By: Botrus Mansour

Next Saturday, October 2nd, an annual meeting will bring together Evangelical Arabs and Messianic Jews to praise and fellowship at Horsh Loubieh, which in Hebrew is “Ya’ar  Lavi “ ( Lavi Forest). This meeting has a long history and has become the symbol of loving relationships and the fellowship between Arab and Jewish believers from Galilee "because He is our peace, who made both one, and set aside the middle wall" – as the enthusiasts of these meetings like to quote from Ephesians.

At the threshold of this meeting, we must be asking the question: Is there more than symbolism in this meeting?
In the past, the press in our country has written that a meeting between rival political leaders is important on the basis of its mere existence. No one expects dramatic results at such meetings and the opportunity for a joint photo, handshakes and cold smiles in front of the world press was enough to declare success at the level of public opinion.

Is the achievement of the upcoming meeting in Loubieh important solely because such a dynamic event exists in which several hundred Jewish and Arab believers come together to share food and fellowship and exchange hugs and brotherly kisses? Or is the unity that is discussed something real and tangible? Is it something that can be translated into an understanding and acceptance of one another and a unified focus on building the Church of the Lord in Galilee? How many Arabic Churches have relationships and joint services during the year with Messianic Jewish churches?

Evangelical Arabs have an interlacing identity: they are Palestinian Arabs, Evangelical Christians and Israeli citizens at the same time, which causes an inherent complexity and contradiction. As for the Messianic Jews, they are Jews in terms of nationality and they also believe in Jesus Christ (despite the fact that the Supreme Court of Israel has ruled that a Jew who believes in Christ ceases to be a Jew). They are also Israelis, mostly holders of right-wing positions, and their Christian faith places heavy emphasis on the Biblical interpretation that God has special dealings with the Jewish people in the last days and the focus of restoration of the Jewish people in the land of Palestine. Both groups of believers suffer identity contradictions among themselves and between one another.

On the other hand, both Arab and Jewish believers alike declare that their identity as followers of the Lord Jesus is the highest in the hierarchy of many identities. But will putting that declaration to a test confirm its truthfulness and its conformity to reality? Is the Messianic Jew willing to accept his brother, the Evangelical Christian, if the latter rejects the biblical interpretation in question? Is an Arabic Evangelical believer willing to accept his Messianic Jewish brothers if the attitudes of the latter on the nationalistic/patriotic front are contrary to his aspirations as a son of the Palestinian people and his dreams of seeing his people enjoying independence and dignity.

It is thus clear that the contradictions facing this upcoming meeting are large and difficult. Even the name of the place where the gathering will be held “Loubieh” represents this difficulty as “Loubieh” is the name of an Arab village destroyed in 1948. The Kibbutz Levi was built on its ruins one year later.
Ordinary Israeli Jews patronize the Arab residents of the state of Israel and see them as only good at making food, construction jobs, auto repair and cheap labor. Do the Messianic Jews see us differently and look at us as partners and brothers with respect for our own identity, our vision and our faith?

I think that the meeting in Horsh Loubieh next week is important and necessary, but we must work on transferring from the symbolic to the realistic sphere and practice real acceptance of one another. This must be accompanied by deeper and more honest meetings where we can strive to achieve what is said about the Prince of Peace: His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace (Ephesians 2: 15-16).