Our desire to connect Americans with the Israeli people, their lives, their struggles, and their triumphs began when ugly anti-Semitic activity broke out at the University of New Mexico, which is close to our BibleInteract studio. American students were marching together with recent immigrants from Arab countries. These activists carried placards with messages of hate against Israel and the Jews, and they shouted ugly anti-Israel and anti-Semitic slogans. A black swastika was even painted on the storefront of a Jewish deli. “What was happening,” we agonized!
After much research we learned the startling fact that Americans aged 50 and younger are simply unaware, except in a very surface way, of World War II and the Holocaust, the struggle of Jews to find a place where they could be safe from intense persecution, and the legal formation of the state of Israel.
Our goal led to a project to combat dangerous and growing anti-Semitism, as well as an outright condemnation of Israel that employs half-truths and blatant lies. We intend to accomplish this goal by promoting a positive understanding of Israel and its people, in part by keeping the truth alive through an understanding of the formation of Israel as a state.
Our initiative to open American eyes to the “Untold Story of Israel’s Return” led to our inviting Laura Green to participate in a filmed discussion with Dr. Anne Davis, Executive Director of BibleInteract.
Laura Green is quite knowledgeable about Israel and the rising anti-Semitism in the United States. Laura serves on the National Council of AIPAC in Washington (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and is active in the Jewish Women’s organization of Hadassah as a region representative of IZAIA (Israel, Zionist, and International Affairs). Laura travels extensively to inform groups about current events in Israel.
The goal of this study, “The Untold Story of Israel’s Return”, is for you to identify with Jews who were desperately trying to escape vicious anti-Semitism in the countries in which they were living, and to participate with them in the story of the struggle for a Jewish homeland.
When you finish this course, you may wish to gather a group for group study and discussion. There is a workbook available for small group discussion that will engage the participants in material that is first presented with the same video interview sessions that you will view in this course. Then the workbook promotes discussion and further study. There may be more activities in the workbook than the group has the time or interest to pursue, so the group leader should select what is appropriate for the group and may also add other questions for discussion.
Most important, we trust you will enjoy this online course as you work through the nine sessions of “The Untold Story of Israel’s Return”.
The Untold Story of Israel's Return is a BibleInteract Production.
The optional workbook for this course for individual or group study, entitled "The Untold Story of Israel's Return" by Dr. Anne Davis, is available for purchase on Amazon.