Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Arrows from Zion 11/7/2018

This photo was taken by Barri Cae Seif in Jerusalem at the gate leading to the burial place of Oscar Schindler who saved many Jews during the demonic days of the Nazi reign in Germany. The gate is part of Israel's official recognition of Schindler.

Priority Prayer Focus 

In the Valley of Decision | by Donna Diorio | After what is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in American history, many are reflecting on that that means to them as Christians. For example, I was glad to see the article published in the Baptist News Global by Doyle Sager asking, Is the rise in anti-Semitism one of the Church's unpaid bills?   

"In these dark days when anti-Semitism is on the increase, some of us have been revisiting the life and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In the build-up to World War II and the Holocaust, Bonhoeffer was one of the first and the few to call the church to stand with the Jews.

"I take some comfort, however, in the fact that not even Bonhoeffer always got it right. His twin sister, Sabine, was married to a Jew, Gerhard Leibholz. When Leibholz's father died, the family asked Bonhoeffer to officiate the funeral. After agonizing over the invitation, he declined, a decision he almost immediately regretted (Eberhard Bethge, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, p. 209). Bonhoeffer was ashamed and wrote honestly about his failure, a reminder that we are all captives of our culture, struggling to get free.

"Bonhoeffer never forgot his mistake, and perhaps it was with that experience in mind when he told his seminary students, "Only he who cries out for the Jews may sing Gregorian chants" (Bethge, p. 512).

"As Christian worshipers stand to sing on Sunday, we would do well to remember Bonhoeffer's confession."
I also read the Eberhard Bethge biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the early 1990's. I was doing a search over a period of a year for what made the Church fail the Jewish people during Nazi Germany. Even though Bonhoeffer was not perfect, his example was the most perfect I found in that study as I was arming myself to stand strong for Jews in the future I was seeing in prophetic scripture.

Oscar Schlinder was also not a perfect person but he chose the thing that was right. When Schindler saw injustice rise against the Jews with his own eyes, he had great compassion on the Jews trapped in the horrors of Nazi Germany. After he died in Hildesheim, Germany on September 10, 1974 at the age of 66.  His "Schindlerjuden" survivors honored his request to be buried in Israel and arranged his burial there to honor all he had done.

The memory of Oscar Schlinder is blessed throughout the world for kindness toward people chosen long ago for God's purposes. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

We also see how the nations are making choices in our day to stand with Israel and God's Chosen, for surely God's intentions are for Israel's good, not for Israel's demise. We are living in days when anti-Semitism is rising and anti-Israel nations appear to be in the majority. This makes it ever so more important to take courage and choose to bless and not curse what God has blessed.



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


Daniel Juster wrote an excellent article which was posted on Facebook called George Orwell’s “1984”. I hope all will read it since politically, it is extremely relevant in many nations today.

Also, from Tikkun Global, and article by Paul Blake Does Ritual Law Exist? Part 3 and Asher Intrater on how to pray for the complex situations in the Middle East: I Timothy Prayers For The Middle East. From Ron Cantor, The Secret to Seeing your Prayers Answered. Plus list of speaking dates in the USA for Intrater & Cantor from Nov 6-18 & how to pray

Maoz Ministries continues Shira Sorko-Ram's series on Eliezar Ben Yehuda: Father of the Modern Hebrew Language | Part 2: The Visionary. Also asking prayers over Jordan's intention to take back farmland developed by Israelis after a decades long peace treaty with Jordan. Also asking prayers for the Ashdod Beit Hallel congregation undergoing a new, troubling persecution that goes all the way to city officials.  Prayer requests for the whole Maoz-affiliated staff-and healing for  Yacov Damkani, Albert and Juergen...Eddie to remain cancer-free.

Growing up in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, Rachel Boskey shares words about the Pittsburgh synagogue attack. Also updates on their activities to communicate the Gospel which are expanding with increased participation of their adult sons and their wives (see Signet Ring Media Channel).  In their summer US ministry trip they did two shows with Joni Lamb and her Table Talk program on Daystar TV.
All Nov the Boskey's appear in the US, see the cities and dates in the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries, or connecting directly with the Boskey's

Orna Grinman continues her “Back to Beit Lehem”  The Jordan Journey in Beit Lehem and Glue (10)

Ron Cantor of Messiah's Mandate & Tiferet Yeshua congregation looks at the recent election in Brazil of a conservative candidate that is being called the "Tropical Trump" for his conservative, Brazil First, God over All & Israel-friendly platform. Ron has input from Brazilian Christians who are thrilled with the election of Jair Bolsonaro.  Will he move the embassy to Jerusalem as promised?


The primary way that the HaTikva Project communicates its wonderful ministry work is via social media, catch them at HaTikva on Facebook.  The monthly email letter highlighted their Nov 10-11 initiative for "Orphan Shabbat" - it is a yearly global initiative to raise awareness for the plight of orphans and vulnerable children worldwide. They are encouraging many will to "join us in prayer, volunteering in children's homes, and engaging in their communities to demonstrate the Lord's love for those without mothers and fathers." Check out the video to hear more about Rishon L’Yatom and visit the website at www.orphanshabbat.org.

Ronit Bender in Carmel writes an update on her recent US ministry trip including stays in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Rhode Island.  In OK he recorded Deborah Sweetin’s weekly TV show that will be aired 11/9 & 11/16. Her last stop at Mishkan David had two poignant events, a congregational member who passed & news of the Pittsburgh attack breaking during the service. Read more by connecting directly with the ministry, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

The Kerem-El congregation, God's Vineyard, did an outreach during the Feast of Tabernacles to the International Film Festival which attracted tens of thousands to Hiafa. "Our group split into two - one group stayed in prayer and intercession for the team that went out, asking God to move in people's hearts, and the other group went to streets at the film festival to share the good news."  Also, pray for their new outreach to people in the psychiatric hospitals in Haifa. "It seems that God keeps bringing those who are struggling with mental health into contact with our congregation. . . .God put it on our hearts to visit those suffering from mental illness and offer them prayer and love.... Please pray as we continue establishing relationships with the patients at the hospital as well as the medical staff."

The Kfar Saba congregation led by Tony & Orna Sperandeo  is called Kehilat Hamaayan, Congregation of the Wellspring. Their monthly ministry letters are essentially a link to the actual ministry update on a blog for all to see Read this ministry letter online to view pictures.  Highlights this month are a new elder, their final preparations on the International Pro Life LeChaim conference, that will be held November 4-11 in Jerusalem and Galilee.  They write, "Living here in this Land we know here are so many parallels between Israel and the shedding of innocent blood. We would appreciate your prayers and standing in the gap for the Unborn, the handicapped and the elderlies threatened by Euthanasia."
Click link above for the full news from Wellspring.

Revive Israel features Arise Africa!, plus 2 videos: Cody Archer & Dale Anderson Why Study the End Times? and Asher Intrater shares the story of how the ministry of Revive Israel started and has developed over the last decade Revive Israel's History. You don't hear about it often in order to protect what is a dangerous ministry call, but Revive Israel also is Partnering with Arab Christians. Read more by connecting directly with Revive Israel, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israel Ministries.

Eddie Santoro: "When I was first diagnosed, the doctor said that most people with this cancer don't live past a year. Today, three and a quarter years later, I am still here! Thank you for being a part of my ongoing testimony."  Eddie writes about reading God's Word every day and the grievous anti-Semitic attack in Pittsburgh. "What we have witnessed this week in Pittsburgh is a small expression of what will be loosed throughout the earth in the coming days. The evil forces on this earth will ultimately gather and will attack this Land but He who promised is faithful. Yeshua will come to vanquish our enemies and all Israel will be saved!  And each of us who love God- whether Jew or Gentile will be a part of this last and wonderful salvation of Israel as together we welcome the Lord back to Jerusalem."

Freshly back from 5 weeks in the US, Howard and Randi Bass survey the damage in their neighborhood from a rocket sent from Gaza.  The family narrowly escaped serious injury or death by the single mother quickly responding to the siren around 3:00am, and getting her young children with her to the bomb shelter in the house." They were also in the US during the Pittsburgh synagogue attack.

Howard writes, "As I read the Bible, I cannot help but see that such hatred and attacks are going to continue both in Israel and abroad as the spirit of antichrist rises against the true God and His people (Jews and Christians). We need to preach the gospel to whomsoever that they be saved; and we who believe need to pray for the grace and power of the living God that we be overcomers of the world by our faith in Jesus/Yeshua and His finished work for salvation on the cross and in His resurrection." Read more by connecting directly with the ministry, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries.

