The Untold Story

The Role of Christian Zionists in the Establishment of Modern‐day Israel

The church is rightly criticized for centuries of Christian anti‐Semitism, but what
is overlooked is the pivotal role British Christian Zionists played in the
establishment of modern‐day Israel. Almost all books written about the Zionist
movement focus on the early Jewish leaders, their creativity and courage in
making the impossible a reality, i.e., the restoration of a Jewish state in the land.
But Jewish involvement in modern Zionism did not begin until the mid to late
1800ʹs, whereas British Christian leaders were advocating the restoration of a
Jewish state in the land for the prior 200 years. The theology of British Puritans
with regard to Godʹs plan for the Jewish people so influenced British public
opinion that governmental leaders in the 19th century began maneuvering
international events towards the re‐establishment of a Jewish Israel, culminating,
of course, in the issuance of the Balfour Declaration in 1917 establishing Palestine
as the homeland for the Jews.

Jews lived in England as early as the 11th century. But the perpetuation of
medieval anti‐Semitic myths caused the expulsion of the Jews from England in
1290. Following King Henry VIIIʹs decision to sever ties with the Roman church
and the increasing availability of the Scriptures, the Puritan movement took hold
in England. The Puritans were known to take the Scripture literally, but also
believed that civil government should be based on the Biblical model, largely
that of ancient Israelʹs. As they scoured the Scriptures, beginning in the 1580ʹs the
Puritans authored various treatises on Jewish salvation and Godʹs plan to restore
the Jews back to their land. The height of Puritan involvement in government
came during the Cromwell Republic of the mid‐1600ʹs. The Puritans had
overthrown the monarchy and attempted to establish a Puritan state in England.

This same period coincided with the horrible slaughters of Jews in Eastern
Europe following the end of the Thirty Yearsʹ War. The chief Rabbi of
Amsterdam, Holland, Manesseh Ben Israel, concluded that Jews were not safe in
Eastern Europe, but rather safety lie with the West, and particularly with the
Puritans. He discovered in the Scriptures that the coming of the Messiah was
linked to the Jews being scattered to the ends of the earth, and in Hebrew the
word for ʺendʺ was the same as that for ʺEngland.ʺ Consequently, he wrote a
pamphlet called, ʺHope of Israel,ʺ proposing that the Jews be invited into
England in fulfillment of prophecy. Ben Israel knew that the Puritans were very

interested in Biblical prophecy and the plight of the Jews, so he successfully
made an appointment with Cromwell and convinced him to support the
immigration of Jews into his country. Thus, the banishment of Jews from
England ended and with it began a series of articles and books from renowned
British, including John Milton and John Locke, supporting a Jewish state.

In 1733 Sir Isaac Newton suggested an interpretation of the prophet Daniel
necessitated another nation assist the Jews to return to their land. By the late
1700ʹs Englandʹs major papers began discussing the issue. In 1799 Joseph Priestly,
a well‐known British scientist wrote a book addressing the Jews and said,
referring to Israel, ʺthe land is uncultivated and ready to receive you, but the
Turks control it. Their power must first fall. Therefore, I earnestly pray for its
dissolution. But it may not happen for sometime.ʺ This was followed by another
book, The Restoration of the Jews ‐ the Crisis of All Nations, by Thomas Witherby
who proposed England would be ʺa new Cyrusʺ and be Godʹs instrument to
restore the land to the Jews. In 1819 another book, Call to the Christians and the
Hebrews, by Theaetetus, proposed Jews and Christians combine efforts for reestablishment
of the nation of Israel.

By now the proliferation of both theological and philosophical works proposing
the return of land to the Jews was so widespread that politics was effected. In
1838 at the urging of a Christian Zionist, Lord Shaftesbury, Britain established a
consulate in Jerusalem, the first diplomatic appointment in the land of Israel.
This was followed by the appointment of Michael Solomon Alexander as
Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, the first Jewish bishop of Jerusalem since 135 C.E.
In 1853 the Crimean War erupted between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. The
British and the French both sided with the Turks, assisting them in the defeat of
the Russians. The Paris Treaty of 1858, concluding the war, granted Jews and
Christians the right to settle in Palestine, forced upon the Ottoman Turks by the
British for their assistance in the war effort. This decision opened the doors for
Jewish immigration to Palestine.

A pivotal event occurred in 1868 with the election of Benjamin Disraeli as British
Prime Minister. Disraeli, a Jewish Christian who strongly regarded his Jewish
heritage, wrote in an 1877 article entitled, ʺThe Jewish Question is the Oriental
Quest,ʺ that within 50 years a nation of one million Jews would reside in
Palestine under the guidance of the British. Around the same time George Eliot,
the great British novelist wrote her book, Daniel Deronda, about the struggle of a
Jewish person to retain his identity. She propounded the idea that Israel become
a nation of vision for the Jewish people. The book was translated and read by a

Russian Jew named Yehuda Perlman who became convinced that a modern state
of Israel was the ultimate answer for the Jewish people. He later changed his
name to Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the father of modern Hebrew and an early Zionist.

