In Touch - 4th Quarter 2021

4 th Quarter 2021 • No 209
Christian Friends of Israel
United Kingdom
You have made your people
Israel your very own forever
1 Chronicles 17:22
INSIDE: EDITORIAL The Gospel Continues • Yad Sarah • HEBREW WORD FOCUS - The Name • 52 Sabbaths • Annual Conference Report
Abraham Accords • New Policy for Gaza • CFI Links Report • Festivals Report • RESOURCES

Christian Friends of Israel
United Kingdom
Editorial
Jacob Vince
The Gospel
Continues
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, a weekly audio Middle
East Report and distributes the
Haverim teaching CDs.
Please contact us 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.
IN TOUCH Magazine
Published by:
CFI Charitable Trust
PO Box 2687
Eastbourne
BN22 7LZ
Tel: 01323 410 810
Email: info@cfi.org.uk
www.cfi.org.uk
Registered Charity
No. 1101899
Registered Office c/o
Caladine, Chantry House
22 Upperton Road
Eastbourne, BN21 1BF
Company No: 04984515
VAT Registration No: GB678780275
facebook.com/cfiuk
twitter.com/cfi_uk
youtube.com/cfiuk
Front cover photo:
Mahane Yehuda Market, Israel.
Following last edition’s
editorial ‘What is the
Gospel?’ highlighting the
essential Jewish connection
of the gospel, this editorial
continues in similar vein.
Do we ever stop to realise what a
privilege we have, to live in one of
the generations following the first
coming of Jesus?
The apostle Peter writes, ‘It was
revealed to them [the prophets of old]
that they were not serving themselves
but you, when they spoke of the things
that have now been told you by those
[the apostles] who have preached the
gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent
from heaven. Even angels long to look
into these things’ (1 Peter 1:12).
How astounding, not just that
‘angels long to look into these things,’
but that those of old had it ‘revealed
to them that they were not serving
themselves,’ but the ones to whom
Peter was writing. We should be so
grateful they were not self-serving,
but rather giving service.
We love to look back to the days
of the patriarchs, prophets and
psalmists of old and long to have
lived in their day or during the
time of Jesus. But they themselves
all looked forward to the time of
the gospel’s outworking and the
Holy Spirit’s empowering of future
generations.
Jesus himself says, “Abraham rejoiced
at the thought of seeing my day; he
saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56).
Paul explores this same concept of
the gospel, ‘The Scripture foresaw
that God would justify the Gentiles
by faith, and announced the gospel in
advance to Abraham: “All nations will
be blessed through you.”’ (Galatians
3:8).
Another extraordinary statement
to make! The gospel announced
to Abraham in advance which, as
with all the covenants, was made
with a specific person, but for the
benefit of every person.
The apostle Paul explains it as
a mystery now revealed, ‘This
mystery is that through the gospel
the Gentiles are heirs together with
Israel, members together of one body,
and sharers together in the promise in
Christ Jesus.’ (Ephesians 3:6).
It is through the gospel that
Gentiles are included, although in
some measure this was always so,
as we see from the earlier promise
made to Abraham. Paul shows that
the Gentiles are heirs with Israel,
not separate from Israel, so far as
the gospel is concerned, and Israel
are not separate from the Gentiles.
Yet both maintain their identity.
The nations do not become Israel
and Israel is not the nations.
It is clear, then, that the patriarchs,
prophets and psalmists served the
later generations, but so do the
apostles, ‘This is the gospel that you
heard and that has been proclaimed to
every creature under heaven, and of
which I, Paul, have become a servant’
(Colossians 1:15-25). The apostle
Paul realises that, like those before,
he now is also serving the gospel.
Indeed, Paul recognises that, ‘Christ
has become a servant of the Jews on
behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the
promises made to the patriarchs, so
that the Gentiles may glorify God for
his mercy’ (Romans 15:8-9).
So how should we, in the largely
gentile Church, respond to
this great service of the Jewish
patriarchs, prophets, psalmists and
apostles, who Jesus also served?
Well, shortly after Paul describes
how he has fully proclaimed the
gospel of Christ from Jerusalem
all the way around to Illyricum
(see Romans 15:19) and stated his
ambition to do so further afield,
even to Spain (see Romans 15:24),
he mentions that ‘If the Gentiles have
shared in the Jew’s spiritual blessings,
they owe it to the Jews to share
with them their material blessings’
(Romans 15:27). We can do this
today as Christian friends of Israel.
2 IN TOUCH • 4 th Quarter 2021

Charity Feature
Yad Sarah is Israel’s unique
countrywide network of
volunteers who provide
a spectrum of free or
nominal cost services
designed to make life
easier for sick, disabled,
elderly and isolated people
and their families.
Founded in 1976, Yad Sarah provides
home care support services to make
it possible for people to remain at
home in the warm, supportive, familiar
environment that is most conducive to
recovery.