From KehilaNews.com , an important ministry in Israel - especially when you consider how Israeli media was just talking about how many of the ultra-Orthodox are seeking other ways (and coming out) via the privacy the internet offers them to investigate other ways to live. Many underestimate the power of Israeli Messianic news & outreach via the internet media platforms. Don't let that be your mistake - support these valuable resources.

Anti-Semitism: A Messianic response | One For Israel Staff | "Whether Jewish people have assimilated into the culture or kept themselves to themselves in their own communities, they have been hated and persecuted wherever they go, and whatever they do."

Disenfranchized by Believers | by Chava Stein | It’s been said that if you have been a believer for more than ten years, it’s more than likely that you have suffered hurt and offense at the hands of other believers. Believers, also being human, all too often fail to deal with their baggage, frailties and insecurities.  Sadly, it is those very things which frequently contribute to the hurts …

Satan - the accuser | by Elhanan ben-Avraham | Elhanan writes, "For those of you who do not believe in the Devil (aka: Satan, the Accuser, the Father of Lies, the Serpent), let me assure you with a certainty that he actually does exist. Allow me to explain."


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 URGENT PRAYER FOR JACOB DAMKANI who is now in a rehabilitation facility where medical staff can work to get him back to consiousness. Please keep up the prayers | Praise the LORD for the ALL-Clear on EDDIE SANTORO's latest MRI showing no more signs of cancer in his brain! | 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.| Olga Bikas continues to suffer from chronic, acute back pain. She is getting medication and physiotherapeutic treatments but without any substantial improvement | Ruth Nessim has several health issues, read in her update this week: Most critical EYES.|
                Continue pray for Marianna Gol's urgent requests shared last week for Streams in the Desert (widows & orphans)
:    A, the 20 yr old jailed man | M1 following surgery last week & many related needs | M2, mother getting a mastectomy who has an  autistic needing 24/7 care. Many needs | T, mother of 3, bed-ridden with severe back pain. Many needs including a correct diagnosis which will determine eligiblity for financial.         
                Pray also for Israel intercessors/supporters in other nations with urgent health needs
Jeurgen at ICEJ, Karen and Yonit in Israel.  Also for Israel intercessors:  Cecelia Toth, Arlene Stucki, Una Gere, Mo Murray, also from our friend Steve in the UK for his wife Elizabeth, and Debra Koen Abernethy still recovering from complication following double lung transplant.

UPDATE on JACOB DAMKANI from Elisheva | There is not much new to say but since I am getting strange messages - from condolences and people saying that they heard Jacob was promoted to heaven to congratulations that he has woken up - I think I want to say where we are at.

Jacob is in rehab since a bit more than two weeks. In the beginning it was very hard for him, now he slowly adjusts. I pray he will see the chance he has here and willingly and actively take part in the program here. Jacob is not in a coma anymore. He is very alert and aware of everything that is going on around him, watching everyone carefully - we feel he checks our hearts while he looks at us, he looks so deeply into our eyes. Nothing we can hide it seems like.

But he did not wake up either. Since he can't verbally communicate yet it is hard to say where exactly he is at. I believe that he is all here, with us, seeing, hearing, understanding almost everything that is going on. I think I can see that in his eyes, in his reactions. He simply can't tell me...He needs to take a few more steps, the Lord needs to help Jacob with that. I believe he will. Hopefully soon. Meanwhile we sing, talk, pray, laugh... simply enjoy being together and with the guests we have.

Israeli Ministries on Tours 

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

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Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Arrows from Zion 10/31/2018


Priority Prayer Focus

In a Season of Sunsets
by Donna Diorio

Last week I was struck by the beauty of this photograph of a Netanya sunset that an intercessor for Israel posted on Facebook. I thought it would be a poignant follow up to our saying goodbye to Marc Chopinsky...then I read the post that accompanied the photo.

Darlene was in Israel and just gotten word that her mother had just passed away. A friend of hers posted the lyrics to an old hymn,
Beyond the Sunset, to comfort her in her loss. This morning she told me that her dad has also passed away while she was in Israel in 2009. Both of them were Christians, so her loss is tempered by the knowledge that, as the lyric goes:
"Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion with our dear loved ones who’ve gone before.
In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting—beyond the sunset for evermore!"
Sunsets in terms of human life are like sunrises — it is all part of the human condition. The loss of loved ones is only made bearable by the blessed hope we have in an eternity with the LORD. This is also why there is so much sorrow surrounding the horrible anti-Semitic attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue last Shabbat. Eleven traditional Jews were killed in the attack, 2 were in their 50's, 3 in their 60's, 2 in their 70's, 3 in their 80's and a woman who was 97 years old.

