With friends like Jerry Falwell...

1.

"It is my belief that the Bible Belt in America is Israel's only safety belt right now", reverend Jerry Falwell famously said back in 2002. this might have been an overstatement, but the kernel of truth behind it was obvious to everyone. Evangelical Christians of the South became one of the most important groups supporting Israel in the United States and elsewhere. That's why the Israeli Embassy in Washington was looking yesterday for someone to attend Falwell's funeral. The problem, apparently, was technical: how can one attend the event and be able to be back in time for the Jewish holyday of Shavuot? Whether they'll find someone or not, one thing is clear: showing respect to the passing reverend was accepted as necessary. Falwell, with all the controversy surrounding him, will be remembered by Israel as a friend.

2.

People working for Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and goodwill Ambassador of the state of Israel within the evangelical community, didn't know yesterday where exactly he will be staying for the holyday. They did know one thing for sure: he will attend the funeral. "I am honored to represent the State of Israel at the farewell to this great man and important figure," Eckstein said. He was going to travel anyway, but the request of Salai Meridor, Israel's Ambassador in Washington that he'll be an official representative of Israel in this event made it even more certain. And Eckstein has no doubts: "There were those who remained skeptical of Rev. Falwell's support... I am happy to say that he managed to win over many of his skeptics through the consistency and obviously genuine quality of his love for Israel and the Jewish people."

3.

Reading the statement from some liberal Jewish leaders following the death of Falwell was quite fascinating. Maybe Eckstein is right, and Falwell did manage to win over many skeptics. "I admired Reverend Falwell's understanding that despite our differences, there were areas of agreement between us, above all our deep and profound commitment to the safety and well-being of the State of Israel," said Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. Yoffie was well received last year when he spoke to the students at Falwell's Liberty University. The realization that new ways should be found to better communicate with the Falwell/Robertson/Hagee Party is shared by many Jewish leaders. Why? Here's one reason, articulated by Zev Chafets, author of A Match Made in Heaven: "The present generation of conservative Evangelical leadership? are unconditional Zionists... But evangelicals are human. They may love Israel but it doesn't mean they love being mocked, denounced and generally despised by the intellectual/political elite." Jewish leaders gathered that having it both ways is impossible as a long-term policy.

4.

Suggesting that the Antichrist was a living Jewish man was probably the lowest point in the Falwell/Jewish relations. But he made many controversial comments, sometimes even outrageous. No wonder many Jews in America - people who don't just consider his views on Israel but rather his general attitudes toward the world - don't like what they see. Someone I recently talked to even argued that even as he was a true friend of Israel - he was not necessarily a true friend of the Jewish people. That's an interesting thought because it's usually the other way around: It's much easier to find people who are friendly toward the American Jewish community but not toward Israel.

5.

Why was he such a staunch supporter of Israel? That's a debatable question. He was saying that it "helps us to complete God's covenant with the Jewish people", hinting, possibly, to a feared "apocalyptic" theology. Falwell was sometimes vague when asked about his motivations to support Israel. However, as David Brog wrote here "most evangelicals reject replacement theology, they believe that the Jews are still in covenant in God and still have a central role to play in God's plan for humanity. The Jews are, in a sense, seen as allies of the Church in bringing about the salvation of humanity, and each has a distinctive role to play." Is this what Falwell believed? One can give him the benefit of the doubt, but also admit that he was quite insistent in keeping his views on this issue somewhat incoherent.

6.

So it all comes down to the question of practicality vs. perfection, necessity vs. desire. Do you take any support one is willing to give you, or do you pick and choose only those among your supporters with whom you agree on every little detail. Back in January 2006, a feud erupted between the official Israel and Pat Robertson over his remarks that Ariel Sharon's stroke was a punishment from god for pulling Israel out of the Gaza Strip. Israel threatened to cancel a Robertson project in the Galilee Mountains - he apologized and was forgiven. What I wrote about him then perfectly fits what I feel toward Falwell today: "The real reason that this quarrel should not be overplayed by all parties is that Robertson is entitled to think that Sharon was suffering for evacuating the Gaza Strip. It might not be the most enlightened thought. Nevertheless, a belief is a belief, and as impolite this might seem, educating Robertson for his beliefs is not in Israel's business." Or interest.