What was supposed to be an uplifting celebration among Christians and Jews in honor of Israel commenced with a demonstration by local protesters opposed to what they called “Israel’s assault on Lebanon.”
When some 300 pro-Israel guests showed up Sunday evening, Aug. 20 for a banquet dinner at His Lordship’s Restaurant on the Berkeley marina, they were met by about 20 protesters leading a mock funeral and die-in “to protest Christian support for Israeli war crimes.”
Dressed in all black and calling themselves “an ad hoc group of concerned people,” the protesters held makeshift coffins and a banner that said, “No more U.S. taxes to Israel to kill civilians.” The group staged a mock funeral as guests made their way into the restaurant.
They didn’t deter those showing up to support Israel.
Rosemary Schindler, the banquet organizer and founder of Schindler’s Ark, an evangelical Christian organization that supports Israel and the entitlement of the Jews to the land, dismissed the protesters.
“This just helps our cause,” she said after being escorted by security through the demonstrators. “This only emphasizes why we’re here.”
Guests included members of Christians United for Israel, Schindler’s Ark, Israel Action Committee of the East Bay and pro-Israel leaders from the Bay Area and northern California.
The purpose of the event, according to organizers, was “to promote esteem and understanding between Christians and Jews to emphasize that the beliefs we hold in common are greater than the differences we have allowed to separate us.”
Speakers included David Cohen, director of Northwest Region of the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, and Dennis Avi Lipkin, New York author of numerous books including “Christian Revival for Israel’s Survival.”
Lipkin, who divides his time between Jerusalem and New York City and said he is running for a seat in Israel’s Knesset, declared that “a partnership of Jewish and Christian Israelis is essential for the survival of Israel.”
Two Berkeley police officers showed up as the die-in began, but the protest was peaceful, and no guests were blocked from entering the Georgian Ballroom.
Three protesters managed to sneak into the event as guests were being seated. The three weaved between tables — which were decorated with both American and Israeli flags — as guest soloist Dona Gracia Fenn sang in Hebrew. The intruders also handed out fliers that said, “How can ‘Christians’ support the state of Israel?”
The handouts quoted Human Rights Watch reports about civilian deaths in Lebanon, adding that Christians in Lebanon were also “terrorized by the relentless bombing of southern Lebanon.”
“For any group to have an event to honor the state of Israel right now is really an outrage given what has happened in the last five weeks,” said Kate Raphael, a member of the Jewish community in Oakland who helped organize the protest. “It’s ironic to be having an event that honors Israel at this time in Berkeley, a town that cares about human rights.”
Shawn Houghton of Temple Naioth in Santa Cruz said she was surprised that the protesters had heard about the event, since “these things are not well advertised.”
“Israel will always have enemies,” she added.
“The freedom and right to exist is worth dying for,” said Shacharit Rosenthal of Oakland. “War and the loss of life is tragic and horrible anywhere.”
Banquet attendee Ruth Brandt of Sacramento expressed disdain for the protesters. “I think they’re morons,” she said. “I think that the Jews who participate in this kind of thing have a problem being Jewish.”
Outside, Wendy Kaufmyn of Berkeley explained her point of view.
“Christian Zionism disgraces both Jews and Christians,” said Kaufmyn, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace.
“As a Jew, my parents taught me to seek God’s justice and I can only feel shame regarding the unjust policies of the Israeli government that exhibits such wholesale disregard for Arabs and their children.”