Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 6, 1986 Page: 2 of 18
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TEXAS JEWISH POST THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1986 PAGE
Jerry Falwell: A Friend To
BY PHIL JACOBS
Assistant Editor
Baltimore Jewish Times
Jerry Falwell greets you with a
friendly, downhome handshake in his
elegantly styled early American office at
the Thomas Road Baptist Church in
Lynchburg, Virginia.
He apologizes for the flesh colored
makeup on his face. He’s just finished a
taping session for his Old Time Gospel
Hour Show. But in this case the makeup
couldn’t be more appropriate. For years
American Jews have wondered what’s
behind that makeup, that smile and the
outspoken support that Falwell and his
church have given to the State of Israel.
In an exclusive interview with The
Jewish Times, Falwell talked about his
standing in the Jewish community. He
readily admitted that his Jewish support
is questionable and controversial. He
blamed the media for the suspicion Jews
feel toward him. He talked about his
church’s undying support of Israel. He
talked about Jews and what they are
missing in life. He talked about church and
state issues, ERA, abortion and sexual-
ity. But he kept coming back to his image.
He desperately wants to be a friend to the
Jews. But the image haunts him.
Falwell has been accused of calling for
the Christianization of America. He has
been accused of being anti-Semitic, of
using the political influence of his Moral
Majority to help defeat several pro-Israel
American politicans in their re-election
bids. His staunch support of Israel has
been characterized by many Jews as
simply a front for his alleged real
intentions: to see Jesus Christ return.
Indeed, Biblical prophecy said that Israel
must be secure and that Jews must be
saved (except Jesus) for all of this to
happen.
And while he is much maligned in a
large part of the Jewish community,
he does have his Jewish supporters. This
support comes mostly from the Orthodox
community that backs his pro-family
and pro-Israel stance. It cannot be
forgotten, after all, that former Israeli
Prime Minister Menachem Begin bestow-
ed the coveted Jabotinsky Award on
Jerry Falwell.
Falwell’s Thomas Road Baptist Church
stands in a quiet Lynchburg neighbor-
hood. It is a large brick complex that
houses schools and a sanctuary much like
any large Baltimore synagogue. Walking
into the sanctuary, it is almost surprising
to see the bright televsion lights and the
cameras and sound equipment all around.
It looks almost Hollywoodish.
Lynchburg is a factory town. Its leading
business seems to be religion. There are
four-color photographs and books of
Reverend Falwell and Christianity from
the shopping mall to the airport, the
Lynchburg Airport looks like a college
outdoor track. To get to Lynchburg from
Baltimore, one must fly on a plane that
resembles a cracker box with wings.
Falwell joked during the interview that
even an atheist would believe in God after
flying on one of those planes.
Not far from the church is the Liberty
University where Falwell is chancellor.
The major classroom areas of the college
are all under one roof. Male students are
neatly groomed and well dressed in
pressed slacks, shirts and ties. The women
wear skirts and dresses, hemmed safely
below the knee. You’re not going to find
any Madonna outfits, punk hairstyles,
blue jeans or miniskirts here. Nor will you
find heavy metal rock, X-rated movies or
drugs. The hallways are lined with
bulletin boards on which ice cream socials
and Christian fellowship meetings are
advertised. The movies playing on campus
are no stronger than PG-13.
Liberty University’s bookstore also
reflects its mission. Tu''-° one will find
literature authored by Falwell or about
Christianity, as well as cassette tapes,
photographs and spiritual record albums,
the text book section has an entire area
designated as “MISS,” and this doesn’t
stand for Mississippi. It is the textbook
section for the missionary courses taught
at school.
“I’m very concerned about Israel,” he
said. “It is my opinion that Israel will
make it through the threat of hostile Arab
nations and through its current economic
crisis. No nation in history has had more
reason not to make it. The Israelis are
surrounded by hostile nations, and they
are the target of Soviet venom and anti-
Semitic feelings worldwide. It is miracu-
lous that the nation and the people exist
today. But I believe in the sovereignity of
God. I believe that God has made a
promise to the Jewish people, and that he
them away. The problems there are very
complex and very serious, and they are
not getting better. I think Peres and
Shamir are both sincerely approaching the
problem but there are no quick solu-
tions. I don’t think Judea or Sumaria
are negotiable any more than Jerusalem is
if Israel hopes to survive.
“I met with Peres and Shamir while I
was in Israel last February. Peres is a
little nervous about being as open in his
relations with conservative American
//
I m very con-
cerned about Isra-
el/' he said. "It is
my opinion that
Israel will make
it through the
threat of hostile
Arab crisis. . . .
I believe that God
has made a pro-
mise to the Jew-
ish people, and
that he himself
protects them.
— Jerry Falwell
..........;....... .................—
Back at the Thomas Road Church, a
school football team, marching band and
cheerleaders board buses for a Thursday
afternoon game. Reverend Falwell watch-
es them from his office window as the
Jewish Times’ photographer sets up his
equipment. Falwell has fielded questions
on his relationships with the Jews many
times over. There is precious little he
hasn’t been asked for the record already.
Indeed, author Merrill Simon’s Jerry
Falwell and The Jews covers almost every
area of Jewish-Falwell reltions that has
been explored.
Falwell, therefore, seemed relaxed and
poised after being asked a barrage of
questions. He smoothly dodged any
“bullets,” but at the same time it was clear
that he wanted the interview to go quickly
and smoothly.
He started by re-emphasizing his
support and concern for Israel. He then
talked about Jewish-Christian relations
and finally about church-state con-
cerns. The interview enabled him to
update his views publicly.
himself protects them.”
In Falwell’s eyes, part of that promise
comes from Genesis 12;3, in which God
said to Abraham “I will bless them that
bless thee, and curse them that curseth
thee.” He said that because the Bible
points to the right of Jewish land to exist,
he unconditionally supports it. But he also
said that because Israel is the United
States’ best Middle East friend, in an area
surrounded by Soviet-influenced Arab
nations, that’s all the more reason to
support it.
It is also no secret that Falwell is close
friends with Begin. He credits Begin with
destroying the PLO in Lebanon three
years ago. “Because of Begin, the PLO is a
toothless organization,” Falwell said.
“And had the Americans left him alone,
there would be no PLO threat today.”
“Judea and Sumaria are clearly the
property of the Jews historically and
Biblically,” Falwell continued on his
discussion about Israel. “No Israeli
government can survive by bargaining
Christians as people who are liberal
politically and it brings a lot of heat upon
him when he publicly shows a friendship
with conservative Christians. But I feel he
is as committed to us as we are to him, and
I understand the politics of Israel as well
as I understand the politics of this
country. Shamir is reservedly intimate
with us.”
“I don’t necessarily see a time when
there will ever be perfect peace in the
region,” Falwell continued. “I’m not sure
we’re going to see perfect peace in the
Western hemisphere. Cuba is a reality and
so is Nicaragua. I think the best we can
hope for is strong leadership in the free
world, including Israel. This has got to be
the type of leadership that defies
capitulation. That’s the only thing our
enemies understand ... strength. Our
enemies and the enemies of Israel are one
and the same. And if Israel ever adopts
the philosophy of many political liberals in
this country, that of peaceful coexis-
tence and capitulation on meaning-
ful issues, they will lose altogether.
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Wisch, J. A. & Wisch, Rene. Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 6, 1986, newspaper, February 6, 1986; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth753479/m1/2/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .