ENHANCE - 1st Quarter 2024

1 st Quarter 2024 • No 218
Christian Friends of Israel
United Kingdom
“Go to the land of Israel”
Matthew 2:20
INSIDE: EDITORIAL – His love endures • New Chairman • Prayer Conference • October Declaration • Prayer rally Whitehall • CFI Jerusalem
HEBREW WORD FOCUS – The Lord of Hosts • Pressure to release hostages • Adamit charity • CRE Midlands • Israel Tour • RESOURCES

Christian Friends of Israel
United Kingdom
About us
CFI UK seeks to bless Israel through
practical and moral support, and serve
the Church in teaching about God’s
purposes for Israel and the Hebrew
heritage of our faith.
CFI UK also produce a monthly prayer
letter, a weekly audio Middle East report
and distribute Haverim teaching.
Please contact us for full details of
projects in Israel and 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.
Encouraging understanding in the
Church of Israel in context of the
Bible, history and today.
Challenging prejudice against Israel
and antisemitism alongside the Jewish
community in the UK.
Assisting cross-culturally in Israel
with charitable projects - medical,
educational and social.
What’s in a name?
ENHANCE means to increase, or further
improve the quality, value, or extent
of, in our instance, Christian friendship
of Israel. It also emphasises that when
God’s faithfulness to Israel is included and
understood by the wider Church, it truly is
‘faith enhancing.’
ENHANCE 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
Front cover photo:
Pyramids of Eqypt, Adobe Stock
Editorial
His love endures
forever
Jacob Vince
A
previous editorial in
ENHANCE Q3 2023
focused on the longest
psalm, Psalm 119. Here we look
at the shortest.
Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol
him, all you peoples. For great is his
love towards us, and the faithfulness of
the Lord endures for ever.
Praise the Lord. (Psalm 117:1-2)
This psalm makes clear the Lord’s
love and faithfulness. It is a
complete misnomer to describe the
scriptures before Jesus as all about
law and judgement in contrast to
the post-Jesus scriptures all about
God’s love and forgiveness.
Remember the start of David’s
psalm following his adultery with
Bathsheba,
Have mercy on me O God according to
your unfailing love. (Psalm 51:1)
Psalm 117 leads into Psalm 118
which makes this perfectly clear. It
commences, emphasises and ends
with this same refrain,
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is
good; his love endures for ever.
Let Israel say:
‘His love endures for ever.’
Let the house of Aaron say:
‘His love endures for ever.’
Let those who fear the Lord say:
‘His love endures for ever.’
(Psalm 118:1-4)
You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is
good; his love endures for ever.
(Psalm 118: 28-29)
The beginning of Psalm 118 is
echoed at the end of Psalm 135,
All you Israelites, praise the Lord;
House of Aaron, praise the Lord;
House of Levi, praise the Lord;
You who fear him, praise the Lord.
Praise be to the Lord from Zion
To him who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord. (Psalm 135:21)
This psalm follows immediately
after the Psalms of Ascent, hence
the people were able to praise the
Lord from Zion, leading on in turn
to the next psalm,
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures for ever.
To him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures for ever.
Who by his understanding made the
heavens, His love endures for ever.
Who spread out the earth upon the
waters, His love endures for ever.
Who made the great lights – His love
endures for ever.
The sun to govern the day,
His love endures for ever.
The moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures for ever.
To him who struck down the firstborn of
Egypt; His love endures for ever.
And brought Israel out from among
them; His love endures for ever.
With a mighty hand and outstretched
arm; His love endures for ever.
To him who divided the Red Sea
asunder; His love endures for ever.
And brought Israel through the midst of
it, His love endures for ever.
But swept Pharaoh and his army into the
Red Sea; His love endures for ever.
(Psalm 136:1-11)
The same response of God’s
enduring love is given in all twentysix
verses, as the psalm retells God’s
self-revelation through creation
and God’s relationship with Israel,
including freedom and victory from
their enemies.
So, in case we are not sure, this
most often repeated phrase in the
Psalms, if not the whole Bible,
should leave us in no doubt that
whatever happens, good or ill,
Give thanks to the God of heaven, his
love endures for ever. (Psalm 136:36)
2 ENHANCE •1 st Quarter 2024

CFI UK update
New chairman for CFI Charitable Trust
At their quarterly
meeting in November,
David Greer retired as
chairman of CFI Charitable
Trust and David Linnell was
elected the new Chairman.
CFI UK staff presented David
Greer with two ‘coffee table’ books:
Chris Sinkinson’s ‘Background
to the Bible’ and Jerusalem Post’s
‘Front Page Israel’.
Retiring Chairman David Greer
writes,
A very big thank you for the gifts
I received on Monday as I leave
David Greer at last year’s Prayer Conference
David and Anne Linnell
the Board of Trustees. It is very
generous of you.