Free lending of medical and rehabilitative
equipment from over 100 branches all
over Israel is Yad Sarah’s best-known
service. The service is professional, free of
bureaucracy, friendly and compassionate.
One out of two Israeli families has been
helped by Yad Sarah at some time. Yad
Sarah is a household name in Israel – ask
any Israeli!
YAD SARAH’S MAIN SERVICES
Lending Medical-Rehab Equipment
The public can borrow from over 300,000
items of medical and rehabilitative
equipment, for mobility, respiration,
orthopaedics, new-borns, bedroom and
bath - for quality of life at home while
recovering.
Guidance & Exhibition Centres
Professional practical guidance on
assistive devices is given in model
apartments that show the equipment
available to help the frail or disabled
person be independent and safe at home.
Information is provided on entitlements
from public and private bodies.
“Housepital” A hospital room at home
Yad Sarah lends everything needed to
create a hospital environment at home
– hospital bed, treatment chair, patient
hoist, oxygen machine, personal response
alarm and anything else needed to
recover at home with family.
Personal Alarm Systems
Elderly people living alone can find peace
of mind (and so can their families) with
the two-way transmitters which connect
to Yad Sarah’s national computerised
emergency centre, 24 hours a day. A touch
of the button and help is on the way.
Transportation
Specially equipped vans with volunteer
drivers take wheelchair-bound people to
medical or social appointments, school,
shopping, or any purpose. For many this
is the only opportunity to leave home.
Da’at Medical Information Service
Information on diseases, treatments,
medications, side effects - garnered from
global databases by volunteer medical
and paramedical professionals, to help
patients understand and make good
choices.
Legal Aid for the Elderly - “Yad Riva”
Estates, wills, guardianships, disputes
with neighbours or within families, elder
abuse – volunteer lawyers and social
workers help elderly people cope, assist
them with legal documents, and even
provide courtroom representation.
Geriatric Dental Clinic
Volunteer dentists provide a full range of
specialized care for the aged. This is one
of the few geriatric dental centres in the
world, and it trains specialists. Mobile
clinics and portable treatment kits serve
homebound people.
Yad Sarah for Tourists
Yad Sarah now provides personalised
services for tourists with special needs.
A ‘personal anchor’ will coordinate your
arrangements and stay in touch with
you throughout your stay, to deal with
every eventuality and provide solutions
for problems or changes that may occur.
Advance notice is usually required for the
services, all provided by volunteers. They
include:
l Equipping your hotel room to make
your stay more comfortable.
l Borrowing medical / rehab equipment
(from any Yad Sarah branch
countrywide).
l Borrowing oxygen cylinders /
concentrators.
l Transportation to and from the airport
(Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa).
l Inter-city and inner-city transportation
- for sightseeing or other purposes.
l Advice about easy access tourist sites.
And last of all – if, heaven forbid,
something should happen to you while
in Israel, it won’t take long for your host,
hotel or guide to lead you to Yad Sarah for
crutches, a wheelchair, a walker or a cane.
For advance arrangements please contact:
E-mail: friends@yadsarah.org.uk
Phone: 020-3397-3363
923 Finchley Road, London, NW11 7PE
4 th Quarter 2021 • IN TOUCH 3

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.
Visit: www.explorehebrew.co.uk
The Power
of a Name
שֵ‏ ם
SHEM
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10)
I
know a pastor’s wife who was once held at they ask me, ‘What is his name?’… God said to Moses,
יהוה gunpoint in a car park. She bravely stared “I am who I am. This is what you are to say…: ‘I am
the gunman in the eye and said: “Go, in has sent me to you.’ God also said to Moses, “Say to the
Jesus’ Name!” And without a word the startled
Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent
man stepped back and ran away, leaving her
me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call
purse and everything he had intended to hurt
me from generation to generation” (Exodus 3:13-15)
or steal behind.
God’s names are descriptive and sacred. Through
them he expresses aspects of his divine nature.
Together they help paint an increasingly clear picture
of who he is. There are at least 37 Hebrew shemot
(plural of shem) for God used in the Tanakh, and more
in the New Testament.
Why is the name of the Lord so significant and powerful?
A name in Hebrew tells us about the essential
character or the destiny of the person who bears it.
Biblical Hebrew names express more about the person
than the typical modern, western choice of names.
Sometimes God saw fit to change the name of a
person, in order to reflect the way he wanted to
change their calling or nature: Avram to Avraham, Sarai
to Sarah, Yakov to Israel. Revelation 2:17 talks about a
‘new name’ given to overcomers (see also Isaiah 62:2).
The Hebrew word for ‘name’ is ם ‏-שֵ‏ shem. And ‘Shem’
is the name of one of Noah’s three sons. So his name
is Name! However, in Hebrew the
word shem means more than just our
modern idea of “name” – it also refers
to a person’s fame, renown, identity
or reputation. Hence, in Genesis we
read of: “…men of great renown [shem]”
(Genesis 6:4).
