A breath of fresh air

On November 4, 2025, the event “Blessing Israel” was held at the Channel 27 Auditorium in Guatemala, gathering hundreds of Christian evangelical pastors. The event was organized by Rabbi Carlos Tapiero, Deputy CEO of Maccabi World Union, and Pastor Eduardo Gómez from Palabra de Vida, as part of a series of similar gatherings planned in other countries. Guatemala was chosen as the first host nation in recognition of its historic and profound friendship with Israel and the Jewish people. The initiative was supported by the ICEJ Guatemala Chapter, the Guatemalan Evangelical Alliance, the Embassy of Israel in Guatemala, and the Jewish Community of Guatemala.

Since October 7, 2023, we, Jews around the world, have had to summon extraordinary strength and resilience to endure an alarming surge in persecution, violence, kidnappings, murder, defamation, and open hatred. We had read, studied, listened, and witnessed history through books, testimonies, photographs, films, and even through our participation in the March of the Living. But nothing prepared us for what historians now describe as the greatest wave of modern antisemitism since the Holocaust.

I was blessed to be present at the Blessing Israel event. At one moment, emotion simply overcame me, two years of fear, sorrow, anger, and frustration surfaced all at once, and I could not hold back my tears. It had been so long since we, Guatemalan Jews, had felt something that once seemed so natural: the warmth, love, and unwavering companionship of our evangelical Christian brothers and sisters standing publicly with Israel and the Jewish people.

Below is a record of notable participants and institutions present. Simply reading the names gives a sense of how deeply moving it was to witness so many friends expressing their love and solidarity with Israel:

Among the attendees was former Guatemalan Ambassador to Israel Marco Tulio Zúñiga, accompanied by his distinguished wife, Marta Lidia Zúñiga. Delegations from other nations were also present, including representatives from Honduras such as Miguel Muñoz, National Director of ICEJ–Honduras, and Manuel Paredes, also representing ICEJ–Honduras.

The Israel–Guatemala Chamber of Commerce (ISRACAM) was represented by Andrea de la Roca, Executive Director. Theological institutions included the Central American Theological Seminary and the Baptist Theological Seminary of Guatemala. Educational institutions such as Global University, represented by Norman de Hasbun, Panamerican University (UPANA), and the Elim School also participated.

The Evangelical Alliance of Guatemala attended under the leadership of its President, Pastor César Ayala, and Vice President, Benjamin Cux. Numerous Christian denominations were represented, including the Monte Basán Evangelical Fellowship, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Assemblies of God, Church of God Full Gospel, Friends Church, Baptist Church, Central American Church, Church of God of Universal Prophecy, Church of the Nazarene, Pentecostal Church of God of the Americas, Lutheran Church, Evangelical Church Prince of Peace, and the Central Presbyterian Church.

Pastoral associations and churches were broadly represented, such as the National Coordinating Committee of Evangelical Ministers (CONACOME) led by President Robert Morales, the Association of Evangelical Ministers of Chimaltenango, the Philadelphia Pastors Association, and pastoral networks from across Guatemala. Representatives from Christian Fraternity Church, Refuge of the Sheep Church, independent congregations and ministries, and prayer and intercession groups from various churches also attended.

Among the ministries represented were FM Vida, Shalom Jireh Ministry, the Shalom Alumni Association, Chaplains of Guatemala, the Evangelical Commission of Guatemala, United Military Christians of Guatemala, Aglow Guatemala Ministry, the World School of Prayer, the National Evangelical Missionary Cooperation (CONEM), and Operation Exodus.

Delegations arrived from departments across the country, including San Marcos, Sololá, Zacapa, Escuintla, Izabal, Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chiquimula, Chimaltenango, Quiché, Huehuetenango, Retalhuleu, Suchitepéquez, and Sacatepéquez.

For me, and for other Guatemalan Jews fortunate enough to be there, it was a much-needed breath of fresh air, a moment to finally exhale after more than two years, to allow our souls to loosen their grip on constant vigilance and pain, and to whisper to ourselves: things will get better.