May 17, 2026, headquarters of B'nai B'rith Portugal. The International Observatory on Human Rights has paid tribute to the historic role Christians and Jews have played, both with its spiritual center in Jerusalem, in shaping modern civilization, and many of the principles that underpin our society today. The tribute comes on the same day that President Donald Trump has marked it as a pivotal and historic day for strengthening Judeo-Christian values in the United States. Marked by a massive “Rededicate 250” rally, the event forms a central part of the administration’s planning for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations and seeks to symbolically “rededicate” the nation by bringing faith and God back to the center of public life.

The tribute, formally presented to Bishop D. Manuel Linda of Porto and to the President of B'nai B'rith Portugal Gabriela Cantergi as a historical acknowledgement, highlights how concepts rooted in Jewish and Christian tradition and partnership have shaped modern civilization. The tribute also recognizes Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel and a spiritual center for Jews and Christians worldwide, as a symbol of the shared historical and cultural roots that continue to influence global civilization.

“Today we are paying tribute to Judeo-Christian Civilization, from which the modern vision of human dignity and justice has been derived,” said Luis Andrade, President of The International Human Rights Observatory. He further stressed that “Technological and economic progress alone cannot guarantee a stable or just society without a strong ethical foundation guiding it. Judeo-Christian Civilization reminds us that Jerusalem, Israel’s capital and the spiritual homeland of Jews and Christians worldwide, remains a shared cultural and religious foundation linking both the West and Eurasia.”

“Affirming that Judeo-Christian Civilization recognizes the deeply intertwined histories in many countries, like the United States and the Russian Federation, shaped by Christian heritage and the enduring contributions of influential Jewish figures such as Haym Salomon and Horace Günzburg. Both nations were influenced by Jewish entrepreneurship and the lasting cultural and moral impact of Christianity”.

The return of Judeo-Christian civilization

Gabriela Cantergi, President of B'nai B'rith Portugal, welcomed the tribute and said it reflected the importance of preserving the foundations of society. “Judeo-Christian Civilization has historically been very strong, but it faces great challenges in the present,” said Centergi. “Nevertheless, there are conditions for it to return to play a very important role in the future. We believe that, in the near future, there may be a universal primer of human duties (complementing rights, for better guidance of society), just as we believe that the word God may be mentioned in laws, as it appears in the Declaration of Independence of the United States and Israel. It is not a matter of imposing God by law, but of recognizing the transcendent dimension of the human being. Similarly, parental authority, for example, does not need to be imposed by law, and yet in all societies it is recognized."

Cantergi recalled that “Judeo-Christian Civilization was based, above all, on cooperation over centuries between Jews and Christians. For example, Portugal would never have been a great empire without its Jewish communities led by figures such as Yaish ben Yahia. Jews an Christians can and must work together again."

In turn, Bishop of Porto Dom Manuel Linda spoke about the need to return Europe to its traditional foundations. “In 1981, Pope John Paul II spoke for the first time about the “Judeo-Christian roots” of Europe because it was already losing its soul and squandering its cultural heritage, what it had produced, and the values that constitute it as a beacon of civilization,” Bishop Linda said. “Europe today is an unfinished project based on a Rousseauian social contract, almost always of an economic nature, which idolizes money and forgets the person, in blatant contradiction with the Judeo-Christian perspective. Our culture is called humanism. Without a historical perspective, one doesn't even know what there is to reject as anti-human.”

José Ribeiro e Castro, President of the Historical Society of the Independence of Portugal and former Member of the European Parliament spoke about the competing force of “wokeism” during his remarks. “Faced with the ‘wokeism’ storm that disturbs minds, sowing systematic doubt, disbelief, falsehood and mental deception, let us have no doubt whatsoever: the values and principles of the Judeo-Christian tradition are the best that the human spirit has ever discovered and, with them, we will once again have very strong, fruitful, active, just, cohesive and creative societies,” Castro said.

The State of Israel defends Judeo-Christian Civilization

In Jan 2026, the State of Israel, particularly under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has actively declared itself a defender of "Judeo-Christian civilization" and the protector of Christian communities worldwide. These recent diplomatic declarations tie into Israel's geopolitical goals and history.

Netanyahu has positioned Israel as the "one country that protects the Christian community" and has called for a united international effort to safeguard beleaguered Christians in the Middle East and beyond, such as in Syria, Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey and so on. Jews and Christians share the same foundational values underpinning civilization. Both faiths hold Jerusalem and the greater Holy Land as their spiritual bedrock, leading to deep alliances with Christian Zionist organizations worldwide.

In Israel, there have been cases of radicalized Jews attacking peaceful Christians, and the response from the government and the courts has been extremely severe. The term "Judeo-Christian" is utilized by Israeli politicians to forge alliances and secure support from Christian populations. This civilizational stance has led to the creation of collaborative networks, such as the Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress, aimed at protecting these shared values.