In Touch Quarter 2

2 nd Quarter 2015 • No 183 Christian Friends of Israel UK 

But you will be called Hephzibah 

[my delight is in her] and your 

land Beulah [married] 

Isaiah 62:4 

INSIDE 

WESTMINSTER BRIEFING & LOBBY DAY 

HEBRAIC BIBLE STUDY 

TOURS & CONFERENCES 

REPRESENTATIVE INTERVIEWS 

HEBREW WORD STUDY 

RESOURCES & EVENTS 

Education • Advocacy • Aid

All Scripture is 

God breathed 

About us 

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 heritage 

of our faith. 

CFI also produces a monthly 

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Middle East Update and Haverim 

Hebraic teaching CDs/MP3s. 

Please send for full details of 

projects in Israel and also of the 

many teaching resources available. 

As an educational charity, 

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resources relevant to our 

purpose. We do not 

necessarily endorse every 

view expressed by our 

guest writers or authors 

of these resources. 

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Front Cover Image: 

View from Yad Vashem, Jerusalem 

Jacob Vince 

and useful… 

I 

recently visited a church minister concerning his raising of 

theological difficulties. I found it a hard meeting. The minister 

considered the Bible authoritative on all matters concerning faith 

and we did not differ in our understanding on so many aspects. 

However, there was a marked 

difference in our perception of Israel 

in the Bible. The minister held to 

what we would term ‘replacement 

theology’, more technically known 

as ‘supersessionism’, from the word 

‘superseding’; not so much for him 

the Church replacing Israel, but 

rather Jesus as the new Israel. The 

suggestion is that all the promises 

made to Israel are translated to Jesus 

- otherwise described as ‘fulfilment 

theology’. 

Whilst I do believe Jesus clearly 

fulfils all that was specifically 

spoken about him, I do not believe 

constructing Jesus as the new 

Israel is a correct interpretation 

of the Scriptures and consider 

this should be rightly challenged. 

Unfortunately, some in their 

laudable attempt to challenge this 

incorrect understanding, in turn lean 

toward another form of replacement 

theology, that of replacing the 

Church. We must be careful not to 

fall, by reaction, into this similar trap. 

Whilst we believe that God has not 

replaced Israel, we need to recognise 

that God is not going to replace the 

Church either. 

So how are we to respond? We need 

to ask God to help us in our study, 

by His spirit, to ‘accurately handle the 

word of truth’ (2 Timothy 2:15); noting 

Aquila and Priscilla’s correction of 

Apollos (Acts 18:26). What is the 

word of truth? The Scriptures of 

course, as Paul comes to later on 

in this second letter to Timothy, as 

quoted earlier. 

Probably the best known reference 

for Christians is John 3:16. But there 

are two other 3:16 verses worth 

noting, both of which concern the 

authority of the Bible or inspiration 

of Scripture. Both are found in 

second and final letters of two 

apostles, Peter and Paul. Toward the 

close of his second letter Peter notes, 

‘he [Paul] writes the same way in all his 

letters, speaking in them of these matters 

[Thereby authenticating both Paul’s 

writings and by inference his own, 

Peter’s]. His letters [plural] contain 

some things that are hard to understand 

[a statement of fact but no excuse 

not to grapple with them as shown 

by how he continues], which ignorant 

and unstable people distort, as they do 

the other Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16). Peter 

by writing in this way elevates Paul’s 

letters to the same stature of the other 

Scriptures, as in Paul’s letters likewise 

should not be distorted. Coming 

to Paul’s second letter to Timothy 

he writes that, ‘All Scripture is God 

breathed and is useful for teaching, 

rebuking, correcting and training in 

righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the 

Scripture that is our primary source, 

our core text, showing God as He 

truly is. We must both ourselves, 

alongside encouraging those who 

teach to do likewise, humbly 

approach these inspired written 

words, and let the Holy Scripture, 

enlightened by the Holy Spirit, do 

its unique work. We need to pray 

for those with responsibility in the 

wider Church for Bible teaching 

and theology, that they will submit 

themselves to the Scriptures and 

then allow Scripture itself, not us, to 

have its rightful place of teaching, 

rebuking, correcting and training. 

May this be so for the Church in 

our generation, so that Jesus is rightly 

understood, (to use the words from 

the last will and testament of the Jew 

Simeon), as ‘a light for revelation to the 

Gentiles and for glory to your people 

Israel’ (Luke 2:32). 

2 IN TOUCH • 2 nd Quarter 2015

Westminster briefing and Lobby Day 

Wednesday February 4th brought 100s of Jews and 

Christians together once again through the annual Lobby Day 

at Westminster organised by Christian Friends of Israel and the 

Zionist Federation. We asked MPs to affirm their commitment 

to 3 key statements which support Israel’s desire for peace. 

Firstly, it is only through direct negotiations between Israel and 

the Palestinian Authority that peace can be achieved. Unilateral 

recognition of a Palestinian state is not helpful to the peace 

process. Secondly, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions 

(BDS) movement is hindering peaceful efforts on all sides of 

the conflict. Israel is a democratic nation worthy of our respect 

and an important ally in the Middle East. Trade between our 

two nations should be encouraged. Thirdly, the Hamas party 

should be proscribed as a terrorist organisation. The current 

distinction between the ‘military wing’ and ‘political wing’ of 

Hamas is false. Israel should not be expected to negotiate with 

terrorists sworn to their total destruction. 

