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The Tiferet (Glory of) Yeshua congregation has been wrestling with government authorities for 8 long years to get the rightful religious non-profit tax status. This allows their congregational members to get a 35% tax reimbursement on donations at the end of the year. After the switch to the new government, the Israeli Supreme Court finally ruled in their favor! This is an example of the kind of changes we hoped and prayed would occur with the major shift in religious party power once the Netanyahu premiership had ended. This is a good thing and we pray just the beginning of a loosing of justice for Messianic Jews in Israel.
Unexpected Breakthrough
by
Gil Afrait, Lead Pastor at Tiferet
Yeshua in Tel Aviv
A Good Day for Democracy in Israel | This week as we sat in our team meeting, I received a call from our lawyer who had unexpected and wonderful news for us: the Israeli Supreme Court had just ruled in our favor in our eight year-long battle to receive non-profit tax status as a religious non-profit organization. This is a huge and meaningful victory for several reasons.
First
of all, Tiferet Yeshua members who support the congregation through their
tithes and donations will receive, like all religious congregants in the West,
tax reimbursement at the end of the year—in our case 35%. Furthermore, the
ruling of the Supreme Court has made a bold stand for religious freedom here in
Israel and called out the politicians’ efforts to deny our rights by labeling
us “dangerous to Israeli society” as nothing short of religious discrimination.
Finally, this victory for us will open the door to other Messianic Jewish
congregations in Israel to also receive non-profit tax status.
The
Struggle | All non-profit organizations in Israel must go through a
rigorous verification process, and we began our process eight years ago. Our
petition for non-profit tax status (article 46(a)) was granted by the Israeli
Tax Authority but has been repeatedly denied by the parliment Finance
Committee which has been chaired by the ultra-orthodox Moshe Gafni
who openly declared that our congregation, Tiferet Yeshua, will receive article
46(a) “over my dead body”. The reasons for his opinions against us are obvious
and not surprising. What was surprising was how Gafni, the head of the Finance
Committee, was able to unify all parties in the Knesset behind his campaign
against us.
Unprecedented
Political Unity against Us | In October of last year we wrote this article
about the decision of the special Finance Committee session, representing
members from all across the political spectrum, which unanimously denied our
petition. Even our new foreign minister, Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh
Atid party, made a special effort to participate in our Finance Committee vote
and to add his comments that we are “dangerous missionaries”.
The
flash point which unified the entire Israeli political spectrum against us at
the time was the issue of the conversion of minors and financial coercion to
faith, which is against the law in Israel. Conversion of minors is an issue
that hits a raw nerve with Jews as it conjures images from Europe’s dark past
of forced conversion when Jewish children were abducted, baptized against their
will, declared Christian and taken from their families to be raised in the
church.
Tiferet
Yeshua’s article 46(a) petition was considered together with that of a
Jehovah’s Witness organization which engages in questionable practices
regarding minors, and most of the session was devoted to them. However,
spurious allegations were made that Tiferet Yeshua also engages in the
conversion of minors, which is patently false as we completely abide by the
law regarding minors and financial coercion to faith, and the committee
failed to produce any concrete evidence to the contrary.
Former Prime Minister Menachem Begin was
an advocate for a powerful, independent judiciary and saw it as the “last
fortress of human liberty”. Begin knew that a majority in parliament could
become a tool of oppression in the hand of politicians, and a strong,
independent judiciary is needed to check government action and guard citizens’
rights, even when a majority seeks to disenfranchise them. This is exactly what
happened this week in Israel regarding our case.
With
one accord, Israeli supreme court justices expressed that the Finance Committee
had overreached their authority by declaring the activity of a religious
non-profit illegal because of “personal emotions or deep disagreements” with us
as Messianic Jews. Judge Anat Baron stated that the Finance Committee’s
criteria of labeling religious activity as illegal because it is, in their
opinion, “controversial” would set a dangerous precedent of reaching decisions
about non-profits “…based upon extraneous considerations, prejudice,
inequality, and arbitrariness."
We thank God that, as Menachem Begin said, “there are judges in
Jerusalem” who protect the rights of minorities and apply the standards of
equality and freedom of religion according to the spirit and values of Israel’s
Declaration of Independence. We hope
that this decision which came after eight years of legal battle will open the
doors for many other Messianic congregations to receive this tax credit status
and that it will benefit the Messianic public in Israel in large. Moreover, we
pray that prejudice and discrimination will continue to break as truth shines
forth in Israel.