Thank you for your fellowship
with Sandra and myself over
the years. We will continue to
support CFI UK and, the Lord
willing, continue to attend the
Prayer Conference, Annual
Conference, and Insight Prayer
Zoom meetings.
It has been a privilege to be a
member of the CFI Board of
Trustees and to be Chairman.
Sandra and I believe that there
are new things the Lord has for
us to do, and will continue to
pray for the Board and staff.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you; The
Lord lift up his countenance upon
you, and give you his shalom.
(Numbers 6:24-26)
With grateful thanks.
David Greer
We are delighted to welcome
David Linnell as the new
Chairman of CFI Charitable Trust.
He has considerable experience of
business management in the NHS
and has been a trustee of CFI UK
for eleven years, assuming the role
of vice-Chairman five years later.
He is married to Anne, a recently
retired NHS Consultant, and they
have two grown up children.
We look forward to all the Lord
has in store for this new phase and
thank you for your prayers.
PLEASE BOOK NOW
Christian Friends of Israel UK
PRAYER
CONFERENCE
Tuesday 19 th – Thursday 21 st March 2024
Touching
the Sceptre
King’s Park Conference Centre, Northampton NN3 6LL
“As in the days…. of Esther.”
There is an increasing need for us as Christian friends to support Israel in both prayer and action.
Our theme for the CFI UK Prayer Conference in 2024, around the time of the feast of Purim in
Israel, is ‘touching the sceptre’, as in the days of Esther.
The book of Esther is unique in that it doesn’t mention God directly, but throughout its pages his mercy is in
every detail. The festival of Esther (Purim) commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia
from Haman’s plot. The cry from Israel’s adversary was, “destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, young and old,
infants and women, in a single day” (Esther 3:13). Sadly, this has been seen and heard again in the recent horrific
scenes in Israel on 7 th October 2023. Today the King of kings summons us to boldly but humbly approach his
throne of grace in this time of need. We pray that during our time together we may touch the tip of his heavenly
sceptre and intercede on behalf of Israel in these days.
The CFI team looks forward to seeing you there … the Lord bless you. David and Julia Soakell.
Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of
justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom. (Psalm 45:6)
Bible meditation
Prayer in groups
Meal time
Refreshment break
CALL: 01323 410810 Email: info@cfi.org.uk
1 st Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 3

UK profile
Public figures condemn BBC’s refusal to
call Hamas ‘terrorists’ and the surge in
antisemitism in UK
The idea for British Friends of
Israel (BFI) first came from
Laura Dodsworth, author of ‘A
State of Fear’ who was appalled by
the scenes she was witnessing on the
TV, so she gathered a small group of
supporters to set up BFI and make
the The October Declaration.
CFI UK’s chief executive was invited
to be one of the signatories before
going live, joining others like Sir Tom
Stoppard, Dame Maureen Lipman,
Sir Tim Rice, Vanessa Feltz, former
head of British Intelligence Sir Richard
Dearlove, Countdown’s Rachel Riley
and broadcasting titan Andrew Neil.
These were all part of a 200-strong
group which featured members of
the House of Lords, MPs, celebrated
historians, professors and journalists,
including Allison Pearson of the
Telegraph – one of the ‘small group’
whose article appeared online on
22 nd October 2023 at 8:48pm
quoting Laura,
“Within hours of the terrorist
attacks there were marches around
the world with chants of ‘Death
to Israel’ and ‘Gas the Jews’ before
the bodies had even been counted.
Antisemitism skyrocketed here in
Britain which has been a safe home
for Jews for hundreds of years.
Children were too scared to go to
school. What have we become?
Frankly, it has sickened me.
I thought, this has to be the time to
stand in solidarity with British Jews.”
So far The October Declaration has
received over 80,000 signatures.
Parliament lit up in support of Israel in October
THE OCTOBER DECLARATION
We are a group of concerned British
citizens and residents from a wide range
of backgrounds and professions who
stand in solidarity with British Jews and
condemn all forms of antisemitism,
whether in Britain or elsewhere.
We unequivocally condemn all acts
of terrorism against civilians in
Israel, especially the massacre on
7 th October 2023
On 7 th October 2023 the State of Israel
and her citizens, both Jews and non-
Jews, were subjected to a brutal terrorist
attack, which resulted in the murder,
torture, rape and kidnapping of over
1,500 people.
More Jews were killed on that day than
on any other day since the Holocaust.
We are aware that Jews are not the only
victims of this tragedy. Hamas knew
that there would be consequences to 7 th
October, but the consequences did not
weigh with Hamas.
Its ongoing terrorist operation is
calculated to cause maximum fear
and distress. The people of Israel have
been subjected to a near constant
bombardment of rockets from Gaza
and Lebanon. Civilians of all kinds –
including the elderly, disabled, women,
children and babies – have been
targeted in a direct breach of the rules
of war.
