PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Bob Henley, the former pastor of the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood, will present a three-part lecture series titled, “Israel Matters” beginning Tuesday, July 10.

The free presentations will be held at 7 p.m. in the River Room at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood at Warm Springs and Saddle roads in Ketchum.

The dates for the free presentations, which are open to the public, are July 10, August 14 and September 11—all Tuesdays. 

The topics:

“The Hebraic Roots of Christian Faith” (July 10) – People of faith, Jews and Christians alike, are often unaware of the biblical roots of their own faith.   This presentation will look at Abraham, the first person in the bible to be called a “Hebrew.” All Jews trace their ancestry to Abraham as the father of the Hebrew nation.  The New Testament indicates that gentile believers are the spiritual descendants of Abraham, as well, through Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. 

“The Parting of the Way” (August 14) – This presentation will explore the dynamics that led to a parting of the ways between Jews and Christians.  It will examine significant events that took place in the first century following the destruction of Jerusalem.  Most Christians are unaware of the deeply rooted anti-Semitism that took root in the Christian church as early as the second century.  This led to the view that the Christian church had “replaced” the Jewish people as the “people of God.”  It reached its nadir in the writings of Martin Luther.  The evening will conclude with a discussion of the hopeful signs of reconciliation that are taking place today.

“Israel and Palestine” (September 11) - Pastor Henley will draw upon his extensive work in Israel and the Middle East to address this controversial topic.  He will first look at the history of the establishment of the homeland for the Jewish people.  He will then discuss the land as integral to God’s eternal covenant with Abraham and his physical descendants.  He will examine the history of the BDS (boycott, divest and sanction) movement and the role of the United Nations.  And he will talk about the roles of the Palestinian Authority and the modern State of Israel in the present conflict.