ARROWS from ZION

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Arrows from Zion 5/8/2019

As I write it is Memorial Day for Israel, but Hananya Naftali shared
this poignant picture days ago noting, "These Israeli children
mistakenly thought that the rocket siren is the Memorial Day's siren,
so they stood still in honour of Israel's heroes.

Israel @ 71

and we know the warfare is not over by a long shot

The Leaves Us with a Choice to Make

As Israel is entering its 71st anniversary as a God-restored modern nation, we have a choice & I believe it is one of the most important ones you can make toward Israel. You can either respond to humanitarian needs of Israel via the well-funded appeals of unsaved Israeli organizations, or you can make a humanitarian donation to any one of the Israeli ministries who are ministering to Israel spiritually.

The believers featured in this trio of prayer summaries are laborers for the kingdom of Yeshua AND they are doing humanitarian outreaches to the distressed and needy of their own Israeli communities. Does that matter? Of course it matters! It always matters that when the Good News goes forth across a land that the people of that land see the witness of Yeshua coming from their own kind. That is especially true of Israelis.

So why do so many think bypassing the Israeli believers as our main conduit for blessing Israelis is a good idea? Why do so many defend giving to the unsaved rabbi's organization, when in life he was deeply opposed to Jews in the faith of Yeshua? Why would so many rather align themselves with humanitarian donations to Israeli organizations who do not know Jesus and do not bless any Israeli Jews who do?

For that matter, why would you rather gather your news from religious Jewish sources than from the many great sources of the community of faith in Yeshua in Israel? Even the international Messianic Jewish community leads by bad example on this. Why teach your congregations to look to Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox news analysis when we have so many excellent Israeli Messianic News Sources to look to?

Do you not know that among the estimated 20,000 Israeli Jews of faith in Jesus that among them are a multitude of humanitarian aid groups, congregations doing outreaches & ministry to the distressed and needy, journalists, news gatherers - and all of it done as the body of Messiah in Israel? Well you do now. Start seeing Israel through the eyes of Israeli believers, and start donating to those who are building the spiritual kingdom even through their mercy, helps and healing ministries.

The listing of some - not all - of the choices you have of Israeli Ministries (Find listing available in Arrows email) that are doing the work of ministering to the practical and spiritual needs of needy and distressed fellow Israeli neighbors and communities. This is how the house of the LORD is increasing in the land of Israel.

Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com

Obviously, we started receiving a lot of urgent prayer request emails last Saturday (5/4) as Israel came under non-stop rocket barrage from Gaza which continued through Monday (5/6). The first email we received came from Michael and Dina Beener, who pastor the City of Life congregation in S'drot which is close to the border with Gaza, and which Hamas has nicknamed, the City of the Dead. It is a taunt, exactly like the taunts of Israel's ancient enemies in the Hebrew scriptures.

Rather that pass along each and every appeal for urgent prayer that came in over these last few days, I will choose several that give a good picture of the action and the anguish that took place, providing excerpts from each of the ministries we received from. Then the regular ministry letters will be shared.
One excellent real-time source of information is Facebook because many of the ministries post "breaking news" from Israel there. I also have a 100% Israel-oriented Facebook page where I re-post what Israeli ministries post. Find it by Facebook search: @DonnaDiorioIsraelWatcher

Backgrounder | Boskey explains the 4 basics: Who, What, Where & WhyAvner Boskey, David's Tent in Beer Sheva: from The Day After (See also Mayday in Gaza) | In 48 hours a total of 690 rockets and mortars were fired against Israeli civilians by the Islamist jihadi terror groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). At 04:30 local time on Monday May 6 both jihadi groups unilaterally and anonymously announced a cease-fire. Source.

Michael & Dina Beener, City of Life in S'drot: ... It is also very important to pray during these two weeks for the security of Israel and the protection of the people, because next week will be Israel’s Independence Day celebration on May 8 and 9, and planned various open-air events, concerts and public performances and many people will be outside and not always near the bomb shelters. Psalm 122:6

Howard Bass, Yeshua's Inheritance in Beer Sheva: There is a sense that this sudden escalation is connected with the Israeli Independence Day this coming week, which for the Islamic and Arab world is the "Day of Catastrophe". ...As this weren't enough, the month of Ramadan begins for the Muslims tomorrow (Sonday) -- a month that generates strong religious feelings and threatens jihadi actions against unbelievers.

Sally Shiff, Intercessor & Liaison for Kehilat HaMaayan in Kfar Saba: ....If you are a friend on Facebook, you have seen the videos that I have forwarded from various sites.... Staying down in Zikkim two weeks ago gave me a new appreciation to life in the south; ever so peaceful and warm. People in the kibbutz and in Sderodt, are so warm and friendly. These very people have sustained over 10000 rockets in the past 12 years that I am aware. In adversity, there is a “strength” that I see, yet have a hard time to fully describe.

Evan Thomas, Beit Asaph in Netanya: The Israeli Air-force have launched multiple attacks in retaliation, targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad infrastructure and even the homes of their leaders. I have no details of casualties on the Palestinian side to date. It is safe to assume that it will be considerable given the densely populated Gaza strip and that missiles are being launched from within population centers.... Please Pray for wisdom and restraint on the part of all the political leaders involved – war is savage and indiscriminate and everybody suffers.

