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International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) President Dr. Jürgen Bühler issued a warning about rising antisemitism in Europe and what he described as growing hesitation among some Christian leaders to confront it publicly.
In remarks shared with the Combat Antisemitism Movement following an ICEJ conference in Prague attended by leaders from 23 countries, Bühler wrote that although he had long been hesitant to compare current events to the atmosphere of the Weimar Republic and early 1930s Germany, “today I can no longer hold on to that hesitation.”
Full Statement:
For the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, the call to combat antisemitism has never been more urgent than today. As a German who grew up in post‑war Germany, I have always been very hesitant when people compared a current situation for Jews and other minorities to the years of the Weimar Republic or the early 1930s.
However, today I can no longer hold on to that hesitation. We are witnessing a level of antisemitism, and passivity within parts of the Church, that tragically echoes the atmosphere leading up to Hitler’s rise, and even the early years of his rule. Across Europe, Israel‑related events are being cancelled out of fear of backlash, and many pastors are reluctant to speak about Israel from their pulpits, either because they fear confrontation from younger generations, or because they lack the theological tools to address the topic with confidence.
The ICEJ is fully committed to standing at the forefront of this battle. We have just concluded an inspiring conference in Prague, with our key leaders from 23 countries. We also had the honor of hosting Shannon Seban of CAM, who addressed our audience, and we look forward to continued cooperation with the Combat Antisemitism Movement in this vital and shared mission.
In these critical days, the collaboration between Jews and Christians is absolutely essential. Christians have received the very foundations of their faith from the Jewish people, and therefore combating antisemitism is not only a moral responsibility – it is a defense of the roots of our own faith. We owe it to the Jewish people to honor and respect the roots of our faith.
This battle is grounded in one of the most fundamental principles found on the very first pages of the Bible: that every human being is created in the image of God. These values are at stake today.
Today we must ensure that history does not repeat itself. Churches across Europe must find their voice – both in standing with the Jewish people, and in understanding the deep theological significance of Israel for the Christian faith.
– Dr. Jürgen Bühler, President of ICEJ (International Christian Embassy Jerusalem)
