From North America to Africa, ICEJ branches have been busy educating, advocating, and participating in pro-Israel marches around the world. In Lithuania the ICEJ Vice President for International Affairs Dr. Mojmir Kallus officially opened their new national branch, in Germany the ICEJ branch hosted an Israel Day conference, in the United States ICEJ-USA participated in a historic Israel Advocacy Day with rabbis, pastors, and faith leaders, in Latvia, ICEJ-Latvia published the memoirs of Holocaust survivor Ella Medalge, and the ICEJ-Ivory Coast branch held an Israel conference drawing hundreds of attendees.

 ICEJ-Germany hosts ‘Israel Day’ featuring Iranian pastor

ICEJ-Germany recently welcomed more than 1,000 Christians from across the nation for an ‘Israel Day’ rally and prayer gathering near Stuttgart.

Among the speakers was Iranian pastor Siamak Aminmansour, who conveyed greetings from the underground church in Iran. “The Iranian people stand with Israel,” he said while wearing a kippah in solidarity with the Jewish people.

He provided insights into the suffering of the Iranian people, which began with the Islamists’ brutal takeover of the country in 1979. Before that, Iran had been an open, free country, he explained, adding: “We were tolerant—unfortunately, even toward the Islamists.”

Stella Syrkin from Keren Hayesod thanked the Christians for standing with Israel and for their financial support in rebuilding the civilian infrastructure destroyed over the past 2.5 years of war by Hamas, Hizbullah, and Iran. “You stand with Israel—not just in words, but also in deeds,” Syrkin noted with thanks.

“We have learned from the Jewish people how to pray to the one true God,” Gottfried Bühler, chairman of ICEJ-Germany, told the gathering as they began to focus on prayer for Israel and the Middle East region.

Among the guests from Israel was Ariel Blumenthal, a Messianic Jewish author and Bible teacher, who explained the significance of the name of God which He used to reveal Himself to Moses in the burning bush. Blumenthal pointed out how important it is for Christians to return to their Hebraic roots and to the God who calls Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Christoph Scharnweber, ICEJ’s German spokesperson, provided background and alternatives in the debate over the “two-state solution”.

The “Zion Band” from Jerusalem provided musical accompaniment, while the dance group “Profil Dance” enriched Israel Day with their performances.

Among other highlights was an exhibition of an ancient Torah scroll that had long been lost and was presented to the public for the first time on this day. ICEJ Executive Director Stephan Lehnert outlined its history that has been uncovered so far and promised further research.

Over 500 Rabbis and Pastors mobilise on Capitol Hill for Historic Israel Advocacy Day

In a powerful demonstration of faith-based unity in action, a coalition of more than 500 rabbis, pastors, and faith leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. on 6 May as part of the annual Israel Advocacy Day- an initiative developed jointly by Eagles’ Wings, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) USA, and the Israel Allies Foundation to transform interfaith solidarity into coordinated calls to action.

The initiative reflects a growing effort among Jewish and Christian leaders to move beyond statements of support and toward coordinated advocacy on issues affecting Israel, the Jewish people, and faith communities across the United States. The delegations held 115 congressional meetings on Capitol Hill, engaging senior staff and officials across both sides of the political aisle.

The day concluded with featured remarks from Rep. Don Bacon, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yehiel Leiter, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Yehuda Kaploun, and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Leo Terrell, along with senior staff from House Republican and Democratic offices.

“Our advocacy has much greater impact when we speak with one voice and stand in unity for truth, justice, and goodness,” said Dr. Susan Michael, President of ICEJ-USA. “We demonstrate that support for Israel is not just a Jewish issue – it is important to Christians and to tens of millions of Americans.”

The advocacy agenda focused on three key priorities:

• Strengthening U.S. Support for Israel – Reinforcing bipartisan commitment to Israel’s security and stability
• Confronting the Rise of Antisemitism – Addressing the alarming increase in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. and globally
• Protecting Faith-Based Communities – Advancing resources and policies to safeguard synagogues, churches, and religious institutions facing growing threats

The advocacy initiative included a high-level gala in Washington attended by hundreds of leaders. During the gala, Dr. Susan Michael and Bishop Robert Stearns were presented with the White Rose Society Award, an honor presented to non-Jewish individuals who demonstrate courage and commitment to the Jewish community at a time of rising antisemitism.

ICEJ-Latvia publishes memoirs of noted Holocaust survivor 

ICEJ-Latvia recently held a special reception at the Museum “Jews in Latvia” in Riga to mark its publication of the book “The Right to Live”, a memoir of noted Holocaust survivor Ella Medalje. 

During the Holocaust, more than 70,000 Jews were murdered in Latvia, roughly three-quarters of the Jewish population. On 30 November and 8 December 1941, approximately 25,000 Jews imprisoned in the Riga Ghetto were murdered in mass executions organised by the Nazis in the Rumbula forest just outside the city. Only two women survived the massacre: Ella Medalje and Frida Mihelson.  

The memories of both eyewitnesses were recorded by survivor David Silberman in the 1960s but could not be published in Latvia during the Soviet era. Only in 2014 did the Latvian edition of Frida Mihelson’s book “I Survived Rumbula” come out. And now Ella Medalje’s memoir “The Right to Live” was published by ICEJ-Latvia with the support of co-author David Silberman, the Latvian Jewish Community Restitution Fund, the foundation “Uniting”, and the Embassy of Israel in Latvia. 

The book includes the investigative documents used at the trial of Nazi collaborator Viktors Arajs, who led a local commando death squad responsible for the mass murder of thousands of Jews in Latvia. Thanks to Ella and other survivors’ testimonies, he was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment by a German court.  

New ICEJ branch opens in Lithuania 

In April, Dr. Mojmir Kallus, ICEJ Vice President for International Affairs, visited Lithuania to officially open a new ICEJ branch in the Baltic state. Together with special regional representative Serguei Popov, they served at a three-day conference on Israel and the Church in “Kristaus Paliepimas” church in Vilnius. The pastor, Arvydas Vysniauskas and his wife Olga, were appointed as ICEJ national representatives.  

While in Lithuania, Mojmir and Serguei also participated in the March of Life organised by TOS ministry on the occasion of Yom HaShoah. About 120 people attended and marched with Israeli flags peacefully through the streets of Vilnius. The event to commemorate Jewish victims of the Holocaust was addressed by the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, the Israeli Ambassador, and a representative of the Jewish community. 

Lithuania is a stable country with no anti-Israel sentiment today, even while it has a rich yet tragic Jewish history. Vilnius used to be called the “Jerusalem of the North” due to all the ultra-Orthodox communities there. The Nazis and their local collaborators killed more than 80% of Lithuania’s Jewish population during the Holocaust. Repentance for the sins of the past and remembering these Jewish victims is an important step towards healing and blessing for the country. 

Israel Conference held in Ivory Coast 
Dr. Mojmir Kallus, ICEJ Vice President for International Affairs, recently visited the Ivory Coast to participate in an Israel conference organised by our national director David Silue and his team. Mojmir addressed the subject of Israel and the Church and how to understand the current conflict in the Middle East. He also preached in the church of Apostle Apollinaire Gboagnon, the largest congregation in Abidjan. 

Dozens of pastors and ministry leaders participated in the conference and showed keen interest in Israel. Attendees also came from Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Senegal. Christians in West Africa have a good grasp of Israel theology, and they naturally love Israel. As a result of the conference, prospects for opening new ICEJ branches in Burkina Faso and Senegal also arose.  The Ivory Coast is the most influential country in French-speaking West Africa and our ICEJ branch there plays a lead role for our ministry in the region.