We share the shock and distress of
Israelis, British Jews and compassionate
people around the world at the
unfolding horror and its consequences.
We call for all the hostages taken on 7 th
October to be released immediately. It
is an essential step on the path to peace
and the cessation of hostilities.
We stand in support of British Jews
and condemn acts of antisemitism
Following the terrorist attack on Israel,
antisemitism is surging in the UK.
The Community Security Trust (CST)
recorded at least 533 antisemitic
incidents across the UK between 7 th
and 20 th October 2023, representing an
increase of 651% compared to the same
period in 2022.
Children have not been spared. Four
Jewish schools in Britain felt compelled
to close. One school was vandalised.
It is abominable that British children
should now live in fear just because they
are Jews. All children should be able to
attend school without fear.
British Jews should not live in fear
because of actions taken by the state
of Israel to defend itself. The British
state must do everything in its power to
protect them.
While we respect the right of all groups
to engage in peaceful protest, we urge
the police to enforce the law without
fear or favour.
We ask the media, members of all
political parties and everyone in
public life to call out Hamas for
what it is: a terrorist organisation
Hamas, whose actions have led directly
and indirectly to the tragic deaths
of many Palestinian civilians as well
as Israelis, is a proscribed terrorist
organisation in the UK as well as in
many other states. The Home Secretary
and the Prime Minister have identified
Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
Failure to use the correct language
– describing Hamas as ‘militants’ or
‘fighters’, for instance – creates the false
impression that Hamas and Israel’s
armed forces are morally equivalent and
is an affront to the group’s victims – the
dead, their families, and those currently
being held hostage.
No one thought this would be necessary
in the 21 st Century but, sadly, it is.
You can sign up online at:
www.britishfriendsofisrael.org
4 ENHANCE •1 st Quarter 2024

Prayer report
Prayer rally Whitehall
Christian Action Against Antisemitism (CAAA) initiated a prayer rally in Westminster, opposite No. 10 Downing
Street, on Sunday 19 th November, where CFI UK and many other Christians were able to stand with Jewish
communities across the world in praying for the hostages in Gaza. It was an incredible event. There was an
excellent turnout of approaching 10,000 Christians and Jews. This was so encouraging for the Jewish communities
here in the UK and in Israel. Many Jewish people were deeply impacted with the love shown by Christians who
remain friends of Israel at this difficult time of war (see Proverbs 17:17). CFI UK’s Chief Executive, Jacob Vince, was
invited to speak at the event. His speech follows.
God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, said to Israel,
‘“No weapon forged against you will prevail and you will
refute every tongue that accuses. This is the heritage of
the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from me,”
declares the Lord’ (Isaiah 54:17)
Israel is engaged in ensuring weapons against them do
not prevail. In the UK we are refuting every tongue that
accuses. We look to God to fulfill his promise.
Christian Friends of Israel based in Jerusalem are assisting
displaced and bereaved families in Israel bringing provisions
and comfort. Here in the UK, we are in the long process
of encouraging understanding among our Christian
constituency of Israel in context – biblically, historically
and today. In addition, we are challenging prejudice
against Israel and antisemitism, alongside the UK Jewish
community.
Israel today, like in Nehemiah’s day, is focused on nation
building; their opponents, like then, on terrorism and tearing
down what is being built up.
Hezekiah, during Isaiah’s day, is recorded building a tunnel
to carry water and preserve life, still there 3,000 years later.
Today Israel’s enemy tears up water pipes, turning them into
weapons and they dig tunnels to kill lives.
In Genesis, Abram’s nephew and family were taken hostage
by the enemy and he rescued them, afterwards meeting the
priest Melchizedek (see Genesis 14:14). Later in the Bible,
the prophet Samuel recounts the enemy taking King David’s
family hostage and his rescuing them (see 1 Samuel 30).
Today Israel’s children are again taken hostage by the enemy.
Please God may they be rescued and returned safely.*
Christians, from their inception till today, benefit from the
foundation of our faith, the Bible – law, prophets, psalms,
and those who spread the message to the nations, the
apostles. All we believe comes through the promises made
to Israel.
Israel today is a beacon of light in the region, preserving life
for all; whilst their enemy thrives in the darkness of evil and
death.
The whole world benefits from Israel’s innovations,
watertech, agritech, medical innovation.
As Christian Friends of Israel we represent thousands who
are thankful to Israel for enriching the world and to the UK
Jewish community for enriching this nation’s life. We prize
our Jewish Christian heritage and freedom greatly.
So we pray, asking and longing for peace and safety for Israel
and us here in the UK. May good and right prevail, may life
defeat death, hope overcome despair.
