A message from President Reagan to a National Prayer Breakfast for Israel here last week declared that the United States stands solidly with Israel and expressed the hope that Israel should be “strong and free and live in peace.”
The message was delivered by Martin Blackwell, a White House aide to the prayer breakfast, sponsored by the Round Table, a group of Evangelical Christians. The breakfast, the first in honor of Israel by the Round Table, was held in conjunction with the annual convention of the National Association of Religious Broadcasters.
MINISTERS OFFER PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL
About six Evangelical ministers offered prayers for Israel, including the Rev. Bailey Smith, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, who a little more than a year-and-a-half ago said that God does not hear the prayers of Jews. Smith recently visited Israel and returned impressed by the Jewish State, full of praise for Israel and for what he said was its “humane” treatment of Arabs. Also during the prayer breakfast, a band played Israeli songs and kosher breakfast was available for those who wanted it.
Harry Hurwitz, the Israel Embassy Minister of Information, told the audience that Israel has proven it is willing to make sacrifices for peace. He said Israel draws its strength from its own people and from the support of friends in the United States and elsewhere. Hurwitz stressed that despite momentary differences between the United States and Israel, the friendship between the two countries is solid, based on shared human values and common security interests.
MOVED BY THE PROGRAM
About 60 American Jewish leaders attended the prayer breakfast. Hyman Bookbinder, Washington representative of the American Jewish Committee, said he was quite moved by the program and what he saw as a “genuine caring for Israel” by the Evangelical Christians.
A similar comment was made by Rabbi Joshua Haberman of the Washington Hebrew Congregation. He said he discovered that the Evangelical Christians have gone beyond support of Israel as the Holy Land and also supported it as a modem political and social entity.
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