Israel Speaks
It probably comes as no surprise that Finns love travelling to Israel.
Last year 12 000 Finns visited Israel.
The Finnish people have always been diligent Israel-travellers.
When the kibbutzes started taking foreign volunteers in the 60's -
the Finns sent by the Karmel association were among the first.
Today we will talk about the 60-year-old Karmel association.
I was so young when the association was founded -
that I don't know its exact history.
I do know, however, that there was expectation in Finland at that time.
We were waiting for the return of the Jews and the birth of -
the Jewish state.
It was seen as the fulfillment of God's promises.
This caused great joy that despite the World Wars and all the autrocities -
there is a living God who leads history.
Israel was a lighthouse in the midst of that -
and that was inspiring.
The prophecies say that when the Jews return, the gentiles are -
also supposed to work and participate in building the land -
by doing different tasks.
This kind of support was the way to stand by Israel's side.
You can never say what God sees as most important, -
but generally the most important things have been that we have -
actively spread information about Israel in Finland.
When I was a child the Karmel workers showed pictures and -
gave accurate and fresh information about Israel.
The association's slogan is "For the Bible and for Israel".
Another aspect was building connections with Israel.
Karmel was the first in the world to start sending volunteers -
to the kibbutzes.
That has been the association's most significant contribution.
Israel-knowledge has come "through the mud".
We've worked in the fields, chicken yards, kindergartens and factories.
This makes the connection with Israel slightly deeper -
than what you would get from books or a short visit.
I came here for the first time in 1953.
After that I could not rest, and left my job and started -
going around Finland speaking about Israel.
I did this for 6-7 years.
Then I realized how important it is that young people are being taught -
about Israel's future based on the Bible.
When the state of Israel was born no one knew about it.
I spoke with teachers and they were surprised that there was -
a state called Israel.
Karmel is a small but vigorous association.
Of course, people have come and gone.
I worked for Karmel for 15 years from the beginning until 1969.
During that time many things happened.
A new way of working began in Israel - the kibbutz work.
I was pioneering in that.
After the school work I studied in Israel -
for 2 years and 3 months.
At the end of that period -
there was an invitation to send Finnish youth to the -
nearby kibbutz of Kiryat Anavim.
It was a remarkable event.
A Finnish tourist group of 45 people from Karmel was here.
In an event where the head of the Kiryat Anavim nursing home -
was speaking -
a person from the tourist group asked if non-Jews could also work -
in a kibbutz.
The answer was amazing.
His name was Shmuel Nardi and he said: Of course -
If you send 30-40 youth here, we are ready to receive them, -
to give them clothing, food and a place to work in.
I was in Finland for a year during which a group of 38 people -
came together.
On August 16th 1962 we arrived at Kiryat Anavim.
After that the groups kept on coming during a period of 40 years.
I was a group leader in Kiryat Anavim for 4 years.
After that Seppo Seppälä came there.
Later on he became the leader of the Karmel association.
He also compiled a Finnish-Hebrew dictionary.
This work has provided many benefits for the Finnish nation.
The interest in Hebrew in Finland is very widespread.
There are people in Finland who love Israel -
maybe relatively more so than in some other countries.
The traditional Finnish character sympathizes with Israel, -
which is being abused and talked of in a negative way.
This creates sympathy in the normal Finnish people.
A small nation battling for exis- tence in desperate circumstances -
creates general sympathy.
The Bible teaching in Sunday schools, girl and boy clubs, churches and -
schools has a significance.
This nation has a unique history.
The average age in Israel is much lower than in Finland.
This is a young people's society.
We have not succeeded in making the Finnish youth understand -
what Israel actually is -
that they could connect with the young people of this nation -
and create interaction between the two.
In that there is enough work for Karmel for the next 60 years, -
if the Lord should tarry.
I have a group which has three generations.
One granny has promised to bring all her grandchildren here, -
and now she brought her 10th grandchild.
I believe Israel offers surprises and a pulse of life -
and something that the Western countries lack.
Even though this is a Western so- ciety, it still has some elements, -
which have strength and life.
Israel Speaks
Welcome to the Bible teaching series "Israel in God's plan".
Our topic for today is Israel under the Byzantine rule.
Gershon Nerel is here with me. Shalom!
Translation: Sonja Mattayev