Actress Patricia Heaton Takes a Stand against Antisemitism and Hamas Terror
Actress Patricia Heaton, best known for starring in the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," says she is on a mission to defend Israel in opposition to Hamas. In an interview with CBN News, Heaton said she was prompted to take action after "seeing horrendous videos of terrorists butchering Israeli civilians, children, babies, the elderly — families being burned alive, people being beheaded" when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
While she was "shocked" by what she saw, Heaton was surprised by the "silence" as well as the support for Hamas despite assuming the "rest of the world would be outraged."
"Campuses exploded in pro-terrorist rallies with printed signs, and flags, and keffiyehs, all at the ready — immediately afterward," Heaton said. "And I thought, 'Why is this any different from the Holocaust? Why is this different from Paris when the editors of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper were slaughtered?'"
"I just thought, 'Something has to be done here,'" Heaton, who was raised Catholic, told CBN News, explaining how she and her friend, Elizabeth Dorros, co-founded the October 7 Coalition, a "network of Christians standing visibly and vocally against the rise of antisemitism" in America.
She noted, "There's been a lot of propaganda being seeded through universities, through institutions, by people whose salary is paid by Iran, by Hamas, by Hezbollah, by Qatar, to brainwash and propagandize people into thinking that Israel is an occupier of Gaza, even though they left there in 2005."
In addition to her advocacy for Israel, Heaton will be a featured speaker at "Deborah Rising" conference, which will be held in Israel May 17-24.
"Deborah was the only female judge in the Old Testament, and it was her wisdom that helped save Israel from its enemies," Heaton explained. "And, so, we feel like we want to bring women together — Jewish and Christian — to exchange our own experiences about our faith, how our faiths combine and cross over, and what we can receive from each other."
The conference and tour will include different Bible interpretations and perspectives and stand united for Israel against antisemitism.
"Sometimes, it's scary to think you're standing up against this overwhelming wave of hostility and aggression, but actually, we are in the majority," Heaton said. "Most people want to live in peace. Most people do not want to kill Jews or kill Christians, and we just have to stand up and say it."
She told CBN News that her faith has grown since her advocacy for Israel began.
"My faith has been deeply enriched because Judaism is our root," she said. "That's where Jesus was planted, and He was Jewish. And so, to be among the Jewish people, to get their viewpoint, to get their history."
She also recalled her recent trip to Israel, which was also her first visit to the country, and how it changed her life, especially in light of the history and significance of Christianity in the region.
"This is an important time for Christians to really step into that river and become a part of the people of God in a very active way," she said.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Jason Kempin / Staff
Originally published February 07, 2025.