‘Shem’ is the root word of the term “Shemite” or
Semitic. The Semitic languages are a family of
languages that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Akkadian,
Amharic, Ugaritic and more. The term anti-Semitic
also comes from the word ‘shem’, but refers only to
hatred of the Jewish people, and not all descendants of
Shem.
Knowing someone’s shem is a primary point of
connection for a relationship. It is often the first bit of
information exchanged when new people meet. How
amazing that God desires to make himself known to us!
What a watershed moment in human history when
God reveals his holy shem to Moses:
אֶ‏ הְ‏ יֶ‏ האֲ‏ שֶ‏ ראֶ‏ הְ‏ יֶ‏ ה
Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh
Which is translated into English as: “I am who I am”
or “I will be who I will be” – encapsulating the truth
that God is the Existent One – the One who brought
everything into being and who is, who was, and who
is to be:
Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites … and
4 IN TOUCH • 4 th Quarter 2021
I am who I am
Lord. Shepherd. Judge. Holy One. Jealous. Deliverer.
Most High. The God who Provides. The God who Heals.
Redeemer. Shield. Strength. Righteous One. Everlasting
God. God our Rock. King. Father. God of Covenant.
Saviour. God of Seeing. The Branch. The Lord is There.
The Lord Who Sanctifies. The Lord our Righteousness.
Jewish people often refer to God
simply as “Ha-Shem”, meaning
“The Name”. Based on a passage in
Leviticus which warns: “anyone who
blasphemes the shem of the Lord is to be
put to death,” (Leviticus 24:16) along
with the commandment not to take
the Lord’s shem in vain (see Exodus 20:7), the Jewish
people are very careful and respectful in how they
refer to the Lord.
The shem of God is not a magic word. It is God
himself who holds the power, rather than simply his
name in a disconnected, separate way. But since this
Name is used to identify and describe the mighty God,
it is very special: “For, ‘everyone who calls on the shem of
the Lord shall be saved.’” (Romans 10:13). The very first
mention of prayer in the Bible is in Genesis where it is
written, “At that time people began to call on the shem of
the Lord.” (Genesis 4:26).
As the redeemed, we are ambassadors and
representatives of the Great King. We have great
responsibility and authority as we act in his Shem.
Let us revere and call on the Shem of the Lord, who is
worthy of great renown: “Salvation is found in no one
else, for there is no other name (shem) under heaven given
to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
If you are interested in learning the Hebrew language through online tuition, 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

Feature
David Hoffbrand
52
SABBATHS
Reading the Bible without the filter
of our traditions allows us to see
clearly the truths we have missed”
To receive David’s free weekly 52 Sabbaths series sign up at: www.sabbath.love
When it comes to the
Sabbath, we often
throw out the baby
of learning with the bathwater
of legalism.
Jesus said, ‘The Sabbath was made
to meet the needs of people, and not
people to meet the requirements of
the Sabbath’ (Mark 2:27 NLT). He
said this to correct the Pharisees’
legalistic interpretation and
application of the Sabbath
commands.
Jesus also affirmed by this that
the Sabbath was designed to
meet our needs! After the
Exodus God said to Moses,
incredulous that some of the
Israelites were ignoring his
Sabbath instructions – ‘They
must realise the Sabbath is the
Lord’s gift to you’ (Exodus 16:29
NLT). Jesus was expanding
on this truth – the Sabbath is a
gift – and challenging the way
that Pharisees had turned God’s
gift into a burden. He was not
questioning the validity of the
Sabbath, quite the opposite!
In 52 Sabbaths I explore week by
week what it means to unwrap
God’s gift of the Sabbath.
For instance, it helps us to trust
and look to God for our source of
true identity and support, rather
than to our ‘ordinary work’. It
teaches us to look inwards and
examine our own motives, our
thinking and emotional state,
giving space for God to bring
restoration and transformation.
It teaches us to love and honour
others, starting with our families
and those closest to us. We are
instructed to ‘stay in our place’ on
the Sabbath. And it also teaches
us to partner with God in building
a caring and just society, as
stewards of the word he has given
us. Everyone, including servants,
foreigners, even work animals
and the land – are to experience
the same blessing of rest and
provision. The Sabbath reminds
us that whatever our status, we
are all ultimately equal in God’s
eyes. It therefore helps provide a
platform for a compassionate and
just society.
The Sabbath occupies a quarter
of the verses relating to the
ten commandments, yet we
have relegated it to a place of
inconsequence or irrelevance, at
best an afterthought.
If we have an overly simplistic
delineation of ‘old’ vs ‘new’, ‘law’
vs ‘grace’, that often accompanies
replacement theology, then this
can easily follow.
Yet the Sabbath was the first thing
called holy in the Bible – not a
place, a person, or a thing - but this
simple block of time. Jesus may
be our ‘Sabbath rest’ in certain
respects, but God is immensely
practical, and knowing Jesus does
not negate our need for bodily
rest and spiritual refreshing, or for
investing time and energy in our
loved ones. Quite the contrary,
following Jesus should enhance
our capacity and awareness of
all of these, and how the Sabbath
helps.