Christian Friends of Israel’s (CFI) Chief 

Executive Jacob Vince and the Zionist 

Federation’s (ZF) Eric Moonman led both 

the morning and afternoon meetings. Eric 

Moonman was a British Labour politician 

and former Member of Parliament. He also became one of the 

most prominent figures in British Zionism, first as a senior vicepresident 

of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and later as 

president of the Zionist Federation (ZF) of Great Britain and 

Ireland. The ZF, also known as the British Zionist Federation, 

was established in 1899 to campaign for a permanent homeland 

for the Jewish people. The Zionist Federation is an umbrella 

organisation for the Zionist movement in the United Kingdom, 

representing more than 120 organisations, and over 50,000 

affiliated members. In 1917, the British Foreign Secretary 

Arthur James Balfour communicated the Balfour Declaration 

to the leader of United Kingdom’s Jewish community Lord 

Rothschild for transmission to the Zionist Federation. 

The various speakers invited at the Lobby day included MPs 

from most parties. One of the first to speak was Lee Scott, 

Conservative MP and an officer of the Conservative Friends 

of Israel group. On 20 January, 2015 speaking in a debate 

on Holocaust Memorial Day, Scott paid tribute to the work 

of the Holocaust Educational Trust and the importance of 

reminding people of the terrible events of the Holocaust to 

prevent history repeating itself. David Burrowes Conservative 

MP also spoke. Burrowes is also the Parliamentary Chairman 

of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, and an Officer of 

the Conservative Friends of Israel group. He stated, “Israel 

is a defining issue.” He added, “We don’t want fair weather 

“Israel is a 

defining issue.” 

friends.” He also went on to say that people in his constituency 

are very concerned about the rise in Anti-Semitism and that 

people of the Jewish faith, especially their children, are scared 

to show symbols of their faith. 

Another speaker, Jim Shannon, UDP MP signed the Holocaust 

Memorial Book in Westminster to mark Holocaust Memorial 

Day on 27th January 2015. He stated, “The Holocaust is a 

dark time in history, it is a dreadful reminder of just how many 

people lost their lives because of a delusional ideology. We 

must remember and commemorate the lives of those who died 

between 1933 and 1945.” Shannon went on to say, “Given 

the heightened security risks that Jews are now facing right 

across Europe, and here in the UK, and the atrocities that 

were committed in Paris, Holocaust Memorial Day 2015 was 

particularly poignant. The rise of anti-Semitism throughout 

the UK and Europe is something which we must stamp out 

immediately, it had no place in the 1940s 

and it most certainly has no place in the 

21st Century. 

The list of speakers also included Jerry 

Lewis (Jerusalem Post) and Labour MP 

Louise Ellman, who is never scared to 

openly proclaim her Jewish identity and fight for Israel and 

against Islamic extremism at every Parliamentary opportunity. 

John Woodcock Labour MP also spoke. He was appointed 

chair of Labour Friends of Israel in May 2011. Woodcock 

described how he visited Israel for the first time as a student 

and said, “That experience transformed my understanding of 

this region. I saw that Israel is a country that embodies the 

same values we strive for in the UK.” 

One of the key issues regarding the Lobby Day is that it 

shows true democracy. We may not agree with everything that 

was stated by the MPs, and they will not agree with all we 

stand for. However, in the UK, we often forget what a privilege 

it is to have free speech and we are allowed to ‘lobby’ our 

Members of Parliament. Likewise, the world appears either not 

to be aware, or again, to have forgotten, that in the Middle 

East, Israel is the only true democracy. Israel’s 120 members 

of the Knesset (MKs) are directly elected by citizens to fouryear 

terms, unless there is a call for early elections. All Israeli 

citizens, regardless of race, religion or background, 18 years or 

older may vote in legislative elections, which are conducted by 

secret ballot. Anyone, with a few provisos related to criminal 

activity, can be elected to the Knesset, which represents all 

segments of Israeli society. In this body, Jews, Arabs, Druze 

and others come together to guide the country. 

facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk 2 nd Quarter 2015 • IN TOUCH 3

James Whitman 

serves as president 

of The Centre for 

Judaic-Christian 

Studies (JCS) 

Joseph, Mary, Jesus 

and Passover 

Why were Joseph and Mary so committed to taking their family up to Jerusalem for Passover every year 

(Luke 2:41)? More to the point, what lessons were taught and learned, deepened and passed on to 

each participant while engaged in this arduous though joyous pilgrimage? 

The most obvious answer is 

that the parents who nurtured the 

Messiah, being devout, were obeying 

Deuteronomy 16:16 (a powerful retelling 

of Exodus 23:14-17 to a new 

generation). Most Jewish scholars 

believe however that by the time 

of Jesus the phrase‚ “appear before 

the LORD your God”‚ was aliyah leregel, 

the equivalent of making a 

pilgrimage (Encyclopedia Judaica, 

2007, pg.154). In other words, it was 

a divine opportunity rather than an 

obligation. 

