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ELMAGAZINEISRAISRAA B o a r d f o r I s r a e l P u b l i c a t i o n

BROTHERS IN TIME OF WAR

A “DOUBLE STORY”for Rabbi Van de Kamp

Story for the Children

See pages 12-13

Fam. Rev. M. L. Dekker POB 2156,Nof haGalil (Nazareth-Illit)1751508 Israel

An expression of support is very much appreciated!

From the Editor Rev. A. Schot

Worker in Israël: Birthdays:

Colophon

The Israel Magazine is a publication of the Board for Israel of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations, for the proclamation of the gospel and diaconal aid.ISSN 2589-8477

Editor-in-chief:Rev. A. Schot

Editors:J. J. de Jong, J. M. Schot, L. Vogelaar

Children's pages:T. M. Bruijnzeel-Lodder, I. M. Janse, and A. M. Roukens-Meeuse

Contact:Postbus 4003440 AK Woerden, the NetherlandsTel.: +31 (0)348-489929E-mail: info@boardforisrael.nl

Presenters:J. A. Jobse, J. J. de Jong, A. Karens; appointments via the above-mentioned telephone number or e-mail address or via one of the ministers who are members of the board.

Financial contributions:IBAN ING: NL10INGB0000338952 – BIC INGBNL2A (for individuals) IBAN ABN: NL49ABNA0461863723 – BIC ABNANL2A(for consistories) both in the name of Deputaatschap voor Israël Gereformeerde Gemeenten in Woerden.

Last wills:The ‘address’ of last wills for the benefit of the Board for Israel must be written as follows: Deputaatschap voor Israël voor Evangelieverkondiging en diaconale hulpver-lening van de Gereformeerde Gemeenten, gevestigd te Woerden, zelfstandig onderdeel van het kerkgenootsch-ap van de Gereformeerde Gemeenten

Translation:A. P. Meeuse, MA

Design: www.hrv-reclame.nl

Printing: Fresh Design, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Photograph on cover: Rabbi L.B. van de Kamp with his wife at the Holocaust Monument in Berlin. This monument was erected to commemorate the persecution of Jews during the Second World War. It consists of 2710 blocks of concrete varying in height between 20 centimetres to 4.70 metres.

2 Israel Magazine July 2020

Mrs. Dekker September 29

This issue of the Israel Magazine is a special one. In these days, we commemorate how the Lord delivered the Netherlands 75 years ago from the domination by the enemy in the Second World War. That is why the board of editors decided to publish an issue with the theme, “75 Years of Freedom.”

The first article about this theme is a medita-tive one, a Bible study by board member Rev. A.P. Baaijens about John 8:36. He writes: “We also remember the many millions of Jews who died, often in terrible ways. … And if external peace came, then still this would not be the true peace and freedom which is lasting, for Jews and Gentiles. The Lord Jesus speaks about it in the passage we will medi-tate on. True freedom.”Next follows a theme article by Rabbi L.B. Van de Kamp. From a Jewish perspective, he writes a moving contribution about “the double story.” This article should cause us to look at ourselves in the mirror.

Editor L. Vogelaar writes about Dov Froh-man, who went into hiding in the Van Til-borghs’ house in Sprang-Capelle, the Nether-lands. His “brothers” have already died, but Dov is still alive. It is a great miracle that he survived the Second World War. Dov’s “father” later said about his decision to allow Dov to go into hiding in his house that “he had received an affection to save Abraham’s

seed.” He pointed his “son” Bert to the one thing needful and a life according to God’s Word and Law.

You will also find two contributions in which anti-Semitism is discussed, which is still very much alive in 2020 AD. Board member Rev. J.B. Zippro reflects on the terrible events during carnival this spring in the Belgian city of Aalst. In the Bible, the people of Israel are often called “the apple of God’s eye” (Deu-teronomy 32:10). For Abraham’s descend-ants there are still unfulfilled promises. This makes anti-Semitism a double evil.

On the children’s pages, attention is paid to the events in Aalst. I.M. Janse, a member of our education committee, has written an impressive story for children. It is so impor-tant to show our love for the Jewish people to our children when they are young and to warn them against anti-Semitism.

Let us conclude with some words from Thomas Boston, which Rev. M.L. Dekker has quoted in his column. “Have you any love to, or concern for the church, for the work of reformation, for the reformation of our coun-try, for the reformation of the world? Any longing desire for the revival of that work now at a standstill; for a flourishing state of the church, that is now under decay? Then pray for the conversion of the Jews.”

'THE SCAR'An early shift in the centre of Tel Aviv, Israel. After I have introduced myself to today’s team, I automatically add that I do not speak or understand Hebrew, just to prevent some confusion. I am happy, as my two colleagues today speak perfect English.

Almost naturally this question follows: “Are you Jewish?” I tell them I am a Christian. If a Jew, an atheist, and a Chris-tian work together for eight hours on an ambulance, they are likely to have interesting conversations. First we make some small talk. Later we talk about our plans for the “Shabbat.” I tell them I am going to church. This causes surprised responses and many questions. A call ends our discussion.

We are standing next to the bed of an ill elderly man. Sadly, he is bedridden and difficult to approach because of his advanced dementia. The whole house is full with his worried family. Despite the language barrier, I understand their wor-ries with one glance at our patient. We make preparations to take this man to the hospital. My colleague draws my atten-tion to the tattooed camp number on this man’s forearm. So many stories hide behind the scar of this 94-year-old Holo-caust survivor. On our way to the hospital, I realize that in this situation few words can be appropriate. I hold the patient’s hand. Thankfully, there is such a thing as non-verbal com-munication.

Then a very different call follows. The case description is rather vague. The address is difficult to approach, because it is next to the “souq,” the market. It is extremely busy at this time of the day. We try to walk through the crowds as quickly as possible. Finally we arrive at the destination. In my opin-ion, it is taking much too long.

