Hanukkah & Christmas Overlap
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great Light"
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great Light"
Light of the World:
The Birth of the Jewish Messiah
The Birth of the Jewish Messiah
by Israel Pochtar
Tomorrow
The people
walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
How could anyone possibly say it's not a Jewish holiday if it celebrates
the birth of our Jewish Messiah, who was born a few miles away from where we
write these lines. Yeshua chose to be born here, so it would be impossible to
forget that Israel was his homeland, it was here that He chose to reveal
Himself to His own brethren - the nation of Israel.
We want to bring back the focus to Him, to the reason we live and breathe
and have eternal hope. It was because of what happened over 2000 years ago that
we are able to sit together tonight as families and celebrate what Yeshua's
birth means to us as Jewish people, as well as the whole world.
Praying you have a WONDER-FULL and blessed
time celebrating our Lord! May his light
shine brightly in your lives and families, not only today, but every day.
Shalom (eternal peace) from Israel!
Thanks also to Marianna Gol of Streams in the Desert
For this poem by Joseph Brodsky,
a Russian poet,
who was first imprisoned and then exiled from the Soviet Union.
He became US poet laureate and Nobel prize for literature laureate as well.
Joseph Broadsky was also a believer and wrote this poem in December 1987
who was first imprisoned and then exiled from the Soviet Union.
He became US poet laureate and Nobel prize for literature laureate as well.
Joseph Broadsky was also a believer and wrote this poem in December 1987
In the cold season,
in a locality accustomed to heat more than
to cold, to
horizontality more than to a mountain,
a child was born in a
cave in order to save the world;
it blew as only in
deserts in winter it blows, athwart.
To Him, all things
seemed enormous: His mother’s breast, the steam
out of the ox’s
nostrils, Caspar, Balthazar, Melchior—the team
of Magi, their
presents heaped by the door, ajar.
He was but a dot, and
a dot was the star.
Keenly, without
blinking, through pallid, stray
clouds, upon the
child in the manger, from far away—
from the depth of the
universe, from its opposite end—the star
was looking into the
cave. And that was the Father’s stare.
Summarized from the Weekly
Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli
Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Avner Boskey gives us the lay of the land — the back story to the
Hanukkah Festival of Lights, a biblical "holiday is mostly unknown to
Christians and also to most Jews." He draws the parallel for our own
times, with the rising mist of anti-Semitism over against how believers today
are like the Maccabees of Hanukkah "But the people who know their God will
display strength and take action."
I encourage you to read When glory
shatters the night | also his previous related article: Maccabees,
wanna-be’s and fake news – the real story of Hanukkah
Avner answers How should we then pray? — Pray for God to pour out the
spirit of grace and supplications on Israel during these Hanukkah season
(Zechariah 12:10). Pray for the God of Jacob to reveal His Last Days strategy
of Ezekiel’s army to many in Israel. Pray for divine courage to be restored to
the beleaguered Jewish people throughout the earth. Pray for the raising up of
Ezekiel’s prophetic Jewish army throughout the earth.
Shani Ferguson writing the weekly pray letter begins with "Poor little town of Bethlehem" laser pointing to the "deliberate agenda was set in place to radicalize the children" of now Muslim-majority towns of Bethlehem and Nazareth. The Arab Christians who used to live there have fled. Prayer is asked for God to deliver Arabs in Gaza and the West Bank from the leaders who are abusing them by teaching them to hate and destroy. Their leaders steal from the billions that have been poured in to help the Palestinian people, who live in poverty with little opportunity for anything better. "Continue to bring about unity for Jewish and Arab believers and provide opportunities to work together. Let Israeli Jews recognize the supernatural nature of this unity."
Shani Ferguson writing the weekly pray letter begins with "Poor little town of Bethlehem" laser pointing to the "deliberate agenda was set in place to radicalize the children" of now Muslim-majority towns of Bethlehem and Nazareth. The Arab Christians who used to live there have fled. Prayer is asked for God to deliver Arabs in Gaza and the West Bank from the leaders who are abusing them by teaching them to hate and destroy. Their leaders steal from the billions that have been poured in to help the Palestinian people, who live in poverty with little opportunity for anything better. "Continue to bring about unity for Jewish and Arab believers and provide opportunities to work together. Let Israeli Jews recognize the supernatural nature of this unity."
The Maoz prayer requests also includes: " U.S. President Donald
Trump signed an executive order this week that threatens to withhold federal
money from universities that fail to combat anti-Semitism on campus. The order
comes as the BDS Sanctions movement against Israel is on the rise and has
influenced several campuses across America. U.S. campuses have not only become
a “safe-place” for left wing causes but a breeding ground to turn young
students against Israel—America’s closest ally. We have not yet seen the full
impact from students who have attended and become indoctrinated in recent
years. But we are seeing the constant trickle of attacks against Jews increase.
