In Touch Quarter 4 - 2011

Christian Friends of Israel
IN TOUCH No.169 4th Quarter 2011
“Judge
nothing
before the
appointed
time...”
1 Corinthians 4:5
In this
issue:
Interview with David
Dolan p.5
~l’A[ Olam
(PART 2)
John Smith’s Hebrew
Word Study p.8
A Call To Prayer p.12

REFUTED BY
HISTORY & FACT
In Touch
is the newsletter of
Christian Friends of Israel
UK
CFI-UK seeks to bless Israel by
means of practical and moral
support, and to serve the Church in
teaching about God’s purposes for
Israel and the Hebraic roots
of our faith.
CFI also produces a monthly News
Report, a monthly Prayer Letter and
a Middle East Update CD/MP3.
Please send for full details of the
practical projects and also of the
many teaching resources available.
As an educational charity,
we carry a variety of
resources relevant to our
purpose. We do not
necessarily endorse every
view expressed by our
guest writers or authors
of these resources.
Published by:
CFI Communications
PO Box 2687
Eastbourne
BN22 7LZ
Tel: 01323 410810
Fax: 01323 410211
Email: info@cfi.org.uk
Websites: www.cfi.org.uk
www.isrelate.com
www.keshercourse.org.uk
Registered Charity
No. 1101899
Front Cover Image:
Judgement seat at the gate of Dan
© BiblePlaces.com
CFI Annual Conference
images pages 4 and 5:
© P. Pawley
CFI-UK’s Chief Executive Jacob Vince teaches
on the importance of seeing the big picture
In June 2010
an article, in
the immediate
aftermath of the
‘Flotilla’ episode,
appeared in the
Irish Times written
by Zion Evorony,
A m b a s s a d o r
of Israel to
Ireland. In it he suggested that “future
historians will puzzle over the western
media’s portrayal of the flotilla activists
as humanitarians, ignoring evidence
of motive. An impartial historian
analysing, 20 years hence, the events …
will be perplexed by several aspects of
the media’s coverage of the episode.”
(Irish Times Jun, 2010).
Well, it has not needed 20 years to elapse
before analysis. The Palmer Report
(Report of the Secretary-General’s Panel
of Inquiry on the 31 May 2010 Flotilla
Incident July
2011) which
expressed the
conclusions
of the UN
commission
chaired by the former New Zealand
PM Geoffrey Palmer is now public.
The report states that, “Israel faces a
real threat to its security from militant
groups in Gaza. The naval blockade
was imposed as a legitimate security
measure … and its implementation
complied with the requirements of
international law …” Yes, there are
aspects upon which Israel is criticised,
but these criticisms could only be made
with hindsight and I am sure Israel
will learn from an event in which a
regrettable loss of life occurred.
Now you may wonder why, when
there are such immediate pressing
issues once more being confronted by
Israel and the Middle East, I should
focus upon this historical, if recent,
event. Well the reason is that we must
always be careful, as apostle Paul writes
in (1 Corinthians 4:5), not to judge
anything before its time or in other
words arrive at premature conclusions.
This is a lesson we must learn, but even
more so those who report and interpret
events in the media. They, with their
position of influence and privilege,
carry a much greater responsibility
and, as a consequence, much more is
expected from them.
Moses, when instructing upon how to
determine whether a message that has
been spoken is of the Lord, suggests
the hearer wait to see whether what
has been spoken of takes place. The
instruction goes on to suggest that as
events unfold, if something has been
spoke of incorrectly then the speaker
should be ignored. (Deuteronomy
18:17-22)
Likewise we must not let the
immediate, and at times frenetic,
happenings distract from seeing the
broader overview events as they unfold.
Neither should those who commentate
on such events
“We must be careful not to
jump to conclusions in our own
strength.”
get away
with claiming
presumptions
and perceptions
as fact, in the
expectation that by the time they are
fully known they will be lost in the
avalanche of the next pressing issue.
So, as we consider the more immediate
prevailing events of our day, we
too must be careful not to jump to
conclusions in our own strength. We
are to bring matters before the Lord in
prayer and at times intensive prayer.