While we ascend the stairs, I realize what has happened. One of the residents of the apartment turns out to have been dead for half a day. I know the protocol, as such cases are not uncommon. This relatively young man died from an overdose

of alcohol. How sad! How lonely! I think of the warm and affectionate relatives of the elderly man a few hours ago. A sharp contrast!

My work for Magen David Adom and the encounters with Israelis was very instructive. There were many situations in which I could help others or where I had good conversations. Not everything was positive, but this is the reality in the world in which we live. I would like to conclude this column with the Hebrew greeting: “Shalom Aleichem”! Peace be upon you!

Frederiek Goud,

Waarde, The Nether

lands(

Israel Magazine July 2020 3

4 Israëlbode Israel Magazine July 2020

FreeIndeed

In this time we commemorate how the Lord, 75 years ago, delivered the Netherlands from the yoke of the dominion by the enemy in the Second World War. Great sacrifices were made to achieve freedom. We remember those who gave their lives for freedom. We also remember the many millions of Jews who died, often in terrible ways.

Relative freedomAfter all those years we may still live in a free country, even though there is much unrest and violence all over the world. In all those years things have not become better. Freedom and peace are so rela-tive.

We also think of the country of Israel. A recent article which reflected on the thirty years of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians bore the heading: “One plan after the other, and still no peace.”

And if external peace came, then this would still not be the true peace and freedom which is lasting for Jews and Gentiles. The Lord Jesus speaks about it in the passage we will meditate on: true freedom. Do you know this freedom?

Superficial freedomAs we read in verse 31, the Lord Jesus is talking to the Jews who believed on Him. He spoke to them in the temple in the treasury (verse 20). It is the day after the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, when the Jews particularly remembered how the Lord had led them through the desert for forty years after He had deliv-ered them from the bondage of Egypt.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Israel Magazine July 2020 5

Many believed on Him. However, it turns out their faith on Him was not true faith. Jesus has to say about them in verse 37: “My word hath no place in you.” It remained on the surface, an external con-fession. Many followed Him because of the miracles and signs He performed, but not to be delivered from their sins. Eventually, they even seek to kill Him (verse 59).

Apparent freedomThe Jews the Lord Jesus was talking to thought they were free. This is clear when the Lord Jesus tells them they will be His disciples indeed if they continue in His word. Then they shall know the truth and the truth shall make them free. They say in verse 33: “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say-est Thou, Ye shall be made free?” So they believed to have great privileges as chil-dren of Abraham, and to be free, to have no need to be delivered from anything. They were never in bondage to anyone, so they were never anyone’s slaves, they say.

However, then the Lord Jesus tells them about the bondage of sin. He emphasizes it as with an oath in verse 34: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”

This is a power and a spiritual bondage which is much worse than any ruler what-soever. Even worse than the Roman ruler in those days, which they so much longed to be delivered from. He explains to them they are Abraham’s seed according to the flesh, but not spiritual seed, and that God is not their father (verse 41), but that the devil is. In verse 44a we read: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” This is our existence by

nature. In the Garden of Eden we deliber-ately and voluntarily fell from God, and we chose for the devil. We are children of Adam!

Recognized lack of freedomIn the time of the occupation by the Ger-mans, terrible things happened. We were in bondage under the power of the enemy, but sin and the devil are much more power-ful rulers. Have your eyes already been opened to see this? Has this yoke already begun to press you down in your life?

This happens when the Lord gives life to a sinner. Then the yoke of bondage begins to press and we seek to be delivered. Now we can only make the bonds we are bound with tighter, no matter how much we try to deliver ourselves. It is utterly impossible to be delivered by anything from ourselves. It is not possible by good works, by doing and not doing, or by praying and fasting.

Man is full of this. We do not need to point to the Jewish people, many of whom think they are free, because they are Abraham’s children. Therefore, they think they do not need a Saviour, and they believe they can satisfy God by their doing and not doing. We long for their eyes to be opened to see this. Have your eyes already been opened?

Earned freedomThere must be room in our hearts for the Son of God. God has laid help upon Him that is mighty. The Mighty One has entered the battlefield; He has fought and accomplished everything to deliver sinners from sin and to free them from the power of the devil. He became a like a servant, and He was willing to be betrayed at a slave’s price. He voluntarily gave Himself

to be bound. He was innocently sentenced to death as if He were the greatest crim-inal. He bought slaves of sin at the price of His precious blood. He made the great-est, only, perfect sacrifice that was needed to deliver sinners and to make them truly free, according to soul and body. Not for a while, but for ever. He was sent to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

Granted freedomWithout the Son there is no true freedom, and eternal everlasting bondage awaits us. Seek the freedom which is only found in Him! He is the One who can free slaves of sin, and they shall be heirs of eternal life.

Do you long for this to be applied to your heart? The Lord works it by the truth of His Word (verse 32), by the application of His Spirit. It is a way of surrendering, los-ing everything, even your life, in order that in this way true freedom in Christ may be received by grace. By the word “indeed,” the Lord Jesus tells us we may imagine we are free, but that imagined spiritual free-dom is not real. Therefore, it is so neces-sary to ask the Lord to examine our hearts!

In the lives of God’s children, a strug-gle against the three-headed archenemy remains. But sin and the devil are not in charge anymore. Their power is broken. One day God’s child may come home, when everlasting freedom begins. Then they may be delighted in Him forever without wor-ries. There the war shall be ended. There they shall be “free indeed.”

Rev. A. P. Baaijens

6 Israel Magazine July 2020 Israel Magazine July 2020 7

The

"DOUBLE STORY"

Rabbi L. B. van de Kamp

During the past years, a good bond of friendship has developed between the Board for Israel and Rabbi L.B. Van de Kamp. Several times he was our guest on theme days, during courses, and at the board’s anniversary meeting in October 2018. The rabbi led several journeys to Warsaw and to extermination camps from the Second World War. Each of these were impressive journeys where Rabbi Van de Kamp’s contribution was valuable. He has thorough knowledge of the shocking history of the “Shoa” [the Holocaust], and many of his relatives died in the camps. His father survived Auschwitz.