Thank You for those who are willing to stand up for Israel against
injustice. Plus many other prayer ways to pray over this and also the 3rd
Israeli elections, Gaza Security and Hanukkah.
From the Hands of Mercy/Tents of Victory team, the commitment to continue
on in the legacy left by the passing of Yeshi Reinhardt to Yariv Goldman — to
"rescue and restore the lives of the 'lost sheep of Israel' and comfort
His people." Whether in S'derot to the missile-traumatized citizens or
ministering in Jerusalem to those who have left the insular religious
communities, the team is pressing into the harvest and deeply grateful for your
generous support. Can you help in 2020 by donating to their crowdfunding
campaign?
From Revive Israel: An
Undivided Heart: Part One by Greta Mavro: Ron Cantor VIDEO
Overcoming
Intimidation; Asher Intrater VIDEO The Path
to the Promised Land and 2 Facebook VIDEOs by Asher The Birth
of Messiah should be the greatest Jewish Holiday! and There is a
connection between #Christmas and #Hanukkah
From Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem, Chuck Cohen's Friday
Prayer Points 12/20/2019. Also The IFI
International Prayer conference in Jeruslam is quickly coming up 1/20-27 with a
post-conference tour from 1/27 thru 2/1. Click here for booking.
Just have to highlight: #10 prayer point: Chanukah and Christmas occur in conjunction with each other this year. The common thread – besides the fact that both celebrate Jewish events that occur in the Land of Israel – is light. This is a wonderful time to ask God to send the Light of the World, Messiah Yeshua, to enlighten the hearts and minds of many of His chosen people. "For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the presence of all people – a light to give revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel!" Luke 2:30-32 Lord Yeshua, wake up Your Body to see how "kosher" the birth narratives are. Show them that if You were not faithful to Your promises to Israel – Yeshua would not have been born
Evan Glasser who leads the HaTikva
Project writes about their HaTikva
Dental clinics, HaTikva
Aid for Israeli believers in the midst of financial crisis, and HaTikva
Families for adoption and fostering. "Help us
Expand."
Ron Cantor writes for Tikkun Global about the move of their US offices
from Maryland to Dallas - new address PO Box 535157 Grand Prairie TX 75053 for
donations, correspondence and emissaries laboring in
Israel. The move has been costly but it will save money in the long run. If you
can help now, a
special gift to get them over to the new year will greatly help.
Also remember that GOD TV has a matching funds in place up to $50K to
bless the Tikkun Israel Ministries in specific projects. Ron reports in another
email that they have one week left to raise $25,000 for it to be doubled. click to donate
New baby boy in the Malespin houselhold & the Aliyah Return Center is
dedicating its New Olim Home
Friday Dec 27 at 12 noon. Admission is free, lighting the candles & food
for purchase...also asking for help for the in Year End Giving Your donation is 100% USA Tax deductible
Ron Cantor writes "It is time for me to confess! I have been hiding
it too long: I love Christmas music!" Hymns like What Child is This? and Oh,
Come all ye faithful, but especially O
come, Emmanuel. Ron also writes about the birthplace of Yeshua: "What
if the traditional spot in Bethlehem is not where Yeshua was born? What if it
was just over the hill in the Israeli-controlled area. A few years ago I was
invited to tour this area. I was very skeptical. I was merely tolerating my
host. That is, until I was looking straight into a cave near Ramat Rachel (I
don't want to give the exact location) where baby lambs would have been born and
a holy awe came over me, as tears filled my eyes. Was I looking at the very
spot where Yeshua was born? I think maybe. Want to see the alternative
Bethlehem? Join us on our May 2020 Tour "
And: We are
still desperately in need of year-end help. Please consider a special
year end gift to reach Tel Aviv! Thank you.
PLUS Ron's Secrets
Surrounding the Birth of Messiah Pt 1 | Relationship
between Jews and Gentiles in the New Covenant Part III
Sally Shiff, from the HaMaayan congregation in Kfar Saba has had a great
year "Meeting new friends as I did on my last trip to the United States
and receiving answered prayers that have been waiting for years to happen."
One of those is the conference in America to teach other intercessors some
basic foundations of how to pray for Israel, and on May 1-2, I, along with
another dear friend and great teacher, will be team teaching a two day course
for those who want to know who have a
heart for Israel. It will be in Venice, Florida at a wonderful church that
partners with my congregation, Hamaayan.