Arrows
from Zion
Summarized
from the Weekly Summary of Prayer
Requests Israeli Ministries
Chava Stein has written two articles at KehilaNewsIsrael that explains a lot why the removal of Benjamin Netanyahu from Prime Minister of Israel may have been exactly what Israel needed at this time. In fact, I think it probably was, and I believe it was for the same reason Netanyahu was removed from office in 1999: because he allowed Israel’s religious parties to rule the roost, threatening the Messianic Jews with greater and greater persecutions. This same thing has been building steadily again under PM Netanyahu. He is marvelous for upholding Israel but God is EVEN more concerned that the Israeli Messianic believers have the ability to lead their people to faith in Yeshua. That is a fact many Christian Zionists ignore. Chava Stein’s articles are Bibi – Great for Christians, not so much for Messianic Jews and A word to Israel’s new government – It’s time to embrace the Israeli Messianic community. Additionally, an excellent brackgrounder on former Knesset Minister, ultra-Orthodox Moshe Gafni who in the late 1990’s and the more recent Netanyahu administrations, has led the charge to make criminal the sharing of faith even by Israel citizens. Another KehilaNews piece by Tuvia Pollack
Israel Today follows with this
report of action that Yad L’Achim, also anti-Messianic religious activists,
have taken in filing a lawsuit against the media arm of the Messianic-run Israel College of the Bible (ICB) in
Netanya: Google, YouTube Sued for “Missionary Ads Targeting Children in Israel”.
It is a common ploy anti-missionary
activists operate in by filing lawsuits with false claims that Israeli Jews
being ‘duped’ by Messianic believers. They say a Jew was duped into professing
faith in Jesus but now have recanted. The Activists do not name names on whose
behalf they are filing the legal accusation because it is all bogus – just their
public relations gambit to stir up public opposition against Messianics.
Heart of G-d ministries’ Carolyn and Richard Hyde devote most of their out of
Israel ministry efforts to encouraging Jews to make Aliyah, that is to
immigrate to Israel. This they will continue on their next planned US tour,
writing, “we hope to see you along the way from Ohio to Texas!” They write they believe God is revealing
more of His plans for the great coming Aliyah from the West. Meanwhile at home in Israel they are helping to bless the
widows, single mothers and fatherless children of Tsfat or Safed with a “Salad
Kitchen” and ministering in the every Wednesday from 3-6PM Israeli time on the Altar of
Prayer. The write their
thanks for support of their family (sons who lead the Tree of Life ministries)
and the the Media Team
outreaches and pro-life
projects. Pray
for this family whose activities in the Gospel have brought religious hounding
to their big, big family in Israel.
Dan and Patty Juster are in the US for a period of ministry among the
Tikkun-America network, which son Benjamin leads. The topic for Ben, Patty and
Dan in the latest Restoration from Zion ministry letter is that of walking in
the joy and the favor of the LORD. Patty notes from a Jim Wilder book , “The Other Half of the Church, that
healthy relationships are the source of a life of joy. Joy increases as you
encounter people who are happy to see you. Joy helps you to bounce back from
negative emotions…. Through grace we can be filled with joy through the Holy Spirit
and impart that joy to others. When a person is walking in joy that is not
dependent on circumstances they have power to change the atmosphere around
them!” Ben notes, “Many are desperate for Yeshua's love to be demonstrated
through authentic and passionate believers. It is time for us to lift up our
eyes and to look ahead! Though the world may have changed, our future is guided
by the Father's hand. It would be a grave error to spend our time and efforts
in going back to the way things were. Instead, pray for wisdom for walking into
the new things that God is doing and will do through you!”
And Dan adds: “This season has been
one of the happiest in recent years.” One reason he cites is the fruit they are
seeing in the Tikkun America network. I highlight one: “One of the fruits of Jack (Jacob’s New York) ministry
is working for unity with the churches of the region. One especially
fruitful connection has been with the Chinese Alliance Church in Tappan, New
York. I was privileged to preach at that congregation. They are committed to
us on a deep level and support our Tikkun Israel congregation and ministries in
Haifa under Leon Mazin. This fulfills a vision that has been hard to
effect, but deeply desired, that the Tikkun America Congregations would be
linked in covenant love with the Tikkun Israel congregations, and that support
from their relationships with churches would go toward building up the Israel
congregations. They do so much, with humanitarian aid and very important
programs for all ages. So far, this is a great visit to the United States!
