Two years ago, American Jewish community relations groups were busy patting themselves on the back for achieving a signal victory in turning back the attempt by anti-Israel radicals to hijack the Presbyterian Church USA.
After the Presbyterians became the first Protestant church to embrace divestment from companies doing business in Israel in 2004, Jewish groups worked hard to overturn the decision. When the church voted to back away from this stand in 2006, it was rightly seen as a triumph not just for friends of Israel, but for the tactic of outreach itself as years of tenacious diplomacy paid off.
The celebrations seem to have been premature.
The release of a document by the church last month titled "Vigilance Against Anti-Jewish Bias in the Pursuit of Israeli-Palestinian Peace" was supposed to help its members guard against anti-Semitic rhetoric when discussing the Middle East.
Church's Betrayal
Rather than serve as a warning against bias, it serves as a justification for anti-Israel invective.
Instead, it is a compendium of charges aimed at deligimitizing the Jewish State. The church release avoids discussing Arab support for terrorism and, rather than serve as a warning against bias, it serves as a justification for anti-Israel invective since it places the sole blame for the conflict on Israel, rather than on those attempting to destroy it. If anything, it should serve to reinvigorate those who have been pushing for divestment, which is nothing less than a declaration of economic war on Israel and the Jewish people.
In itself, this should justify the outrage and the feelings of betrayal that have been voiced by a wide spectrum of centrist and liberal Jewish denominations and organizations that worked to reverse the previous Presbyterian stand on Israel.
But also buried in the document is a strand of thought that is relevant not only to this battle for the soul of a powerful mainline liberal Protestant church, but to the mindset of American Jews themselves.
Amid a laundry list of anti-Israel measures in the Presbyterian statement — including opposition to the security fence that effectively ended the Palestinian suicide bombing campaign — was the assertion that "Christian faithfulness, as well as the policies of our church, demands that we maintain our commitments … to criticize forms of Christian Zionism."
That meant that in the same document in which they urged its members to avoid couching their attacks on Israel in ways that could be labeled anti-Semitic, the Presbyterians specifically attack fellow Christians who have lent their support to the idea that the Jewish people have a right to sovereignty over their historic homeland.
In particular, they singled out Evangelicals such as Pastor John Hagee, who was flogged out of the camp of Republican presidential candidate John McCain for saying the Holocaust was caused by the Jewish sin of failing to make aliyah.
To support the contention that Christian Zionists are wrongheaded, the Presbyterian document cited Rabbi Eric Yoffie, the leader of the Union for Reform Judaism, who in a December 2007 speech warned Jews to avoid alliances with the pro-Israel Christian right.
Yoffie, whose Reform movement joined the coalition of Jewish groups that condemned the Presbyterian reversal, is not happy about this. He told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he is "infuriated" about the Presbyterians "embedding" his words in a "doctrine that is so hostile to Israel."
While some of Yoffie's criticisms of Hagee are not completely off-target, the Reform leader is right to be embarrassed.
But rather than merely being annoyed by the church's chutzpah, he ought to be rethinking his own bashing of right-wing Christian Zionists.
Indeed, the Presbyterians' renewed flirtation with anti-Zionism should serve as a wake-up call for the vast number of American Jews who have clung to their prejudices about Evangelicals, despite the sea change in the Protestant world that has occurred in the last generation.
In the past, Jews instinctively looked to mainline liberal Protestant churches, like the Presbyterians, the Methodists, Lutherans and Anglicans, who have all been debating divestment measures against Israel in recent years, as allies. At the same time, Jews generally assumed that Evangelicals, who generally lived outside the coastal urban enclaves where Jewish life has thrived in America, were liable to be anti-Semitic.
When it comes to the life-and-death questions of Israeli survival, it is the people who look to the Hagees of the world for leadership who stand with Israel.
But in the America of 2008, it is precisely the Evangelicals of the Christian right who are instinctively supportive of Israel, while our traditional allies on the Christian left are flirting with a theology that demonizes Israel and the Jews.