God linked his initial
commandment to observe the
Sabbath to his own act of creation.
Just as I rested you need to rest. The
Sabbath predates the Torah even,
reminding us that we are made
in his image. It acts as a weekly
reminder of who and whose we are.
The series I wrote is not about
adopting Jewish rabbinic symbols
and rituals, even though people
may find some of these helpful
– e.g. bread, wine and candles
to usher in the Sabbath – and I
reference Jewish learning where
useful. But fundamentally, the
series is about rediscovering the
relevance of the Sabbath for our
everyday lives and learning how
to apply its principles.
The Sabbath helps us stay in
rhythm with God, in step with
his purposes. We neglect it at
our peril, not because we miss
an imaginary tick-box, but
because we miss the blessings and
benefits it brings.
In today’s time-pressured,
information-saturated age, I
think we need more than ever to
rediscover the gift of the Sabbath
and the oasis that it offers us. It
is one of God’s primary answers
to the ills of anxiety, loneliness,
stress, and disconnection that beset
us.
As Walter Bruggerman said, ‘those
who live the Sabbath differently
tend to live the other six days
differently too’. It is time for the
followers of the Jewish Messiah,
both Jews and Gentiles, to embrace
the fullness of God’s gift of the
Sabbath and discover all that it can
do to enhance the lives, families,
and communities we are building.
4 th Quarter 2021 • IN TOUCH 5

Event Report
CFI UK Annual Conference 2021
Embracing the Jewish Jesus
There was a tangible set of emotions
for those of us anticipating our
Annual Conference. We were
emerging from Lockdown, and the
opportunity for fellowship, teaching and
encouragement in a physical setting came
with a huge sigh of relief.
But that was tinged with concerns for each other,
our staff and supporters, with responsibilities
for safety after pandemic restrictions were eased.
We were able to provide some socially-distanced
seating and implemented a one-way system for
toilets and refreshments.
It was a unique conference as we streamed the
teaching live on YouTube and many watched
from around the UK in church halls and living
rooms. We were blessed to be hosted at a new
venue, Suncoast Church Eastbourne, where the
welcome was warm, the atmosphere friendly
and conducive to worship and fellowship. Rob
and Julie Smillie – joint pastors of the church –
and their team served us very well, especially on
sound desk and technology.
Sadly, our original speaker Andy Angel was
unwell and shortly before the conference
we were praying for a replacement. David
Hoffbrand graciously stepped in and was a real
blessing for us all. His straightforward, easy and
humorous delivery was a breath of fresh air and
perhaps his position as a believing Jew from a
modern, academic, orthodox Jewish background
brought a unique challenge. His ten points
on the truth about Israel were clear and wellillustrated
with scriptures. His call to REWIRE
Jacob Vince
Hosting the event
Rob & Julie Smillie
Venue hosts
was great – we must slow down, revolutionise our thinking
and REad WIthout REligion.
He then went on to share the implications for the Church
regarding the ‘One New Man’ in Christ, covering five
biblical principles for Jewish and Gentile believers to live
and worship together as one people before God.
All three of David’s messages spoke to the very heart of
our work with churches in the UK and the widespread
misunderstandings about Israel and the Jewish people.
6 IN TOUCH • 4 th Quarter 2021

and King
Jesus said to him, “Have
I been with you so long,
and you still do not
know me, Philip?”
John 14:9
“I stand in awe of your
deeds Lord; in wrath
remember mercy”
Habakkuk 3:2
Conference Feedback
“I attended the conference for the first time this year and had my socks
blessed off in so many ways! David Hoffbrand’s sessions were particularly
edifying. He spoke with warmth, humour and clarity making very
profound truths about Israel and the church very simple to understand
and highlighted the importance of being aware of the ‘lens’ we read the
Bible through and how this directs and limits our understanding and our
relationship with Yeshua.”
North Yorkshire
“It was truly ‘a feast’. I have been encouraging more of my family and
friends to watch it on YouTube. Sorry about the other speaker’s illness
and pray he will speedily recover… but this may well have been what we
needed to hear at this time. Thank you and the team for all your incredible
hard work.”
Southampton
“I thought the conference was first class and although last year’s
conference was wonderful this years was on a par with it… I found it all an
excellent weekend well prepared and presented I really hope that CFI will
continue with online Conferences.”
West Midlands
Robin and Suncoast Team Livestreaming the event
David Hoffbrand
The Jewishness of Jesus
Clare Lambert
Jesus the Returning King
On Saturday afternoon, Clare Lambert rounded
off the conference with her message about Jesus
Returning as King, explaining the significant positive
impact upon our personal lives that can flow from a
correct perspective on God’s faithfulness and Christ’s
forthcoming return.