Sorko-Ram's Maoz Team in Tel Aviv: As of 2:30am last night, the rockets have ceased, and the quiet has been restored. But many Israelis, especially those who keep taking the brunt of these attacks every few weeks, feel that we are back where we started - with Hamas still undefeated, and with the next conflict just around the corner. We thank you for keeping Israel daily in your heart and in your prayers.

Martin Sarvis, Prophetic Prayer & Worship in Jerusalem: Some analysts surmise that the Hamas may have begun the confrontation, hoping to coerce Israel into releasing money-payments from Qatar into the Strip, banking on the fact that with Israel’s Independence Day celebrations four days away and the Eurovision Music Festival in Tel Aviv just over a week, Israel would quickly come into agreement to end the rockets. Nor did they wish to extend the hostilities into the beginning of the Muslim month of Ramadan which began today. As it was, Israel refused to acknowledge for over 24 hours requests from Hamas for a ceasefire; and then only ceased its attacks on terrorist infrastructures without officially agreeing to a ceasefire....It would be an extremely difficult time to enter into a lengthy campaign. For one thing, Israel does not yet have its new government in place.

Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ) in Jerusalem: 1.7 million Israeli civilians in the south live within range of rockets from Gaza. Pray for peace and God's protection. Watch this VIDEO of that reality.

Israel Pochtar, Beit Hallel & Voice of Judah Israel Ministries in Ashdod: Despite everybody being glad that calm has been restored, many have mixed feelings about the situation. On one hand, naturally no one here wants these escalations that lead us to practically live in war conditions, but also people feel like the situation has become unbearable, precisely because of how often it repeats itself, with a sense of inconclusiveness each time. That is our reality, unfortunately, always knowing that war is merely a matter of time and trying to live prepared for it. Damage this time around has been quite big, there are casualties from this round of fire, people were wounded, building and homes were severely damaged by rockets, including two kindergartens that were hit by rockets, fortunately it was empty at that moment. Now it is time to pick up the pieces again, and extend a helping hand to those that need it most right now. Yesterday, just a few hours after ceasefire was declared, when it was finally quiet and children were able to leave their homes for the first time in days, our team went out to local playgrounds in order to bring some joy and comfort to kids after they spent two whole days closed up in bomb shelters, hearing sirens and explosions. See VIDEO.

Orna Grinman, A Sign & Example in Modi’in: An Important Answer to Terror | Grief. A short word, that goes a long way. You are instantaneously flooded with feelings, thoughts, memories, attempting to take over the coastline you somehow created within yourself - your inner boundaries, even your sanity. A memory, a smell that brings back a memory from the past, then another sweet thought, followed by a painful...Click Title to read online

Here is a good place to phase back into the regular ministry letter news, with Eddie Santoro providing an excellent wrap of the past several days of war in Gaza.

Eddie & Jackie Santoro, Love of Yeshua in Jerusalem: We have experienced this very same scenario too many times before. The citizens of the south are crying out for change - how many times each year can they continue to be assaulted and their lives uprooted and their children traumatized by these missile attacks? And when it ends, it all seems as it was before. Nothing appears to have been accomplished and there are no significant changes observed.... Please pray for a new strategy to end this conflict. It is a difficult and complex situation... Pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu as the pressures on him are immense.

Eddie & Jackie note that on Israel's 71st Independence Day celebrations, the Jerusalem Ahavat Yeshua will have a picnic with the Tel Aviv sister congregation, Tiferet Yeshua. They also thank you for all the support during the past several years in Eddie's battle with brain tumors. Keep praying, believing & holding the Santoro's up in prayers and finances. May God extend Eddie's life as a sign & glory to Yeshua.

Israel's Restoration newsletter from the Tikkun Global affiliated ministries has its April issue available for PDF viewing and/or download online here.

Also from Tikkun-TV, the article A New Holocaust by Dan Juster could not be more relevant to our times - especially as the US is responding to Israel's warning that an Iranian threat to the US (or US interests in the area) are imminent. Sec. Pompeo baffled everyone yesterday by abruptly cancelling his meeting in Germany and disappearing, finally showing up in Baghdad - all related to the Israeli intel of nefarious plans going on in Iran.

Dani & Luanne Sayag of the Carmel Congregation bring attention to the month of Nisan, also called "Aviv" which is Hebrew for springtime, as the head of the year and symbolizing the season of new life. This is the month that Israel was declared an independent state —the only nation God promised to restore among the nations. In a biblically significant area of Mount Carmel where Elijah defeated the false prophets of Jezebel, the Carmel Congregation was founded by David Davis, who has been with the Lord two years, as of this month. The vision to restore the altar of worship on Mt Carmel is being carried forward: from Elijah, to David Davis and now through Davis' spiritual son, Dani Sayag. These are the generations of the kingdom of God and how it is playing out in real time, before our eyes. Do you see this? To learn more of the Carmel congregation's doing in the past month and prayer points, Connect directly with the ministry or refer to the Weekly Summary, if you are a subscriber