The demonic hatred of the Chosen People is not confined to the minority fringe of "White Supremacy" of the politically far right in America. The media rarely acknowledges it, but the Liberal Left has practically mainstreamed anti-Semitism through the many activist groups who embrace Islamists as allies. The alliances share agendas and strategies. It is baffling how a Palestinian hijab-wearing Islamist like Linda Sarsour could be the face of the Feminist movement in the USA if you do not understand it in its spiritual reality.

Of course, the demonic hatred of the Jews and Israel is not merely manifest in the hate groups in America. You can name the hate group worldwide and there will be an element of demonically inspired anti-Semitism that fits the hate group precisely. Some based on theological errors, some based on group grievances - but all hate groups share at least some degree of anti-Semitism. Even when it is dressed up in theological garb of pro-Palestinian Christian defense against an "evil" Israel, the hatred of Israel and the Jews all comes from the same source.


The enemy hates God's plan for the salvation of all Israel and over the centuries has set apart the Jews as special prey. Through hatred nurtured in the hearts men, the devil seeks to cut off the lives of the Jews wherever they are. 

I have heard many explanations over the years for all the terrible things that have been done to the Jews, but only one thing remains in my heart as true, and that is the demonic opposition to God's plans to give them a future and a hope.

This is why it is so greatly saddening to me when I hear of Jewish people who are cut off from life before they have had their eyes opened to the love of Messiah. It is a powerful reason to pray for Israel and for the Jews worldwide, to awaken from their slumber and receive the salvation of Yeshua. This is why we pray for the Israeli ministries who are on the front lines of the battle for the salvation of Israel. For when that salvation comes, and it is already coming now, it will restore so much life throughout the world. (Romans 11:11-14).

We are not as those who are without hope in the world. There are sunsets and there are sunrises yet for us. It is as the promise in Isaiah 60:1-3: 

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.…

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

We are continually balancing this regarding Jewish opposition whether it is in opposition to the Gospel directly, or to Biblical righteousness and social justice:  As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. Romans 11:28

There is no escaping politics as the Israeli Municipal elections underscores emphatically. Most mayoral elections have boiled down to secular vs. ultra-Orthodox control. That is true in Ashdod, Jerusalem, Arad & others. Pray for the run offs between the two sides in 2 weeks as outcomes are critical to Messianic believers

Israel Pochtar says the persecution against their congregation has been ratcheted up as not the Ashdod City Hall is questioning its right to exist. This is, of course, against the laws of the Land, but local authorities exercise control in reality that sometimes defies what the national laws dictate.  "Friends, I ask you to please stand with us in prayer and faith for the strategies and campaigns of the enemy to be cast down in the name of Yeshua (Jesus), and that justice will be done for the believers in Ashdod and for Beit Hallel Congregation, and that this persecution from Ashdod City Hall will work out to the glory of God."

[Critical city elections were held last night in Israel, two of the run off cities where the balance of power is critical are Jerusalem - where we favor Ofer Berkovitch - and Ashdod - where we favor Shimon Katznelson. In both cases it is because the other candidate will swing too much clout to the ultra-Orthodox in overall policies of the city. I have done my own homework on this assessment, but it is solid information for those who care about the safety of the Messianic ministries to worship and live in religious freedom. Please pray for them as runoff elections will occur in 2 weeks.]