In the context of our commemoration of 75 years of freedom, we asked him to write something about the sensitive topic of the relationship between Jews and Christians in light of the events during the war.

Israel Magazine July 2020 7

For me it was a double story for many years, also concerning the attitude of the Reformed churches and the persecution of Jews in the Second World War. As a child I heard about relatives who were saved from persecution, because they found shelter with “very pious Christians who read from the Bible every day and were not allowed to do anything on Sundays.” On the other hand, we also knew such a pious family that went to the Reformed Church around the corner, but whose father had worn an NSB [National Socialist Movement] uni-form during the war.

Incidentally, this double story was not just about “Reformed people.” In a photo-book about the war, my mother showed us a picture of Roman Catholic bishops who visited Hitler. A few days later we visited our egg farmer, Stein. Together with his sister, he lived on the edge of the city on a little farm with a lot of henhouses. In his dark little house, a crucifix had been placed above each door. Above the kitchen table there was a photograph of the pope in those days, Pius XII.

My parents wanted nothing to do with this church whose bishops had visited Hitler and whose pope “hadn’t done anything for

us” during the years of war. But when we were very young, we also knew about our Roman Catholic egg farmer who, together with his sister, had taken a lot of Jewish chil-dren to hiding addresses at the begin-ning of the war. And they had also taken food to those hiding addresses throughout the war. I can still hear my mother say, “One Christian is not the other.”

Meanwhile, I was no longer a little boy in the provincial town of Enschede. My stud-ies and my work as a rabbi brought me back to the Netherlands after many years abroad.

In my contacts with the church in the Neth-erlands, we often spoke about “the double story.” During one of the wars Israel was forced to wage

in those years, the Reformed minister Joh. Heule unexpectedly visited the syna-gogue. “The Jewish community here in The Hague are also afraid, aren’t they? We do not know how this will end. What can our church do besides praying?”

This was the beginning of a long-term friendship between the churches in The Hague and our Jewish community. A dis-cussion group of theologians, ministers, and rabbis was formed, in which not just

the easy topics were shared. Reformed ministers such as Rev. J.D. Wuister, Rev. B. Wentsel, and others were among the loyal participants. Besides topics such as the unrelinquishable con-nection between the church and Israel, the Christian duty of mission also towards the Jewish community, the Jewish rejection of the Christian Mes-siah, and the Jewish “unbelief” and “unrepentance,” many other difficult topics were dis-cussed. The “double story” is an example of such a topic. It was only 40 years after the lib-eration.

Gatehouse at Auschwitz-Birkenau

Bergen-Belsen: explanation by the guide

8 Israel Magazine July 2020

Within the “double story” of the Reformed churches, I also frequently talked to Reformed people about the events sur-rounding the “Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij” (SGP [Reformed Political Party]) in the years before and during the war, including the viewpoints of its founder, Rev. G.H. Kersten. The statements about the Jews and everything that was done to them, which were published from the side of this political movement, with the Bible in hand, and which were also preached from the pulpits, for me greatly nourished the “double story.”

My inability to understand this brought me into conversation with the prominent representative of the Netherlands Reformed Con-gregations, Rev. M. Golverdingen, who passed away last year. In our conversation, we tried to interpret the double story of those days with the Bible and the Torah in our hands. In my humble opinion, we succeeded only partly, but that was how it was. Conversa-tions with Rev. C.J. Meeuse, Rev. A. Schot, and of course Rev. W. Silfhout, and others brought me dear friends. But the “double story” con-tinued to exist. Living with the Bible in the hand in those years of war and eventually coming with a “double story”? Egg farmer Stein risks his life to save many Jewish

children and still cherishes his church and its leader?We are on the Nieuwe Keizersgracht in Amsterdam. With our backs towards the Museum De Hermitage, we stare at the canal houses on the other side of the water. One of those large houses has our special attention. It is considered one of the most tragic houses of our city. Nieuwe Keizers-gracht 58, which we are looking at, was the address of the Jewish Council. The Jewish Council was established on the initiative

of the German occupiers in February 1941. Through the Jewish representatives of this Jewish Council, the

occupiers gave orders to the Jewish com-munity and its leaders.

Here in this house on the other side of the water, Jewish representatives of our com-munity, albeit by order of the occupiers, decided whose turn it was to be deported, who were sent to Westerbork to be deported to “the east,” and who were not. Here for the Dutch Jews their own “double story” came into being.On the side where we are standing, many

silver-coloured plaques have been placed along the entire length of the quay. These plaques form the monument “Schaduw-kade.”

We read that Walter Leib, 30 years old, lived at number 12 and died in Auschwitz in 1942. Mietje Franck lived at number 58, 50 years old, who also died in Auschwitz in 1942. On the left and right sides of number 58, the address of the Jew-ish Council, there are 200 family names only on this part of Nieuwe Keizersgracht.

After a journey to Poland. Standing from left to right: the driver, Rev. W. Silfhout, Rev. A.P. Baaijens, J.M. Schot, Rabbi

Van de Kamp, Mrs. Channi Van de Kamp. Sitting: Mrs. Silfhout (left) and Mrs. Baaijens.

Israel Magazine July 2020 9

We realize our own “double story” becomes visible in the former Jew-ish neighbourhood. Right in front of us, at number 58, card-index boxes were used to decide who at number 12, number 28, number 64, and behind all those other front doors left and right of the Jewish Council, 200 fam-ilies in total, would end up in Auschwitz or Sobi-bor within several days.

Is the “double story” the story of the Reformed churches? Or is it the story of the Roman Catholic Church or any other Christian denomination?

No, when we stand there, the shadow side is so visible that the “double story” belongs to any community. There were people who consorted with the occupiers; there were citizens who with the courage of despair did anything to save their fellowmen. And there was a large multitude which did nothing but keeping the occupiers with their inhuman measures away from at least themselves. The Bible or the Torah in the hand or in the pulpit sometimes did, but often did not, play a role in these choices.

