by
Israel Pochtar
Since 2011 Beit Hallel Congregation has been facing a targeted persecution campaign lead by the anti-missionary organization Yad L'Achim. It all began with a mass demonstration they organized in 2011, when they brought busloads of orthodox protesters to riot outside our congregation, with lead rabbis encouraging further actions against us.
Since 2011 Beit Hallel Congregation has been facing a targeted persecution campaign lead by the anti-missionary organization Yad L'Achim. It all began with a mass demonstration they organized in 2011, when they brought busloads of orthodox protesters to riot outside our congregation, with lead rabbis encouraging further actions against us.
It
has been 9 years of systematic oppression, harassment and outright persecutions
on many levels, fuelled by a hate-campaign led by Yad L'Achim where they have
called time and time again for actions against us, declaring their goal is to
stop our work completely and drive us out of the city.
Their
systematic and targeted harassment has filtered down to many areas affecting
directly our congregation and ministry. We’ve been enduring weekly gatherings
of Yad L'Achim activists right at our building’s doorstep, with them shouting,
filming our people as they are coming to the service, intimidating children,
blocking the entrance and causing confrontations. We’ve had police called many
times, and it has been complicated to get them to protect our rights, until now
when we finally have the courts resolution.
They have vandalized our property, causing us great financial damages. They were caught on camera doing that and yet the authorities didn’t do anything to protect us.
They have vandalized our property, causing us great financial damages. They were caught on camera doing that and yet the authorities didn’t do anything to protect us.
Another
aspect of persecutions we’ve had to endure is the pressure Yad L'Achim have
been exercising within city hall. Due to their influence within city hall, they
have been able to get our permit to operate our humanitarian work from our new
building revoked. Hundreds of families in need have suffered as a result from
that, our work had to be restructured so that we are able to continue operating
our humanitarian outreach despite the obstacles.
Yad
L'Achim extended their influence and reach into local Ministry of Interior
Affairs here in Ashdod, resulting in putting in danger the
residency/citizenship status for several of the families that go to Beit
Hallel, one of them is our associate pastor Eitan and his wife Yulia, who has been
denied any kind of status and almost deported, despite Eitan having
citizenship. They’ve had to seek legal advice from a lawyer to help their case;
something that is out of reach for most people.
All
the avenues they have used in order to hurt, oppose, hinder and outright stop
us and our work has been arbitrary and systematic. They have not made it a
secret and publicly called the entire Orthodox community to join forces with
them in order to “cleanse the city” from our presence, using “any means possible…”
It can be read in a decree they signed publicly with 29 of Israel’s chief
rabbis.
They
have launched a publicity smear campaign in every possible media, trying to
recruit more support from the public and discredit us completely, making it seem
as though we operate illegally, when in actual fact they are the ones breaking
the law by targeting us based solely on our faith. All this and so much more
has driven us to take action due to this situation that has become unbearable.
We had to seek legal help, despite the high costs it would entail. God’s work cannot be allowed to be trampled in such a blatant fashion. We know this is not only our battle, this is a battle we are engaged in on behalf of every congregation and believer in Israel, because every court ruling, every verdict and decision will create a precedent for every congregation in Israel. This is a spiritual war we’re engaged in, and we have to ensure we prepare our “horses for battle”, because victory belongs to the Lord.
We had to seek legal help, despite the high costs it would entail. God’s work cannot be allowed to be trampled in such a blatant fashion. We know this is not only our battle, this is a battle we are engaged in on behalf of every congregation and believer in Israel, because every court ruling, every verdict and decision will create a precedent for every congregation in Israel. This is a spiritual war we’re engaged in, and we have to ensure we prepare our “horses for battle”, because victory belongs to the Lord.
This
past week we experienced an amazing breakthrough and victory in the court
against Yad L'Achim’s illegal and incessant harassment.
The
judge on our case determined that Yad L'Achim and anyone on their behalf are
not allowed to come within 100 meters of our building. They are also forbidden
from using loud music and dancing in order to physically block our entrance (as
they have been doing for months). They are not allowed to gather in larger
groups than is specified by law, as well as every protest of theirs has to be
backed up by permits from both the city hall, as well as the police (much like
any other legitimate protest in Israel).
They are forbidden from now on to film or photograph us and our people,
including children (which they did, illegally).
The
judge noted that while they conserve their right to protest and express their
“beliefs” freely, it was made evident their protest are done with the sole
purpose of disturbing our operations, and it cannot be allowed.