Up to this point the idea of a resurrected Israel resided only in the hearts of most
Jews. But things radically changed with the appearance of Theodore Herzl, who
in his pamphlet the Jewish State began to turn the far‐fetched idea of a Jewish
land in Palestine to a believable reality for many Jews. What is little known about
Herzlʹs work was the critical role played by another British Christian Zionist,
William Hechler. In 1897 following an ultimately disappointing meeting with the
Sultan of Turkey, Herzl became distraught about the future of Zionism.
Somehow Hechler found a copy of Herzlʹs Jewish State and became so excited
that he searched Herzl down around the world. Herzl found Hechler to be a
religious zealot but became interested when Hechler could provide Herzl entré
to the German Kaiser and later the British Prime Minister.

In an extremely humorous story as related by Herzl, he tells of the meeting with the Kaiser. Herzl
had been preparing for weeks for the meeting, intending to show the Kaiser the
political advantages to Germany to declare Palestine a future homeland for the
Jews. When the meeting day arrived, Hechler accompanied Herzl into the
meeting because he knew the Kaiser personally. Before Herzl could say a word,
Hechler whipped open his Bible and began discussing Biblical prophecy with the
Kaiser. Herzl was appalled, seeing this as another lost opportunity. But to his
amazement the Kaiser is convinced by the Scriptures to support the concept.

Later Hechler also provided open doors for Herzl to meet with the British
leadership, the relationship that bore ultimate fruit, although at the beginning
the Zionist story took a bizarre twist. Britain did not want to upset the delicate
balance of relationshhips in the Middle East, so as a short‐term solution, the
British offered Herzl and the Jews the land of Uganda as a respite. Herzl
reluctantly accepted the offer, but at the next Zionist Congress the offer was
resoundingly rejected. The following year Herzl died. A new Zionist leader
emerged ‐ Chaim Weitzman. The British government continued to apply
pressure on the Zionists to accept Uganda as a temporary shelter, but things
changed in a pivotal meeting between Weitzman and another Christian Zionist,
Arthur Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary. Balfour asked Weitzman why was
Uganda rejected and why were the Jews hung up on Palestine. Weitzman
responded by suggesting the tables be turned and he offer to Balfour, Paris
instead of London. Balfour replied that the British currently had London but the
Jews do not have Jerusalem. Weitzman said, ʺWe had Jerusalem when London

was a swamp.ʺ That was enough to persuade Balfour to begin to argue for
Palestine for the Jews.

Of course, all of these discussions and arrangements were restrained by the fact
of the Ottoman Empireʹs continued control of Palestine. This changed in World
War I. The Ottoman Turks sided with Germany. Germany and the Allied powers
bogged down along the German/French borders. Millions perished. The British
were in desperate need to enhance the power of their explosives in order to win
the war. The person who discovered the chemical processes to do just that was
the chemist, Chaim Weitzman. Near the end of the war the British Prime
Minister, Lloyd George (another Christian Zionist), called for Weitzman to offer
him an award for his assistance in the war effort. In a classic statement,
Weitzman declared, ʺI want nothing for myself but rather a homeland for my
people.ʺ As a result Lloyd George directed his Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour,
to issue what became known as the Balfour Declaration, proposing Palestine
become a homeland for the Jewish people. A month later a British military force
led by General Allenby overthrew Ottoman rule in Palestine, and Britain now
became the ruling sovereign in the area.

Isaiah prophesied that the Gentiles would bring the Jewish people back to their
land (Is. 49). The remarkable story of the British Christian Zionists was, I believe,
a fulfillment of that prophecy. The establishment of the modern state of Israel is
directly related to God awakening and then directing a certain people to
cooperate with Him in His plan for the restoration of the Jewish people to their
homeland.

Copyright © 1998 Jamie Cowen. Used by permission of the author.

Yeshua and Chanukah

Did you know Yeshua (Jesus) celebrated Chanukkah?   “At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Yeshua was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.”  John 10:22-23.  Chanukkah was celebrated differently in those days.  There was no special menorah, called a chanukkiah (8 branch menorah as opposed to the Temple’s 7 branch).  There were no gifts exchanged, and it’s likely the story of the miraculous appearance of oil lasting 8 days came later.  Then what was this holiday about, and why was Yeshua celebrating it?  The word Chanukkah is a Hebrew word meaning dedication.  The two books of the Maccabees describe the reason for the season.  Essentially Jewish revolutionaries overthrew Greek rule in 164 BCE and established an independent Israel again for the first time in 400 years.  When the revolutionaries conquered Jerusalem, they cleansed the 2nd Temple, originally built in the 500's BCE, of pagan idols and re-instituted the worship of the God of Israel.  This event is the meaning of Chanukkah and why it was celebrated.

