In Touch Quarter 1 - 2019

1 st Quarter 2019 • No 198 Christian Friends of Israel UK 

Israel, the people 

close to his heart 

Psalm 148:14 

INSIDE 

EDITORIAL – RESCUED! GENTILE SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL 

HEBRAIC BIBLE TEACHING – MESSIAH’S ZEAL, OUR PASSION 

HEBREW WORD FOCUS – WALK 

REFLECTIONS ON THE PAST 

THE CHANGING SITUATION AROUND ISRAEL 

RESOURCES 

Encouraging • Challenging • Assisting

Editorial 

Jacob Vince 

Rescued! 

Gentile support for Israel 

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-UK also produces a monthly 

Prayer Letter, an audio Middle 

East Report and distributes the 

Haverim Hebraic teaching CDs. 

Please send for full details of 

projects in Israel and also the 

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. 

Published by: 

CFI Charitable Trust 

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Eastbourne 

BN22 7LZ 

Tel: 01323 410 810 

Email: info@cfi.org.uk 

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twitter.com/cfi_uk 

Registered Charity 

No. 1101899 

Registered Office c/o 

Caladine, Chantry House 

22 Upperton Road 

Eastbourne, BN21 1BF 

Company No: 0498515 

VAT Registration No: GB678780275 

Front Cover Image: 

Western Wall, Jerusalem 

At various times in Israel’s 

history, as recorded in the 

Hebrew Scriptures, there 

are Gentiles who have a significant 

role in expressing tangible 

friendship toward Israel and the 

Jewish people. 

As we know God caused the 

Jewish nation to bring his revelation 

to the world in writing, “He has 

revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and 

decrees to Israel. He has done this for no 

other nation” (Psalm 147:19-20). This 

is reinforced in the apostle Paul’s 

letter to the church at Rome, “What 

advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, 

or what value is there in circumcision? 

Much in every way! First of all, the Jews 

have been entrusted with the very words 

of God” (Romans 3:1-2). God chose 

law-givers, prophets, poets and 

witnesses to relay his composition of 

what we now have as the four–part 

canon of Scripture: Torah, Prophets, 

Psalms and Apostles. 

One of the Jews that God used, 

both to speak in prophecy and to 

write down the words, was the 

prophet Jeremiah along with his 

assistant and scribe Baruch. Toward 

the end of the book which takes 

Jeremiah’s name there is an instance 

where certain officials, not liking 

what God was saying through 

Jeremiah, and hence the person who 

God was using to say it, went to the 

king at the time, Zedekiah, to stop 

Jeremiah by putting him to death. 

“Then the officials said to the king, 

“This man should be put to death. He 

is discouraging the soldiers who are left 

in this city, as well as all the people, by 

the things he is saying to them. This 

man is not seeking the good of these 

people but their ruin.” “He is in your 

hands,” King Zedekiah answered. “The 

king can do nothing to oppose you.” 

So they took Jeremiah and put him into 

the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, 

which was in the courtyard of the guard. 

They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the 

cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, 

and Jeremiah sank down into the mud” 

(Jeremiah 38:4-6). 

Here we see the king abdicating 

his authority and placing Jeremiah 

into the hands of officials, who then 

take Jeremiah and lower him into 

a cistern with no water but only 

sinking mud at the bottom. This is 

where Jeremiah would have been 

left were it not for the intervention 

of a Gentile, Ebed-Melek, who was 

a Cushite, or in today’s terms, an 

Ethiopian or Eritrean. 

“But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite, an official 

in the royal palace, heard that they had 

put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the 

king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, 

Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and 

said to him, “My lord the king, these 

men have acted wickedly in all they 

have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They 

have thrown him into a cistern, where 

he will starve to death when there is 

no longer any bread in the city.” Then 

the king commanded Ebed-Melek the 

Cushite, “Take thirty men from here 

with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet 

out of the cistern before he dies.” So 

Ebed-Melek took the men with him and 

went to a room under the treasury in 

the palace. He took some old rags and 

worn-out clothes from there and let 

them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the 

cistern. Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to 

Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and wornout 

clothes under your arms to pad the 

ropes.” Jeremiah did so, and they pulled 

him up with the ropes and lifted him out 

of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in 

the courtyard of the guard” (Jeremiah 

38:7-13). 

So Jeremiah was rescued and was 

able to continue to speak his hardto-hear 

prophetic words, in this 

instance concerning the destruction 

of Jerusalem and going into 

captivity. But he also pronounced a 

time limit on that captivity that the 

writer Daniel would later recall and 

pray into being, the return of the 

Jewish people to Israel from Babylon 

after seventy years. 

What Jeremiah conveyed as 

prophecy comes to pass and the 

tragedy of the destruction of 

Jerusalem and going into captivity 

2 IN TOUCH • 1 st Quarter 2019

unfolds, including king Zedekiah 

having his eyes put out after seeing 

the slaughter of his family – the last 

thing he physically sees before his 

eyes. 

One of the writers of the Psalms 

recalls the sadness of the Israelites 

as they sit by the rivers of Babylon 

vowing never to forget Jerusalem 

and hang up their harps on which 

they would have accompanied 

the singing of joyful songs of Zion 

(Jerusalem) “May my right hand 

forget its skill” (Psalm 137:5) - the 

skill to play the instrument, and 

“my tongue cling to the roof of my 

mouth” (Psalm 137:6) without the 

use of the tongue they could not 

sing. 