Robin Lane led the livestreaming of messages and
they have been viewed more than a thousand times on
our YouTube channel, still freely available to watch.
CFI UK Resources Stall
twitter.com/cfi_uk
facebook.com/cfiuk
youtube.com/cfiuk
4 th Quarter 2021 • IN TOUCH 7

News Feature
Working Together
The Abraham Accords one year on
Demonstrating their friendship and willingness
to continue working together in their region,
the ambassadors from Israel, the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain sat for a panel discussion on
14 th September, one day before the first-year anniversary
of the Abraham Accords, and brought together by the
Abraham Accords Peace Institute (AAPI).
AAPI president and executive director Robert Greenway, a former
White House National Security Council official who played a key
role in reaching the agreement, introduced Jared Kushner, former
President Donald Trump’s senior advisor tasked with leading the
Israeli-Arab peace process.
Kushner said that after he and Greenway left the government
earlier this year, they established AAPI in order to make sure that
the accords could meet their potential.
“The Abraham Accords is the rare foreign-policy effort that has
achieved a bipartisan consensus, and this is very, very important,”
said Kushner. Describing the first 12 months as the “warm-up
period”, Kushner noted that Israel has exchanged ambassadors
with Bahrain and UAE, opened an embassy in Dubai and a
consulate in Abu Dhabi, and inaugurated a diplomatic mission to
Morocco.
The UAE has opened an embassy in Israel and entered into a
visa waiver program, with the result that it has been visited by
230,000 Israelis despite the Covid-19 pandemic and related travel
restrictions.
Bahrain has appointed an ambassador to Israel and established
the world’s first bilateral agreement for Covid-19 vaccine
passports.
Commercial airlines have begun operating nonstop flights
between Israel and cities in the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt,
as well as a flyover agreement with Saudi Arabia.
In total, Kushner said, there have been 35 diplomatic agreements
coming from the accords and hundreds of business transactions
in areas of innovation, tourism, sports, culture, science, air transit,
and technology.
Jared Kushner, the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, Sept. 14, 2021.
The most celebrated accomplishment from the accords was the
drastic increase of trade between its members. Israel’s trade with
the Accord’s members increased by $687 million last year and is
projected to reach $1 billion by the end of this year, according
to Kushner. “This means that more jobs and opportunities will be
available for Jews, Muslims and Christians throughout the entire
region.”
Kushner said that the institute’s role would be to help grow trade
and tourism between the members of the agreement and help
expand normalisation to other countries in the region, making it
a block of stability.
“The more we strengthen the bonds between these countries,
the more we will remove a tool from the propagandists and
agitators who have used this conflict for decades to divert from
their shortcomings at home and maintain their grip on power,”
he said. “For the first time in decades, the pathway forward in
the Middle East is obvious. Let’s do whatever it takes to pursue
normalisations and persuade other countries in the region to join
the Abraham Accords.”
Kushner said that there are several more countries looking
to join the accords and welcomed notable attendees at the
event in addition to the panelists, including American and
foreign ambassadors, and officials from the Biden and Trump
administrations.
Greenway then moderated a panel discussion with three
ambassadors: Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad
Erdan; UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba;
and Bahrain Ambassador to the United States Shaikh Abdulla bin
Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. continued on page 8 opposite.
AAPI president and executive director Robert Greenway, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan, UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba
and Bahrain Ambassador to the United States Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa Sept. 14, 2021. Photos Dmitriy Shapiro.
8 IN TOUCH • 4 th Quarter 2021

News Feature
A NEW
POLICY
FOR GAZA
In mid-September Israel’s Foreign
Minister, Yair Lapid, presented a
long-term plan intended to advance
economic prosperity, security and
stability for the Gaza Strip.
In the first stage Israel would facilitate
the rebuilding of Gaza’s electricity, water,
health care, housing and transport in
exchange for a coordinated effort against
Hamas’s military build-up. A second stage
would then include construction of a port
and a transportation link between the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Speaking at
a conference at the Institute for Counter-
Terrorism in Herzliya, Lapid said:
“The international community and the
people of Gaza need to know that Hamas
terrorism is what’s standing between
them and a normal life. We need to tell
Gazans at every opportunity – Hamas is
leading you to ruin. No-one will come and
invest real money, and no-one will try to
build an economy in a place from which
Hamas fires and which Israel strikes on a
regular basis.
“The representative body of the
Palestinians isn’t Hamas, but the
Palestinian Authority. Israel won’t hand
out prizes to radical terror organisations
and weaken the authority that works
opposite us in an organised manner.”
Lapid sees both the Palestinian
Authority (PA) and Egypt as key partners
in this plan to rehabilitate Gaza. It
seeks to empower the PA by giving
it responsibility for the crossings.
The first stage would see Gaza’s
electricity system repaired, its gas
infrastructure connected to regional
suppliers, and a water desalination
plant built. There would be significant
improvements to the health care system
and the rebuilding of housing and
transport infrastructure. In exchange,
Hamas would commit to long-term quiet.