Avner Boskey has a word on the Pittsburgh anti-Semitic attack on a Jewish synagogue, asking the question, How can we make any sense out of the travesty of these eleven murders? “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper” (Isaiah 54:17)

Arni Klein has a report on their recent ministry with Germans and Brits in the UK: Arni writes, "For the most part, Germany has borne the brunt of the condemnation and guilt for the Holocaust quite alone. This one question calls the allied nations, beginning with Great Britain, to account for their part in a way and to a degree perhaps never before really addressed. . . . perspective and understanding takes us right back to the bitter curse decreed in Genesis 12:3. Whether for doing evil or for not doing good, sooner or later the righteous judgments of God’s Word will be made manifest. Also upcoming Galilee Worship Gatherings scheduled for 2019. Read more by connecting directly with the ministry, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Orna Grinman's  Back to Beit Lehem: Sleeping Beauty (Part 9)

The Arad Hasdey Yeshua (Mercy of Yeshua) congregation is delighted to report that the utra-Orthodox did not win the mayoral bid in Arab, but their loved mayor Nisan Ben Hamo did! This is good news for Arab believers because Mayor Ben Hamo protects the rights of all citizens and has not sold out to the ultra-Orthodox desires to dominate the city. Many political figures in Israel, in order to obtain the votes that will put them in power, bow to the desires of the ultra-Orthodox. This factor affects all Israeli politics all the way to the top of the political power chain - the Prime Minister. We have seen it before in the late 1990's when Netanyahu began to bend to the religious demands against Messianics to gain the votes to keep his coalition viable. Pray over this situation that is always see-sawing back and forth in Israel's political realm.  For more of the news from the Arad Hebrew congregation, read more by connecting directly with the ministry, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

David Lazarus asks what the future of Messianic Jewish-ness is considering the departure of younger Messianic Jews from the Jewish traditions that forged the parent's generation of Messianic Judaism.  Lazarus looks at what factors he believes is drawing younger generations away and how their own congregation seeks to remedy the issues. Read more by connecting directly with the ministry, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

From Revive Israel two videos: Gaza's Internal Turmoil |with Cody Asher talking with Bassem Adranly | Dan Juster speaks from the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and encourages us to overcome in The Great Reversal | and an article by Asher Intrater on how the one role of original Apostles actually became seven roles, cooperating together. ​ The Seven - Fold Ministry!?!

Sally Shiff who is an intercessor and liaison for the Kehilat HaMaayan in Kfar Saba writes of an outstanding 7 weeks in the US - outstanding and in some places astounding what God did. Her beautiful testimony of what happened in a Alabama church service after only 15 minutes of sharing, 10 minutes of shouting before the Lord and the healings that followed will delight your heart.  Read more by connecting directly with the ministry, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Many Christians have their eyes on the traditional religious Jews of Israel and excitedly follow all news of their preparations to rebuild the Temple and bring Israel under the authority of the modern Sanhedrin. Can I break the news to you that these things are NOT GOOD for the GOSPEL in Israel? Which is why I was delighted to see Ron Cantor take on this important subject:  Yeshua Transfers Authority from Rabbis to Apostles. Ron writes, "In Matthew 23 Yeshua says, the members of the Sanhedrin sit in Moses' seat, so we have to obey them. (Yes, there was seat in every synagogue like the one above, called Moses' Seat) But I found four places where Yeshua clearly transferred that authority from the rabbis to the Jewish apostles." Wake up Church! Some of you are following the wrong leaders. More from Cantor by connecting directly with the ministry, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

With critical Mid-Term elections in the US, Municipal elections in Israel and another critical election that was just held in Brazil, Maoz Israel's Shira Sorko-Ram has been leading an anointed daily prayer points vigil on Facebook for several weeks.  Yesterday she posted about the new Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro whose party’s motto is “Brazil Above Everything, God Above Everyone.” This combination is a belief in national sovereignty and recognition of the proper role of God has the atheist left absolutely terrified.  Follow Shira on Facebook.

Also from Maoz, this report from Ari Sorko-Ram on his recent ministry in Brazil: Bringing the Truth of Israel to Brazil.  As reported in the Caspari Media Review below, Brazil had the largest number of participants in the ICEJ Sukkot conference with 900 in attendance. There is a great awakening among the Church to Israel in Brazil, and God is blessing them with political leadership that also acknowledges God and His heart for Israel. This is no coincidence, folks.

The Morning Star Fellowship in Tiberias led by Claude and Michelle Ezagouri have set their hearts on the youth for several years and many who had back-slidden are coming back into the fold. Some have agreed to take the discipleship course so this is a priority prayer request that these teens will reconnect fully with faith and devotion.  Secondly, they write, "Tiberias is a difficult city with much opposition to the Gospel". Tiberias is difficult [Donna speaking now] because like Arad in the south, there is a huge part of the population that is ultra-Orthodox, which gives sway to the politics of the city and surrounding region.  Please pray for this congregation and their plans to move forward in the name of Yeshua.

