ICEJ President Dr. Susan Michael at the IAC National Summit
By Shelley Neese, ACLI Coordinator
At the Israeli American Council (IAC) National Summit, Susan Michael took the stage for a breakout session and recorded a podcast with host Jonah Platt, a Jewish American actor. The session was titled “Facts, Feelings, and Friction: Navigating Israel Conversations in Tough Spaces.”
In the podcast interview, Susan recounted how, at just 19, she traveled to Israel for the first time—an experience that changed her world. For Susan, the trip transformed the Bible into a living reality. This foundational journey did not just change her perspective; it set her on a lifelong path of advocacy and education about Israel within the Christian world.
Joining her in the session was Loay Alshareef. As a Saudi Egyptian Muslim, Loay admitted to hating the Jewish people and Israel while growing up. However, when he went to study in France, he was hosted by a Jewish family. The friendship that developed forced him to take a second look at everything he had heard about Israel and the Jewish people, allowing him to separate truth from lies. Loay is now a powerhouse in the Middle East, dedicated to shifting the Arab world’s mindset toward Israel.
Susan also addressed a difficult rift within the religious world: the problem of Replacement Theology. She explained how this doctrine, which suggests the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan, has historically driven a wedge between Christians and Jews. By identifying this theological root, Susan highlighted how specific religious interpretations have fueled misunderstandings and distance, rather than the intended connection, between the two communities.
Susan concluded by emphasizing the urgent need for historical literacy among Christians, noting: “Most Evangelicals know little about Christian history, and if they do know Christian history, it is likely not the history of antisemitism in the church. It is an unfortunate fact. I try to teach it as often as I can. I squeeze it in everywhere that I can. We have to learn those lessons that history affords us.”
Hear Susan address the problem of Replacement Theology at the IAC Summit.
Related Articles
Gentiles in God’s Plan of Redemption
Do Gentiles Have a Role in the Restoration of Israel?
Simeon in the Bible: Why We Must Have “Eyes of Expectation”
Zechariah’s Prophetic Visions: A “Righteous Remnant”