In Touch - 3rd Quarter 2022

3 rd Quarter 2022 • No 212
Christian Friends of Israel
United Kingdom
The Lord will take delight in you,
and your land will be married
Isaiah 62:4
INSIDE: EDITORIAL – Line and Land continues • New at CFI Jerusalem • HEBREW WORD FOCUS – Shepherd • Exhibition Report
Synod of Oxford 800 th • British Mandate 100 th • Israel’s Coalition Crumbles • Luther and Antisemitism • Give Israel Credit • RESOURCES

Christian Friends of Israel
United Kingdom
Editorial
Jacob Vince
Line and Land
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
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Front cover photo:
Bride and Groom at Kfar Bar’am,
Northern Israel 2022
As we seek to reference
all Scripture (2 Timothy
3:16), a good test is
whether what we write or
teach is found throughout,
in all four sections of Law,
Prophets, Psalms (Luke 24:44)
and Apostles (Acts 2:42). All
inspired so equal weight given
to all.
The scriptures themselves never
elevate one part over another,
unless by repetition.
We pick up the theme from In
Touch 1 st Quarter 2022 editorial,
which tracked the line and the land
from the twin covenant promise
made to Abraham of a child and a
country, recorded in the first part
of scripture, the Law.
We look now at the line and the
land in the Psalms’ section, where
once again both are prominent.
This section includes the wisdom
books, the book of Ruth, where the
family line of David is recorded,
the five books of the Psalms, and
the post exile books culminating
in the summary history book of
Chronicles.
Almost all Christian Bible teachers
would see connections in the five
books of the Psalms to the ‘line’
of Israel’s Messiah, too many to
mention here, but to take as an
example the most quoted psalm in
the Apostles’ teaching, including
by Jesus, apostle Peter in his first
sermon, apostle Paul and the writer
to the Hebrews,
The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand until I make
your enemies a footstall of your
feet.” (Psalm 110:1)
Followed by,
The Lord has sworn and will
not change his mind: “You are
a priest for ever, in the order of
Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4)
But how many Christian Bible
teachers see the connection to the
covenant promise of the ‘land’ of
Israel? Yet in the Psalms it is here
most clearly and emphatically
presented toward the end of the
fourth book.
‘Remember the wonders he
has done, his miracles and the
judgements he pronounced.
O descendants of his servant
Abraham [Israel], O sons of Jacob
his chosen ones. He is the Lord our
God, his judgements are in all the
earth. He remembers his covenant
forever, the word he commanded
for a thousand generations.
The covenant he made with
Abraham, the oath he swore to
Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as
a decree, to Israel as an everlasting
covenant’
And what is this spectacularly
introduced everlasting covenant,
To you I will give the land of
Canaan as the portion you will
inherit’ (Psalm 105:5-11;
1 Chronicles 16:12-18)
Apart from changing ‘Abraham’
to ‘Israel’, these exact words from
Psalm 105 are repeated verbatim in
1 Chronicles 16.
Note the poetic balance, Israel is
asked to remember the wonders of
the Lord their God, as God, in turn,
remembers his covenant promise of
land. It is repeated in the Bible to
assist in remembering. Scriptures’
repetitions are always most
important.
So, as the third part of the Bible
concludes, we see in Chronicles
both the land and the line promises
prominent. Chronicles has the
most references to genealogy of any
book, fifteen or so, showing both
the line of the priesthood and the
royal line of David, and, as we have
already noted, also prominent is
the land promise in the earlier text
repeated from the Psalms.
2 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2022

Update
Introducing the new executive
director of CFI Jerusalem
Shalom to our UK friends
Our God is a faithful God. He has certainly shown himself faithful
to me over the years, not least in very recently returning me to
Israel, so that I can now say together with the psalmist,“our feet
are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.” (Psalm 122:2).
This recent move fulfils an assurance I was blessed to receive before I
departed from Israel when I lived here previously, over ten years ago. I had
been here working for the ministry, Bridges for Peace, thinking I had come
for perhaps a few months, but in reality this happily turned out to be a few
years. I was working in what for me was a dream role, leading work groups
on many types of volunteer projects across Israel. It enabled me to assist in
the lives of Israelis from all sorts of different backgrounds; a calling I yearned
to fulfill, whilst at the same time providing me with an opportunity (living as
I did within the Old City of Jerusalem) to grow amongst people and places
Galya and Tristan Hall, CFI Jerusalem
that taught me so many treasured lessons. Anyone who has visited Israel will
know what I am alluding to. The echoes of the stories of the many places of the land of the Bible continue to reverberate
throughout the ages; they have not dimmed. And in common with many people, when I left Israel to return home, I left a
different man to the one who had arrived. I was never the same again.