Ron Cantor of Messiah’s Mandate in Tel Aviv is up to his ears in ministry - hands on, prolific in writing, videos, tours & he has time for his family, Tiferet Yeshua and several types of sporting activities. Whew! You have to admire the energy and commitment of Ron to make the most of kingdom business. One of the pluses of subscribing to Ron's ministry are the Middle East Updates that he shares news related to Israel. Here are some of the latest issue: NY Times runs outrageous anti-Semitic cartoon — apologizes — and then does it again! | Netanyahu: I will name Golan Town after Trump | Daughter of Israeli family that fled Gaza rockets hurt in synagogue shooting | Daughter of Israeli family that fled Gaza rockets hurt in synagogue shooting | Also, Info on the Up To Zion Dec 2019 Tour with Ron and Elana Cantor

Asher Intrater's Revive Israel in Jerusalem shares this article Restoring the Kingdom to Israel (Part 2): Yeshua will return; His kingdom will be established on earth with peace and prosperity for all nations, with its capital in Jerusalem | Video Our Challenges Today VS the Book of Acts (Part 1): Asher shows how Messianic believers in Israel are experiencing similar challenges as Yeshua’s disciples in the book of Acts | VIDEO What's Happening to Israeli Messianic Jews | Cody Archer with Mati Shoshani | VIDEO Yeshua Chai TV

Howard & Randi Bass of Yeshua’s Inheritance in Beer Sheva: writes about the invitation to share her story at an conservative Jewish synagogue that was extended to one of their congregants. Hannah Figueras, give her Dutch family's story during the Holocaust, when they risked their own lives to hide and save Jews being sought by the Nazis, even in their own home...."Our congregation, Yeshua's Inheritance (Nachalat Yeshua) has also been involved over the years with some of the Holocaust survivors and their children in Beer Sheva, but the primary person serving in this capacity prefers to keep it private. (Mt 6:3-4) There are other things going on as well that we do not always publicize, or at least not regularly. We are not very good at public relations! Our young adults continue to participate in wide variety of activities outside and beyond the congregation. "

Many Israeli ministries "are not very good at public relations." Communicating what is really going on in the ministry as they reach out into their communities is far beyond mere "public relations". It is really about the need to communicate the outreaches the congregation is involved in to supporters and that does not come naturally to all ministries. Some even view it as unspiritual, like bragging. Me? I believe it can all be summed up in this Bible verse, Habakkuk 2:2 "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, so he may run that reads it." Some of the second generation leadership are used to the first generation taking care of communications with supporters, but in the scheme of good leadership, this is also a skill to be developed: how to keep supporters informed of their visions and how they are carrying it out, so supporters can join them in running with the vision.

For more of the doings at the Beer Sheva congregation connect directly with the ministry or see in the Weekly Summary, if you are a subscriber.

Restoration from Zion is the personal ministry of Dr. Daniel and Patty Juster in Jerusalem . Dan starts the ministry letter with his most recent Asian trip for Toward Jerusalem Council II. Patty tells us about a 'Passover" miracle they experienced when grandson Rafi was found unconscious on the sidewalk with his skull cracked almost half way around his head! Rafi had fallen off a 7-ft wall and the head injury was life threatening. Praise the Lord he did not even have traumatic brain injury & after a couple of scary days began to show doctor-confounding improvement. As Patty writes, "The Death Angel passed over!" The Juster's are about to move into the ground floor apartment they have purchased together with their daughter Simcha's family. Their son-in-love, Jonathan Moore is the co-leader of the Ahavat Yeshua congregation in Jerusalem. Connect directly with the ministry to learn more or in the Weekly Summary, if you are a subscriber

From Tony and Orna Sperandeo of Congregation of the Wellspring in Kfar Saba (Kehilat Hamaayan) write that at the same time terrorists in Gaza began to launch rockets into the Israeli countryside, their intercessory team had been assembled to pray for the morning service. They were able to switch gears and intercede for protection of all the vulnerable people in the south. They invite us all to continue to pray as Israel begins to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the re-birth of the state of Israel. They also ask prayers for the upcoming Kingdom First conference, a 48 hour gathering of Arab & Jewish believers for prayer, worship, fellowship & studying God's Word, demonstrating the reality of the "one new man" the root revelation of the Mystery of Messiah. Also: For our next outreach in Tel Aviv next Saturday, as we feed the poor & the needy, ministering to the needs of the body & the soul. Reaching out to both Jewish and Arab population as well as foreign refugees.

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

CONTINUE to PRAY for the urgent healing needs of EDDIE SANTORO and Jacob Damkani | Ronit Bender is awaiting repair of leaking heart valve. Please pray that no weapon formed against all three of these shall prosper & that miracles of healing will flow.

NEW: Martin Sarvis has undergone arthroscopic surgery for a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. He will be in a shoulder/arm immobilizer for a month followed by physiotherapy to regain use of his arm. Since he needs his arm for typing and as a pianist in his worship leading at Succat Hallel, this is a significantly urgent request for successful surgery & fast, complete healing.

Ruth Nessim has several health issues, one of the most critical is her EYES which has sent her to the hospital many times. Please pray for Ruth in Nahariya| Olga Bikas’s health condition that seems to have become chronic, with no hope from the doctors for any improvement in the future. This, no doubt, puts an additional emotional and physical burden on our family. Please pray for her acute back pain. | Albert a Messianic leader from southern Israel, has had a successful surgery and an amazing recovery but keep praying for total restoration | Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and complete healing.

