The issue of Israel and Palestine is one of the most challenging topics facing Christian clergy today. Many struggle to reconcile questions about Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians with what they understand about the importance of the State of Israel for the Jewish people, as well as their own beliefs about the biblical promises and honoring the modern-day Jewish quest for a homeland. The heated controversy about antisemitism adds weight and urgency, especially for church leaders.

How can clergy talk with congregants and colleagues about this topic of increasing importance for people of faith and for Americans in particular? In today’s increasingly polarized atmosphere, how can clergy preserve precious relationships with Jewish colleagues?