Seminar, “For such a Time as This,” illuminates history of anti-Semitism

Written by Harold Henkel, Associate Librarian

On October 3rd, the Library and the School of Divinity hosted a seminar by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem on the history of anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, and the importance of Israel. The title of the seminar, For Such a Time as This, is taken from Esther 4:14, where Mordecai remonstrates with Esther to have courage and go before the king on the behalf of her people:

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was founded in 1980 by Christians living in Israel to show solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people. Today, the ICEJ serves as a center where Christians can gain a biblical understanding of Israel and learn how contemporary events may be interpreted in the light of God’s Word. The organization also assists with projects in Israel for the well-being of all who live there and works to build bridges, both between Christians and Jews and between Arabs and Jews.

The purpose of the seminar was to discover lessons for the present in light of the history of anti-Semitism and Biblical teaching about Israel and God’s covenant with the Jewish people. The seminar included a lecture by Dr. Carrie Burns, the ICEJ’s Education Program Director and a dramatic presentation by Susan Sandager, portraying Christian Holocaust hero Corrie ten Boom, whose family saved an estimated 800 Jews from capture in Nazi-occupied Holland.

A video of the seminar may be viewed by clicking here.