As Ron Cantor noted:
"Hamas kills Arabs, Israel mourns with them"

"You don't know even what it is to me that you came here." said the son of Zayd al-Hamadeh's, an Israeli-Arab, who was killed by Hamas rocket attack yesterday to Israeli president Reuven Rivlan.

"Why wouldn't I come, you're not an Israeli citizen?" replied Rivlin.

The GREATest AWAKENING

"For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their receiving of the kingdom be to the world
if not life from the dead?"

The Greatest Awakening: Every couple of years I hear about a known figure in the faith predicting a coming Great Awakening in the Church and in the world with millions coming into a massive revival of faith. As much as that sounds wonderful, Yes! and amen, I do not expect to see that BEFORE I see an equal revival sweep Israel.

Only by disregarding the signs of the times can Christians believe they are going to have worldwide revival while Israel remains the same. You may not believe that, obviously many of you don't or you would be helping the Israeli Messianic Jews reach their people with the Good News of the Messiah's identity.

As the Apostle Paul told us (the Romans), 11:14-15 "... in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their receiving of the kingdom of be if not life from the dead?"

Keep it context: Paul is talking about their rejection of the kingdom of the LORD meaning reconciliation extended of the world. He is not switching gears when he says that when Israel receives the kingdom by faith in Yeshua it is going to mean an outpouring of spiritual life to the whole world, not just to Israel. It is a given that Israel will experience life from the dead, but that's not what Paul is talking about: he is saying when Israel receives the kingdom of the LORD it will send parallel waves of revival across the world.

The acceptance by the Jews of Yeshua will mean life from dead for the world. That is not talking about the resurrection of the saints, that is talking about spiritual life from the dead for the unsaved in the nations.

There is a direct parallel of Israel coming to the knowledge of the LORD in the last days, and the church experiencing a worldwide revival like we have never seen before. If the Church wants a great revival to sweep our nations, we better start wanting it for Israel in earnest, so fulfilling our duty (Romans 15:27).— Donna Diorio

Donna Diorio
donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com

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Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Arrows from Zion 5/1/2019 In the Name of Yeshua Part 2

Continuing on the theme of the name of Yeshua.

This morning I had an email from Yonit Klein of Emmaus Way in the Galilee. She was commenting on my cover story last week in Arrows From Zion. Yonit wrote:

"I have never heard anyone else say this, but to me it is so obvious: how can we possibly understand Matthew 1:21 if we don't know His Hebrew name and what it means??? It was always a mystery to me what in the world that verse meant!"

This is what the angel told Joseph in Matthew 1:21 and the way most Bible translations relate His name: "She will give birth to a Son, and you shall give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."

But that is not what the angel actually said. How do I know that? because the name "Jesus" does not mean anything whatsoever. It is merely the Greek way of saying the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means Salvation.

Do you see this? We have stripped the meaning of His name by so clinging to the Greek form of the Lord's name and rejecting His real name as if it is some kind of bid to bring us into legalism. It's not that! It's about being so disconnected from our own root of faith and defending our disconnection. That's crazy.

After I got Yonit's email I looked up "the meaning of the name Jesus" on google. There is NO MEANING apart from the name Yeshua. Wikipedia notes it is "the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua. As its roots lie in the name Yeshua, it is etymologically related to another biblical name, Joshua."

So who was Joshua? He was the one to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land conquering the pagan tribes that God had not already cleared out before their arrival. I know that upsets the social justice sensitivities of our day, but God was setting apart a people for Himself - to be a people untainted by pagan beliefs and practices, influenced wholly by His own goodness, justice and righteousness.

Any study of the tribes of Canaan (Israel pre-Chosen People) reveals pagan tribes who committed "wickedness" and "detestable practices" - "Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants" (Leviticus 18:24-25, also see Deuteronomy 9:4-6 and 18:12.

So, in order to create a nation of set apart people for Himself, God made it clear that the people who were defiling the land with their sins, had to be conquered and removed. God even removed some of the inhabitants Himself prior to their entry, Sodom and Gomorrah are noteworthy examples.

So, having started with being disconnected from the name of Yeshua, how did we get here?

It is because the name Yeshua, or Salvation, in Hebrew is related to the name of Joshua, or Yehoshua. Joshua, who conquered the wickedness of the Canaanites clearing the land as God instructed him, was a type and shadow pointing to what Yeshua/Jesus would do spiritually in our lives: Yeshua would come into our lives to drive out the wickedness and detestable practices that defile our individual lives, so He can make us a people set apart for God Himself.

Many people including the social justice warriors today, think the God of the Old Testament is just a grumpy old God and that their own sense of justice, love and righteousness is far superior. It is only because they do not understand God, or the context of the Bible. They (we) are cut off at so many points from the root of even their own Christian faith and we don't even realize it because it has been going on so long.

Even something as simple as understanding and embracing the real name of Yeshua has the potential to right the ship of understanding that God has not changed, we have just become un-tethered from anchoring truths of our faith.

I'm not pushing for anyone to drop calling Yeshua by the name of "Jesus" - but it would be helpful if every Christian were familiar with His real name and not treat the name of Yeshua as if it is some cultic way to refer to Israel's Messiah and the Salvation - by name - of the world.

If any Christian believes that God has had any intention in replacing Israel with us, let this New Testament verse settle that for you: "He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and His kingdom will never end." Luke 1:33

Also remember what Paul said in his letter to the Romans 11:18 "...do not boast over those (natural) branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you."