            When Yeshua entered the Temple during this particular festival, Israel was once again under foreign domination, this time Roman rule.  This had been the case for approximately 100 years.  There was a lot of turmoil and suspense during this period because there was the expectation of the Messiah coming and liberating Israel again from foreign occupation.  This was especially true during this particularly holiday.  So, it was not coincidental that Yeshua was asked in the same passage whether he was the Messiah because the hope was that he would lead a new revolt.   His response was to note his works - in other words the miracles that he was doing, which, of course, had nothing to do with political machinations but rather showed the God of Israel was active in relieving human suffering, including the granting of eternal life.  Then he really stirred the crowds by claiming unity with God in heaven.  Admittedly, this was a shocking statement because he claimed that he was divine.  While there were a few Jewish sects that considered a divine type Messiah, most did not.  Hence, the crowds rose to stone him for blasphemy.  He again challenged them to observe his miracles.  If he wasn’t who he said he was, then how could he do these miracles?  Immediately, thereafter came the famous story of Yeshua calling forth Lazarus from the dead. 

            What was Yeshua doing in this passage?  Political liberty is a fine thing.  Even today, Israel is a living, independent nation.  But her existence hasn’t stopped human suffering.  Every day we read of tragedies in and around Israel.  The real answer is to know the one who claimed to come from the Father to do miracles in our midst.  Israel is in need of miracles today, and so are we.  We need the miracle worker, Yeshua,  in our lives.  

Jamie Cowen 2006

Messianic Judaism

Article in Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2009

What does a Jew do who suddenly finds himself believing in Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew)?  In 1969 I found myself unwittingly caught between two seemingly unbridgeable worlds – Judaism and Christianity. Growing up as a Jew, I felt loyalty and affinity to my roots, and yet my spiritual journey led me to Yeshua.  The following year at college I met another “freak” like me, who alleviated my internal conflict by introducing me to the term “Messianic Jew.” As we studied the Scriptures together, I saw that Yeshua was the Jewish Messiah.  I had little idea of the Pandora’s box I opened. My newly found faith caused a huge conflict with my family and my Jewish community, sadly continuing to this day.

            This year I celebrate my 18th year (the Hebrew number for life) as Rabbi of Tikvat Israel, a Messianic Jewish congregation in Richmond, and I recently completed my sixth year as president of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations.  In 1989 Tikvat Israel started in a small meeting room of a motel on Rt. 95.  Before moving to Richmond in 1990 my young family and I commuted every week from Washington, D.C.  Today, the congregation is housed in a historic synagogue building on the corner of Boulevard and Grove, crowded with worshipers on Saturday mornings and Jewish holidays, bustling with life and joy.

            Since my discovery of Yeshua in 1969, Messianic Judaism has grown rapidly.  The ‘60s hippie movement produced large numbers of Jewish young men and women embracing this Yeshua.  Seeking to maintain Jewish identity with this newly found faith, these young people began forming Messianic synagogues. Today, there are close to 1000 such synagogues around the world, including 150 in Israel. As a teacher I have traveled to many of these houses of worship in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Israel.  I am still amazed at how what seemed strange almost 40 years ago - a Jew believing in Yeshua and remaining Jewish - has become increasingly normalized.

            Tikvat Israel’s beliefs, practices and traditions are similar to those of traditional synagogues, with the obvious exception of belief in Yeshua as Messiah.  Not unlike the first few hundred years of Yeshua’s Jewish followers, our Saturday order of service follows the synagogue structure, highlighted by the procession and the reading/chanting of the Torah (the five books of Moses).  Traditional and contemporary music is interwoven throughout the service, coupled with tasteful Israeli-style dancing. We celebrate the Jewish holidays, circumcise male infants, and our young teens celebrate their Bar and Bat Mitzvot in the traditional way. We have Hebrew instruction, a Shabbat School and vibrant youth, young-adult and adult programs.

            Members include Jews from all backgrounds, interfaith families and those from a variety of Christian backgrounds who seek to understand the Jewish roots of their faith. Many are active in larger Jewish causes. For 15 years our congregation has assisted hundreds of Russian families to successfully immigrate to our city; in fact, we house the largest Russian library in the region.  We are currently involved in large humanitarian projects to Israel, recognized and welcomed by the Israeli government.

            Despite all this, some people, almost all of whom have not attended our services, still think the name Messianic Jew is a contradiction in terms, largely as a result of the historical divide between Judaism and Christianity. However, many viewed Theodore Herzl (the father of Zionism) as a fool when he proposed a Jewish state be established in the Holy Land.  How could ancient Israel be resurrected into a modern nation after almost 2,000 years?  Yet, there she stands, and so do we - the spiritual descendants of the original followers of Yeshua, resurrected after almost two millennia. 

Purim and Anti-Semitism

The Feast of Purim, described in the Book of Esther, celebrates God’s deliverance of the Jews in an early instance of the age old problem of Anti-Semitism.  The issue of Anti-Semitism, the whys and wherefores, has been debated by scholars for over 50 years.  The Purim story highlights one of the major reasons for this problem - the refusal by the Jews to violate God given commandments, despite living in foreign countries.  One of the first of the 10 commandments is to not bow down to any other god.  In the ancient world many of the kings were considered by their societies to be divine.  In the Purim story, the king requires his people to bow down to his chief assistant, Haman.  But Mordecai, the Jew, refuses.  His action begins a process that ultimately leads to a ruling by the king to destroy all the Jews in his empire, which at that time, probably meant the vast majority of the world’s Jews.  This same conflict between a Nation’s laws and Jewish law repeats itself for millennia during the Greek empire, the Roman empire, the Islamic empire, Christian Europe, etc.  But it fails to explain the more modern forms of Anti-Semitism, best expressed in Nazi Germany, and now once again tragically expressed in Western Europe and in many Muslim nations. 