Here is what we can know for 

certain. The Hebrew Scriptures give 

tremendous insight into the pilgrim 

feasts of Israel as a tutorial that 

shaped the faithfulness of those like 

Joseph and Mary, who‚ “were waiting 

for the redemption of Jerusalem”. 

What Joseph and Mary Knew 

The first lesson is God as Creator. 

Growing up in the Jewish world of the 

first century Jesus learned early and 

often that there is one Creator of all 

things. There are three core festivals, 

each with an agricultural expression. 

Passover (Pesach) is the barley harvest 

in early Spring, Pentecost (Shavuot) 

is the wheat harvest in late Spring, 

and Tabernacles (Sukkot) is the grape 

harvest in the Autumn. The Hebrew 

word moadim translated‚ “seasons” 

in Genesis 1:14 deepens the creation 

component when it is used to describe 

the festivals as the‚ “appointed times” 

of the LORD in Leviticus 23:2. 

A second lesson is that this creator 

God makes and keeps covenant. 

My mentor Dwight Pryor used 

the phrase God in pursuit of a people 

to describe the divine intent of a 

relationship revealed in the biblical 

idea of covenant. Genesis leads from 

Adam to Noah and from Shem to 

Abraham in order to hear words that 

all creation groans for, “in you all the 

families of the earth shall be blessed.” 

The Exodus from Egypt finds the 

children of Israel in slavery, and 

the God of Abraham, Isaac and 

Jacob refusing to sit by inactive 

and unconcerned. He intervenes in 

archetypal acts of salvation by grace 

through faith, forever commemorated 

in the pilgrim festivals. Pesach is the 

night of deliverance from Egypt. 

Shavuot is the season of giving and 

receiving His Word and Presence at 

Mt. Sinai. Sukkot marks the dwelling 

of the children of Israel in the 

wilderness en route to the promised 

land. 

“a divine opportunity 

rather than 

an obligation” 

A third lesson is that the historical 

events of the Exodus were meant to 

be of ongoing significance to every 

Israelite. With the festivals came an 

exhortation to remember, rehearse, 

and relive these precious truths 

(Exodus 12:14). Why? So that every 

member of the household of faith 

would learn the ways of God and 

anticipate His covenant faithfulness. 

Not only in their lives but in their 

generation. 

Jesus grew up under the Spiritinspired 

tutelage of parents who 

embraced and embodied the living 

and active Word of God. Listen 

to Mary’s heart for the Father’s 

purposes, visible from the beginning, 

“He has helped his servant Israel, in 

remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke 

to our fathers, to Abraham and to his 

offspring forever.” (Luke 1:54-55) 

This way of viewing Scripture is 

an example of the rich nourishment 

Christianity receives from her Jewish 

root. There was even more to 

the story for the early Church and 

by implication, for every follower of 

Jesus around the world today. 

What the Early Church Knew 

The Young Messiah 

Our brief sketch above adds depth 

to Luke’s account of the twelve-yearold 

Jesus, who is left behind after 

Passover only to be found by his 

parents in a sophisticated questionfor-question 

discussion with teachers 

of Torah. His enigmatic response, 

“Did you not know that I must be 

in my Father’s house?“ is in keeping 

with the Jewish understanding 

that Pentecost completes Passover. 

Redemption is for the ultimate 

purpose of reconciliation and 

relationship. 

Luke drives the point home with 

two observations that conclude 

the incident; Mary treasured up all 

these things in her heart while Jesus 

increased in wisdom and stature and 

in favor with God and man. 

The Adult Messiah 

During the course of his ministry, 

Jesus gave evidence of his remarkable 

self-understanding in the light of 

Israel’s covenant history. Consider 

statements like; 

“If you believed Moses, you would 

believe me for he wrote about me.” (John 

5:46) and; 

“Your father Abraham rejoiced that 

he would see my day. He saw it and was 

glad.” (John 8:56) 

Even in his resurrected physicality 

we find King Jesus teaching disciples 

about himself from Holy Scripture 

“beginning with Moses.” (Luke 24:27) 

Indeed, these inspired utterances 

gave the apostles– and the faith 

communities they established–much 


upon which to meditate. Further, 

the undeniable intersection of Jesus’ 

life with the Spring Feast cycle, in 

particular, forged the covenant link 

with the ongoing saving work they 

proclaimed. 

The Crucified Messiah 

Leviticus 23 expands the relationship 

of the Spring festivals by 

introducing Passover at the beginning 

of seven days of Unleavened 

Bread. In turn, this is part of a larger 

forty-nine day rhythm inaugurated 

by firstfruits’ offerings (known 

traditionally as counting the omer). 

All this culminates with Pentecost on 

the fiftieth day. 

Something stunning comes into 

view with this plain reading of the 

sacred text. It’s like hiking a steep 

incline that takes so much energy and 

concentration that all you look at is 

the path. Finally at the top, trying to 

catch your breath, you look up. What 

do you see? Something so beautiful 

and moving that your only response 

is worship, 

During Passover, Jesus was 

crucified. 

During Unleavened Bread, Jesus 

was raised from the dead. 

During First Fruits, Jesus 

appeared to, instructed his 

disciples, and ascended to the right 

hand of God. 

During Pentecost, the Spirit of 

Jesus was poured out in fulfillment 

of the promise to Abraham. 