Our feet are standing within
your gates, O Jerusalem
Originally from Cornwall, in my student days I read history, and the latent archaeologist within me understands why the
psalmist said of Jerusalem, “Your servants take pleasure in her stones, and show favour to her dust.” (Psalm 102:14). Howbeit,
I eventually became a surveyor and valuer and had seasons in commerce when not absorbed in Israel-related ministry. And
as interesting as my professional work was, my feet grew increasingly itchy as I waited and prayed for the next opportunity
to move forward once again in the call to serve the Lord amongst the Jewish people. Imagine the joy when my wife was
asked to work for the Zionist Federation in Cape Town (where Galya, my wife, hails from). Cape Town has a wonderful,
close-knit Jewish community and the friendships between the Jewish and Christian communities there are beautifully
close. It was really a gift to us to become part of strengthening those bonds. Before we left the UK, we also had a growing
conviction that Lord would eventually lead us back to Israel from the tip of Africa, although we kept this mostly to
ourselves as we were aware it may have sounded a bit outlandish (and perhaps to some, a bit crazy) especially as we had
three children under ten with us.
Yet, this is exactly what our faithful God has done. What a joy for us (and the children, too) to live once more in Israel and
serve with Christian Friends of Israel, Jerusalem. Galya was privileged to work for several years at CFI Jerusalem in the past,
working alongside Sharon in project Streams of Blessing, and I have long admired the Ruth ministry of CFI, since I first read
some of Derek White’s booklets in the early days of my walk with the Lord. Now the times in which we live have grown
darker, but the light is burning brighter, and we have seen how friends of Israel, faithful friends such as you – the readers of
In Touch, are not fair-weather friends but have truly stood with Israel in the good times, and the hard. This is the hallmark
of true friendship. Galya and I are privileged to be able to serve alongside you in this most special ministry.
Tristan Hall, Executive Director, CFI Jerusalem
3 rd Quarter 2022 • 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 Lord is
my Shepherd
‏ֹעֶ‏ ה
Ro’eh
Shepherd
I
always sing “The Lord is my Shepherd” if a
child wakes from a bad dream in the night.
Subdued in those late hours, they close
their eyes as Psalm 23 gently washes heavenly
comfort over them.
I end the song in whisper tones as they settle back to
sleep. The Lord is with them. He cares for them. He is
watching over them.
The Shepherd heart of the Messiah is so beautiful and
reassuring. But when Jesus spoke of being the “Good
Shepherd”, his original Jewish audience, who knew
their Scriptures well, would have also realised his
claim had much more to it than poetic sweetness.
For Jesus to claim the title “Good Shepherd” was for
him to link himself to the Old Testament passages
that explained a coming Shepherd would defend and
rescue his “flock” with strength and power – and that
this Shepherd would be God himself. So to his Jewish
listeners, this was an assertion of Deity, which evoked
not only warm, comforting feelings, but also a sense of
shock and warnings of coming judgment.
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will
search for my sheep and look after them. As a Shepherd … I
myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down … I will
bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek
and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with
justice. As for you, my flock … I will judge between one
sheep and another, and between rams and goats.
(Ezekiel 34:11-17 condensed)
The reality that the Lord is my “Shepherd” means
that he has a plan for my provision and protection.
He is responsible for those things, as so beautifully
described in Psalm 23. My responsibility is to stay
close to him, listen, obey and follow. Yet if I fail to
do those things, if I get lost, the Shepherd does not
disown me. He heroically seeks me out to rescue and
restore me to his flock:
Then Jesus told them this parable:
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of
them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country
and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he
finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.
Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says,
‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that
in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over
one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous
persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:3-7)
The Hebrew word for Shepherd, ה ‏,‏ro’ehרֹעֶ‏ speaks of
the Shepherd’s role to provide sustenance and safety,
as it literally means one who ‘grazes’ and ‘tends’ a
flock. It comes from the verb עָ‏ ה ra’ahרָ‏ meaning
‘to pasture, tend, and graze’. Ro’eh is also closely
associated with the word for a ‘friend’ or ‘companion’
‏,‏re’ahרֵ‏ (i.e. ‘one who is known’) which reminds us עָ‏ ה
of the passage in John’s gospel where Jesus explains;
I am the Good Shepherd, and I know my sheep and my sheep
know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the
Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:14)
How amazing that the Lord himself was and is the
promised coming Shepherd;
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small
among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one
who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.” … He will stand and shepherd his
flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name
of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then
his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
(Micah 5:2, 4)
Jesus’ reference to himself as the “Good Shepherd”
has so many connotations that are lost on most of
us today (e.g. Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34). In the time
period and culture of Jesus’ First Century ministry,
a ro’eh had an extraordinarily close relationship with
his flock – different from modern, western herding
techniques. It is such good news that Jesus the
Messiah is not only our gentle, nurturing ro’eh, but
also one who fiercely defends us with an unmatched
loyalty, intimacy and devotion! Let him lead you,
nourish you, protect you and carry you.
… “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with
power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is
with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends
his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that
have young. (Isaiah 40:9-11)
If you are interested in learning the Hebrew language through online tuition please contact
Melissa for more details at: hebrew.explore@gmail.com or at: www.explorehebrew.co.uk
4 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2022

Exhibition Report
BIG Church Festival 2022
3-4 June 2022 – Wiston Estate, West Sussex
Having set up our stall
the day before, we
arrived at the festival
site early on Friday morning in
hot, sunny weather.