Though the gap between the Christian right and most Jews on domestic issues is still vast, when it comes to the life-and-death questions of Israeli survival and opposition to terror, it is the people who look to the Hagees of the world for leadership, rather than to the Presbyterians, who stand with Israel.
Unfortunately, that isn't good enough for many Jews who never tire of making unsupported and utterly false accusations that the Evangelicals actually hate Jews and want to destroy us. It is little surprise that this has only encouraged the Presbyterians to use this issue to bolster their own attempt to isolate Israel.
The point here is not to claim that the Christian right has become Israel's only American friends, though they are among the most active and effective.
The fact is, most of the rank-and-file members of the mainline churches who are dabbling in anti-Zionist rhetoric and considering divestment don't support the campaign against Israel. Indeed, it is doubtful even after all of the controversy of the past few years, that most are even aware of the fact that their spiritual home is being hijacked by radical left-wing elements.
Outreach Must Continue
As frustrated as many Jews are with the Presbyterian betrayal, the outreach campaign carried out by Jewish community relations councils across the country must continue.
Most American Protestants rightly see Israel as sharing common democratic values with the United States and want nothing to do with the sort of anti-Zionism that has won a foothold among mainline church activists. They need to understand that their silence will be taken as complicity with the actions of these radicals. They must understand that their churches cannot pretend to be friends with their Jewish neighbors while supporting an economic war on the Jewish state. And they must be prodded to take action to rescind such measures enacted in their names.
But, at the same time, American Jews must cease living in the past when it comes to understanding the contemporary religious and political landscape of America. At a time when Hamas, Hezbollah and their Iranian sponsors are plotting a new Holocaust for Israel and its six million Jews, treating those Protestants who actually love Israel as hateful pariahs is a strategy devoid of truth or sense.
(29) diana, December 20, 2008 12:11 PM
don't harden your heart against Christians
I just submit a post as a faithful reader (and Christian)to this website. My support to Israel is unconditional as it has a right to be a democratic nation. I find it ridiculous that people still think Christians support Israel due to some "dispensational theology". Most Christians don't even know what that is and two they support Israel for their political rights. I find some comments on this site, very say, Daniela: "lowly people"...you will "straight them out..". Wow...its from your Torah that we Christians even know to love your neighbor. I certainly understand your point but open your heart to those of us who are willing to sit and read and listen to the millenia of wisdom from rabbis. God Bless and I will continue reading this website, I am educated everyday by something here.
(28) daniela, July 6, 2008 2:19 AM
do we really want their support?
Are we sure we want to seek their support? Are we sure we want to associate with them? Are we sure we wont be embarrassed by having been so close to them, the day Moshiach comes?
Do some xians bless us? Fine, let us accept their blessings and thank them - we are taught even the blessing of lowly people are not to be taken lightly. Do some xians offer money? Fine, let us thank them and use this money for, lets say, magen adom david, that cares for people of all religions or lack thereof. Do some xians support jewish issues in congress or whatever other parliament? Fine, let us thank them for their vote. But there is quite a difference from suggesting that we get out of our way in order to supposedly secure those people's support of israel. We would do better by seeking support of israel from jews, all of us, each and every single one. Instead of labeling them "self-hating jews" perhaps we should talk to them about the injustices they invariably witnessed or experienced, tell them that the jewish way is to straighten them out, and proceed to do so.
(27) Lawrence, July 3, 2008 5:12 PM
Support for Israel is based on common, Bibilcally based values
I consider myself to be a friend to Israel, but I am not Jewish, being a member of a Reformed church. There are obviously profound theological differences between historically Reformed Churches and Judaism. However, the Reformed churches and more conservative movements in Judaism both study the Old Testament as authoritative and relevant. Views of ethics, morality, and values, are very similar. For that reason we find ourselves, on the same side of many of the fundamental issues of our time. Israel, with all of its debate and internal argumentation, essentially holds those standards that have led to freedom and progress in the Western World. Israel's enemies do not, and they are opposed to both of us. Israel is the only free and democratic nation in the region. That is the basis of my support for Israel. It is NOT based on dispensational theology that has been so common in many Christian churches during the past century. Jewish friends in or outside of Israel or should not be so quick to dismiss Christian friends and supporters of Israel. Jonathan S. Tobin has said some profound and true things in his column.
