Interfaith mission trip planned to Israel

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Two local men will join Christian leaders from around the United States on an interfaith mission to Israel from Wednesday through Sept. 25.

They are the Rev. Lewis Macklin, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church and president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and Bruce Lev, a board member of Youngstown Area Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Relations Council and a national board member of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

The Israel Advocacy Initiative, a joint project of the United Jewish Communities and Jewish Council for Public Affairs, is hosting the mission. It will explore Israel’s religious and ethnic diversity and the challenges facing the Middle East country.

In Jerusalem, the group will meet with Israeli and Palestinian government officials. They also will tour sites important to Jewish and Christian history including the Mount of Olives and the National Holocaust Museum.