In 1840, a terrible accusation spread through the streets of Damascus: that members of the Jewish community had murdered a Catholic monk for ritual purposes. It was a classic blood libel, an ancient antisemitic trope reawakened in a modern political context. Facing pressure from European powers, Ottoman authorities arrested and tortured several Jews, some of whom died in prison. 

Many Christian institutions across Europe either remained silent or gave credence to the charges. However, the community at Christ Church, CMJ’s flagship presence in the Holy Land, took the risk of standing publicly with the Jewish community. After being approached by leaders of the Jewish community in Jerusalem, CMJ helped coordinate efforts to expose the falsehood, connect with sympathetic European officials, and bring international pressure to bear. Their defense wasn’t rooted in political gain but in biblical conviction and true justice.

This remarkable story was a product of a not-perfect, yet growing trust between CMJ and the local Jewish community, a trust that has continued to develop over the last 200 years. Anglican seminarians helped restore some of the peace and provide safety to local inhabitants during the 1929 riots when their study trip was abruptly shattered by terror. Anglican nurses worked side by side with Israeli doctors to save many lives during the fierce fighting throughout Jerusalem in 1949. And CMJ provided shelter, food, and personal care during the recent rocket attacks of 2023 and 2024. Earlier this month, that legacy and reality of trust opened another, much different door.

David Pileggi, rector of Christ Church Jerusalem, was invited to attend a Knesset (the Israeli parliament) committee hearing on the harassment of Christians by extremists in Israel. It is an invitation few ministries ever receive. It was not a moment we sought out, but one that came unexpectedly. Here is how David reflects on the opportunity:

“I would say, overall, my biggest reaction was one of surprise. I was surprised when I received an invitation from the Knesset committee to attend a hearing on the harassment of Christians in Israel. The invitation came through a good friend of Christ Church, Yisca Harani, who operates the Religious Freedom Data Center. When I got to the Knesset, one of the organizers said to me, ‘Well, you might be speaking.’ And I thought, Lord, what should I say? Because I hadn’t prepared anything. 

During the committee meeting, we heard from several politicians, the police, and representatives of the Ministry of Interior, all describing the problem and talking about solutions. They had several representatives from the Christian community there. First, the Roman Catholic Nuncio, the Vatican’s ambassador to Israel, spoke about the issue of religious freedom. There was an Armenian representative who spoke very eloquently, not just about religious freedom, but about human dignity, human rights, and what it’s like to be a small, misunderstood minority here in Israel.

Finally, they called on me, and I thought I would take a different approach. I said that the State of Israel, which spends millions of shekels on trying to explain its position abroad, can certainly save a lot of money by making sure that the tiny Christian community in Israel is well looked after, protected from extremists, and given the rights Israel has already enshrined in the law.

Afterwards, the organizers and many others were very grateful for what I said, because I made it practical. One of my biggest surprises was hearing the Minister of Education, who belongs to the right-wing ruling coalition, speak very forcefully and powerfully on behalf of the Christian community. He made it plain that harassment of Christians, vandalism of Christian property, etc., is unacceptable, and he put the police on notice that they’re going to have to do more and do a better job of protecting the Christian community.”

Moments like this are not typical for ministries working in the Land. In a place where faith-based organizations often remain on the margins of public life, being invited to speak into national matters is rare. The opportunity to be present in national spaces and represent the Body of Messiah with grace and clarity is not something we orchestrate or presume but something God gives.

We are grateful for the trust that exists, not just with local authorities but also with the communities we serve. We pray that we will continue to steward this trust well. We are also deeply aware that we don’t walk this path alone.

Our ability to respond, to remain present, and to represent the love of Messiah in complex spaces is only possible because others walk alongside us through prayer, encouragement, and faithful giving. These are not just support roles; they are a shared stewardship.

So as we reflect on this recent moment at the Knesset, we do so with gratitude—gratitude to God for entrusting us with this kind of presence, and gratitude to you for being part of it.

With gratitude and hope,
The CMJ Israel Team