Where do you stand on Israel?

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Polak

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I know this might get heated, or perhaps it won’t, but where do you stand on the whole Israel issue? It seems people are often vehemently pro Israel, or can’t stand Israel.

I personally don’t feel that I have looked into the issue deeply enough to have a well enough informed opinion. I know there are quite a lot of Christian zionists in the US, but I don’t think they are normally made up of Catholics.

Anyway, your thoughts, if you have any?
 
Be careful with the term “Christian Zionists”. It seems to mean, on the surface, at first glance, simply all those Christians who are broadly supportive of the State of Israel. But that’s not the way the term is used by Christian Zionists themselves. They hold very specific beliefs about the future of Israel, which seem to include the confident expectation that all Jews will convert to Christianity. This is the basic reason why Israelis, by and large, are prepared to tolerate them in the short term but place no confidence in them in the long term, despite their constant and sincere expressions of support for Israel against Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and all its other enemies.

I should add that I have never met a Christian Zionist face to face, and have had dealings on the internet with only a single adherent, who usually gives evasive answers to my questions. So don’t take my word for it, better wait for somebody with inside knowledge of what it’s all about.

For my own part, I am a Catholic and am strongly supportive of Israel against its enemies, but not for the same reasons as Christian Zionists.
 
I also am Catholic and have been pro-Israel forever even though I haven’t been Catholic forever. Many times I thought of converting to Judaism, but chose Catholicism instead (2008). I was born in 1952.
I believe the State of Israel has a right to exist and protect itself. Israel is
surrounded by enemies.
 
That’s unusual. So why did you want to convert to Judaism and why did you decide to convert to Catholicism? A bit off topic I know.
 
@Polak. I can’t really explain it. The desire had been there as a young teenager to learn about Judaism and Catholicism. I think I saw both as
“true” faiths. I was baptized in the Episcopal church at 2 years old and confirmed in the Episcopal church at 15 which was stressful to me because I seriously wanted to
learn about Judaism and Catholicim and wanted to belong to one of them.
In college, I was able to study Judaism a little, but in a cassroom setting.

When I was 53, I attended a 10 month Discovering Judaism class at a Reform and
a Conservative synagogue. I loved learning more about Judaism by participating in the synagogue worship services and studying the Torah in weekly classes and
meeting the Jewish people at the synagogues and the rabbis and celebrating
the holidays - especially the High Holidays. I began learning Hebrew. At the end of
10 months, I was not ready to convert. I year or so later I began studying Catholicism on my own for a couple of years. I contacted a local parish and
studied one on one with the RCIA director for 8 weeks (regular RCIA had just ended at Easter).
I like the salvation Jesus offers, the Holy Trinity and, of course, Mary.
Judaism is a beautiful faith, but it felt like something was missing.
I think I felt the Catholic faith is the fulfillment of Judaism.
I also feel God did make the Covenant with his Chosen people and that
Covenant is still alive.
I believeJesus is the Messiah.
I think Israel still plays a part in our salvation story - its history and future.
 
What does “Make Israel Jerusalem again!” mean?

@FrancisFan43
 
I think he means the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, aka the Crusader State.
 
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