Conversations about the “double story,” from the Torah, from the Bible, are life les-sons. Standing on Nieuwe Keizersgracht is also a life lesson. It is the life lesson of self-reflection, human impotence, but also of human power, whether or not nourished

from G’d’s Word.At primary school there was a little boy in my class, Willie Boshuizen, and some parents forbade their children to play with him. It was not because he was a nasty boy; not because his parents were “wrong” in the war. No, Willie’s father was a “com-munist.” In times of election their window showed a poster of the Communist Party in the Netherlands (CPN).

My father often asked me: “Lody, are you going to play with Willie this after-noon? When is Willie coming to play here?” My father was not for or against a CPN. It was much more simple for him. In January 1945, my father was liberated

in Auschwitz by the Red Army, so by “the Russians.” It would take sev-eral months before the Netherlands was also liberated and before he could think of returning. He was taken good care of by “the Rus-sians.”

For my father, the “Moffen” (Ger-mans) were bad and the Russians were good. End of story; it was as simple as that. The terrible events that took place behind the Iron Curtain were not important to my father. The Germans had killed his family. The Russians had saved him. So the Russians were good and I had to play with Willie, whose father was a member of the

CPN, and I had to make sure he was not bullied at school.

The world is more complex than how my father may have experienced it. The world is also much more complex than start-ing from a biblical approach of a “double story” which is simply soluble.

The “double story” of good and evil runs through various denominations and ideol-ogies. In any case, a Christian has the Bible to be led by it and to protect himself against evil decisions. A Jew has the Torah for this purpose. Also after 75 years, faith is an ultimate means in untangling the “double story.”

Memorial for Margot and Anne Frank in Bergen-Belsen

For theFor the children children!!

Elie Cohen is standing at the corner of the road, totally paralyzed. Involuntarily, he

draws the hat that covers his “yarmulke” [a Jewish head covering for men] somewhat

further down. Is this really what he sees? The merry procession walks through the

street with a lot of noise. But Elie only looks at one float. He feels something turn in

his stomach. He shakes his head. Grandpa!

He remembers grandfather sitting in his large chair. How often had he been to his

grandfather? At least every “Shabbat.” It was wonderful. He first opened the door a

little and peeped through. Grandfather always sat at the window. He read a book; and

sometimes he looked out of the window, to see if he was coming, of course! And then

the moment when he opened the door wide and when grandfather saw him. The warm-

ness he felt when his grandfather’s eyes lit up. “There you are again, my boy, “tov.”

Very good!”

His grandfather! It was special to have a grandfather; many boys his age did not have

one. They didn’t have a grandmother either. He did! He had received the same name

as his grandfather and he was proud of it! “Elie, Adonai Eloheinu,” his grandfather

often said. Our God is Lord. Yes, God had protected his grandfather in the war in all

those camps. Those terrible camps, that his grandfather never wanted to talk about.

He heard about it at school, and it was so surreal to realize that his own granddad had

been in the middle of it.

But one visit had been different. He can still see how his grandfather was not sitting in

his chair when he peeped through the door. Surprised, he had walked in quickly. He saw

how his grandfather walked through the room with a bent back. From the chest to the

chair, then to the window, and again to the chest and to the chair.

His grandfather saw him. “There you are again, my boy.” The words were the same,

but they sounded differently. The light had disappeared from his grandfather’s eyes.

But he said: “Tov, very good! A boy; yes. Not an insect.”

Eli remembers how he worriedly frowned at those words. What was his grandfather

saying? Was he confused? But his grandfather was sitting now on the edge of his seat,

and impatiently gestured to him to sit down as well. Then his grandfather told him

where he had been that week. “In Germany, my boy! I cancelled the journey twice. I

still went. I had to know what on earth makes a person become a torturer in Ausch-

witz. How can anyone sink that low! Someone who lives in a normal house and eats

bread like you and I do. I HAD to know it.”

Liberated?Liberated?

10 Israel Magazine July 2020

Each year a carnival procession is held in February.

People dress up and drive through the streets of the village

in decorated floats. This year in Aalst (Belgium) people again

mocked with Jewish people. They portrayed Jewish people as

ants walking around a (wailing) wall.

For theFor the children children!!

Elie heard with wide eyes how his grandfather had visited his former torturer from

the camp all alone. How he had asked him how on earth he could do this. How

grandfather had refused to take a cigarette that was offered, but wanted to know,

KNOW, how this man, a fellowman–wasn’t he–could have ever come to kill so many

innocent men, women, and children. How he could kill grandfather’s own wife and

little boy. He killed them!It was because the camp executioner had always heard he was better since he was

a little child. He had heard he was a kind of superman! He had eagerly believed

it. And the others? They were “untermenschen” [inferior people]. And Jews? They

were pests. You could squash them like an annoying insect! Elie’s grandfather stood

up when he said these words. With his shoe he stomped loudly on the wooden floor.

With the toe of his shoe he made a turning movement as if he squashed a fly or

an ant. He looked at Elie with large brown eyes and said: “Remember, my boy: no

human being is better than any other human being! And you are only safe in the

shadow of the Almighty. Blessed be His Name.”The Almighty. This Name cause Elie’s dizziness to fade away. His mind becomes

clear again. Now he realizes what is happening in his own village of Aalst right in

front of him. During the crazy annual carnival procession, the people have portrayed

Jews as ants. They think they have a right to make fun. They think this is a joke

that should be tolerated. Ants that you can squash? How on earth! A fierce anger

rises in Elie’s heart. He is startled when he realizes it. “O Almighty One, keep me!”

Elie prays. “And forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing! Deliver us

people from our wicked hearts!”I.M. Janse

From the new

s...

Israel Magazine July 2020 11

12 Israel Magazine July 2020

BROTHERS IN TIME OF WAR

“Now I am the only one who is left,” said former Elder C.A. van Tilborgh from Sprang-Capelle when his brother had passed away in April 2016. “No,” said Dov Frohman, “there are still the two of us. You and I.” During the war Frohman went into hiding at the Van Tilborghs and he still considers himself to be part of the family.