The Gentile Ebed-Melek might 

easily have been forgotten in the 

great scheme of things, but God 

is no man’s debtor. Ebed-Melek 

had done the right thing because 

it was the right thing to do, not 

particularly seeking any reward for 

this. But there is a postscript to the 

bigger story. 

“While Jeremiah had been confined 

in the courtyard of the guard, the word 

of the Lord came to him: “Go and tell 

Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what 

the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, 

says: I am about to fulfil my words 

against this city—words concerning 

disaster, not prosperity. At that time 

they will be fulfilled before your eyes. 

But I will rescue you on that day, 

declares the Lord; you will not be given 

into the hands of those you fear. I will 

save you; you will not fall by the sword 

but will escape with your life, because 

you trust in me, declares the Lord’” 

(Jeremiah 39:15-18) 

In similar way to how Ebed- 

Melek was used by God to rescue 

Jeremiah, so we find that Ebed- 

Melek will in turn be rescued from 

He has revealed his 

word to Jacob, his laws 

and decrees to Israel 

the hands of those he feared. He 

will be saved, escaping with his life 

despite all around being destroyed. 

As Gentile Christians we should 

take instruction and encouragement 

from this story which, as the apostle 

Paul reminds his protégé Timothy, 

is part of ‘all Scripture’ that is 

inspired by God and profitable 

for teaching, reproof, correction 

and training in righteousness. It 

sets an example to us as Christian 

friends of Israel to do what is right 

in friendship toward Israel and 

the Jewish community here in the 

United Kingdom. 

In this connection, we have all 

been aware for some time of the 

rise in anti-Semitism, including 

manifestations within major 

political parties, illustrated by the 

failure to endorse the International 

Holocaust Remembrance Alliance 

definition. Whilst it may be selfevident 

that we as Christian 

friends of Israel would implicitly 

endorse this definition, it appears 

timely and right to explicitly state 

this, hence our reproducing the 

definition and illustrative examples 

on page 9, thereby giving you the 

opportunity on the Response Form 

to add your name in agreement. 

Once collected, we will write to 

the various representative bodies 

of the Jewish community and their 

press, setting this out as Christian 

Friends of Israel UK on behalf of 

our supporters.* 

Thank you for giving your early 

attention to this important tangible 

expression of Christian friendship 

for Israel and our UK Jewish 

Community, in the manner of 

Ebed-Melek. 

(*Please note that we will not refer to 

supporters by name.) 

The late Dr John Gillmore 

It was with sadness that in the week before Christmas we heard the news that Dr John Gillmore had 

died suddenly. But we rejoice in the knowledge that he is gone to be with the Lord. 

John collapsed whilst out for a walk with his son, he was taken to hospital where he later died from 

a brain haemorrhage. 

John was a CFI UK Trustee and an area ‘Rep’ for several decades. He retired from the Board a few 

years ago. I had spoken to him on the telephone just a few days before his passing. He was in good 

humour as we spoke of many things. 

I have always liked and appreciated John, his humour and his laugh remain in my mind. John’s 

contributions on the Trustee Board were always prayerfully and wisely considered and gracefully 

given. He was a long-standing friend and supporter of the late Gerald Gotzen and visited Ethiopia to 

see the work he was doing amongst the Jewish people in Addis Ababa and around that Country. 

John was also the only Trustee that could operate the gas fire in the room where we held our three-day winter ‘Way Ahead’ 

meeting! 

Please pray for Maureen and the family, that they may know the presence, peace and comfort of the Lord. 

Let us all be comforted and encouraged with these words - “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall 

all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will 

be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on 

immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to 

pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory” (2 Corinthians 15:52-54). 

David Greer 

Chairman Board of Trustees 

1 st Quarter 2019 • IN TOUCH 3

Hebraic Bible Teaching 

James Whitman 

serves as president 

of The Centre for 

Judaic-Christian 

Studies (JC Studies) 

Deeper insight into our 

Father in heaven and his 

actions on earth emerge 

when we take time to explore the 

Bible’s historical context. 

By employing the literary tools of 

language and culture, we can see a 

familiar gospel story — and hopefully 

ourselves — in increasingly biblical 

ways. Take, for instance, the cleansing 

of the temple. 

Set in first century Jerusalem, our 

story takes place during the season 

of Israel’s Passover. We find Jesus 

confronting merchants plying their 

trade in the precincts of the temple 

that Herod built. It is an event that 

will become iconic in the historical 

imagination of Christianity; the fiery 

young prophet raging against a nation 

of hypocrites, calling down judgment 

upon their place of worship. 

However, is that an accurate 

portrayal of what happened and why? 

To better comprehend the significance 

of this event we need to ask the 

question, how did those who left us 

eyewitness accounts understand these 

things? 

John not only recounts Jesus’ 

explanatory words but gives insight 

into how the early church processed 

both his words and deeds, “To those 

who sold doves he said, “Get these out of 

here! How dare you turn my Father’s house 

into a market!” His disciples remembered 

that it is written: “Zeal for your house will 

consume me”” (John 2:16-17). 