We had plenty of time to get a
drink and browse the other stalls
in the Expo before visitors started
to come in at 10:30am. Jacob soon
discovered that Jews for Jesus
and Ebenezer International also
had stalls there, as well as larger
organisations like the Bible Society,
Tear Fund, Christians Against
Poverty and Barnabas Fund.
When visitors did start to come
in, there were plenty of them! So,
it was not long before we were
engaged in conversations and
showing people the resources we
had on sale. Despite being one of
the largest books we stock, David
Pawson’s ‘Unlocking the Bible’
again proved popular, as did one
of the newer books in our range,
‘Reading Moses, Seeing Jesus’.
Written by three Messianic Jews
from the One For Israel ministry,
it is a fascinating look at the
relevance of the Law of Moses.
Thankfully, from our perspective,
the weather clouded over early on
the Friday afternoon, maintaining
Jacob Vince welcomes visitors to the EXPO stall
a comfortable temperature in the
huge Expo pavilion. With three of
us in attendance, we were able to
have two on the stall at any one
time and one taking a break, giving
each of us time to explore some of
the rest of the festival. There we
saw fairground rides, a variety of
food stalls, thousands of people
and, of course, the music stages.
Dozens and dozens of people
continued to walk around the
Expo, producing a fairly steady
stream of interest in our stall. Some
were long term supporters of ours,
wanting to browse the latest books,
others had no real knowledge
of Israel or ourselves at CFI UK.
We gave out many copies of our
‘In Touch’ magazine, as well as
copies of our free booklets, such as
‘Questions Questions’. By the time
the Expo closed at 8pm we were
very grateful to drive home for
some rest.
In terms of the weather, Saturday
started completely differently with
light rain and high humidity after
a fair amount of overnight rainfall.
Many of the festival goers started
to come into the Expo in rain gear
and wellies, although the rain soon
stopped and things dried out fairly
quickly.
Some conversations that second
day were more challenging.
One couple had recently seen
some of the difficulties involving
land disputes between Jews and
Arabs and were interested in our
stance on Israel’s claims to the
territory. Another visitor was
acutely aware of the extreme views
that the subject of Israel arouses
between members of different
communities in the UK, but was
still interested in some of the
Hebrew-background resources we
were selling.
Thus it was that by 8pm on
Saturday we were weary after
much talking, and glad to be able
to pack down and head for home.
Robin Lane on the stall inside the EXPO tent
Thousands enjoy the music festival and stalls
Jacob Vince discussing the In Touch magazine
The EXPO tent with other exhibitor stands
They were two busy days, but well
worthwhile in terms of presenting
our work to many who had not
heard of us, as well as providing
useful resources that we hope will
encourage people in the faith.
3 rd Quarter 2022 • IN TOUCH 5

Event Report
Dr James Patrick
Synod of Oxford 1222,
800 th anniversary service
Service of Repentance: Bishop Michael Ipgrave, Rabbi Jonathan Romain, Bishop Steven Croft
Photo: Tom Pilston / Diocese of Oxford
On Sunday 8 May, bishops of the Anglican
and Catholic churches gathered in
Oxford’s Christ Church Cathedral to
“acknowledge with shame and penitence” and
“apologise” for the antisemitism of the Synod
of Oxford, 800 years ago. How was the church
moved to do this?
In 2017, I published two booklets about British
Christian history and the Jewish people [see Resources
on back page], and during my research I came across
the 1222 Synod of Oxford. This was a nationwide
church council, as foundational for English church law
as Magna Carta was for English state law. But it also
passed several anti-Jewish laws, including the first
badge of shame which later developed into the Nazis’
yellow star.
In 2019, the Anglican Church published its official
document on Christian-Jewish relations, God’s
Unfailing Word [see Resources on back page]. At the
end of its first chapter about the history of Christian
antisemitism, it encourages Christian communities to
take suitable opportunities to express repentance for
this. I asked a Jewish historian friend at synagogue
whether he thought this might be a worthwhile event,
and he encouraged me to write a paper summarising
what scholars have written about the 1222 Synod
[see In Touch 208 page 11]. Then I should submit it
to the Anglican Church to investigate, and we would
see if they were genuine in what they had said about
repentance.
I spent several months researching and writing the
paper, finishing the footnotes after the first lockdown
in 2020. Over the period I had become a member of
the Love Never Fails coalition of British
pro-Jewish Christian ministries, and they
wanted to send a thank-you letter to the
Archbishop of Canterbury for the 2019
document. I suggested they add a proposal
about repenting for the 1222 Synod, and this
was agreed. We sent our letter on Holocaust
Memorial Day (27 th January) 2021, but
received no official reply; the Archbishop
was away on sabbatical.
Then in June’s LNF meeting, Jacob Vince of
Christian Friends of Israel UK told us that
as a lay member of the Church of England
General Synod he has a right to ask formal
questions. He and I worked together to
write two questions, which were submitted
for General Synod in July. In his reply,
Bishop Michael Ipgrave (chair of the Council
of Christians and Jews) confirmed that our
proposal had been received, and said that
they would be “exploring the idea of such a service”
of repentance. But this vague answer was buried at
the end of a long list of questions, and only published
online. Even so, during the weekend, an eagle-eyed
reporter with the Daily Telegraph newspaper found
this small paragraph and published a major article on
the Sunday about the Anglican Church repenting to the
Jews. This was picked up by many other papers in the
next few days, and we were delighted.
