With a large-scale campaign, we as Christians Standing with Israel (CSI), thanks to the support of our friends, were able to send a visible message of solidarity to our Jewish fellow citizens. "You are not alone!" That was our message to Jews in our country – at a time when anti-Semitism is once again on the rise.
In the June issue of our newspaper Israelaktuell, we presented an idea: We wanted to send a message of greeting to Jewish communities in Germany. They should know that there are thousands of Christians in this country who care about their well-being. This fundraising campaign was not about alleviating material hardship, but about taking a stand against antisemitism and conveying the message: You are not alone!
We would now like to sincerely thank all the donors who made this campaign possible. We were able to send approximately 200 gift packages to Jewish communities and institutions. In addition to kosher products from Israel, the packages also contained an encouraging letter.
The numerous responses were overwhelming. For example, the Jewish Community of Baden-Baden wrote on its Facebook page: “We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this warm and sincere sign of solidarity. In a time marked by pain, uncertainty, and great challenges, your gesture reminds us that true strength lies in unity and mutual responsibility. […] Solidarity is more than a word – it is a bridge that connects hearts, overcomes fears, and tears down walls of estrangement. Your support gives hope, strengthens our confidence in the future, and empowers us to move forward. Thank you for standing by our side. Together, we carry the light of humanity, love, and faith into the world.”
A gesture of friendship
The Jewish community of Darmstadt wrote on its WhatsApp channel: “In times when bad news is plentiful, it is all the more comforting to experience signs of support and compassion. We are pleased to share one of these with you today: The Jewish community of Darmstadt – like other communities in Germany – received a lovingly prepared gift package and a moving letter from the organization ‘Christians Standing with Israel.’ This gesture of friendship and solidarity touched us deeply.”
We received the following message from Renate Wagner-Redding, Chairwoman of the Jewish Community of Braunschweig, a public corporation: “We were delighted with the package and distributed the contents to several community members. It was a truly wonderful surprise. Thank you so much. Yes, these are not easy times for us Jews, both in Israel and in other countries. It is very distressing that so many citizens in this country also lack understanding of this situation. All the empty rhetoric is pointless. Thank you very much, and I wish you all the best and continued success in your work.”
CSI Chairman Luca Hezel was touched by the support of CSI friends for the campaign: “Actions speak louder than words. Heartfelt thanks to all our supporters who made this visible sign of solidarity from Christians for our Jewish fellow citizens possible.”
This article first appeared in our newspaper "Israelaktuell," issue 142. You can order the newspaper here . We would also be happy to send you several copies for distribution.
