Midrash - Japanese

April 3, 2025

ミドラッシュ

ジェイコブ・プラッシュ

新約聖書の著者が旧約聖書を扱った方法

ミドラッシュとは、イエスやパウロの時代の古代のラビが用いた聖書解釈の方法です。改革者たちが 16 世紀の人間主義から拝借した、西洋の聖書の解釈、つまり文法的・史実的な解釈を含んでいますが、ミドラッシュはそれを単に第一歩と見なします。

聖書の様々な文書のジャンル-物語、知恵文学、ヘブライ的な詩や黙示文学-を扱うときに、それぞれを考慮に入れて理解するため関係性を探求します。そのアプローチの方法は書かれた順序に従うというよりかは、テーマに注目した読み方です。(※最初に必要な第一歩は、書かれた順序に従って読むことです。例えばそれはヨハネの福音書を章ごとに学んでいく方法です。テーマに注目した読み方は、ヨハネ 10 章の「わたしは良い牧者です」

という箇所によって、詩篇 23 篇「主は私の羊飼い」やエレミヤ 23 章「牧者たちについてこう仰せられる」のような箇所を理解するということです)

最も明らかなミドラッシュの指針は、ラビ・ヒレル(Hilell) による七つの基準(七つのミドロット)です。ヒレルは「ヒレルのパリサイ派神学校」の創設者で、そこでパウロがラビとしてガマリエル(使徒 5 章 34 節) に教えられました。ガマリエルはヒレルの孫にあたります。

ミドラッシュは教理を例証し、教理を明らかにするために、たとえ話や象徴を大いに用います。しかし、象徴は決して教理の基礎となりません。それは聖書の本文にある複数の層のようになったより深い意味を見出しますが、象徴的な解釈をする、フィロン(Philo

20B.C.-50A.D.) やオリゲネス(Origen 185-254 A.D.) と関係のある、グノーシス主義やアレキサンドリア学派のようなものとは基本的に違っています。ヘレニズムの哲学観や神学観よりも、むしろヘブライ的なものを反映させます。

ミドラッシュは預言を、反復し、繰り返す、歴史的なパターンであると解釈します(預言が複数の成就を持っているということ)。そして、最終的な成就は、贖いの中心である終末と関連しています。ユダヤ教の中の古典的なミドラッシュの文献は、「創世記のミドラッシュ・ラッバ(Midrash Rabba)」ともう一つは「哀歌のラッバ」です。

ミドラッシュはある形式に従います。ひとつは、マシャル・ニムシャル

(Mashal/Nimshal)形式です。それは箴言に見られ、物質的なものが霊的なものを象徴するというものです。新約における比喩的なミドラッシュの説明は、例えば、ユダの手紙やガラテヤ人への手紙の 4 章 24 節から 31 節に見られます。ミドラッシュが、新約聖書が旧約聖書を扱う方法を明らかにしているのです。

もうひとつの形式はパラシヨット(parashiyot)です。これは注解が節の後に続いているものです。聖書を解釈するミドラッシュに加えて、説教のミドラッシュもあります。これらは福音書の中でイエスによってしばしば用いられた、イェランメデヌ・ラベヌ

(yelammedenu rabbenu)形式に従います。この二種類のミドラッシュはどちらもハガダー的なものです。広範囲に及ぶ、ミドラッシュ的な文献であるハラカーもありますが、新約を学ぶ上で、これはそれほど重要ではありません。

もし、ユダヤ教、ヘブライ語や神学の教育を受けていない人であれば、ミドラッシュを解説するよりは実際に適用することのほうが簡単です。モリエル・ミニストリーズではいろいろなテープやビデオを提供しています。それらの中で、みことばを読み解くときに、ミドラッシュ的な解釈を実際に用いて論証しています。そのひとつはヨハネ4章のミドラッシュ的な解釈である、『井戸のそばの女』です。これはローマ・カトリックに関して解説しているものです。

新約が旧約を引用している方法を見るなら、使徒たちが西洋プロテスタントの解釈や、 解説の方法を用いなかったことは明らかです。イエスはラビでした。パウロもラビでした。彼らはミドラッシュと呼ばれる手法にしたがって、他のラビも用いた方法で聖書を解釈し たのです。

ところが初代教会で問題が起こりました。そのユダヤ的なルーツから遠ざかってしまったのです。そして、多くの異邦人がクリスチャンになるにしたがって、パウロが警告していたこと(ローマ 11 章)が起こってしまいました。人々はそのルーツを失ってしまったのです。

世界観の変化がある時はいつでも、神学にも変化が起こります。その変化の肯定的な扱 い方は「再文脈化」と呼ばれるもので、否定的な扱い方は「再定義」と呼ばれます。ウィ クリフ聖書の翻訳者がイザヤ 1 章 18 節を、赤道直下のアフリカの部族のために訳したとき、福音を「再文脈化」しました。『たとい、あなたがたの罪が緋のように赤くても、雪のよ うに白くなる。』雪を一度も見たことが無い人たちのために、彼らはこの箇所を、「ココ ナッツのように白くなる」と訳したのです。これが「再文脈化」、同じ真理を誰かの言語、

文化や世界観の背景に合わせることです。再定義に対して、これは完全に有効です。メッ

セージに何の害も与えません。

「再定義」は聖書が何を意味しているかを、再び説明する代わりに、聖書の意味していることを変えてしまいます。これは間違っています。そして、これが初代教会で起こったことなのです。コンスタンティヌス大帝(272-337 A.D.) がキリスト教を国家の宗教に変えてから、人々は福音をますます、極端な方法で「再定義」し始めました。初代教会の教父たちの中には、トーラー(旧約聖書)がユダヤ世界にイエスの到来の道備えをしたように、ギリシアの神智学で最高のものだったプラトンやソクラテスの唯神論の考えは、ギリシア世界に対しての道備えであったと信じる人もいました。この点までは、もっともな意見だと言えるでしょう。

ギリシア(ヘレニズム)的な考え方があれば、ヘブライ的な考え方もあります。パウロは両方使いました。パウロがユダヤ人と話すとき、ヘブライ的な考え方を用いました。しかし、アテネのアレオパゴスで福音を伝えているときには(使徒 17 章 22 節-31 節)、ギリシア的な考え方を用いました。ユダヤ人はしるしを求め、ギリシア人は知恵を要求します。もし、聖書的に使われるならばどちらも有効なのです。

問題は人々がユダヤ的な信仰を、ヘレニズム化しようとするときに起こりました。ギリシア人のために福音を再文脈化する代わりに、ギリシア的な表現をもって、再定義してしまったのです。これは特に、オリゲネスの時代のアレキサンドリアで起こりました。しかし、それが大きな問題となったのはコンスタンティヌスと、ヒッポのアウグスティヌス

(354-430 A.D.) の教え、また彼に影響を与えたカルタゴのキプリアヌス(Cyprian 200?

