Love Your Jewish Neighbor event brings Nashville Christian and Jewish communities together

As antisemitism continues to rise around the world, a growing Christian movement is encouraging people to respond not only through advocacy, but through friendship. 

That message was at the heart of a recent Love Your Jewish Neighbor event, bringing members of Nashville’s Christian and Jewish communities together for an evening of education, reflection and solidarity. Love Your Jewish Neighbor Month is a global movement that encourages Christians to intentionally express friendship, support and solidarity with Jewish people and communities during July. 

For Jewish Federation's JCRC Associate Adeline Ellison, who attended the Nashville gathering, the evening offered an opportunity to deepen understanding between the two faith communities. 

“One of the speakers, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, challenged common antisemitic stereotypes by providing historical and religious context from Jewish and Christian texts,” Ellison said. "Through thoughtful examination of the scripture, she demonstrated how misunderstandings can take root when religious literature is removed from its original context, underscoring the importance of learning before making assumptions." 

Dr. Frank Boehm addressed the resilience of the Jewish people throughout history. According to Ellison, Boehm emphasized the responsibility individuals have to seek accurate information, confront misinformation and combat ignorance through meaningful dialogue. 

“His remarks served as a reminder that understanding begins with a willingness to learn,” Ellison said. 

The evening also included a deeply personal perspective on the consequences of antisemitism. Daniel Lischinsky, whose son Yaron Lischinsky was murdered alongside his girlfriend in the May 2025 antisemitic attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., shared his experience of loss. 

For Ellison, hearing Lischinsky speak brought the evening’s discussion of antisemitism into focus. 

“Hearing a father speak about profound loss was a sobering reminder that the consequences of hatred and violence are not abstract – they affect real families and communities,” she said. 

The Nashville gathering was part of a broader Love Your Jewish Neighbor initiative that has brought together churches, ministries, schools, organizations and individuals across the United States, and beyond. 

“In a time when antisemitism is rising worldwide, we believe one of the strongest responses is friendship. These gatherings are an opportunity for Christians and Jews to stand together as neighbors," said local organizer, Bob Mendelsohn.  

For Ellison, the evening reinforced the role education, and relationships can play in confronting prejudice. 

“Education is one of the most powerful tools for combating prejudice; and genuine relationships across faith communities can help build a more compassionate and informed society,” she said.