Remarkably, He persists in graciously
choosing his Church and Israel in
different ways to accomplish His
outcome. This is not without cost and
doesn’t happen immediately or when
we might like. But God has a strategy
and will work it out.
Our prayer is that we all may be
working with Him in this, but should
He wish to work in spite of us then
may it be His will that is done. For it
is God who works in you to will and
to act according to his good purpose.
(Philippians 2:13)
2 // IN TOUCH

CONFERENCE
Crawley, West Sussex
November 12th 2011
Tickets: £20 in advance
Dial: 0800 032 2088
for more information
CFI.ORG.UK // 3

CFI-UK ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
This year’s conference, at Victoria Baptist Church in Eastbourne, featured the UK premiere of Hatikvah Film Trust’s
new documentary: ‘Blessing, Curse or Coincidence - Vol. 1 - Israel: The Womb of the Kingdom of God on Earth’.
This is now available on DVD (including a study guide for small-group use) from CFI-UK. There were three update
and teaching sessions on the current situation in Israel from David Dolan, and his new novel: “Millennium - The
LORD Reigns” went on sale there for the first time anywhere in the world. Our Chief Executive, Jacob Vince, also gave
a review of the work of CFI-UK over the past 12 months. Thank you to all who attended. If you were not able to be
present, all the three main teaching sessions were recorded and can be ordered on audio CD using the enclosed order
form, or from our Eastbourne office and/or the CFI-UK webshop (including MP3 audio file downloads).
David Soakell and the worship band lead singing
Victoria Baptist Church
Stephen Briggs (centre) - Hatikvah Film
Trust in the CFI-UK resources area
Bob Hobbs
Chairman of the CFI-UK Board of Trustees
4 // IN TOUCH

INTERVIEW WITH
DAVID DOLAN
David Dolan is a Christian Journalist who has been reporting on Israel for over 30 years.
Sam Hailes spoke to him to find out more about his career and the situation in the Land.
SH: What’s it like to be a journalist in
Israel?
DD: I would say it’s the most exciting
place on earth to work as a journalist.
We actually have the third largest
permanent press corps in any one
country. There’s always something new
happening. On the other hand it’s a
difficult assignment because so much of
the news is about struggle and violence
and war. It can get a little depressing at
times but it’s also exhilarating so I wouldn’t exchange it for
anywhere else.
SH: What’s it like to be a Christian in Israel as opposed to in
the Palestinian territories?
DD: The legal systems are quite different. Israel is a western
style democracy and for the most part the benefits and freedoms
we have in the West are there. Having said that, Christians are
a small minority and some of the Orthodox groups are not so
happy to have Christians there. As a whole the laws are fair and
people are able to exercise their faith quite freely. Officially in
the West Bank that’s the case as well but the Islamic influence
there is much stronger. Hamas has persecuted various pastors
there too. It’s not frankly easy on either side. On the Arab side
one can be killed for one’s faith.
SH: You have lived in Jerusalem for over 30 years, is it a
dangerous place to be?
DD: I find Jerusalem to be a very easy place to live in terms of
personal threats. I tell people who are concerned about coming
to Israel that I have been physically attacked three times – all
of them in the States. I actually have a scar on my head from
where I was mugged last Easter weekend in South Florida.
Having said that you do have to be careful and when there
are periods of uprising or intense violence, certainly riding the
buses at times can be risky and challenging. But overall it’s a
fairly safe place. The crime rate is certainly much lower than
most American cities.
Towards the late 90s I had been doing it over a decade I
approached CFI and said: “Don’t you think this is now maybe
becoming passé, because there’s so much now on the Internet?”
So they surveyed people and they found that yes they do
appreciate it because there’s so much. My report is an overview
of what’s gone on with a focus on the highlights. Having the
years as a journalist there, I’m able to sort through things. It still
seems to be blessing many people, as they use it for prayer and
information, and I’ve been doing that for 25 years now.
SH: People talk a lot about ‘God’s purposes for Israel’. What
does that phrase mean to you?
DD: The Hebrew Bible makes clear that Israel would be God’s
witness on earth. Witness to His existence, the reality of that.
