WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 6/7/2017

Priority Prayer Focus Jun 7, 2017

KehilaNews.com  Kehila (K’hee-lah) is a Hebrew word that means community or congregation.Kehila News is an online community news and information portal by the community (kehila) in Israel, about the community (kehila) in Israel, and for the community (kehila), both in Israel and around the world. Our vision is to connect the millions of Christians around the world who love Israel with the Messianic community in Israel. KehilaNews.com  Donate  to this important resource here  Click on the picture or Title to link to the story.

I believe this is such an important thing for Christians to know and understand about the believers in Israel that I am reprinting this article written by the Kehila News Staff at the front of Arrows from Zion this week. I am 100% FOR Israel, but even Israel has lots of areas that need improvement and the exclusion and attempted exclusion of Jewish believers in Jesus is one area that we must draw a line in sand about. In prayer and in voicing our concerns to the Israeli government without hesitation or apology.

Discrimination? Messianic believers’ struggle for citizenship in Israel | KehilaNews.com | 

When Israel’s prime minister boasted last month that the Jewish state is “committed to the freedom of all faiths and to the rights of all,” many Messianic Jews trying to make aliyah were left wondering how exactly their faith fits into this picture of democracy and tolerance.

“Throughout the Middle East, Christian communities are decimated, minorities persecuted. But here in Israel, we’re proud to have a growing and thriving Christian community, and we guarantee the rights of all,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said upon welcoming U.S. President Donald Trump to Israel.

Yet several Jews who believe that Yeshua is the Messiah are systematically being denied the right to immigrate to Israel because of their faith, several Messianic Jews contend. As one of them noted when he heard Netanyahu’s speech, “We could only think, ‘unfortunately the rights of all are not yet guaranteed, Mr. Prime Minister.’”

The Ministry of Interior is notorious for barring Jews who believe in Yeshua the right to immigrate. With strict laws for making aliyah, Israel nevertheless actively encourages Jews from around the world to consider making the Jewish state their home. Jews who immigrate receive a benefits package to help them start off here including discounts on major purchases such as homes and cars, tax reductions on their income for a few years and free Hebrew classes.

A person must be able to prove with certain documents that they are Jewish or that they are descended from at least one Jewish grandparent. Then, under the Right of Return, they may move to Israel and receive citizenship. However, Jews who believe in Yeshua are deemed “Christian” and are no longer eligible for citizenship — even if they have proven their Jewish lineage.

While there are a few cases of persecution against believers in Beersheba and recent protests in Dimona, several Messianic Jews trying to make aliyah are still fighting for their status to live here in long, drawn out appeals processes and court cases.

This kind of blatant discrimination must not be allowed to continue … the rights of an entire segment of Jews ARE being trampled. A few whose immigration applications have been rejected by Israel’s Ministry of Interior shared their stories with KNI on condition of anonymity because their cases are ongoing.

“I am sure that Prime Minister Netanyahu is unaware that a handful of people who work for the Interior Ministry are not living up to that statement – at least where it concerns the rights of Messianic Jews who were born of Jewish parents,” C., who is an Israeli Jewish citizen, told us. “These corrupt officials are purposely withholding the right of my son, whose late father was also an Israeli citizen, to live here, in the land of his forefathers.”

“It would be right and proper for our prime minister to be informed of this and to make sure that the rights of all Jews — irrespective of their personal faith beliefs — are legally and morally granted. My son is a Jew by birth, and, as such, he must be allowed to immigrate to his homeland simply because the law says that Jews, the children of Jews and even the grandchildren of Jews are eligible for citizenship,” she continued. “Political and religious views of such individuals is neither the business of the State nor something which makes them ineligible for the Law of Return.”

Jews in all democratic nations of the world are free to believe whatever they want or nothing at all. Not in Israel!

J. and his wife had all of their papers in order to make aliyah and waited on an answer for months. They purchased a home in Israel and set out to serve their community, living off their savings and not intending to burden the state. Finally the response came from the Interior Ministry.

“’You were denied citizenship because you belong to Messianic Judaism, which is an exception to the Law of Return,’ This in spite of the fact that we are 100 percent Jewish,” J. said. “It was not what we had expected.”

J. noted that Jews, in all democratic nations of the world, are free to believe whatever they want or nothing at all. Even in Israel a Jewish person can be involved in New Age, Buddhism, atheism, etc.

“But believe in Yeshua? You’re labeled a ‘dangerous missionary’ and various anti-missionary organizations will work hard to find you out and then keep you out,” J. said. “This, Mr. Prime Minister, is not our idea of guaranteeing the rights of all. Perhaps, now is the time to uphold the words that you proclaimed to the president of the United States of America.”