(26) Peter, July 2, 2008 6:46 PM
In reply to "Consider their motives..."
Eliyahu, has it occured to you that maybe some Christians feel love for their Jewish brothers and sisters because as comanded they simply love their neighbour...
Is it not possible that not only a number of Christians but also Athiests, Agnostics, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, dare I say it even Muslims dare I even go so far as to say some Palistinians, actually feel that it is right that Israel should be a Jewish state. Regardless of race or religion there are many who feel just as strongly as any Jew that Israel should be a Jewish state. Including many Christians whom have no thaught, no underlying insentive at all, related to an armageddon prophesy but instead feel a deep loving support for Israel.
(25) Anonymous, July 2, 2008 4:46 AM
todd@walkingonwater.com
In regards to the comment titled, "consider their motives first" even if a Christian does hold to this theology that DOES NOT mean that they don't love their Jewish friends. Getting the Jews out of the way is not at all the kind of view of the Christians I know.
(24) David Cohen, June 30, 2008 2:18 PM
Speaking of "living in the past"
Mr. Tobin,
Speaking of living in the past, you do this as well by equating "evangelical" with "right wing." One of the biggest stories of this election season has been the turning of the evangelical xtian community in the US away from its historic (at least for the last 30 years) alliance with the American right, with its paradoxical dedication to both no-holds-barred Dickensian capitalism and the legislation of fundamentalist xtian precepts to the detriment of the US Constitution.
These evangelicals are no longer "right wing." They are still friends of Israel, as opposed to the despicable leadership of the Presbyterian church.
The point is that it is a mistake to look at a religious (theological perhaps, definitely denominational) division among American xtians over support of Israel and give it political partisan implications by labeling the parties as "right wing" and "left wing." Support for Israel has always been bipartisan in the US, the anti-Israel radicals have been able to make a lot of noise, but have never really gotten to control policy. Nor will they do so under either of the current presidential candidates. However, the more we as Jews and pro-Israel advocates identify our friends as "the right" and our enemies as "the left," the more we tie our fate to the political fortunes of one party. Looking at opinion polls in the US over the last several years, that is not a commitment we want to make.
All the best from Houston,
David C.
(23) Eliyahu, June 30, 2008 2:03 PM
Consider their motives first...
When considering whether to accept the support of Xtian groups, we would do well to remember that much of their support for Israel is based upon pre- or post-dispensationalist escatology, which holds that in order for their messiah to return to finish his work on the second try, it's first necessary that we Jews return to Israel where we can be converted to Xtianity or killed in the battle of Armageddon, depending upon their particular doctrines. They aren't supporting us out of love for Jews or Judaism, rather, because they essentially need to have us out of the way so the world can end.
(22) fred, June 30, 2008 11:41 AM
Moderation
"Hagee and the Evangelicals basicall y support Israel as the path of the ingathering of the Jews to set in place the conditions for the 'Second Coming.'"
So what? Since you and I both know that that ain't gonna happen.
Maybe they just believe in the posuk, "Those who bless you I will bless..."?
Liberal American Jews are so set on suppressing Christianity that they are willing to sacrifice everything: Israel, their own children's Jewish education, etc.
By all means keep their beliefs away from our children, don't trust them overly much, but don't make the mistake of thinking that they are worse enemies than the liberals, Christian or otherwise.
