President Trump in the Kinneset

Being a Friend of Israel

In the main lobby of the Knesset, visitors can see a copy of the first draft of Israel’s constitution. Our guide, Avraham, highlighted its historical significance and the foundational ideas that shaped the modern state.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Avraham about Jewish perceptions of Christians. He welcomed us as evangelicals rather than simply “Christians,” a distinction that matters in Israel. Many Jewish people associate Christianity broadly with historical persecution, so it’s important to clarify the intentions of those who come in love and friendship.

Avraham explained that evangelicals are recognized as genuine friends who care about the Jewish people. While most Jewish people are not ready to believe in Jesus, there is appreciation for those who demonstrate consistent love and support. This conversation helped me see how ministries like Friends of Israel are faithfully living out sacrificial love, building relationships, and pointing to God’s work among His people—reflecting the spirit of Paul’s desire to stir Israel to jealousy so that some might be saved (Romans 11:13-14).

Our guide provided a helpful overview of the historical development of Zionism in the early 20th century and its role in the events leading to the re-establishment of the modern State of Israel.

Famous Jewish people involved in the history of the modern state of Israel.

Books

A collection of Jewish books on display serves as a sobering reminder of the times when Jewish writings were confiscated and burned, reflecting centuries of cultural and religous loss and persecution.

Display of Wilhelm Marr’s “The Victory of Judaism over Germanism”

This exhibit features Wilhelm Marr’s 1879 pamphlet The Victory of Judaism over Germanism, a foundational text in the development of modern antisemitism. Marr coined the very term “antisemitism” and reframed hostility toward Jews from a religious prejudice into a racial ideology—laying intellectual groundwork later exploited by the Nazi regime.

In this pamphlet, Marr falsely portrays Jews as an existential threat to German society, claiming they were secretly undermining the nation from within. His arguments helped popularize the myth of a Jewish “struggle” against Europe—ideas that would echo throughout the early 20th century and eventually feed into genocidal policies.

Displayed here as a historical artifact, it illustrates how racialized antisemitism took shape long before the Holocaust and how harmful narratives can evolve into widespread hatred and violence.

Jewish Blood Libel

In the town of Trent in northern Italy, the body of a Christian child named Simon was discovered in 1475. A blood libel quickly followed, and local Jews were falsely accused of murdering him for ritual purposes. Under the authority of the Roman Catholic bishop, Johannes Hinderbach, a trial was conducted in which several Jews were tortured and executed by burning at the stake.

The Roman Catholic Church later elevated Simon’s story: he became the center of a local cult, his alleged martyrdom was incorporated into the Roman Martyrology, and in 1588 Pope Sixtus V formally recognized his veneration. However, centuries later, after the truth of the case and the coercion used in the trials became undeniable, the Church reversed course. In 1965, Pope Paul VI officially suppressed the cult of Simon of Trent and removed him from the liturgical calendar.

The painting shown (1493–1510) is a detail from an Italian altar piece that once celebrated this story—an example of how deeply this false accusation became embedded in Christian art and culture.

Augustine’s Hostility

The Jewish reaction to Augustinian hostility to Jewish people.

Partner with the Overholtzers  

As a Field Representative, my income is dependent—by faith—on God’s provision as He leads His people to  pray and financially give. To launch into full-time ministry, I need to raise my budget of $95,500, which includes my salary, benefits, and ministry expenses per year.