Today only Frohman himself is left; former Elder Van Tilborgh died in February 2018. And again the former person in hiding flew

over from Israel for

the burial with his whole family. In the weeks after the burial, Frohman said to his wife and children: “Please go back home. I will stay for a while to give it place in my mind.” When he had returned to Israel, he had a breakdown. The children of Van Tilborgh and Frohman decided to keep closer contact than they already did. Van Tilborgh’s burial was led by Rev. A. Schot, whose

mother had been a friend of Van Til-borgh’s wife since they were children. “He addressed Dov and his wife and children in a sensitive way. He emphasized the necessity of conversion. Dov was moved by it,” says son Ph. Van Tilborgh, who is now an elder in Sprang-Capelle. After the war, Frohman let go of the religion of the family where he hid. “He calls himself neu-trally Jewish. When he is here, he respect-fully joins the prayers, reading, and church attendance. But for the rest it does not mean much to him.”Frohman is now 81 years old and the time of his hiding is 75 years ago. He survived the Second World War, but his parents

died in Auschwitz. He still feels gratitude for his host family in the province of Bra-bant. They risked their lives for him. “Both Frohman and his wife and their two chil-dren often say they think it is unbelievable that my grandparents were willing to do this for him,” says Van Tilborgh.

White handkerchiefHow this started has been described early in an interesting way: “It is 1942. At the railway station in Lage Zwaluwe a woman is walking to and fro with a white hand-kerchief in her hand. She continually looks at the platform, trying not to be noticed. After an hour she takes the train home with a disappointed look. A week later she comes back. Again she walks to and fro with a white handkerchief. Suddenly, a woman walks towards her holding the hand of a little boy of about three years old. Without saying anything, she pushes the boy towards the other woman and she suddenly disappears between the other people out of the station.”At first the boy’s parents could not let go of their only child.

Beiris Brohman with his parents, who later died in

Auschwitz

A dark-haired boy with blonde brothers and sisters

Dov Frohman between the Van Tilborgh brothers

A Jewish person who was in hiding is still in touch with the hospitable family in Sprang-Capelle (The Netherlands) after 75 years

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That is why the woman had waited at the railway station in vain. One week later he arrived anyway.

In the cellarThis is how Beiris Frohman –as he was called at the time– arrived in Anthonie and Jenneke van Tilborgh-Verhagen’s family. A Jewish boy, born in Amsterdam to Polish parents, received a hospitable welcome in a family that attended the services of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Sprang-Capelle. His name was now Bert van Tilborgh, his older “brothers” were Cor and Toon, and his “sisters” were Rie and Jet. They were blonde, he was very dark, and that is why the hair of the three boys was kept short.Soon Bert became dangerously ill. “When he dies, he must be buried in the back yard,” said family doctor J.B. Verhey, who was in on it. Thankfully, the boy became healthy again. He played outside, went to school, and to the church. People around them must have known what was going on, but nobody betrayed them, not even a man who lived a few houses farther and sup-ported the NSB.

Later Bert himself said: “Each time when the Germans came, I was hidden under beds or in the cellar. I still remember there were red apples in the cellar. I also remem-ber the moment when a German soldier who had probably betrayed his army was shot dead in front of our house.”When Sprang-Capelle was liberated on October 30, 1944, the family was shocked when a German officer pointed to Bert and said to father Van Tilborgh: “He cannot be your son.” That is why Van

Tilborgh and his family fled to a different home during the battles.It ended well. Father and mother watched the entry of the liberators with their Jewish foster son between them.

Difficult goodbye“Bert” lived in Van Tilborgh’s house for more than four years. With other Jewish foster children he was taken to an orphan-age in Antwerp in 1947, and after a time of wandering, he was taken to Israel in 1949. A married couple from Tel Aviv adopted him in 1956. The farewell after the liberation was very difficult, as the Van Tilborghs later said. “Bert cried all the time and did not want to leave. We were his home; we were his family. It was also very difficult for us. However, he was claimed. We had to per-suade Bert to go with them.” In Israel Bert took the Jewish name Dov. He now lives in Ein Kerem near Jerusalem. Frohman married and received a son and a daughter. He did groundbreaking work in the field of ICT, as founder and first gen-eral manager of Intel in Israel. He also started a fish farm.His host family in Sprang-Capelle tracked him down in the early sixties of the twen-tieth century. Since then they stayed in touch and they frequently visited each other. Frohman can still understand Dutch, even though he does not speak it anymore. The younger generations communicate in English.

Six millionNow 75 years ago, The Netherlands was liberated and it could be publicly

said that Bert Van Tilborgh was actually called Beiris Frohman. The commemora-tion is overshadowed by the corona crisis. Still, 75 years of freedom are worth for you to pause and think. A murderous regime came to an end. The Holocause cost six million Jewish lives, as an expression of blind racist hatred. Six million! The num-bers are inconceivable; the suffering is indescribable.The heroism of those who helped others cannot be expressed either. We often did not even consider it to be heroism. They did what they thought they should do, risking their own lives.Dov Frohman made sure that father and mother Van Tilborgh posthumously received an honourary title from Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Cen-tre in Jerusalem. Together with three of their four children, he planted a tree in the Avenue of the Righteous behind this museum in 1984. The plaque near the tree shows the names of Anthonie and Jenneke Van Tilborgh-Verhagen.The grocer from Sprang-Capelle and his wife risked their lives for more than four years. Father Van Tilborgh did not desire to be honoured for it. With respect to his motivation, he later said “he had received an affection to save Abraham’s seed.” And his descendants know that he pointed his “son” Bert to the one thing needful and a life according to God’s Word and Law. “And they also know he prayed before God’s throne of grace for Bert/Dov and for all of Abraham’s seed.”