What is the driving force behind Anti-Semitism?  It must be spiritual.  Since the time of Abraham, God called the Jewish people to be a witness people to the world.  In Exodus at Mt. Sinai God declares the whole earth is His, but the Jews will be His treasured possession, representing Him as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  And while Israel and the Jews often failed to live up to His expectations, He makes it clear in both Testaments of the Bible that His calling on the Jewish people remains irrevocable.  God even links the promises of the New Covenant to the continuation of the Jewish race (Jer. 31).  So, why such persecution?  If the Jews are destroyed, then God’s promises are made void.  If He can’t fulfill His promises to them, can He fulfill His promise to anyone?  Hence, throughout history demonic forces find any reason whatsoever to fuel hatred of the Jewish people.  The hatred and the history of persecution are not rational.  But the apostle Paul says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world-forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  In our post-modern world, this kind of thinking seems silly.  But ironically it’s the only rationale for persistent Anti-Semitism that makes any sense. 

As we stomp our feet, boo and twirl our noisemakers at the mention of Haman’s name during the Purim celebration, let’s make the connection between him, Anti-Semitism and hatred in general.  Together, let’s fight for God’s justice in this world.  Remember Yeshua’s words, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have an abundant life.” 

Jamie Cowen 2006

Purim - Decisions Have Future Implications

            Purim is probably the most boisterous of the Jewish holidays,  celebrating Jewish deliverance from the hands of the evil Haman.  Typically, synagogues read the Book of Esther (called the Megillah) on the evening of Purim - this year, Thursday, March 20.  The reading is highly interactive with the congregation; for when Haman is mentioned, noisemakers (groggers) are twirled and people boo, whereas when Mordecai and Esther are read, there is cheering and whistling.  Often, synagogues or Jewish Community Centers offer Purim parties which includes kids dressing up in costumes or performing crazy plays.  Special foods are concocted also representing the day, such as hamantaschen (triangular shaped pastries), representing Haman’s hat, or smaller pastries, representing his ears.  Drinking alcoholic beverages is also common. 

            But there are some very serious issues raised by the Book of Esther, one being that our decisions often have implications far into the future.  Two of the book’s principal characters are introduced by mentioning their lineage, not uncommon in Biblical literature.  The story line begins in the Persian Empire, sometime in the early 5th century BCE, where most, if not all, the Jews of the world lived.  The Persian king becomes displeased with his wife and begins to look for a successor.  Mordecai is then introduced as the uncle of Hadassah (Esther) who later becomes queen.  But the book’s author directs attention to Mordecai’s lineage, who is a descendant of Kish.  Kish was the father of King Saul, Israel’s first king, just preceding King David. 

            Later, Haman (prime minister) is introduced as an Agagite.  From this point to the end of the book there is a fascinating and developing conflict between Mordecai and Haman.  But it’s these men’s ancestries which give the book one of its deepest implications.  600 years before the story, God commanded King Saul to destroy the Amalekites.  However, Saul permitted the king of the Amalekites to live; his name was Agag.  As a result, the Prophet Samuel rebuked Saul and informed him that God had removed his authority to continue as king.  Rather, another man was God’s choice for kingship - David.  From then on, Saul becomes a tragic figure, finally dying in a losing battle against enemy forces.  It appears from the text that Saul’s series of poor choices, culminating in allowing King Agag to live, conclude with Saul’s death.  But the Book of Esther shows it doesn’t. 

            Haman is now described as a descendant of Agag, whose purposes are to destroy the Jewish people.  Mordecai, the descendant of Saul, spars with Haman over his future as well as that of his people.  In a delightful and ironic ending, the very gallows intended for Mordecai is used to execute Haman, and the Jews who were about to be slaughtered now become a favored and protected people.  Few of us consider the impact of our decisions beyond our children or grandchildren, but this story reveals how vital they are, even affecting generations hundreds of years later.  Consider what the Apostle Paul said, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked.  For whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Gal. 6:7-8)

Jamie Cowen 2008

Messianic Jewish Immigration to Israel

            You may or may not know that the nation of Israel blocks Messianic Jews from immigrating.  Israel was established as a safe haven for all Jews.  The only group prohibited by law are Messianics.  Now, that has changed.  In a huge case, the Israeli Supreme Court instructed the government to grant Israeli citizenship to a group of twelve Messianic Jews, whose Jewish heritage originated on their father’s side.  Included in that group was my oldest daughter, Amy. 