We ask this of the living God, to whom we pray as Father
in heaven, whose Name is holy. May his kingdom come,
his will done; like in heaven, so on earth. May we know his
provision each day, forgiveness of our own sins, as we in
turn forgive. May he help in this testing time, may we know
deliverance from evil. On this we agree, and to this end,
using the Hebrew word, we say, Amen.
We uploaded a video of Jacob’s speech with text subtitles
onto our CFI UK YouTube channel and it has received more
than 2,500 views. Do look it up, watch it and click the ‘like’
button. And let us keep praying that as many hostages as
possible will be freed from Hamas terrorists and brought
safely home.
Credit to Watching over Zion ~ The ‘lite edition’ No.63
*Due to time constraints Jacob was unable to share this paragraph.
1 st Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 5

Emergency relief
CFI Jerusalem Projects
Emergency Relief
By Galya Hall, Jerusalem
CFI Jeruslam team members have
continued making regular visits to hotels
in the Dead Sea area where displaced
civilians from the south of Israel are living.
There are currently more than 300,000 displaced Israeli
civilians across the country and for many of them they
still do not know when they can return home. The idea
of returning home is terrifying after what took place on
7 th October. There is a long road of healing ahead for
these people and we at CFI Jerusalem are committed to
walking the path with them, one step at a time.
We continue to deliver much needed supplies
including hygiene products, toiletries, baby items and
toys for the children and also continue to offer free
haircuts and nail treatments which has proven to be
very popular. Most importantly though we are there to
be listening ears and vessels of comfort and hope, and
it is our great honour to do so.
It has been especially precious seeing how the
relationships with some of the children at the hotels has
developed over time. At the beginning one particular
girl was quite curious and perhaps a bit suspicious
about who we were. She didn’t say much and kept to
herself whilst having her nails painted. However it
did not take long for her to sense our genuine love and
friendship and when we arrive at her hotel now she
runs to our car and straight into our arms for a big hug.
We have also had the opportunity to connect with the
Regional Council of Kiryat Shmona. This, the largest
town on Israel’s northern border, was one of the last
to be evacuated on the 20 th October and there are
currently more than 20,000 people from the area who
are displaced and living in hotels across the whole
of Israel. We are in the process of helping to supply
computer tablets to elementary school children who
are now based in a hotel in Ra’anana, a city in the
southern Sharon Plain of the Central District of Israel,
needing to continue their schooling via Zoom. We are
also providing school supplies to young children from
Kiryat Shmona who are living in hotels in Jerusalem.
Thank you to all our supporters and donors for your
ongoing prayers and
financial support that
enables us to do what we
do and represent your
heart and share your
love with the people
of Israel during these
difficult days.
6 ENHANCE •1 st Quarter 2024

The wilderness and the dry land shall be gladdened; and the desert shall rejoice,
and blossom as the rose. (Isaiah 35:1)
Forsake Them Not
“It is too much; it’s just way too much to
bear. It is impossible to bear again.”
We hear these words as soon as we enter
the homes of our precious Holocaust
survivors. It is hard to believe it had
been almost two months since the war in Israel
flared up again.
There are so many needs around us – physical,
emotional, spiritual. My words are failing to express
it all. We are staying busy, very busy, visiting,
comforting, calling, shopping, cooking and delivering.
We made 90 visits and listened to 90 hearts. All of
them wanted and needed to be listened to. All of them
needed to be heard.
We heard about miraculous escapes from massacre in
Ofakim, when terrorists were killing people, entering
every apartment on the ground floor. Shmuel and Dina
managed to run upstairs and hid at their neighbours
home, while hearing all windows in their own
apartment being smashed.
We heard Yosef’s and Gili’s survival story, when their
apartment was hit by a rocket and destroyed seconds
after they ran out of the door to the staircase. They
managed to grab the suitcase that was ready for their
upcoming trip to the Dead Sea. They could not go back
to the apartment, but they had documents and clothes
for first few weeks. They are now renting another
apartment and dream to go back to their own home.
We heard from a precious friend in Ashkelon, who was
afraid to leave the Mamad (safety room) to go to the
restroom or to grab some food in the kitchen, because
rockets were falling non-stop. Sadly, it was indeed
too much for one precious heart that could not take
anymore. After fighting for life for over two weeks,
that precious heart stopped beating.
Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul
would soon have settled in silence. If I say,
“My foot slips,” your mercy, O Lord, will
hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties
within me, your comforts delight my soul.
(Psalm 94:17-19)
We heard from Liza, who had been displaced from her
apartment to the elderly people’s home in Jerusalem,
together with her 24-hour caregiver. They only had
10 minutes to take what they needed and under the
accompaniment of fallen rockets, left their cosy home.
There are a lot of tears these days. We all cry together.
We all are heartbroken together.