-258 A.D.) やアンブロシウス(Ambrose 339?-397 A.D.) がやって来た後です。

ギリシア人はプラトンやソクラテスの教えから、人は神の御姿に似せて造られたというような真理を多く知っていました。しかし、ユダヤ・クリスチャンの背景や聖書とつながりを持っていない人でも、本能によって誰でも、ただひとりの神がおられることや、人が罪深いということは知り得ます。(ローマ 1 章 18 節-20 節)

私たちは聖書と一致する点まで、ギリシアの神智学と同意します。しかし、人々がギリ シア的な世界観の理解をもって、福音を再解釈し、再定義し始めるなら、それは問題です。ギリシア人は二元論、すなわち、すべて物質的なものは悪で、すべての霊的なものは善で あると信じていました。『初めに、ことばがあった。ことばは神とともにあった。ことば は神であった。』(ヨハネ 1 章 1 節)この言葉を読むとき、意見の一致はするでしょう。し

かし、ギリシア人は『ことばは人となって、私たちの間に住まわれた。』(ヨハネ1章 14

節)という主張に賛成することは出来なかったのです。ギリシア人はただそれが物質的であるというだけで、物質的なものは悪だと信じていたのです。聖書は霊的なものと物質的なものは、お互いの調和によって働くべきだと教えています。そこに何の矛盾や争いがあるわけではありません。確かに肉は堕落していますが、物質的な要素自体に悪いことは何もないのです。

アウグスティヌスが現れたときに、彼はキリスト教を再文脈化するのではなく、ギリシアのプラトン的な宗教として再定義してしまったのです。アウグスティヌスは次のようなことを言いました。「結婚について唯一価値のあることは、独身者になる者を産むことだ」結婚の関係が最初の罪であったと教える、マニ教がこの考えをギリシア世界に持ち込んだのです。そういうわけで、今日まで、ローマ・カトリックは性を扱うことが出来ず、多くの制限や悩みがあり、夫婦間の営みについてさえも、ためらいがあるのです。

人々はユダヤ的なミドラッシュの方法を用いずに、ギリシアの方法を用いて聖書を再解釈し始めました。ミドラッシュは型やたとえ話(象徴)を用います。それは教理を例証し、教理を明らかにするためです。たとえば、イエスは「過越の子羊」です。ユダヤ人の過越の象徴は贖いの教理を完璧に例証しています。しかし、決して、贖いの教理が象徴に基づいているわけではないのです。象徴は教理を例証し、その教理自体は、みことばの中のどこにおいてもはっきりと主張されています。ギリシア的な考えのグノーシス主義の世界では、反対のことが起こります。グノーシス主義は象徴に対して、自分たちが神秘的な洞察力(グノーシス 訳注…1テモテ 6 章 20 章)を持っていると主張し、そのグノーシスの理解を持って、本文の明らかな意味を解釈するのです。古代のユダヤの方法と違って、グノーシス主義にとって、象徴が教理の基礎なのです。

このような手法は初め、フィロンによって影響された人たちを通して、教会に忍び込ん できました。彼の教えはだんだんとローマ・カトリックに入り、アウグスティヌスが「も し、神がパウロを回心させるために暴力を使ったのなら、教会も人々を回心させるのに暴 力を使うことが出来る」と言うまでに至らしめたのです。その結果として十字軍やスペイ ンの宗教裁判などがあります。再文脈化の代わりに、彼らはみことばを再定義したのです。彼らはユダヤ的な本を、ギリシア的な本であるかのように読みました。これが誤りだった のです。

東はオリゲネス、西はアウグスティヌスから端を発したこの教えは、何世紀にも渡って、徐々に悪化の一途をたどりました。それはスコラ学と呼ばれるものと合わさって、中世に さらに悪化しました。アリストテレスの考えはイスラムに吸収され、後に十字軍がヨーロッパの中世ローマ・カトリックに持ち帰ったのです。モーセ・マイモニデス(Moses

Maimonides 1135-1204) はユダヤ教をアリストテレスの宗教に書き換え、トマス・アクィナス(1225-1274)もキリスト教をアリストテレスの宗教として、書き換えました。

宗教改革者が現れると、彼らは中世ローマ・カトリックの間違いを正そうとしました。残念なことに、宗教改革者たちは力強い性格の持ち主でしたが、思想家としては力強くなかったのです。宗教改革は人間主義と呼ばれるものから生まれました。(注:最初の人間主義者は無神論者ではなく、クリスチャンでした)人間主義者の中で名高いのは、トマス・ア・ケンピス(1380-1471)、ジョン・コレット(John Colet 1467-1519)やルフェーヴル・デタープル(Jacques Lefevre 1450?-1536)などです。しかし、その中で最大なのはロッテルダムのエラスムス(1467?-1536)でした。ルター、カルヴァンやツヴィングリなどはほとんど彼から意見を得たような人たちです。エラスムスと他の人間主義者たちは、中世ローマ・カトリックの行っていたみことばの悪用を防ぐために、聖書をその文字通りの意味で学び、教えようとしました。彼らは聖書を文学や歴史として読むことを強調し、今日のプロテスタント教会で使われるような、文法的・史実的な解釈のシステムを構築したのです。

改革者たちの問題は、そこまでしか行かなかったということです。彼らは中世ローマ・カトリックに異議を唱えるために、その文法的・史実的なシステムを適用するルールを作って、そのルールは現在まで神学校でも教えられているのです。そのようなルールのひとつはこれです。「聖書箇所の適用は多く存在するが、解釈はひとつしかない」全くくだらないことです!複数の解釈が存在するとタルムードは教えています。イエスは誰に賛成するでしょうか?改革者でしょうか?それとも他のラビでしょうか?