            Jewish immigration to Israel is controlled by the Law of Return.  The law, as passed in 1970, stated that anyone with one Jewish grandparent could automatically become a citizen of Israel.  This law was based upon the notorious Nuremberg laws from the Nazi era.  Hitler’s regime prohibited the intermarriage of Germans and anyone with one Jewish grandparent.  The ultimate goal of the Nuremberg laws was to define, isolate and destroy anyone with Jewish heritage.  A few years after passage of the Law of Return a Catholic priest, whose was born Jewish, attempted to immigrate to Israel.  The Supreme Court conceded that under Jewish religious law the priest remained a Jew, but for all intents and purposes relinquished his connections to the Jewish people by converting to Christianity.  The Court urged the Israeli parliament to amend the law.

            Later the law was amended to capture similar scenarios so that anyone with a Jewish grandparent could still become a citizen unless he or she converted to another religion.  In a huge case before the Court 15-20 years ago, Gary and Shirley Beresford, South African Messianic Jews, sought to immigrate under the Law of Return and were blocked by the government under the conversion exception.  Despite the fact that the Beresfords lived as Jews, the Court ruled against them, claiming they had converted to another religion.  This case set the precedent, enabling the government to proscribe Messianic Jewish immigration.  As a consequence, many Messianic Jews, who desired to immigrate, had to keep their faith quiet when immigrating.   If and when discovered, these Messianic Jews could not immigrate. 

            Approximately, three years ago my daughter, Amy, decided to immigrate to the land.  My middle daughter had successfully immigrated three years earlier.  In Amy’s case an anti-missionary organization discovered her application and put pressure on the government to block the case.  We hired an Israeli law firm who was already representing numerous families in similar situations.  A year ago she was added to an existing Supreme Court case.  The case was postponed numerous times, causing both financial and emotional stress on all of us.  She was in Israel since the summer of 2006, but could not work nor receive any government benefits. 

            Finally, the case was heard on April 16.  People were praying all over the world.  A group of us gathered at Tikvat Israel at 4 AM to pray while the case was being heard (seven hour time difference with Israel).  Just as we finished prayer my phone rang, and there was Amy announcing over a speaker phone that the Messianic Jewish families had won the case.  The roar from the group praying was so loud my ears were still ringing hours later.   Finally, the words of Israel’s national anthem are applicable to the Messianic Jewish community:

As long as in the heart, within,
A soul of a Jew is yearning,
And to the edges of the East, forward,
An eye gazes towards Zion,

Our hope is not yet lost,The hope of two thousand years,
To be a free nation in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

            I believe part of the reason behind this monumental decision is the incredible favor and generosity the Christian and Messianic Jewish world has shown to the nation of Israel over the past number of years. 

Jamie Cowen 2008

Did the Jews Kill Christ?

Here we go again, the phrase presidential candidate, Ronald Reagan, made famous in a response to President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential debates.  But this time the phrase applies to the historic Anti-Semitic statement about Jewish culpability in killing Christ, resurrected by none other than Virginia House of Delegate member, Frank Hargrove. In opposing legislation that formally apologizes for the state’s involvement in slavery, Delegate Hargrove made the comparison to asking modern day Jews to apologize for killing Christ.  Of course, Delegate Hargrove was not suggesting that Jews actually killed the savior or that today’s Jews are somehow responsible for Christ’s death.  Rather, his point was that how can future generations apologize for actions of their ancestors.   Leaving aside the merit of his major point, which is debatable, raising the issue of Jewish culpability in the death of Christ, even in terms of an analogy, is deeply troubling. 

            If the Christ killing accusation was buried in history following the Middle Ages, no one would care much.  But it’s not.  Anti-Semitism is once again on the rise throughout the world.  Believe it or not, the Muslim world often quotes Christian medieval statements about the Jews culpability in the killing of Christ to show just how evil Jews are.  Even among certain Christian circles within the United States, this is still believed.  Honestly, Mel Gibson’s movie, “the Passion,” didn’t help.  But aside from the twisted idea that somehow modern day Jews are responsible for actions taken against someone almost 2,000 years ago, the very assertion of collective Jewish guilt at the time of Jesus is absolutely absurd.

            Who killed Christ?  The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that no one killed him.  Rather, he voluntarily laid down his own life.  Does the New Testament show Jesus in conflict with Jewish leaders?  Absolutely.  But anyone who knows anything about 2nd Temple Judaism recognizes that various Jewish groups were in constant conflict with one another, often declaring the other side to be “a child of the devil.”  Yes, according to the New Testament the Jewish High priest and his cohorts handed Jesus over to the Romans for punishment and wanted him executed.  But the high priest and much of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling body) were political lackeys of Rome, descendants of King Herod’s appointments.   In the end the Romans put him to death.  Hence, if anyone is responsible it’s the Romans and their allies within Jewish ruling circles.  But these groups did not represent the Jewish world.  In fact, following the destruction of the 2nd Temple, 40 years later, the Sanhedrin was completely overhauled, and the new governing body excluded most of those associated with the earlier one.