Still, we heard nothing more for about six months;
maybe they were hoping people would forget?
Eventually Bishop Christopher Cocksworth (chair of
the group who wrote the 2019 document) replied to me
on the 3 rd January. He had also been on sabbatical, but
he confirmed that plans were underway for a service in
Oxford, organised by the Archdeacon of Oxford. After
more emails, and much prayer, it was decided that
the service would be held at Christ Church Cathedral
Oxford, that it would be open to the public, and that it
would be livestreamed also.
I circulated the information about ticket bookings
around all the LNF ministries and many other pro-
Prayer Gathering (Pastor Phil Herklots leading). Photo: Toby Hudson
6 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2022

Salt Pouring Ceremony
Photo: Toby Hudson
Civic Reception
Speech given by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
Jewish groups. On the day, the Bishop of Lichfield commented to friends of mine
afterwards that he was astonished to see the cathedral so full. Over 300 had booked
in and travelled there from every part of the UK, even some from Ireland and
Switzerland!
I also asked a good friend, Pastor Phil Herklots, to lead an informal prayer
gathering in a nearby venue after the service, on behalf of the churches of Oxford.
This happened while some 60 of us went to the invitation-only ‘civic reception’ with
the Chief Rabbi and other dignitaries. Over 100 gathered at Blue Boar House to
pray for blessing upon the Jewish people and for more repentance in the church.
Finally, in a small ceremony of about 25 people, we gathered in the gardens of
Christ Church to pour salt from a new pottery jar into the now underground
Trill Mill stream which re-joins the River Thames to flow down to London. We
proclaimed, like the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 2:19-22, “This is what the Lord says:
I have healed these waters, they shall no longer cause death or animosity or barrenness.”
God accomplished every step of the process, in his mercy for our land.
What a glorious, special and amazing occasion this is! The warmth, the sense
of unity and of friendship is just so palpable, and I’d like to congratulate
those who conceived of the idea, those who have delivered it, those who
have brought it to reality, and it certainly is a historic occasion here in Oxford today.
In Jewish history, medieval England is well known for a number of firsts, but all for
the wrong reasons. In 1144, when William of Norwich was missing, this became the
first country in which there was a blood libel against the Jews. Many others followed,
Photo: Jewish News
and many, many others in other countries as well. And then in 1222, which we are
commemorating today, as a result of the Synod of Oxford, Jews were forced to wear an identification badge and this sign of shame, of
degradation, was repeated time and again through Europe, including of course, the yellow Star of David badge which Jews were forced to
wear in Europe during the Holocaust. In 1290, there was another first. Under Edward I, the Jews were expelled from this country.
But roll on many centuries, you will arrive at 1942, where this became the very first country in which a formal organisation was
established, whereby Jews and Christians could engage in constructive and harmonious debate, learning and discussion, to build fresh
bridges for the future. It was then that the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple and Chief Rabbi Joseph Hertz established the Council
of Christians and Jews. Ever since that time, many other councils of a similar nature have been established around the world, including the
International Council of Christians and Jews, and many other organisations dedicated and committed to interfaith activity all going back
to that original first, established here in this country. And thanks to CCJ, during the past eighty years, so much magnificent work has been
carried out, so many activities and events, so many statements, so many actions. It comes to mind immediately as being the response, the
wonderful response in this country, to Nostra Aetate in 1965, the way in which thirty years ago, Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey
became the first archbishop in a hundred and fifty years to refuse to become the patron of the church’s ministry to the Jews. How just
three years ago, in 2019, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby published ‘God’s Unfailing Word’, which is such a significant way forward
for all of us. Earlier this year, in Winchester, the unveiling of that amazing statue to Licoricia of Winchester. And now, this event today,
so much to celebrate. If there is a verse of the Bible which comes to mind right now, ’hinei ma tov uma na’im shevet achim gam yachad –
‘behold, how pleasant it is when brothers and sisters come together in a spirit of unity’ (Psalm 133:1). That is the mood, that is the tone of
today’s wonderful event.
But let me pose the question to you: Why both terms? Tov and na’im – how good and pleasant it is. If it is good, then it must be pleasant;
if it is pleasant, it must be good?! But actually, that is not necessarily the case. I can think of certain things which are good, but they
might not be pleasant, such as medical procedures. I can think of many activities which are really pleasant, but certainly not good.
But when people come together in a spirit of unity and togetherness with enormous warmth, it is good and it is pleasant. There is no
downside. There is no weakness in it, it is brilliant, it is wonderful, without exception and that is the tone, that is the mood and that is the
atmosphere of today’s wonderful event.
