”

Jim Groen, the chairman of the gospel festival, admits that the concert offended many in the audience.

“Please realize that we authorized no distribution of [missionary] material and no selling of merchandise. We said, `No, no, no,’ to anyone who called. The emcee of the evening was not authorized to speak or sermonize. I told him to offer a prayer for [Jerusalem] Mayor [Ehud] Olmert, for the municipality, the people of Israel and the peace of Jerusalem. Frankly, we were all shocked. It put a damper on the whole evening.”

Vowing to learn from this experience, Groen said, “I want to offer a sincere and genuine apology. We didn’t mean to offend anyone. We respect the people and the land.”