Where they love Israel in Europe
Jerusalem Post columnist Michael Freund writes about one country in Europe where the love for Israel runs freely: Finland.
From the capital of Helsinki to Tampere, Finland's third largest city, to the small town of Ikaalinen in the western part of the country, hundreds of non-Jews in each locale came out to demonstrate their solidarity.
There are churches where the Israeli flag is proudly displayed side-by-side with the Finnish national colors, and where entire Christian congregations recite "Hatikva" first in Hebrew and then in Finnish.
Literally dozens of Finns approached me to recount how proud they were to have spent periods of time volunteering in Israel at schools and in hospitals or on kibbutzim. They voiced great concern over Iran and its nuclear ambitions, and many pray for Israel and its welfare daily...
Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Finnish Christian support for the Jewish state is not the province of any one particular denomination, but rather it includes such diverse groups as Baptists, Pentecostals and Lutherans. However much they might disagree over theological or doctrinal issues, when it comes to Israel they stand united.
Full column here.
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Mindele London-zweig
07/01/09 02:08 PM
As a journalist and an ex Finn (now living in Tel Aviv) I read the article with great interest ...and disappoinment. Michael Freund, you met with religious Christians. The Finns do not love israel, the Finnish missionaries love Israel. They pray, they donate money, a lot of money, in order to convert the Jews. They believe that their Messiah will come when the Jews finally understand the religion the christian way.
Sorry Michael Freund, it could have been so nice...but. it was only a dream..
Mindele London Zweig
Tel Aviv, Israel