"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.” Proverbs 21:31
"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.” Proverbs 21:31
This
is such a significant victory and breakthrough for not only Beit Hallel
Congregation, but for all local believers in Israel. It is so crucial to stand
against injustice, especially when you know your rights and the law is on your
side. We have to “prepare our horses for battle”, so we can see God’s victory
in the lives of all local Israeli believers who are face religious oppression
every day simply for their faith in Yeshua.
We
know this is not the end, and we are thankful for this task God entrusted us
with; to lift up the banner of the gospel of Yeshua in Israel, while showing no
fear in the face of persecutions and ruthless opposition.
In Other News from Pochtar's Beit Hallel congregation:
Youth
Discipleship Camp
VIDEO | Believing youth in an unbelieving environment
ARTICLE: Celebrating Shabbat and Praying in Hebrew
ARTICLE: Celebrating Shabbat and Praying in Hebrew
Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Shani Ferguson starts us off this week with timely input about questions
she has been fielding in the Maoz Ministry as to "accusations that Israel
did not have freedom of religion. The honest answer is that Israel is the
freest plot of land in the entire Middle East. Everyone in Israel is free to
believe in Jesus, Buddha, Allah or a stoned version of Mickey Mouse.
Ironically, however, the Jews in Israel are the only group who will
experience less freedom—if they believe in the world-famous Jewish Rabbi
Yeshua."
She writes extensively in the Maoz prayer points concerning Freedom and
Democracy in Israel, and how that was jeopardized this week when the Ministry
of communications cancelled the Messianic Shelanu channel. She writes, "Though
the Messianic channel is officially canceled, the
issue here is more significant than TV. There are many other areas of life in
which powerful religious people manipulate in the background to get their own
way and shut down the Messianic Jewish community."
Shani (Sorko-Ram-) Ferguson also writes about "the very important
question all Christians must grapple with—“Should Jews be told the message of
Yeshua?” Find that in the July Maoz Israel Report
highlighting Church history as it relates to Israel. Also watch her Facebook
Live.
Sally Shiff is with the HaMaayan congregation in Kfar Saba, and writes
that the corona virus is still with Israel under strict quarantine and with no
visitors, and unable to leave the country. BUT there is still good work going on
as their intercessory teams are taking up prayer "for the
returning of the Jews back to Israel, for the new government to form, and for
the salvation of our nation."
Here
is how Sally says they are praying over the possible acquisition of Samaria: "If
this action is Biblically sound, then God will make it happen. BUT Is it the
right time or timing? (To everything, there is a season). Is it politically
motivated or Godly motivated? Israelis have never shrunk back from going
forward, we constantly live in a volatile situation here. This is still God’s land, and our prayer has
been if God opens a door, let no man shut it, BUT if God is shutting a door,
let no man open it."
She
also asks prayers for the estimated 90,000 who are looking to make aliyah in
2021 (3 times the normal amount!). Personally she is praying for her 94-yr old
mom, sisters and brother to know the LORD, and for a few surgeries she has
coming up.
Marianna
Gol of Streams in the Desert writes on behalf of one of the children her
ministry has been helping about the child was struck by a car and left with
severe brain trauma. Four years have gone by and her mother Ruth advocates
strongly for the girl, even with medical professionals who gave no hope for her
and did not want to take the steps to medically intervene. The girl is still
severely disabled but miraculously lives even in the words of the doctors. A
showdown came recently in the care facility who no longer wanted to care for
the young girl, so she has been discharged to her mother's care at home.
Marianna says the mother needs a lot of pray - for release of funds to care for
her daughter as they wait on a court hearing over the insurance making payments
toward the girl's care. Pray over the situation and for the many people -
widows and orphans they are tending to in the Spirit.
Hasdey
Yeshua, the Hebrew-speaking congregation in Arad are still in their
"Wanderings" - looking for a building where they can meet. Since I
first started this elist in August 2001, the persecution of this congregation
in Arad has been a constant. Every place they have met to worship, the local
ultra-Orthodox sect has come to harass and give them grieve. That is because
the area is heavily populated with the ultra-Orthodox (as is region around
Tiberias in the northern Galilee). They have been holding open air meetings in
the nearby forest, which removed them from harassment of the Gur sect, but that
ended when the govt mandated that any group wanting to meet at a
national park must submit all names, telephone numbers and ID numbers of
participants. We weren’t willing to do that, so the national park system is now
closed to us."
