To love Jesus is to love the Jewish people
The church must speak comfort to Jewish people in the midst of rising antisemitism
At the Church’s Ministry Among Jewish People (CMJ USA), our mission has always been to help the Church understand its Jewish roots and to love the Jewish people around us with the love of the Messiah.
We remember that the Last Supper—the very foundation of our Communion—was a Passover Seder. To love Jesus is to love the people through which the Messiah was given to the world. Our "freedom in the Messiah" is not a replacement for the Jewish story; it is a profound extension of it.
Right now, antisemitism continues rise beyond what was already an all-time high, and it is reshaping the daily lives of Jewish Americans. According to the American Jewish Committee (AJC) State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report, an overwhelming 91% of American Jews now feel less safe in the U.S. following high-profile violent attacks over the past year.
This atmosphere of fear has led to significant changes in public behavior:
Identity Concealment: Data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Jewish Federations of North America indicates that 55 percent of Jewish Americans have experienced antisemitism in the last 12 months, leading many to hide their identity; for instance, 1 in 5 who previously wore distinctively Jewish items (like a Star of David or kippah/yarmulke) have stopped doing so.
Mental Health Strain: The psychological toll is severe, with the 2025 Portrait of Antisemitic Experiences report finding that those directly targeted show significantly higher clinical rates of anxiety and depression.
Campus Isolation: The crisis is particularly acute for the younger generation; 42 percent of Jewish college students report experiencing antisemitism on campus, and 25 percent have felt explicitly excluded from groups or events because of their Jewish identity (AJC/Hillel International, 2026).
When the Jewish community is threatened, the Christian followers of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob must speak out.
The Church must not quietly watch from the sidelines, as if this had nothing to do with us. We must speak comfort to our Jewish neighbors (Isa 40:1). We must care for them as a people still loved by God for the sake of the Patriarchs (Rom 11:28).
We at CMJ USA are actively working to help the Church act with active compassion:
Authentic Conversations: With our Bridge Builders Essentials course, we are equipping congregations across the U.S. to build relationship with the synagogue down the street.
Combating Misinformation: Antisemitism often grows in the soil of biblical illiteracy. Our sermon notes and in-person teaching engagements are undermining the bad biblical interpretations that fuel hatred and replacing them with a deep, studious appreciation for the Jewish context of the Gospel.
Mercy in the Land of Israel: While we work here at home, our partners in Israel are on the front lines, providing mercy to Jews, Arabs, and others affected by ongoing regional instability. We are ensuring that even in the midst of conflict, the Body of the Messiah in the Land has the resources to provide for the vulnerable.
Our vision at CMJ USA is a future where a Jewish person knows they can trust a Christian down the road for friendship, support, and even shelter in a difficult time.
Where can you start?
Pray: Our small staff is working on a second resource – Emunah Course. This is a 10-week dinner-and-discussion program that helps churches create a safe environment for a Jewish seeker to ask questions about faith (emunah in Hebrew), God, Messiah, and more.
Learn: Watch our Bridge Builder Essentials video course. Invite us to church to teach on the Jewish context of the New Testament, the history of antisemitism, the significance of Romans 9-11, and more.
Follow and share: Help our social media team get the word out by following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Give: Your financial partnership will help us grow our resources and travel to teach more Christians the importance and discipleship-impact of the Jewishness of Jesus.
Have questions? Contact us at info@cmj-usa.org.
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Rev. Cariño Casas is the executive director of the Church's Ministry among Jewish People (CMJ USA). She is passionate to stir up the American church to build bridges with our Jewish neighbors, speak out against rising antisemitism, and proclaim Yeshua the Messiah to all the nations. Cariño is a vocational deacon in the Anglican Church of North America, serving at Grace Anglican Church in Edgeworth, PA. She received a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Trinity Anglican Seminary (2020) and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Texas A&M University (1999).