A full ‘economy for security’ plan
would be laid out in the second stage,
to incentivise Hamas to accept the
Quartet’s three Principles (recognise
Israel, renounce terror and respect
previous agreements between Israel and
the PA). That stage would include: an
artificial island project off the coast of
Gaza that will allow for the construction
of a port; construction of a transportation
link between the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank; encouragement by Israel
of international investment inside the
Gaza Strip; joint economic projects with
Israel, Egypt and the PA. In addition,
industrial and employment zones
would be built near the Erez Crossing.
Speaking at the same conference,
Israel’s Defence Minister, Benny Gantz,
referred to relations with the PA:
“We have a political dispute with the
leaders of the Palestinian Authority,
which must be resolved, but we share a
common desire for peace and security
for all those who live between the sea
and Jordan. It is for this reason, that
I decided to meet with Palestinian
Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas,
who has been working against terrorism
over the years, in the interests of his
people and his national vision.”
“In these challenging times, coordination
with the Palestinian Authority and
strengthening the Palestinian economy is
dozens of times better than strengthening
Iranian proxies on our borders.”
With thanks to BICOM (British Israel
Communication and Research) for
permission to draw upon their articles.
continued from p8
According to the panelists, the Abraham Accords provide tangible
evidence of the benefits of peace agreements in the region.
They include tourism thriving, despite the pandemic, and trade
flourishing to where the UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin
Touq estimated $1 trillion in trade between Israel and the UAE
over the next decade.
Gilad Erdan said, “This is a peace that everyone can see its fruits
quite easily. This is a combination that will make it resilient –
a resilient peace and a peace that I can say with confidence
is irreversible and it will definitely make other Muslim and
Arab countries follow suit and expand this circle of peace. And
honestly, I also hope that the Palestinians – mainly, the young
generation, their youth – once they’ll be exposed to the dividends
and the fruits of this peace, maybe they will stop looking at it as
a threat and look at it as an opportunity for them for the future
as well.”
Al Otaiba said that even if his country falls short of its goals by
reaching only $750 billion in trade over the next decade, it will be
an “acceptable failure.”
Greenway added that trade between Israel and Bahrain had
also jumped 300 percent, and that experts predict the overall
increases in Gross Domestic Product as a result of the accords
could reach $1.5 billion and 2,700 extra jobs by 2025.
Al Khalifa said that Bahrain is on a trade route and that being
open to different cultures and ethnic backgrounds is in their
DNA. It was noted by Greenway that long before the Abraham
Accords, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa made an official
declaration calling for religious tolerance and coexistence in
October 2017.
“Israel is known as the start-up nation. We’re seeing
entrepreneurship in Bahrain going up. In the past, it used to be
everyone looking for a government job. Today, it’s very different,”
said Al Khalifa. “What the Abraham Accords does is provide that
opportunity for growth. And we’re starting to see it.”
Erdan concluded the discussion by recognising two members
of the Knesset in the audience who have joined to start the
Abraham Accords Caucus: Ruth Wasserman Lande of the Blue and
White Party and Ofir Akunis of Likud.
With thanks to JNS (Jewish News Syndicate) for permission to
draw upon their article.
4 th Quarter 2021 • IN TOUCH 9

Links Report
Julia Soakell
Riding the Ups and Downs
CFI Regional Links and Church Links
We might think we are recovering from
the pandemic and that things might “get
back to normal”, but many believers have
prayed that the UK Church and the nation at large
would not return to the way things were.
Instead, they want personal walks to be deepened and
churches to be more alive, ready to serve their communities.
However, some of our CFI Regional Links and Church Links
have encountered discouragement. A number have returned
to churches in financial disarray, and others have seen
denominational policy changes, especially within the Methodist
movement.
Certain Church Links have seen a change in leadership. Where
before they found favour and had permission to display and
distribute free CFI literature somewhere in their building, they
have now been told that Israel is divisive, or their heart for Israel
is not shared by the new incumbent. We ask all our supporters
to pray for these situations and for the UK Church at large to
embrace its Hebraic heritage, earnestly seeking to find out
more about the Jewishness of Jesus – the theme of our recent
Annual Conference in Eastbourne with David Hoffbrand the main
speaker. The teaching sessions are now available on CD, DVD
and USB stick. They can also be freely viewed on our CFI UK
YouTube channel and have continued to receive excellent
feedback – especially from our CFI Links.
for CFI information, literature, and helpful points for prayer for
Israel. These have helped people stay connected and continued
to bring unity and fruitfulness in persevering prayer for Israel and
the Jewish communities. Others have had brilliant opportunities
to participate in groups praying for Israel during the pandemic,
teach on the biblical feasts and share with Lydia groups and
ladies’ groups. Another Link has seen a growing interest in Israel,
the Jewish people and praying for Israel too over the past few
years. We give the Lord all the praise.