(21) ruth housman, June 30, 2008 8:38 AM
when left and right get confused
Hi, it's all so confusing, who hates whom and who do we have to fear, as Jews? As people committed to a world in which prejudice is not an issue and in which inequities of all kinds that discriminate and lead to wars and ongoing unconscionable cruelty.
It leaves my head spinning.
I honestly believe in One God for us all, meaning Jews, and Christians and believers and non believers of all kinds. The rhetoric of hate, from whatever side, leaves me cold.
There is the Jewish question and there is the Palestinian question and then there's just plain people, trying to survive and to find a piece of the land to call their own and not face constant extinction. Who owns the lemon trees?
Why does this conflict continue endlessly? Is the Middle East a proving ground for something deeper, something more cosmic, a lesson for us all?
I am edified and horrified at the same time, all the time, by man's inhumanity towards man.
(20) Jeanne Borrman, June 30, 2008 8:22 AM
comment on a comment
Suzy,You are so very right about the altrusitic support, not just from the Evangelicals but sadly most of the world.
(19) Kathy Sweetman, June 30, 2008 6:19 AM
Thanks for the great articles.
I host Israeli travelers in my home in New Zealand from time to time. Why? Because G_d has placed an amazing love/commitment in my heart for the Jewish people. Hosting is my way of encouraging these young Jews to read their Torah and trust G_d that His Word is true,that as a nation they need to turn their hearts to G-d. He is the only one to bring true PEACE. G_d only knows the terrible atrocities that have been done in the name of Christianity over the centuries. Hosting is my small way of balancing the books by loving, encouraging, feeding and enjoying in my own home and telling them that I am part of a body of Christian people around the world that love the Jewish nation, support them financially, pray for Israel daily. I'm not Jewish, but I do have a Jewish aunty who is a holocaust survivor. There's Christians and there's Christians. One, has forgotten their history of knowing that the land of Israel is actually called the 'Promised Land'...promised to the Jewish nation, not an influx of Arabs who recently have decided to take the name Palestinians. Then there are Christians like me,( right wing, Zionist Christians ????) G_d only knows, but He's written His love in our hearts for His people. Idol worshipper I'm not. G_d says 'You shall have no other Go_ds before Me' Don't let fear keep the door closed on your greatest allies. Shalom Kathy
(18) Matityahu, June 30, 2008 4:25 AM
Judeo-Christian????
How can there be Judeo-Christianity (faith or values or anything else, for that matter.) Though I agree the Christian right supports the Jewish case for the land, they are not supportive of Judaism or Jewish values by definition of Judasm.
(17) mgsmom, June 30, 2008 3:19 AM
Good points and article, just one reminder :)
You are correct in both veering from anyone who stands against Israel - especially those who bellow from a pulpit not truly understanding the Text that they are talking about. With that, it is my belief that we may have lost a little vision. We must remember that we were, and are, Chosen, and that the loss of money or open display of support is not the whole meaning of surviving. Let's be realistic in numbers. We represent only .003% of the world's population, and yet, for the most part, we can live and be thankful for what we do have. We have each other, and we do have committed supporters from some other religious and secular families of the world. What we need to do is cultivate true alliances, and not try to "get back" approval from people who do not approve of us in the first place. Their hatred goes too deep, and we must hope that enlightenment will come from the very Power that we pray to every day. Your article is excellent. Just try not to forget that even after all that she witnessed, Anne Frank still believed there was good in the world. We now have to seek the good, and stick with it. Not make "deals" that will turn on our people or our faith.
(16) Susan Heisler, June 30, 2008 2:15 AM
Stay away from Idolworshippers
I am sickened when I read a Torah website instructing its readers, many who are ba'alei tshuva, that its OK to meet and talk with Xians of any stripe. Have you become so assimilated that you can't see the dangers of mixing with idolworshippers? I won't go into the reasons why they cannot ever, be our friends. It is sufficient that we are commanded in the Torah to stay away from idolworshippers lest we become like them. I'm sure you can find the sources in the Torah.