Witness to the fact that He is God, He would demonstrate
His power through them, in miraculous ways. And witness
to futuristic prophecies coming true as well. And of course
Israel is the vehicle in which the Messiah comes to earth. Now
obviously there’s a dispute as to whether He’s coming back or
coming the first time between Jews and Christians. But those
who take their faith seriously in both camps realise this is
spoken of in Scripture. So Israel is a witness above all and it’s
a great place to live because to my mind it is a living Bible to
be there.
SH: Is there anything else you want to say to CFI supporters?
DD: The Scriptures request prayer for the peace of Jerusalem
and I tell people that that’s ultimately, probably not this or that
peace plan, but that the peace of God would come into their
lives and that’s the only wholeness there is. That’s something I
would encourage everyone to do.
SH: What has been your involvement in CFI?
DD: I was one of the first people to be involved in CFI. I was
there at its founding in Jerusalem in early 1986. Several months
later I was asked by the directors if I would write a monthly
news report summarizing what had happened over the month.
CFI.ORG.UK // 5

NETANYAHU, ABBAS AND
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
As Israel enters turblulent times, Chuck Missler considers the significance of Yom Kippur
This year, Jews in Israel celebrate
the High Holy days of Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur during
a time of uncertainty. On September
23 rd , Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas asked the United
Nations to recognise a Palestinian State
without having made even the most
basic of concessions toward peace with
Israel – like recognising Israel’s right to
exist or denouncing terrorism. Yasser
Arafat may be gone, and Mahmoud Abbas may want to
settle things peaceably, but the true heart of the Palestinian
Authority has not changed over the decades. At the bottom of
their hearts, the Arab world considers Israel an infected sliver
that wants a good pinch.
“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s speech leaves
little hope for the future,” said Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin
(Likud) on Monday while meeting with Japanese Ambassador
to Israel Haruhisa Takeuchi. Rivlin said, “(Abbas) cries over
the loss of his home in Safed in ‘48, and not the establishment
of the settlements in ‘67. Abbas’s speech illustrates in the best
way why today, 63 years later, there isn’t peace between the
sides.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed Abbas
with his own speech, describing the dangers Israel faced to its
security and calling for a return to negotiations. The United
States has promised to veto the Palestinian statehood bid,
but the whole charade demonstrates how futile attempts at
negotiating have become. Everybody senses it. There are
certain items on which neither Israel nor the Arabs are willing
to budge.
East Jerusalem appears to be one of those items. Since 1967,
the Jews have had control over all of Jerusalem, including the
Old City with the Western Wall and Temple Mount. Although
the Islamic Waqf controls the actual Temple Mount, the site
remains Judaism’s holiest as the location of the ancient Temple
that once housed the Ark of the Covenant. No Hebrew prayer
is permitted on the Temple Mount, but many Jews don’t mind;
they do not want to accidentally tread across the spot that
once held the Temple’s Holy of Holies. The Palestinians may
want East Jerusalem back as part of a peace agreement, but
nobody should ask the Jews to give up the part of Jerusalem
that holds the Western Wall or the ancient site of the Temple.
For Netanyahu, it’s not a remote option.
Yom Kippur is the most holy day of the Jewish year. The
Day of Atonement is observed on the 10 th of Tishri, which
this year starts at sunset on Friday, October 7 th and ends at
sunset on October 8 th . All day on the 10 th of Tishri, Jews will
take off work and fast for this holy and most solemn day of
repentance and reconciliation.
When the Temple still stood, it was on this day - the only
day - that the High Priest was able to enter the Holy of
Holies, and then only after elaborate ceremonial washings,
offerings, and associated rituals. This was also the day that
two goats were selected. One goat was killed as an offering to
atone for sins, and one, the “scapegoat,” had the nation’s sins
ceremonially placed on it and was sent into the wilderness
in order to remove those sins far away from the people. The
ceremonial acts that were to be carried out by the High Priest
on Yom Kippur are described in Leviticus 16 (see also Exodus
30:10; Leviticus 23:27-31, 25:9; Numbers 29:7-11).
Yom Kippur traditionally ends with one long note of
the Shofar, a musical instrument made from a ram’s horn.
