Archive for the ‘The Church and Israel’ Category

Posted on February 28, 2008 - by Calvin L. Smith

We Wouldn’t Put Up With This, So Why Expect Them To?

This one was a bit of a shocker for me. Watch this video, paying particular attention to the explosion at the end. I didn’t fully appreciate these rockets were quite so powerful (and remember, shrapnel will be cast far and wide from the point of impact). And to think I was in this very town just three weeks ago (three rockets fell in the vicinity an hour after I left, and various more the next day). The place is a bit like a ghost town and people I spoke with are nervous wrecks. There are small air raid shelters every hundred yards or so on some streets, like small, yellow concrete bus shelters. Now read this article in today’s Jerusalem Post. Ashkelon is a major town some way from Sderot. Finally, read the the following opinion that the range of Hamas’ rockets will be extended further within the next year or two. Yet given all this, Israel is under immense pressure, especially from the U.S.’s President Bush, not to retaliate sharply, the aim being to keep this a low intensity conflict. I am quite certain, though, that Britain, Western nations, and especially the U.S. (in fact, most nations of the world) could possibly remain so disciplined (as Israel has in this instance) and fail to retaliate in no uncertain means if it had the arsenal and capabilities to respond harshly and successfully, which Israel clearly does. So why is it that the world always exacts a higher standard from Israel than anyone else?

Posted on February 17, 2008 - by Calvin L. Smith

Brief Review of “Zion Before Zionism, 1838-1880″, by Arnold Blumberg

While in Israel I recently picked up an interesting-looking book from Steimatzky’s Bookshop on Ben Yehuda Street, entitled Zion Before Zionism, 1838-1880. It was written by Arnold Blumberg, professor of History at Townson University for forty years and a noted historian scholar who wrote seven monographs and various journal articles. I was attracted to the book because, together with early Zionist and Israeli history, the pre-Zionist period of Palestine intrigues me. We hear so much false history invoked in the current conflict, that is, false statements that have entered the current debate as “fact”. This is because history is such a powerful weapon in any political and military conflict, and especially where nationalism and nationalist sentiments are involved. For this reason I am always interested in studying the underlying historical facts associated with Zionism and Palestinia nationalism to determine accuracy and dispel myths. I am also fascinated in tracing how the land has changed under Zionism over the past century or more, from a land that was, to all intents and purposes, desolate under Turkish Ottoman rule through to a highly agriculturally productive land today. For this reason, I am also very interested in 19th century travel accounts of the Holy Land, as well as photographs from that period, which can be particularly insightful. (more…)

Posted on February 13, 2008 - by Calvin L. Smith

A Rather Late Englishman Back Home (17)

Sorry. I promised a final update but have been so busy since returning I am only now getting round to it. The trip back was uneventful for the most part. Our original flight was cancelled so they put us on a UK charter flight. The British air hostesses were besides themselves trying to distribute the many various kinds of kosher meals, which they were clearly unused to. Neither are Israelis always the most patient of people. The matter was made worse when the pilot apologised for the late departure, saying this was a brand new airplane in its first day of service and so there had been some teething problems. Talk about sackcloth and ashes! Almost all the passengers (Israelis) were throwing up their arms and wailing as if their time had come. You could tell the British folk present – though not particularly happy about flying in a brand new plane with “teething problems”, they clenched their knees, gritted their teeth, and stared glasily ahead. Ah, that British stoicism, crying and groaning inside while looking so calm and collected. There was no stoicism, I can tell you, running into an hour’s traffic jam at nearly midnight just south of Luton Airport. And I just got home to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier in the day had made some silly comment about Sharia. And the Anglican leadership wonders why it is losing ground in this country. (more…)

Posted on February 7, 2008 - by Calvin L. Smith

Englishman at Ben Gurion (16)

All good things must come to an end, and so it is with this trip. I’m at Ben Gurion Airport, ready to board my `plane in 40 minutes or so, and seeing as they have complimentary wi-fi here I’ thought I’d update you. After this I will run one more of these travelogs tomorrow when I am home. (more…)

Posted on February 7, 2008 - by Calvin L. Smith

Englishman Outside Jerusalem (16)

Spent all yesterday travelling and meeting people outside Jerusalem. First I was with Baruch Maoz, a leading Israeli Evangelical churchman, south of Tel Aviv. Baruch and I discussed a major theological issue for believing Jews: the extent to which they should discard their Jewish culture and religious traditions once becoming believers in Jesus. He is at one end of the spectrum (a book he wrote is entitled Judaism Is Not Jewish), and a guy called Mark Kinzer, who promotes what he calls postmissionary Messianic Judaism, is at the other. Google both names and bring yourselves up to date with the debate. It is an important one which Gentile Christians do well to familiarise themselves with. More on this issue in a later entry. My time with Baruch, who is an articulate observer of Jewish Christianity, was insightful. (more…)

Posted on February 6, 2008 - by Calvin L. Smith

Englishman in Jerusalem (15)

Yesterday I promised some brief topographical notes of interest. (These elementary observations are just a taster. For more, come with us to Israel in November, when we will focus on how topography enhances one’s understanding of the Bible.) Jerusalem is built on several hills, but the original city of David – Zion (not the hill named Zion today, which is to the west) - was built on the Ophel ridge, with the steep Kidron valley to the east, and the Valley of the Cheesemakers (Tyropoeon Valley) to the west. The original city of Jebus rested on this ridge but in time Jerusalem also extended downwards into the valley to the South (where Hezekiah’s tunnel exits near the Pool of Siloam). To the north, further up the Ophel Ridge, is the Temple Mount, part of which (eg the steps leading to the South entrance) are cut out of the actual bedrock. So a walk from the southern part of the city right up to the Temple took place along the steep incline of the Ophel Ridge, culminating with entry into the Temple compound, hence the co-called Songs of Ascents towards the end of Psalms. These were probably Psalms sung as the people ascended to the Temple during major festivals. Interestingly, if one follows the Ophel Ridge through the Temple Mount northwards beyond the current city walls (just beyond the Damascus Gate), one reaches the highest part of the ridge (aka Mt Moriah), which is where Gordon’s Calvary is located. Personally, I think the Holy Sepulchre is the most historically likely site of the crucifixion, but the fact that Gordon’s Calvary is located at the very end of the Ophel Ridge (ie the top of Mount Moriah) is one of the reasons some people continue to believe, for theological reasons, this was the original site of the crucifixion.

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