Hannity Hypes Free Star Of David Charms to Help Israeli Organization
I was more than a bit taken aback when I saw the email from Sean Hannity asking if I wanted a free “Star of David” charm, available from a billion dollar charity called the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
Excuse me but when I hear the name Hannity, I think trump and when I hear trump, I do not think of Judaism, I think of money, power and politics, not necessarily in that order. The idea of using the Star of David, the symbol of Judaism and the symbol of the state of Israel, for political purposes turns me off, though I do understand that religion and politics have forever been entwined.
The email notes that “Throughout their history — from biblical times to the Holocaust to today — God’s children have all too often faced hatred and persecution. But today, the Jewish state and the Jewish people have found true friends and supporters in the evangelical Christian community.”
It asks the reader, “Do you stand with Israel and her people? Show your support with your very own Star of David charm.”
“Take a stand in solidarity against those who strive to tear the Holy City from the hearts and hands of the Jewish people by requesting your complimentary Star of David Charm that you can wear proudly to demonstrate your commitment to Israel and the Jewish people.”
“You can show your love for the Jewish people in Israel and around the world by requesting your FREE Star of David charm. Attach it to your bracelet, necklace, or key chain, and wear it proudly everywhere you go to show your love and support for Israel and Her people.”
I don’t know who the ad refers to regarding “those who strive to tear the Holy City from the hearts and hands of the Jewish people” but I assume it is anyone who does not support Israel and its policies toward the Palestinians.
Of course, when you request your free Star of David, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews would greatly appreciate a donation.
The non-profit organization describes itself as “the leading non-profit building bridges between Christians and Jews, blessing Israel and the Jewish people around the world with humanitarian care and life-saving aid.”
It says it has helped hundreds of thousands of Jews escape poverty and anti-Semitism and return to their biblical homeland, funded humanitarian assistance that has touched the lives of millions of Jews in Israel and around the world, provided life-giving aid to Israel’s victims of war and terror, and much more.
The fellowship reports that it assists Holocaust survivors; orphans, children and families; poor elderly; persecuted and oppressed; soldiers and their families; and victims of terror and war.
“The Fellowship’s dream is that Christians and Jews would reverse their 2,000-year history of discord and replace it with a relationship marked by dialogue, better understanding, respect, fellowship, and active cooperation on issues of common concern. Through our programs and publications, we attempt to foster better relations and understanding between Christians and Jews, help build Christian support for Israel, and cooperate in building a more moral society through open dialogue, education, and sensitization of people of faith around the world,” says the fellowship statement.
The fellowship also has helped coordinate activities for the government of Israel’s “Operation Brainstorm” to increase Christian tourism to Israel as well as “Operation Independence” which assisted Israel economically. The Fellowship has hosted “Solidarity with Israel” programs featuring speakers such as conservative evangelist Pat Robertson; the late Jerry Falwell, televangelist and founder of Liberty University and co-founder of the Moral Majority in 1979; evangelist and entertainer, Pat Boone; Donald Rumsfeld, Defense Secretary under Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush; and the late, Federal Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz. The fellowship also has arranged for key Christian leaders to receive briefings from Israeli government officials including the President and the Prime Minister.
The fellowship was founded in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who died in 2019. His daughter, Yael Eckstein, took the helm of the organization that raises $130 million a year, mostly from evangelical Christians, with a total $1.4 billion raised since 1983.
In 2014, Yael Eckstein was named “One of Israel’s 100 Most Influential Women” by Makor Rishon. In 2015, she was featured on the cover of Nashim (Women) magazine. In 2019, she was recognized by the Algemeiner Journal as one of the Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life. And in 2020, Eckstein was named one of The Jerusalem Post’s 50 Most Influential Jews.
The Algemeiner Journal covers American and international Jewish and Israel-related news and is one of the largest Yiddish-language weekly newspapers in North America. Its readers, mainly orthodox Jews, were strongly supportive of trump, the controversial relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and
Gaza Strip. In 2014, the journal hosted an annual “Jewish 100” gala, honoring trump among others “in recognition of their support of the Jewish people and Israel.”
Trump and his wife, Melania, joined his daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner along with Kushner’s parents, Charles and Seryl Kushner. Trump received the Algemeiner Liberty Award and explained that his daughter Ivanka, converted to Judaism in 2009.
“I have a Jewish daughter, it wasn’t in the plan but I am very glad it happened,” Trump said and then reiterated his support for Israel. “We love Israel, we will fight for Israel 100 per cent, 1000 per cent, it will be there forever.”
Ministrywatch.com reported that before his death, Rabbi Eckstein had an annual salary of $2,948,441. His daughter, the current president and CEO, is paid $625,980. Other salaries including George Mamo, Chief Operating Officer, $515,762; Robin Van Etten, Global Chief Operating Officer, $364,100; Damon Card, VP of Information Services, $198,446; Robert Dalton, VP of Major and Planned Giving, $192,366; Laurel Simkovich, controller, $191,139; Christine Allen, Major Gift Officer, $183,535; Kristin Hennin, Director of Financial Operations, $174,523; Katherine Rovani, Director of Operations, $167,908' and James Ray, Director of Estate Planning, $154,541.
Ministrywatch.com gave the foundation a “C” grade for transparency and donor confidence.
Hannity, a major supporter of trump, hosts his conservative talk show on Fox News and has been an unofficial spokesman for trump. He was highly critical of the inquiry into Russian interference in trump’s 2016 election; and has promoted conspiracy theories such as claims that then-President Barack Obama was not a legitimate U.S. citizen. Hannity has advocated the QAnon and “deep state” conspiracy theories and has supported trump’s bogus claim that widespread voter fraud led to his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
Hannity has called climate change “phony science from the left” and that the COVID-19 pandemic was a “hoax.”
He has consistently backed trump and after the Access Hollywood tape emerged before the 2016 election of Trump making lewd comments about inappropriate sexual behavior towards women, Hannity responded, “King David had 500 concubines, for crying out loud.”
Hannity left the Catholic Church in 2019, citing “too much institutionalized corruption.” However, he has said that as he has gotten older, his Christian faith has “gotten stronger” and that he needs and wants God in his life.