The significance of the ram’s horn is traditionally rooted in
Genesis 22. Here God commands Abraham “Take now thy
son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into
the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering
upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of,” (Genesis
22:2). Abraham is called upon by God to sacrifice his only
son, Isaac, as a test of his faith. After God halts the sacrifice at
the last minute, Abraham spies a ram trapped by his horns in
a nearby thicket and offers the animal instead of his son.
It is interesting to note that this is the first instance in
which the word “love” appears in Scripture. God commands
Abraham to sacrifice “thine only son Isaac, whom thou
lovest.” In this passage Isaac is identified as Abraham’s
only son, without mention of Ishmael. Isaac was the son of
promise, and Abraham was acting out prophecy.
When Isaac asked his father where was the lamb to sacrifice
for the burnt offering, Abraham said, “My son, God will
provide himself a lamb…” That day, God provided a ram to
take the place of Isaac, but He ultimately had another Lamb
to take the place of Isaac and Abraham and the rest of us as
well. It is suspected that the particular mountain Abraham
took Isaac in the land of Moriah is the same mount on the
eastern edge of what is now Jerusalem where Solomon built
the Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1), and the uppermost part of that
mountain is believed to be the very spot where the “only
Son” of God was later crucified.
Woven throughout the Old Testament feasts is the
foreshadowing of God’s plan for the redemption of mankind.
Those of us who have placed our trust in Jesus Christ are
able to enter behind the veil and stand in the Holy of Holies.
We have forgiveness because of the sacrificial death of Jesus
Christ on the cross. He is our scapegoat. Our sins are placed
on him and sent far far away. His blood was sprinkled for our
atonement, and because of him we are cleansed and made
holy before God.
May Israel continue to trust in the LORD as did Abraham,
and may the Messiah soon come and reign in torn and weary
Jerusalem. The heathen may rage and plot, but God is in
charge. He says, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of
Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me,
Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” (Psalm 2:6-7)
Taken from khouse.org used with permission
6 // IN TOUCH

A SCARLET THREAD OF
REDEMPTION
The late Dr Dwight Pryor explains the meta-narrative of scripture: “The kingdom of
the world has become the kingdom of our LORD and of His Messiah...” (Revelation 11:15)
Is it true, as is widely held in Christian
circles, that the thematic unity of
the Bible is to be found in its story
of redemption? From the time of the
Church Fathers to today’s televangelists a
“Scarlet Thread of Redemption” has been
touted as the main storyline of Biblical
revelation, weaving itself through the
tapestry of Scripture in diverse images
and incidents.
It proceeds from the blood shed to
cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve in the Garden, to the
blood applied to the doorposts of Israelite homes in Egypt,
to Rahab’s scarlet thread in Jericho signalling Joshua’s men,
to the blood shed at Temple sacrifices for the sins of Israel.
All these, it is said, are precursors to the real story of the
Bible, namely, Jesus and His blood shed at Calvary for the
redemption not alone of Israel but of the whole world.
The Golden Thread
As marvellous and indisputably central to God’s purposes
in the earth as is the story of redemption, I would suggest
nonetheless that another
theme surpasses the “Scarlet
Thread of Redemption”
as the overarching metanarrative
and unifying
motif of the Biblical story.
We might call it the “Golden
Thread of the Kingdom.”
God’s reign in and over the earth pervades the Biblical
account from Genesis to Revelation. In the Garden the
Almighty shared His dominion with Adam and Eve,
commissioning them as agents of His rule over the earth and
all its creatures great and small.
In rebellion, however, they forsook covenant with their
Creator and chose instead to serve another god, namely
Self; they chose autonomy and independence—the power to
declare for themselves what is good and what is evil—rather
than humble service to the gracious King of the Universe.
When the Last Adam appeared, He not only redeemed
those enslaved to sin by the First Adam, He also restored
His Father’s kingdom to its rightful place in human affairs.
In His preaching, teaching, parables and deeds the Messiah
continually and insistently emphasised the in-breaking
reality of the Kingdom of God. And when His Messianic task
will be fully accomplished at the Last Day and death is no
more, then the Son will hand the Kingdom back to the Father,
that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:24, 28).
“In his preaching, teaching, parables
and deeds the Messiah continually and
insistently emphasised the in-breaking
reality of the Kingdom of God”
The LORD Reigns!