All of history is pointing us in one direction, and that direction is the RE-CONNECTION to the ROOT. That is why the whole world is fighting against the people of God from recognizing that direction.

Throughout these past few weeks God has had my eyes focused on two themes: the Dis-Connect and the Re-Connect of the Church and the body of Messiah in Israel. I will be writing more about the historical Dis-Connect, but just this week here is more evidence that the Re-Connect is in progress:

Israeli Ministry leaders who are actively connecting deeply with the ministry leaders from the nations are now leading forth with great penetrating spiritual insight into the conflicts going on in those nations - like Shira Sorko-Ram's prayer perspective today on Venezuela, or Asher Intrater's teachings on "Beast Nations" like China, or Arni Klein's insights on Brexit. Because international ministry leaders are being drawn to join their hearts with the body of Messiah in Israel, the heart to heart connection is giving many of the Messianic spiritual leaders in Israel a unique spiritual & practical insight into the situations in the nations. This equips them to be able to direct powerful prayers over nations in peril such as Venezuela - for such a time as this! This is Israel through the Messianic Jewish believers in Yeshua, arising to be a light to bless the world, fulfilling God's promises: "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." (Gen 22:18). And "Nations come to your light, kings to your bright light (Isaiah 60:3)

Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com

Starting off this week with Arni Klein of Emmaus Way who has a prophetic context message about Brexit, Timing, Germany & believers in the nations seeing events from the spiritual perspective of what God intends for Israel. This message resonates strongly with me. Read it in full in the Weekly Summary subscription, if you have that - or here on Fruit of the Fig Tree So many quotable statements in this article, but I will leave you with a few:

"As the British believers are looking to God to bring them out, perhaps their lining up with God’s purpose might have a bearing on the outcome." And "God’s ultimate purpose is the same, whether pertaining to individuals or nations. ...His calling on the nations is connected with His calling on Israel. The meaning of being grafted in, becoming part of the commonwealth of Israel, i.e. commonly sharing and bearing all things with them" And "... as written in Romans 11:11, that the gentiles became custodians of the revelation of salvation for the ultimate purpose of the salvation of Israel."

Switching gears, next up are the Christian Arab pastors in Haifa of Immanuel Church & Outreaches, Pastor Najeeb and Elizabeth Atteih. They have had to let the Bible Bookshop go to another Christian organization, but forge ahead in their outreaches to Heart to Heart Ministry to Refugees and the Christian Soldier Center Ministry. In the ministry to refugees, they find a strong need for discipleship going beyond what churches are currently offering in Sunday services and mid-week Bible studies. What the families need is more heart to heart connection to lift them out of sorrow, discouragement and depression.

In the Christian Soldier Center, you must realize that they are speaking about a ministry to ARAB Christians serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. Their son Tino is one of these and has risen into leadership ministering to the soldiers. It was a natural for Pastor Atteih to be moved to provide more via the Center. They have a very challenging situation with a young Arab Christian soldier who is in legal jeopardy for protecting himself against villagers who didn't like his IDF service. The ministry could use your help in their outreaches. If you have a Weekly Summary subscription, read more there. If not reach out to the ministry directly to be put on their mailing list.

Ron Cantor of Messiah's Mandate made a heart connection with a pastor in Nepal who is about to hand over the ministry to his apprentice, and desires to bring his 12 main disciples to Israel before wrapping up his service in Nepal. Ron desires to make that dream a reality and is raising funds for these pastors who have very little income. To help www.standwithmmi.org and choose “Nepal Pastors’ Israel Trip.”

Also among the news from Ron Cantor over the last week or so, this article The Secret Jewish Holiday, No One is Talking About! and video of the second interview with Israel's i24 News about how Messianic Jews celebrate Passover. Here is the Passover interview and also the first interview. This is a big deal, as Ron writes, "This is the first time (that I know of) that an Israeli news outlet has given free rein to a Messianic Jew to explain his or her faith." The door is opening in Israel for Israeli believers to share their faith.

Kobi and Shani Ferguson & Family will be spending some of the summer months touring the West coast of the US and in Dallas. "We begin our trip the end of June at a conference in San Diego and plan to make it all the way up to Vancouver, Canada. We will also be in the Dallas area the last two weeks of July.... If you are interested in having us come please reply to this email: info@yeshuaisrael.com

From KehilaNews.com , here are a couple of items shared recently: A new heart: Grace and truth in biblical counseling by Dr. Katherine Snyder | VIDEO: Brad Show interview with Shira Sorko-Ram – “How Israeli politics affect the Middle East”. News from Kehila is they will soon be launching the new web site.

From the Maoz Ministries weekly prayer letter, Katy Smith writes about the troubles Netanyahu is having forming a government coalition - convincing political rivals to compromise for the sake of the nation. This is a major prayer issue because if Netanyahu is stuck with religious party coalition that will mean more aggressive persecution against the believers in Israel. Also raise the prayer alert level to counter threats from Israel's external enemies and that the Israeli govt & military will be prepared to meet all threats. "For the body of believers in Israel, and believers persecuted for their faith. Pray also that, in spite of heavy opposition, the Lord would make a way for believers in Yeshua to make aliyah. For our Arab brothers and sisters in Messiah. For Israel's salvation." Pray for all the Maoz ministry projects and personnel

Avi Tekel who leads the Tents of Mercy congregation in northern Israel sends us a praise report about their Passover outreach in their community: Please enjoy our 2nd VIDEO from our Passover distribution and join us in more projects like these.

