The two men had to try at least twice to swing the heavy battery of lights up and into position.
I saw them setting up the stage and chairs yesterday in the plaza of the Jerusalem Municipality, Safra Square.
This venue was for the overflow crowd that couldn't get tickets for the sold-out Davidson archaeological park event near the Western Wall this afternoon.
Glenn Beck was giving a talk to over a thousand supporters, mostly Evangelical Christians who came from America for his "Restoring Courage" rally.
The video is up on YouTube.
I don't know this commentator but apparently a lot of Americans do. He has radio and TV stations.
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There were protests, both from Peace Now and the Left and from some of the Jewish religious establishment.
City Hall was criticized for providing top venues, holy places.
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So is Glenn Beck good for the Jews or bad for the Jews? See the CNN article.
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Many Israelis welcome the love and support of Christian Zionists.
But many Jews have a kind of (involuntary, perhaps) flinch reaction when they see so many smiling Evangelicals, especially so close to the Western Wall like tonight.
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From the Israeli press about Glenn Beck:
A funny recap in Haaretz
Jerusalem Post
Ynet
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UPDATE: A fellow local blogger was there at Safra Square the night of Beck's rally. See her pictures and comments at the excellent The Real Streets of Jerusalem blog.
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Sad to see every American whacko use Israel for their personal political agenda. As a Mormon, Beck is not considered an "evangelical" by orthodox (mainstream) Christians. They consider Mormonism a non-Christian sect. It would be like telling Chabad that the Samaritans are just another group of Orthodox Jews.
ReplyDeletethis guys a viper!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
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I will follow the adage that if I don't have anything nice to say... (Beck, not a fan of his!)
ReplyDeleteI watched the video, and it was so interesting to read the comments after, I guess as is the case with all religious and political views, it's a very personal and diverse subject.. I wonder if it's even possible for Beck NOT to make 'fauz pas', I think not. Really interesting post Dina.
ReplyDeleteShalom friends. Well! I'm certainly learning a lot from your comments! Thanks for taking time to write all this information and share your feelings on the subject.
ReplyDeleteResource page on John Hagee and Christian Zionism - all you ever wanted to know and more!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.talk2action.org/story/2009/11/2/141343/402/
Loud American Christians do not reflect Christianity as much as their right wing politics. This is sad but reflects the lack of biblical understanding in the US.
ReplyDeleteGlenn Beck is renown as a right wing extremist and I suspect those who follow him will NOT be Evangelical Christians.
It is all kind of confusing. Beck is a political conservative and is a Mormon. Mormons aren't a "sect", they're Christians, just not what you'd call Evangelical Christians ... see Mormonism and Christianity. Here I think Evangelical Christians are usually conservative, mainline Protestants more liberal, and Catholics go both ways but maybe most are conservative. I'd guess that most political conservatives are what you'd call pro-Israel, while many liberals are not so much. I'm a political liberal pro-Israel Catholic :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I would not have put it all quite the same way, Raksha has said some important things.
ReplyDeleteI am Roman Catholic from birth, but my father was Jewish. I grew up in and around many Jews. Christian Zionists are actually very upsetting to me. My rabbi cousin (he lived in Israel for a time and will return) and I have had many conversations about this and will continue to do so.
Glen Beck and anyone who is taking the "evangelical" approach to Israel in that way are also very focused on the End Times. This has to happen in Israel as they see it.
This has nothing to do with love or respect for the Jews in the end; it is about converting them in those final days.
As for Beck himself, he is vitriolic, histrionic and speaks mistruths with wild abandon. He is constantly seeking attention and not always getting it, which makes him furious.
As an American I am offended, as a Catholic Christian I am offended, and as someone who holds Israel and the Jewish people at large, deeply in my heart, I am offended.
Dina, who knew it would be such a hot topic. Thanks for posting and for hosting our conversation.
(For the record, "live and let live" is more my way of being, but someone like Glenn Beck pushes me over the edge.)
I have seen this name, Glenn Beck mentioned so much lately, but I have not quite managed to get the full story.., maybe I should read a bit..hehe.
ReplyDeleteEveryone,
ReplyDeleteOne more link:
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/24/139781021/the-evangelicals-engaged-in-spiritual-warfare
This article appeared on the NPR website yesterday. It's called "The Evangelicals Engaged in Spiritual Warfare." It contains a link to a 39-minute interview with Rachel Tabachnick, author of many of the articles on the Talk To Action discussion board I linked to yesterday.
Both the NPR article and the interview, which cover basically the same ground, should help to clarify some of the questions raised in previous posts, especially when it comes to the difference between the NAR and other forms of evangelical Christianity some of you may have been raised with.
Shalom,
Linda
Friends, thanks so much for contributing here.
ReplyDeleteRaksah/Linda, as a matter of fact, I read that NPR article yesterday, now that y'all have gotten me so interested in the subject.
The talk of apostles and prophets of the NAR New Apostolic Reformation is quite scary.
... a snake in the grass.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the guy, but it is nice to see how much advice the yokels living in Israel may need.
ReplyDeleteYou had such an easy history and live in such a boring country, surrounded by friendly neighbors and well liked by all the nutty tyrants of the world...
Re Raksah/Linda, as a matter of fact, I read that NPR article yesterday, now that y'all have gotten me so interested in the subject.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dina. That was my intention in posting, of course. I've been studying the NAR and related theocratic movements for about two years now, with a special focus on Christian Zionism. I believe I made it clear in my earlier post that I consider Christian Zionism a serious threat to the Jewish people both here and in Israel. Now that you've read the NPR article you can see for yourself why these freaks scare me so much.
Shalom,
Linda
Psalm 122: 6-9
ReplyDeletePray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."
For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you."
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.
-- I know that the Jewish people are His most beloved and His chosen. How He works in the lives of His people is His concern, and nothing done by the hand of man will change His plans. As a Christian, I will continue to pray for the peace of this land and this people...
"Peace be within you".
Somehow this man doesn't sound honest. I don't feel happy listening to him.What does he actually want? And why does he come to Israel?
ReplyDeleteGlen Beck sure does get a response
ReplyDeletefrom people, did not know how on target I was, "Love him or hate him"!
Appreciate the compliment!
Glad you liked the pics.