One Church Link has had a real burden for praying about the
Palestinian education system, where hatred is promoted. We
have been able to share this topic for prayer and are seeing
the Lord work mightily in bringing change as we pray for these
innocent and vulnerable children whose minds are being harmed
by their schooling.
Please pray for the Lord’s favour upon our Regional Links and
Church Links, especially as many are planning their annual
Holocaust Memorial events for January 2022. Pray that they will
clearly know God’s direction, protection and leading in all they do
in these roles.
For more information about those roles please email Julia Soakell
at julia.soakell@cfi.org.uk.
There are also great answers to prayer for Church Links. A church
in the Isle of Wight has been a hub for believers with a heart for
Israel and the Jewish people for many decades because of the
legacy of supportive ministers. This changed about six years
ago, but the Churchwardens, one of whom is a CFI supporter
along with his wife, who is a CFI Church Link, helped the church
continue during an extended vacancy. Many prayed for them
whilst awaiting for the appointment of God’s choice for their new
vicar. They prayed fervently for someone who would view Israel
positively. In her recent update for the display at the annual
conference, our Church Link wrote that although these difficult
days are now gone and they have such a minister, the challenge
became COVID-19, but thankfully the fellowship has thrived and
is back to meeting in person.
Several Church Links around the country set up WhatsApp groups
10 IN TOUCH • 4 th Quarter 2021

Festivals Report
Face-to-Face
Events Return
The ONE EVENT, held at Lincoln Showground for decades had been
a great environment for a CFI UK resources stall in past years.
This August Bank Holiday 2021 we were back for the 40 th and last ever ONE
EVENT, as the team re-configure and update. So the CFI UK team of Jacob Vince,
and Carol Andrews from the Eastbourne office and David and Julia Soakell, from
the Northern office, took the one day outdoor opportunity to meet with Christians
from around the country at our CFI UK resources stall. We were truly blessed with
a beautiful day and our gazebo housed a wide range of resources and lots of free
literature to hand out. We were able to greet many long-term supporters who were
so grateful to see us there and back to engaging with believers from the wider church
in the UK.
Great conversations at all levels of understanding meant we were able to answer
questions as well as pose questions about what individuals thought about Israel and
its relevance. We answered questions on books, booklets and DVD’s to help further
people’s understanding and recommended topics for church and group Bible studies.
It remains clear that there is vital need to engage with Christians in this informal and
helpful way and we pray that much more fruit will come from these conversations and
resources in time to come for the life of the church locally and nationally.
CRE National 2021
It was really good to take our resources stall to the Christian
Resource Exhibition (CRE) in Sandown again this year. Hundreds
of people clearly enjoyed the exhibition after missing out on it
last year due to Covid-19. There were many smiles and greetings
as visitors browsed round stalls and chatted to representatives of
the numerous organisations represented.
Friends from previous years came to the CFI UK stall to greet us
and check out the latest additions to our range of books, DVDs,
booklets and pamphlets. We made some new contacts and had
fascinating discussions ranging across topics such as which day
to treat as the sabbath and why so many Christians think God
has rejected the Jewish people.
As well as selling many resources, we presented a seminar on
Tuesday 12th October, titled ‘Encouragement from the Biblical
Festivals’. It was well received by the audience – some of whom
travelled to the exhibition on that day to hear this message.
The need to understand the Jewish context of the Bible is key to
understanding these festivals and being encouraged in the faith
as a result. Even the first five books of the Bible, sometimes
dismissed as ‘the Law’, clearly reveal the grace of God.
It was not surprising, therefore, that we sold a good number of
copies of the book titled ‘The Jewish Jesus’ by David Hoffbrand,
which is one of the latest additions to our range and proving
very popular due to its clarity and accessible style.
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4 th Quarter 2021 • IN TOUCH 11

04984515
reserved.
A CFI UK Teaching Series on 4 MP4s
Cover image: Copyright © CFI UK
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EMBRACING THE JEWISH JESUS AND KING – Hoffbrand & Lambert
CDS
138
Resources www.cfi.org.uk/shop.php
Bible
EXPLORE
EMBRACING THE
JEWISH JESUS
AND KING
The CFI UK Annual Conference 2021
David Hoffbrand & Clare Lambert
Bible
EXPLORE
A CFI UK Teaching Series on 4 CDs
CONFERENCE SERIES
EMBRACING THE
JEWISH JESUS
AND KING
The CFI UK Annual Conference 2021
David Hoffbrand & Clare Lambert
For resources call: 01323 410 810
Postal savings on multiple items
EMBRACING THE JEWISH JESUS AND KING – CFI UK Conference 2021
David Hoffbrand, Clare Lambert
David Hoffbrand is an author, speaker and singer-songwriter who is based in Brighton and shares oversight
responsibilities for CityCoast Church, Brighton, with his wife Denise. David delivers three messages about
reading the Bible without religion so as to get a more accurate picture of Jesus, his identity, his teaching and the
way that he wants Gentile and Jewish believers to live for him. Clare served for more than 20 years with her
husband, Shaun, minister of a Baptist church in Stanmore, North London. She highlights the significance of Christ’s
forthcoming return and its relevance to us within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Disc 1: The Jewish Jesus (David Hoffbrand) Disc 2: The Church and Israel (David Hoffbrand)
Disc 3: One New Man (David Hoffbrand)
Disc 4: Jesus Returning as King (Clare Lambert)
CDS138 // 4 CD set // £9.50 (incl. UK p&p) D158 // 4 DVD set // £13.50 (incl. UK p&p)
FD002 // 4 MP4 set on USB // £9.00 (incl. UK p&p)
Product code FD002 UK Retail Price: £8.00
(Video format: MP4. System requirements: USB MacOS 10+, WINDOWS 7+)
Copyright & Distribution by CFI Charitable Trust
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Registered Charity No:1101899 – VAT Registration No: 678-7802-75 – Company Registration No: 04984515
The teaching material on these CDs is copyrighted by CFI Communications. All rights reserved.