J.’s lawyers are pessimistic about them receiving citizenship despite a years-long appeals process.

We felt as if we had been violated and that we were criminals

In another case, A., who is an Israeli Jew, and her husband who isn’t Jewish, were called in by the Interior Ministry. They were split up and their phones taken from them and then interrogated separately as to which congregation they belong and whether A. shares a “foreign faith” with her husband.

“We obviously felt as if we had been violated and that we were criminals,” she said.

The questions included what they do on the weekends and names of their friends.

“Everything that we said was being written down, and then we were requested to sign what they wrote,” she said.

The people interviewed here, and others not mentioned in this article but encountering the same treatment, are understandably drained and discouraged.

“We committed ourselves to give and not to take – of our time, our talents and our finances,” J. told us. “We’re not here to try to change the laws of the land. We are just requesting some form of status so that we can remain here and continue to serve individuals and families in our city.”

C. concurred and said it’s about time the Ministry of Interior live up to Netanyahu’s words.

“This kind of blatant discrimination must not be allowed to continue,” she said, “because it means that the rights of an entire segment of Jews are being trampled upon.”
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Please keep this as a Priority Prayer focus. One reason to do so is because the blessing that the LORD has for Israel is deposited in the believers of Israel. Out of the BODY of Messiah in Israel will flow the blessing out to the whole nation.

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Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel
Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.

If we could point to one core scripture motivating the Israeli ministries, I think it would be the one shared by the Hasdey, or Mercy of Yeshua congregation in Arad this week: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”...And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Yeshua said to him, Feed My Sheep."  John 21:17  

As they write, "Feeding Yeshua’s sheep involves much more than just proclaiming the Good News. ... during Yeshua’s ministry on earth, He fed the multitudes, healed the sick, raised the dead and proclaimed Good News to the poor. If we are truly His disciples, we are called to live our lives in the same way, showing the love of God through meeting people’s physical needs and their spiritual needs through helping them come into a relationship with Yeshua."

The congregation writes about their several year outreach to a Bedouin tribe near to Arad with care in various forms - after school programs for the children, food, clothing and other practical help. They also write that they have to go to the tribe because "The needy won’t come here; they would become targets for the ultra-orthodox." Do you see what they are up against?  Read their full report and critical prayer requests inside the Weekly Summary attachment         

Maoz weekly ministry letter for Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram starts with the disappointing news that President Trump did not move the US Embassy to Jerusalem as promised and hoped for, but instead signed the 6-month waiver. They note that the Israeli Prime Minister also has some critical decisions in front of him, like whether or not to build new neighborhoods in Judea and Samaria. Read about these inside the Weekly Summary attachment along with suggested prayer points.

From the Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem, Ofer Amitai, Eliyahu Ben-Haim and Chuck Cohen, we have pulled four key prayer points from their Friday Prayer Points: Salvation of Moslems during the month of Ramadan, Salvation of Israel (in light of the death of an Israeli evangelist in Iraq), and for the Aliyah of Jews to Israel: "Ezekiel 36 suggests that Aliyah is a precondition for the fullness of salvation which is to come among the Jews.  "For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean."  Ezekiel 36:24-25" Lastly for the Scottish Israel Prayer conference several of them are participating in before the UK elections.

Asher Intrater of Revive Israel has been overflowing with the theme of Alignment for a couple of years now. If you follow his video teachings, you've probably caught that. Here is a video on the subject from the recent Baruch HaBa tour of Revive Israel and Tents of Mercy. (An excellent tour which I took in 2005). Asher also has an article, Aggressive Fruit of the Spirit.

Also featured in the Revive Israel ministry letter this past Friday is Moti Cohen's short piece about Far Mitzvah, Son of the Commandment. Read it inside the Weekly Summary attachment. Also Cody Archer shares in this video what the Revive tem have been up to all over the world in the past year - and what's coming next: International Outreach Report            

Fresh of their 21st Galilee Worship Gathering, Arni and Yonit Klein are really excited about what God has been doing among them and inside the Weekly Summary attachment, Arni shares a couple of prophetic intercession experiences they've have had in these gatherings - in the most recent a worship trip to the Dead Sea. You can read about upcoming gatherings in their prayer letter inside the Summary, also about upcoming ministry trips from Hong Kong to Vietnam.

We loved the panoramic photo of the entire congregation that Peniel Fellowship in Tiberias sent us (and you can view inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries). Wow! What a thriving community of believers of Yeshua! Daniel and Shirya Yahav lead the Face of God Fellowship and they share some of the recent testimonies within their congregation, also asking prayers for one of their newborns, a baby girl who has already undergone heart surgery at only a few days old. Shirya also asks prayer over Daniel and their family as he goes out into the nations to minister. Also, they are continuing to need prayer and support for a larger congregational facility.