However, let us not forget that we are still on a journey. There is still so much more that needs to be done, and so much more that must
be done. 1222 is identified by historians as being a turning point, but it was a notorious turning point. Let us guarantee that 2022 will be
seen by future historians as a turning point for the better. So therefore, arising out of this historic event in Oxford today, let us ensure
that we will strengthen Jewish-Christian understanding, that we will celebrate what we have in common and understand and respect each
other for our differences. Let us guarantee that we will strengthen our co-operation and friendship. Let us guarantee that we will stand
together in order to fight against all forms of hatred, bigotry and racism, wherever they are carried out, and against whoever they are
perpetrated.
Let us ensure that together we will fight for freedom of religious expression and identity in a world in which there are many who want
to weaken the place of religion in the public square. Let us resolve to guarantee today that we will strengthen our Judaeo-Christian
values which are the bedrock of our society and civilisation, for the sake of strengthening not just Jewish-Christian relations but through
everything we do in the future, may our work lead to a more harmonious and better world. May God bless you all.
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3 rd Quarter 2022 • IN TOUCH 7

Event Report
British Mandate 100 th Anniversary
Pathway for Peace 6 JULY 2022
Luncheon event hosted by Caroline Ansell MP, at the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House
SPEAKERS: Lord Leslie Turnberg Col. (res.) Shaya Charsit Andrew Tucker
Israel is Kosher!
Jewish state’s legitimacy clarified
at Parliamentary reception
by Charles Gardner
Israel is kosher – a Jewish way of
saying that it’s perfectly legitimate.
And this was made clear in no
uncertain terms at a Parliamentary
reception in London.
Held to mark the centenary of the
British Mandate for what was then
known as Palestine, the message of the
event emphasised the international
legality of the Jewish state, constantly
questioned by politicians and media in
today’s world.
International lawyer Andrew Tucker
said the finding of the United
Nations Human Rights Council that
Israel’s ‘occupation’ of Palestinian
territory was the chief cause of the
Middle East conflict was a serious
misunderstanding of history by those
who had forgotten what the Mandate
was all about.
It was in London in 1922 that the
League of Nations approved a plan
for Britain to effectively prepare the
ancient Jewish homeland for statehood
in a legal arrangement known as a
Mandate. Following the collapse of
the Turkish Ottoman Empire, France
was given responsibility for Syria and
Britain for Palestine.
In Israel’s case, boundaries were
drawn around a region far greater
than that eventually settled by Jews.
But Winston Churchill, then Colonial
Secretary, ceded the vast area east of
the Jordan River to the Arabs.
Australian-born Mr Tucker, now based
in Holland where he heads up The
Hague Initiative for International Cooperation
(thinc), believes Churchill’s
action amounted to the two-state
solution we hear so much about today
– still Britain’s official policy.
At the very least, all the territory from
the Mediterranean to the Jordan was
originally earmarked for Israel in the
1922 agreement, which confirmed
the intentions and decisions of the
1917 Balfour Declaration and the
subsequent San Remo Treaty of 1920.
In truth, Israel occupied no-one’s
territory, either then or now.
“We already have a two-state solution
in my view,” Mr Tucker said in
referring to the creation of Jordan.
The Mandate, he said, referred to the
right of the Jewish people to settle in
Palestine, which raised the question of
how Jewish settlements in Judea and
Samaria (the West Bank) – the very
heart of Israel – could be considered
illegitimate.
What happened was that Jordan
illegally annexed those areas in
the War of Independence of 1948/9
before Israel reclaimed them in 1967
while choosing not to exercise their
authority there.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation,
meanwhile, are committed to the
Shaya Charsit addressing the gathering
destruction of the Jewish state and,
in any case, have never committed
themselves to a two-state solution.
“We’ve allowed history to be
forgotten,” Mr Tucker said, adding
that we are now seeing “a war of
lawfare” with the United Nations
consistently undermining Israel’s
position whereas the Mandate was
a genuine attempt to enable people
to achieve the independence they
deserved.
Also addressing the gathering was
the peer Ian Austin who said the
accusation by Amnesty and others of
Israel being an apartheid state was “a
complete and utter disgrace” as well
as an insult to black South Africans
who suffered a brutal regime.
Sharing his story was Shaya Charsit,
a retired colonel with the Israeli Air
Force and a survivor of the tragic
Exodus debacle of 1947, a particularly
black moment in British history. With
4,500 Jews on board, the ship was
refused entry to Israel by the British
authorities and sent back to Germany,
home of their tormentors!
Polish-born Shaya, 88, referred to
the 1939 White Paper restricting
immigration to the Holy Land at a
time when his people needed it most
as a betrayal of the Mandate.
But he felt “on top of the world” when
he finally made it to Israel, where he
fought in a succession of wars for their
survival.
8 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2022

News Report
Israel’s governing
coalition crumbles
On Monday 20 th June, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid
announced their decision to seek the dispersal of the
Knesset, leading to a new election later this year. The
relevant bill passed its first vote just two days later but there
followed more than a week of negotiations as members of the
opposition parties sought to form a new coalition without the
need for another election. Those efforts failed and the Knesset
was dispersed on Thursday 30 th June with the next election
scheduled for 1 st November.
