Educating Younger Christians to Love Israel

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Educating Younger Christians to Love Israel

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January 11, 2023

Educating Younger Christians to Love Israel

(JNS) Passages, a US group that brings Christian faculty college students on backed visits to Israel, not too long ago celebrated a exceptional milestone.

This group introduced 450 college students to Israel throughout its winter program, bringing the whole variety of members thus far to 10,000.

Passages is keen about energizing younger Christians to develop a better understanding of their religion and the Bible via visiting Israel. Whereas initially working with Christian schools, the group has since expanded to common universities as nicely.

The founders of Passages, an initiative of the Philos Challenge, in 2016 realized there was a should be stuffed: Whereas many older Christians had been frequent guests to Israel, extra younger folks wanted entry. Moreover, Christian assist for Israel wanted a shot within the arm to inoculate itself towards rising antisemitism within the Christian group, a phenomenon increasingly more seen not too long ago with the rhetoric of rapper Ye (previously Kanye West) and his ally Nick Fuentes, who each body their strident anti-Jewish rhetoric in explicitly Christian-Nationalist phrases that refuse to acknowledge the Jewish foundations inherent within the Christian religion.

Passages members soar for pleasure in Israel. Courtesy of Passages.

Rivka Kidron is the co-founder of Passages and a board member. She mentioned relating to the rising recognition of this system, “We’re at a singular second in historical past, the place Jews and Christians can come collectively for the primary time and create optimistic and impactful experiences.”

Kidron emphasised that “now greater than ever, Jews and Christians have to come back collectively round our shared values and get up for what’s proper on this world. Sadly, antisemitism is on the rise, and I believe we want one another now greater than ever. I really feel very blessed to be right here and dwelling right here at this second, and [to] share it with you.”

Passages describes one in every of its key targets for its college students as “constructing their Christian religion and bridges of friendship with the Jewish group.”

The colleges and teams taking part on this previous season’s journeys embody Hannibal LaGrange College, Regent College, the College of Chicago, Patrick Henry School, The King’s School, Missouri Baptist College, Ignite Motion, Florida State College, Roberts Wesleyan School, Belmont College, Forge Management Community, Trinity Christian School, Hillsdale School, Oklahoma Baptist College, Grove Metropolis School, Houston Christian College and Colorado State College.