The Rev. Jerry Falwell, leader of the Moral Majority, last night apologized for calling for the Christianization of America. “We are wrong and we are sorry,” Falwell told more than 1,200 Conservative rabbis attending the annual convention of the Rabbinical Assembly. “What more can I say.”
Marc Tannenbaum, director of international relations for the American Jewish Committee, who shared the platform with Falwell, told reporters later that Falwell’s apology appeared “sincere and the way has been cleared for the genuine dialogue between conservative evangelical Christians and the Jewish community.” Tannenbaum told his conservative rabbinical colleagues, who gathered for the 85th annual meeting which concluded yesterday, that “whatever our differences, the Jewish community does not take for granted that 70 million evangelical Christians have given stalwart support in the advocacy and well being of the State of Israel.”
Tannenbaum described Jews as being “deeply troubled” during the 1984 presidential elections by comments from both the Republican and Democratic parties. The AJCommittee leader said that President Reagan had the support of 50 to 60 percent of the Jewish vote until he made his remarks regarding the Christianizing of America.
“When you say you need to restore America to being a Christian nation, to return to the conditions of our origins, that kind of mythologizing is nothing more than the revision of American history,” Tannenbaum stated.
DOESN’T WANT 1984 REPEATED
Continuing, Tannenbaum declared: “I don’t want to see 1984 repeat itself where Jews vote because they feel fear on both sides and a sense of political homelessness with nowhere to go. We have not sunk roots here and enriched this country to wind up at the end of the 20th century feeling marginal to society.”
Falwell, in his remarks, praised Israel and spoke of his “love for Israel and the Jewish people.” He promised to mobilize conservative Christians on behalf of the Jewish State and to fight anti-Semitism.
Describing Israel as “America’s only true friend” in the Middle East, Falwell declared, “Were it not for the Israeli presence the Soviets would now own the oilfields in the Middle East and we would not be here in an economy that is strong and flourishing. We (America) owe more to Israel than Israel owes to us in dollars and cents. Every dollar we spend is the best defense dollar we spend anywhere in the world.”
FALWELL URGES HONEST RELATIONSHIP
Falwell continued: “Any continuing relationship must be based on honesty, patience — we have made a commitment not based on ulterior motives, not based on the Jewish gathering in the State of Israel to set the stage for the Second Coming. As I interpret the scripture there is no such necessity nor requirement for Jewish occupation of Israel before we experience the second advent of our society.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the RA said today that the two Reform women rabbis admitted to membership this week will not officially become members of the Conservative rabbinic group until July 1. This means that Amy Eilberg, who will be ordained before July, from the Jewish Theological Seminary, will officially become the first woman rabbi admitted to the RA.
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