Consequently, Lapid took over from Bennett as Prime Minister
and will hold that office until a new government can be formed
after the election. Naftali Bennett now serves as Alternate Prime
Minister, retaining responsibility for issues relating to Iran.
When he made the initial announcement, Bennett listed his
government’s achievements including: stabilising the economy,
overseeing a wave of COVID without a lockdown, preventing
renewal of the JCPOA whilst maintaining the relationship with
the United States, achieving the quietest year in decades in the
south, restoring national pride, resisting threats from Hamas,
stopping aid money being delivered to Hamas in suitcases, and
dealing with a wave of terror attacks.
Lapid described Bennett as “a vital Israeli leader, innovative
and brave”, and praised him for “putting the country before
his personal interest” in deciding to disperse the coalition
government. He went on to say, “What we need to do today is go
back to the concept of Israeli unity, not to let dark forces tear us
apart from within. We must remind ourselves that we love one
another, love our country, and that only together will we prevail.”
The coalition’s downfall
The coalition formally lost its razor-thin majority on 6 th April
with the resignation of Idit Silman, the coalition chairperson. It
struggled on for some weeks, needing support from members of
the opposition to pass new laws. But then came a bill to extend
civil law to Jewish communities in the West Bank, at which two
more members of the coalition decided to rebel. And despite
normally supporting this policy, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud
party also voted against, preventing it from passing into law.
That policy is important and has been extended every five years
since 1967. So, when Naftali Bennett realised that it could
not be bypassed or extended beyond its 30 th June deadline
without a Knesset vote, he decided the coalition could no longer
govern successfully. With dispersal of the Knesset, the policy
will automatically extend until three months into the next
government’s term of office.
Prospects for the future
As Leader of the Opposition, Benjamin Netanyahu claimed credit
for the government’s downfall and described it as the “worst
government in the history of the State of Israel”. He vowed he
would form the next government, one that would be “nationalist
and wide”. He also claimed that Likud was ready for an election
but tried hard to form an alternative coalition within the current
Knesset – possibly because his chances of success are deemed to
be slim.
Netanyahu has alienated all the other political leaders whose
parties he needs to join his right-wing coalition. If he partnered
with Benny Gantz, it would be Gantz who would become Prime
Minister because Netanyahu prevented him from taking over
when they were in a previous partnership.
Gideon Sa’ar is said to have turned into a bitter foe of
Netanyahu since he split from Likud in 2020 and was angered
by Netanyahu’s opposition of the bill for extending civil law in
the West Bank communities. Avigdor Lieberman even went as
far as to say that his party’s main goal is to prevent Benjamin
Netanyahu from returning to power.
In the interim
Yair Lapid’s inaugural speech as Prime Minister was televised,
giving him the opportunity to address the Israeli public. He
spoke of the “common good; that which unites us. We all have
the same goal: a Jewish, democratic, liberal, strong, advanced,
and prosperous Israel … We believe that Israel must be a liberal
democracy ... nobody can be denied their fundamental rights:
respect, liberty, freedom of employment, and the right to
personal security.”
He went on to say: “We believe that Israel is a Jewish state. Its
character is Jewish. Its identity is Jewish. Its relations with its
non-Jewish citizens are also Jewish. The book of Leviticus says,
‘But the stranger who dwells with you shall be to you as one born
among you, and you shall love him as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:34)
“We believe that so long as Israel’s security needs are met, Israel
is a country that seeks peace. Israel stretches out its hand to all
the peoples of the Middle East, including the Palestinians, and
says: the time has come for you to recognise that we’ll never
move from here, let’s learn to live together.”
“We believe there is a great blessing in the Abraham Accords, a
great blessing in the security and economic momentum created at
the Negev Summit with the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and Morocco and
that there will be a great blessing in the agreements yet to come.”
Adapted from BICOM articles with permission.
3 rd Quarter 2022 • IN TOUCH 9

Guest Feature
Luther and Antisemitism
Chris Sinkinson
Sometimes, in teaching theology, I feel
the same way with the works of many
influential theologians. Whatever valuable
insights they offer is tainted to the point of
embarrassment by their misjudgements.
An infamous example is that of Martin Luther and
his vitriolic comments about the Jewish people. In
his lengthy treatise, ‘On the Jews and Their Lies’
(1543), he rails against the Jewish people, calling for
their synagogues to be burnt down and their people
enslaved or expelled. It is little surprise that the Nazi
party were happy to republish and support the work
in 1930s Germany as they stoked the genocidal fires of
antisemitic thought.
Antisemitism in the church
Antisemitism has morphed over the centuries, but
never gone out of fashion. Yet to find great lights of
the Christian faith indulging in such rhetoric is deeply
discouraging. One of the most influential theological
reference books, ‘The Theological Dictionary of the
New Testament’, was
edited by an enthusiastic
supporter of the Nazi
party. A popular
reference, set for decades
to come, theological
colleges like Moorlands
and Oak Hill now
include a disclaimer with
the volumes to highlight
the reprehensible
viewpoint of the editor.
