# Rewritten Body
A room of thousands of Christians from all 50 states gathered at the Gaylord National Resort in Washington, D.C. For the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) summit. The attendees demonstrated what distinguishes informed conviction from performative sloganeering - they articulated their support for Israel through substantive understanding rather than catchphrases.
The historical roots of Christian support for Israel predate the modern state itself. American Christians have long argued that Jewish people possess the right to self-governance and to re-establish their nation in their ancestral homeland, grounded in Christian, American and democratic values that affirm self-determination and safety.
Founded by Pastor John Hagee in 2006, CUFI has grown to more than 10 million members, making it the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States. The organization's mandate extends beyond Israel's borders to stand with Jewish people globally and to confront antisemitism in all its forms - on campuses, in politics and online.
Many CUFI members have traveled to Israel repeatedly, engaging in volunteer work, study, prayer and direct relationships with Israelis across religious and ethnic backgrounds. Upon returning home, they organize congregational trips, campus chapters, letter-writing campaigns and congressional delegations armed with policy briefings.
CUFI frames its approach through five commitments: act, lead, pray, defend America, and vote Israel. The organization emphasizes that Christians have "a biblical and moral responsibility" To stand with Israel and the Jewish people, underscoring that doing so "most effectively" Requires being "informed." This educational foundation contrasts sharply with movements driven by slogans and propaganda rather than substantive knowledge.
The author met with CUFI leadership including Hagee, his wife Diana, their daughter Sandra Hagee Parker, co-executive director Shari Dollinger, Boris Zilberman, and Ari Morgenstern. Beyond leadership, the author encountered faith leaders, organizers and citizens whose single trips to Israel catalyzed years of advocacy work.
The author noted facing death threats for advocacy work and encountered Christian pastors and college students who reported experiencing similar threats despite not being Jewish themselves. This reality highlight why CUFI's commitment to fighting antisemitism parallels its Israel advocacy - both address a shared problem demanding collective response.
The author emphasized that supporting Israel and Jewish self-determination need not conflict with broader commitments to human dignity and justice for all people. The movement's durability, the author concluded, will be measured not by the scale of gatherings but by what participants build once they return home.