New book – Christianity and Christians in the Jewish state

Dr. Amnon Ramon is a researcher in the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies and a teacher in the Department of Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University. His new book, “Christianity and Christians in the Jewish State: Israeli Policy towards the Churches and Christian Communities (1948 – 2010)” was published recently by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies and the Jerusalem Center for Jewish Christian Relations.

The book surveys the history of relations between the Israeli administration and the Christian communities in Israel since 1948. However, there is no doubt that the major contribution of the book is in the third part, which describes present relations between Israel and the Churches and Christian communities. This chapter defines the problems and challenges in these relations. After a broad survey of the diversity of issues, the author proposes thirteen recommendations to improve the treatment of the Christian population in the country. Among these recommendations are:

- To strengthen the Department of Christian communities in the Ministry of the Interior

- To deal with the whole problem of entry permits and visas

- To strengthen the department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that deals with Christians

- To improve the coordination among the different branches of government that deal with Christians

- To organize seminars on Christianity and Christians for the decision makers

- To bring to a conclusion the negotiations between the State of Israel and the Holy See

- To regularize the status of the ecclesiastical courts

The author also emphasizes the importance of education in order to try and avoid defamation of Christians and attacks on their places of worship.

At the end of the book there are some background articles on the attitudes of the Jewish public in Israel with regard to Christians as well as the teaching of Christianity in the Jewish education system.

The book is a treasury of information and an important tool in order to understand the delicate and complex relations between the authorities and the Christian communities. It constitutes yet another brick in the attempt to build good relations between Jews and Christians in our country.

Read summary of book in English on Jerusalem Institute website here