Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, delivers the keynote speech during "A Night to Honor Israel," Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio. Photo: Darren Abate, Darren Abate/For The Express-New / SA
Pastor John Hagee took the stage of his megachurch Sunday night with his 5,000-seat worship center nearly packed for what has become his signature event, a rally with speeches and music to express Christian support for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people.
With rabbis, Christian ministers and Israeli leaders in ample supply, the atmosphere highlighted the fervor of Christian Zionists whose cause has re-intensified through Hagee's initiatives in recent years.
He founded Christians United for Israel six years ago, declaring the issue of Israel as singularly critical to the future agenda of evangelical Christians. Today, he counts more than 1 million members in the nonprofit organization, which lobbies federal lawmakers and has gradually secured support from much of the U.S. Jewish community.
Sunday's “Night to Honor Israel” marked the 31st year for the noted TV evangelist to hold this event at Cornerstone Church on the North Side. And as in past years, the event brought out a mix of theological and political one-liners: The Bible mandates the defense of Israel as a Jewish homeland and the U.S.-Israeli bond gives the world its greatest chance at stability and peace in the Middle East.
“The day America turns its back on Israel, that day God will turn his back on the United States of America,” Hagee told the audience.
Some waved U.S. and Israeli flags, cheering and clapping at the frequent calls for rejecting candidates for U.S. office who haven't held Israel's enemies — especially Iran — accountable for seeking the nation's destruction.
“This year, O Lord, help America choose the candidate who seems most likely to stop Iran,” said San Antonio Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg, in the invocation.
The national anthems for both countries were sung along with a variety of Israeli-inspired songs paying tribute to the land as historically belonging to the Jewish people and Jerusalem as a God-ordained capital city.
Toward the end of the night, it was announced that nearly $3 million was given to Jewish and Israeli charities, adding to Hagee's long record of raising funds for such causes.
Such donations and commitment to seek favorable political leadership are reasons to hope, said Meir Shlomo, consul general of Israel to the Southwest.
“We all know you have our back covered,” he said, prompting a prolonged standing ovation.
