Root and Branch hosting "Unity Conference" Shabbat in Atlanta
Christians and Jews, Israelis and Iranians to gather
Jonathan Feldstein and Marziyeh Amirizadeh
Root & Branch, a partnership of Jonathan Feldstein’s Israel-based Genesis 123 Foundation, and Marziyeh Amirizadeh’s NewPersia.org, will host a Shabbat experience in Atlanta on Sept. 5 and 6.
“Building Bridges and Planting Roots in Israel and Among the Jewish People with Unconditional Love” will bring Christians and Jews together to learn from each other, and to learn about the people of Iran as distinct from the Iranian regime.
The recently-established Root & Branch is a hands-on way for Christoans to make a personal connection to Israel and the Israeli people. The groups bring comfort to the people of Israel, and tangible benefits through helping with olive harvesting, especially in communities near the Gaza border.
Amirizadeh is an Iranian American who immigrated to the United States after being sentenced to death by hanging in Iran for the 'crime' of converting to Christianity. She is a published author, public speaker and columnist. Her first book, “Captive in Iran,” recounts her capture and imprisonment. Her second book, “A Love Journey with God,” shares how Marzi found God, the struggles she experienced as a Christian woman in an Islamic country, and how God can turn any situation into triumph.
Feldstein immigrated to Israel from the U.S. in 2004 and works to bring Jews and Christians together. He is host of the “Inspiration from Zion” podcast, and has written extensively for a variety of media outlets, including Israel InSIght. In 2023 he published the highly acclaimed book, “Israel the Miracle,” including essays by 75 Christian leaders from all over the world writing about why Israel is significant to them.
The conference will hold three main events in Midtown Atlanta. Overnight accommodations are available for those from out of town, or for those who are Shabbat observant.
The main event on the evening of Sept. 5 will be a traditional Shabbat service and dinner. Feldstein will lead the Shabbat service, explaining the traditions and rituals. Amirizadeh will be the keynote speaker, discussing her story of persecution in Iran, how she found a love for the Jewish people and fulfilled a dream by visiting Israel in 2023. She will talk about her vision to restore relations between Persians and Jews, modeled on King Cyrus who enabled the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, and between Israel and Iran which had thriving relations before the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Her vision of bringing Christians to Israel to harvest olives as a gesture of love sparked the formation of Root & Branch, which arranges such volunteer trips to Israel.
Feldstein said there are many reasons to attend the Root & Branch event in Atlanta, but the best reason is to be able to meet Amirizadeh.
On Sept. 6, there will be two panels, in the morning and afternoon. Feldstein will lead “A Personal Update from Israel,” an interactive presentation with first-hand insights and special guests talking about life in Israel and the challenges since October 7.
Among the speakers will be Robyn Lubin, whose daughter, Rose Lubin, joined the IDF after graduating from high school in Atlanta. On Oct. 7, she was off duty from her role as border police in Jerusalem, but when the Hamas attack happened she helped prevent the terrorists from invading Kibbutz Sa’ad near Gaza. On Nov. 6, 2023, she was killed by a terrorist while on duty near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem.
The Lubins have been in the news recently for a video clip of neighbors who posted Palestine signs in their yard and screamed at the Lubins, repeatedly calling them an anti-Jewish slur and saying their daughter deserved to die, and her death was their fault.
The second panel, “Atlanta Voices for Israel,” will include local Christian leaders discussing the significance of Israel theologically, historically and politically, and how that shapes their identity and their respective roles.
Registration for the weekend is $99. For individual events, the Friday night gala is $60, and each panel is $36. Sponsorships range from $250 to $3600.