Oct 25, 2024
5 min
Standing With Israel
A summary of TJF Talks Episode 74 with Rev Hayley Ace
In an era marked by increasing antisemitism and global polarization, Reverend Hayley Ace sees her mission clearly: to raise her voice in support of Jewish people. Together with her husband, she leads Christian Action Against Antisemitism (CAAA), a movement dedicated to fostering love and solidarity between Christians and Jews. In an exclusive interview with TheJewFunction, Reverend Ace shared deep insights into her experiences, beliefs, and the urgency of the current moment.
Watch the full interview below:
A History of Support and Struggle
Reverend Ace doesn’t shy away from explaining the complex history between Christians and Jews. She acknowledges the dark chapters of Christian history, from forced conversions to the silence of Christians during the Holocaust. “I know how awful Christianity has been in the main to the Jewish people,” she says, pointing out her commitment to ensure that history does not repeat itself. She highlights that their work with CAAA is not about proselytizing. “We are a non-proselytizing organization,” she explains, clarifying that their aim is to stand in “true love and friendship” with the Jewish community, not to convert them.
Her passion extends to educating Christians about their Jewish roots, pointing out that the Christian faith is, in essence, a grafting onto the Jewish heritage. She passionately stated, “Jesus was Jewish his whole life. Nowhere does it say he was a Christian.” For Reverend Ace, Christianity and Judaism are inextricably linked, and it is this understanding that motivates her and her congregation to action.
The October 7 Wake-Up Call
The aftermath of the October 7 attacks marked a turning point for Reverend Ace. She speaks openly about the deep horror of witnessing the world’s response to the atrocities in Israel. “And if that wasn’t bad enough,” she notes, “to see the world’s response and the cruelty and gaslighting that followed.” It motivated her to step up her efforts, uniting Christians in the UK in solidarity with the Jewish community.
She describes an event she attended at one of the largest synagogues in London, marking six months since the attack. There was a powerful sense of mourning, not just for the lives lost in Israel, but for the Jewish people worldwide who continue to face hatred and hostility.
Addressing Rising Antisemitism
A major theme of the conversation revolves around the antisemitic rhetoric that has surged globally since the October 7 events. Ace is particularly disturbed by how casually young people display their antisemitic attitudes, often shaped by social media trends. “Seventeen-year-olds… saying ‘Free Palestine, Jews are scum,’ and they only know that because they saw it on TikTok,” she remarks, frustrated but also determined to change the narrative.
Despite her frustrations, Ace emphasizes the importance of patience, kindness, and understanding when dealing with people who seem lost in the maze of misinformation and hate. “We have to be very kind, very loving,” she says. Her solution? Engage them with compassion and let them see there’s another way. This earnest, grassroots approach is what sets her ministry apart in a political landscape where shouting often seems like the norm.
Fighting for a Future of Peace
When asked if people who stand for love and unity are willing to fight for those beliefs, Ace responded with a thoughtful pause. “I do fight for it. Whether I take up arms would depend on the context.” It’s a balancing act, she acknowledges. On one hand, the call for love is paramount. On the other, there’s a clear need to protect the values that sustain those efforts. For Reverend Ace, fighting doesn’t always mean violence — it means fighting for truth in a world bent on distorting it.
When one of the hosts spoke about the global scrutiny that Israel faces, Ace wholeheartedly agreed. The notion of Israel as a “Sorting Hat,” a flashpoint of global moral judgment, resonated with her. She pointed out how Israel, despite being held to an impossibly high standard, continues to define what it means to fight with morality in a world that increasingly seems to forget that concept.
In a time when most nations face little examination for their actions, Israel remains under constant scrutiny. “No one else is being scrutinized anywhere near like the IDF and Israel are,” she argues. “I don’t know if the world will expect that standard applied elsewhere,” though she adds that if they did, it could change the essence of how conflicts are fought globally.
The role of Israel
The hosts of The Jew Function bring up Abraham, whose small group of followers chose to rise above the ego and form bonds of love, not just with their immediate neighbors but with humanity at large.
As Ace puts it, “Israel represents freedom, democracy, life, the love of life.” She sees Israel as a unique moral and ethical beacon that must endure scrutiny because, in many ways, it models behaviors that the rest of the world needs to emulate. “It’s almost like Israel is showing the world how to act; others don’t face anywhere near the same level of critique.”