            If the Jews killed Christ, then what about his Jewish followers?  What about the writers of the New Testament, who were all Jews, save possibly one?  What about the scores of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of Jews who believed in Christ by the end of the 1st century and beginning of the 2nd?  These numbers are compared to the handful of Jews who were actually involved in the recommendation to the Romans to put him to death.  The Christ killing allegation against Jews developed much later and was a transfer of earlier Roman/Greek Anti-Semitism to an increasingly Gentile church.  Once embedded it was a convenient conspiracy myth that grew into a monster, which still lurks among the ignorant and perpetrators of evil around the world.  The only accurate statement about the subject is this: the Jews did not kill Christ. 

Jamie Cowen 2007

Supporting Messianic Jews in the Land of Israel

What a change!  For 1800 years the Christian church relentlessly persecuted Jews, considering them demonic, unredeemable, sub-human.  Suddenly, rabbis and pastors share in each others’ pulpits.  Christians desperately desire to learn of their Jewish roots, and the greatest friend of the nation of Israel is Evangelical Christians.  Possibly, this is what the Apostle Paul meant when he declared, “salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” (Romans 11:11)

            Jewish/Christian dialogue and relationships clearly enhanced the rise of modern Messianic Judaism, i.e., Jews who believe in Jesus while maintaining Jewish identity.  In Israel alone there exist 150 Messianic congregations, attended by approximately 12,000 Messianic Jews.  In fact, for the first time the Israeli government is cooperating with Messianic Jews, particularly in the forms of humanitarian relief.  This past year, representing 90 Messianic Jewish congregations, I have worked with members of Israel’s parliament (Knesset) on various projects.

            But all is not well.  Messianic Jews still find obstacles to immigration and at times are persecuted and discriminated against for their faith.  What you may not know is most, if not all, the money donated by Christians to causes in Israel, particularly through television pleas, never reaches the hands of Messianic Jews.  In fact, some of the money goes to organizations that persecute these believers.  Contrast this with what the Apostle Paul says, “As we have opportunity let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10)

            To combat this discrimination we have formed an organization, The Hope for Israel, that channels monies into the hands of Messianic Jewish congregations and organizations in the land of Israel who are doing humanitarian work.  These groups provide relief to any needy Israeli - secular Jews, religious Jews, Messianic Jews and Arabs.  When your donations go through the Messianic groups, it raises the awareness and acceptance of Messianic Judaism in Israel.  When money circumvents the Israeli Messianic groups, it actually undermines their place in Israeli society. 

 Here are some of the groups The Hope for Israel supports:

             1.  Medical, social and dental assistance to Ethiopian Jews, the poorest members of Israeli society through the Tents of Mercy, a group of Messianic Jewish congregations in Israel.

            2.  Food distributions to thousands of impoverished holocaust survivors through a Messianic group that actually exposed their plight to the Israeli public.

            3.  Support for Joseph’s Storehouse, a large warehouse operation and distribution of food, school supplies, backpacks, etc., for the poor in the land, run by Messianic Jews.

            4.  An organization that represents Messianic Jews and others when they are discriminated against in immigration, jobs and residential matters.

            5.  A soup kitchen in Jerusalem, funded by Netiviyah, a Messianic Jewish congregation.

            6.  Love for Israel Relief Fund, an organization that works with Knesset (Parliament) members in partnering to provide relief to needy hospitals and schools. 

            The reality is that most Messianic congregations in Israel want to assist their countrymen, but a lack of funding prevents it.  Instead millions of dollars go through Jewish and Christian organizations to worthy causes but circumvent the Messianic congregations and unwittingly displace the Jewish followers of Jesus within the land of Israel.

            I have met with a number of the Messianic leaders in the land, who are enthusiastic about this project.  We have no intention of duplicating efforts of the existing, indigenous Messianic Jewish groups in the land of Israel.  Rather our goal is to empower them to more effectively minister to their countrymen.

            For more information, please go to our website at www.hfirelieffund.org.

Jamie Cowen, 2007

Why Messianic Jews Keep the High Holidays

            The High Holidays are the holiest time in the Jewish year.  They begin on Rosh HaShana (head of or 1st of the year) and end on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  The full ten day period from Rosh HaShana through Yom Kippur is known as the Days of Awe.  The Bible says little about Rosh HaShana.  In fact, the day of Rosh HaShana is actually the beginning of the seventh month, not the 1st.  The only real reference to this day is in Leviticus 23 which proclaims it the day of trumpets or Yom Teruah.  Yom Kippur is covered more extensively, and originally was for the purpose of cleansing the Temple and the nation for the prior year’s sin. 

            Today the holidays are celebrated differently and for different reasons.  It is believed that the Book of Life is opened on Rosh HaShana, and all are either included or excluded from the Book based on their behavior over the past year.  For most God gives a respite for ten days to the Day of Atonement to enable as many to repent and perform good deeds for the purpose of inclusion in the Book of Life.  Consequently, this period is known as the Days of Awe as Jews repent, ritually immerse themselves (primarily Orthodox), give to charity and perform good deeds (mitzvot).  Unlike most of the year synagogues are packed during these days.  A very familiar saying is “L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem” or “may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.”

