KCAC participates in pro-Israel event in Russia
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem hosted a high-level delegation from Israel in mid-June for meetings with local evangelical Christian leaders. Two Knesset members as well as officials from the Knesset Christian Allies’ Caucus and the World Jewish Congress were on hand to address the largest pro-Israel gathering ever in Russia, held in the picturesque city of St. Petersburg.
The Israeli delegation included deputy cabinet minister MK Gila Gamliel (Likud), MK Anastasia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu), Caucus director Josh Reinstein and WJC representatives Sam Grundwerg, Julie Feinberg and Col. Moshe Leshem. They meet with Russian Christian pastors and leaders to forge working relationships with Russia's growing Evangelical community.
Pastor Dmitry Poliakoff, president of the St. Petersburg Christian Council, led a number of bishops and pastors from the Northwest region of Russia in agreeing to help form a caucus in Russia to engage in pro-Israel political activity.
“Russia has just undergone a political awakening and this was an excellent opportunity to mobilise the Russian evangelical community to support Israel”, said Flower. “It is also very timely in that President Vladimir Putin will be paying a visit to Jerusalem soon as part of his regional tour to deal with the Syrian crisis.”
Reinstein added that “with the international assault against the nation-state of the Jewish people becoming stronger and more sophisticated, especially in Europe, Israel needs more friends and allies”.
The three-day conference was covered extensively by the media, including a report by TBN-Russia sent out over their satellite network to all the former Soviet republics and the Russian diaspora worldwide, including the Russian-speaking population of Israel.
The Israeli delegation also was offered a special private tour of the Hermitage Museum led personally by Pastor Poliakoff, who studied art at the University in St. Petersburg. He explained that during Communist times it was forbidden to own a Bible but believers could come to the Hermitage and view the masterpieces on display there which vividly portray many key Bible stories, such as Rembrandt’s classic painting of Abraham’s binding of Isaac.
Source: ICEJ News, written by Aaron Hecht. Read the entire story here.
Press release from the World Jewish Congress.
For additional photos of the event, click here.