Ignoring official warnings against traveling to Israel and flight cancellations due to rockets from Yemen, a delegation of Noahides from German-speaking countries toured Israel’s north this week in a show of solidarity with the Jewish state.

The delegation visited Haifa’s Mishkan Shalom Synagogue, which is the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement’s outreach program for Noahides—non-Jews seeking to follow the Noahide Laws, seven biblical commandments considered in rabbinic tradition to be binding on all people.

Hubert Rogon, 65, from the town of Gehren in southeast Germany, recalled coming under rocket fire from Yemen last week. “There was a boom, but I experienced no angst,” he told JNS. “It’s the reality of life here, and it’s important we also experience it.”

The visitors came despite a travel warning in Germany and several other countries against visiting Israel, deeming it more important to show their support for Jewish people and the State of Israel, said Rogon. This required special insurance arrangements in some cases.

He grew up in a Catholic family, but over the past decade has moved away from Christianity and in the direction of Judaism, though he is neither Jewish nor seeking to undergo a conversion. He heads a nonprofit called The Heir of Jacob, which according to its website “is committed to the goal of achieving peace in Zion and peace with the Jewish people, as well as promoting interfaith exchange.”

Although the focus of the visit to Haifa by the visiting Noahides was a synagogue, they did not pray there because they are not Jewish, Patrick Geisler, a leader of Noahides, told JNS. The delegation was one of several since war broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Dozens of Noahides have visited the synagogue since then.

Last week’s delegation spoke with the synagogue’s rabbi, Bentsion Gagula, the Chabad-Lubavitch world movement’s emissary to Noahides, about “practical ways in which we could help Jews at this time,” including combating antisemitism and libel against Israel in German-language media.

In 2023, Geisler opened in the Golan Heights a nonprofit called the Embassy of the Nation of Ephraim, which is a hub for Noahide outreach work.

Based in Katzrin, the institution hosted the visitors, who toured northern communities’ renewal following the November ceasefire with Hezbollah.

“It is not only heartwarming but also very significant that despite attempts to demonize Israel and widespread fears about coming here, a group of true friends and allies made the trip to stand up for light and decency,” Gagula told JNS.

Noah’s seven laws command followers to establish just courts and to avoid committing murder, adultery, theft, idol worship, blasphemy, or cruelty, including to animals.

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