The first important concept to grasp 

is the phrase “my Father’s house.” The 

Jewish people of the day recognised 

from Scripture that God is a Father to 

his covenant children. “Our Father 

and our King” is language from ancient 

prayer formulas still active in Jewish 

worship today. However to say, my 

Father, was unthinkable. This was a 

day and age when even the sacred 

name of God was not spoken for fear 

of defiling the Holy. By saying ‘my 

Father’, Jesus was making messianic 

connections. 

Though subtle and easy for us 

to miss, to those who heard him it 

Messiah’s zeal, 

Our passion 

James Whitman 

was a shocking claim of exclusive 

relationship evoking Psalm 2:7, Psalm 

89:26-29, and 2 Samuel 7:12-16. These 

sacred texts were front and centre in 

a vibrant cultural conversation about 

the coming Messiah’s identity. The 

result was polarising. Luke’s record 

of the event observes, “Every day he was 

teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, 

the teachers of the law and the leaders 

among the people were trying to kill him. 

Yet they could not find any way to do it, 

because all the people hung on his words.” 

(Luke 19:47-48) 

Further, our Lord’s description of 

the temple as a “house of prayer for 

all the nations” (Mark 11:17), gives 

evidence of his heart for the place and 

the people. We first encountered this 

revelation in another story that took 

place at Passover. At that time, the 

young Messiah answered his parents 

with a single phrase that carries the 

interchangeable ideas of needing to 

be about his Father’s house and his 

Father’s business (Luke 2:49). 

The second important concept to 

grasp is the meaning of zeal, the word 

his first followers chose to describe 

Jesus’ state of mind as he cleansed the 

temple of merchants and merchandise. 

Behind the English word zeal, is the 

Hebrew word qin’ah which means 

ardour or passion. We all know the 

experience of our blood pressure 

rising as we get passionate about a 

subject – that is qin’ah. Some scholars 

have linked the Hebrew word to a root 

related to colour that flushes our cheeks 

when we experience zeal. Zelos, the 

Greek equivalent, suggests being hot 

enough to boil. 

Biblically speaking, ardour is 

manifested in relationships: God 

towards humanity, men and women 

towards God, or between one another. 

Most importantly it can have negative 

connotations (often translated by the 

word jealousy) or positive connotations 

depending on the context. Out of 

which kind of zeal is Jesus acting in 

our story? Said another way, what 

clue does John give us regarding Jesus’ 

motivation that sheds light on his 

actions? 

The third important concept to grasp 

is the early church’s use of Psalm 69 as 

a commentary on the temple incident. 

The New Testament provides evidence 

that Psalm 69 played an active role 

in first-century Judaism’s messianic 

expectation. Not only is it cited or 

alluded to at least six times, but each 

usage also draws on a different verse 

in the psalm showing its rich range of 

application. 

Patterned after the five books of 

Moses (Torah), the Psalter has a fivefold 

division. Psalm 69 is part of Book 

2 (Psalms 42-72), which is categorised 

as, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse” 

(Psalm 72:20). The psalm itself has a 

title attribution as a Psalm of David. So 

when “His disciples remembered that it is 

written, “Zeal for your house will consume 

me,”” (John 2:16-17), they expect us to 

go back to the popular but commonly 

misunderstood figure of King David to 

know what is going on with Jesus. 

The Heart of David 

Perhaps no character in the Old 

Testament is more familiar than 

King David. We have his exploits 

and accomplishments recorded in 

both narrative histories and artistic 

compositions. Most Christians are 

not aware that within Judaism, David 

stands as a powerful voice in the 

tradition of the prophets (see Acts 

2:30). These prophets call God’s people 

to return to him in such a way that 

provides insight into what he has done, 

is doing and will do on earth. 

David’s life consistently exhibited a 

zeal that had three clear components. 

First, it arose from a burning heart of 

love for the God of Abraham, Isaac 

and Jacob. Second, David’s inward fire 

longed to see God’s covenant purposes 

worked out through his people in 

his own and future generations. 

Third, David desired to be an active 

contributor to those loving ends. 

That is why he wanted to build 

the Temple; it represented the one 

true God dwelling in the midst of his 

chosen people to extend his redeeming 

love to the nations. That is why God 

chose David as king and called him a 

man after his own heart. 


“Let heaven and earth praise him, the 

seas and all that move in them, for God will 

save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. 

Then people will settle there and possess 

it; the children of his servants will inherit 

it, and those who love his name will dwell 

there.” (Psalm 69:34-36) 

The Heart of Jesus 

This background provides an 

essential framework for going forward 

in our gospel story. The zeal of Jesus is 

not against his Father’s house, heaven 

forbid! His passion is for God and 

God’s people. His action is directed 

at what the temple had become in the 

hands of greedy and unscrupulous 

leaders. The divine design to reach 

the poor and poor in spirit was now 

working against God’s goals. In 

both Mark and Luke’s account, Jesus 

quotes Jeremiah in his condemnation 

of corrupt religious leaders and those 

who profit by working for them, “but 

you have made it a den of robbers” (Mark 

11:17; Luke 19:46; similarly Matthew 

21:13). 

Sadly, that powerful prophetic 

indictment echoes through the 

corridors of time, ringing true of 

religion in our generation as well. 