Finally, (1) they pray for God to bless Israel with desperately needed bountiful rain during the winter season which is just starting. (2) pray against pedophilia which has multiplied in Israel over the last several years. The enemy is always seeking ways to either kill or destroy Jewish people before they can come to the Light of Yeshua. Pray for the new Police unit operating to detect pedophilia rings. (3) pray for ongoing Hamas conflict which has been escalating .

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 URGENT PRAYER FOR JACOB DAMKANI who is now in a rehabilitation facility where medical staff can work to get him back to consiousness. Please keep up the prayers | Praise the LORD for the ALL-Clear on EDDIE SANTORO's latest MRI showing no more signs of cancer in his brain! | 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.| Olga Bikas continues to suffer from chronic, acute back pain. She is getting medication and physiotherapeutic treatments but without any substantial improvement | Ruth Nessim has several health issues, read in her update this week: Most critical EYES.|
                Continue pray for Marianna Gol's urgent requests shared last week for Streams in the Desert (widows & orphans)
:    A, the 20 yr old jailed man | M1 following surgery last week & many related needs | M2, mother getting a mastectomy who has an  autistic needing 24/7 care. Many needs | T, mother of 3, bed-ridden with severe back pain. Many needs including a correct diagnosis which will determine eligiblity for financial.         
                Pray also for Israel intercessors/supporters in other nations with urgent health needs
Jeurgen at ICEJ, Karen and Yonit in Israel.  Also for Israel intercessors:  Cecelia Toth, Arlene Stucki, Una Gere, Mo Murray, also from our friend Steve in the UK for his wife Elizabeth,
                 and Debra Koen Abernethy still recovering from complication following double lung transplant. This Facebook post just today: " We are heading to Birmingham..UAB this afternoon please be praying my oxygen is quickly dropping to 80’s so I have got to be admitted to see what they can do... my right lung has not been working but I know it will...Know this is not good so just remember us if the Lord willing"


Praying the Headlines

10/29/18 Caspari Media Review Jerusalem  Caspari Center for Biblical and Jewish Studies 
subscriptions@caspari.com http://caspari.com | The Caspari Media Review is a valuable resource that tracks and summarizes news items in Israel that appear in Hebrew only which are related to Messianic Jews and/or Christians.

Media Review September 2018 #3 | Anti-Missionary Attitudes
Source: Iton Shacharit, September 18, 2018 | This article described a group of “missionary Subbotniks” (Judaizing Christians) who attempt to convert Jews living in and around the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Anti-missionary organization Or L’Achim claims these missionaries use a façade of love and mercy, when in fact they use deception, pretend to be Jews, and trick their way into the country. Or L’Achim calls them “Subbutniks” because the missionaries decide to Judaize of their own accord, without rabbinical guidance, and they are therefore not Halakhic Jews.

Source: The Jerusalem Post, September 18, 2018 | A Messianic Jewish Congregation in Ashdod has suffered a vandalism attack. Senior pastor of Beit Hallel, Israel Pochtar, uploaded a picture to Facebook of two ultra-Orthodox men spray painting such slogans as “the mission is a national disaster” on the congregation’s new building. Pochtar called the incident an “act of hatred against Messianic Jews,” and made an official complaint with the police. Pochtar said, however, that in the past the police have not taken the safety of the Messianic community in Ashdod seriously enough. The police have opened up an official investigation. Beit Hallel has about 300 congregants, who have faced, according to Pochtar, systematic “harassment, bullying, shaming and threats from ultra-Orthodox residents of the city.” Beit Hallel continues to be an active part of the Ashdod community, distributing weekly meals to 1,200 needy families with the help of about 100 volunteers from the congregation. The author of the article noted that “Messianic Jews are continuously ostracized both by mainstream world Jewry and by Israel with an almost blanket rejection of Messianic Jews, or Jews who believe in Jesus.”

Christians in Israel | Source: Various Articles
 Close to 7,000 Evangelical Christians from nearly 100 countries worldwide took part in the annual Jerusalem March that was held during Sukkot...[an] Eshkhol representative said: “Israel is fortunate to have many Christian friends all over the world who provide key support for the Jewish state in their home countries.” ....