            Messianic Jews, of course, believe Yeshua the Messiah paid the price for their sins, once and for all, and thus the question arises as to whether Messianic Jews observe these holidays, and, if so, why.  First, the Bible mandates Jews keep these holidays, and there is no place in the Scriptures, including the New Testament, that suggests they are outdated.  Since Messianic Jews are Jews and are bound to the Laws of Moses, these days should be observed.  Second, while Messianic Jews can and should fully participate in the practices and observances of these holidays, our reasons for doing so differ.  This is not unlike other modern Jews, such as the Reform and Progressive movements, who often alter certain practices and the reasons therefore.  In our case, rather than seeking to be inscribed in the Book of Life, a fact accomplished through the work of Yeshua, we, like other Jews, review our actions over the past year, repent for failure and ask God for mercy.  Then, we rejoice in what our high priest, Yeshua, has done for us.  In addition, we use the opportunity to pray for the larger Jewish community to experience the life-changing work of Yeshua the Messiah. 

Jamie Cowen 2008

Chanukah Miracle

Channukah Miracle

By Rabbi Jamie Cowen, 1990

Before I even relocated to Richmond, (my family and I were traveling here weekly from Washington, DC to lead the fledgling congregation), I was told about the old synagogue on the corner of Boulevard and Grove Avenue. For many years various groups had been praying that a Messianic Jewish congregation would move in. It had been Richmond's sole Orthodox Jewish synagogue for many years, but now lay dormant after the former residents moved five miles west.

How it started

My family and I finally moved to Richmond in August, 1990. Tikvat Israel was then meeting in a small church on the Southside but was quickly outgrowing it. Someone mentioned the old synagogue across from the Virginia Art Museum was apparently available for rent. A few of us went and visited the relic, and "oh, what a mess." It hadn't been used in 15+ years and looked it. We were escorted into the furnace room where an oil power steam boiler sat with four huge empty oil tanks. I wondered whether the old boiler would even work and then how much it would cost to operate. Before the oil crisis of the 70s, oil was cheap. Possibly, escalating oil prices caused the earlier tenants to flee. Someone noticed an attachment to the burner that indicated the system used approximately 10 gallons of oil per hour. Wow!

The Vision

Following the inspection, we held a congregational meeting. We had to move, but to this white elephant? Pros and cons were floated. Finally, Mo Slate, one of the pillars of the congregation to this day (Dec. 2003), shared a vision he had years before. In this vision he saw this synagogue - vacant and lifeless. Suddenly, the large stain-glassed stars of David facing the streets began to glow. People, who had been walking past, stopped and began to pour into the old building, and just as suddenly the building began to pulsate with life. The story silenced all of us, and we knew God was calling us to move into the old synagogue. Our first service was scheduled for Chanukkah week, 1990. This was the beginning of the first Persian Gulf War, and oil prices had spiked. The first order of business was to attempt to start the oil heating system. One of our leaders ordered in 150 gallons of oil. The four tanks in the furnace room had a capacity in excess of 1000 gallons. But why order in so much oil if there's no assurance of starting the system? Regardless, the system wouldn't start, so our 1st service was heated by two propane burners that sounded like jet engines. Obviously, they couldn't be run during the service, so by the end it had gotten quite cold. Later in the week the same leader was examining the heating system and was able to start it. He then examined the oil tanks and to his utter surprise the gauges on the tanks indicated they were full. This made no sense. He opened the tank, dunked in a long stick and sure enough, they were full to the brim. He quickly called me on the phone and said something very unusual had happened. I asked if he was sure he had checked the tanks' status the prior week, and he remarked he thought so. I then said maybe the oil company supplied the extra. He replied we only ordered 150 gallons. That's all we paid for, and now there's over 1000 gallons of oil in the tank. I responded, "Could this be another Chanukkah miracle?" It was still Chanukkah week.

The Miracle

The following Shabbat I shared this story as everyone was enjoying the warm sanctuary. I explained it in a way that left some room for error but acknowledged that the Lord quite likely reproduced the same miracle as the one 2200 years ago. After the service one of the members, who was a chemist and a skeptic, came forward and looked as white as a ghost. I asked, "What's wrong?" He replied, "I checked those tanks myself last week and they were bone dry. It's a miracle." So, that was it. The oil was sufficient for the whole winter. "God is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think."

What's Fair in the Middle East

War is not fair. Innocents die. But there is right and wrong in this world. And war, as horrible as it is, can be just. Modern Israel has been at war almost continuously since her inception. Once again, she is at war. As usual, this is not a war she started. This war began when two separate terrorist organizations invaded Israel's undisputed lands and killed and captured some of her soldiers. The terrorist organizations claim these captives are similar to the thousands of Palestinians languishing in Israeli prisons, and they want to use the captives as tools to negotiate the release of the Palestinian prisoners.