“To him who sits on the throne and to the 

Lamb be blessing and honor and glory 

and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 

5:13) 

Behold the new covenant, brought 

to fruition by the Son of God. Behold 

the Kingdom, brought to fruition by 

the Jewish Messiah. Welcome to the 

world of Jesus, and to the richness 

that a Hebraic perspective brings to 

the Christian faith. I hope this article 

inspires your celebrations this holy 

season for, “Christ, our Passover lamb, 

has been sacrificed!” (1 Corinthians 5:7) 

Centre for Judaic-Christian Studies 

www.cfi.org.uk 

JC Studies is a Christian, educational organisation 

with a passion for acclimatising Christians to the 

life and times of Jesus and the early church. 

Are you interested in biblically based, Christ-centred 

instruction in the Jewish heritage of Christianity? Consider 

joining our Haverim* Study Community. Founded over thirty 

years ago by Dr. Dwight A. Pryor, Haverim is a subscription 

service that provides you with a monthly audio recording by 

leading Christian scholars. Through their expertise in the 

language, literature, culture and traditions of Israel during the Second Temple Period, you will 

receive a treasure trove of insights into the sacred Scriptures, both Old, and New. 

*Haverim is a transliteration of the plural Hebrew word for Friend. 

(khaverím) 

For more information: Tel: 01323 410810 Fax: 01323 410211 Email: info@cfi.org.uk 

Website: www.cfi.org.uk 

CFI UK is the designated distributor in the UK 


Revd Nick Armstrong 

with 12 other participants 

joined CFI UK for our 5th 

co-sponsored clergy tour 

of Israel earlier this year. 

The Clergy Israel 

Study Tour 2015 

Over the last 2-3 years, I had been wanting very much to understand and find a theological ‘place to stand’ 

regarding Israel, having found most people seeming to avoid the subject, and others monochromatically 

extreme or prejudiced either way. I’d read a little, and hungered for some first-hand experience. 

Meanwhile I had been vaguely aware of dull and 

unreflective media reporting, and shocked by views of 

one or two friends appearing almost anti-Semitic. So I 

was on the lookout for an opportunity to visit, but frankly 

never knew of such a privileged opportunity or taylored 

tour - simply being in the right place to meet Jacob at the 

right time! 

Since returning, it’s naturally been hard to stop me 

talking about it, and especially concerning the voices 

we don’t hear, and the connectedness of history, faith, 

politics and everyday life there. Even nearly a month 

later, several times a day places, voices or impressions 

linger and interact (sometimes awkwardly) with 

events, reading or conversation. For me personally, 

the interplay and connection of the pilgrimage and 

political aspects was hugely 

powerful. Far from destroying 

the sense of pilgrimage, 

the present confusion and 

multiple narratives somehow 

emphasised the application of 

faith to real life and the hard 

questions felt so acutely in Israel – making it easy to 

imagine it at the centre of world affairs. 

And yet the media obsession (highlighted by Paul 

Hirschson, government spokesperson, and by Professor Uzi 

Rabi at Tel Aviv University) which somehow keeps 800- 

1000 foreign media personnel in Israel is irrational and 

bemusing! How can so many reporters totally fail to come 

up with even a fraction of the voices that we heard in a 

week? The evidence seems to suggest some combination 

of commercial pressure, fear, and the lurking ghost of 

anti-Semitic bias. 

Within Israeli voices, it was so helpful and revealing 

to hear the diversity from the visionary eagerness of 

pioneering settlers and West Bank Area C co-workers 

(Lipski etc.) right through to those convinced of the 

inevitability and need of full two-state solution, and 

those thoroughly in dismay at the recent settlements as 

the greatest blunder of government. Hearing these voices 

How can so many reporters 

totally fail to come up with even 

a fraction of the voices that 

we heard in a week? 

and appreciating first-hand something of Israeli national 

character, made sense of the convoluted and ever-shifting 

multi-coalition politics (though I’ll never ever begin to 

keep up with it!). 

As for Palestinian voices, we heard fewer and they 

were constrained by language (and apparent fear?). 

But the effect was dramatic, especially after the night in 

Ramallah. We heard the victim voice of George ascribing 

many difficulties well-known in the UK or developing 

nations entirely to the constraints of Israeli oversight and 

the partition fence. Then being shown around the halfbuilt 

25,000 home Rawabi by the most ‘can-do’ young 

Palestinian architect revealed the starkest contrast in 

voices of the entire tour. I’ve since spoken to many about 

the Rawabi narrative, and none had heard anything like 

it before. Bland media again. 

As a Christian leader, it was 

a great privilege to hear firsthand 

the voice of marginalised 

Palestinian Christian pastor 

Nihad Salman in Bethlehem. 

I’d heard of their squeezed 

position, but so helpful to spend time, ask questions and 

stay in contact to pray for them since. 

Finally two strange abiding images: 

At the Garden Tomb – seeing the stark new Muslim 

burial ground fence & gun (used in Ramadan) directly 

above Golgotha. That image of forceful and imposed 

(yet ultimately impotent) authority over a place silently 

blazing the might of self-giving love will abide in me. 

Yad Vashem, at the extreme entry end of its strange 

compressed tunnel, has a video wall showing a clever 

montage of pre-war clips of Shoah victims many inserted to 

be viewed through windows of buildings since destroyed. 