Hasdey Yeshua congregation in Arad is asking for prayer over their search for a permanent meeting place. They write that "In many Orthodox homes there is so much attention to detail (at Passover) that the big picture is hidden." Which is why they share the VIDEO Yeshua is Our Passover Lamb! Please feel free to share the video (video is in English), especially with your Jewish friends who don’t yet know their Messiah. It is a clear presentation from a very Jewish perspective.

The congregation, whose name means "The Mercy of Yeshua" also shares a testimony of one of the workers in their ministry to the Bedouin. One of the Bedouin towns they minister in are known to be ethnically Jewish. They ask for prayer for their Arab Bedouin ministry, as well as the Hidden Jews among them.

From Revive Israel, Asher Intrater release there 2 prayer requests on Facebook Prayer Requests from Asher on meetings with Jews, Arabs & Internationals One is taking place right now and immediately afterwards Asher is flying to Ukraine for meetings. Also his articles Restoring the Kingdom to Israel (Part 1) and Tisha B’Av On The Lebanese Border. Asher's VIDEO The Love of God - Full Message and Cody Archer with Bassem Adranly VIDEO Islam & Christianity's Cultural & Political Clash

Israel Pochtar of Beit Hallel files a super report on Passover in the desert - April 2019, a 1700 people evangelism event in the Galilee that took 33 buses to transport all the participants to, and a successful youth camp with teens hiking in the desert for 3 days. At the evangelism event , "They had a chance to hear the gospel in a powerful way, receive prayer and close to 70% stood up to pray Sinner's Prayer," he writes. Pray for all these souls to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and faith as the ministry will now turn to followup.

Israel writes, " These type of events are an incredibly hard task, beyond the logistical challenges, the resources needed to lift a project of this magnitude, in Israel no less, it also requires long months of working with people through our diverse social outreach programs, cultivate these connections through genuine care, just so we can have the opportunity to bring them to an event we organize specifically for them. All with one goal in mind: to help each one encounter Yeshua and experience His redeeming grace and salvation. We are so thankful for your prayers! They are like God's powerful glue that often keeps everything together for us. Hallelujah!" Plus the good news that their long awaited permit to move into their newly renovated building has been granted!

Martin Sarvis also writes about the anti-Semitic cartoon that has sent shock waves through the U.S. and Israel —indeed to all places where Jews & the Christians who love them live. Martin's article is Ancient Tropes of Anti-Semitism Are surfacing in High Places. Among the paryer points offered are:
* That public and governmental outcry against pernicious publications such as the anti-Semitic cartoon in the NY Times will be so strong that they and other media in the U.S. will be forced to refrain from sanctioning them.

* That those nations which are moving towards allying with God’s purposes for Israel will be encouraged to do so. That intercessors of those nations will come into unity in praying that their leaders be not daunted leading them in a direction of blessing.

* That as ancient anti-Semitism has cloaked itself in intellectual circles as “anti-Zionism”, an awakening will take place among Believers that God has Himself promised to again bless and bring comfort to Zion. That in blessing Zion, we are blessing the destinies of the very locales within which we live!

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

CONTINUED FERVENT PRAYER for EDDIE SANTORO A troubling update does not stop us from believing for total healing in our brother /see update above; and Elisheva's good report last week for Jacob Damkani's rehab | Ronit Bender is home from the hospital and being watched for more definitive evidence of the leaking heart valve. Please pray that no weapon formed against all three of these shall prosper & that miracles of healing will flow. Ruth Nessim has several health issues, one of the most critical is her EYES which has sent her to the hospital many times. Please pray for Ruth in Nahariya| Olga Bikas’s health condition that seems to have become chronic, with no hope from the doctors for any improvement in the future. This, no doubt, puts an additional emotional and physical burden on our family. Please pray for her acute back pain. | Albert a Messianic leader from southern Israel, has had a successful surgery and an amazing recovery but keep praying for total restoration | Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and complete healing.

Praying the Headlines | Israeli News

By now most of you have likely seen the blatantly anti-Semitic cartoon run in the New York Times. Here's what you didn't know: David Lazarus gives a fascinating backgrounder on the longstanding anti-Israel issues at the NYTimes and why it exists.

The Jewish Roots of the New York Times' Anti-Israel Bias | David Lazarus, Israel Today | What most people don’t know is that the Times’ predisposition to unjustly criticizing Israel goes back 120 years, when a Reformed Jew bought the newspaper....feared that building a Jewish nation would call into question the loyalty of American Jews to the United States, and thereby foment antisemitism. They wanted Judaism to be an unobtrusive, non-confrontational religion, and to never become politically-involved or even associated with a national Jewish identity in a Jewish state.

Prophetic/Prayer Insight for Current Events Related to Israel

Signs of the times – connecting the dots by Avner Boskey, David's Tent

Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?’” (Matthew 16:1-3).

