There are two classes going on here at the kibbutz. One is the intermediate course in which I am participating, and the other is a beginning course. (I observe the teaching of that course to learn the pedagogy better.) Most of the students in the beginning course started 3 weeks ago knowing little or no Hebrew. They are now reading through the book of Jonah in Hebrew.
Many of the students involved in the courses are or will be seminary or Bible college students. Most are preparing for vocational Christian ministry of some sort.
The exceptions are remarkable, and very inspiring to me. Among them are David and Amanda Bosanquet, from Wales. Both are medical doctors. David is a surgeon (and so, in the UK medical system is now properly referred to as "Mr." rather than "Dr."), and Amanda is a family practice doctor.
Both are here because they want to understand the Bible as best they can. They have no plans to abandon the practice of medicine for a career teaching Bible or theology. Rather, they want to be more effective in living out their faith by being able to better understand the Bible.
This, to me, is remarkable. I often tell my students that if they want to be the best interpreter of Scripture they can be, they will need to have facility in the original languages. (That doesn't mean that one can't be a good interpreter without knowledge of the languages or that knowledge of Scripture is accessible exclusively through knowledge of the languages, but rather understanding is enhanced when one can access the text in the original languages.) This is true for all readers, not just those who will be leaders in the Church. Amanda and David are a tremendous and inspiring example.
May the Lord raise up more such people in his Church!
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