Thank you for this explanation. I was unaware of this connection between evangelicals and Zionism. A lot of things make much more sense now. Having been raised Catholic (but not being a fan of any organized religion as an adult) I was unfamiliar with that biblical prophecy. Catholics don’t “do” the Old Testament. No Vacation Bible School for us! Of course as I look at so many professed Christians, especially Catholics like Vance, they don’t seem to “do” the New Testament (all those “woke” teachings of their white Jesus!) either.
And some military leaders are telling our troops that this is a holy war, part of Gd’s divine plan. This is not a Jewish value. Jewish values are Tikkun Olam -healing the world, and welcoming the stranger.
You've done an excellent job of explaining the beliefs of the evangelicals, and how Netanyahu has taken advantage of their wish for a 'holy war' to wage his own 'holy war' for his purposes. Neither he or the administration here care about the naive beliefs of those people following them who think they are doing 'the Lord's work'. They are cynically using them to further their own wholly ungodly agendas. In doing so they are reawakening the antisemitism that has always lurked below the surface, but now is encouraged, just like all the other hateful beliefs that we had been working hard to eradicate.
As a Jewish-American, there will be no safety from antisemitism as long as the Trump administration is using it as a cudgel to end free speech and academic freedom, and continues to support the Israeli Prime Minister's war rampage throughout the Middle East. From Gaza to Iran to Lebanon, Israel, with Trump's backing, is stoking antisemitism at home and abroad.
So many people don't understand that a large proportion of Jews do not support the criminal, Netanyahu. Especially in a Reform synagogue, there are likely a good percentage that do not support what is going on.
Excellent explainer as always. As to one of your larger questions - Why not Christian Nationalist? Like you, I spent some time in Evangelical churches, and while dispensationalism is well know in those particular circles, it is not known outside of it. When questions arise as to why a part of Christianity, fully and loudly support this war, if explain the above they look at me as if I've grown a second head
Very astute explanation. The ties of this regime to Christian nationalism and in particular dominionism and dispensationalism need much wider exposure. But as one commentator mentioned, when you try to tell a friend about these beliefs, the wonder about your sanity. Yet here we have our war gamer poser telling us the very same thing. The US has been prone to fantastical beliefs for centuries. We had Richard Hofstadter in the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s and Kurt Anderson recently bring the history. I only hope that saner minds will prevail.
You make excellent points about he corrupt nature of right-wing evangelical churches and their unholy alliance(s) with the State of Israel. The religious right's fascination with the "end times" and But I'm not sure that your "antisemitic terrorist" is entirely appropriate in this particular case.
Ayman Mohammad Ghazali, the temple's attacker, was from Lebanon and had just lost several close family members to an Israeli air strike in Lebanon on March 5. Lebanon and Israel, of course, have been at war with each other for many years as part of the wider Middle Eastern Arab-Israeli conflict.
Ghazali's grief apparently overwhelmed him. Since the Israelis -- not the US -- attacked his brothers' village, it makes sense (emotionally, at least) that Ayman Mohammad Ghazali would seek to avenge his brothers' and their families' deaths against a representative symbol of Israel, not a symbol of the USA.
Again, I agree with your overall points that anti-semitism and hate are wrong, and that they are major threads in American evangelical churches as well as in Christian Nationalism and the Tr$mp regime.
From the AP story:
"An Israeli airstrike on March 5 killed four people in the town of Mashgharah, Lebanese officials reported. Israel has stepped up attacks on the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon as the war with Iran has spread violence across the Middle East.
A local official in Mashgharah told the AP on Friday that the airstrike killed Ghazali’s two brothers, a niece and a nephew at their home just after sunset as they were having their fast-breaking meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The official, who requested anonymity because he could not publicly discuss details of the airstrike, told the AP that Kassim and Ibrahim Ghazali were killed, along with Ibrahim Ghazali’s children, Ali and Fatima. Their mother was seriously wounded and remains in the hospital, the official said."
Thank you, Charlotte! This is so important to understand. I know a lot of people who are not aware that the GOP (and thus the US government) is now dominated by dispensationalist Christian Zionists. In fact, I didn’t know the word, “dispensationalist” until I read this. I appreciate your knowledge and clear arguments. And as an American who was raised Jewish, I appreciate your perspective and support too.
Thank you, Charlotte. My cousin and his family belong to this synagogue and I've attended events there over the years. The silence from my progressive communities is loud right now.
Excellent explainer, and excellent questions asked. This was so very helpful and makes it clear that it's antisemitism.
Thank you for this explanation. I was unaware of this connection between evangelicals and Zionism. A lot of things make much more sense now. Having been raised Catholic (but not being a fan of any organized religion as an adult) I was unfamiliar with that biblical prophecy. Catholics don’t “do” the Old Testament. No Vacation Bible School for us! Of course as I look at so many professed Christians, especially Catholics like Vance, they don’t seem to “do” the New Testament (all those “woke” teachings of their white Jesus!) either.