One host suggests this deep scrutiny isn’t just moral or political, it’s systemic. Israel, he says, functions like the head. “When Israel doesn’t operate as it should, the rest of the world, the body, suffers.”
An Active Congregation
Reverend Ace’s passion certainly isn’t limited to words. Her congregation actively supports Israel and the Jewish community through concrete actions. When their local synagogue faced challenges in getting children to school, Reverend Ace’s congregation asked how they could help. After raising £32,000, they bought a minibus for the synagogue to transport children, demonstrating their commitment to “love in action.”
She expresses that this wasn’t about “just talking a good talk.” For Reverend Ace, love is about action, not virtue signaling. Actions like this, she says, show that Christians can and should use their blessings to support their Jewish neighbors without ulterior motives.
The Darker Forces at Play
The conversation doesn’t just focus on the positive aspects. Reverend Ace touches on what she calls ‘dark forces’ at play, forces that she believes drive people away from God’s light. Her belief in the spiritual dimension of these global conflicts isn’t abstract. She sees a clear distinction between those who spread love and those who sow death and destruction.
In contrasting the spiritual frameworks of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the hosts raise difficult questions. They explore how Christianity’s message of love and peace can coexist with the more destructive elements present in other radical ideologies, such as certain extremist forms of Islam.
A Call for Understanding
Reverend Ace strikes a hopeful but determined tone throughout the conversation. She recognizes that not everyone sees the world through the lens she does, but she believes people can be reached. Her message is simple but powerful: love, kindness, and understanding go a long way in healing divisions.
“If we are all just being patient and loving,” she says, “it helps people get closer to that end goal of wanting something more.” She believes the future depends on bringing people in rather than shutting them out — and on standing firm when it matters most.
Conclusion
Reverend Hayley Ace’s dedication to standing with the Jewish community is not only inspiring but a crucial call to action. As global polarization continues to rise and antisemitism spreads uncomfortably fast, her message of love, solidarity, and active support is exactly what the world needs.
For Reverend Ace and her congregation, supporting Israel and the Jewish people isn’t just a side mission, it’s core to their faith and identity. Through love in action, they stand firm, proving that in a world on the brink, every person has the ability and the responsibility to make a difference.
Share:
In an era marked by increasing antisemitism and global polarization, Reverend Hayley Ace sees her mission clearly: to raise her voice in support of Jewish people. Together with her husband, she leads Christian Action Against Antisemitism (CAAA), a movement dedicated to fostering love and solidarity between Christians and Jews. In an exclusive interview with TheJewFunction, Reverend Ace shared deep insights into her experiences, beliefs, and the urgency of the current moment.
Watch the full interview below:
A History of Support and Struggle
Reverend Ace doesn’t shy away from explaining the complex history between Christians and Jews. She acknowledges the dark chapters of Christian history, from forced conversions to the silence of Christians during the Holocaust. “I know how awful Christianity has been in the main to the Jewish people,” she says, pointing out her commitment to ensure that history does not repeat itself. She highlights that their work with CAAA is not about proselytizing. “We are a non-proselytizing organization,” she explains, clarifying that their aim is to stand in “true love and friendship” with the Jewish community, not to convert them.
Her passion extends to educating Christians about their Jewish roots, pointing out that the Christian faith is, in essence, a grafting onto the Jewish heritage. She passionately stated, “Jesus was Jewish his whole life. Nowhere does it say he was a Christian.” For Reverend Ace, Christianity and Judaism are inextricably linked, and it is this understanding that motivates her and her congregation to action.
The October 7 Wake-Up Call
The aftermath of the October 7 attacks marked a turning point for Reverend Ace. She speaks openly about the deep horror of witnessing the world’s response to the atrocities in Israel. “And if that wasn’t bad enough,” she notes, “to see the world’s response and the cruelty and gaslighting that followed.” It motivated her to step up her efforts, uniting Christians in the UK in solidarity with the Jewish community.
She describes an event she attended at one of the largest synagogues in London, marking six months since the attack. There was a powerful sense of mourning, not just for the lives lost in Israel, but for the Jewish people worldwide who continue to face hatred and hostility.
Addressing Rising Antisemitism
A major theme of the conversation revolves around the antisemitic rhetoric that has surged globally since the October 7 events. Ace is particularly disturbed by how casually young people display their antisemitic attitudes, often shaped by social media trends. “Seventeen-year-olds… saying ‘Free Palestine, Jews are scum,’ and they only know that because they saw it on TikTok,” she remarks, frustrated but also determined to change the narrative.
