More than 500 religious leaders from over 35 states descended on the nation’s capital this week for a coordinated advocacy effort supporting Israel and addressing growing concerns about antisemitism.
The interfaith delegation, comprised of rabbis, pastors, and other faith community leaders, conducted 115 separate meetings with lawmakers and senior congressional staff from both sides of the political aisle during Israel Advocacy Day.
Four organizations collaborated to coordinate the effort: Eagles’ Wings, American Christian Leaders for Israel, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA, and the Israel Allies Foundation. Event organizers emphasized the unique approach of pairing Jewish and Christian leaders together for their Capitol Hill visits.
The religious coalition concentrated their advocacy efforts around three main priorities: bolstering bipartisan congressional support for Israel, tackling the rise of antisemitic incidents both domestically and internationally, and securing enhanced safety measures for houses of worship and religious institutions facing security concerns.
The day’s activities wrapped up with addresses from Rep. Don Bacon, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, and senior staff representatives from both House Republican and Democratic offices.
Robert Stearns, who founded and leads Eagles’ Wings, emphasized the importance of moving beyond symbolic gestures. “This moment calls on faith leaders and elected officials to transform words into meaningful action,” Stearns stated. “For years, many have stood with Israel in sentiment. This initiative is about translating that support into tangible engagement- meeting with policymakers, building relationships, and advancing solutions that can be seen, measured, and felt.”
The advocacy day also featured an evening gala that brought together Jewish and Christian leaders from across the United States. The event included presentations by Eric Fingerhut, who serves as president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, and Rabbi Pini Dunner from the Beverly Hills Synagogue.
During the gala ceremony, Dr. Susan Michael and Bishop Robert Stearns were honored with the White Rose Society Award, a recognition given to non-Jewish individuals who have demonstrated exceptional support for Jewish communities during times of increasing antisemitism.
Dr. Susan Michael, who leads ICEJ USA, highlighted the power of interfaith cooperation in their advocacy efforts. “Our advocacy has much greater impact when we speak with one voice and stand in unity for truth, justice, and goodness,” Michael explained. “We demonstrate that support for Israel is not just a Jewish issue – it is important to Christians and to tens of millions of Americans.”
