Rabbi Tuly Weis talks to Paul Calvert about Israel 365 and how he views modern Israel.

Paul: Is it important for people to understand Israel from a biblical perspective?

Rabbi Tuly: Absolutely because many people understand Israel from a political perspective, from a geo-political perspective, or a perspective that is very much temporal. It's very much based on who's reporting it, what's happening in the news today and it changes on a dime. Things change here so quickly and so when you look at the world from a biblical perspective you have an understanding that all of the events that you are seeing, God is controlling from the beginning until the end. It allows a person to have a sense of hope. A lot of people look at our website or say "oh you're reporting the news from a biblical perspective, that's crazy stuff, or that is sensational or apocalyptic and you are talking about the Messiah is coming and people are going to die and it's apocalyptic and it's negative." It's not at all that, when you look at the world from a biblical perspective you are able to understand that there is a plan, that God has a plan and you're able to appreciate and see a sense of hope in the current events, it's really wonderful and it's really beautiful.

Paul: Today we are in the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) and you are sponsoring the event here. There is a Bible study going to take place here in the Knesset, tell us a little bit more about that.

Rabbi Tuly: We are part of it, but this is called the 'Schindler Society For Bible Study'. It was originally started by Pastor Jim and Rosemary Garlow from California, they're very special people who just want legislators to look into the Bible as they make their important decisions. They introduced Bible study for the first time to the United Nations, they introduced Bible study to Congress and they had it in their heart to bring Bible study to the Knesset. The Schindler Society sponsor this event and Rabbi Yehuda Glick from the Knesset is the host. There is going to be a number of members of the Knesset here, who are here to study the Bible and the Christians that are here are here to learn about the Bible from a Jewish perspective. It's one of these miracles that after being exiled for so long the Jewish people are coming back to the land and they are here in the Knesset where they make laws that affect every aspect of Israeli life. They are taking time out of their busy schedules to study the Bible and to study Isaiah and to study the Psalms together between Jews and Christians, unbelievable!

Paul: Are there many Bible studies here in the Knesset, like a weekly event?

Rabbi Tuly: They do have other Bible studies for sure, it's Jewish, Jews studying the Bible together, something Jewish people have always done. What is unique about this though is that it's Jews teaching Christians. Number one it is sponsored by a Christian group, the Schindler Society is a Christian society, it is a Christian group and the Christians are saying to the Jewish people "we want you to teach us the Torah, we want you to teach us the Bible," just like it says in Isaiah.

Paul: Donald Trump has recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, do you see God in that?

Rabbi Tuly: Absolutely! You know God always works through people and He especially works through leaders. Donald Trump has been the first President to recognise the American law that Jerusalem is Israel's capital. It's not a small thing you know in the 50th Year, the jubilee anniversary of Jerusalem, 50 years after the Jewish army captured it from the Jordanians. Finally the world is recognising. It started with the United States and other countries are going to jump on that band wagon as well and recognise that Jerusalem belongs to the Jewish people.

Paul: We are coming up to 70 years of Israel as a nation, is this a miracle?

Rabbi Tuly: Everything about Israel is a miracle. You can't explain the hostility that Israel is confronted with and the amount of resources we have to spend on defence. You can't explain the in-gathering of the Jewish people without relying on going back to the miracles that were promised by the Bible. So we are just fortunate to be alive in this great generation and where Jews and Christians are finally starting to work together again.

Paul: What is your prayer for Israel 365, for its future?

Rabbi Tuly: Well right now Israel 365 has grown to a place where we have 300,000 daily email subscribers who are on our list and that is a wonderful thing. We just want other people to hear about it and connect with Israel through Israel 365. To connect with the land, just like God is connected on a daily basis from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. We are looking to touch more minds and hearts and show the true biblical perspective on the land of Israel.