The foundation of America and the constitution was the Hebrew Bible, or Torah, declared the father of GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz in a speech given earlier in the year. Based on its religious values, America must “stand unconditionally with Israel,” he said firmly.

Pastor Rafael Cruz, who is an Evangelical Christian preacher, made the remarks to the pro-Israel Christian group Proclaiming Justice to the Nations (PJTN). In a video released by PJTN two weeks ago, Cruz is shown saying that America must stand with Israel because it represents the country’s roots.

“The foundation of America, the foundation of the constitution, was the Torah,” he said to loud applause. “The Torah is embedded within the constitution. That was the inspiration for the framers.”

Cruz said that the idea of America’s constitutional republic came straight from the word of God, in the Book of Exodus.

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all seasons; and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves; so shall they make it easier for thee and bear the burden with thee. Exodus 18:21-22

“Many of the freedoms that we have today were enjoyed in that early Jewish state after Abraham came to the promised land,” he explained. “And God gave him a promise.

“As a matter of fact do you realize that Israel is the only country on the face of the earth that has a titled deed from God Almighty?”

He mentioned that Israel’s “deed” had originally been much bigger, stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates, as a counter to anti-Zionist arguments that the Jewish claim to Israel is illegitimate. “Don’t tell me that Israel does not have a right to the land. God himself gave Israel the title deed for the land,” he asserted.

Christians would not have the Bible without Israel, he pointed out, and all must realize that “we are one in Him, that both Christians and Jews worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

The pastor took the opportunity to lambast replacement theology, calling it “heresy.”

“How can you extrapolate all of the promises in the word of God that are specific for Israel, that talk specifically about the land of Israel and the Jewish people, and how can anyone with two ounces of sense think that ‘we are the new Israel’? That is heresy. Israel is the apple of God’s eye, it is the chosen people.”

He referenced the ancient Jewish concept of or l’goyim, a Hebrew phrase meaning “light to the nations” which teaches that the Jews were appointed by Heaven to shine as an example to others. Israel is “the chosen people to bring us the word of God, to bring us the ways of God,” said Cruz.

Cruz also took the opportunity to talk about his son’s connection to Israel, saying proudly that Ted Cruz was the “strongest supporter of Israel on Capitol Hill” and enumerating the ways in which the Texas senator would be a friend to the Jewish state if elected.

“My son has said not only that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel, but he has promised in his first day in office, to begin the process to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem where it needs to be.

“My son has condemned the Palestinian Authority for their refusal to accept Israel’s right to exist. My son has said, we will not fund the United Nations as long as they continue to promote BDS and anti-Semitism. My son is committed to continuing the physical, economical, and military support of Israel, unconditionally.”

The pastor drew his audience’s attention to the Bible verse on which much Christian support of Israel is based – Genesis 12:3. “God tells Abraham… ‘I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

“During the last seven years we have come very close to cursing the state of Israel,” he said somberly, referring to the Obama administration’s cool attitude towards Israel, which many believe has done serious harm to the Israel-US alliance.

“We need to move back to standing unconditionally with the state of Israel,” Cruz urged. “That is our spiritual heritage, and we will be blessed as we bless the nation of Israel. It is for God’s glory that we two become one.

“The hand of blessing upon Israel. We better stand on the side of blessing,” he concluded, ending his speech with a passionate call to action.

“Choose life! Choose the blessing! Let’s stand together for the peace of Jerusalem!”