However, we cannot see our collective 

selves in the mirror of Scripture if we 

paint all of Israel or her leaders with 

the same brush. The Jewish historian 

Josephus and others recognised the 

problem in their day; there were 

reformers and reform movements 

within Judaism. One prominent part 

of messianic expectation in the first 

century was that God would raise 

a leader like King David to get his 

redemptive project back on track. 

Jesus would do just that, renewing 

the covenants by making them new 

in his death, resurrection, and Spiritoutpouring. 

John makes an intriguing 

edit when he quotes Psalm 69:9. 

Instead of “zeal for your house consumes 

me” he modifies the text to say “zeal 

for your house will consume me” (John 

2:17). What is going on here? The text 

illuminates the temple event, but it 

seems to have more to teach us. The 

early church discerned that Jesus’ allconsuming 

passion for God and his 

redemptive work on earth explain both 

his life and his execution. 

Keep in mind that when a New 

Testament author references the Old 

Testament, they include the context of 

the text as well. When John takes us 

back to Psalm 69, we hear echoes of the 

suffering servant reminding us what 

kind of king we serve. Further, when 

we watch how the psalm is employed 

by an author like Paul (Romans 15:3), 

we see that the reproach and rejection 

Jesus experienced will be, at some 

level, our portion as we attempt to love 

people for whom he died. 

The Heart of a Disciple 

Passion for God, his people and his 

purposes fuelled the entire trajectory 

of Jesus’ life. He encapsulated this in 

his vision of the Kingdom of God and 

identified it as a gift of the indwelling 

Spirit. As a result, his life had a 

cruciform shape long before the cross 

came into view. As our Master, he 

longs to share his passion with us. 

I want you to know that even while 

sharing these thoughts with you I am 

both convicted and conflicted by the 

beauty of this zeal and my natural 

aversion to it; deep down I know 

the cost. I also know from personal 

experience the perils of a counterfeit 

religious zeal that leaves my temple 

unclean and unchanged. 

At the same time, we find tremendous 

encouragement in this story. Jesus is 

indeed our champion defeating Satan, 

sin, and death. The invitation to join his 

redemptive movement reminds us that 

though we have a place in the salvation 

story, it is about so much more than us. 

Partaking in the Messiah’s passion and 

contributing to his kingdom is possible 

— by his Spirit, who generates a dayby-day, 

lifelong quest to be faithful to 

Immanuel. 

On this point, David has much to 

teach us as well. He asked the Lord 

God to share his heart with him, 

repeatedly, over the course of his life. 

When the inevitable failures to live 

out the grace of God in a fallen world 

overwhelmed him, his aim remained 

true because his core passion continued 

to burn. 

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me 

your paths; guide me in your truth and 

teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and 

my hope is in you all day long.” 

(Psalm 25:4-5) 

David Soakell 

Reflections on the past 

to press on in the future 

For those who stand with Israel, 

the months of December and 

January can seem miles apart. 

In one we have the joy of Chanukah, 

Christmas and lights; then suddenly 

we are plunged into the dark days of 

winter and look towards the difficult, 

but much needed, remembrance of the 

Holocaust. Throughout January 2019 

many such remembrance events have 

taken place. 

On 29 th November 1941, Reinhard 

Heydrich invited 14 senior members 

of the Nazi party to a ‘Final Solution’ 

conference. That conference was held 

on the 20 th January 1942 at a beautiful 

lakeside villa in the Wannsee suburb 

of Berlin. It was attended by Heydrich 

and all 14 of the other high-ranking 

Nazis. 

11 million! 11 Million! That was the 

number of Jews sentenced to death 

after what was effectively a 90-minute 

lunch meeting of those Nazi leaders. 

It has become infamous and is known 

as the Wannsee Conference. The 

outcome was that those Nazi officials 

decided upon the ‘Final Solution of the 

Jewish Question.’ It set in motion the 

implementation of a plan to perform 

the systematic, industrial-scale murder 

of all the Jews within Germany’s reach, 

both in Europe and north-west Africa. 

Deciding the fate of 11 million Jews 

was followed by a ‘celebratory’ drink 

of Cognac. 

cont. 


It is important that we realise that the 

Nazi officials who deliberated at Villa 

Wannsee over their ghastly plans for 

exterminating European Jewry were 

all well-educated, with at least half of 

them holding doctorates. Some were 

also the sons of Protestant ministers, 

yet not one of them raised any moral 

objections to this heinous plot. Yes, 

these were powerful men. But is God, 

the God of Israel not more powerful? 

Could he not have intervened? 

A few years ago, whilst out working 

in Israel on one of my many visits, I felt 

the heavy burden upon my shoulders 

of a responsibility to the people of 

Israel. I questioned the Lord, “Could I 

really bring anything worthwhile and 

lasting to these people who carry the 

burden of being ‘God’s chosen’?” But 

chosen for what, they may ask? 

For my News Reports I met and 

interviewed both young and old 

civilians – both religious and secular, 

as well as army commanders. Other 

people included victims of terrorist 

attacks, the many Holocaust survivors 

that CFI minister to… so many people 

6 IN TOUCH • 1 st Quarter 2019 

who have suffered so much. Many 

times I have heard the same response 

from these Holocaust survivors who 

left the death camps of Europe to 

battle for a life in Israel; who witnessed 

their fathers, mothers, friends, family 

and others of the six million Jews 

massacred in the Holocaust at Belsen, 

Auschwitz etc. What were these people 

chosen for? Yet at the end of the day, 

God reigns, and no solution to the 

problem of suffering that questions this 

will ever satisfy. 