I don't think most of them have read the New Testament or processed what Jesus said.
And some military leaders are telling our troops that this is a holy war, part of Gd’s divine plan. This is not a Jewish value. Jewish values are Tikkun Olam -healing the world, and welcoming the stranger.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/us-israel-iran-war-christian-rhetoric
Perfectly said. Tikkun Olam. I'm Jewish and don't support this at all!
You've done an excellent job of explaining the beliefs of the evangelicals, and how Netanyahu has taken advantage of their wish for a 'holy war' to wage his own 'holy war' for his purposes. Neither he or the administration here care about the naive beliefs of those people following them who think they are doing 'the Lord's work'. They are cynically using them to further their own wholly ungodly agendas. In doing so they are reawakening the antisemitism that has always lurked below the surface, but now is encouraged, just like all the other hateful beliefs that we had been working hard to eradicate.
As a Jewish-American, there will be no safety from antisemitism as long as the Trump administration is using it as a cudgel to end free speech and academic freedom, and continues to support the Israeli Prime Minister's war rampage throughout the Middle East. From Gaza to Iran to Lebanon, Israel, with Trump's backing, is stoking antisemitism at home and abroad.
So many people don't understand that a large proportion of Jews do not support the criminal, Netanyahu. Especially in a Reform synagogue, there are likely a good percentage that do not support what is going on.
Excellent explainer as always. As to one of your larger questions - Why not Christian Nationalist? Like you, I spent some time in Evangelical churches, and while dispensationalism is well know in those particular circles, it is not known outside of it. When questions arise as to why a part of Christianity, fully and loudly support this war, if explain the above they look at me as if I've grown a second head
Very astute explanation. The ties of this regime to Christian nationalism and in particular dominionism and dispensationalism need much wider exposure. But as one commentator mentioned, when you try to tell a friend about these beliefs, the wonder about your sanity. Yet here we have our war gamer poser telling us the very same thing. The US has been prone to fantastical beliefs for centuries. We had Richard Hofstadter in the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s and Kurt Anderson recently bring the history. I only hope that saner minds will prevail.
Charlotte -
You make excellent points about he corrupt nature of right-wing evangelical churches and their unholy alliance(s) with the State of Israel. The religious right's fascination with the "end times" and But I'm not sure that your "antisemitic terrorist" is entirely appropriate in this particular case.
Ayman Mohammad Ghazali, the temple's attacker, was from Lebanon and had just lost several close family members to an Israeli air strike in Lebanon on March 5. Lebanon and Israel, of course, have been at war with each other for many years as part of the wider Middle Eastern Arab-Israeli conflict.
Ghazali's grief apparently overwhelmed him. Since the Israelis -- not the US -- attacked his brothers' village, it makes sense (emotionally, at least) that Ayman Mohammad Ghazali would seek to avenge his brothers' and their families' deaths against a representative symbol of Israel, not a symbol of the USA.
Again, I agree with your overall points that anti-semitism and hate are wrong, and that they are major threads in American evangelical churches as well as in Christian Nationalism and the Tr$mp regime.
From the AP story:
"An Israeli airstrike on March 5 killed four people in the town of Mashgharah, Lebanese officials reported. Israel has stepped up attacks on the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon as the war with Iran has spread violence across the Middle East.
A local official in Mashgharah told the AP on Friday that the airstrike killed Ghazali’s two brothers, a niece and a nephew at their home just after sunset as they were having their fast-breaking meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The official, who requested anonymity because he could not publicly discuss details of the airstrike, told the AP that Kassim and Ibrahim Ghazali were killed, along with Ibrahim Ghazali’s children, Ali and Fatima. Their mother was seriously wounded and remains in the hospital, the official said."
https://apnews.com/article/michigan-synagogue-attack-fbi-investigation-58331bad2c28e78c6c99a4a764637873
I think we need to stop normalizing violence as a valid expression of men’s grief.
Hi--An American synagogue is not a "representative symbol of Israel" unless you are an antisemite.
Again, thank you.
Thank you, Charlotte! This is so important to understand. I know a lot of people who are not aware that the GOP (and thus the US government) is now dominated by dispensationalist Christian Zionists. In fact, I didn’t know the word, “dispensationalist” until I read this. I appreciate your knowledge and clear arguments. And as an American who was raised Jewish, I appreciate your perspective and support too.
I just read "Zionism" on Wikipedia, it's an interesting read. History matters...
Thank you, Charlotte. My cousin and his family belong to this synagogue and I've attended events there over the years. The silence from my progressive communities is loud right now.
This a very helpful framing Charlotte, thanks for clearly laying it out so clearly!
Ditto to every well said thing you said.