The Protestant Settlers of Israel: Missionaries, Millenarians, and the African Hebrew Israelites

Book info: The Protestant Settlers of Israel: Missionaries, Millenarians, and the African Hebrew Israelites (Hardcover, 288 pages) – Lexington Books, 2023. Language: English.

When conjuring an image of “settlers” in the Holy Land, one hardly envisions vast numbers of European and North American Evangelical Protestants. Yet this is precisely the picture set forth in this book. The region has witnessed settlement, conquest, destruction, and resettlement from time immemorial. But the story of Protestants settling in the Land and staking their own claim, while missionizing among the population, has yet to be told in its fullness. The Protestant Settlers of Israel tells that tale, including a discussion of the present-day whereabouts of some 100,000 Protestant individuals living in the State of Israel, with a steady rate of expansion and growth in some circles. Editorial Reviews Review

“In this pioneering book Joseph Yudin skillfully unfolds the fascinating story of six eschatological Protestant communities, who settled in the state of Israel in the second half of the 20th century. The author explores their theology and eschatology, their attitude to the Jewish people, their social and organizational network and their gradual adaptation to the changing realities of contemporary Israeli society. The book is highly recommended to anyone interested in the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the coexistence of Jews and Christians in modern day Israel.” ―Aryeh Kofsky and Yaron Perry, University of Haifa, Israel

“Introducing into scholarly discourse much new material, Joseph Yudin’s thoroughly researched book highlights the multifaceted interaction between various 20th-century eschatologically minded Protestant movements, for whom Jews and moving to Israel became the foci of their end-of-days aimed endeavor. The author presents a fascinating analysis of the complex balancing act between those movements’ desire to uphold their initial belief system and the necessity to adjust to the reality of the indefinitely postponed eschaton, as well as to the mores of broader Israeli society.” ―Serge Ruzer, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

About the Author Joseph Yudin earned his Ph.D. in Israel Studies at the University of Haifa.