During the Holocaust, Rabbi Yisroel 

Spira experienced great suffering as 

many did. He lost his wife and children 

to the death camps during the Shoah. 

Yet it was there, precisely in the valley 

of tears that his holy personality 

stood out. He displayed goodness 

and kindness to his Jewish brothers, 

encouraging each Jew to place his 

trust in the Lord God and to await 

deliverance. After being saved from 

the Holocaust he settled in Brooklyn, 

New York, and it was there that he 

had a great influence on the Jewish 

community. He used to say, “The 

reason I remained alive was so that I 

could continue recounting to future 

generations what happened to us 

during those times.” As anti-Semitism 

is at an all-time high now, we who 

stand with Israel must never forget. 

One story he told was during the 

days of Chanukah, when Rabbi Spira lit 

‘candles’ made from fatty food waste in 

the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. 

The Chanukah Menorah was cut out 

of raw potato and a secret ceremony 

was arranged. But when he recited the 

www.cfi.org.uk 

blessings while lighting the ‘candles’, a 

Jew asked him a question: “Rabbi, even 

if you stubbornly lit the Chanukah 

candles why would you say the 

blessing [“Blessed are you Lord God, 

who has granted us life and sustained 

us and enabled us to reach this time”] 

during a time in which thousands of 

Jews are dying terrible deaths.” “I 

too asked myself this question,” the 

Rabbi replied. “I looked for an answer 

and found one: When I recited the 

blessing, I saw that a large crowd had 

gathered – risking their own lives in 

so doing – to watch the lighting of the 

candles. By the very fact that God has 

such loyal Jews – prepared to give their 

lives for the lighting of the candles – by 

that very fact alone we may recite the 

blessing.” 

A Holocaust survivor I ministered to 

for many years’ survived the Auschwitz 

concentration camp and Bergen- 

Belsen. Her story can be read in my 

booklet ‘Crimes Against Humanity’. 

Helen’s Chanukah menorah (pictured) 

was used during two CFI Chanukah 

events in the North of England during 

December 2018. 

Even in the dark days of winter, we 

have to believe that God is a God of 

miracles, and a God of the impossible. 

One story that really spoke to me 

during Chanukah 2018 was when 

Rabbi Teichtel gave the best German 

response to the hatred and evil of the 

Nazis 80 years ago. He desired to light 

the biggest Chanukah Menorah in all 

of Europe at the Brandenburg Gate 

in Berlin – the very place that Hitler 

called for the destruction of the Jewish 

people. Rabbi Teichtel had his prayers 

answered. 

We have no idea what the rest of 

2019 will bring. But we must stand 

firm, and keep standing with God’s 

ancient covenant people – the Jews and 

the nation of Israel. ‘Am Yisrael chai!’ 

(Israel lives!)

Special Report 

The changing situation 

around Israel 

Robin Lane 

After a year of significant events 

in the Middle East, it is worth 

noting the situation that is 

developing around Israel. So with a 

map of Israel and its neighbouring 

countries in mind, let’s consider the 

situation by moving anti-clockwise 

around the land. 

The Mediterranean Sea dominates 

Israel’s western border and presently seems 

to hold little threat. But the southern section 

contains the Gaza Strip, the source of many 

problems over the last 12 months. Once 

the USA decided to recognise Jerusalem 

as Israel’s capital, Hamas started a long 

series of border protests called ‘The Great 

March of Return’ which yielded a number of 

propaganda successes as Israelis used live 

fire in defence. Hamas also developed the 

troublesome tactic of flying fire bombs over 

the border attached to kites and balloons. 

Thus it surprised many when Benjamin 

Netanyahu reached a ceasefire agreement 

with Hamas in November – especially given 

the support it receives from Iran. Overall the 

events of 2018 seem to have strengthened 

Hamas, enabling it to celebrate its 31 st 

Anniversary on 16 th December in front of 

thousands of supporters and speak of moving 

towards national unity for Palestinians. 1 

Further to the south, the peace agreement 

with Egypt is holding and the Egyptian 

authorities seem to have been very active in 

ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and 

Israel throughout recent months. Indeed, 

there has been covert co-operation between 

Egypt and Israel in tackling the threat posed 

in the Sinai Peninsula by ISIS – a common 

enemy that is still active. 

Turning our gaze round to the south east, 

we see an unlikely ally for Israel in Saudi 

Arabia, largely again because of a common 

enemy – in this case Iran. Sadly, the 

improved relationship has become politically 

toxic after the controversial murder of 

journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 2 

Looking across to the east we see Jordan, 

the second Arab country to sign a peace 

agreement with Israel. As with Egypt, that 

peace agreement seems to be holding, but 

the Jordanians have become slightly less 

co-operative recently over a land ownership 

issue on the border with Israel. 

Further east the picture is very different. 