EXPLORE
Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it (Jeremiah 6:16)
Explore the subject of Israel in the Bible, history, current affairs and Church heritage.
CONTENTS
Speaking on the basis of his book titled ‘The Jewish Jesus’, David Hoffbrand delivers
three messages about reading the Bible without religion so as to get a more accurate
picture of Jesus, his identity, his teaching and the way that he wants Gentile and Jewish
believers to live for him.
In the fourth message, Clare Lambert highlights the significance of Christ’s forthcoming
return and its relevance to us within the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
Disc 1: The Jewish Jesus (David Hoffbrand)
Disc 2: The Church and Israel (David Hoffbrand)
Disc 3: One New Man (David Hoffbrand)
Disc 4: Jesus Returning as King (Clare Lambert)
David Hoffbrand is an author, speaker and singer-songwriter who is based in Brighton
and shares oversight responsibilities for CityCoast Church, Brighton, with his wife Denise.
Clare served for more than 20 years with her husband, Shaun, minister of a Baptist church
in Stanmore, North London.
THE JEWISH JESUS – Reconnecting with the Truth about Jesus, Israel & the Church
David Hoffbrand
What relevance does it have that Jesus is Jewish and what difference might it make to our faith? David explores
answers to these and related questions in an accessible way. As we see how Jesus lived, thought and taught as
a Jewish man, we can come to know him like never before, and find his teachings come alive in their original
context. This helps us to appreciate the Jewish context of the whole Bible, rediscover God’s heart and purposes for
the Jewish people and Israel, engage with God’s blueprint for the Church as a unified but diverse community of
believers, and learn principles to restore the Jewish lens in a way that enriches our faith.
B524 // 220 pages // £12 (incl. UK p&p)
THE RETURNING KING – Clare Lambert
When Clare Lambert visited Israel for the first time, she could not have imagined the revelations that would
follow. Encountered by God, she was made to reconsider everything she thought she knew about Christ’s return
and the Lord’s continuing purposes for Israel. Sharing her experiences, Clare invites us to look afresh at our own
beliefs and our understanding of current events in the Middle East. Commanded as we are by Jesus to watch, it is
vital in these turbulent times for Christians to understand the significance of Israel and its people. One day soon
Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, the Lion of Judah, will return as King to rule the nations – and he is calling his Church to
be ready! Clare invites us to look afresh at our our understanding and current events in the Middle East.
B29 // 159 pages // £10.50 (incl. UK p&p)
READING MOSES – SEEING JESUS – Seth Postell, Eitan Bar, Erez Soref
This book, published by One For Israel, examines the believer’s relationship to the five books of Moses (the Torah)
and its commandments (the Law). Noting that Jesus kept the Law, it considers the obligations for believers
(Jewish and Gentile) to keep the Law. It also examines the Oral law (Rabbinic Traditions) and how we might apply
the law of Moses today. Its aim is to provide easy-to-understand answers to the questions related to the Torah,
and to do so in a manner thoroughly rooted in a careful reading of the biblical text.
B523 // 128 pages // £13.50 (incl. UK p&p)
SIFTING THE EVIDENCE – THE WORLD OF THE BIBLE (DVD) – Dr Chris Sinkinson
What does archeology tell us about the Bible? Join presenter and archeologist Dr Chris Sinkinson as he visits
great sites of the Holy Land, including the original ‘City of David’, the Temple platform, Capernaum, Magdala,
Golgotha and more, interviewing local archaeologists and biblical commentators. This two-part DVD provides
an excellent way to tour Israel virtually, whilst explaining and confirming the historical accuracy of the Bible.
D157 // 101 mins // £11.50 (incl. UK p&p)
Contact: CFI Communications, PO Box 2687, Eastbourne, BN22 7LZ
Tel: 01323 410810 Email: info@cfi.org.uk YouTube: www.youtube.com/CFIUK Web: www.cfi.org.uk
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