Rawabi’s impressive sales centre included a walk-through 

model, with similar videos of idealised happy modern 

Palestinian families soon to be inhabitants. It was a bizarre 

juxtaposition and captured many contrasts, aspirations, 

hopes, fears and competing world-views of cohabitants in 

a wonderful land. 


SPECIAL REPORT 

Marion Threlfall 

CFI Strategic 

Prayer Conference 

We had the most amazing Prayer Conference in Rockwell Green this March. Right from the 

beginning we were at one with each other and at one with the Lord. 

We were also delighted that our great prayer warrior, Jenny Forbes, was able to join us and well 

enough to lead two of the main Bible meditation sessions. These sessions are the strength of the conferences and 

on Friday Jenny led with a reading of the whole of Ezekiel 36 and everyone spent time, individually, meditating on 

this, bringing back many observations for further prayer. On Saturday Jenny read Isaiah 40 and, again everyone 

meditated and returned with such a depth of thoughts and insights to share. 

The Conference was opened and led by David Greer, Chairman of the Trustees for CFI UK and Jacob Vince, CFI 

UK Director, led worship, helped on the keyboard by Joy Cawood of Bridges for Peace. 

In addition Jacob and David brought in depth information on the imminent Israeli elections; the UK elections; 

how to pray for the church in relation to Israel; updates on the Syrian refugee situation and the security risk to 

Northern Israel. With each subject came a time of prayer in small groups, so we did not just talk about it – we 

prayed into it. 

It was truly a ‘strategic prayer conference’ with the Israeli 

elections within 3 days, the continuing threat of ISIS and the 

deteriorating understanding of the Church of Israel’s need 

for our support and God’s view of the whole situation. 

Jacob showed a lovely DVD of the making of the film ‘The 

Hiding Place’ with Corrie Ten Boom [and Ellen corrected our 

pronunciation of her name] and the Conference concluded 

with Jacob and David Linnell leading us in Communion and 

prayers for the Peace of Jerusalem. 

We also took the opportunity to sign the Shalom Declaration 

on behalf of Christian Friends of Israel UK. 

Signed at Christian Friends of Israel 

Strategic Prayer Conference 

14 March 2015 

The Shalom Declaration 

We pray for the Peace of Jerusalem! 

We deeply appreciate that Israel is the only country in the Middle East which 

extends freedom of worship to all its citizens and where the Christian community is 

growing. 

We grieve and stand with families in Israel and the wider Middle East, who have 

lost loved ones and with all who are persecuted by the rise of violent extremism and 

intolerance in the region. 

We pray that those inciting trouble and disharmony in the Middle East and 

who threaten the existence of Israel will be thwarted. We further pray that the 

peacemakers will see their patience and vision rewarded so that Isaiah’s prophecy 

of “swords beaten into pruning forks” and the declaration of Jesus that “Blessed 

are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God”, will soon become a 

reality. 

We draw succour from the vibrancy of the State of Israel, from its democratic 

political system, its academic and cultural creativity and its remarkable 

contribution to humanity in terms of science and technology. 

And we call upon the spiritual leaders and elected representatives of our 

nation to work tirelessly to combat anti-Semitism and violent extremism 

across the world and to strengthen understanding and co-operation between 

the peoples of our nation and of Israel. 


HEBREW WORD STUDY 

Melissa Briggs MA, 

Hebrew University of 

Jerusalem, has been 

teaching Hebrew in 

the UK for more than 

five years. 

Embrace the Metaphor: 

Intimacy in knowing God 

What would the world say—or even some Christians say—to the message that God intends our sexuality 

to make the concept of “intimacy with God” more understandable? 

Sexual intimacy between a husband and his wife is a 

powerful picture employed throughout the Scriptures of 

the dynamic, pure, life-giving, committed, one-to-one, 

distinctive, and passionate relationship that God desires 

with each of us. 

God wants to know us and have us know Him on a 

personal level, like a bridegroom who is rejoicing over his 

bride. (Isaiah 62:4-5; Isaiah 19:21; Ezekiel 20:5). 

So what does it mean to KNOW God? The Hebrew 

verb “to know” is (yada). It is found 942 times in the 

Tanakh, most famously in the profound statement: “Be still 

and yada that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). 

Other words in this often used Hebrew root system 

include: 

mada’- knowledge 

da’at - skill, knowledge, understanding 

moda’- kinsman (a known relative) 

madua’- Why? On what account? 

(seeking out knowledge) 

There is much to study about this word yada. For 

example, there is a special partnership between yada and 

wisdom found in the Proverbs and beyond. In that sense 

yada means to know information. (Proverbs 2:6) (Perhaps 

to be expounded in a future article.) 

But to yada someone often has a special connotation. 

It essentially means to know someone by personal or 

intimate experience. It is one of the Hebrew euphemisms 

for sexual relations, first found in Genesis 

4:1: “Now Adam knew (yada) Eve his wife, 

and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, ‘I have 

gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD’.” 

(See Genesis 4:17, 25, etc.) God is the one 

who designed the gift of sex and designed 

us to be sexual beings. 

So why would yada be chosen as a euphemism for 

sexual intimacy - this same word that over and over 

again describes knowing God and being known by God? 