L. Vogelaar

Dov and the Van Tilborghs

Parents Van Tilborgh

REFLECTIONon Anti-Semitism

Attacks on synagogues, heavy security at Jewish schools and institutions, chanting in stadiums, terms of abuse, insults, and riots in the streets, and so on. Today we find various forms and expressions of anti-Semitism in our country.

It is an evil that increases alarmingly. Attention was paid to it in the last issue of Israel Magazine. The CIDI (Centre for Information and Documentation Israel) registers the number of incidents. In Feb-ruary this centre published new numbers for 2019. In this year, 182 instances of dis-crimination were registered, an increase of 35 percent compared to 2018. Inci-dents on the Internet were not taken into account. These are shocking numbers. And I continue to read that there were never so many incidents registered during the 30 years the centre has recorded the numbers.What is this all about? It concerns hate-ful expressions in words and behaviour against the Jewish people. And why? Only because they are Jewish.

CarnivalAnd then it was carnival in the Belgian city Aalst. There is a procession where much

can be seen such as dolls with large noses and a wailing wall made of “staves of gold.” People are dressed up like insects and have sidelocks and wear fur hats (shtreimels) on their heads. There are also bulging money boxes and many crafted rats. There is much mocking with the Jewish people.

It is with good reason that many people protested. And how did the organizers respond? “During carnival it should be pos-sible to make fun of anyone.” This is called fun and therefore there were no apolo-gies. In a mutual letter from several Jew-ish institutions in The Netherlands (also signed by Mr. C.G. Van der Staaij, political leader of the Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij in The Netherlands), addressed to the Belgian ambassador, people expressed their abhorrence about this carnival pro-cession. In this year when we remember 75 years of liberty, we must speak out. This must never be done again!

Telling our childrenHaven’t we learned anything from our his-tory? Haven’t we learned anything from the history of the Holocaust? The his-tory of the Jewish people is a history of suffering, deportations, and extermination

camps. Have we as churches sufficiently protested against this? Haven’t we often looked away?

It is appropriate to confess our guilt about this. Too often we remained silent in the past. Rev. M.L. Dekker wrote about it in the last issue of Israel Magazine and gave a painful example. More examples could be given. Thankfully, the General Synod of the Reformed Congregations in the Neth-erlands spoke out against anti-Semitism. Not so long ago, the Dutch prime minister apologized to the Jewish community in the Netherlands on behalf of the government. This community responded with thankful-ness, but with one comment: Why so late?Our young people must know the history of Judaism. It is with good reason that Mr. L. Vogelaar addressed this in the last issue of Israel Magazine. We tell our children about the ancient history of Israel, but we must also tell our children about the history of the Jewish people in later times. We must tell our children what is happening to the Jewish people today. It is enmity against Israel. People often say it is because of the injustice to and suffering of the Palestinian people. We can talk about it, but it never justifies hateful behaviour towards Jewish

Rev. J. B. Zippro

14 Israel Magazine July 2020

people. It is good to speak out against it!

“The apple of God’s eye”In the Bible the people of Israel are com-pared to the apple of an eye. What is more delicate than the apple of your eye? Try to touch it with your finger without your eye starting to water, let alone if someone else did it! Wouldn’t you in a reflexive way try to push away the hand of the person who tries to touch it? Hands off, please!

Israel is called “the apple of God’s eye.” We read in Deuteronomy 32:10: “He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.” This is a summary of Israel’s his-tory. The LORD delivered the people from Egypt, led them through the desert, and took them into the land of Canaan. The LORD continually preserved the people and cared for them, despite all sin and guilt, also later, when they were led in cap-tivity to Babylon. It was a divine judgment about Israel’s sin.

And then? Did God let go of the nation? No, again the LORD was pleased to have mercy upon these people. The prophet

Zechariah was given to see the return from Babylon. In the third night vision he sees a Man with a measuring line. “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls” (Zechariah 2:4). The Jews who were still in Babylon were called to return. The enemies have to let them go. Then we read a rich prophecy in Zechariah 2:8: “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; after the glory hath He sent Me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.”

Again we find the metaphor of the apple of an eye. Annotation 23 to the Dutch Authorized Version says: “The sense is: he, who molests and troubles, afflicts or annoys you, in so doing offends the Lord Himself most sensibly, which He will surely avenge.” Take note of the word “molests.” And: “He will surely avenge!” So the enemies are warned: Hands off from the Jewish people! They are the apple of God’s eye.

The enemy has tried to exterminate this nation. Sometimes they almost seemed to succeed. But the Lord arose and scattered His enemies. This became clear several times in history; it will not end well for

the enemies of this nation. It ended badly for Pharaoh, it ended badly for Balak, who wanted to curse the nation, it ended badly for Haman, and it ended badly for Hitler and his consorts.

In contrast to the hatred and insults, we may and must show our love and our sup-port for the Jewish people. But doesn’t Paul in Romans 11:28 call them “enemies concerning the gospel”? Certainly. What about us? Have we already fallen down as enemies at the feet of the Lord Jesus? How many of us continue our lives carelessly?

But the fact that the Jews do not recognize the Lord Jesus as the true Messiah is no reason to hate them. Paul says in the same verse: “As touching the election, they are beloved for the Fathers’ sakes.” Annota-tion 35 to the Dutch Authorized Version says here: “That is, seeing God has chosen this nation out of all other for His people, and has still His elect among them.”

This nation is and remains “the apple of God’s eye.” That is why we may pray with the author of Psalm 17: “Keep them as the apple of the eye.”

Israel Magazine July 2020 15

"The Apple of God’s Eye"

Foto: Kristof Vadino

The

MIDDLE WALL BROKEN -Revealed in the Old and New Testaments

5

An Instructive Series of Articles about the Unity of the Covenant of Grace, Revealed in Christ.Sometimes Reformed Christians decide to become adherents of the Jewish religion. In this series we would like to share a few reflections about this. It will be instructive for everyone who is in some way involved in the work among the Jewish people.i

16 Israel Magazine July 2020

• Meaning of broken middle wall: abolishing of ceremonial law (e.g. circumcision)

• Course of the Covenant of Grace in the Old Testament was defined by circumcision

• After Christ’s coming the protective function of the middle wall is no longer necessary

With this article we will conclude a series of articles about the unity of the Covenant of Grace. A number of elements from the Old and New Testaments were mentioned in the previous articles.

