You’re Invited!

Sunday, January 7, 9 am

at Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Alfred Swan Room (or possibly an adjacent area)

Baxter Richardson and Ed Janus dialogue:

The Current Tragedy in the Land Formally Known as the Holy Land:

A Conversation Between a Christian and a Jew

About Israel and Palestine

American Jews find themselves in a very difficult – some would say “untenable” – position as regards the horror in Israel and especially, in Gaza. How do these non-Israeli Jews reconcile the deep Jewish demand for justice and Israel’s expropriation of the Palestinians’ homeland? How do they reconcile the “colonialism” of the Jewish state with their own special status as refugees from horror? On the other hand, are American Christians, whose religious traditions are deeply Jewish, troubled in the same way.

In this 45-minute conversation, Baxter Richardson and Ed Janus will both share perspectives and, if possible, help us understand something that seems to defy understanding. Baxter and Ed will have no answers, only a look at the horrible tragedy of the once-Holy Land. They will be happy to entertain your questions and comments.

Here are some of the questions they plan to put to each other:

·        Do Judaism and Christianity offer us frameworks for understanding and/or optimism?

·        Do American Christians and American Jews view the horror in Gaza and Israel radically differently? 

·        Do American Jews have an unreasonable (unjust) bias towards Israel?

·        What does Ed think about Israel? If Israel is important to him why is that?

·        Is Israel a special case in world history with a permanent “get out of jail card”? Do American Jews believe that?

·        What does Israel mean to Baxter?

·        Does Israel get a pass when it acts like a normal nation? Is it held to a different standard higher than other nations?

·        Justice is a big deal for Jews: Does their support for Israel undermine that in the case of Gaza?

·        Do Jews have different justifications for the slaughter? Does Ed buy it?

·        Why do both Ed and Baxter find moral refuge in tragedy?

For background, watch the PBS documentary “Netanyahu, America and the War in Gaza/Failure at the Fence” which is available streaming on PBS Passport. This documentary aired on December 19 and while it deals primarily with Netanyahu, it examines the underlying conflicts and the failure of the peace process.

Click here for a pdf which may be easier to print