I believe this double meaning of the verb yada (as well 

as other vivid word pictures in the Scriptures) are there 

to help to put intimacy with God into a relatable context. 

That is a reflection of the type of relationship God desires 

with you. 

“So husbands ought to also love their own wives as their own 

bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever 

hated his own flesh, but nourishes it and cherishes it, just as the 

Messiah does also to the church, because we are members of His 

body. ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother 

and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ 

This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to the 

Messiah and the church.” (Ephesians 5:28-32) 

Of course, it is entirely possible to know information 

about God without really knowing God. Jesus will declare 

to many on the day of judgment, who thought they had 

been doing good works for the Lord: “I never knew you; 

depart from me….” (Matthew 7:23) (yada in the Hebrew 

New Testament). 

“They shall yada that I am the LORD their God who brought 

them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I 

am the LORD their God.” (Exodus 29:46) 

A deep, personal knowing (yada) requires entering into 

a covenant relationship with Him – the New Covenant. 

(Marriage is also a covenant!) See Jeremiah 31, especially 

verse 34: “And no longer shall each one teach his neighbour and 

each his brother, saying, ‘Yada the Lord’ for they shall all yada 

me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For 

I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no 

more.” 

The Hebrew name for Song of Songs is “Shir Ha-Shirim” 

which is a Hebraic expression meaning: “The Song of 

All Songs” or “The Best Song Ever”. It puts the beauty of 

marital intimacy at centre stage. Throughout the Bible 

we see the picture of a husband and wife to be one of 

the most accurate and relatable metaphors for God’s 

feelings about His people. (See Jeremiah 

“God knows you 

and He wants to 

make Himself 

known to you” 

2 and 3 and the book of Hosea): 

“I yada Ephraim; Israel is not hidden 

from me. Ephraim, you have now turned to 

prostitution; Israel is corrupt.” (Hosea 5:3) 

Obviously no marriage is perfect 

because no human is perfect—but 

God is! Let us not downgrade our perception of God to 

the level of our own flawed experiences of marriage (or 

fatherhood); but rather let us use God’s perfect love and 

grace as a model in our human relationships. 

Just as God forgave His people Israel of their spiritual 

adultery when they turned back to Him, He desires to 

bring restoration and forgiveness to our lives where we 

desperately need it. God can truly deal with sin (sexual 

or otherwise). “…Whatever prayer of supplication is made by 

any man or all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction 

of his own heart, and spreading his hands towards this house; 


then hear in heaven… and forgive and act and render to each 

according to all his ways, whose heart You yada, for You alone 

yada the hearts of all the sons of men…” (1 Kings 8:38-39). 

Greek thinking, which pervades much of the western 

Church, says that our life can be compartmentalised. 

But Hebraic thinking (the Bible is written with a Hebraic 

mindset) says that our whole life is interconnected and 

important to God. God cares about the mundane and the 

physical, practical side of life, as much as He cares about 

your soul and spirit. You are a whole being and He loves 

you wholly. 

“O LORD, You have searched me and yada me. 

You yada my sitting down and my rising up; 

You understand my thought afar off. 

You comprehend my path and my lying down, 

And are acquainted with all my ways. 

For there is not a word on my tongue, 

But behold, O LORD, You yada it altogether. 

You have hedged me behind and before, 

And laid Your hand upon me. 

Such yada is too wonderful for me; 

It is high, I cannot attain it”. (Psalm 139: 1-6) 

The message is profound and beautiful – God knows you 

and He wants to make Himself known to you. He desires to 

yada you deeply with a faithful, covenant love. 

Resources www.cfi.org.uk/shop 

A Wondering Jew - John Fieldsend 

John Fieldsend, born Heini Feige, is one of the Winton 

children who, with his brother and over six hundred other 

Jewish children were transported from Nazi occupied 

Czechoslovakia to Britain to start a new life. This is his 

story – the story of a life preserved and fulfiiled. Preserved 

through the sacrificial generosity of so many people and 

fulfilled through his growing faith in a loving God. John 

speaks regularly at the Holocaust Centre at Laxton in 

Nottinghamshire, for the Holocaust Education Trust and to 

many other organisations. 

181 pages // Paperback // £11 (incl. UK p&p) 

Battling with Nazi Demons - Werner Oder 

Werner Oder is an internationally renowned Lecturer and Bible 

teacher, inspiring and empowering people to receive hope through 

learning the lessons from history. He has been Senior Pastor of 

Tuckton Christian Centre for over thirty years. 

“Can any good thing come out of Nazi Austria? Well, one person 

did and his story is one of the most remarkable I have ever come 

across... in a word, he is a miracle of grace. What an amazing 

family God has. May this book introduce you to one of his most 

unusual sons with whom we will share eternity”. David Pawson. 

149 pages // Paperback // £11 (incl. UK p&p) 

STAFF VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT 

CFI UK are looking to recruit an additional staff member in Communication Support. The ideal candidate will have a strong 

background and interest in IT (Information Technology), experience in Graphic Design, Website and Database Management, 

with a heart for Israel and the church, able to communicate well through writing and speaking. This is a full-time position, based 

at our head office in Eastbourne, with salary subject to experience and ability. 