The antisemitic attitudes
displayed by a significant
number of theologians
during the last century
is catalogued in detail
by Colin Barnes – ‘They
Conspire Against Your
People: the European Churches and the Holocaust’.
It is disturbing reading, undermining the credibility of
the gospel message.
Reconsidering Martin Luther
So, was Martin Luther antisemitic? And should
we even try defending his reputation? I think we
should offer some defence, while also being resolute
in dismissing the hateful attitude and language
represented in his later work. Luther remains one of
the most significant historical figures in the work of
the Kingdom, and this notable blemish does not tell
the whole story.
In the beginning of
the Reformation,
Luther knew we
had much to learn
from the Jews and
thought a reformed
Church could bring
us back to our roots.
I always recommend
interested students
read his earlier
work, ‘That Jesus
Christ was Born
a Jew’ (1523).
In that essay, Luther
built on the point,
not obvious to all,
that Jesus himself
Martin Luther, 1528 (Veste Coburg)
Lucas Cranach d.Ä. - Wikipedia
was a Jew. He affirmed the Jewish people as worthy
of respect and deserving of support. In understanding
the Old Testament, Luther recognised the value of
Hebrew and Rabbinical scholarship. But over the
course of the next 20 years, his attitude changed.
Luther became disappointed that the reformation of
the Church had not led to a mass conversion of the
Jewish people. He indulged his typical fiery and overthe-top
rhetoric from a position of power, perhaps
without realising the disastrous consequences that
would follow for the Jews of Europe. Luther was also
a man of his time – Roman Catholic and Orthodox
theologians include a fair share of antisemites. Some
even think Luther had become sick in his final years
and his violent language reflected his poor mental
state. But none of these count as excuses, merely
possible explanations for his distorted views.
Words matter
As evangelicals, the real lesson from Luther is to
‘watch your life and doctrine closely’ (1 Timothy 4:16)
and to ‘not let any unwholesome talk come out of your
mouths’ (Ephesians 4:29). Identifying with Paul’s love
for the Jewish people ‘For I could wish that I myself were
accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen
according to the flesh’ (Romans 9:3) should create an
instinctive abhorrence of antisemitism.
In our apologetics and preaching we should remember
that words are powerful – to build up or destroy – and
we must use them carefully.
Chris Sinkinson is a Lecturer in Theology at Moorlands College.
First published in Evangelicals Now, used with permission.
10 IN TOUCH • 3 rd Quarter 2022

Guest Feature
Give Israel Credit
Alan Aziz
I
found myself nodding vehemently with one of
the letters in a recent Jewish Chronicle, titled
‘Give Israel credit, BBC’. In it, the author asked
- quite rightly - why the BBC can’t “provide any
positive news coverage of Israel?”
This was, of course, concerning the incredible support Israel has
been providing to Ukraine, having “built a huge field hospital in
western Ukraine to treat those injured in the war” and in taking
“thousands of Ukrainian refugees to Israel” on El Al planes.
“Israel’s great efforts in this crisis have not attracted a single word
of praise from the BBC”, she wrote. And while she is spot on,
this is not even half the picture. Yes, in times of great and urgent
need, Israel springs into action and does what it can to answer
global cries for help - no matter where those cries come from
- despite falling into a void of media silence. There is so much
being done for the greater good of the entire world - courtesy of
the small-but-powerful state of Israel - that also fails to receive
the slightest recognition.
Indeed, you may have read a few months ago about a medical
innovation that’s set to revolutionise the fight against cancer in
the UK. You may be familiar with the name of said medical device
- the PillCam - a tiny, capsule-encased camera, small enough to
be swallowed to film tumours in the gut. You may even have read
that around 11,000 patients in England, across 40 areas of the
country, will take part in the initial trial of PillCam - backed by
the NHS. The hope is that it will not only replace more invasive
methods of screening but save lives too. This is against a current
clinical picture of around 42,000 people diagnosed with bowel
cancer each year.
What you may be less familiar with, however, is that this pill - like
so many of the world’s greatest inventions - was born in Israel.
But are you surprised that the latest medical innovation has been
splashed all over the British media without mentioning PillCam’s
creator, Rafi Nave, a Technion Alumnus who is now a senior
researcher at the Technion, probably not!
Depending on how generously you view the British media, you’ll
see this - along with the Ukrainian relief story silence - as either a
deliberate snub or inadvertent omission. And if this was as murky
as the relationship between the British press and Israel got, you
could probably look past it. However, given how quick the former
is to criticise this tiny state when it comes to anything with even
the faintest whiff of the political, it’s not a good picture.
Nor is it new. Indeed, back in 2012, the media was all over Claire
Lomas - the first paralysed person to ever complete a marathon
in a bionic suit, to raise funds for spinal cord injury charities.
Crossing the finish line 26 days after starting the race with
36,000 others, you had to look very hard to find that, once again,
this invention - the ReWalk bodysuit - was created by a former
Israeli electrical engineer. Dr Amit Goffer is another alumnus of
the Technion, and was only acknowledged after I invited him to
meet Claire in London and brought the Press to attend this event.