『イエスは答えて言われた。「悪い、姦淫の時代はしるしを求めています。だが預言者ヨナのしるしのほかには、しるしは与えられません。』(マタイ 12 章 39 節)「ヨナのしるし」とは何だったのでしょうか?ひとつの箇所でイエスは『ヨナは三日三晩大魚の腹の中にいましたが、同様に、人の子も三日三晩、地の中にいるからです。』(マタイ 12 章 40 節)と言っています。しかし同時に、ニネベの住民がヨナの説教によって悔い改めたことであると言いました。(ルカ 11 章 32 節)ユダヤ人が悔い改めなかったのに、異邦人は悔い改めました。これもまた預言者ヨナのしるしでしょう。イエスは、何がしるしかということに関して、共に有効なふたつの解釈を与えたのです。従って、プロテスタントの解釈がひとつだけで、あとは適用という原則はイエスの教えと違うものです。

もうひとつの聖書解釈学のルールは、聖書の簡単な言葉遣いが意味をなしているなら、 他の意味を探してはいけないというものです。文字通りにとって、そこで終わりなのです。

これもまた全くくだらない考えです!

一世紀や二世紀のユダヤ人クリスチャンがヨハネの福音書、1 章、2 章、3 章を読むと、

「新しい創造」の物語だと言ったことでしょう。創世記では神が地の上を歩いているのを見、ヨハネの福音書の「新しい創造」の中では、再び神が歩いているのを見るのです。創世記では、水の上を御霊が動いて被造物を生み出しました。ヨハネの福音書では、水の上を御霊が動いて新しい被造物を生み出すのです(ヨハネ3章5節『人は、水と御霊によって生まれなければ、神の国に入ることができません』)。創世記の創造では、小さい光と大きい光がありました。ヨハネの福音書の新しい創造では、小さな光であるバプテスマのヨハネがいて、大きな光であるイエスがいます。いちじくの木は、ミドラッシュ的に、ユダヤ人の象徴では、創世記の園、エゼキエル 47 章や黙示録にあるいのちの木を表わしています。なので、イエスがナタニエルに『あなたがいちじくの木の下にいるのを見たのです。』

(ヨハネ 1 章 48 節)と言ったとき、ただ単にナタニエルを、文字通りのいちじくの木の下

で見たということではなく、(それも含まれていますが)イエスは彼を園から、創造のときから、世の初めから見ていたということを言っているのです。

人間主義者たちがしていたように、文学や歴史として読むことによっては、聖書を部分的にしか理解出来ません。人間主義者たちはローマ・カトリックが基礎を置いていた、中世のスコラ学やグノーシス主義に反応していたのです。とはいえ、彼らの手法は人々がみことばの深みを理解するのを妨げたのです。文法的・史実的な方法によって、彼らは信仰義認やみことばの権威などの真理を発見したのですが、それが理解したことのすべてでした。その範囲を越えることは出来なかったのです。マルティン・ルターはローマ人への手紙を聖書の中で中心になる本だと言いました。そして、黙示録を完全に退けました。しかし、黙示録は終わりの時代のための本なのです。ルターも、その本をプロテスタントの考えでは理解出来ないと認めました。

何が問題なのでしょうか?黙示録が悪いのでしょうか?それともプロテスタントの考えが間違っているのでしょうか?よく注意してください。ダニエル(ダニエル 12 章 4 節)と

ヨハネ(黙示録 10 章 4 節)は終わりのときまで「このことを封じておけ」と書きました。神の時が満ちるとき、これらの本の解釈は忠実な者に明らかにされるのです。誰かが図や表を書いて、黙示録が示しているすべてのこと、すべての終末の計画を理解したと言うときは、用心してください。それは適切なときまで封じられているからです。神はみこころに合う方法とその時にそれを明らかにされます。しかもそれを段階的になされます。その第一歩は聖書をギリシア的な本としてではなく、ユダヤ的な本として読むことです。

書簡(手紙)は他の聖書の注解書です。それらは他の聖書箇所の実際的な意味について

教えています。書簡を文法的・史実的な方法を用いて、文学や歴史として読むことは構わ

ないことです。しかし、聖書にはさまざまな種類の文学があり、神さまがさまざまな理由のために、違った文学のジャンルをそこに置いたのです。詩篇(ヘブライ的な詩)や黙示録(黙示文学)、福音書(物語)、箴言(知恵文学)です。

あなたは詩を読むように手紙を読まないでしょう。ふるさとにいるナツ子おばあちゃんからの手紙を、ナルニア戦記(C・S・ルイス著)を読むようには読まないでしょう。あなたが書簡を読むとき、使徒たちは他の聖書箇所を、文法的・史実的な方法で解釈していなかったことが分かるでしょう。ヘブル人への手紙は、レビ人の祭司制度や神殿の象徴に関しての注解書です。ガラテヤ人への手紙 4 章 24 節を読み進めてみると、ふたりの女の話があり、それは律法の目的に対してのミドラッシュです。ユダの手紙はミドラッシュ的な文献です。使徒たちはみことばを、プロテスタントの文法的・史実的な方法をもって扱わなかったのです。

聖書にはさまざまな種類の預言があります。終わりの時代を理解するために、重要な二種類の預言は、メシアに関する預言と、これに関連した終末的な預言です。聖書の預言を理解するにあたって、これはとても重要です。なぜなら、16 世紀の人間主義に基づいた西洋の考えによると、預言は予告と成就で成り立っていると言うからです。古代のユダヤ人にとって預言は、予告されて成就するというものではありません。むしろ、彼らにとって預言とは、繰り返すパターンだったのです。預言が複数の成就を持つということです。そして、それぞれの成就、それぞれのサイクルは最終的な成就について教えているのです。例を挙げると、飢饉のとき、アブラハムはエジプトに下りました。(創世記 12 章 10 節-

20 節)神はパロを裁き、アブラハムとその子孫はエジプトの富を携えて、エジプトを出、

そして約束の地に入りました。アブラハムの子孫も同じ経験を繰り返しました。すなわち、飢饉でエジプトに下り(創世記 42 章)、神は邪悪な王であるパロを再び裁き、アブラハム の子孫はエジプトの富を携えて、エジプトを出、そして約束の地に入ったのです。