For further details and application form please write in confidence to: 

Jacob Vince, Chief Executive, CFI Communications, PO Box 2687, Eastbourne BN22 7LZ or email vacancy@cfi.org.uk. 

Alternatively, for an informal preliminary discussion please telephone 01323 410810 and ask to be put through to Jacob Vince or 

leave a message to call back on return. 


CFI UK AREA REPRESENTATIVE UPDATE INTERVIEW by CFI’s David & Julia Soakell 

Christian Friends of Israel would like to welcome on board 

our new Area Representative Judy Johnson. Judy will 

be taking on a section of Dorset including Bournemouth 

and Wimborne. 

Apart from being called to serve Israel, Judy has had experience 

working in Syria, a nation that has seen one of the biggest 

upheavals within the Middle East and the conflict with Bashar 

al-Assad’s regime. The war has been brutal, and thousands of 

people have been slaughtered. Estimates of deaths in the Syrian 

Civil War, per opposition activist groups, vary between 129,000 

and 295,000. On 15 January 2015, the United Nations put out 

an estimate of 220,000 that had died in the war. Thousands of 

Christians are also suffering in Syria by the hands of the Islamic 

terrorist group ISIS. How these people need our prayers for 

safety and security. Having spoken at length with Judy when 

we visited her, I asked her about her faith, Israel and of course 

Syria. 

Judy had a clear relationship with the Lord from a very young 

age. As Judy explained, “My first conscious knowledge of God 

was when I heard about Him as Creator. I clearly remember the 

joy I experienced and was comforted by the sense of completeness 

and security this truth gave me.” Judy’s parents were Christians 

too and were able to lead Judy on in the faith. “They understood 

from the start that Israel had a special place in God’s purposes, 

and were involved with the work of Ebenezer from its inception. 

Consequently I can always remember an excitement when we 

spoke about what God was doing regarding Israel in our day.” 

Judy felt God’s call to go to Syria when she was a student, but 

a period of ‘worldliness and rebellion’ caused her to believe she 

had forfeited God’s plan for her life. She pursued a career in 

social work, largely in the psychiatric field, which she knew from 

her mid-teens was also of God’s leading; and indeed it was a job 

she loved. Judy then got married and has 4 adult children, which 

are a wonderful blessing. However when she was in her late 50s, 

God’s calling to Syria suddenly returned and she knew that it 

was time to go. Judy states, “I was given 3 months sabbatical 

leave from my job, and had what was an amazing adventure with 

God as I formed relationships in the local community and church 

in the Old City in Damascus. I was able to travel out from there 

as well, so gained a wider perspective. These links have been built 

on since with two further trips there with my church leader and 

his wife; and despite the terrible war, God still uses this doorway 

to bless and encourage the believers there.” Judy continues, “The 

whole Syrian culture, including the church, has for centuries 

been deeply hostile towards Israel, and you cannot mention this 

word without provoking anger, at times very fierce. However one 

of the people I met on my first visit has had a revelation of the 

truth of scripture and we are in close contact, and I believe God 

will use this friendship in His awesome plans for restoration and 

reconciliation -as with Jacob and Esau after many years.” 

So where does Israel and CFI come into Judy’s calling. Judy 

stated, “Because of my commitment to what God had for me 

to do in Syria, and their historic enmity with Israel, I did not 

imagine that I would be prompted to take up such a role as an 

area representative for CFI. However, here we are…..surprised 

and right out of my comfort zone! A few years back a pastor 

had given me a prophetic word, which I viewed with moderate 

unbelief, to the effect that God would use me to comfort Israel 

because I had suffered. So maybe this next step will see the 

beginning of the fulfilment of this word.” She has already been in 

touch with her Israel Prayer Group and hopes very soon to hold 

the CFI Kesher Course. And she certainly lives a very full life, 

being involved in prayer ministry with Ellel Ministries as well 

as locally in the church. She is also part 

of the Lydia prayer fellowship, and even 

helps the local Food Bank a few hours a 

month. She certainly hasn’t any time to 

think of ‘retirement’, but is there such a 

thing in the Kingdom of God? 

To get in touch with Judy regarding 

her role with CFI, email her at: 

judyjohnson100@imap.cc 

Judy Johnson 

CHURCHLINK 

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same 

function, so in Messiah we, though many, form one body. We have different gifts, according to the grace 

given to each of us. If it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give 

encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently.” (Romans 12: 4-8) 

We at Christian Friends of Israel recognise that the ministry only succeeds through God’s blessing and the 

vital role of our praying supporters. Ongoing challenges face all ministries who stand with Israel. We aim 

to inform our supporters in the various forms and publications we have, to encourage them to pray and to be 

kept up to date via our mailings. 

We are launching a new redefined role – Church Link (taking the place of the former role as Church Agent) that will help us to 

facilitate this in the best way possible by assigning individuals to be the link between churches and fellowships. Simply put, this will 

be by asking their pastors or leaders to allow them to display CFI material in suitable venues or providing it for one-off events with 

a view to encouraging people to join our mailing list for themselves. The Church Link will need to have a current email address. 

Potentially Church Links should work with the CFI Area Rep for their area, where in place, or may feel eventually they could take 

on that role. 