FYI from Donna: This last comment
from Dan Juster really caught my attention because I have suspected for a long time that American Messianic
congregations do not have a vision
for the significance of directly supporting the Israeli believer congregations
and ministries, or encouraging the churches they are in relationship with to do
so. I have assumed the Messianic congregations were trying to 'buy' their own
Jewish credibility within Israel. Lately however I have begun to think it is
because they do not see the significance of God deploying specifically the Israeli Messianic believers
into speaking the Gospel to fellow Israelis as the most critical development impacting global end
times salvation. I have heard only excuses from Messianic believers as to why
they do not give to Israeli Messianic congregations (while they are
contributing to other Israeli causes). I have often wondered how we could
expect the churches to understand the significance of salvation for the Jews
springing forth in Israel when the Diaspora Messianics don't.
I am glad to report that this is
something the Tikkun network gets, as Dan Juster told me, “We have a program called Ambassadors where every Tikkun Congregation
will give and also motivate churches to so connect (with Israeli
congregations).” Would that ALL Diaspora Messianics did the same.
From Israel Pochtar, Beit Hallel & Voice of Judah ministries, a
fantastic report on their own “unexpected breakthrough following an
evangelistic outing they did recently taking non-believers to the Galilee where
they heard the Gospel for the first time: An Extraordinary Turnout Last Shabbat after our Evangelism Outreach event.
Next Shabbat their congregation in Ashdod saw an amazing turnout of those who
had been drawn to learn more. The dry Land is thirsty for the good news and
they are hearing, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the Waters"
Isaiah 55:1. Pastor Israel writes, “Your help in supporting this work makes it possible for the gospel to be
preached to Israelis and helps us reach more and more people, fulfilling God’s
prophecies regarding this nation, until “…all Israel shall be saved!” – Romans
11:26 Please visit our DONATE PAGE to support this work. Thank
you and God bless!
He also sends VIDEO The Calling of Israel with pastor Israel Pochtar | VIDEO & Article Carriers of God’s Glory and this An
important Prayer Alert for New Israeli Prime Minister: Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue | by Israel Pochtar on the “pulsa de-nura”
curse rituals used against against Israeli Prime Minister Bennett (also used on
Ariel Sharon and Yitshzk Rabin…and pastor Israel, too)
Tikkun Global sends a word about the major political change in Israel and how “In
the Bible, change in the Israelite government was often accompanied by a change
in the message of the prophets.” Message by Asher Intrater includes a series of short videos describing Asher’s impressions about how to pray for Israel in this
coming time period. On Revive Israel Facebook link above. Also these articles: Israel's New
Prime Minister by Ron
Cantor | Toxic Shame by Dan Juster | Three Way Joint Effort & Fruit by Valerie
Yanay | Breaking Through
the Walls by
Eitan Shishkoff
Kobi and Shani Ferguson now leading the Maoz ministry are currently in the US
for meetings to minister and also encourage the churches and congregations they
visit to support the pioneer work that Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram – Shani’s parents
– started and they are continuing to beat a pioneer pathway in Israel. In what
ways? They are pioneering Israeli worship music, young leaders with
Hebrew-speaking congregations, strengthening the Body of believers in Israel
through their benevolence fund. These
are all important works in establishing an infrastructure to minister to all
the yet to come to faith Israelis who are coming because the Holy Spirit is now
beckoning them to do so. Is it time for you to consider partnering in the pioneer work so
strategic to “all Israel” being saved?
In the Friday prayer points from Chuck Cohen at Intercessors for Israel in
Jerusalem, one point is about how “Many Western Jews never considered making
aliyah because they were more liberal than all of Netanyahu's previous
governments. Yet now Israel has a government whose members represent a wide
range of political and social views. So with this anti-Bibi, anti-right-wing
excuse removed, will Western Jews actually come home? The chances are not good
– yet we can pray.” He gives several prayer points surrounding this issue of
Aliyah that you might not think of: like the commitment of the new Israeli govt
to build 300,000 housing units and a serious attempt to lower housing costs.
Also a pray for the new Interior ministry to be a blessing and help new
immigrants – including Messianic Jews – whom Cohen prays will have a new sense
of urgency and courage to also immigrate…with Christians helping. “Let the Body of Messiah truly understand
that supporting the Jews to come home is an important way for them to be
preparing the way for the return of the Lord (Isa. 40:1-5; Matt. 23:37-39).”
