May 20, 2026 — The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) announced the relaunch of a formal dialogue initiative with the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC), marking a significant step in building sustained engagement between the global evangelical community and Jewish religious leadership worldwide.
The dialogue brings together theologians, scholars, and church leaders committed to honest exchange on shared concerns, including human dignity, religious freedom, and the common goods of society. It builds on a historic relationship between evangelical Christianity and Judaism rooted in a common scriptural heritage and a shared commitment to the flourishing of all people.
Rev. Botrus Mansour, Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance, expressed his strong support for the initiative:
“Evangelicals and Jews share a deep reverence for the Old Testament and for God’s call to justice, faith, and human dignity. While we recognize our theological differences, honest dialogue helps us enrich one another, build mutual respect, and address even difficult issues in a spirit of friendship and peace.”
Rabbi Mark Dratch, Chair, International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations, noted:
“At a moment when religious communities face shared challenges around antisemitism, racism, religious freedom, and the protection of human dignity, the relaunch of this dialogue is timely. Jews and Evangelical Christians have a common interest in defending the moral commitments that flow from our shared reverence for Scripture, our concern for the vulnerable, and our care for the moral health of our societies. IJCIC is honored to reenter this conversation with the World Evangelical Alliance, and we look forward to the work ahead.
WEA Dialogue Team
Rev. Dr. Kyle Wisdom, Director of Global Advocacy at the WEA, serves as lead facilitator for the WEA side of the dialogue. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Philosophy and brings academic and policy expertise to WEA’s engagement at the United Nations and with governments worldwide.
Rev. Dr. Samuel Richmond is Executive Director of Caleb Institute, India, and has been active in Jewish–Christian dialogue through the WEA for five years. He holds a Ph.D. in Theology from Sam Higginbottom University and completed post-doctoral studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. His research interests span theological education, interfaith studies, science and theology, and creation care.
Dr. Amiel Drimbe teaches New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of Bucharest. His research examines early Jewish–Christian relations, with a particular focus on the formative period when Christians and Jews shared common life, and on the gradual processes that created tension between the two communities.
Rev. Azar Ajaj is President of Nazareth Evangelical College and pastor of the Local Baptist Church in Nazareth, Israel. He holds a Master of Theology from the International Baptist Theological Seminary, where his research examined the Joseph narrative across the Qur’an, the Bible, and Muslim and Jewish tradition. He has been engaged in Christian-Jewish dialogue for more than ten years.
IJCIC Dialogue Team
Rabbi Mark Dratch is the current Chair of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC). He previously served as Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America (2012–2024), a pulpit rabbi, and is the founder of JSafe, an organization dedicated to preventing abuse in Jewish communities. He is an Adjunct Instructor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work of Yeshiva University.
Mr. David Michaels serves as Vice-Chair of IJCIC and is the B’nai B’rith International representative to the organization. He is Director of United Nations and Intercommunal Affairs at B’nai B’rith International, where he focuses on Jewish advocacy, interfaith relations, and combating antisemitism on the global stage. He regularly represents IJCIC in high-level interreligious consultations and dialogues.
Rabbi Dr. Eugene Korn is the Israel Jewish Council for Interreligious Relations (IJCIR) representative to IJCIC. A scholar specializing in Jewish ethics, Jewish law, and Jewish-Christian relations, he previously served as Academic Director of the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation in Israel. He has taught Jewish Studies and Philosophy at Seton Hall, Yeshiva, and Columbia Universities and is a longtime participant in international interfaith academic dialogues.
Rabbi Dr. David Fox Sandmel is Chair Emeritus of IJCIC. He currently serves as President of the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) and was Senior Advisor on Interreligious Affairs at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) from 2014–2022. A noted scholar and educator, he held the Crown-Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and remains a leading voice in global Jewish-Christian relations.
Rabbi Lea Mühlstein is Senior Rabbi at The Ark Synagogue (Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue) in London and serves as a prominent leader in Arzenu (the international federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists), where she previously held the position of International Chair. Born in Germany, she is deeply engaged in Progressive Judaism, Zionism, and social justice work on the global stage.
About the World Evangelical Alliance
The World Evangelical Alliance is a network of churches and ministries in 161 nations, representing over 650 million evangelical Christians worldwide. Through its advocacy, theological engagement, and humanitarian work, the WEA gives a global voice to evangelical Christianity at the United Nations and in dialogue with governments, civil society, and other faith communities.
About the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations
The International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC) is the recognized Jewish partner in dialogue with the Catholic Church, the World Evangelical Alliance, and other major Christian and interreligious bodies worldwide. Composed of representatives from leading Jewish religious, denominational, and civic organizations, IJCIC works to deepen knowledge of Judaism and the Jewish people, to learn about the traditions of its dialogue partners, and to build relationships of mutual respect and shared moral purpose.
Stay Connected