Jonathan Feldstein: Protecting Christians and Christian Sites in Israel from Terrorist Rockets, Drones, and Missiles
The threat of rockets, drones, and missiles from Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and others impacts all 10 million Israelis: Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze, and more. The ongoing war against the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hezbollah has raised awareness of the need for new bomb shelters to be built and placed at Christian sites in Jerusalem and around Israel. The Genesis 123 Foundation has launched a global initiative to provide bomb shelters and other resources, creating seed money to begin to make this happen, to protect Christian worshippers and pilgrims.
Following an incident in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, which prevented the Latin Patriarch from conducting Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, it became evident that, due to its location and accessibility only via narrow paths in Jerusalem’s Old City, any direct hit on the Church or other religious sites could become a calamitous mass casualty event. The concern is not theoretical. Shrapnel from Iranian missiles, in fact, fell and landed in the Old City, in one instance next to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself, and in another instance near the Al Aksa Mosque and Western Wall.
The incident also highlighted another safety issue at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other Christian sites across Israel that has been underscored by the current war with the Islamic Republic: a lack of bomb shelters and other resources to keep worshippers and pilgrims safe. Since the 1990s, when Israel mandated bomb shelters in all new construction, owners of older structures have been encouraged to add safe rooms and bomb shelters. Unfortunately, while Jerusalem was attacked and conquered by many foreign empires, historic sites like the Church and other places have not been upgraded and do not have such facilities.
In the current war, Israel’s Home Front Command guidelines prohibit people from gathering for public events, including prayer services of more than 50 people, and then only if there is an appropriately protected space for those in attendance. It has meant an all but complete closure of many historic, religious, and even holy sites. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of these because it has no safe space for worshippers, and due to the logistical challenges of getting emergency services into the Old City in the event of a disaster.
Leading this initiative, the Genesis 123 Foundation has taken responsibility to create seed funds and serve as a catalyst to find solutions that create the safe spaces needed. Founder and President Jonathan Feldstein commented on its previous track record and mission. “Since its inception, the Genesis 123 Foundation has striven to fulfill the mandate of Israel and the Jewish people, to be a blessing to the families of the world. We have done so by advocating and raising money for persecuted Christian Arabs in Pakistan and the Palestinian Authority, and condemned Turkey for turning a Christian shrine into a mosque. We provided direct comfort to the Tanzanian families of Christian agricultural students murdered and kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. We provided hundreds of pounds of baby formula to churches in Texas when there was a shortage across the US. Not only is one of our Advisory Board members a Christian Palestinian Arab, we have also stood with our Christian Israeli Arab brothers and sisters who have suffered at the hands of Islamic terror and extremism. This is the latest initiative, a critical one, to safeguard the well-being of Christians and Christian sites throughout Israel.”
“Israel and Jewish people have a unique obligation to protect Christians and Christian institutions throughout Israel, both as a democratic society that guarantees freedom of worship and beliefs for all Israelis, and as the guarantor of Christian sites throughout the Holy Land. Between these, and that Jesus himself was an orthodox first-century Jew, this is not only our obligation, it’s not negotiable,” Feldstein added.
“Israel should do more to protect the lives, livelihoods, and well-being of Christians and Christian sites throughout Israel. Unfortunately, with a war going on, even with the best intentions, responsibilities for such things can fall through the cracks. That’s why this is such an initiative. We are calling on Christians and Jews from around the world to join us.” Earmarked donations for this specific and urgent need can be made from the US at https://genesis123foundation.revv.co/sheltersforchristiansites. Donors from other countries, please contact the Genesis 123 Foundation at info@genesis123.co.
Feldstein concluded, “Through this, we hope that Christian communities and the denominations that control these sites and vast property throughout Israel will step up to match and multiply the donations and we leverage greater unity along with safety and security for the safety and well-being of all Christian worshippers and pilgrims.”
For more information about the Genesis 123 Foundation, media, or to be part of this initiative to protect Christians and Christian sites, or the many programs that build bridges between Jews and Christians of all backgrounds, please visit www.Genesis123.co.