Ron Cantor of Messiah’s Mandate and ShelanuTV also writes about the legal
ruling for Tiferet Yeshua It is a
great of great victory for the Gospel here in Israel. Also he gives a good report on the matching
funds drive for bomb shelters in Ashkelon, a city only 10 miles from Gaza. They
reached their goal of raising $30,000 to meet the pledge of matching donation
from a church in Texas. So the matching donor has pledged and additional
$30,000 in matching funds. Let's
match the next $30,000 If
you are going to bless Israel in some way – whether providing protection from
the rockets or in humanitarian aid, PLEASE look to the Israeli Messianic
congregations most of whom are doing every outreach that you could possibly
want to contribute to. LET THE BODY OF THE LORD IN ISRAEL BE SEEN AS THE ONES
WHO BRING BLESSING FROM THE CHRISTIAN WORLD TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
Rachel Netanel is
still in the long process of healing for a broken ankle that sure seems to be
an excessive period of healing – in fact, I believe our sister is being opposed
by the enemy and that we should all pray for God to provide miraculous healing
to Rachel who is a very effective witness of the Gospel in Israel. She and her
husband Gilad provide hospitality, breaking of bread (with all the fixings!) at
their home in Ein Karim, outside of Jerusalem, and also in Zukim. Then Rachel speaks
spiritually to all her guests, telling them whatever God puts on her heart to
minister to them. She needs to be set back on her own two feet. Please
pray. Even handicapped with her injury,
she is still ministering and recently was approached to do a TV interview with
a secular reporter, first in Zukim and then they came to Ein Kerim to do more
taping.
Rachel writes, “They had heard that
I have a very interesting story and were intrigued. I sent them a copy of the film that my son
had made about me and my faith and the manager of the station became quite
excited. So he ordered his people to
make a film about us. I told them that I
was in Zukim, but they decided to come with a film crew to interview us
there. They travelled from Tel Aviv and
were there for 7 hours. They asked me
many questions about my faith. They
wanted to know the difference between Christians and Messianic Jews. They wanted to know how we pray and much
more. I told them that I pray in the
name of Yeshua. The interviewer was a
man and I saw how interested he was and when I told him that if he wanted to
know the truth, that he could ask for a
sign. No sooner did he hear this, than sirens suddenly started to sound
throughout the village as Hamas sent a number of rockets our way. We ran for
cover and he looked at me and said, “Was this a sign???” The interview will air in a few weeks and she
will try to pass on a YouTube link when it is available.
The Beer Sheva congregation led by Howard Bass reported that they were able to
meet altogether at long last, first in an outdoor setting, then in their
congregation. He also writes about how in the prior week there was a leadership
meeting of Jewish, Arab, and other Christian/Messianic leaders who came
together for a day of acknowledging our unity as believers and we prayed for
one another and for our people. Howard writes, “Israel as a nation is very
divided right now, and is threatened on every side by those who seek its
destruction.” That includes “an outbreak of unrest between Jewish and Arab citizens….
Sadly, this unrest between the two peoples has come into the Body of
Christ/Messiah, which has been a common occurrence every time there is a war
between Israel and Hamas or other Arab countries. Yet it is a New Testament
imperative that brothers in the household of faith in Jesus strive to maintain
the unity of the Body in the bond of peace. We cannot do that if we identify more strongly
with our natural families and cultures than we do with the Lord Himself, outside
the camp!” Listen to Howard’s teaching for
Prayer for Israel - UK, based upon Jn 6:66 and Rev 3:8, keeping Yeshua's/Jesus' word and
His name. It is about 36 min long.
I also loved Howard’s comments on A recent survey in the U.S. shows that young evangelicals are weaker in
their support for Israel than their parents: “When God's word is replaced or
made void by humanistic and demonic indoctrination, the outcome is a falling
away from a consensus of truth, and of right from wrong, good from evil.”
And on Israel’s new government: “It
can be said that this government is truly representative of all the people
(except, maybe, for the ultra-orthodox religious sector which has always had
excessive control of the purse and of the Ministry of Interior, and some of
whom are not even Zionists, meaning that they do not accept the legitimacy of
the country either!).
While having been a remarkable PM for the
last 12 years in many respects, "always" able to remain in power, Netanyahu
did nothing to ease restrictions on the Messianic believers and evangelical
Christians here in Israel, particularly with respect to immigration and visa
permits. One of my
prayers four months ago 'inspired' by the Biblical origins of Purim was that a new government
would be formed that would make it easier for Jewish believers to immigrate,
and for those Gentile believers married to Israeli believers to be allowed to
receive at least permanent residency status and freedom to work. It is still too soon to know if this
coalition will be instrumental in that. See also Howard’s articles The Rise and Fall of Leaders, Political and Spiritual and The beginning of the last generation.