The consummation of the Creation will occur when every
rule, authority and power is subject to God. Then the seventh
angel shall sound the great shofar and the heavens shall
rejoice because: “The kingdom of the world has become the
kingdom of our LORD and of His Messiah, and He shall
reign forever and ever. And the twenty-four elders who sit on
their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshipped
God…” (Revelation 11:15-16).
Let us never forget that the consummation of the Kingdom
of God will occur in Zion, not in heaven. Yes, there will be a
“new heaven and earth,” but a renewed Jerusalem will still be
at its centre and the Jewish nation still central to the purposes
of the Creator. In that great day, the first proclamation of
God’s Kingship by Israel at the Sea —“The LORD reigns
forever and ever!” (Exodus 15:18)—will find its final fruition
when the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob becomes King
over all the earth: “The LORD shall be one and His Name
one!” (Zechariah 14:9).
So while the “Scarlet Thread of Redemption” is at the core
of God’s story, it’s not its circumference. The “Golden Thread
of the Kingdom” precedes, succeeds, and indeed surrounds
it. Redemption is an integral
for Jesus of Nazareth,
why He prioritised it
and personalized it
throughout His life and
ministry, and why it
is so important—nay,
urgent—for the Body of
Messiah to lay hold of His
teachings on this subject.
We truly will become
agents of redemption
and restoration in our
world when we are
seized by the power of
the Kingdom. Then we
will live our lives in the
name of the Son and to
the praise of the Father’s
glory.
and essential sub-narrative to
the even grander story of God’s
reign in and over the earth.
Only with such an overview
can we begin to glimpse the
gravitas of the Kingdom message
This article is an extract from “A Continuing Quest” Available from CFI-UK for £11.50 incl UK p&p see p.11
CFI.ORG.UK // 7

8 // IN TOUCH
~l'A[ Olam
(PART 2)
Hebrew Word Study with John C. P. Smith
In PART 1 (In Touch no.168) we
looked at the meaning of the
Hebrew word ~l'A[ olam, particularly
in the light of popular American
teacher Rob Bell’s recent highprofile
book, “Love Wins”, in which
the author challenges the orthodox
understanding of the word olam
in support of his finite hell thesis.
He writes: “...’forever’ is not really a
category the biblical writers used... So
when we read ‘eternal punishment’...
Jesus isn’t talking about forever” (p.92).
But Rob Bell’s interpretation of olam is untenable on several
grounds, including its lexical definition and its extensive
usage to mean ‘forever’ in mainstream translations. Yet
more importantly, olam is a description of the unbounded,
limitless, Eternal God, ~l'A[ lae El Olam!
What about the root meaning of olam? Hebrew root
meanings are sometimes difficult to identify or define
with certainty. But according to the Etymological Dictionary
of Biblical Hebrew, the root ~l[ ‘lm, from which ~l'A[ olam is
derived, means “hide”. In relation to time this means “the
unknown future” or “forever” (p.186).
Similarly, the New International Dictionary of Old Testament
Theology & Exegesis defines the verbal root ~l[ ‘lm as “hidden
things, secrets” (Vol 3, p.425), and “the basic meaning of the
noun [~l'A[ olam] is farthest time, distant time”; adding that it
is “widely attested” in other Ancient Near Eastern languages
(p.346). Whilst it can sometimes refer to limited (though
usually long) periods of time, “in many more cases, the noun
is used with longer time periods in view—indeed, it often
implies unceasingness or perpetuity” (p.348).
The Greek word aivw,n aion often parallels ~l'A[ olam in the
Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, and
occurs 122 times in the Greek New Testament. (The Latin
word aeon, also spelt eon, is a transliteration of the Greek
word aion, and means ‘age; for ever, for eternity’.) Like olam,
aion has several usages, but a central part of its meaning is
“prolonged and unlimited time... eternity, age to come...
forever, eternally... forever and ever, forevermore” (Friberg’s
Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament). Despite this,
Rob Bell asserts that “aion... doesn’t mean ‘forever’ as we
think of forever” (p.31).
