Shabbat Gathering: Christian Zionism: What could go wrong?

Brian D. Johnson

03 Apr 2026 • 5 min read

Gud Shabbos Khaveyrim, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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Here we go.

I was out running errands Tuesday afternoon and had the radio dialed in to WERN, and I was listening to All Things Considered. One story in particular caught my ear and, at the next stop light, I made a note: Christian Zionism.

Apparently, this has been a thing for decades and I completely missed it.
I’m a bit skittish about writing anything about Christian Zionism as I don’t want to offend anyone reading this. Those of you on this list are a diverse lot. Regular readers can attest I try my best to keep this newsletter “lite,” and the topic of Christian Zionism is freighted with complications and bear traps.

What it is.

Basically, Christian Zionism is the Christian belief that Jews in general, and Israel in particular, are necessary to bring about the “second coming of Jesus.” The movement has been in the news recently as the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, is offering public prayers to Jesus for the defeat of Iran. And he ties the war to Israel’s security. (Although the motivation to starting the war shifts every time anyone in the administration opens their mouth.)

I have feelings.

I’m queasy about people in government promoting religion. I think I would feel this way even if Hegseth were to offer a misheberach for our service members who have been wounded in the war. (Okay, honestly I’d feel a little chuffed if that were to happen.) My problem is when people in positions of political power put forward one belief ahead of others.

Furthermore, I have an unresolved resentment about Christians writing Jews and Israel into an apocalyptic pagent heralding the return of the alleged son of god. According to Christian Zionism, we’re just pawns in service to a religion that has had a historically deeply troubled relationship with us Jews. (Hegseth famously has tattoos in honor of the crusades.)

Christian Zionists have a special place in hell reserved for us and can’t wait for us to move in. No thanks. I have enough trouble getting along with my fellow Jews so I scarcely have the energy to manage another contentious relationship that, in this case, could prove to be fatal.

As usual, I’m bereft of any easy solutions to propose. Electoral politics seems like weak sauce in this moment as does the current resistance, so, I’ll just add Christian Zionism to my current list of existential worries that I’ll pray about.

I’m of a certain age and one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that things will surely change. The arc of our history is punctuated by good times and unspeakable horror. From today’s perspective, I think it’s impossible to tell how bad things actually are and which way the curve is trending. Regardless, my prayers remain unchanged: May we be freed from all types of oppression and be safely brought back to the promised land of freedom wherever we may be.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Mit vareme grusn,
(With warm regards,)

All my love,
brian.