Iranian leaders continue to state their 

intention to destroy Israel. This is not 

new, but Iran’s actions in supporting and 

equipping both Hamas and Hezbollah have 

become more obvious during the last twelve 

months. Whilst the Iranians do seem to be 

in significant difficulty economically, due to 

renewed sanctions placed upon them by the 

USA, this does not seem to have reduced 

their enthusiasm for attacking Israel. 3 

As we turn our attention further north to 

Syria, we see the most significant changes 

that have taken place recently. At long last 

the Syrian Civil War is almost over, largely 

due to Russian support for Bashar al-Assad’s 

government. Russian forces are now firmly 

established in the country. As a result, Syria 

can start to recover and turn its attention 

back towards its long-term enemy, Israel. 

There have been repeated attempts by Iran 

to use Syria as a route to ship improved 

weapons to Hezbollah, prompting Israel 

to mount a series of air strikes to destroy 

shipments en route. However, the necessary 

communication with the Russians has 

become much more difficult since a Russian 

plane was shot down by Syrians who were 

retaliating against one of those air strikes. 

Immediately to the north of Israel, 

Lebanon continues to suffer weak leadership. 

This leaves Hezbollah in a very powerful 

position in the country – thousands of its 

members are now free from fighting in Syria 

and have gained battle experience there. 

Hezbollah has a significant stockpile of 

weaponry, but it recently suffered a setback 

when Israel publicised its discovery of attack 

tunnels that have been dug in contravention 

of UN Resolution 1701. 

Further to the north Turkey features 

strongly in the situation, having joined the 

alliance between Syria, Russia and Iran 

fighting in the Syrian Civil War. Turkey has 

increased its influence through its large 

army – on one occasion even preventing 

the Syrians and Russians from attacking 

a rebel enclave. President Erdogan has 

previously stated his desire to re-establish 

the Ottoman Empire, and seems determined 

to move against the Kurdish people in North 

East Syria as his next step. Perhaps more 

surprising is his interest in Jerusalem, 

revealed by several sources in a warning to 

the Israeli Prime Minister that President 

Erdogan wants to ‘claim ownership over the 

Jerusalem issue.’ 4 

Finally our attention moves to the far 

north. Russia has become more influential in 

Syria, providing extensive air support in the 

civil war and supplying better anti-aircraft 

defence systems. Russia condemned the 

Israeli air strikes in Syria carried out on 25 th 

December as ‘provocative’ and seems intent 

on asserting more control over the region. 5 

This may seem surprising given the distance 

between Russia and Syria. But it comes 

within the context of Vladimir Putin wanting 

to re-establish Russia as a superpower, 

indicated by the annexation of Crimea in 

2014 and support for pro-Russian forces 

fighting for control of Eastern Ukraine. 

Thus the overall situation around Israel 

bears an uncanny resemblance to that 

described in Ezekiel chapter 38. It would 

be good to watch developments closely and 

continue to pray for all aspects of God’s will 

to be done. 

Footnotes 

1. Hamas leader Haniya says movement wants 

‘national unity’ (www.aljazeera.com) 

2. All you need to know about Saudi journalist’s 

death (www.bbc.co.uk/news) 

3. Iran pledges to destroy Israel within 25 years as 

tensions rise (www.telegraph.co.uk) 

4. ‘Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia warn Israel 

against Turkey’ (www.aljazeera.com) 

5. Russia condemns ‘Israeli’ air strikes on Syria 

(www.bbc.co.uk/news) 


Hebrew Word Focus 

Melissa Briggs MA 

Hebrew University of Jerusalem 

Melissa is an experienced Hebrew 

teacher with a desire to make the 

rich language of the Scriptures 

accessible to Christians. 

הָלְַך Walk 

Halak 

Melissa Briggs 

I 

assumed I would have my life all sorted out by 

the time I reached thirty. As a child, I observed 

respected adults and presumed ‘they must 

have arrived by now.’ In my naivety I thought any 

insecurities or sin struggles would be resolved by this 

point of ‘proper adulthood.’ Relationships would 

be established and stabilised. All doubts and fears 

would be dispelled; plans settled. I would enjoy a 

comfortable status quo. 

Now, firmly in my thirties, I realise there is no cruise 

control in the adventure of life. Life is not just about the 

destination, as glorious as eternity with the Lord will be. 

John Bunyan so aptly described in Pilgrim’s Progress that 

‘life is a journey.’ 

Truly some hurdles have been overcome along the way. 

Many questions have been answered. A number of victories 

have been won. However, new challenges and lessons are 

always around the corner. 

Sanctification is an on-going process that 

cannot be rushed (especially as some of the 

deepest spiritual growth can occur in seasons 

of waiting). Our relationship with God has 

a constant, daily, dynamic, on-going nature. 

God is constantly wanting to reveal himself 

more, to sanctify us more, and to draw us into 

deeper trust and intimacy. 

This adventure with God entails daily 

choices to position ourselves ‘in step’ with his 

Holy Spirit: “Blessed is the man whose strength 

is in you, whose heart is set on pilgrimage” 

(Psalm 84:5). 

The Hebrew word for walk, הָ‏ לַ‏ ‏ְך ‘Halak’ is 

a general term for walking or going. It can 

have the connotation of regularly walking 

in companionship and relationship with another person or 

a way of life. Other words in this same family of Hebrew 

words on the topic of movement include: 

‏’‏Mahalak‏‘מַ‏ meaning journey and הֲלְָך 

Law. ‘halakah,’ the term used for the Jewish Oral הֲלָכָה 

This offers interpretations of the Torah for the daily ‘walk’ 

of Jewish life, encapsulated in the Jewish literature of the 

Mishnah. 