“It turns out that news coverage is far more than a benign source
of facts”, wrote the BBC in a 2020 article titled ‘How the news
changes the way we think and behave’. Yet while the British Media
are only too happy to “shape our views of foreign countries”
when reporting on conflict, their silence surrounding positive,
world-changing achievements is deafening.
And so, it remains our prerogative - no, our obligation - to not
only speak up in defence of Israel when the media wants to shoot
us down but to actively promote all the undisputable ways in
which our small-yet-powerful country is changing the world for
the better, one invention or emergency hospital at a time.
Alan Aziz is CEO of Technion UK and writes for TheJC.com.
UK Events
CFI UK will exhibit at the following live events
23-28 July & 29-3 Aug – East of England Showground
Peterborough PE2 6SH
CRE National 11–13 Oct 2022
Sandown Park, Surrey
CRE North 3–4 May 2023
Exhibition Centre, Liverpool
Annual Conference 2022 Relationship of Israel with the Church
Venue: Suncoast Church, Eastbourne BN22 8TR
SAVE
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Friday 2 nd – Saturday 3 rd September
Speakers: Jared Compton & Chris Sinkinson
3 rd Quarter 2022 • IN TOUCH 11

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GOD’S UNFAILING WORD – THE FAITH AND ORDER COMMISSION
Theological and Practical Perspectives on Christian-Jewish Relations. Understanding the relationship between
Christianity and Judaism is not an optional extra. It informs our daily Bible reading, prayer and worship, as well as
our relationships with Jewish neighbours, friends and colleagues. ‘God’s Unfailing Word’ will encourage Christians’
confidence in discussion with Jewish people about God’s purposes for us, challenging antisemitism, and working
together for the common good of society.
B505 // 121 Pages // £15.50 (incl. UK p&p)
A HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN ZIONISM IN BRITAIN – DR JAMES PATRICK
Where does Britain’s interest in, respect for and appreciation of Jewish people, their history - and the influence of
Judaism, come from? - It’s love for the Jewish people. This CONTEXT booklet surveys the key role played by Christians
in the three centuries of British political activism for Jewish national restoration. It also traces the influences upon this
idea back into far earlier times, beyond the failures of the mediaeval period and into the era of the Celtic saints.
Dr James Patrick gives a good overview of British history in relation to the Jewish people.
BT119 // 32 Pages // £4.00 (incl. UK p&p)
THE JEWS OF MEDIEVAL ENGLAND – JOHN C P SMITH
The history of the Jews from 1066 to their expulsion in 1290 reveals a shameful episode in the Church and nation which
left a deep scar on Jewish history. This examines the tragedy and the extent it has left a mark upon our attitudes to the
Jewish people. For out of the medieval demonisation of the Jews of England came a host of hideous caricatures which
have stayed with us down the centuries. In its milder form, it is barely recognisable, except, perhaps, when the subject of
the state of Israel comes up in conversation. In its stronger manifestation, however, it is openly aggressive antisemitism.
BT7 // 17 Pages // £3.00 (incl. UK p&p)
A PRINCIPLE AND A PROMISE – SHARON SANDERS
God’s promises to Abram echo down through the corridors of time as we study Genesis 12:2-3. Anyone, believer or
non-believer, rich or poor, who blesses the Jewish people through kindness and mercy, will please God. The scriptural
principle will never change. As the Church worldwide, we need to see the importance of how we touch the apple
of God’s eye. Let us no more forfeit blessings by ignoring God’s promise to bless. If the offshoot of biblical Judaism
(Christianity), which was grafted into the cultivated olive tree (Israel), would begin to allow itself to strengthen its
connection to its heritage, spiritual blessings will come to churches across the world.
B528 // 254 pages // £12.00 (incl. UK p&p)
TIME TRAVEL TO THE OLD TESTAMENT – DR CHRIS SINKINSON
An invitation to bring our Bibles and imaginations on a trip into the fourth dimension. It won’t be an easy trip and it
certainly won’t be a passive one, but the Old Testament will come alive in a new way. While no one needs to become
an archeological expert to grasp the message of Scripture, background information can deepen our appreciation and
understanding as we read. In this wide-ranging, lively introduction to the world of the Old Testament, Chris Sinkinson
gives an overview of storytelling techniques, laws, people, beliefs, and geography, removing misunderstandings by
putting details in their historical context.
B530 // 140 Pages // £11.00 (incl. UK p&p)
SIFTING THE EVIDENCE – THE WORLD OF THE BIBLE – DR CHRIS SINKINSON
What does archaeology tell us about the historical accuracy of the Bible? Join presenter and archeologist Dr. Chris
Sinkinson as he visits the great sites of the Holy Land, including the site of the original ‘City of David’; the Temple
Mount; Capernaum, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and more. This beautifully photographed two-part
documentary series takes you inside these fascinating sites and allows you to see them as never before. Insightful
commentary from the host and local archaeologists and Biblical commentators provides an excellent way to tour
Israel virtually and confirms the historical accuracy of the Bible.
D157 // DVD 55 minutes // £11.50 (incl. UK p&p)
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