They cracked me up when I read about their adventures of meeting in a park near a horse racing track: " One of the horses broke loose and was galloping at full speed directly toward our teacher, who had just begun his message and had his back turned to the unfolding scene behind him. The owner of the horse was chasing him and yelling at him to stop, but the horse had no intention of stopping. There was no time to pray. Everyone just let out a collective gasp. But God was in control. Suddenly, for no apparent reason except Divine intervention, the horse veered to the left and missed us." A day in the life of the Arad congregation who just got an unexpected added layer of protection from the Gur sect harassment of them at their ministry warehouse: " The warehouse next to ours was for rent, and guess who moved in! A motorcycle club called Zion Riders. They’re big, tough, usually fully armed, and always ready to protect someone in need." On the back of their leather vests: ”God Bless Israel”.
They cracked me up when I read about their adventures of meeting in a park near a horse racing track: " One of the horses broke loose and was galloping at full speed directly toward our teacher, who had just begun his message and had his back turned to the unfolding scene behind him. The owner of the horse was chasing him and yelling at him to stop, but the horse had no intention of stopping. There was no time to pray. Everyone just let out a collective gasp. But God was in control. Suddenly, for no apparent reason except Divine intervention, the horse veered to the left and missed us." A day in the life of the Arad congregation who just got an unexpected added layer of protection from the Gur sect harassment of them at their ministry warehouse: " The warehouse next to ours was for rent, and guess who moved in! A motorcycle club called Zion Riders. They’re big, tough, usually fully armed, and always ready to protect someone in need." On the back of their leather vests: ”God Bless Israel”.
From the ARC (Aliyah Return Center) watch Chaim & Deanna Malespin's story, plus What is Aliyah episode 3 | Mountains of Ephraim. And Chaim's visit in Meet the Mayor as they met to discuss the ARC plans to renew the Jordan River Valley from new boardwalks to bringing back the original wildlife found in this area. They will be hosting an international fundraising festival for new immigrants to Israel in October. Learn more online.
Asher
Intrater of Revive Israel writes Running
From Trouble? and how we also need to look at our
general attitude toward adversity. Plus VIDEO Praise,
Prayer, Prophecy and Preaching from Jerusalem to the Ends
of the Earth. Today we have our Revive Israel Worship Team, Asher Intrater and
Ron Cantor teaching the Word. In August,
Revive Israel will begin an intensive, fulltime, 14-hour-a-day, 40-day training
program to strengthen and invest in young Israelis who yearn to grow closer to
God, connect with the Holy Spirit, grow in character and become more like
Yeshua. We are calling it 40 Days of Fire! Partner with us
Avner
Boskey shares Annexation
for dummies Will Israel annex up to 30% of the West Bank (including Jewish cities and
towns in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley) according to the guidelines of
President Trump’s ‘deal of the century?’ Will the PLO then establish a
Palestinian state in the remaining 70% of Judea and Samaria aka the West
Bank? Is this process a dividing up of
the Land of Israel spoken of in the warnings given by the Hebrew prophets? Does
the Bible shed any light about how this relates to Israel, the Middle East and
the future? What follows is rough seven-point sketch of the issues involved.
Kehila News includes Tuvia Pollack's
Shelanu
TV will shut down on cable – and reopen online and Howard Bass' Daniel
5:17-31 — The First Kingdom Expires
Cody and Liat Archer and family have begun their great adventure moving
on July 6th from the Jerusalem area to the far northern Golan Heights in
anticipation of ministry work they will be engaged with there as part of a
vision unfolding in a strategic piece of Israel's hard fought for land. Pray for
them and the vision that they are joining themselves to in the Golan.
Ronit Bender, past of the God's Vineyard (Karem-El) congregation in the
Carmel region loves to bless people she meets and those the Spirit impresses on
her to bless. She talks about this way of planting seed among people never
expecting someone to just give to them out of the blue. Spreading a little joy
among the needy is just as Proverbs 19:17 says, "Whoever is kind to the
poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done."
Ronit is praying for those she is meeting and blessing with a word along these
lines, "I pray that the LORD will breathe the breath of life upon you'...and
leaving it at that."