アブラハムに起こったことはその子孫にも起こります。そして、イエスにも同じことが 起こりました。『彼らが帰って行ったとき、見よ、主の使いが夢でヨセフに現われて言っ た。「立って、幼子とその母を連れ、エジプトへ逃げなさい。そして、私が知らせるまで、そこにいなさい。ヘロデがこの幼子を捜し出して殺そうとしています。」そこで、ヨセフ は立って、夜のうちに幼子とその母を連れてエジプトに立ちのき、ヘロデが死ぬまでそこ にいた。これは、主が預言者を通して、「わたしはエジプトから、わたしの子を呼び出し た」と言われた事が成就するためであった。』(マタイ 2 章 13 節-15 節)

マタイは、邪悪な王ヘロデが死んで、イエスがエジプトから出てきたとき、ホセアの預

言が成就したと言いました。『イスラエルが幼いころ、わたしは彼を愛し、わたしの子を

エジプトから呼び出した。』(ホセア 11 章 1 節)とてもはっきりと、ホセア 11 章はモーセに関して起きたこと、出エジプトのことを語っているのです。文法的・史実的な文脈において、メシアのことではなく、出エジプトのことを語っています。しかし、マタイはすべての可能な文脈から一節を取って、イエスに合わせてゆがめているように見えます。果たしてマタイが間違っているのでしょうか?それとも、プロテスタントの聖書の解釈の仕方に問題があるのでしょうか?

マタイにも、新約聖書にも何も問題はありません。プロテスタントの考え方に問題があるのです。ユダヤ的な預言の考えは、予告ではなく、パターンです。アブラハムがエジプトを出て、パロは裁かれました。彼の子孫もエジプトを出て、邪悪な王が裁かれました。そして、また別の邪悪な王が裁かれ、メシアがエジプトを出ました。預言には複数の成就があるのです。ミドラッシュ的には、「イスラエル」がメシアであるイェシュア(イエス)を暗に示しています。「イスラエルはわたしの栄光、わたしの長子」というような箇所を見つけたなら、ミドラッシュ的な隠喩なのです。

1コリント 10 章ではもうひとつのことがあります。パウロが言うには世の象徴である、エジプトから私たちは出てきました。エジプト人に神格化され、神として崇められていたパロは、悪魔、この世の神の象徴です。モーセが山に行って、血で契約をし、人々に振りかけたのと同じことをイエスはしました。モーセは四十日間断食しました。イエスもそうです。イエスこそ申命記 18 章 18 節に予告されたモーセのような預言者です。モーセがイスラエルの子らを、水を通してエジプトから連れ出し、約束の地へ導いたように、イエスも私たちをバプテスマを通してこの世から連れ出し、天に導くのです。これはパターンです。

そして、馬と乗り手は海に投げ出されました(出エジプト 15 章 1 節)。私たちは黙示録

の 15 章 3 節で、――馬と乗り手が海に投げ出されたことについてである――モーセの歌を歌います。なぜでしょうか?パロと彼の戦車が紅海に投げ出されたように、白い馬に乗った反キリストと彼の軍隊は燃える海に投げ出されます。それはパターンだからです。「エジプトから出ること」の最終的な意味は復活と教会の携挙です。出エジプト記でなされた裁きは黙示録で再現されます。なので、パロの魔術師たちがモーセとアロンの奇跡を真似ることが出来たように、反キリストとにせ預言者はイエスとその証人たちの奇跡を真似るでしょう。彼らはエジプトを出るときに、ヨセフの骨を携え上りました(出エジプト 13 章

19 節)。なぜでしょうか?なぜなら、キリストにある死者が初めに上げられるからです(1

テサロニケ 4 章 16 節)。パターンなのです。

新約聖書を生み出したユダヤ的な考え方は預言を、予告ではなく、パターンであると見

なします。未来に起ころうとすることを理解するには、過去にあったことを見る必要があります。複数の成就があり、その一連の成就は、最終的な成就に関することを教えているのです。

黙示録を理解するためには、プロテスタントの神学校で教えられているような、限定された聖書の解釈法によっては無理なのです。ミドラッシュはたとえて言うなら、二次方程式や、とても複雑な二階微分方程式、13 や 14 の手順を経て解ける方程式のようなものなのです。ある人は最初の文法的・史実的な解釈の段階を経て、方程式は解けたと考えるかもしれません。彼らのしていることに何も問題は無いのですが、彼らのしていない多くのことが問題なのです。方程式は解けていません。文法的・史実的な解釈に何も問題はありません。それは必要な最初の段階であり、必要な準備であって、書簡を読むには最適なのです。しかし、それだけなのです。

これらのことを理解するには古代の知恵が必要です。『思慮ある者はその獣の数字を数えなさい。』(黙示録 13 章 8 節)16 世紀の知恵ではなく、紀元 1 世紀の知恵が必要なのです。


By David Passmore July 14, 2026
Circling the wagons Ruben Rothler LLB, LLM Israel is a society riddled with tension and division. It is sociologically, if not politically miraculous that a country drawing Jews from all over the world is able to exist at all. The army affords a degree of integration as a melting pot. But this is only a marginal source of national unity in the overall scheme of things. More so are the myriads of external threats that face this small country. In the former generation the Ashkenazi (Jews of European descent) - Sephardic (Jews of Oriental descent) divide was far more pronounced. The dominant Ashkenazi establishment held the reins of political and economic power which was resented by the Sephardim. However, due to a combination of inter-marriage and political accommodation much of the chasm that separated these distinct groups was forged. Menachem Begin (an Ashkenazi politician) in 1970 successfully ran on the Likud Party ticket with a campaign that brought Sephardic Jews under his conservative political umbrella. Later the immigration of Russian Jews following the end of Communism would add a whole new dimension to the Israeli demographic milieu. The younger generation of these immigrants tended to adapt well to Israeli society and contributed much to the economy. The wider division in Israeli society that crosses ethnic lines concerns that between religious and secular Jews. This can be further bifurcated to the clash between the secular and specifically ultra-orthodox Jews (Haredim) as distinguished from the national religious Jews (Dati Leumi). The Secular and the Religious generally part on what they envisage a Jewish State to entail. Religious Jews desire the State to strictly adhere to the stipulations of Jewish Law (Halacha), while at present Halakhic influence is largely limited to certain areas of Family Law concerning Jewish citizens. Wider considerations of promoting a socially conservative political agenda would also be forefront amongst the religious mindset broadly. Secular Jews view the imposition of such proposed measures as a serious infringement of their civil rights. With regard to the Haredim, the bone of contention looms larger, in that this group is fundamentally opposed to participating in society at large. This is acutely manifested in diminished contribution to the work force and a refusal to be conscripted into the army. The 2023 judicial reform protests posed a significant threat to social civil order. The nation appeared to be bitterly divided into two opposing camps. This split reflected broader divisions concerning visions of how the country should be governed. The judicial reforms would have weakened the Supreme Court's ability to render the Executive branch accountable. However, the Supreme Court was also accused of using its considerable powers to promote a socially liberal agenda. Left wing secular Israelis tended to oppose the proposed reforms while those on the right (which included the majority of Religious Jews) supported the reforms. Every weekend droves of protesters were brought onto the streets causing major disturbances to traffic. The polarising nature of this impasse threatened the future of Israeli democracy. It was the October 7th attack that brought a swift end to this public debate and civil strife. The nation instinctually united in response to this common existential threat. The judicial reforms were shelved for a future point when the urgent security threats subsided. However, as the war dragged on the enduring issue of Haredi refusal to conscript into the army became more pronounced. Mounting casualties combined with ever increasing manpower demands to field troops on the multiple theatres of action on which the IDF is engaged has depleted the ranks, and the army is now in much need of fresh conscripts. Haredi belligerent refusal to participate in the pressing national defence has escalated from being a political debate to a matter of very practical vital importance. Overall we can observe that the challenges to national unity in successive generations since the establishment of Israel has recurrently been ameliorated by the common necessity of defence towards outside threats. Most recently we can see this happening with regard to the global anti Semitism and anti-Zionism that has been raging since the October 7th atrocities. These hostile attitudes have paradoxically acted as a force which promotes nationalism and a sense of national cohesion in Israel that otherwise might not functionally exist.  (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).
By David Passmore July 8, 2026
A Divided Nation Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM The Haredi community has had a complicated, paradoxical relationship with the State since its founding. Rooted in a Talmudic precept that the Jews are forbidden to resettle the land of Israel en masse by force before the coming of the Messiah, the secular democratic State of Israel presents itself as blasphemous by its mere existence. Yet due to practical considerations such as the need to obtain funding for its religious academies the Haredi leadership reached a settlement with the State's founders that exempted Haredi men from being conscripted for military service. This was at a time when the Haredi population in Israel was relatively small. Over the past decades this demographic ballooned until the point that soon the majority of Jewish children in Israel will be born into Haredi families. Such a situation is clearly unsustainable. Recently the Knesset's (Parliament's) Haredi parties have pressured their coalition partners in government to codify Torah Study as part of the Country's Basic Laws. This was purposefully done to elevate the status of their institutions to be on parity with service in the IDF. Israel is yet to promulgate a written Constitution, so legislation classed as a Basic Law holds Constitutional status for all intents and purposes. These moves by the religious parties represent a back door power grab to enshrine in law very significant hurdles to prevent the enlistment of Haredi men. The burden of Israel's defence is comparatively massive for a country its size and it is vastly disproportionately shouldered by the secular population. Until now there have been political initiatives to conscript the Haredim. But given the huge manpower shortages emerging in the wake of near continual conflict on multiple fronts since the events of October 7th this matter has become urgent and not merely a theoretical discussion of what is fair and equitable. It is important to draw a distinction between the Haredim and national religious Jews (Dati Leumi). The Haredim adhere to a lifestyle entirely committed to observance of Jewish Law and Talmudic study. This is embraced to the exclusion of gainful employment and participation in wider society. They are either outrightly opposed to Zionism or consider themselves non-Zionist. Conversely, followers of the national religious movement in Israel although being observant of Jewish law and learning would alongside this pursue secular professions. Furthermore, they are ardently Zionist and disproportionately serve in IDF combat units. This is often done within the framework of a program called Hesder Yeshiva that combines religious learning with military service. Efforts to cater a similar model for accommodating Haredi participation in the IDF have so far failed to make substantial gains. Such measures designed to override Haredi objections to service based upon modesty concerns by strict segregation of the sexes in these specially formed units have failed to appease the Haredi leadership. For them, any form of military service is considered a dereliction of their duty to fully devote themselves to a Torah lifestyle. They argue that their Talmudic learning and prayers are in itself a form of national service and act to protect the Jewish people spiritually from enemy attack. It is as if two parallel societies exist within Israel. And the trajectory of separation between the two is only growing. The Haredim are cloistered away in their Yeshivas, immersed in lives devoted to adhering to the stipulations of Jewish law. While the particulars of actually running the State is left to the Secular. The Haredim desire all the benefits of subsidizing their lifestyle without contributing to society. What we really have going on here at source is two profoundly different and opposing ideological visions of what is important in life and what is the purpose of a Jewish State. At the State's founding these divergent perspectives were more manageable. Ben Gurion only had to contend with one religious party –the National Religious Party. Later in 1970 Begin aligned with the NRP to form a coalition government that also brought Sephardic Jews under the Likud umbrella which had the effect of bringing unity to the country by bridging the Ashkenazi-Sephardi divide. However, over time Israeli politics has seen a proliferation of religious parties, gaining further leverage as king brokers in forming governments due to the proportionate representation voting system which secular Israelis not uncommonly view as political blackmail. (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).
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By Mea Fredrickson June 23, 2026
New Paragraph
By David Passmore June 22, 2026
THE CAPTION AT THE HEAD OF THE POSTER IMAGE FOR THE MOVIE ‘DISCLOSURE DAY’ BOLDLY DECLARES ‘WE DESERVE TO KNOW’ Indeed, we do need to know the truth. But will we find it in Stephen Spielberg’s new movie ‘Disclosure Day’? Could it just as well be entitled ‘DECEPTION DAY’? In an interview with USA Today Spielberg says that evidence of non-human contact has become “overwhelming” to him. He has suggested that his film could raise significant theological questions for Christians. But will it? For us Christians - No, not on our watch! The movie raises no questions for those who accept the proven accuracy of God’s Word, the Bible. The film, which is capturing the imagination of the public, only confirms exactly what scripture tells us about what are in fact extra-dimensional beings. ALIENS OR FALLEN ANGELS? God inhabits the heavenly realm along with a vast array of angels. Because Lucifer, a created angel, wanted to usurp God as ruler of the universe, he was expelled to another realm outside of our time and space, along with one third of the angels who rebelled with him. These fallen angels manifest themselves as demons who can appear on earth and disappear at will. Spiritual hosts of wickedness exist in heavenly places, wherever this realm is, it is not the place where God dwells. ARE ALIENS BENEVOLENT? In the movie, the ‘aliens’ are portrayed as friendly beings who want to help mankind in a time of crisis. If the aliens are really demons, not visitors from outer space, this is a dangerous delusion. Whitley Striber in his book ‘Communion’ writes on encountering ‘aliens’; ‘I felt an indescribable sense of menace. Whatever was there seemed so monstrously ugly, so filthy, so dark and sinister. Of course they were demons. They have to be.’ Many others have reported similar malevolent experiences. During the movie, Daniel claims to have had an encounter with extra-terrestrials during which he received a special gift of empathy, which is regarded by him as the ultimate superpower. However, there is only One who completely understands our human frailty. We read this concerning Jesus: ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin.’ (Hebrews 4 v 15). Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11 v 28) END TIMES DECEPTION Before he was crucified, Jesus warned his disciples about these last days in which we are living. The first words he used in this context were: “Watch no one deceives you. For many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Deception was top of the list! Later, the Apostle Paul wrote about these days: ‘The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.’ (2 Thessalonians 2 v 9) Have you received the love of the truth? Have you received Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life? If not, you are in great danger. Perilous times are here and they are only going to get worse as man turns more and more away from his maker. Things will only change when Jesus returns soon to establish his own Kingdom on earth, where justice and peace will rule. JESUS, OUR ONLY HOPE! The Bible says all human beings are sinners. The message of Jesus is simple; repent and believe the good news, that God wants humanity, his highest creation, to be reestablished in relationship with him. His plan was simple: to give his life in unconditional love for every human being that has and ever will live, by shedding his blood on a Roman cross. In doing this, we can receive forgiveness of sins. Our old life will then be buried with him, giving us new life with the hope of an eternal future of true peace, love and joy, with freedom from pain and tears. Why ignore such a great gift of salvation? If you do, your fate will be sealed for eternity in hell, which is a real place without God, and thus without love, to face only eternal consequences of punishment. We condemn ourselves to such a fate. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! Jesus loves you and asks that you repent and believe in him. It would be the best and safest decision of your life! If you commit your life to him, he will give you a new heart, you will be a new person inside. You will also gain a new desire for all that is right and true. And his Holy Spirit will give you an ability to discern the lies of the age we are living in. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave us his only son, that whosoever believes in him, will not perish, but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) FINALLY, A RECOMMENDATION  All that is described in this leaflet has been open, in the light for millennia. On the other hand, the theory of extra-terrestrial life has been hidden in darkness, awaiting ‘Disclosure Day’. Which would you prefer to believe, the Word of God, or the word of Stephen Spielberg? I made my choice years ago, and have never regretted it! If this message has spoken to you, just call upon Jesus in a short prayer. Confess to him that you are a sinner in need of salvation. Ask him in sincerity to forgive you and to fill you with his Holy Spirit. You will then become what the Bible describes as being ‘born again’. (John 3 v 7) Then you need to seek a Bible believing church where you can be baptised and become part of a group of believers who can help you get to know Jesus more and more fully. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8 v 32)
By David Passmore June 20, 2026
Prayer request for Teerth Sond Petitioned Prayer-Supplication/Personal Prayer/ Collective Prayer/Thanks Giving Prayer Our Dear brethren in Yeshua, my family & myself Teerth request your prayers in The Spirit that the latest drugs Ramicirumab & Pacilitaxel will destroy the cancer cell in the Authority Of The Lord Yeshua in The Power of The Holy Spirit. Targeted Petition: Please stand with us in prayer & fasting; The Lord will target the 2cm legion & that it will be cast out of my Liver in the love (agape), compassion, kindness, grace, mercy of God. I do not deserve it because of me- but By His Stripes we are healed for His Glory. This will allow the main operation to go ahead (which should have been done 18 months ago). Step by Step in the leading of The Holy Spirit and the in the Lord Step by Step, as our beautiful sister Beryl said, has worked on my Spiritual man- thank you Lord for waking me up. Lord raise me up for your glory forever because of your love to me, the family & fellowship- an unworthy sinner saved by your grace & love. Email sent to my Oncologist & my Local MP: Greetings Natasha & Dr Mano Joseph Hope All Is Well Thank you for our meeting today. At our meeting we discussed my MRI & CT scans which were done in May 2026. We discussed the operation on my oesophagus which I believe is the best option. (This should have been done 18 months ago). My Kidney operation will be done- non evasive- Lord willing within the next month. Will you be talking to Mr Chacravaty about this? The liver must be targeted first- this is wisdom and the latest radiotherapy treatments available- proton therapy-radiotherapy atezolizumab and bevacizumab sorafenib lenvatinib regorafenib cabozantinib durvalumab and tremelimumab At the meeting we discussed the next CT & MRI scans to be held end off July. Wouldn't it be to better to have them in August so by then I've had 4 full treatments on the latest medication. Also we have Zolbetuximab on compassionate usage- all glory to The Lord. After all the past wrongs I have no doubt now Dr Joseph you will pursue the best for me and family. Dear brethren- King Manasseh, David, Hannah, The Church For Peter, James, The Lord Jesus Christ for example made petitions onto the Lord. We pray as one body to cast off the illness in the Power of The Holy & The Authority Of Yeshua. The Great Physician who came for the ill. To lay out raised hands 🙌🏽 upon the head of our Lord. ABBA/Daddy/Lord in your mercy have mercy on us. Love you all in Yeshua our Lord & God. Teerth, Family & Fellowship
By David Passmore June 19, 2026
The End of an Extended Honeymoon – Are Trump and Netanyahu Parting Ways? Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM  The Israeli public had high hopes for Trump. Unlike his predecessors, he consistently endorsed Israeli measures of self-defence in the different theatres of conflict in which it had to contend. Further to these ends Trump shared in Netanyahu’s determined agenda of preventing the Iranians from pursuing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. During Trump's first term he tore up Obama's negotiated settlement with the Iranians concerning enriched Uranium, echoing Netanyahu’s position that it didn't go far enough. Now in his second term Trump partnered with Israel in a war with Iran that turned out to lack clearly defined goals. The campaign required resolve on the part of America that it wasn't willing to commit. After an initial lightning blitzkrieg that decapitated the Iranian leadership, the Persians dug in and the conflict became a protracted war of attrition hinging on Iran's stranglehold on the straits of Hormuz that could only be realistically lifted by placing boots on the ground or an intensified air war directed against Iranian coastal positions and the destruction of Kharg island, or at least the viable threat to obliterate Kharg island if Iran did not acquiesce. It transpired that Trump and Netanyahu underestimated the resilience of the Iranian regime, thinking that it had already received a near mortal blow during the prior popular demonstrations. So now we are left with a situation where Trump is exasperated with this protracted endeavour and appears to be aiming his frustration towards Netenyahu. A sticking point is Israel's continued occupation of Southern Lebanon. Iran is insistent that Israel withdraw its forces from there as a precursor to fully committing itself to a final status agreement with the U.S. to put an end to its nuclear aspirations. With the midterm elections looming Trump seems to be desperate for an exit strategy from this war. From Israel's perspective the fight against Hizbollah is an inextricable part of the Iranian equation. The IDF has invested massive resources and personnel in the hopes of quashing the Iranian proxy once and for all. Netanyahu is determined to build on the momentum achieved after the spectacular pager attack in 2024. After the catastrophic Hamas massacres of October 7th, the majority of the Israeli public is unwilling to tolerate a capable hostile force on its borders. Trump's proposed solution to this dilemma unrealistically suggests that Syria should take on the role of disarming and removing Hizbollah from Lebanon. In the ultimate reckoning of international relations, America doesn't have iron clad allies, but rather interests like any other nation. If, (as appears to be occurring now) U.S. and Israeli interests fail to align the two countries will cease to act in unison and there may be a rupture in relations on the not-too-distant horizon. Trump has indicated that Israel owes him big time. He has asserted that were it not for his decisive actions they would have been obliterated by Iran's missiles. This is nothing to say of the robust diplomatic support Trump has lent Israel in such forums as the United Nations Security Council and sanctioning officials of the International Criminal Court. Netanyahu is acutely aware of what may be next after Trump. The way public opinion is turning against Israel it is unlikely that the next administration is going to be any way near as friendly as Trump has been thus far to Israel. Trump too of course is mindful of this turning tide opposing Israel. The Iran war has been unpopular to his domestic audience, and the President has been caricatured as Netanyahu’s stooge doing Israel's bidding. Another major consideration for Trump is the colossal impact that the war has had on his other major regional allies: the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia. They have received the brunt of the Iranian backlash that has effectively targeted their energy infrastructure and trading routes. They, along with the Europeans have been exerting pressure on Trump to end the conflict and reopen the Straits of Hormuz regardless of whether the most favourable terms of Iranian capitulation are achieved. Israel, however important a strategic asset and technological powerhouse will not override these broader concerns that are endangering global energy markets. An unspoken factor is Trump's propensity for a belligerent severing of his relationship with allies in the political sphere. His public displays of hostility with former political allies such Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Ron Santos and Elon Musk demonstrate a temperament that the same kind of falling out could invoke with strategic allies as well as those political. Both Trump and Netanyahu are approaching the sunset of their political careers and are naturally inclined to deeply consider the legacies they will leave behind. In the international sphere Trump projected himself as a peacemaker from a position of strength. But as many commentators have pointed out, the war with Iran demonstrated the limits of U.S. power. Trump appraised Iran as low hanging fruit that could be swiftly toppled like Venezuela. However, when push came to shove and the only prospect of landing a decisive blow demanded a massive ground offensive on the scale of the Iraq war, he bottled out and sued for a premature peace that will leave Netanyahu in the cold. Netanyahu is anxious to rehabilitate the injury inflicted on his reputation of the greatest disaster to have occurred in Israel's history having happened on his watch. Eliminating Iran as the great regional adversary pulling the strings of its proxies would have done much in this regard. Neither leader is able to craft their legacies as they would have wanted. Trump is choosing the perceived option of mitigating the damage done to his legacy in foreign affairs. He is trying hard to sell his Iran deal as being more than what Obama bargained in terms of guaranteeing a nuclear free Iran. But as further details of his proposal are leaked this is becoming a tall order. Netanyahu is faced with October elections and he may decide to stay the course in Lebanon as otherwise he will seem weak to most voters. Should this happen, we will be in uncharted waters as it will thwart Trump's designs for an immediate end to this affair.
By David Passmore June 17, 2026
The Battlefield for Israel's Reputation Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM Israel has enjoyed strong U.S. support since its founding. Within eleven minutes of Israel's Declaration of Independence Truman recognized the Jewish State. Under the Kennedy administration the Pentagon sold advanced missile systems to Israel. However, it was the 1970 attempted PLO takeover of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan that demonstrated to the U.S. Israel's regional prowess and indispensability for implementing Washington's agenda. During Arafat's attempted Coup Syria mobilized its forces on the Jordanian border in support of the PLO's bid to dislodge the ruling Hashemite dynasty. Upon Washington's direction the IDF also mobilized its army upon its border with Jordan, thereby deterring the Syrians from taking further action. From then, the Pentagon and U.S. military planners invested heavily in promoting Israel's defence. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War disaster Nixon's massive air lift came to Israel's aid. For decades U.S. diplomatic and military support for Israel was a non-partisan issue. Both Democrat and Republican members of Congress voted nearly unanimously in support of measures concerning Israel. However, in the mid 2010's this began to change. To the extent that now 80% of Democrats hold views in opposition to Israel and this is reflected in how their representatives are acting. It is difficult to praise an exact moment when this turning point occurred. For years Democrat grassroots activist groups across the nation were lobbying their local representatives about their attitudes to Palestine and the mass student protest movements following the Gaza war built upon this momentum. The dual standards by the academic establishment were riddled with hypocrisy as if by the same criteria Israel is condemned for its responsive self-defence counter attacks in Lebanon and Gaza, Britain and America would be similarly indicted for what they did to Dresden, Hamburg and Berlin in response to Hitler. This is facilitated by the funding of Western Universities by Qatar and other Islamic interests associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. There is alienation between Israelis and the traditional left-centre Jewish Diaspora in the U.S. with a third of New York Jews voting for Mandani a vehement anti-Zionist in the New York Mayoral election. This is counterbalanced by a growing Jewish Right in America led by Ben Shapiro, David Ruben, Dennis Prager, Mark Levin and Trump advisor Steven Miller who are in political harmony with the Evangelical Right. The Republicans are also approaching a crossroads. Just as the Democrats have been hijacked by the Woke Left there has emerged a virulently anti-Zionist Woke Right led by Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes and Candace Owen who are also attempting to hijack the Republicans. What is alarming here, is the fact that the majority of young Republicans under forty now hold an unfavourable view of Israel. So, it is very much a matter of fighting for the future of the Republican Party. The growing populist movements in Britain and Europe may counter the anti-Zionist and anti- Semitic political activities of the Muslim vote and their left-wing allies. In any eventuality, even if the least favourable trajectory of U.S. public opinion were to further materialize it is unlikely to dismantle the massive military and intelligence sharing cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. The Pentagon views Israel as far too big of a strategic asset in a volatile region to cut ties with. (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).
By David Passmore June 10, 2026
MAJOR PRAYER REQUEST - STEVE MITCHELL MORIEL ORPHANAGE (Andar Pradesh, INDIA) Please read the enclosed missions report from Moriel Missions Branch India: Our children need us and we put a lot of money into buying and then expanding the Moriel orphanage to take in more children. These precious orphan children are coming to Christ and the devil is angry. Until now we had opposition from radical Sheikhs at the Moriel Horeb church we built in Punjab, but the Hindu Authorities in Andar Pradesh have largely until now left us alone. The BJP government is however as wicked as Hamas or Hezbollah - only Hindu (I was in India when radical Hindus burned the Australian missionary family alive in their car; these are the ones who wanted to murder Steve Mitchell when Moriel helped to quickly get him out of the country some years ago). Some pastors have been murdered again in West Bengal. (Samuel, who oversees the Moriel orphanage went to Bible College with one of them). Because our orphan children are Dalet (treated as subhuman 'out casts' by the Hindu caste system), or from Muslim backgrounds, we have largely been been left alone and some of the local officials liked us. This is obviously not a good situation. Prayer is urgently requested. Please pray for Mark Masih particularly that they will not cancel his visa. They are now forbidding us from bringing any more bibles into the country. What would happen if Britain, Australia, or America outlawed Hindus from bringing the Bhagavad Gita into England, Oz, or the USA? MARANATHA Come Quickly Lord Jesus  "You Will Be Hated By Men For My Name's Sake" Matthew 10:22
By David Passmore May 30, 2026
Staying The Course Amidst Isolation Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM Living in Israel one gets the feeling that the metaphorical walls are closing in. Israel's reputation is being tarnished all over social media and the mainstream media, and this is reflected in massive public disdain towards this country. We are constantly told that there is near consensus amongst academics and commentators that a genocide was committed in Gaza. The very legitimacy of the state is brought into question. The majority of Americans are now hostile towards Israel. There is real fear that the next U.S. administration will turn against Israel. Even if this were to happen passively, by the U.S. refraining from exercising its veto power towards Security Council Resolutions condemning Israeli actions this could be catastrophic. Internally it is a fractured society leaning increasingly right wing which further alienates Israel from world opinion. An example in point is how Ben Gvir mocked the most recent participants of a global aid flotilla to Gaza. Such conduct further agitates outrage at Israel. The left-wing media presents the ruins of Gaza as a mortal wound in Israel's side. When the world observes this level of carnage no degree of public relations can ameliorate the sense of indignation towards Israel. We can liken the situation of Israel to that of a depressed person. All he sees is hopelessness and gloom. But this isn't the first time that the Jewish nation has been faced with such darkness. Things change and we don't know how the geo-political map will reconfigure in the future. We need to ride out this storm and keep going. On a historical note, the situation is reminiscent of what our ancestors faced when we returned from the Babylonian exile to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was faced with constant lies and conspiracies designed to entrap him by hostile actors: Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab. They employed deception, slander and ridicule in order to maintain their political eminence. There was also a certain sense of abandonment amongst the Jews in Israel then as in our own day. We read in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah about the anguish of the leadership in Israel concerning the lack of assistance from the Babylonian diaspora towards the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple. Only 20% of the exiles returned to the land. It was largely the poor who returned. Most of the affluent, established Jews remained in Exile. This is a continuing theme in Jewish history. It is also important to observe that from its very beginnings there were bible believing Christians who spearheaded the return of the Jews to their land. The idea of organizing a return of the Jews to Israel began as a Protestant Restorationist objective that can be traced to 17th century Puritan England. The protagonists of the Cromwellian Republic viewed themselves as the new Israel fighting the Papist forces of Satan. Alongside this, interest grew in the notion that biblical prophecies pertaining to the return of the Jews to Israel were a necessary precursor for the return of Christ. The growth of the British Empire in the 19th century lent political clout to Christian Restorationism with specific missions to the Jews established. Although there had been a longing to return to Israel as written in the thrice daily Amidah prayer, Jewish Zionism arose in the midst of mid nineteenth century nationalism and was further fermented by European antisemitism. It was an altogether secular enterprise. Although Israel's situation appears rather stark, we can draw strength from the Providence afforded to our ancestors in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah when they too were faced with defamation. This is also an opportunity to grow closer to our natural allies in the evangelical world who from the beginning of Zionism were steadfast supporters of the project to establish a Jewish homeland in Israel.  (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).