But if Rob Bell believes that the Bible teaches a finite hell,
then he must also logically accept a finite heaven, since
the same word is used to describe the resurrected life of
the ‘righteous’. For example, Yeshua says, “Then they [the
cursed] will go away to eternal/everlasting punishment, but
the righteous to eternal/everlasting life” (Matthew 25:46),
the Greek word here translated twice as “eternal/everlasting”
being the adjectival form of aion in both instances.
The fact is, contrary to Rob Bell’s thesis, there is nothing in
Scripture to suggest either a finite hell or a finite heaven. On
the contrary, death itself will be destroyed, logically implying
an eternal existence: “When the perishable has been clothed
with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality,
then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has
been swallowed up in victory.’” (I Corinthians 15:54)
Beyond death is either eternal life or “the second death”,
which is the “lake of fire” and “of burning sulphur” (see
Revelation 20:10, 14; 21:8).
The Bible couldn’t be more clear on this subject. God does
not want any to perish (2 Peter 3:9), yet He also says, “My
Spirit will not contend with man for ever [olam]” (Genesis
6:3).
This contradicts the “second chance” idea mooted by Rob
Bell “for all kinds of people” after death, including some
“atheists” and “people from other religions” (p.106). He asks,
apparently rhetorically, “Could God say to someone truly
humbled, broken, and desperate for reconciliation, ‘Sorry, too
late... Door’s locked’?” (p.108). Yet Yeshua did teach exactly
this (e.g. Matthew 25:1-13).
In His parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Yeshua makes
it plain that there is no means of comfort for those in agony
in Hades (hell). Indeed, He speaks of “a great chasm fixed” in
order that none may cross from heaven to hell or vice versa
(Luke 16:26).
With the terrible realisation of this unending, unalterable
state of pain and anguish there will be “weeping and gnashing
of teeth” (Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; and
Luke 13:28).
No wonder Yeshua urged His listeners: “Enter through the
narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that
“God may be extraordinarily loving and merciful, but He is also utterly just,
and does not change or contradict Himself.”
leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is
the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a
few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Hebrews states emphatically, “It is appointed for men
to die once, but after this the judgment” (9:27), and Yeshua
declared “whoever believes in the Son has eternal [adjectival
aion] life; whoever disbelieves/disobeys the Son will not see
life, but God’s wrath abides over him” (John 3:36). God may
be extraordinarily loving and merciful, but He is also utterly
just, and does not change or contradict Himself. We would
all do well to “consider therefore the kindness and severity of
God” (Romans 11:22).
Tragically, readers of the book Love Wins who are not well
versed in the Scriptures and who have little or no knowledge
of Hebrew or Greek—including both Believers and non-
Believers—will most likely take its hugely popular and
influential author at his word, believing that neither olam
nor aion mean ‘forever’. They may very well be deluded into
thinking everything’s going to work out OK, for everyone.
Yet, even in this short study we have seen clear evidence to
the contrary from a number of sources. Hebrew is important
for the Believer, whether Bible-teacher or layman. In the case
of Rob Bell’s thesis, we might even go as far as to say that
it’s a matter of life and death—helping us to understand the
full gravity of choosing between eternal life and “the second
death.”
“Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good; His love endures to olam (eternity)!” (1 Chronicles 16:34)

UNDER FIRE IN SDEROT
CFI-UK’s David Soakell writes about his recent visit to Israel
The future months ahead in Israel are very uncertain.
However following the ‘Arab Spring’ - otherwise
known as the ‘Islamic awakening’, one thing is for
certain - the battle ahead could well take its toll. As the UN
Security Council planned to meet regarding the establishment
of an Islamic Palestinian State in the ‘West Bank’, I flew out to
Israel to see first-hand how the people of the Land felt about
their future.
I interviewed many people – some with connections to
Arutz Sheva - others ‘the ordinary man on the street’. I had
the opportunity to interview an “old school” kibbutznik, Lt.-
Col. (res) Tzvika Levy, who works with the Israel Defence
Force (IDF) Lone Soldiers. I was invited to an IDF Golani
parade at the Jerusalem
Western Wall; interviewed
residents living close
to Ramallah in Samaria
and in Sderot, and spoke
at length with someone
who has his finger on the
pulse of the Middle East
daily, whose CFI UK tour
I’d organised for 2011 ~
Jerusalem-based author
and journalist David
Dolan.
