We continue the unfolding saga of an association of Messianic Jewish believers to establish a ‘colony’ in pre-state Israel.
Author - Gershon Nerel
Gershon is a historian of the modern movement of Jewish Yeshua-believers (JYB). His Ph.D. dissertation on “Messianic Jews in Eretz Israel (1917-1967): Trends and Changes in Shaping Self-Identity” was written at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has written and taught extensively on JYB. His publications focus on the linkage between history, creeds, hermeneutics, symbolism and sociology.
Together with his wife, Sara, Dr. Nerel revised the 8th edition of the Franz Delitzsch Hebrew New Testament – named now the “Negev Version” (Beer-Sheva 2003). He also explores the history of the various Hebrew translations of the New Testament, particularly in the State of Israel. He is convinced that originally the Gospels were written in Hebrew.
During the Yom Kippur War (1973) Gershon served in the IDF as a combat medic near the Suez Canal. More than once throughout his long military service, and decades later, he has experienced the miraculous guidance of the Lord Yeshua. He also served as the ‘Israel Secretary’ of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance (1993-2001).
Gershon became a believer in Messiah Yeshua in the late 1960s in Beer-Sheva when only few Jews followed the Lord in the country. Since 1987 he resides at Yad Hashmona, a cooperative Messianic village (Moshav) near Jerusalem where he is establishing a new archive collecting and preserving Messianic Jewish documents, periodicals, artifacts etc.
He has six energetic children and even more energetic six enjoyable grandchildren.
More articles from Gershon Nerel
There is a profound change both in the academic world and in Israeli society in attitudes toward Yeshua and the New Testament.
The continuing saga of the ultimately failed efforts to establish a “Messianic Jewish” colony in the Holy Land.
Humbleness and meekness are a precondition for receiving divine blessing.
The story of how Messianic Jews squandered a golden opportunity to establish a center of employment, learning, and worship in the heart of Jerusalem.
The real ‘price and cost’ for a faithful disciple of the Lord Yeshua is very high.
The fascinating history of Jerusalem’s first Anglican church, overseen by the first and the last Jewish Protestant bishop in modern times.
Name changes within the titles of missionary expatriate institutions in Israel are, in fact, only linguistic/cosmetic modifications.
Olavi Syvanto was a driving force behind the establishment and growth of the Messianic body in southern Israel. He passed away on July 1.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
