Vine and Fig Project

The Vine and Fig Project
And they shall sit, every man under his vine,
And every woman under her fig tree,
And none shall make them afraid.

Vine and Fig Project: The Mission

The Vine and Fig Project is an interfaith educational venture. Its mission is to support
Christians and Jews to better understand the complexities of the modern Middle East and
do so in a religious context.

Vine and Fig Project: The Vision

There are more than 200 pro-Israel organizations in the United States. How is The Vine and Fig Project different?

--We seek to work with the Christian and Jewish mainstream. Most pro-Israel agencies,
other than those sponsored by Christian conservatives, have a secular orientation. We are a religious organization.

--Most Christian supporters of Israel are religious moderates and liberals, but much of Israel’s most vocal support comes from the religious right. This contributes to the impression that Israel is a right wing cause. Israel is caught in a proxy war between the Christian conservatives and liberals. Anything deemed right wing is an anathema to the left. This labeling is simplistic, inaccurate and damaging.

--Human rights organizations, NGOs and peace churches often ignore or downplay Jewish fears and concerns. Peacemakers should endeavor not to be partisans.

--We challenge the “progressive” status accorded to reactionary, repressive theocratic states and non-state actors. “Anti-colonialism” does not necessarily mean enlightened. Repression, discrimination, hate and intolerance are always wrong.

--Incitement against Jews in the Muslim world has risen to a level which beggars the imagination. Open calls for genocide in the media are now mainstream. Yet this crime against humanity is all but ignored by the human rights community. This represents a major moral failing and might prove catastrophic.

--We note, with profound sadness, that some churches and church coalitions in the Middle East have issued papers which seem more Manichean than Christian, deny Jewish religious and political legitimacy, entirely sidestep or ignore Arab abuses or give them theological justification. Even Muslim persecution of Christians is downplayed or, remarkably, blamed on "Zionists." Some affiliates of these churches in Western countries have been inspired by these cowering documents. Much of the remarkable progress made in interfaith dialogue since World War II has been jettisoned. At best, these positions are inaccurate or insensitive and at worst can be described as old fashioned theological antisemitism.

-- We deplore violence and expect accountability, moderation and respect for human dignity by all parties at all times using objective criteria, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

--We are a pro-Israel organization, but underscore that support must never be uncritical. We are guided by the vision of the prophets of Israel and like them, will speak truth to power. We strongly reject the notion that criticism of this or any Israeli government equates with antisemitism. At the same time, we assert that unremitting hostility to the State of Israel, be it rooted in religious, political or social considerations, constitutes a prejudice in its own right. We are committed to Israel as a democratic, pluralistic, Jewish state. The Vine and Fig Project will not be aligned with any political party or coalition of parties either in Israel or the United States.

Vine and Fig: The Method

Our goal is simple but ambitious: to engage as many religious leaders as possible, in as
many settings as possible. Trained to think in ethical terms and to seek moral clarity, religious people are predisposed to see things in binary terms—victim and villain. Rabbi Ken Cohen has engaged in one-on-one conversations with scores of religious leaders, including those associated with both the religious right and left. Unafraid to “parachute behind enemy lines” and to develop relations in places where members of the Jewish mainstream seldom go, Rabbi Cohen has learned that opponents are not enemies and might even become friends.

Rabbi Cohen has attended church conferences, often challenging one sided orientation and calling on people to serve the interests of peace by becoming fair witnesses. He has seen groups with whom he has engaged in dialogue become more moderate, nuanced and, thus, more credible. He has attended the World Parliament of Religions in Washington, Churches for Middle East Peace and is active on the Interfaith Council of Greater Washington. Most recently, Rabbi Cohen, who had been a member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews while living in the UK, was among those who challenged a paper issued by the Church of Scotland which denied the right of Israel to exist. The paper has been withdrawn and a new one is promised which will explicitly acknowledge Israel’s legitimacy.

Rabbi Cohen hopes to be able to attend regional and national church conferences and be able to train others in his methods. This vision has its roots in optimism and boundless good will. It assumes that many people who advocate peace and justice may have fallen into the “partisan advocate” mode which can be counterproductive to their own goals. Proponents of justice need to be just to both sides of an issue. Those who aspire to be peace makers need to credible to both parties in a dispute if “peace” is not to be a mere slogan. Demonization isn’t compatible with peace making.

Those who aspire to peace and justice must be a fair witness. The Vine and Fig Project helps that growth.

Vine and Fig Project: The Prayer

We pray for the building of God’s kingdom on earth, when every man will sit under his vine and every woman under her fig tree and none shall make them afraid.

Vine and Fig Project:The Leadership

Vine and Fig Project was founded by Rabbi Kenneth L. Cohen. Ken has been the Executive Director of American University Hillel and has served pulpits in Columbia, Maryland, Southfield, Michigan and Cardiff, Wales. He was a broadcaster with the BBC Religious Affairs Department. He is a graduate of The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, holds an MA, Summa Cum Laude, from the Baltimore Hebrew University and was ordained a rabbi by Leo Baeck College in London. He has studied Talmud at the Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore. Ken holds an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Ken has been a frequent guest on public radio and lectures widely to community groups. He has taught ethics at the US Capitol to members of Congressional staff.

Rabbi Kenneth L. Cohen, Founder and
Executive Director
5601 Springfield Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20816
Ken@VineFig.org
301 202 4613