I also managed to write
my weekly News Report
as I visited Sderot on
the Gaza border. I was
there when Israel pulled
out of Gaza in 2005 and
returned again in 2008,
but three years later, the
Arab terrorists still attack
the Jewish communities
– so how do the people
of Sderot cope? When I
last visited Sderot I was
struck by the concrete
bomb shelters around
every bus stop and the air
of impending doom that
hung over the city like a
cloud. I was amazed to discover that this was once a beautiful
town before Hamas took control of Gaza. Three years later in
2011, I was back wondering what changes I would see. Sadly,
the progress was only a new school that was built less than a
year ago with a ‘bomb resistant’ roof… if that’s progress, it is
not too encouraging.
Since 2005 over 11,000 Kassam rockets have been fired at
Sderot, with over 1,400 hitting the town. As we travelled
towards the area, we tried to eliminate all noise distractions -
windows in the car should remain open so that any warnings
about imminent attack sirens (“tzeva adom” - red alert) could
be heard, for when that happens, one only has 15 seconds to
run for cover! This appears to be the only place in the world
in which rockets are regularly targeted on civilians yet the
world’s media regard this as a minor event. Many people
have been killed, for others, the pain does not go away -
families have to cope with the aftermath: on-going medical
and psychological problems, loss of body parts, ended careers,
financial ruin, and coping with grief/fears/nightmares. Here,
I met with families having to cope with anything but normal
life. One can view the damage of just what these Kassam
rockets can do, and each family has a harrowing story. As
each visit came to an end, I for one, felt at a complete loss as
to how we can really make any difference to these families,
though of course we can offer some assistance and support.
Here at CFI, we can help… but we need you to help
us, to help them!
‘Communities Under
Attack’ is a project set
up to provide support
to these very families
that are under attack
from Israel’s enemies.
Through this project
financial assistance is
provided to those who
suffer, and of course,
as we did during our
time there, the CFI
Jerusalem staff travel
to these affected areas
to personally visit
families and bring
much-needed comfort
and blessings.
Ultimately, the blame
for the rocket attacks
lies with the terrorists
in Gaza and until
something is done to
curb these attacks,
people in Sderot will
continue to suffer from
the trauma of living
under constant threat.
Solutions have thus far
been fruitless, but that
has not stopped some Sderot residents from attempting to
find a sense of normality in a decidedly unnatural setting.
Someone once said, “When you pinch the cheek of an Israeli
child and you pinch the cheek of an Arab Palestinian child, it’s
the same thing. It’s the same blood”. The question many ask
however is, why does Israel keep giving the Palestinians land
for peace gestures, when the Palestinians don’t offer anything
in return? It all seems so unfair. Please do stand with us and
pray for these families, for the Lord’s hand to be with them
every day - for healing and restoration in every area of their
lives. We serve an all-powerful, almighty and awesome God
whose heart is for all who suffer - and we believe He works
in all circumstances.
CFI.ORG.UK // 9

CFI-UK RESOURCES
CFI-UK’s new Israel in Context booklets have been
launched to enable a better contextual understanding of
Israel in relation to the Bible, the Church’s Jewish roots,
the Holocaust, current affairs, history and prayer.
Written by authors including Lance Lambert, Dr.
Dwight Pryor, Chuck Cohen and previous CFI directors
Derek White, Roy Thurley and Geoffrey Smith these
booklets will enchance your understanding of Israel.
The booklets are priced between £1.50 and £3.00
(excluding p&p) and can be ordered through our
website www.cfi.org.uk/shop or by filling out the order
form enclosed with this magazine.
Also available: Replacement Theology, The Road To The
Holocaust and Where Is The Land Of Palestine?
Also available: Israel and the Gospel, God’s Purposes for
Israel And The Church, A Different God?, The Arabs And
God’s Redemptive Strategy, Grounded: The Promised Land
In The New Testament and The Land Where Jesus Lived
More titles
coming soon!
