I walked into a Southern church as a Jewish stranger. I left with 2,000 allies

Published September 28, 2026 10:00am ET



From the outside, there was no mistaking where I was. I was walking into Cypress Baptist Church in Louisiana, led by Pastor John Fream.

The moment I stepped inside, something felt unexpectedly familiar. Israeli and American flags stood side by side on every table. The room carried the same unmistakable love for Israel that I had experienced inside Jewish institutions. For a moment, I felt as though I had been transported into a synagogue.

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