(15) Phil Kruse, June 30, 2008 12:46 AM
Israel, Christians and the Left
I enjoyed Jonathan Tobin's reasoned and thoughtful article. I appreciated particularly that he has made himself au fait with the individual currents under the umbrella of Christianity, in relation to their stance on Israel. I confess that not many of us Christians would have anything like the same measure of knowledge with regard to different groupings within Judaism. I would suggest, however, that his analysis is somewhat simplistic in one particular area. Apparently, "Evangelicals" = "pro-Israel" = "Christian Right". Mr Tobin posits an apparently inevitable "gap between the Christian right and most Jews on domestic issues." Perhaps so, but what of the Christian Zionists who are not on the right? In my experience there are many, although I confess that I write from an Australian rather than an American perspective. I suggest that, yes, there is, thankfully, a link between Evangelical Christianity and pro-Zionism. But it's too much of a stretch to put all such people into the "Christian Right" basket. For the record, I declare myself to be an Evangelical Christian, a Zionist, and of the Left. Many of my friends are the same. I venture to suggest that a bit of digging below the surface might discover that rather more Americans than Mr Tobin suggests are of the same stripe. Perhaps the coalition building advocated by him might be a less stressful process than he envisages.
(14) Avraham, June 29, 2008 10:07 PM
Evangelicals
There is good reason to be supportive of the John Hagee's of the christian faith. To hear Jews fall for the disingenuos attempt to equate Hagee with Jeremiah Wright is very sad. Where the Jews and Israel are concerned, those two men and their churches are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Hagee truly loves Israel and Jews, Wright is frightfully anti-Jew, anti-Israel and anti-America. How a Jew could ever support someone like Obama is an absolute mystery to me.
Jews also need to remember that there is no such thing as a Judeo-Christian faith. The two faiths are diametrically opposed but there are definetly Judeo-Christian values. Those are the things we can share with the christians.
(13) Mary Dobranski, June 29, 2008 8:09 PM
Sad but true
There is a trend today that just plain boggles the mind and that is that ordinarly intelligent people who are spoon fed half-truths and inuendo about the State of Israel just accept it because it is in the newspapers or said from some pulpits just accept these reports without trying to verify the real story. This is bad enough but when some of our mainline churches start pontificating about the 'evils' Israel is committing against the 'poor defensless Palestinians', who until Israel began building the fence sent suicide bombers into malls and public squares on a regular basis killing innocent people, it make you wonder if these churches have, forgive me, lost their minds. It makes you wonder if or when they have last cracked their Bibles and perhaps checked out what G-D Himself has said regarding His people and his nation. Perhaps it is about time they start doing this again. In the interest of disclosure, I am not Jewish but I for one have made it clear to my pastor that on the day our denomination even considers divesting from Israel myself and my family will find another place of worship.
More Christians need to take a stand and as it says in Deuteronomy 'Choose now...' and I think we all must.
(12) David Gueiros Vieira, June 29, 2008 6:26 PM
A leftist church
The Presbyterian Church USA is a notorious leftist church. In keeping with the left, it seems to back up the Arabs and reject Israel.
(11) Anon, June 29, 2008 4:36 PM
Christian zionism
Christian zionism is not confined to Evangelicals, there are Catholic Christians such as myself who support the Jews two-thousand year hope to live in peace in their own land.
(10) Yvonne Becker, June 29, 2008 3:18 PM
What does the Bible say?
Psalms 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee
(9) bernie rosenberg, June 29, 2008 3:00 PM
for what it's worth, twenty odd years ago, i was a wedding photographer. one day, i was to shoot a korean wedding reception in the banquet hall, located below the church. during a break, i walked into the lobby. there on the wall,was a huge map of the world. i took a look at where israel should be. much to my dismay, it was not on it. i felt like i was looking at an arab map. by the way, it was a presbyterian church in queens.
(8) John Hayworth, June 29, 2008 1:54 PM
This Protestant Evangelical supports Israel.
