In Touch Quarter 1 - 2018

Report
The Balfour 100
Celebration 2017
Julia Soakell
What an amazing, moving and inspiring
evening we had at the Royal Albert Hall on
Tuesday 7 th November 2017, when many of us
travelled from various parts of the UK to join with the
Jewish community, Gentiles and Christian believers
who felt deep within them a need for solidarity and
witness to commemorate the centenary of the Balfour
Declaration of 2nd November 1917, which paved the
way for the rebirth of the State of Israel.
Two coaches of CFI staff, volunteers and supporters,
subsidised by CFI, travelled from Eastbourne and various
pick up points in the north of England, to be there in the
beautiful and majestic Royal Albert Hall. Those present saw
and heard of the incredible events, the key people and the
circumstances which brought about the return of the Jewish
people – a nation reborn and a language revived.
As Reuven Rivlin (President of Israel) says in his opening
letter in the commemorative brochure (available from CFI):
“the Balfour Declaration paved the way to the historic vote
of the United Nations thirty years later... and in turn to the
declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel in
1948 and the renewed sovereignty of our people over our
homeland after two thousand years of exile. But equally
important, it was an expression of the shared values and
deep friendship between the Jewish people and members of
the Christian community, who saw the return of the Jewish
people to the land of Israel as a sign of the eternal bond
between God and his people. Lord Balfour together with so
many other British Christian leaders throughout the years
contributed greatly, and continue to do so much for the
Jewish people and the State of Israel. As we mark this historic
anniversary, we salute you in gratitude.”
The evening began with the promises seen in Genesis
12 and 15 and the historic narrative, powerfully and
professionally acted out in portrayals of the Christian leaders
of the 19 th century. They told of their own heartfelt belief
of the prophesied restoration of the nation of Israel to their
homeland. We heard from Spurgeon (with Bible in hand),
Bishop J.C. Ryle, Theodore Herzl and Revd William Hechler
– it was both a stirring and moving beginning and set the
tone of the evening perfectly. Other highlights included:
• A declaration of praise as more than 4,000 people sang the
words of Psalm 149 – ‘O Praise ye the Lord’.
• A solo by Caleb Alalade of Father’s Heart Ministry of ‘Great
is thy faithfulness’ with a new verse added for the occasion,
accompanied by two superb choirs.
• Dances by the Israel Dance Institute accompanied by Shir
Klezner Ensemble portraying Jewish life in the villages of 19 th
century Russia and Eastern Europe.
• A powerful portrayal of Lord Arthur Balfour and Chaim
Weismann, “partners in this great enterprise,” as they
discussed the prospect of a Jewish homeland; and the reading of
the Declaration by the present Lord Balfour.
• The amazing events of 31 st October 1917 (500 years since the
start of the Reformation) and their timing that combined with
the actual Declaration, as recounted by David Schmidt and
Kelvin Crombie.
It was important, even in the celebration of this prophetic
and momentous document, that we also acknowledged that
having been chosen as a Cyrus nation, Britain reneged on
this agreement when it failed to uphold the partnership so
honourably made in 1917.
We saw that the future of our alignment with Israel as a
nation and people rests with our younger generation. There
8 IN TOUCH • 1 st Quarter 2018 www.cfi.org.uk