All our friends appreciate that we didn’t leave, we
didn’t leave them at such a time. We are needed more
than ever before. Through all these crazy times, we
can truly testify of the mercy and goodness of God. We
experience his strength when ours is failing. We are so
very grateful we can bring comfort and speak of eternal
hope and promises of God for his covenant people.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support
for Israel and for us. We feel them and greatly need
them. Thank you for carrying us through this difficult
time. We know we are not alone. Israel is not alone.
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew
their strength; They shall mount up with
wings like eagles, they shall run and not be
weary, they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:31)
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1 st Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 7

HEBREW WORD FOCUS
Do we read our Bibles as if they are the
most relevant source for understanding
the world around us? Does our modern
‘Christian’ worldview have no category or room
for war?
The current events in the Middle East are a wakeup
call for all Christians to take more seriously the
reading of our whole Bibles. Do we have an un-
Biblical view of the future, that a ‘good God’ wouldn’t
allow judgment, hardship or suffering?
We must not be ignorant of the fact the Bible warns us
that wars will come. They should not unravel our faith
in the goodness and power of God. One of the biblical
names of God is Adonai Tzevaot ‏ְיְהָֹוָ‏ ה ‏ְצְ‏ ‏ָבָ‏ אֹות which means
“The Lord of the Armies/Hosts”. This powerful name
of God, found 235 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, is
spotlighted in the following, ‘David said to the Philistine,
“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but
I come against you in the Name of Adonai Tzevaot, the God
of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied”’ (1 Samuel
17:45). David courageously and wisely chose not to
compare himself to Goliath, but rather to compare
Goliath to the Almighty Lord.
This word Tsevaot is the plural of Tsava
– the Hebrew word for ‘army’ (still ‏ָצָ‏ ‏ָבָ‏ א
used in modern Hebrew to refer to
the IDF). “Tzava” can refer to either
an army or a great multitude or host,
as is the case in Genesis, “Thus the
heavens and the earth were finished, and
all the Tzavaot (host) of them” (Genesis 2:1). This root
family is about commanding (often militarily) over a
large number. An army carries out the desire of its
commander (see Joshua 5:13-15, 2 Kings 6:16-17).
Other words in the same family of words sharing the
primary root letters include:
Tzava ‏ָצָ‏ ‏ָבָ‏ א - to wage war / to serve
- to be inclined, desire, be pleased
From these root letters we also get the verb meaning
“to command an army”- hitzbi.
‏ְצְ‏ ‏ָבָ‏ א Tzeva
As we read in Exodus, the Lord refers to the great mass
of Israelites he delivered out of Egypt as his “Tzava”:
“Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts
of judgment I will bring out my Tzevaot (hosts/ divisions/
multitudes), my people the Israelites.” (Exodus 7:4).
God is a trustworthy, mighty God – a God who is
zealous and protective of his own people: “For Israel
and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, Adonai
Tzevaot” (Jeremiah 51:5). Adonai Tzevaot can give
protection and victory in battle: “For the Lord your
God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your
8 ENHANCE •1 st Quarter 2024
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 of Hosts
‏ְיְהָֹוָ‏ ה ‏ְצְ‏ ‏ָבָ‏ אֹות
Israel’s true
hope is the
Lord of Hosts
Adonai Tzevaot
enemies, to give you the victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:4,
also see Joshua 6:2). He sees everything and will hold
everyone accountable for their actions, “The Lord
guards [keeps/watches over] all those who love him, but he
destroys all the wicked” (Psalm 145:20).
Jesus did not promise our lives on earth would be
free of war or tragedy. In fact, he warned us of the
opposite, “I have told you these things, so that in me you
may have shalom. In this world you will have trouble. But
take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). It is
critical we set this reality firmly in our minds, so our
faith in God is not shaken when we see these things,
“You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to
it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen”
(Matthew 24:6).
Yet, God is deeply compassionate, and carefully
outworking his redemptive plans. We should read the
recent reports of bloodshed in Israel (and other countries)
with great sadness, anguish and empathy – mirroring
the heart of God towards suffering and injustice. The
Lord assures us that the glorious eternal future will
be one without war, “…They will beat their swords into
ploughshares … Nation will not take up sword against
nation, nor will they train for war
anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).
God takes wickedness seriously and
will judge it, but takes no pleasure in
needing to punish the unrepentant,
“Say to them, ‘As I live’, declares the
Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the
death of the wicked, but that the wicked
turn from his way and live …’” (Ezekiel 33:11)
‘“Vengeance is mine”, says the Lord’ (Deuteronomy
32:35). He will bring recompense and restore justice
and righteousness on this earth, “He will swallow up
death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8).
Should we do everything we can, empowered by the
Holy Spirit, to promote shalom? Absolutely! Should
we attempt to compromise with evil? Certainly not!