Ronit writes, In the 15 years I have been in the mission field of Israel,
I refused to have a website, sharing my testimony one on one. The Lord said
"now is the time," so here I am recording and filming my testimony in
Hebrew. It was an experience I will not forget in a hurry." The testimony
was with the One for Israel series which is shown on YouTube and Facebook. Please
pray for protection for me from the Ultra Orthodox as the video gets posted
where they can have access. She also shares this from a recent congregational
trip to the Galilee and Daniel Carmel's boat "FAITH." Daniel is the
only believer in Jesus on the Sea of Galilee. VIDEO Sea of
Galilee Worship Boats. You can read more
about Daniel here. During the visit they stopped at a restaurant of a friend, whose
place was heartbreakingly empty with no tourists in israel. She writes," I
have known "H" for five years and throughout those years he never
showed any interest in Jesus [Yeshua]. Yesterday he got saved!
Ron Cantor writes, SHELANU! “The channel that was too hot for HOT!” is
another update on all that went down over the Messianic TV station. Instead of
re-hashing the details, I will cut to this, the effort will all forth in their internet channel instead. Ron wrote, "Don't
be Discouraged! If you've been a supporter of this project, do not be
discouraged! God has a plan. He loves the Jewish people and has promised an
end-times revival to this nation (Romans 11:26)! Please continue to invest in
Shelanu TV and in our efforts here at Messiah’s Mandate to continue to make
powerful Hebrew content. I'm attaching a link to our latest video that we just
uploaded today (How the
Name of Yeshua became a Curse) It has English subtitles. This is a
spiritual battle, and it will be won in the spirit. We need your prayers and
intercession. We have an unbelievable opportunity before us. We even already
have a powerful slogan that we will use in advertising, “The channel that was
too hot for HOT!”
Lastly
we end with Chuck Cohen's Friday Prayer Points 7/3/2020.
The Torah
portion this week is "the story of Balaam, the prophet for profit! Although hired to curse Israel, God had other
plans and His will prevailed. | Shall I curse whom God has not cursed?"
Many important topics in Chuck's prayer points from TODAY including Israel's
unity government, the extension of sovereignty (there are many viewpoints on
what is good and what isn't. Good to read them all and pray God's will be done.
Personally, I say if 30% of the land could be given over to Israel's control -
take it now. God is going to give it all eventually, so if 30% is up for grabs
now, why not grab it? But God knows - there may be good reasons to just be
patient and wait for a better deal. Truth is, no one knows what is going on in
those meetings or what is on the table.)
They also give prayer points for Iran who has been saber rattling pretty
strongly lately against Israel and the US, and who has just suffered 2 major
blasts at two of their nuclear sites this week.
Despite our best efforts the Shelanu TV
channel was cancelled. As Ron Cantor put it, "Last week I shared with you
that it appeared that the Regulatory Commission was not going to answer us
regarding our license—meaning, we would just continue to broadcast, and they
would act as if we don't exist. That was OK with us. The next day changed
everything and set in motion a series of events that in retrospect was probably
a pre-planned conspiracy to shut down the channel."
But that is not the end of the story. For Shelanu, they plan to continue on the same course of providing a platform for the believing community in Israel only providing it online instead of television broadcast.
But that is not the end of the story. For Shelanu, they plan to continue on the same course of providing a platform for the believing community in Israel only providing it online instead of television broadcast.
This is not the end of the story either because the false accusations and trickery that unfolded to oust the Messianic believers from their TV channel is a story that must become more understood in international Christian circles. That is what this email list has always been about and will continue to be about as long as I am able. I hope you will seek out my article On "Loving" Israel in the July-August issue of the Messianic Times. You can get an online subscription for $9.99. (I get no kickback for recommending that, just so you know.) - Donna Diorio
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
URGENT PRAYER NEED A prayer
request for Naomi, for a
dear family that is a part of Israel Pochtar's pastoral team, who was diagnosed
recently with colon cancer. "Despite what this battle entails, we are
confident in God’s unfailing Word and promises." Read in
her own words, as she has been prepared for chemotherapy which will begin next Monday.
| Ronit Bender whose cardiologist told her that
her irregular heartbeat is SEVERE, and is suggesting further tests. Please
intercede for Ronit: No weapon formed against her shall prosper! | Olga Bikas severe back pain has kept her in "quarantine"
for the past 4 years or so! Please pray for God to do a miracle of healing for Olga. | Please pray for Rachel Netanel's brother who is
recovering | Please continue to pray for Jacob Damkani for the LORD's mercies
over Jacob and his dear wife, Elisheva | Continue please to pray for Ruth Nessim Critical prayer need she is losing sight! Prayers for a
miracle for Ruth.| Pray for Rania Sayegh who asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy,
and complete healing.
Donna Diorio donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
THANK YOU to those who support this ministry with donations. ♥
Donations appreciated | 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.