Today my family and I were in Heaton Park, Manchester (UK) joining in with all the other pro-Israeli supporters in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the creation of the modern State of Israel.
My son and I often stand against pro-Palestinian (Hamas/Hezbollah) supporters whenever they demonstrate against Israel, often when no other Pro-Israeli supporters do.
The creation of the modern state of Israel is an authentic miracle of the almighty creator, and a testament of His faithfulness to the covenants He entered into with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel.
Though many times the people of Israel have been unfaithful to Him, He has remained faithful to them!
(7) Anonymous, June 29, 2008 12:32 PM
Mr. Tobin is naive. Rev. Hagee and the Evangelicals basicall y support Israel as the path of the ingathering of the Jews to set in place the conditions for the "Second Coming." He wd do wellormember that"he who rides on the back of the tiger often wind up inside. The posek that Esav Sinah Yaakov is true for all time.We must be very wary of putting our trust in such so called "friends."
(6) Jeanne, June 29, 2008 12:05 PM
With saddness in my heart
This article made me so very sad. I am a Roman Catholic (I know, no one likes us or trust us). I have never been raised to hate Jewish people. We pray for Gd's chosen ones at church.
I still believe you are the "chosen". When I read material from this wonderful site, or Chabad and others, I am always amazed to see so much of what I as a Catholic was taught and share in.
It touches me deeply and really believe I am Judean Christian at my roots as I have been taught.
As for the Arab people and nation, boo hiss. Sorry but what is yours , is yours. I have never heard any priest or church leader speak in their favor or ever blame Israel!
I don't pretend to know all there is, I am speaking of my own experiences and heard with my own ears. Shalom
(5) Suzy Lenkowsky, June 29, 2008 11:39 AM
Evangelicals and Jews
While I can't see turning down any support for Israel I have no illusions that Evangelical support is altruistic.
Evangelical doctrine says that the rapture will come when all Jews are either converted to Christianity or are in Israel. Their support is very self serving. Truthfully they don't give a damn about us except in relation to their own agenda.
(4) Hannah, June 29, 2008 11:29 AM
Enlightenment
After being befriended by a Presbyterian at my workplace who I realised was trying to missionise me and others to "the faith", I thought we had reached an understanding of mutual respect. But, since moving to Israel I haven't had letters or emails replied to by this person. Needless to say I was very hurt by the affront and thought the reason for my 'friend's' silence was based on religion. I would never have guessed the snub was seated in church politics. How terribly disconcerting.
(3) Ellen, June 29, 2008 11:18 AM
Evangelicals are also supporting missionary activity in Israel
Mr. Tobin writes as a concerned American Jew. But as an Israeli columnist,who has also been critical of Rabbi Yoffie's stance, I feel I have the responsibility and need to take this debate out of U.S. partisan political, and Christian denominational realms, and bring to the fore other pressing issues of concern that the Diaspora community in America may not be aware of.
Pastor John Hagee simply cannot - as he had hoped - control the minds, hearts, and agendas of 50,000,000 American evangelicals. It seems he can't even control his own CUFI executive board members and regional directors - some of whom are promoting a Jewish Messianic (Christian) restoration in Israel, are signing recent statements calling for the conversion of Jews, and are giving air and press time to those accusing the Orthodox Jewish community of violence and church persecution.
Missionary activity is rampant in Israel, and it is a direct consequence of an unregulated Israel -Evangelical partnership.
This issue must be addressed if we are to enjoy a fruitful, accountable and honest relationship with our allies.
(2) Art Vandelay, June 29, 2008 10:19 AM
Sleeping With the Enemy
These Christian fundamentalists are no friends of the Jewish people. At best, they are latter-day Kahanists. Their fanatical theology says to kill every Muslim who won't cede the entire West Bank to Israel. This is against what 90 percent of the Jewish people want. Little wonder why the Jews don't want this, we're smart. From a practical point of view, this weakens Israel and the Jewish claim to statehood. Zionists recognize this. The Christianofacists are not Zionists. Kanane was banned from the Knesset. Why aren't these people?