Our true hope – and Israel’s true hope – is Adonai
Tzevaot. He has ultimate sovereignty over everything
on heaven and earth. He shall have the final say.
He brings his salvation, comfort, and healing as
he masterfully orchestrates (commands!) all of his
creation with a unique and powerful authority,
“Holy, holy, holy is Adonai Tzevaot; the whole earth is full
of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).
PRE-ORDER MELISSA’S NEW LEVEL 2 VIDEO COURSE! LEVEL 1
VIDEO COURSE FOR BEGINNERS IS AVAILABLE NOW. If you are
interested in learning Biblical or Modern Hebrew, please contact
Melissa for more details at: www.explorehebrew.co.uk

Bicom analysis
Ongoing pressure
to release hostages
Following weeks of intense fighting, military
officials said on Tuesday 19 th December that
IDF forces now have control inside Gaza
City. In the neighbourhood of Jabalia around
1,000 combatants were killed and another 3,500
people were taken prisoner.
Among the prisoners are around 500 suspected
terrorists, some of whom participated in the 7 th October
massacre. The IDF noted,
“since the beginning of the ground operation in the
Gaza Strip, IDF troops have identified about 1,500
tunnel shafts and underground passages belonging to
Hamas. Most of these subterranean structures have been
found beneath schools, hospitals, mosques, UN facilities
and civilian institutions.”
Concerning the southern Gaza Strip, Defence Minister
Gallant said,
“Khan Yunis has become the new capital of terrorism.
The operation will continue until we … put the senior
members of this murderous organisation where they
deserve to be.”
In parallel to the fighting, renewed efforts continue
to reach a deal to release more of the hostages. There
remain an estimated 136 Israelis held captive by Hamas
and other groups inside Gaza. The IDF are cognisant of
their failure that led to the killing of three hostages. It
has since been revealed that the soldiers that killed them
were unaware of the improvised signs for help written
in Hebrew found by other troops in the vicinity.
In December, talks resumed between Mossad Director
Barnea, CIA Director Burns and Qatari Prime Minister
Al Thani in Poland. Israel is prioritising the release
of the women who were meant to be released in the
last round, and then men over the age of 60 and those
who are ill or with serious injuries. In return, Israel is
considering releasing Palestinian prisoners who were
convicted of more serious acts of terrorism than in the
previous deal.
According to Barak Ravid on the Walla news site, Israel
is prepared to agree to a one week pause in the fighting
in exchange for the release of 40 Israeli hostages.
According to The Washington Post, as part of a hostage
deal Israel would consider a two-week ceasefire and
would also gradually withdraw troops from northern
Gaza. Last time, Israel was able to secure the release
of 80 hostages in the same timeline, but the ‘price’ for
releasing men is considered higher.
Footage was released in December of the director of
the Kamal Adwan hospital in Jabalia being interviewed
by Shin Bet investigators. During that interrogation he
revealed the dual purpose of the hospital, also serving
as a base for Hamas to conduct operational activity.
Video released by the Israeli army shows 9-year-old former hostage Emily
Hand embracing her father at a hospital in Israel after being released by
Hamas on November 26, 2023
Among his revelations: 16 members of the hospital’s
staff also had roles in Hamas’ military wing. They
included doctors, nurses, paramedics and clerks. He
also said that some of the hostages were held on site.
The IDF also conducted a review of shooting in the
area of the Greek Orthodox and Episcopalian Church
in Shajaiya, on Sunday 17 th December, in which two
women were killed. According to the IDF, the review
found that,
“Hamas terrorists launched a Rocket Propelled Grenade
at IDF troops from the vicinity of the church. The troops
then identified three people in the vicinity operating as
spotters for Hamas, guiding their attacks in the direction
of the IDF troops. In response the troops fired towards
the spotters and hits were identified. While this incident
occurred in the area where the two women were
reportedly killed, the reports received do not match the
conclusion of our initial review which found that the
IDF troops were targeting spotters in enemy lookouts.
We are continuing our examination of the incident.”
They went on to note,
“the IDF takes claims of strikes on sensitive sites very
seriously, especially churches that are the holy sites
for the Christian faith. The IDF directs its operations
against the Hamas terrorist organisation and not against
civilians, regardless of their religious affiliation. The IDF
takes many measures to mitigate harm to civilians in
the Gaza Strip. These efforts stand in contrast to Hamas
that does everything in its power to endanger civilians
and exploits them, as well as religious sites, as human
shields for their terrorist activities.”
As Israel contemplated extending the fighting in the
south, there was an understanding of the need to keep
some infrastructure in place. In order for some entity to
eventually take over, the water supply, some municipal
services, and schools must be protected. It is likely that
the displaced civilian population will need to remain
in temporary accommodation for some time, and so
(learning the lessons of other conflicts, such as Iraq)
some infrastructure must be kept in place.
