When challenges arise, it is easier to approach them in partnership than alone and it is easier still to approach them when the partnerships have been long-since formed. That is the case with the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium. Rabbi Edelstein (z”l) ushered Temple David into a sectarian group which transformed it into an interfaith group. For these decades, it has grown, diversified, stood together, withstood internal challenges and most importantly, fostered trust and faith. Faith in both the relationships as well as deepened faith for each of us within our respective religions.

Therefore, when Christian clergy felt the need to create a statement responding to what is referred to as “Christian Nationalism” given the times in which we are living and having expressly reached out to me given concerns about antisemitism, it felt like a group hug. This is what they wrote:

A Statement on Christian Nationalism

Adopted August 6, 2022

We, the majority of Christian members of The Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium, in support of and supported by our non-Christian colleagues and religious leaders, are compelled to denounce the teachings of what is called “Christian Nationalism.” Some of the most common claims of this ideology are that the federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation, that the government should advocate for specifically Christian values, that the government should not enforce a strict separation of church and state, that the government should promote religious symbols (especially Christian symbols) in the public square, and that the government should promote prayer in public schools.

We believe that these concepts are neither Christian nor are they in keeping with the spirit of this nation. In the Christian scripture Jesus is portrayed as one who taught that our greatest commandment is to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:29-31, Luke 10:27-28). Moreover, our foundational political documents call us to seek equality, liberty, and justice for all. The Declaration of Independence declares that “all men are created equal.” Our constitution affirms that our government was established to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” “Christian Nationalism” violates the spirit of these affirmations.

In the light of these texts, we call upon our fellow Christians, our fellow citizens, and all persons of good will, to reject the political and religious claims of “Christian Nationalism” and the embracing of this ideology by persons, organizations, leaders, and candidates. This ideology threatens our democracy and our identity as citizens of the United States of America. We urge our fellow Christians, as well as others, to learn about the claims of “Christian Nationalism,” and its significance for our nation, and to say no to an ideology that rejects “liberty and justice for all.”