A group of Nashville rabbis and evangelical Christian pastors have somewhat different motivations for their budding alliance, which this week has taken them on an unusual joint tour of Christian and Jewish holy sites in Israel.

Though we have huge differences in theology and how we perceive one another, the one thing we agree on — albeit for very different reasons — is this love for the state of Israel."

The local alliance of a dozen clergy — half of them rabbis, half evangelical Christian pastors — mirrors growing support on the part of evangelical Christians for Israel and Jewish acceptance of their new allies. Such alliances have been solidifying for the past decade but have seen renewed growth since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. ...