It is closely linked with another verb יָלְַך ‘Yalak’ meaning 

to walk or flow (together). Walking is a metaphor that relates 

to progress, unity and intimacy. 

What does God desire for us and from us? To daily 

walk by faith in humility and love, illuminated by his light 

(which is his Word that became flesh, Jesus) according to his 

instruction (expressed through the holy Scriptures and the 

Holy Spirit): 

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord 

require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk 

humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). 

“For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet 

from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life” 

(Psalm 56:13). 

Any progress in our spiritual life is only by faith. There is 

no other way to grow and move on with God except by faith: 

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, 

as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). 

This means we do not know all the details of our pilgrimage 

ahead of time. It requires trust in his wisdom and plan: “For 

we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). 

There is a Biblical metaphor from farming where a stronger, 

wiser ox is yoked together to a weaker, less experienced ox 

to guide and teach him: 

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and 

humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke 

is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30). 

A modern equivalent to the yoke imagery 

would be a tandem bike. The driver on the 

front of the tandem bike does all the steering, 

so the rider on the back must put their trust 

in the driver to direct them both. All the back 

rider has to do is to choose to get on and pedal 

in sync with the leader to enjoy the benefit of 

arriving where the leader planned. 

God has gifted us with both the map for the 

journey (the life giving instruction recorded 

in his written and living Word), as well as a 

perfect guide, the Holy Spirit, who can be our 

helper and comforter along the way: 

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, 

saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you 

turn to the right or when you turn to the left” 

(Isaiah 30:21). 

Jesus provided us with the perfect example of a walk with 

God, so he is not asking us to take a journey he was not 

willing to take himself. 

“Whoever says he abides in him [Jesus] ought to walk in the same 

way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6). 

Walking according to Jesus’ example is a testimony to 

the world and gives us the basis for fellowship with other 

believers: 

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship 

with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from 

all sin” (1 John 1:7). 

God does not promise we will be exempt from hard or sad 

circumstances, in fact we are told followers of Messiah will 

share in the fellowship of his sufferings. Thankfully he does 

promise that he will stay near to us the whole way: 

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 

will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they 

comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). 

Walking with God started all the way back in Genesis 


when Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden: 

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden 

in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8). 

The whole redemptive narrative is about the restoration 

God desires - a renewal of the way God intended fellowship 

with him to be. 

“And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall 

be my people” (Leviticus 26:12, quoted by the apostle Paul in 

2 Corinthians 6:16). 

We are specifically told that certain men of faith ‘walked 

with God’: Abraham, Enoch, and Noah. 

To begin walking with God first requires a decision to 

meet with him: “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to 

meet?” (Amos 3:3) 

Jesus invites us on a journey to take up our cross and 

follow him (see Luke 9:23). When we enter through the 

gates of salvation it is not the end of our walk but only the 

beginning of it (see Matthew 7:13). 

God provides the example, the light, the guidance and the 

companionship - everything we need for the journey. 

“For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet 

from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life” 

(Psalm 56:13). 

The other option is to walk in darkness and the Bible 

warns us firmly against taking this wide path that leads 

to destruction: “Let us walk properly as in the daytime” 

(Romans 13:13). 

Have you begun the adventure of a ‘halak’ with God? Are 

you daily enjoying his precious, sanctifying companionship, 

help and guidance as you navigate the joys and challenges of 

life? He delights to ‘halak’ in fellowship with his children. It 

is what he intended all along. 

“For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we 

will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever” 

(Micah 4:5). 

If you are interested in learning the Hebrew language through online tuition (or in person if you 

are local to Berkshire), or if you are interested in hosting a Hebrew language day for a group 

in your area, please contact Melissa for more details at: hebrew.explore@gmail.com 

or at: www.explorehebrew.co.uk 

The IHRA working definition 

of antisemitism 2016 

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may 

be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical 

manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish 

or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward 

Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” 

To guide IHRA in its work, the following examples may serve as 

illustrations: 

Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of 

Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of 

Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot 

be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges 

Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used 

to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in 

speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister 

stereotypes and negative character traits. 

Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the 

media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, 

taking into account the overall context, include, but are not 

limited to: 

• Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews 

in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of 

religion. 

• Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonising, or 

stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of 

Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the 

myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling 

the media, economy, government or other societal institutions. 

• Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or 

imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or 

group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews. 

• Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) 

or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the 

hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and 

accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust). 

• Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing 

or exaggerating the Holocaust. 

• Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to 

the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests 

of their own nations. 

• Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, 

e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a 

racist endeavour. 

• Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not 

expected or demanded of any other democratic nation. 

• Using the symbols and images associated with classic 

antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) 

to characterize Israel or Israelis. 

• Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that 

of the Nazis. 

• Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state 

of Israel. 

Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by 

law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of 

antisemitic materials in some countries). 

Criminal acts are antisemitic when the targets of attacks, 

whether they are people or property – such as buildings, schools, 

places of worship and cemeteries – are selected because they 

are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to Jews. 

Antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of 

opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in 

many countries. 