The present fast-developing explosion of multifaceted religious and political anti-Semitism indicates that history has moved up a notch to a new level – one which will morph into the most virulent of all expressions of Jew-hatred. ...The rise of unbridled anti-Jewish evil will not be easily stuffed back into the genie’s bottle. These are challenging days.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Arrows from Zion 4/24/2019 The Name of Yeshua

Once again I have more ministry letters in than I can put in one issue-watch for them next week

The Name of Yeshua

To many Christians, the name Yeshua is alien to them. They think it is weird for someone to call Jesus Yeshua. Really it isn't weird at all, because it is exactly the name His Jewish mother Miriam gave Him.

The name Jesus came about as the New Testament was written in Aramaic & translated to Greek where Yeshua became Iesous, or Jesus. But believe me, no one called Him Jesus when He was walking around in Israel because the point of His birth is captured in the name He was given, Yeshua means salvation.

I was reminded of this as we gathered with Tony's mostly Catholic family on "Easter" Sunday and a boyfriend of one of the granddaughters (new to our family holidays) got a quick giggling explanation after Tony ended the food blessing with, "In Yeshua's name."

Years ago, it was probably 1992 or so, when Tony and I associated ourselves with a local Messianic Jewish congregation. That was when we began to transition from calling Him Jesus, to calling Him Yeshua. It was for a very simple reason: because as weird as it sounds to Christian ears to hear Him called Yeshua, it is even weirder for Jews to hear Him called Jesus. That is because the history of anti-Semitic persecution that distances Jews from realizing He is one of them.

In their mind, Jesus is the god of the Gentiles, not a Jewish man born in Bethlehem, traversing Israel healing the sick, casting out demons and speaking of how to enter the kingdom of God.

Tony and I made the transition from calling Him Jesus to calling Him Yeshua, and it has become natural to us. It isn't anything we put on. Sometimes when I'm talking to a Christian who has no understanding of Messianic Jews in the plan of God, I will use the name Jesus, but I have to consciously choose to call Him "Jesus" instead of His real name, Yeshua.

For years at the family gatherings, Tony has always been the one who prayed over the food, and he does it in the name of Yeshua just like he does over our evening meals. It is as natural to him to say Yeshua instead of Jesus as it is for me, even though I am the one who carries the vision for the salvation of the Jewish people which the LORD gave me long, long ago.

We use the name that His parents gave Him — Yeshua. Not to be "accurate" but because we desire for the Jewish people to be able to see that He really is one of them. It is out of sensitivity, not out of some legalistic reason. Also, I want readers to know that I do not share this to pressure anyone to change from using the name of Jesus. It is only an explanation why my husband and I use the name Yeshua. — Donna Diorio

Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com

Avner Boskey tells the secret hidden in the Passover seder in his trademark mashup of humor and prophetic truth. Read Rough-riding against the gods of Egypt at his site

Ron Cantor talks about how the resurrection of Yeshua was celebrated through the Passover for the first three centuries until it was officially ended in 325 at the Nicean Council. See more on Ron's Facebook pg

Adding to Ron's info, I have included information from a Catholic historian who detailed how pope Silvester actually cut the Christian ties with the Israeli Messianic believers in 318. This is critically important because it is the account of the Israeli leaders appealing to Rome to resume the contributions to support their work among the Jewish people that the Apostle Paul established. This pre-dates what was done at Nicea, and if we must put the axe to the root, we cannot ignore the facts relayed by a former Jesuit priest named Malachi Martin in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church (1983). See more in the Weekly Summary, if you have a subscription.

Michael and Dina Beener, City of Life congregation, minister to the people of Sderot, that city close to Gaza so hard hit for years on end by rocket falling all around them. Please pray for this ministry who minister to the humanitarian and spiritual needs of the people of Sderot, also helping them with psychological and emotional assistance. If you can help them with financial support, they would appreciate that too.

Evan and Maala Thomas are returned to Beit Asaph from their time in New Zealand and file a report on all that has been going on in their absence, plus the plans for the future. Evan is also in the midst of writing a book, and there are still many ministry travels abroad upcoming. They write, "Our absence from daily leadership of Beit Asaph gave opportunity for our coworkers Lev and Ora to grow in experience and confidence in their pastoral leadership. Together with a team of younger men and women who have been in training for several years, they provided a caring, stable, spiritual environment for the BA community in our absence. This has also given further impetus to outreach and new-generation leadership, for which we have hoped and prayed. Being founding leaders and spiritual parents of a community requires much wisdom and discernment, especially as we step aside in certain areas to give others the space they need to practice and develop the gifts God has given them." More in the Weekly Summary.

Chuck and Karen Cohen, of the Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem send their personal ministry letter which expands on topics they are covering more briefly in the IFI Prayer Points. You can read the full ministry letter online here. Chuck talks about the power of intercession, the distortion of history, the growth of anti-Semitism and especially Islamic anti-Semitism, among other topics.

Eli Ben-Moshe of the Ashira Project (along with Kobi & Shani Ferguson of Yeshua Israel Ministries) have a slew of newly produced music and videos from Israeli Messianic worship artists including Eli Haitov's new single, a 7-song album by Tanya Kadin, and a new single from Alix Riback. They also welcome artists new to their production company, Evan Levin amd Birgitta Veksler-Lundvall, you might know her 2015 solo album Le'an Elech. Also announcing: "We are really excited to announce that our entire catalogue is soon to be available on Spotify, Apple Music and more. This has been a long time coming and we are so happy to finally make our artists' music much more accessible to everyone." Please click to 'donate and play a tangible part in flooding Israel with Praise and Worship for the King!