Aleksey Raikhstadt of the Beit Immanuel congregation in Jaffa writes
that in all the troubles we have been seeing in a short period of time, yet the
prophet Jeremiah declares God’s intentions to be "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and
a future." He wrote of setbacks (from Covid) and fears (rockets from Gaza)
that he spoke to his own children regarding: “Suddenly, I discovered that
sometimes I could not just simply tell my children that there was nothing to be
afraid of, that God holds us and keeps us in His hands. But the more rockets
were fired towards us, the more we saw God's protection and peace come to the
hearts of our children. As soon as the attacks were over, the streets were
filled with people, as if nothing had happened.” The promises of God we learn
from our own journey through the threats and hardships we each face. Aleksey
writes, “ Dear friends, I want to thank you for your prayers and support….I
thank God for each and every one of you and that we have the privilege to do
God's will here on the Earth together. Please tell us how we can serve you and
pray for you. With much love in our Messiah Jesus.”
Avi Mizrachi of the Dugit Messianic Outreach Center in Tel Aviv, and also the
Adonai Roi congregation writes, “Perhaps 50 miles from where I am sitting right
now, Yeshua (Jesus) looked out over the crowd around him and He had compassion
on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
He said to his disciples, "The
harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew
9:36–38 NIV.
We know it is true, but it is
startling to think about living in a place where we could say that Jesus looked
out over a crowd not 50 miles from where we are sitting at home. Israeli
believers have the most unusual circumstance of all to be living in the Land
that Yeshua walked up and down in 2,000 years ago and where He will return to
the nation’s capitol to take His throne of the Kingdom. And yet, it is still a land filled with people
who still reject their own Messiah as a foreign, Christian god that has nothing
to do with them as Jews. I know that many Christians hear the verse Avi quoted
above from Yeshua, and they hear it as a clarion call for Christians to come to
Israel to labor in Israel’s spiritual harvest fields. It is a clarion call to
help provide for the laborers that are already there and simply impeded by the
lack of funds to enter full time ministry. It is the same lack that impedes
those who are already in full time ministry from being able to do all the
outreaches God has given them vision for to reach the Israeli people...people
who are really more open today than ever before in history to hear the truth
about the Israeli Messiah Yeshua.
My own deepest prayer is that
Christians will hear Jesus’ appeal to all His disciples – "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of
the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" – and
hear His call to us to send provision for the workers to go into His harvest
field in their own Land.
Some of the ways you can help provide the Mizrachi’s labors is by
supporting their ministry in the Daughters of Zion Women’s Conferences, in
their Distribution Center serving those in need, for support to victims of
recent attacks. “These days we are seeing so many new needs and so many new
opportunities here in Israel—the harvest is truly plentiful! Please give now.” "I
tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for
harvest." John 4:35 NIV
Urgent HEALING Needs: Life and Death is in the power of the tongue
Please keep in prayer
the Israeli believers who are fighting for their lives or other urgent health
needs:
Pray for Ronit Bender
whose heart arrhythmia sent her to ER! She is home now with new
meds but still needs our prayers | Pray for Carolyn Hyde whose left hand is so pained she can no longer play
guitar and it is also sometimes painful to play piano | the Silvers: David's knees and Josie's
back pain | Rachel Netanel is still recovering from a broken ankle. She asks for healing & for the pain
to subside. Her ankles were weak already, so the process is slow and painful| A
prayer request for Naomi, for a dear family that is a part of Israel Pochtar's pastoral team, who
was diagnosed with colon cancer. "Despite what this battle entails, we are
confident in God’s unfailing Word and promises." Read in her own words| Please continue to pray for Jacob Damkani for the LORD's mercies over Jacob and
his dear wife, Elisheva | Dov Bikas – I have been very tired these days: probably as a
result of a combination of factors: my age, stress of the days of running to
the bomb shelter, work load in the ministry, etc. Olga is getting better slowly, but
still has a long way before her, so please keep praying.
THANK
YOU to those who support this ministry with donations.
♥
I’m on PayPal search: donna@israelprayer.com or PayPalMe/DonnaDiorio
Or by postal mail make donations
payable to the order of Donna
Diorio P O Box 111302
Carrollton, Texas 75006 | I do not have tax exempt status.