1 st Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 9

Charity feature
Adamit is Fearing
for its Future!
Adamit is nestled between the mountains of the
Western Galilee with a breathtaking view of the
Mediterranean Sea. Until 7th October, the future
looked especially bright and promising. Within the last
two years, Adamit had absorbed fifty new, young
families. Alongside the traditional production branches
of the kibbutz, new business ventures were emerging,
the baby-house re-opened to care for the babies born
here, the youth club was busy and the community was
experiencing an invigorating, rich and vibrant renewal.
But in one moment, the dream turned into a nightmare.
The shocking sights of the terrible massacre of
7th October and the barbaric attacks by Hamas
terrorists in the south placed Adamit in front of a
similar, serious danger which threatens the very
existence of our community. On 8th October,
Adamit, which sits just a few hundred meters
from the Lebanese border, became a focal point,
facing constant threats of shelling and infiltration
by Hezbollah terrorists. The residents had to
evacuate. Currently, only the emergency combat
team, made up of members of our community,
has stayed to guard the kibbutz, along with IDF
fighters who are deployed on the front lines.
We must protect Adamit so the atrocities which took place on
7th October do not happen on the northern border
To guarantee residents a safe living space when they
return, Adamit must invest in effective protection:
deploying and embedding cameras along the
perimeter fence, installing advanced equipment for
infiltration detection, upgrading equipment to allow for
an enlarged emergency combat team, modifying
Adamit entry-gate location (which is currently
unprotected and directly faces Hezbollah positions)
and much more. The economic and financial future of
the community is also at stake. Many residents simply
cannot get to their places of work while their expenses
increase due to the evacuation. The on-going production
demands of the poultry farm and the orchards are
being severely affected by security restrictions.
We fear that the recent growth and development of a
thriving Adamit now has the real potential to turn into a
bleak image of an abandoned village.
Adamit is in danger and our future is not at all clear. Our
current situation leaves us no choice but to raise funds
through donations in order to ensure that Adamit
can provide the safe environment essential for its
continued future.
Please help us provide a secure home for Adamit vibrant,
beautiful community on the northern border of Israel!
To contribute to this project please use the enclosed response form designated for ‘Adamit’ and send
payable to: CFI Charitable Trust, PO Box 2687, BN22 7LZ
10 ENHANCE •1 st Quarter 2024

Exhibition report
CRE Midlands report
In terms of festivals and exhibitions, we rounded-off the
year by taking our Resources Stall to CRE Midlands for
8 th and 9 th November. Robin Lane and Steve Turnham set
the stall up during the afternoon of Tuesday 7 th and then
Jacob Vince joined them in the evening, coming straight to
Solihull after his return flight from a week abroad.
Given the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 th October, the
subsequent intensity of Israel’s air strikes against Hamas targets
in response, and the start of the ground campaign against Hamas
just one week before the exhibition, we wondered whether there
would be opposition to our presence.
So, we were surprised and heartened
to find that most of the neighbouring
exhibitors were sympathetic to Israel’s
situation.
Once the exhibition opened, things
became very busy at our stall for
much of the first morning and into
the early afternoon. There were times
when all three of us were engaged in
separate conversations with visitors,
most of whom were understanding
with regard to Israel’s fight against
terrorists. Just a few came to simply
ask us for our perspective on the war.
Robin presented a seminar talk to a
small audience late on Wednesday
afternoon. But Jacob had a larger
audience for his seminar on ‘Humility
and Understanding in Romans’ at
lunchtime on Thursday. We are grateful
to the Lord for granting us favour with
the exhibition organisers, as this is the
fourth year in a row that our proposals
for seminars have been accepted. The exhibition’s prayer team
are also very supportive. Thursday morning was just as busy, with
a good number of conversations and significant further sales of
resources. Indeed, it was our range of resources that led us into
many of the conversations, as we were able to start by explaining
to visitors something about the items they were browsing. Jacob’s
love of reading is crucial to this – he manages to review a variety
of new books to choose ones suitable for addition to our range. We
travelled back to Eastbourne late on Thursday evening feeling that
our time at the exhibition was most worthwhile.
