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Remembering What We Once Forgot
By J. Jeff Toler for Shenandoah Christian Alliance j.toler@sca4christ.org
- “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing!” —Matthew 23:37
In “Athens and Jerusalem,” appearing in the Spring edition of Claremont Review of Books, David P. Goldman critiques the new book by Josh Hammer, Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West. (available on Amazon) Goldman writes, “Josh Hammer argues that the West should support the State of Israel as an embattled democracy and an indispensable contributor to Western civilization.”
This idea is likely supported by the majority of the conservative voter bloc, and for that matter at least a plurality of liberals who still qualify for the moniker, but only when based on the historic definition of liberalism.
Hammer “supports America’s alliance with Israel while advancing a “realist” foundation for relations with the Jewish state. American aid as currently structured, he argues, “does far more harm than good for both countries.” He embeds this argument in a disquisition on Jewish contributions to Western civilization in general and America’s spiritual affinity with Israel in particular.” —Claremont Review of Books, Spring 2025, Book Reviews
This last idea is more important than we might think at first blush, unless we fully realize that the very pillars of Western civilization were firmly erected on the foundation of the spiritual, biblical, and historical contributions of Israel—and most certainly the people of Israel.
The “Jewish contribution” is certainly remarkable throughout the ages of Jewish diaspora. In the arts, law, science, philosophy, and literature, Jewish contributions are monumental. Looking at what Israel has become since her recognition as an independent state in 1948 is even more impressive.
Goldman opines, “It is perfectly possible to acknowledge the Jewish contribution to civilization and oppose anti-Semitism on moral grounds, while dismissing today’s Jews as a vestigial remnant of a long-superseded ancient world, as did G.W.F. Hegel.” But should we?
According to the United Nations, Israel and Turkey are, at present, the strongest nations in the Middle East.
Like many nations in the Western world, the working-age population of Turkey is projected to fall 40% by the end of this century. Iran’s population will suffer a similar decline. Israel’s, by contrast, will double. Israeli per-capita GDP is now around $50,000 US. Even I was surprised at the extent of the technology from Israel.
Computing and Information Technology:
- The Intel 8088 Microprocessor—designed at Intel’s Haifa laboratory
- The USB Flash Drive—developed by M-Systems in 1999
- Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)—eventually giving rise to Zoom
Transportation and Safety:
- Mobileye—Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle technology
- Waze—community-based navigation app providing real-time traffic updates, acquired by Google and used by millions globally
Agriculture and Water Technology:
- Drip Irrigation (Netafim)—by Simcha Blass, maximizes water efficiency transforming agriculture in arid regions worldwide
- Desalination Technology—Israel leads in turning seawater into potable water.
Healthcare:
- PillCam—a capsule-sized camera for non-invasive gastrointestinal imaging, revolutionizing diagnostics
- ReWalk Exoskeleton—enables individuals with spinal cord injuries to walk again, enhancing mobility and independence
- Copaxone—a breakthrough treatment for multiple sclerosis
Security and Defense:
- Iron Dome—the missile defense system that intercepts incoming rockets, saving countless lives
- Rav Bariach Security Doors—advanced steel doors with unique locking mechanisms, used worldwide
Energy and Environment:
- Solar Windows—Innovative photovoltaic panels integrated into windows to generate electricity.
- Watergen—Extracts potable water from air, providing sustainable water sources for disaster relief and remote areas
Other Notable Contributions:
- Blockchain Technology—Israeli startups are pioneers in blockchain applications for secure and transparent financial transactions.
- Robotics—advanced agricultural and industrial robots improve productivity and efficiency
These developments, and many others, have set the standards in the varied and diverse artifacts of consumer economies all around the world—not just in the West. Israel can support itself, and doesn’t need to accept foreign aid with political strings attached.
Politically, this fact is significant to our appreciation of the position American and Israelis have now found themselves in. While it’s complicated, we can understand how Jewish contributions to Western civilization completely transformed the ancient world and prepared the way into the modern world.
Judaism introduced the concept of one universal God and a moral law binding on all humanity, profoundly shaping the ethical and theological foundations of Western thought.
Honest secularists (as they exist) will admit the Hebrew Bible—what Christians refer to as the Old Testament, became a foundational text for Christianity and through it, for Western culture in providing key narratives, laws, and moral teachings. Christians will tell you the entire Bible—both Old and New Testament are the inspired Word of God.
From the Jewish Torah, the Book of Genesis helped lay the groundwork for Western rationality and the scientific method. It is in this crucial experience, and I use the word intentionally, that Christians will need to position themselves and their support for the Jews and the Jewish state, with well-considered circumspection.
Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, and Blessings
Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson “got into it” on a recent interview on Cruz’s podcast, “Verdict,” over the bombing of Iran’s nuclear bomb facilities. Cruz strongly supports the action the US took in wiping them off the face of the earth. By no means overwhelming, a majority of Americans—as much 57%, would agree with him. Carlson, on the other hand, argued against the action, with 45% of Americans agreeing with him.
Senator Ted Cruz (R TX)
At one point Cruz declared, “‘Growing up in Sunday school, I was taught from the Bible, ‘Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed.’ And from my perspective, I want to be on the blessing side of things.” For a Southern Baptist, as Cruz professes to be, that’s not at all controversial from a dispensationalist, evangelical perspective.
But this language from Cruz did not sit well with Carlson at all. The internet is still roiling over the ensuing debate. Whether Carlson is a Reformed or a Covenantalist believer, I won’t say. Regardless, the issue becomes pertinent to any discussion on the modern state of Israel, the Jewish people, and how believers are prepared, or unprepared, to confront the end of days on earth. Because this is when Christians will debate whether we are living in the pre-millennial, post-millennial, or amillennial age.
I would recommend these URLs to examine Covenant theology and Dispensational theology:
https://www.gotquestions.org/covenant-theology.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/dispensationalism.html
I am not saying that GotQuestions is the most reliable resource for understanding this topic. After all, the editors are premillennial in their eschatology, but they describe these two theologies fairly and comprehensively in their short format. What I would suggest is that we learn how our own church explains the times we are living in; how the Jewish people figure into scripture as God’s chosen people, and if we are concerned with Islamic extremists creating and using weapons of mass destruction.
Among premillennial Dispensationalists, end-times events described in Revelation are literal, while Amillennial/Postmillennial Covenantalists would disagree, believing the descriptions are symbolic of God’s plan for His people. For Cruz and Carlson, these differences obviously became very contentious.
We still do not know—yet—how close we are to fulfilling the end time prophesies. But these days a lot of us are thinking about them.
Photo: StoryBlocks
