from Anglican Ink
In 1840, a terrible accusation spread through the streets of Damascus: that members of the Jewish community had murdered a Catholic monk for ritual purposes. It was a classic blood libel, an ancient antisemitic trope reawakened in a modern political context. Facing pressure from European powers, Ottoman authorities arrested and tortured several Jews, some of whom died in prison.
Many Christian institutions across Europe either remained silent or gave credence to the charges. However, the community at Christ Church, CMJ’s flagship presence in the Holy Land, took the risk of standing publicly with the Jewish community. After being approached by leaders of the Jewish community in Jerusalem, CMJ helped coordinate efforts to expose the falsehood, connect with sympathetic European officials, and bring international pressure to bear. Their defense wasn’t rooted in political gain but in biblical conviction and true justice.
This remarkable story was a product of a not-perfect, yet growing trust between CMJ and the local Jewish community, a trust that has continued to develop over the last 200 years. Anglican seminarians helped restore some of the peace and provide safety to local inhabitants during the 1929 riots when their study trip was abruptly shattered by terror. Anglican nurses worked side by side with Israeli doctors to save many lives during the fierce fighting throughout Jerusalem in 1949. And CMJ provided shelter, food, and personal care during the recent rocket attacks of 2023 and 2024. Earlier this month, that legacy and reality of trust opened another, much different door.
David Pileggi, rector of Christ Church Jerusalem, was invited to attend a Knesset (the Israeli parliament) committee hearing on the harassment of Christians by extremists in Israel. It is an invitation few ministries ever receive. It was not a moment we sought out, but one that came unexpectedly. Here is how David reflects on the opportunity: