This month marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern state of Israel. It's no coincidence that we've chosen this time for our first Behold Your God Israel Campaign. In preparation for the campaign, we polled people as to their current opinions concerning Jesus. This first-of-its kind survey was conducted by a well known Israeli polling firm, 21st Century Marketing. The 981 completed surveys provided a good sampling of modern Israeli attitudes and revealed startling information that we want you to see...
Yom ha-Azma'ut, or Israel Independence Day, is commemorated each year on the
fifth day of the Hebrew month Iyar. This day marks the end of the British
Mandate and the official forming of the State of Israel in 1948.
Jewish sovereignty over the ancient homeland enabled Jewish people to return
to Israel from the four corners of the world, as the Bible predicted they would.
The modern state of Israel is comprised of Jews from hundreds of nations and as
many different backgrounds and languages. Yet, a distinct Israeli Jewish culture and
style has emerged as demonstrated by the use of Hebrew as a common
language. This means the gospel of Y'shua can be proclaimed to millions of
our people using one language!
Of the almost six million Jews that have settled in Israel, less than one percent
believe in Jesus. As we Jews for Jesus celebrate Israel Independence Day, we also
recognize our dependence on God as we seek to reach Jews in Israel and all over the
world with the message of Y'shua.
Also Celebrate Israel's 60th Birthday with
these items.
Did you see the full-page ad in The New York Times on Friday, March 28, entitled “The Gospel and Jewish People: An Evangelical Statement”?
Sponsored by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), the statement is signed by well-known evangelical pastors, theologians, and journalists who believe in Jewish evangelism. It is a concise, updated reaffirmation of WEA’s 1989 Willowbank Declaration on the Christian Gospel and the Jewish People.
Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League has called it “particularly odious to defend the duplicitous proselytizing of Jews by groups such as Jews for Jesus…” He goes on to stay that “While [the leaders who signed the statement] claim to deplore the use of deception and coercion, they ‘reject the notion that it is deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews,’ thus turning the meaning of deception on its head.”
We applaud the WEA and those who signed the document for recognizing the need for the gospel to be lovingly brought to all people, including our Jewish people. And we are particularly encouraged to see our evangelical family acknowledge that those of us who are followers of Y’shua (Jesus) who were born Jewish have every right to continue to identify as Jews.
What do you think?