Also available: Patterns And Principles of Jewish Prayer, The Jewishness of Jesus, A Celebration
of Passover, Jesus The Rabbi - Was He Orthodox?, Studies On The Feasts: From Passover to
Easter, Studies On The Feasts: Shavout And The Spirit, Studies On The Feasts: Tabernacles And
Messiah’s Coming, The Jewish Wedding And The Lord’s Return, The Synagogue In The Time Of
Jesus, Inclusion Vs. Replacement: A Reformed Theology For The Church
10 // IN TOUCH

Recorded live in the desert
of En Gedi on the banks of
the Dead Sea in Israel, Desert
Rain is a vibrant worship
experience featuring some
of the best Israeli songs of
our day. Recorded during
the Feast of Tabernacles,
Paul Wilbur and over 5000
worshippers gathered to sing
over the nation of Israel and
pray for healing rain that would bring new life to dry hearts
and desert lands.
Price: £14 incl p&p
influenced psalms, and more.
Price: £15 incl p&p
Avner and Rachel Boskey’s
Four Winds has been
two years in the making.
Fourteen songs in English
and/or Hebrew. Biblical
promises and yearnings
set to a mosaic of musical
sounds – Israeli rock and
hip-pop; Middle Eastern
pedal-steel Country;
Yiddish-Polish klezmer;
Irish Céilidh; Classically
A collection of articles on
the Kingdom of God, Jesus
of Nazareth, the Hebraic
Worldview, Feasts, Israel,
and the Church - all of
which convey the distinctive
and thoroughly balanced
expression of a uniquely
inquiring mind and a deeply
devoted spirit
Paperback 222 pages
Price: £11.50 / 2 for £21 / 3 for
£28.50 incl p&p
This book is for anyone who
wants a comparatively quick
read on the background to the
present day situation in the Holy
Land.
Paperback 108 pages
Price: £6.50 incl p&p
CFI.ORG.UK // 11

A CALL TO PRAYER
AND ACTION
Julia Soakell shares her story of being provoked to lead others in prayer for Israel
Earlier in the year I felt a clear word from the Lord that
I should be ready to host specific events of prayer for
Israel in the near future.
In August I felt the confirmation came clearly that the initial
date had to be 1st September. I felt there were clear directions
to the programme including what we should pray about and
how.
Part of the instructions I felt God had given was: “Sit, Stand
and Kneel”.
Lord’s presence was very real throughout the day and especially
during worship. The Lord does inhabit the praises of His people!”
The challenge to us all is stay faithful, persistent and
expectant in the difficult days to come. I am sure there will be
more need and opportunities to draw together again to bring
the nation of Israel to the throne room of God. He will remain
faithful and listen to the cries of His people.
• “Sit” was a time of informing, specifically about the up
to date situation of pressure to give away land in Judea
& Samaria, and strategic insight.
• “Stand” was a time of proclamation – declaring how
great God is.
• Finally, “Kneel” was prayer, both individually and
corporately. All of this was to be underwritten by the
Word.
Throughout the day we read aloud Psalms, looked at
Daniel, Ezekiel and Elijah and were encouraged to be
persistent, expectant and faithful. Although only 20 people
had registered, the number attending the all-day event was
around 60.
We give honour to the Lord for the blessings he brought to
so many. Here are two of the comments from those who took
part.
“We ….so enjoyed the day and we don’t go to prayer meetings
with the objective of enjoying them. However, as I said, it was the
best prayer meeting I have attended for a very long time. The sense
of the Lord’s Presence was so real and the earnestness of His people
so evident! I felt it was like old times!”
“I must say it was a privilege to be at the ‘Call To Prayer’ - It
was so right to focus on The Word and Prayer and the sense of The
At CFI-UK we are keen to encourage the support
of the Holocaust Memorial Trust. Holocaust
Memorial day is the 27th January and the
theme for the year is “Speak Up, Speak Out”.
Please think about whether you could get involved in a
local event, or even organise one. The material available
on www.hmd.org.uk is excellent and easy to use.
This is a great platform to inform, challenge and inspire
those in our society who may not see anti-Semitism and
intolerance every day – but need to be brought into a
new understanding.
Its also a great way to help mainstream churches to
invite their community in to events and for them to see
CFI literature and connect with the ministry goals and
meet our representatives.
12 // IN TOUCH