The country with the largest delegation at the march was Brazil, with 900 participants. In second place was the Ivory Coast, with 500 participants. In an interview, one pastor from Brazil said: “We are supporting and praying for Israel, because if Israel is strong, then it will help bring Jesus for the second time.”

In the past, Jewish leaders called on Jews to avoid events organized by the ICEJ for fear of efforts to convert Jews. However, the ICEJ continues to maintain that it has a policy against proselytizing in Israel.

October 21, 2018 Media Review | Anti-Missionary Attitudes
Source: BaKehila, October 11, 2018; Iton Shacharit, October 17, 2018 | The first article reported that Yad L’Achim received dozens of calls to its hotline when Messianic Jewish “missionaries” took advantage of the Jerusalem March to preach conversion to thousands of Jews. Yad L’Achim said the incident was not spontaneous, but well-coordinated. The missionaries came with matching shirts and thousands of pamphlets.

The second article reported that Yad L’Achim turned to the Jerusalem municipality, without formal response from Mayor Barkat, to attempt to bar a known “missionary church” from the ‘Batim MeBifnim’ – an open house event wherein landmark sites are open to the public. Yad L’Achim was horrified to find that the municipality even recommended the church as part of the tour. Yad L’Achim planned to put a team in front of the church during the event in order to warn passers-by of the danger. The article never mentioned the church by name, but a picture of the entrance to Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem was included in the piece.

My Word

I can't help but notice how the Messianic Jews are coming into view in the wake of the horrible anti-Semitic attack on the Pittsburgh synagogue occurred last Shabbat. Israel must be a safe haven for all Jews, yet the denial of the "Jewishness" of Messianic Jews remains an obstacle in every way. The closest one can get to having their conscience pricked over that false assertion that Messianic Jews are no longer Jews, comes when there is wide acknowledgement that anti-Semitic murderers do not make the same distinctions as do many Jews. There is no denial: Messianics are still Jews.

The day after the murder of those 11 elderly Jews, Dr. Michael Oren, Israel's former Ambassador to the US, now a Knesset member and the Deputy Minister for Diplomacy tweeted this comment:

"The Conservative Jews of Pittsburgh were sufficiently Jewish to be killed because they were Jews but their movement is not recognized by the Jewish State. Israel must bolster these communities, already challenged by assimilation, by strengthening our ties with them."

Oren's comments were politically pointed to the strong legal controls of the Orthodox in Israel over other sects of Judaism which are widely accepted, much less the Messianic movement which they utterly oppose. I could not pass up the wide opening to reply to Oren's tweet: "Yes and amen to that. Israel should also recognize the same with Messianic Jews. Our Dallas Shabbat service was shot up by an anti-semite in the late nineties. Many shots fired into the packed service & miraculously no one hit. Messianics are sufficiently Jewish to be killed too."

Normally I keep my Twitter feed non-religious because I use it to follow the news. I do not want to be blocked by Jewish news reporters that I follow, as I have been in the past by some Jewish counter terrorism experts.  Despite this, I could not comment with such a wide opening left.

Later I saw another wide door open when Bethany Mandel of Jewish publication, The Forward tweeted, "When I was being harassed and sent death threats, the ADL wasn't interested until liberal journalists got them too. They never had any advice or assistance with security concerns. Experts at the Federation gave me their cell phone numbers and told to call them day or night."

I replied in a tweet: "When our Messianic synagogue was attacked in the late 1990's by an anti-semite shooting rounds into a packed Shabbat service, all Dallas ADL did was go on a media campaign about how 'they're not really Jews'. As they repeated after subsequent hate vandalism attacks"

Now I see that a controversy has broken out over Republican Jewish candidate defends inviting Messianic rabbi to honor Pittsburgh victims. "Lena Epstein, a Jewish Republican nominee for Congress in Michigan, defended inviting a Messianic rabbi to honor the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre at a campaign event that featured Vice President Mike Pence.

“I invited the prayer because we must unite as a nation — while embracing our religious differences — in the aftermath of Pennsylvania,” Epstein said in a statement she posted Monday on Twitter after news of the event prompted Jewish outrage on the social networking service.

“Any media or political competitor who is attacking me or the vice president is guilty of nothing short of religious intolerance and should be ashamed,” she said."

Does it not seem like the timing to lean in to this prayer point and challenge to the greater Jewish community be made now?




Donna Diorio 
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