Tovia Singer, the dynamic young Orthodox rabbi who directs Outreach Judaism, is an extremely effective communicator. Like other highly capable public speakers, Rabbi Singer uses humor to connect with his audience and to drive home a point. His lectures are generously peppered with a brand of humor unique to him, such as his restatement of an aphorism to illustrate his description of the diversity of ideas within the Jewish community:

You know what they say; whenever you have two Jews, you have three opinions!

Only those having little or no contact with Jewish people would make the mistake of describing them as unified in convictions, religious or otherwise. It would appear, however, as if this situation has produced a crisis of massive proportion among the Jewish population of the State of Israel.

The May 11, 1998 issue of Time carried an article entitled, "The Religious Wars." Noting that the setting of the events reported under this title is Israel, the casual reader would quite understandably assume the subject to be the on-going Arab-Israeli conflict. That assumption would be incorrect; in fact, the article is about the alarming escalation in tensions between secular Jews and religious Jews in Israel, tensions so severe that the writer observes,

As Israel celebrates its 50th anniversary, its citizens identify the rift over religion as their No. 1 problem. With the country well established and peace in the region a growing reality, Israelis are fighting among themselves as never before.

For those who might suggest that the problem is a relatively minor one to which a solution may readily be found, the article contains this ominous prediction:

While a number of activists on both sides are working to find a new accommodation between the communities, most Israelis expect relations to deteriorate further. A survey showed that 47% think the situation could lead to civil war (emphasis added).

It would appear as if division and dissension among the Jewish people will continue to be the rule, rather than the exception, well into the future. However, the prophetic Scriptures indicate that the nation of Israel will be unified during one particular epoch known as "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). In fact, there will be two unifying factors associated with this period, one at its outset and one at its conclusion. The language of the Bible, in describing Jewish solidarity during this time, is particularly striking when compared to the present state of affairs outlined in the aforementioned article.

At the outset of "that great day," Israel will be unified in her suffering at the hands of the ultra-humanistic world government headed by Antichrist and motivated by Satanic rage (Revelation 12:13). Jeremiah emphasizes this unity of experience in these words:

Ask now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, like a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness (Jeremiah 30:6)?

At the conclusion of "that great day," Israel will be unified in her repentance as despair is turned to joy at the realization that the One who supernaturally intercedes from Heaven against her mortal enemies is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-21). Zechariah emphasizes this unity of experience in these words:

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn (Zechariah 12:10).

And the land shall mourn, every family apart;...All the families that remain,every family apart, and their wives apart (Zechariah 12:12a,14a).

Until that day, Rabbi Singer's description of two Jews holding three opinions will make us sad even as it makes us laugh unless...

...unless those two Jews come to faith in Jesus as their Messiah now, before they are brought together in a time of unprecedented suffering.

And that prospect of unity in Christ is why Hebrew Christian Fellowship exists!