In this article we will discuss what Paul writes to the congregations of Ephesus and Colosse with respect to this essential unity. Important passages relating to this are Ephesians 2:11-22 and Colossians 3:11, with the similar texts Galatians 3:28; 5:6; and 6:15.

In Ephesians 2, verses 11 and 12, Paul addresses the Gentiles. They were in the flesh (the annotations refer to the cor-rupt nature) and were called “foreskin” by the Jews, who had been circumcised with hands. Christ had not been preached to them, they were aliens from the Covenant of Grace (the covenants of promise, in a plural form, because it had been revealed

to Israel several times), and without God in the world. They were “far off,” in contrast to the Jewish people, which was “nigh.”

These words come from Isaiah 57:19: “I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.” Here Isaiah prophetically spoke of the time which is now called fulfilled in Ephesians 2:13-14, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one.” This has great consequences. He has broken down the middle wall of partition!

MeaningIn verse 15, Paul gives the meaning of this middle wall of partition. Many people think it was a wall in one of the temple courts with a sign which forbade the Gen-tiles to go beyond the Court of the Gen-tiles. We will not deny that Paul may have thought about it. However, this knowledge is not necessary to understand the mean-ing, because it is clearly stated in verse 15: “The enmity, even the law of command-ments contained in ordinances.” This law cannot refer to the Ten Commandments. Paul clearly teaches in Romans 7 that the moral law has not been abolished. With Annotation 46 we believe this refers to the ceremonial law (see also Hebrews 9:10). In light of verses 11 and 12, the separation became mainly visible by being circum-cised or not.

Why this wall?The question arises why this wall was around the Jewish people for so many centuries. Why this “enmity”? In order to answer this question, we must go back to Jacob’s deathbed. At the moment when Judah is in front of him, Jacob prophet-

ically exclaims: “Judah, thou art he” (Gen-esis 49:8). At this moment it is revealed that the Seed, Christ, is in Judah, not in Joseph?

Prophetically, Jacob says: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis 49:10). This cannot refer to Judah’s reign until Christ came. After all, when Christ was born, Judah did not reign anymore. With Keil Delitzsch’s commentary, we believe this refers to the reign of God, in which Judah was used to protect the Seed, Christ.

That is why it was the tribe of Judah which returned from Babylon. The people should definitely not intermarry with the nations. After all, then it would not be clear where the Seed was (hidden)! When Christ was born it had to be clear that He came from the tribe of Judah.

That is why there was a wall surrounding the Jewish people, a wall of ceremonial laws. Circumcision was an important part of this wall. It made a separation between Jews and Gentiles.

Sign and seal of the Covenant of GraceIn the Old Testament precisely circum-cision is a sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace. We saw it when we wrote about Abraham. At the same time, this sign and seal was like a wall, a separation. The course of the Covenant of Grace was defined by circumcision.

What happened when Christ shed His blood? Judah’s protective function stopped. After all, Christ had been born and He had finished His work on earth. That is when the wall of partition broke!

Rev. P. D. den Haan Rev. D. de Wit

Israel Magazine July 2020 17

18 Israel Magazine July 2020

Then it also became clear that Christ is the Head of one body, and that His Jewish and Gentile children belong to this body. Thus he killed the enmity on the cross and the gospel could be preached, according to the word of Isaiah 57, to Jews and Gentiles to gather His people from those two into one body, He being its Head.

As a result also the distinction with respect to the Covenant of Grace has been removed. In Matthew 28:19, Christ also commanded the (Jewish) disciples to teach all nations, baptizing them. Thus Paul can say in the above-mentioned text how the distinc-tion between Jews and Gentiles has been removed. He writes in Galatians 3:27-28: “For as many of you as have been bap-tized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

How honestly and rightly the Form for the Administration of Baptism says that bap-tism is come in the place of circumcision. No, it definitely does not teach a theology of substitution; on the contrary! It teaches that the middle wall of partition has fallen, and the sign and seal, pointing to the blood of Christ, making peace, unites the church from Jews and Gentiles in Christ. If we allow circumcision to continue to exist, we erect this middle wall again!

CautionOften it is argued Paul also circumcised Timothy. This shows us that caution is required. After all, in practice the Jewish people see and experience circumcision as a sign of being Jewish. If this is “taken away,” one loses their identity.

The other side must also be mentioned. If the congregation from the Jewish people added by saving grace emphasizes the dis-tinction from the congregation consisting of Gentiles, we must wonder if this does not do damage to identity of the church of Christ! The Jewish man Paul did not fail

to emphasize this unity. The Covenant of Grace cannot be divided, in the Old or in the New Testaments, nor between Jews and Gentiles.

We must honestly state that circumcision in the Scriptures was never meant as a sign of being Jewish, but as a sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace. The fact that only Israel or the Jewish people were cir-cumcised was because of the fact that the course of the Covenant of Grace was there. The river of the Covenant of Grace now flows among all nations.

That is why circumcision must not make a distinction. Because of history we must be very patient, just as Paul was. Along with this patience we must realize that the Lord initially used Israel to share the teaching concerning the Covenant of Grace with the nations.

First placeThe people of Israel continue to be in the first place. So that what is written leaves unaffected that the Lord has not forgot-ten His people Israel! The Lord will always have His work of grace, His remnant among the Jewish people. This cannot be said of any other nation in this way.

The longing for the fulfilment of the expectation, as expressed by Paul in Romans 9 to 11, becomes only greater. The work that the Lord has done among the Gentiles will provoke the Jewish people to jealousy in turn.