Despite her frustrations, Ace emphasizes the importance of patience, kindness, and understanding when dealing with people who seem lost in the maze of misinformation and hate. “We have to be very kind, very loving,” she says. Her solution? Engage them with compassion and let them see there’s another way. This earnest, grassroots approach is what sets her ministry apart in a political landscape where shouting often seems like the norm.
Fighting for a Future of Peace
When asked if people who stand for love and unity are willing to fight for those beliefs, Ace responded with a thoughtful pause. “I do fight for it. Whether I take up arms would depend on the context.” It’s a balancing act, she acknowledges. On one hand, the call for love is paramount. On the other, there’s a clear need to protect the values that sustain those efforts. For Reverend Ace, fighting doesn’t always mean violence — it means fighting for truth in a world bent on distorting it.
When one of the hosts spoke about the global scrutiny that Israel faces, Ace wholeheartedly agreed. The notion of Israel as a “Sorting Hat,” a flashpoint of global moral judgment, resonated with her. She pointed out how Israel, despite being held to an impossibly high standard, continues to define what it means to fight with morality in a world that increasingly seems to forget that concept.
In a time when most nations face little examination for their actions, Israel remains under constant scrutiny. “No one else is being scrutinized anywhere near like the IDF and Israel are,” she argues. “I don’t know if the world will expect that standard applied elsewhere,” though she adds that if they did, it could change the essence of how conflicts are fought globally.
The role of Israel
The hosts of The Jew Function bring up Abraham, whose small group of followers chose to rise above the ego and form bonds of love, not just with their immediate neighbors but with humanity at large.
As Ace puts it, “Israel represents freedom, democracy, life, the love of life.” She sees Israel as a unique moral and ethical beacon that must endure scrutiny because, in many ways, it models behaviors that the rest of the world needs to emulate. “It’s almost like Israel is showing the world how to act; others don’t face anywhere near the same level of critique.”
One host suggests this deep scrutiny isn’t just moral or political, it’s systemic. Israel, he says, functions like the head. “When Israel doesn’t operate as it should, the rest of the world, the body, suffers.”
An Active Congregation
Reverend Ace’s passion certainly isn’t limited to words. Her congregation actively supports Israel and the Jewish community through concrete actions. When their local synagogue faced challenges in getting children to school, Reverend Ace’s congregation asked how they could help. After raising £32,000, they bought a minibus for the synagogue to transport children, demonstrating their commitment to “love in action.”
She expresses that this wasn’t about “just talking a good talk.” For Reverend Ace, love is about action, not virtue signaling. Actions like this, she says, show that Christians can and should use their blessings to support their Jewish neighbors without ulterior motives.
The Darker Forces at Play
The conversation doesn’t just focus on the positive aspects. Reverend Ace touches on what she calls ‘dark forces’ at play, forces that she believes drive people away from God’s light. Her belief in the spiritual dimension of these global conflicts isn’t abstract. She sees a clear distinction between those who spread love and those who sow death and destruction.
In contrasting the spiritual frameworks of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the hosts raise difficult questions. They explore how Christianity’s message of love and peace can coexist with the more destructive elements present in other radical ideologies, such as certain extremist forms of Islam.
A Call for Understanding
Reverend Ace strikes a hopeful but determined tone throughout the conversation. She recognizes that not everyone sees the world through the lens she does, but she believes people can be reached. Her message is simple but powerful: love, kindness, and understanding go a long way in healing divisions.
“If we are all just being patient and loving,” she says, “it helps people get closer to that end goal of wanting something more.” She believes the future depends on bringing people in rather than shutting them out — and on standing firm when it matters most.
Conclusion
Reverend Hayley Ace’s dedication to standing with the Jewish community is not only inspiring but a crucial call to action. As global polarization continues to rise and antisemitism spreads uncomfortably fast, her message of love, solidarity, and active support is exactly what the world needs.
For Reverend Ace and her congregation, supporting Israel and the Jewish people isn’t just a side mission, it’s core to their faith and identity. Through love in action, they stand firm, proving that in a world on the brink, every person has the ability and the responsibility to make a difference.
Share:
Discover More Latest Blogs
