In Part -1 of this 2-part series, Dr. Nerel, a historian of the modern movement of Jewish Yeshua-believers, discusses the influence of this crucial question on Israeli believers.
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
Western ministers complain that Israeli Messianic pastors and congregational teachers lack formal theological training.
Messianic Jews in the News
Exaggerated numbers and tales of persecution might help fundraising, but they are ultimately destructive
While everyone frets over COVID-19, a spiritual pandemic has been plaguing our society for millennia
Herodians – Only in the Gospels?
Yeshua was harassed by an unholy alliance of ultra-religious and ultra-secular Israelis… just like today.
Imported American theology and Christian culture blocks fresh Jewish-based interpretations of Scripture
Rewriting Scripture by the removing Israel repudiates the nation’s miraculous restoration in these end-times.
The waters have been muddied by the introduction and adoption of varied Christian creeds
A Messianic Jewish look at the key components of the fullness of Yeshua’s gift to mankind
The Nazis hated the Jews, but what to do with those Jews who believe in Jesus, or those who converted to the state-approved Christian religion?