A resource that has been of great value for connecting the Israeli
ministries and international Christians has a new email admin@kehila.org & website link news.kehila.org (no longer.com but now .org).
They are " a 100% reader-supported, non-profit ministry and in real need of your
generous support to continue. We have been operating for nearly 5 years on a
limited budget and minimal staff. Please prayerfully consider partnering with
us to help strengthen the body of Messiah in Israel online in 2020!"
Howard Bass of the Beer Sheve Nachalat Yeshua congregation writes about
their visit to Bethlehem to worship with Christian Arabs at the Immanuel
Evangelical Church pastored by Nihad Salman. This is a connection to deepen the
brotherly bonds that they have been doing for many years and Howard reports
that it was a "wonderful visit". "The name of Jesus/Yasua was lifted up, and the need for
us to remember that we are His lights in the world now, and our lives are to
speak that we are His disciples and family."
Some, mostly internationals, from the Yeshua's Inheritance congregation's
Students Group, were invited to sing Christmas songs t the Ben Gurion
University Students Center p a first here for such an event. They sang "openly"
-- and with a great proclamation
of WHY we celebrate from Samuel. Praise God!
We pray that some of the crowd will have been blessed by the words and
by the Spirit of Messiah to be more receptive to the truth and the wonder,
leading them to repentance unto salvation. Samuel's confession is on this Holy Night video, plus videos of O Come All Ye Faithful and Joy to the
World
Howard also wrote of family news, son Evan's 31st birthday (Randi's cake), wedding plans for Evan and daughter Tamar, plus son Tal hopes to study medicine - "which he has been drawn from all of the medical students he has met who have done their international medicine program here in Beer Sheva over the last 20 years." Blessings to all.
Israel Pochtar sends a great report on their Children's Hanukkah Project
sharing " God's love
with these families, while revealing the true Jewish roots of our Messiah
Yeshua. People left the event feeling so touched and it was evident that God
was doing a deep and amazing work in the hearts of these folks. The children's
joy was priceless to witness..."
On Dec 25th they will do Christmas and Hanukkah Humanitarian Project celebration. If you can help your donation would be so welcome.
On Dec 25th they will do Christmas and Hanukkah Humanitarian Project celebration. If you can help your donation would be so welcome.
Urgent HEALING Needs: Life and Death is
in the power of the tongue
Please keep in prayer these Israeli ministry leaders
and believers with urgent health needs
Shlomy Abramov is fully recovered from the outbreak
among the Israeli ministries of Asian Flu who participated in the Welcoming the
King of Glory conference, but we got word on Facebook from Rachel Boskey:
Avner and I were part of a wonderful conference last week here in the
land ... we were privileged to lead worship and enjoy excellent fellowship and
teaching. Many local Israeli believers and people from about 25 nations. Since the flu season is upon us, many people
left the conference and shortly became pretty sick ... including yours truly.
Turns out I
got influenza “A” also known as avian flu or bird flu. Last Saturday night I
went to the hospital with a high fever and the sensation of not being able to
breathe very well ... haven’t been this sick since having pneumonia almost 30
years ago. I’m so thankful for excellent
medical care at Soroka Hospital in Beersheva ... people from every ethnic
background you can think of ... truly top notch tender loving care
Hear the blessing video on Facebook
The masks we
are wearing in our house are at the advice of medical staff ... avian flu is
highly contagious and our lovely daughter in law ... 8-1/2 months pregnant ...
lives in our home with our son ... who did get sick but not as bad ... Avner
also didn’t feel well but he’s better. Glad to be on the right meds and to
slowly get back in my feet and looking forward to life in the goodness of the
Lord.
Please pray for all those who came into contact with this flu for healing and protection of their families.
Please pray for all those who came into contact with this flu for healing and protection of their families.
Please continue to pray for: Ruth Nessim Critical prayer need she is losing sight! Prayers for a miracle for Ruth.| Continue to pray for Jacob Damkani | Olga Bikas has longstanding severe back pain. please keep praying for Olga. Sadly, she is not getting better and recently she has even felt worse for a period of time. | Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and complete healing. | Ronit Bender says my heart valve is still leaking but my lungs are fine. I totally have peace about my health, although it is far from great. I still appreciate prayer, as I need it. Please continue to pray for Ronit
THANK YOU to those who have considered this ministry worthy of financial support.
Donna Diorio
donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
Donations appreciated | paypal.me/DonnaDiorio
Or look up on paypal: donna@israelprayer.com
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.
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
I do not have tax exempt status.
