Zev Chafets

A Match Made in Heaven: American Jews, Christian Zionists

It's hard to give an opinion on this entertaining little book. Why? Well, the subject is one everyone gets touchy on, and practically anything the author says is going to be misinterpreted or ignored. Almost anything one says to build bridges will not prosper. This author tries it, though. And if I give his book 5 stars it's because, whatever the results may be, and even if I myself don't agree with some things, I have to admit that the book is fun.

Bottom-line is: Jews and Christian Evangelicals should get along. Issues separating us are trivial in comparison to the gains we can make if we stay together in the grand issues that both concern us. Just quit fuming about the Inquisition. That was in Europe, not America, by the way. Quit blaming Christian America for every evil: the Holocaust took place in Europe too. Christian America is Your friend, not Your enemy. Give us a break.

A multitude of Christians are stretching out their hands to Israel. So why not take it? It seems so simple.

Well obviously it ain't that simple when a lot of high class East Coast American Jewry still feel very prejudiced towards the average American of middle class. That they are disconnected with real America -not the America of their cocktail parties- doesn't seem to register with them. And if I say that they shouldn't be afraid of a Christian America because it's always been Christian from its inception and they got along pretty well, I won't be contributing much to mellowing the situation. But that's true. Judeo-Christian values made America possible. Maybe it ain't anymore so, but it sure was in the past. So what else do these Christian-hating Jews want? Christians are willing to stay with Israel and honest Jews through whatever it takes, but are not willing to deny their own Christ -the best Jew that ever was.

I guess well-intentioned books like this one are doomed to fail mainly because there's too much resentment, pride, hate, etc that corrupts any efforts done.

What I didn't like much was the common denominator used to explain the reasoning why this alliance should go on. Convenience and utilitarianism do not appeal to people who are spiritually minded and really believe in God. But I let it fly. On the other hand the book is a wealth of information: The who is who of the Evangelical and Jewish worlds.

Divide and conquer has always been the devil's favorite sport.