Shirya also writes, "We continue to desire your prayers for the salvation of Israel. Many are hungry and seeking but unfortunately the New Testament is still considered much of a Taboo, and a forbidden book. Amazingly, there is a lot of eastern religions becoming more and more popular among our people, but believing in Yeshua, from the line of David, whom the Bible speaks about, is considered a false religion…  We need God to pour out His spirit and open the eyes of people to the truth!"

Ronit Bender in Carmel has just returned from a 3-week ministry trip in the US putting Israel in the spotlight in Colorado and Rhode Island. Ronit writes, "When I go out to the nations it is a great honour to have the opportunity to share first-hand about what is happening among the Messianic congregations in Israel. You probably realize that mainstream news concerning Israel is often adverse and distorted. The media is rarely supportive of us. So, when Christians hear what’s happening on the ground, their eyes and hearts are opened. Messianic congregations in Israel are very grateful to you, our Christian friends around the world, as you are our only friends. Thank you for standing with us. God sees you’re your steadfastness and I believe He will lift you up." Read about her trip and for plans already underway to return later in 2017 inside the Weekly Summary attachment              

On Jerusalem Day, Israel Pochtar reports that they were able to baptize 30 new believers in the Jordan River. He writes about the experience inside the Weekly Summary attachment. "....It is also crucially important to recognize the times in which we're living and understand that the Gospel has to be preached to the nation of Israel. We see with our own eyes the massive harvest that is ready to be reaped. The time is now! We shall pray and preach the Kingdom of God in this nation, until we have prepared this land for the glorious return of the King of Israel, the eternal hope of our nation - Yeshua."

They also share a new way to give with a vehicle donation program to assist those in need. See details inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Also, if you are in Israel and need an intensive course in Hebrew, the Yuval Messianic Worship Center is going to have just such a program beginning in July. Watch this VIDEO LINK and get contact information inside the Weekly Summary attachment               

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Tribute to Anthony Simon, Israeli Pastor and Evangelist

Died May 29 in car accident while ministering in Northern Iraq (Kurdistan)

Israelprayer thanks friends and subscribers in South Africa for alerting us to the tragic fatal accident of this Israeli evangelist as he was ministering in Kurdistan. We want to pass along this wonderful tribute to Anthony Simon written by Karen Faulkner for KehilaNews.com.  Anthony, who was 53, leaves behind a wife, Donna, and their children Josh, Yoel and Rachel. Please read this tribute and prayerfully consider making a donation to the support of Antony Simon's family at a crowdfunding page to help following his sudden death.

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Urgent HEALING Needs
Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary to keep in prayer the Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs including the fight for their very lives: 

New report on Lura Beckford whose kidney is enflamed and painful. She is getting an ultrasound and asks prayer.  | David Ortiz who was hospitalized for Pericarditis in March for 3 days. He is healing slowly - pray for full recovery and healing for this heart disease. Also for Ami Ortiz who must undergo another surgery for one of his ear drums| HaMaayan congregant Danny Meyuseff suffering poor health on several fronts | PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYER FOR for healing  for David B., the wounded soldier/worship leader from Beer Sheva congregation, Olga Bikas, Esther Ridings Moore for cancerous tumor to yield to treatment and prayer with full healing,  Ruth Nessim,  Eddie Beckford | PRAY for RECOVERY of Patti Juster, Eddie Santoro, Gila in Arad, Cookie, Howard Bass, | LONG TERM BATTLES |  David Stern,  David, Leah and Ami,  Moshe M.;  the son of an Arab pastor, Ghazi, who is suffering from Leukemia. Michael E, Claude Ezagouri; Baruch & Karen Maayan, Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K; PLEASE PRAY ALSO for all the caretakers.

Praying the Headlines

Inside the attached Weekly Summary, Martin Sarvis in Jerusalem writes about US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley's 3-day visit to Israel which began today. Israelis are grateful for Haley's strong Israel support in the UN and looking forward to her first official visit as UN Ambassador. Read the news and the prayer point, as well as Sarvis' comments on the Czech Republic Parliament recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel, inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Teaching Articles

Refusing to Love the Truth
by Dan Juster, Restoration from Zion www.tikkunministries.org

Our young adults are brought up in a culture that does not pursue truth. We are in great danger because this orientation prepares the way for the Anti-Christ: "They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" (II Thessalonians 2:10, NIV). Over the decades I have found that if a person can be brought to the place of asking God to reveal the truth, and then orient to study and seek the truth, the person usually becomes a believer in Yeshua.  Read more online

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 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
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