Articles


Christians, Jews rally for Israel

Posted On 05/06/08
By: Atara Beck

Canadian Christian College establishes Israel Studies chair

Dimant named professor

TORONTO – Speaking Sunday evening at the ‘Night to Honour Israel,’ Dr. Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College, where the program took place, welcomed a crowd of almost 1,000 and expressed his joy that nine such events were being held across the country. There are 3 million Evangelists in Canada, and “we’re all for Israel,” he stated.

Dr. John Howarth, executive director, Christians United for Israel-Canada, emceed the evening. Dr. Aubrey Zidenberg, national vice-president of B’nai Brith Canada, thanked the spiritual leaders, dignitaries and lay people who came to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary.

A profoundly moving aspect of the program – sponsored by Canada Christian College, B’nai Brith Canada, the Canada Israel Public Affairs Committee (CIPAC) and Christians United for Israel-Canada – was the appearance of about 30 Christian preachers onstage, praying in diverse languages for the welfare of the State of Israel.

A most thrilling surprise to many was the unexpected announcement that Canada Christian College is launching an Israel Studies chair, to be headed by Dr. Frank Dimant, executive vice president of B’nai Brith Canada.

With his wife, Florence Dimant, coordinator of the English department of Eitz Chaim Schools, standing beside him, Dimant told the audience that their parents collectively survived Auschwitz, Dachau, Majdanek, the Warsaw Ghetto, the Vilna Ghetto and Bergen Belsen, and despite all the horrors they experienced, they taught their children to recite Hallel, the traditional Jewish prayer of praise to the Almighty.

“I believe our parents are here with us in spirit, because tonight must be a miracle – standing in a Christian college, introducing an Israel Studies program. It’s unbelievable, a miracle from heaven,” he declared. He also beseeched God “to save us from those who want to divide the Land of Israel, who want to divide Jerusalem, who want to take Jews out of Judea and Samaria. We look to God and to you, our friends, to keep Israel modern and united, with a united Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel.”

Rabbi Moshe Stern of Shaarei Tefillah Congregation led a moving prayer for peace. He was applauded fervently after stating that the welfare of Israel affects the entire world.
Jason Kenney, secretary of state (multiculturalism and Canadian identity), extended greetings on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “It’s clear that it’s the entire Canadian community celebrating this anniversary, not just the Jewish community,” he said. “In Canada we’re doing all we can to stand by Israel not just in words, but in deeds.”

Alastair Gordon, president of the Canadian Coalition for Democracy, introduced keynote speaker Caroline Glick, deputy managing editor of the Jerusalem Post, who eloquently explained what she sees as the two main existential threats to Israel: Islamic jihad and moral relativism in the West.

“I believe that world peace is contingent on the strength of Jerusalem, both physical and spiritual,” she stated, adding her gratitude to the Canadian clergy and dignitaries who support Israel wholeheartedly. “We need to feel we’re not alone. We have to be brothers in our struggle for humanity, but tomorrow we’ll be brothers in peace.”

Conservative MP Dr. James Lunney, chair of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group; Liberal MP Dr. Carolyn Bennett; Liberal MPP Tony Ruprecht; Liberal MPP Monte Kwinter, and Conservative MPP Peter Shurmanexpressed their best wishes for the state of Israel. Israeli Consul General Amir Gissin and Oded Grofman, director of the Israel Government Tourist Office, greeted the assembled. Kurt Rothschild, world chairman of Mizrachi (Religious Zionist) movement, was among the dignitaries present.

Dr. Faydra Shapiro of Sir Wilfred Laurier University, who is currently researching Christian Zionism, listed many contributions to the world for which Israel deserves to be honoured and lamented the fact that the Jewish state has been so unfairly censured on campuses.

Rossly MacDonald of Christian organization Table to Table, Israel’s Food Rescue Network, sang O Canada, and Cantor David Edwards of the Lodzer Holocaust Centre & Synagogue led Hatikvah as well as Jerusalem of Gold. Cantor David Edwards chanted the Yizkor prayer for Holocaust victims.

A clipping from the film Obsession was shown and the audience was encouraged to view it in its entirety to understand the serious threat Islamist extremists pose.
“CBC wouldn’t air it, but two weeks ago it had the audacity to compare Holocaust victims to terrorists,” McVety said. “We’re going to take action against that.”