Once there was a wall, but it is broken down. Those who are near, the Jewish people, see how the Lord glorifies His grace also among those who are far. They are brought near, in the tent of Shem. Christ spoke in John 10:16: “And other sheep I have (the Gentiles that will be con-verted), which are not of this fold (God’s children from the Jewish people): them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shep-herd.”

oday the world is in great chaos. A minuscule virus has locked down the entire world. Who would have ever thought this? In Nigeria we experienced various epidemics, but that

was in “poor” Africa. Now all of a sudden it is in the Western world. All certainties that one had built have been taken down. I think we do not realize yet what the consequences for the future will be.

From the beginning the Israeli government took strict measures. People were called to stay home. Each week more strict rules were added. Now certain cities with a high number of corona patients are completely locked down.

This week we celebrate Pesach, one of the most important festivals for the nation. Normally, the preparations begin a week in advance. In the consistory it was on the agenda of January, with the question how we were going to celebrate the Seder meal this year. Last year the house was packed. All furniture and everything that was on the walls had been removed. Honestly, we were somewhat nervous about it. After the Seder meal Marita and I are always exhausted. With the brothers of the consistory we dis-cussed if it would be possible to resort to a different room. Now there is no reason anymore to worry about it. The Seder meal has completely been cancelled. Prime Minister Netanyahu has clearly ordered that the Seder must only be celebrated with the family at home. No matter how lonely this will be for people who live alone, they must stay home. The government has announced a complete “lockdown” for the Seder night with extra police surveillance. This has never happened before in Israel. The Seder meal is always celebrated with the whole family. There is always a place for people who live alone, because one should not be alone at Pesach.

During the Seder evening the youngest child asks his father: How is this night different from all other nights? In 2020 AD this question has a deeper meaning. Didn’t the Israelites in Egypt also have to stay home during the first Passover night because of a deadly plague? “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning” (Exodus12:22).

The Seder meal is a meal full of symbolism. It is always a pinnacle each year. What an added value if we may also point at the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

The people of Israel were safe behind the blood of the lamb during the first Passover night. How great would it be if their eyes were opened to see THE Passover Lamb.

Together with our deacon Ary, we took a Pesach food package to all members of the congregation with a beautiful booklet, to let them know we remember them. Twice a week I send them a meditation using WhatsApp. Each day at eight o’clock the consistory sends a Bible text and a song in the congregation’s chat group in several languages. This is how we try to keep in touch.

I noticed it is almost forbidden in the Netherlands to speak of a divine judgment. But who still hears the footsteps of

the coming King? Let us pray for a return, a return of the world, but also a return of the church. Isn’t

the church also guilty because of our luke-warmness, world conformity, and judging each other?

Above all, let us pray for the conversion of Israel, because this nation still has to

come to the knowledge of the Passover Lamb which has been slain. Let us conclude with

a quotation of Thomas Boston from a sermon about Zechariah 12:12, preached in 1716: “Have

you any love to, or concern for the church, for the work of reformation, for the reformation of our coun-

try, for the reformation of the world? Any longing desire for the revival of that work now at a standstill; for a flourishing state of the church, that is now under decay? Then pray for the conver-sion of the Jews. Are you longing for a revival to the churches, now lying like dry bones; would you fain have the Spirit of life enter into them? Then pray for the Jews. ‘For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?' (Romans 11:15).”

MLD

Israel Magazine July 2020 19

T

V o l u m e 2 4 N o . 1 - J u l y 2 0 2 0ELMAGAZINEISRAISRA

Clothing Drive for Yad NechamaYad Nechama (Hand of Comfort) is a second-hand clothing store in

Israel near the city of Nazareth. Started by the Dutch Board for

Israel and now supported by Ezra for Israel, the store is a low-cost

clothing resource for local needy people and is also a way to bring

them into contact with the Gospel. At the store, customers are given

a voucher for the neighboring coffee shop where an elder from Rev.

Dekker’s congregation seeks an opportunity to speak with them and

offer them a New Testament.

Recently, a pallet of 30 boxes of clothing, weighing approximately

900 pounds, was shipped from Grand Rapids, Michigan to make its

journey to Israel. This pallet of over 1,350 items contained a variety of

men, women and children’s clothing, including, for example, 154

men’s shirts and 309 women’s skirts.

From the Beckwith and Covell churches in Grand Rapids, the Lydia

Guild and the Mary Martha Circle women joined together and

organized the clothing drive, which received much support from the

members. Many hours were spent by the ladies, separating bags and

bags of clothing by season, and sorting men’s and women’s clothing,

and folding and packing it all into boxes. Following instructions and

guidance from the Ezra for Israel board and the Dutch Board for

Israel, the contents of each box was carefully inventoried, labelled,

and sealed.

Various congregational members also provided support: donating a

large enough pallet, providing shipping information, offering their

facility and services to load the pallet, securely strapping the boxes

for shipment, contributing toward the cost of shipping, and finally,

lifting the pallet via hi-lo, onto the freight truck and sending it on its

way.

The project had its rewards in many ways, providing the opportunity

for the congregations to support a worthy cause and bringing the

members together in a community effort, with the hope that the

Lord’s blessing will be seen in the lives touched by the outreach of

Yad Nechama.

Submitted by Mr. Gary Bleeker,

Grand Rapids

Ezra for Israel

Ron's wife wrote Isaiah 53 in Hebrew. Ron asks the people

that visit the shop to read it aloud and asks them what

they think about it.

One lady answered:

“It looks like this is

about Jesus!”

Cast thy bread upon the

waters: for thou shalt

find it after many days”

- Eccl. 11:1

Would you please consider supporting this worthy cause?www.ezraforisrael.ca/donate-today/

Canadian Charity: 815441563 RR0001

Contact info:Ezra For IsraelPO Box 178Diamond City, AB T0K 0T0

Telephone: (403) 553-3582Cell Phone: (403) 308-0083Email Address: info@ezraforIsrael.ca

Are you interested in hosting the next clothing drive? Please contact us!