Watch this video of an Authentic Passover, made last year at the first Celebrating Seder in the Wilderness put on by Israel Pochtar's, Beit Hallel and Voice of Judah Ministries. The experience was so profound that they held the traditional Seder meal on Passover eve in the desert like biblical days - and this was not an event for tourists, but for their own congregation and guests! How impactful! Other things Pochtar writes about are the Passover projects, outreach into their community, and also their leadership retreat in the Galilee over the Passover week.

From Avi and Chaya Mizrachi big news in the midst of Passover celebrations as their evangelistic coffee shop in Tel Aviv continues to attract Israelis. They make an appeal for donations to put toward the ability to bring on evangelistic staff ($8000 a month). If you can help, this will free up those people from secular employment to focus on the harvest field which is Tel Aviv. Eurovision will flood the city next month and the opportunities are wide open. They also have sold the 12th floor prayer tower in order to move to a location near the coffee shop. That will take $100,000 in renovations to complete. This is good soil in Israel's "sin city" - remember: That's who Yeshua came to rescue —the sinners!

KehilaNews.com Just a few selections from Kehila: The 6th Israel Business Forum – Experiencing Transformation by Lisa Loden | Are there differences between how American Evangelicals and Israeli believers view Netanyahu and his reelection? byJoel C. Rosenberg | VIDEO: Passover new beginning Dani Sayag, HaCarmel

Orna Grinman, who ministers about the Tabernacle, has a good word on her blog about the Table Vs. Stage. "Strange, for a stage, or BI-MA (the Hebrew word that describes a high place) is exactly where God forbids us to worship Him!"

Revive Israel Ministries sends out a month team report leading with The Esther Fast and Israeli Elections.
I was especially interested in the short piece, Alignment Round Table with Tikkun Global "God met with us in a dramatic way concerning the imminence and magnitude of the coming together of the world-wide Church and the remnant of faith in Israel, in preparation for the release of the greatest harvest of souls in human history."

Evan Levine, one of the new artists mentioned earlier at the Ashira Project, is also a worship leader at the Revive Israel congregation, Ahavat Yeshua. But that's not all Evan is doing because he is also the head of the HaTikva Project which is making a real practical difference in the life of Israel's believing community and also among the needy with projects like HaTikva Families | HaTikva Aid | HaTikva Dental

Click to learn more, and how you can be involved in practically helping Israelis through a Mesianic Jewish organization making a difference.

After 2 weeks in the British islands, Howard and Randi Bass returned just in time for the flurry of activity that always marks the biblical holidays in Israel. Howard gave a brief of their time ministering in Britain, and also put into a spiritual perspective the horrible terrorist murders in Sri Lanka: "We will experience more of this vengeance against the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us as the end is more in sight, just as the mother in labor cries out at the climax of her pain for the birth to break forth, and there is delivery and relief and joy on the other side." Soon (May 3) the Shabbat meeting at Yeshua's Inheritance will switch to Friday night gatherings during the heat of the season.

Sally Shiff sends notice of an opportunity to believers in the nations to open their homes to traveling Israelis just out of IDF service and seeing the world. She writes, "I wanted to pass along this information to you if you are interested in joining this and opening your home to travelling Israelis. The person in charge used to go to our congregation and is personally endorsed by Tony and Orna Sperandeo." Learn more at www.chiburim.com/english or by writing info@chiburim.com

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

Teaching Articles

In case you are not aware, Tikkun Ministries sends out a goodly amount of short articles via WordPress emailings from various of the Tikkun-affiliated ministries. Truly these contain insight and information you don't want to miss. Here is just a sampling of recent mailings. Subscribe by writing webmaster@tikkunministries.org for WordPress mailings
Alla’s Journey | by Martin Shoub, Tents of Mercy/Tikkun | This is an article that is helpful in understanding why Israel Messianic ministries have such an opened door to mininister among the Russian Jewish immigrants.

The Blood Cries Out | David Shish, Olive Tree/Tikkun | One day in worship at the discipleship training center there was a deep sense of God having brought us out of darkness into His light. As I asked what this darkness includes, I saw that one of the darkest things in us is the tendency to accuse and judge others. This is a serious issue and we must decide conclusively what our attitude will be towards others in this regard.

As Time Goes By | Asher Intrater, Revive Israel | We want to use our time wisely to make the most of it for the kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:16). We need to evaluate what we are investing our efforts in. Sometimes as we look back over years gone by, we can see what has been of eternal worth and what has not.

The Quest for Jewish Authenticity | Dan Juster, Restoration from Zion | The two most noteworthy developments in the Kingdom of God over the last 50 years are evangelistic progress in the Southern Hemisphere and the emergence of the Messianic Jewish Congregational Movement.

Sigid – An Ethiopian Thanksgiving | Avi Tekle, Tents of Mercy | On a high mountain top under the warm Ethiopian sun, swathed in white priestly garb, swarthy, dignified Kessim (Priests) stand before their people reciting melodically the ancient words of Ezra and Nehemiah

In Violation of International Law | Dan Juster | The land of Israel is the promised possession of our people. Yet since the days of Joshua son of Nun we have struggled to attain it. This struggle is in part due to the condition of our people.