If you feel prayerfully you could serve in this capacity and fit the criteria stated, please contact us at julia.soakell@cfi.org.uk with 

your name, up-to-date address and email contact details for our database and the relevant details of where you could serve, i.e. 

Church/ Prayer Group/ Fellowship etc. 


David Soakell 

Running the Jerusalem 

Marathon 

Matt Elwick, who attends Bradenstoke Providence Baptist Chapel, took on the challenge of 

running two marathons to support charities in both of the nations that he ran in. 

Matt and Immy Elwick are CFI UK Reps for Swindon, and 

I asked Matt Elwick, “Why on earth are you running the 

Jerusalem Marathon?” Here is his reply. Matt states, “As a 

young lad I always had the desire to run the London Marathon. 

Watching it on TV in the 80’s and 90’s it was exciting to watch 

and I thought it was something that I would do one day. As a 

man approaching his 40th year I had begun to think if I want 

to fulfil that dream then I better get on with it. It can be very 

difficult to get a placement for being part of the marathon with 

50,000 entrants taking part. If you’re not successful by ballot 

then you can apply for charity places which demand a fee up 

front. Thankfully I got a place. Knowing this was something 

I would do; I also saw a couple of months ago an additional 

opportunity to run the Jerusalem Marathon which happens 6 

weeks before London in the middle of March (call it a warm up 

if you like!).” Well, it was warm, that’s for sure, although not 

too hot, especially as Jerusalem (and indeed much of Israel) 

has had snow of late. 

Matt with friends at Shevit Achim 

Matt Elwick continues, “I’ve been a CFI rep since 2011 

and a Christian for a lot longer yet I’d never visited Israel to 

date. The challenge that I sought for myself when I took on 

the representative role was the question, ‘How can I get the 

message of the miracle restoration of Israel into the hearts of 

young people today?’ For me it was the result of actual anti- 

Semitism from a family member that motivated Imogen and 

myself to really understand the History, Prophetic significance 

and miraculous restoration of Israel because we knew the 

Word of God commands and encourages us to pray for the 

peace of Jerusalem and to bless God’s covenanted people. For 

a lot of young Christians today they don’t see the relevance or 

importance that the restoration of Israel presents even though 

it is the place where our Saviour, Yeshua (Jesus) will return.” 

Going on to state how CFI is very good at presenting the 

‘why’s’ to a wide audience, Matt asks, “Why is Israel the subject 

of contempt on mainstream media when nations such as its 

close neighbours Syria, Iraq or other nations such as Sudan 

or North Korea that commit more horrendous violations of 

human rights are hardly ever heard of? Why do we not hear 

about a nation called Israel that has taken an ancient language 

Hebrew and made it speak again, a barren desolate land and 

made it bloom again, it’s taken a broken people and given 

them life again? There are many more why’s, but getting this 

information in front of young Christian’s and non-Christian’s 

has proved difficult whilst I try and manage work, family, 

church and social life on a weekly basis. As a CFI rep I have to 

work to the best of my ability and use the talents that God has 

given me. At times, talent sometimes feels limited but at other 

times it motivates one to think of ideas that are out of the box, 

different, and to consider with God’s help opportunities that 

are fresh and new. I saw by running the Jerusalem Marathon 

an opportunity to hopefully captivate young men and women 

with something that may be appealing to a younger audience. 

I get the opportunity to run through the sun drenched golden 

streets of Jerusalem, the centre of the earth, a place where 

faith collides, where our Saviour Jesus walked and did the 

miraculous, and a hot bed of history, pilgrimage and romance. 

How can that not be captivating to anyone and everyone?” 

Matt also saw within that opportunity, something that could 

present itself and generate interest in local newspapers and 

radio. Through this amazing achievement Matt hopes to bring 

blessings to CFI and extra blessings to two projects that 

CFI UK supports which are ‘Under His Wings’ a ministry to 

Israel’s terrorist victims, and ‘Shevet Achim’ (ministering to 

Arab children with heart defects and other illnesses). By doing 

this, Matt is providing an opportunity for anyone reading this 

to sponsor him. Please, can I encourage anyone who would 

be interested in sponsoring Matt Elwick, even more now that 

he has completed the Jerusalem Marathon, to give as much 

as you can to help these projects. His online giving page is: 

https://www.justgiving.com/LoveMatthew-Elwick/ 

Matt crosses the finish line in Jerusalem 


This summer CFI will be 

exhibiting at... 

If you are attending any of these 

events please say hello to our staff 

and volunteers and review our latest 

selection of resources. 

Thank you! 

Thanks to all those who give, enabling us 

to exhibit at these events, keeping Israel 

on the agenda of the wider Church. 

Please check online for other events we 

may be attending later in the year. 

www.cfi.org.uk 

CFI UK NATIONAL 

CONFERENCE 2015 

HELD AT: THE KINGS CENTRE - EASTBOURNE - EAST SUSSEX 

27 Edison Road, 

Eastbourne, 

East Sussex 

BN23 6PT 

4th – 5th 

September 

Professor Kendal Soulen 

will be speaking at our 

conference in Eastbourne 

Join us for Friday evening 

and Saturday as we focus on the 

significance of Israel to the Church and learn more 

about the ongoing work of CFI.

In Touch Quarter 2 - 2015

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