Christian and Jewish leaders will come together May 15 at the United Nations to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the creation of the modern state of Israel.

Participants in the Jerusalem Prayer Banquet will declare their continued support for the nation that was "born in a day" on May 14, 1948.

The evening will include addresses from Israeli Ambassador Asaf Shariv ; Pastor John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel ; and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Chief Rabbi of Efrat in Israel.

Organizers of the event call it a historic opportunity to gather leaders from both faiths in the Delegates’ Hall of the U.N. Sixty years ago, General Assembly Resolution 181 deeded the Jewish homeland to a tiny remnant of Jews that had escaped Hitler’s Nazi Germany.

"I do not know of any other point in history where Jews and Christians have joined together at the United Nations in this way, to lift their voices in prayer and declaration for Zion," said Robert Stearns, Executive Director of Eagles’ Wings Ministries and one of the co-sponsors of the event.

Christian leaders scheduled to participate include Stephen Strang, Dr. Frederick K.C. Price, Michael Little, Paula White, Lou Engle, Jay Sekulow, Barbara Yoder, Larry Kreider, Bishop Carlton Brown, Billy Wilson, Dr. David Ireland and many others.

"Evangelical Christians and Jewish people will stand together, declaring a God of love, not hatred, and calling for peace, not violence," said Rabbi Riskin, who recently launched the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation in Israel.

The location of the banquet is also noteworthy, say Christian and Jewish leaders, since recently Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly called for Israel’s destruction and has denied the truth of the Holocaust, spoke at the U.N.

Believers everywhere can learn more about the banquet and be a part of history in the making by visiting www.jerusalemprayerbanquet.com or calling 1-800-519-4647.

NOTE TO EDITORS : To arrange an interview with Robert Stearns, please contact Steve Yount of A. Larry Ross Communications at 972.267.1111 or steve@alarryross.com .

© Assist News Service