Christian Leaders Summit addresses rise of antisemitism in Western society

Speaking at the keynote dinner session of the Christian Leaders Summit at Liberty University on Thursday, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice Leo Terrell encouraged students and others in attendance to stand up to Jewish hate.

Terrell shared about the rampant rise of antisemitism in American culture, stating this hatred has led to increased hostility — and even violent attacks — against the Jewish community. He lamented that these attacks are often not considered hate crimes despite their apparent targeted nature and noted that the increased hatred has been fueled by social media and even touted by major American corporations.

“Antisemitism is not a Jewish issue,” he said. “Antisemitism is an American issue and a Western civilization issue. You young people, we need you. I need you. The government needs you. America needs you. Western civilization needs you.”

The all-day summit was organized by Liberty’s Center for Israel in partnership with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem-USA and the Combat Antisemitism Movement to equip students to recognize and confront antisemitism, understand the State of Israel’s biblical and historical significance, and respond to the proliferation of antisemitic rhetoric and disinformation on campus and online.

Following his message, Terrell was presented with the Beacon Award for Courage by John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Dean Dr. Troy Temple, ICEJ USA Director of Outreach Dr. Tyson Lambertson, and Combat Antisemitism Movement Director of Christian Outreach and Engagement EJ Kimball.

Prior to Terrell’s speech, Center of International Rule of Law founder Natasha Hausdorff took the stage with Liberty University School of Law Associate Professor Eric Enlow to discuss prominent concerns in American culture involving Israel’s role in the Gaza war. She argued claims of Israeli genocide are inaccurate because of the immense care the country has taken to primarily target military combatants.

The summit kicked off with a main luncheon and opening remarks from Temple, Kimball, and Lambertson. Kimball encouraged students and others in attendance to remain committed to supporting the Jewish people.

“In this country, Christians are the largest group that supports Israel and the Jewish people,” he said. “There is a consorted effort to attack that. It’s not just about protecting the Jews; it’s also about protecting yourselves, because the forces of evil coming after the Jewish people and the state of Israel are coming after Christians as well.”

Temple clarified the importance of Liberty’s Center for Israel in advancing Liberty’s Christian mission. He urged students to confront the tough questions surrounding the relationship between Christianity and the State of Israel head-on and not shy away from hard conversations.

“We exist on this campus as a Center for Israel for one reason: to Train Champions for Christ. That’s our mission at the university. Because of that, I want to encourage you today that this is the opportunity … Ask the most difficult questions you or your peers have been asking on the halls, at lunches, having coffee, and everywhere you go where this subject is brought up. Ask those questions. These are the people in the room that are waiting to help walk through answering the hardest questions,” he said. Several sessions were devoted to Q&A for students.

Before leading a prayer of blessing at the luncheon, Liberty President Dondi E. Costin likewise spoke to the importance of standing for truth regardless of any opposition: “The most important thing you will get from an education at Liberty University is the courage you need to stand up to those who don’t have all the facts and who are spreading misinformation and to stand up for those as big in number as they might wish they were. You get to stand up for them.”

Center for Israel Senior Founding Fellow Dr. Johnnie Moore, a Liberty alumnus and former Liberty administrator, emphasized the responsibility of Christians to support the Jewish people as required in Scripture.

Next, former Auburn Basketball Head Coach Bruce Pearl shared his family’s history of fleeing Europe during the rise of antisemitism in the early 1900s. Pearl is the all-time winningest head coach in Auburn men’s basketball history and boasts a total of 694 NCAA Division I victories in his coaching career. He stepped down as Auburn’s head coach in 2025 after leading the Tigers to a Final Four appearance in the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Throughout his time as a head coach and the trials and tribulations that come with the position, Pearl said he found comfort in his Jewish faith and his strong relationship with God.

“If you are walking with God, if you are in a relationship with Him, if you are talking with Him and trying to listen to Him and not yourself, it’s going to really lower your anxiety and lower your stress. I never felt like I was alone,” he said.”

As a Jew, he said his mission is to help Americans better understand the war in Gaza. He now dedicates his time to spreading awareness of the war and educating the public on Israel’s role in the conflict.

Summit attendees also heard from Special Envoy of Israel to the Christian World Ambassador George Deek, who participated via Zoom and shared about the country’s continued struggle against its enemies.

“We are the nation that buries its dead, defends the living, and then goes and rebuilds what was lost,” he said. “That is what America and Israel can offer the world together. Faith, resilience, and responsibility. Together we can have the courage to build a better tomorrow.”

Other sessions on Thursday included discussions on the historical and biblical perspective on antisemitism, the Just War Theory, how to recognize and counter antisemitism, and the benefits of living and studying in Israel as a Christian.

Liberty launched the Center for Israel last October with a purpose to encourage a biblical understanding of Israel’s role within God’s redemptive purposes and to promote thoughtful reflection on the relationship between the church, the Jewish people, and the nations. Inspired by the vision of Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, the center seeks to cultivate a new generation of leaders who are grounded in faith and equipped to engage the world with compassion and conviction.