A call to 'Light Up the Church' on Wednesday in solidarity with Israel

Churches and synagogues across the globe will be leaving their lights on this Wednesday night, Nov. 9, as a show of solidarity with Israel.

The “Light Up the Church” solidarity event will be hosted by Root Source, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting respectful relationships between pro-Israel Christians and Jews. 

Root Source Founder and CEO Gidon Ariel told ALL ISRAEL NEWS that Nov. 9 is significant as it marks 84 years since the infamous Kristallnacht – known as the “Night of the Broken Glass” – when the lights of Jewish synagogues in Germany went dark.

On the night of Nov. 9, 1938, thousands of Jewish homes, businesses and cemeteries were vandalized, and nearly 100 Jews were murdered. It was the unfortunate kick-off to the Holocaust, the murder of 6 million Jews.

“Light Up the Church” is a way to commemorate one of the worst atrocities known to mankind, Ariel explained. He encourages Christians worldwide to stand in solidarity with the Jewish people and to leave the lights in their church buildings on for the entire night.

“I've been working with Christians for over a decade. The Light Up the Church initiative is an incredible way for them to stand up and be counted as supporters and friends of Israel,” Ariel said. “It is a demonstration of love and support for the Jewish nation today, especially in light of the recent and alarming rise of anti-Semitism.”

“The Nazis tried to destroy the Jews and destroy synagogues that night of Kristallnacht. They tried to extinguish the light of the Jewish people forever on that night, so what we need to do to counter that is to keep the lights on in our churches and synagogues,” he added.

Ariel explained how the program came into being.

“About 10 years ago, a friend – whose father was a Holocaust and Kristallnacht survivor – initiated the 'Light from the Synagogue' project. Since then, hundreds of Jewish synagogues in Israel and all over the world keep their lights on every Nov. 9.”

Then, last year on Nov. 8, the program popped up on Ariel’s Facebook feed.

“And as soon as I saw it,” he continued, “I felt this was something that Christians needed to do as well for those who wanted to show support for the Jewish people and say, ‘if I would have been there on Kristallnacht, I would have stood with you.’”

“This event is an opportunity for churches to shine their light together with Jewish synagogues across the globe and proclaim that darkness will never overcome light.”

This week, CBN featured the upcoming “Light Up the Church” program in an interview with Ariel, who stated that “Israel's  best friends are pro-Israel Christians around the world.”

Churches from coast-to-coast across the United States have registered so far – from New York and Florida to Texas to California and there are churches signing up each day.

Churches as far as Panama, South Africa and Malaysia are also going to leave their lights on all night on Nov. 9.

"Light Up the Church is an amazing opportunity to stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters against anti-Semitism, and to be a light to the world in supporting the Jewish state of Israel," Lori Hinze, owner and culinary travel host of A Taste of Israel - Biblical Food, told ALL ISRAEL NEWS. 

Dennis and Cindy McCutcheon, representing their small home fellowship in rural Guatemala, told ALL ISRAEL NEWS, "It is our desire to stand with Israel as they shine the Light of God into the world. Such a dark, evil period in world history when Hitler...sought to harm 'the apple of God's eye!'  It is a very small thing to show support for peace in Israel and the Light of God conquering darkness by keeping our lights on this Wednesday night.”

Among the organizations partnering with Root Source are G2g Mandate, Helping Hand Coalition and the Association of Jewish Refugees.

“I would challenge people from Christian churches with a simple thing – like not turning the lights for a night – you can make a big impact. If you are not willing to leave lights on for one night for this cause, what will you do when Jews are really in trouble?” asked Daphne Kirk of G2g Mandate. 

While 2022 will be the first year to include Christian participation, Ariel plans to make “Light Up the Church” an annual event and hopes even more pro-Israel Christians will join each year. In addition to churches, Ariel said, believer-owned businesses, home groups and individuals are invited to register and participate. 

“I've been working full-time on this initiative. I hope and pray that this will be a wakeup call for Jews and Christians to remember the Holocaust and to work that it will never happen again and to build bridges between us. And with God's help, we will have hundreds of churches doing this already in this first year, and next year maybe thousands.”

Our readers are invited to participate in Light Up the Church on Wednesday night and be counted among those Christians who outwardly show their support for their Jewish brothers and sisters. 

Click here for free registration to “Light Up the Church” and find out how to get involved.

Root Source brings knowledgeable, authentic Israeli teachers and curious Christians together to study the Jewish texts and concepts that are foundational to their faith. They also coordinate events to honor those who seek to build bridges between Jews and Christians. This year, Root Source published The LIST 2020: Antisemitic Incidents Worldwide, to raise global awareness of anti-Semitism and reinforce the problem so it can be addressed and eradicated.