Christians, Let Us Do Better

We can condemn the government of Israel's actions without resorting to antisemitism

Earlier today someone posted a very problematic photo of a menorah. Instead of candles, it had bombs and they asked how Jewish people could celebrate Hanukkah in light of the government of Israel’s bombing and violence in Palestine. I will not name the person since they have since taken down the post and apologized. (Whether or not the apology is sufficient will be left to those directly impacted by their words). Additionally, while that specific post was harmful, the reality is that they aren’t the first and will not be the last Christian who in an attempt to criticize the government of Israel slips, unintentionally or not, into antisemitism. 

Let me first say that I reject the idea that any criticism of the government of Israel is inherently antisemitic. Absolutely not, all of us need to speak out against the violence and destruction that have led to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians (at least over 17,000) with about half of those deaths being children.  

And nothing I say in the following paragraphs contradicts that reality. However, the reality is that conflating Jewish people with the government of Israel is antisemitic. Ignoring the thousands of Jewish voices calling for a ceasefire and critiquing the government of Israel’s oppression of Palestinians is antisemitic. Some of the most vocal voices of protest are coming from Jewish people. 

 Moreover, ignoring how Western Christians have historically and into the present day been complacent in the mistreatment of Palestinians is antisemitic. Christian Zionism is both antisemitic and anti-Palestinian. US presidents from a variety of Christian traditions have uncritically supported the government of Israel while hampering any possibility of true peace that enables all to live without fear. And even the Christians who don’t endorse Christian Zionism, have more often than not been complacent and silent against the horrific treatment Palestinians have experienced for the past 75 years. And I am calling myself out as well for my prolonged silence.  

Instead of conflating Jewish people with the government of Israel and asking how Jewish people can celebrate Hanukkah at a time like this, how about Western Christians, instead ask ourselves how we dare to celebrate Advent and Christmas while our governments actively support death and destruction? How about Western Christians ask ourselves how we dare to celebrate Christmas like it’s any other year, while our Palestinian Christian peers are seeing their loved ones killed and their places of worship destroyed? How about Western Christians ask ourselves how we can celebrate Advent and Christmas when our faith is being used to justify both antisemitism and anti-Palestinianism? 

Again, I am absolutely against the actions of the government of Israel. While Hamas’ actions on October 7^th were abhorrent and they need to be held accountable, the government of Israel’s actions are collective punishment. The dehumanizing language used by the government of Israel to justify the slaughter of thousands of civilians is abhorrent.  

And Western Christians need to face up to their complicity and responsibility in the decades of violence against Palestinians. We also need to grapple with our long history of supporting antisemitism, which has also contributed to the violence and destruction occurring in Israel and Palestine.  

Western Christians who do not think Jewish people are having difficult conversations about the government of Israel, probably do not know many Jewish people. Additionally, conflating Jewish people with the government of Israel, not only sets the stage for violence against Jewish people, it does nothing to actively support Palestinians. It is just an excuse for Western Christians to ignore how we have actively caused harm to both Jewish people and Palestinians.  

I am not interested in harassing the original poster. I can only pray that they will take seriously the feedback they have received. But I do think this is a learning opportunity for all Christians, especially Western Christians, to examine how we are complicit and even active in harm against our Jewish and Palestinian peers.  

Image: Black background. Text: Instead of conflating Jewish people with the government of Israel and asking how Jewish people can celebrate Hanukkah at a time like this, how about Western Christians, instead ask ourselves how we dare to celebrate Advent and Christmas while our governments actively support death and destruction?