Ancient Boat, Ginosar
Capernaum
Arrive & transfer to hotel
Mary’s Well Hotel, Nazareth
Royal Jerusalem Hotel
BIBLE u HISTORY u TODAY
28 MAY–3 JUNE
Lower Galilee & Jerusalem East
u Sde Eliyahu Organic Religious Kibbutz Bio Bee Tour
u Mahane Yehuda Market
u CFI Jerusalem & Hope Centre
u Observation from Mount of Olives,
Palm Sunday walk , The Tear Drop Church
u Garden of Gethsemane & Garden Tomb
u Western Wall – Kotel
Bethlehem & Jerusalem Old City
u Church of the Nativity
u Meet Arab Christians in Beit Al Liqa’
u Lunch and return to Jerusalem
u Old City walk
u Return to Hotel for Dinner
Mahane Yehuda Market
FULLY GUIDED TOUR
£1590
EL AL flights included
Around Galilee Upper Galilee & Haifa
u 1 st Century Ancient Boat, Ginosar
u Galilee Boat Trip
u Capernaum (Kfar Nahum)
u Mount of Beatitudes
u Bethsaida Julius excavations
u Magdala 1 st Century Synagogue
u Syria Overview café Anan / Yarden Winery
u Visit to Bar’am National Park
Aramean Church / Ancient Synagogue
u Technion University Haifa
u Atlit & Acre
Boat Trip Galilee
Aramean Church / Ancient Synagogue
David’s City & South
u David’s City, Hezekiah’s Tunnel,
Pool of Siloam
u Beersheba Ancient City & Well
u Herodium
u Qumran
West Jerusalem
u Israel Museum Jerusalem model
u Shrine of the Book
u Yad Vashem memorial
u Depart Ben Gurion Airport
Garden of Gethsemane
Church of the Nativity
Magdala Synagogue
Technion University
Qumran Caves
Jerusalem Old City
Yad Vashem
BOOK EARLY ON: 01726 477077
Western Wall - Kotel
ONLINE BOOKING FORM: https://shalomtours.co.uk/cfitour2024/
Tour operated by: Kernow Travel / Shalom Tours – ATOL: 12012 & PTS 5627. THE PRICE INCLUDES: Flights, Hotels on a Half Board Basis, guide and
bus transportation, admission to the relevant sites/activities. ADDITIONS: Single room supplement £350 per person. Tips & gratuities (£8 per day)
Travel Insurance (You must have your own travel insurance).
NB. All programmes & tours subject to change REQUEST BOOKING FORM FROM CFI UK: 01323 410810 or EMAIL: info@cfi.org.uk
1 st Quarter 2024 • ENHANCE 11

Resources www.cfi.org.uk/shop.php
For resources call: 01323 410 810
Postal savings on multiple items
HAS GOD REALLY FINISHED WITH ISRAEL? (Second Edition & Extended) MARK DUNMAN
This book challenges the view that modern-day Israel has little connection with the covenants, prophecies
and promises God made to the Jewish people many centuries ago. At the same time, it does not discount
the rights of Palestinian Arabs, some of whom have lived in the land for centuries. It makes the case for
praying for Israel and the Jewish people, alongside praying for the Palestinians and the Middle East in general.
B456 // 350 PAGES // £18.50 (INCL. UK P&P)
A NATION REBORN – CHARLES GARDNER
Celebrating the miracle of modern Israel on the 70th anniversary of her rebirth, this book focuses specifically
on Britain’s role in the Jewish people’s remarkable restoration, both from a positive and negative point of
view. The author argues strongly for Israel’s legitimacy in the face of rising anti-Semitism.
28 inspirational chapters from background to the Balfour Declaration to powerful testimonies of Jews and
Arabs who have found both reconciliation and peace through the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ.
B542 // 235 PAGES // £12.50 (INCL. UK P&P)
JESUS, KING OF THE JEWS? .
EDITED BY JAMES PATRICK
In this book an ecumenical team of European
theologians have invited four scholars to
describe where we have come from and
chart a course for where we might go now.
B541 // 78 PAGES // £8.00 (INCL. UK P&P)
LIVE AT THE GARDEN TOMB
JOSHUA AARON
Featuring Aaron Shust, Shilo Ben Hod,
Nizar Franis and Yaron Cherniak.
12 Track CD including: Joyful Joyful,
Mountain of the Lord (ft. Aaron Shust),
The Greatest Commandment (Shema)
MC61 // MUSIC CD // £13.50 (INCL. UK P&P)
52 SABBATHS: A WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL – DAVID HOFFBRAND
A weekly devotional to help you understand and apply the principles of the Sabbath to your life.
Restore Sabbath rest in your life and unlock one of the greatest God-given keys to a fruitful life.
In 52 Sabbaths, David Hoffbrand shares 52 individual devotions to help you grow in all aspects of your
faith. With helpful guides for personal practice and reflection, you’ll discover a deeper appreciation for what
Sabbath really means.
B543 // 257 PAGES // £14.50 (INCL. UK P&P)
UK Events CFI UK will exhibit at the following live events in 2024
Skegness April 1 –5, 2024
Minehead April 8 –12, 2024
Mon 22 nd July — Thur 25 th July 2024
Gordon Castle Estate Fochabers Village
Aberdeenshire, Scotland, IV32 7PQ
Grange-de-Lings,
Lincoln, LN2 2NA
CRE Milton Keynes 9–10 October 2024
Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
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
@christianfriendsofisrael_uk
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facebook.com/cfiuk
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