Response Requested 

Please confirm your agreement with this definition on the 

accompanying Response Form and return in the enclosed 

envelope, or let us know by email to: challenge@cfi.org.uk 



Resources www.cfi.org.uk/shop call: 01323 410 810 

UPROOTED – Lyn Julius 

Who are the Jews from Arab countries? What were the relations with Muslims like? What made the Jews leave countries 

where they had been settled for thousands of years? What lessons can we learn from the mass exodus of minorities from the 

Middle East? Lyn Julius answers these questions and more in Uprooted. 

She also assesses how well Jews integrated into Israel and how their struggles have been politicised. It charts the clamour 

for recognition, redress and memorialisation and how their cause can contribute to peace and reconciliation. 

The British born daughter of Iraqi–Jewish refugees, Lyn graduated in International Relations from the University of Sussex. 

Her work has appeared in the Guardian, Jewish News, Ha’aretz, Standpoint and Huffington Post, among other media. 

B498 // 340 page book // £18 (incl. UK p&p) 

WORSHIP AND THE REVELATION – Ron Herms, JC Studies 

This is a set of three lectures in the Haverim series that were given by Dr Ron Herms at a seminar held on 22nd April 2017 

at the Centre for Judaic-Christian Studies, Dayton, Ohio, USA. He explores the way the Book of Revelation “re-imagines 

worship for all of life.” The three resulting messages give very useful insights for understanding the last book of the Bible. 

Disc 1: The Cosmic View of Worship Disc 2: The Civic View of Worship Disc 3: The Communal View of Worship 

Ron is Dean of the School of Humanities, Religion and Social Sciences at the Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, California. 

Prior to this he worked at Northwest University as Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Co-founder and Director of the 

Master’s in Theology and Culture, and Chair of the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies. A native of Ottawa, 

Ontario, Canada, Dr Herms’ qualifications include a PhD in New Testament Theology from Durham University. 

CDS135 // 3 CD SET // £13.50 (incl. UK p&p) 

TRIBES OF ISRAEL – Cheryl Hauer 

Bible stories will come alive for your children / grandchildren (ages 7-12) as they read about tribal life during the times of 

the patriarchs. 

They will gain an understanding of the nomadic lifestyle, so different from their own, that will provide a richness and depth 

to the already well-known stories of Joseph and Moses. 

This book also includes activities that will enrich their understanding, such as colouring a tribal map, making a tribal 

banner, creating their own tribe and writing a journal using their imaginations as to what tribal life was like. 

B495 // Large 32 page children’s book // £6.50 (incl. UK p&p) 

MADE IN ISRAEL – DVD Narrated by Gordon Robertson, CBN 

The State of Israel is roughly the size of Wales, and yet it has the largest number of start-up companies per capita in the 

world. Israel also has more companies listed on the NASDAQ exchange than all of Europe. 

Gordon Robertson takes an inside look at Israel’s remarkable innovation and ingenuity, producing breakthroughs in products 

and processes that affect the way we live our everyday lives. This five-part documentary explores Israel’s scientific advances 

in agriculture, water, medicine, environment and technology. 

It received three Daytime Emmy ® nominations in 2014. 

D146 // DVD // £12.00 (incl. UK p&p) 

Postal savings on multiple items 

MAGNETIC – MAP OF ISRAEL – 3D Relief Map of the land of Israel today 

Feel the contours of the Holy Land with this 3-dimensional, topographical, magnetic map of Israel. Featuring modern day cities, 

nature reserves and biblical tourist attractions such as Tel Dan, Tel Megiddo, Caesarea, Shiloh, Qumran and Masada. 

“You shall mark out your eastern border from Hazar Enan to Shepham; the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the 

east side of Ain; the border shall go down and reach to the eastern side of the Sea of Chinnereth; the border shall go down along the 

Jordan, and it shall end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land with its surrounding boundaries.” (Numbers 34:10-12) 

Scale: 1 inch = 37 miles 

MA2 // Size 21cm x 10cm // £4.50 (incl. UK p&p) 

MAGNETIC – BIBLE LAND – 3D Relief Map of Israel in Biblical times 

Feel the contours of the Holy Land with this 3-dimensional, topographical, magnetic map of Israel in Biblical times. This educational 

souvenir features the Land of Israel as divided up between the twelve tribes of Israel and includes tribe territories, regions, towns, 

ancient roads and holy places. 

“.. And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according 

to their divisions.” (Joshua 18:10) 

MA3 // Size 16cm x 9cm // £4.00 (incl. UK p&p) 


FESTIVALS & EXHIBITIONS 2019 

CFI UK are planning to exhibit at the following national events 

EVENT CITY 

MANCHESTER 

13-14 MARCH, 2019 

13-17 APRIL 2019 

BIG CHURCH DAY OUT SOUTH 

WISTON HOUSE, STEYNING, WEST SUSSEX, BN44 3DZ 

GORDON CASTLE ESTATE 

Fochabers, Scottish Highlands 

21st – 27th July 2019 

NewWine 

The East of England Showground, Peterborough 

WEEK 1 

July 27–August 2 

+ 

WEEK 2 

August 4–10 

LINCOLNSHIRE 

SHOWGROUND 

23 - 27 AUG 2019 

SANDOWN PARK 

ESHER, SURREY 

15-17 OCTOBER, 2019 

facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk www.youtube.com/cfiuk

In Touch Quarter 1 - 2019

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