Ultimately, this fundamentalist Christian theology seeks to eliminate Judaism, which they believe to be a false religion. No, the Presbyterians are not the answer. In the real world, the average Christian doesn't subscribe to either theology. But when you bury yourself in extremist ideology only, you're bound to drown in polarizing discourse.
Here in the United States, the Jews' dispute with these Christianofascists is no small matter. These people are seeking to remove the Constitution of the United States and replace it with the Christian bible. Are we that desperate for friends that we'll ally ourselves with people seeking to destroy us? This "friendship" is a time bomb waiting to explode.
(1) Gila, June 29, 2008 3:03 AM
Hashem is waking some Christians up to the reality of Israel
Like all situations involving people, there are many complexities involved. Everyone is different. Personally I am an ex-Christian who converted to Judaism, after an incredible and yet unexpected spiritual journey. I left behind many good, kind and loving people in the Christian world, some of whom have been genuinely supportive of what I have done, even though it conflicts with basic Christian theology, but they have a big enough love of G-d to respect my decision and to trust Him with what has happened in my life. Others have had greater difficulty accepting it because of their difficulties in understanding that I can have a deeply satisfying and growing relationship with the infinite Creator as a Jew directly, without needing or accepting JC.
And while I am not alone in Hashem waking up my neshama and helping me in many amazing ways to come home as the Jew I was supposed to be - please note I believe that Hashem is choosing many outwardly unexpected people to come home to Judaism - there are many other Christians who may not make such an immense journey whom nevertheless are having their eyes opened to the role of the Jewish people and to genuinely supporting Israel with much fervour and love. Of course there are some Christians with a more missionizing agenda, and also sadly many who do not support Israel, as this article makes clear.
Coming into Judaism, while I have met for the large part many warm and supportive Jewish people to whom I am very grateful, nevertheless there was - perhaps understandably - unfounded paranoia that I also encountered and a lack of understanding and respect from some quarters of the huge emotional trauma and confusion that anyone in my position was bound to be going through. Just because I was leaving Christianity behind, did not mean that I suddenly became negative towards all the good people I had met in it. I couldn't wipe away the many good memories of love and worship I had had in the past (why should I?). It cost me dearly to leave behind what I knew, and I only did so ultimately because of my love of and obedience towards Hashem. There are many Christians today with a genuine and deep love of G-d and a real desire to do His will, even though filtered through a different theological understanding. There was much that I personally gained in the past through my years as a Christian, allowing me in retrospect to reach a place where I was ready to embark on the journey into Judaism that Hashem wanted me to make.
In my own process of conversion, I was forced to go through a period of several months of utter hell as a result of a false accusation from someone who was not reputable and was confused in her own mind, involving a ridiculous farce of a meeting with Jewish authorities who frankly did not really know or understand enough about where I was truly coming from. They thought, based on nothing real or substantiated whatsoever, that I was some kind of missionary and contrary to what it says in the Torah about not oppressing the stranger, I was treated very badly. In the end, with much help fighting my cause from many Jewish people, I was finally treated justly and properly and at long last was able to reach the mikvah and to begin to live my life as it was supposed to be, as an observant Jew.
Everyone is different, and it is important to respect and to be sensitive towards each individual person. Likewise I feel very strongly it is so important that as Jews we come together and concentrate on the 98% or so we have in common in how we interpret halacha and live our lives following Hashem's will, as opposed to the minimal real differences between us as Chareidim, Chassidim, Modern Orthodox, etc......
My personal experience is that the infinite mind of Hashem is far greater than ANY of our expectations, that He has a great sense of humour, and that for those of us, wherever we are coming from, having a real and genuine desire to love and to come closer to Him, we are seeing amazing things are happening with regard to Israel.....