But there's a difference. The Palestinian prisoners have been tried and convicted of crimes in Israeli courts. Israeli law only allows for very short term detentions for untried prisoners. When prisoners are tried in either Israeli criminal courts or military courts in the territories, they are given full due process rights, far exceeding what the U.S. government has granted to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. How do I know? I've witnessed these trials. There is no comparison between convicted criminals and Israeli soldiers protecting the borders of Israel.

Sadly, this is a religious war. The perpetrators claim Allah is with them and is motivating them to take these acts. Much of the Muslim world has been arguing since 9/11 that Islam is a religion of peace. Now's the opportunity to prove it. If the Muslims of the world condemned the terrorist organizations for their actions and withdrew financial and political support, the terrorist organizations would dry up. In the meantime, what is Israel supposed to do? Negotiate with terrorists? Yes, the destruction of Lebanon is tragic. But so was the destruction of Afghanistan. Lebanon refused to clamp down on its resident terrorists. Afghanistan did the same. Innocent Lebanese are dying. The same was true for innocent Afghans. War is not fair.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of a time like this: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" Many schools in Muslim nations teach that Jews use the blood of Muslim children to make Jewish ceremonial foods. But Israeli Arabs (most of whom are Muslim and who comprise one-fifth of the population of Israel) serve in the Israeli military, vote in Israeli elections and are represented by Arabs in the Israeli parliament. What's fair in the Middle East? Israelis warn Lebanese residents to flee from targeted areas before bombing begins because many of the terrorist organization's weapons are embedded in civilian areas. In turn, the terrorist organization bombs Israeli hospitals. The civilized world needs to take a stand for truth by supporting a nation that has some semblance of morality and respect for human life while repudiating organizations and nations which have neither.

Jamie Cowen 2006

Wrestling with the Gaza Withdrawal

            In Jewish tradition the Torah (5 Books of Moses) is read throughout the year.  For synagogue purposes, the Torah is divided into 54 portions, each portion read on the weekly Shabbat, so that the entire text is read by the end of the year.  The portion entitled Ekev (Deut. 7:12 - 11:25) begins with Moses encouraging the people that the Lord will deliver the land of Israel into their hands and concludes with the boundaries of the land, essentially from the Judean Desert to Lebanon and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River.  The Jews were exiled from this land to the nations from the end of the 1st century to the end of the 19th century.  It was at this point that Jews suddenly began to return to the land, culminating in the establishment of modern Israel in 1948. 

            The boundaries of modern Israel have never been set.  There are numerous international decrees including League of Nations and United Nations rulings concerning these matters, all of which are different.  For instance, the 1947 United Nations charter authorizing the establishment of the nation set boundaries that were quickly changed in 1949 after five Arab nations attacked Israel following her proclamation of independence.  The boundaries changed again following wars in 1956, 1967, 1973 and the Camp David Accord in 1977.   Modern Israel was established by Jewish immigration and settlement.  Following the wars of 1967 and 1973, Israel’s government realized that peace with her Arab neighbors was unlikely, and her current boundaries made her vulnerable to attack.  Thus began the settlement movement.  This was a government subsidized program to settle some of the newly conquered territories in the West Bank, the Golan Heights and Gaza.  Significant and large settlements sprang up in portions of the West Bank, smaller ones in the Golan and Gaza.  Of course, the territories in the West Bank and Gaza were later claimed by Arab representatives as belonging to a non-existent state, known as Palestine, and largely inhabited by Arabs, now called Palestinians.  Gaza was ruled earlier by Egypt and the West Bank by Jordan. 

            In the early 1990's the Palestine Liberation Organization began negotiating with Israel for land and peace.  They claimed all territory outside of the borders of Israel, originally established by the United Nations Charter of 1947.  Israel has always agreed to relinquish most of the territories conquered in the 1967 and 1973 wars, which included most of the West Bank and Gaza.  Finally, in August of this year, Israel closed down settlements in both of these areas and  unilaterally withdrew its forces.  Some of these settlements existed for over 30 years and were very prosperous.  They were built on originally uninhabited land.  For both the settlers and for much of the Israeli population, this withdrawal was very painful.  See the accompanying story.

            For many Orthodox Jews, Messianic Jews and Christians, the withdrawal seems like disobedience to God because God set boundaries in the Torah that actually extend beyond these territories.  However, quoting from Deut. 7:22, “The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly . . .”  This, of course, was God’s promise to the original Israelite settlement in the land following the Exodus.  But the principle may remain the same today.  Until Israelis are numerous enough to fully populate these lands, it may be pointless to hold onto them.  What will Israel do with 3-4 million Palestinians who want the land but do not want to be part of Israel?  Either Israel is forced to include them within their democratic state, threatening the very existence of a Jewish homeland or they can force them out through ethnic cleansing.  Neither proposition is appealing.

            I believe the government has done the right thing.  It’s a just decision for the Palestinians, and it takes tremendous pressure off of the Israeli military and security services.  The day will come when this land and more will belong to a restored Israel.  God’s promise is that He will bring the Jews back to their land, change their hearts to fully serve Him and make them the envy of the nations.  It may not fully happen, though, until Yeshua returns. 

Jamie Cowen, Rabbi, 2005