A PRECIOUS LIFE

I am writing this from a little township called Pukerau located in the far south of New Zealand, where I am staying with my brothers and some members of my extended family. Two days ago, on Boxing Day, my mother, aged 89, passed away quietly in her sleep. It has been good to be able to say 'goodbye' to her and be with my family at this time. It is a time to reflect on family and the importance of life and all that that involves. 

On my way home I stayed a night in a hotel in Auckland and flicking through the TV channels I suddenly heard Hebrew being spoken. How bizarre is that? A Hebrew program on Maori TV in New Zealand. I had to watch. It turned out to be an amazing documentary called "A Precious Life" and it was about a small Muslim boy, Mohammed, from Gaza who suffers from the rare genetic disease, SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency disease) better known as Bubble Boy Disease. The boy was brought to a hospital in Israel in the hope of giving him a bone marrow transplant which might save his life. Money for the treatment was donated by an anonymous Jewish donor whose son had been killed in action during the previous Gaza war. The boy's mother, Raiida, and three siblings accompanied him in the hope that one of them would prove to be a match. None were. About that time this last summer's Gaza war broke out, but, undaunted, the Israeli doctors with their colleagues in Gaza managed to arrange for the boy's closest relatives still in Gaza to send blood samples to be tested in order to find a match. As one of the uncles waited at the border crossing to bring the samples across, a missile struck the border crossing causing it to be closed for the foreseeable future. In spite of the ongoing hostilities, the doctors did not give up and miraculously arrangements were somehow made to get the blood samples across the border. One of the uncles turned out to be a match and he was also brought across to the hospital in Israel. The bone marrow transplant took place successfully and 'kick-started'' the boy's immune system, and he is now happy and healthy living in Gaza. 

During the course of treatment the Israeli doctor in charge of the case and the boy's mother, Raiida, had some very interesting and challenging conversations. There are some very telling statements that Raiida made which I remember. One was her reaction when she saw an Israeli city for the first time, and she remarked, "These people know how to live". In a later conversation she also commented that while Israelis valued life, her people valued death, and said,  '' Death is natural to us. Life isn't precious". 

Given that, one could only wonder why she was working so hard to save her son. When asked if  she was going to raise Mohammed to be a 'shahid' (martyr) and she replied 'ýes', the Israeli doctors fighting to save his life were thrown into a dilemma and for a time felt very angry with her. However when they talked it through at a later date, Raiida promised that she would not allow her son to become a shahid and claimed she had only said so because of the fear of reprisals back home in Gaza if she did not. She was clearly caught between a rock and a hard place, wanting her son to live and having to rely on Israeli charity and expertise to save him, and being thought a traitor or even a collaborator by people back home - a very dangerous situation for her and her family. Many so-called collaborators have been killed by Hamas in Gaza. 

This program highlighted and explained many of the key dilemmas and issues that lie behind the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. It made it very clear that the real issue is a clash of opposing world views. I  strongly recommend this documentary for anyone interested in understanding the situation in the Middle East. 
Here is the official trailer on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSxUkVv30ZI

It is amazing to think that all this was going on during the last Gaza War while the whole world was criticizing Israel for bombing Gaza. The compassionate and humanitarian side of Israel is often overlooked by the world's press, but this is only one of the stories of compassion that occurred during this war. The "United with Israel" organisation reported that:

Rambam Health Care Campus provides medical care to hundreds of patients from Gaza and the Palestinian Authority (PA) year round; 650 children and teenagers were treated there throughout 2013.

During Operation Protective Edge, as terrorists in Gaza were firing on Israeli citizens, hospitalized patients at Rambam Hospital included three adults and eight children from Gaza as well as three adults and two children from the PA. In addition, the Haifa hospital was treating seven patients from the PA in outpatient clinics.

A report published by Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Unit (COGAT) shows that 219,464 Palestinian patients received medical treatment in Israeli hospitals during 2012, including 21,270 children.

              http://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-doctors-save-life-of-boy-from-gaza/

A 14-yr old boy from Gaza  receives a kidney transplant   at Rambam Hospital in Israel

http://unitedwithisrael.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/890x400xIMG_6774b-890x400.jpg.pagespeed.ic.J13JAJETsr.jpg

Meanwhile back in Jerusalem...

Though I am far away my thoughts remain in Jerusalem where the daily violence continues. Today's headlines focus on my own neighborhood, Armon Hanatziv, where a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a Jewish home from the adjacent Arab village of Jebel Mukaber. The balcony of the house was set on fire and no one was injured, but this is a dangerous escalation in an already tense relationship. 

On Friday two Israeli border policemen were lightly injured when they were attacked by a knife wielding Arab after Friday prayers in the Old City 
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Report-Palestinian-stabs-two-police-officers-in-Jerusalems-Old-City-385831

The day before a father and daughter were injured when their car was set on fire by a Molotov cocktail thrown by teenage boys east of Kalkilya in the West Bank. Both father and daughter escaped the burning car but 11 year old daughter, Ayala (pictured below),  suffered third degree burns to 30-40 % of her body and is still fighting for her life. Only a month earlier the mother of the family escaped injury in a similar attack on her car. 

http://www.israelandstuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Ayala-Shapira.jpg

As I mourn the passing of my mother, and read about all these others fighting for their lives, one cannot help but ponder the value of a life. Raiida, the mother of Mohammed was right. In the Judeo-Christian value system nothing surpasses the value of every single life. The rabbis believe that every life is a universe, and according to Jewish law every law and regulation can be overthrown in order to save a life. This is known as ''pikuach nefesh". In stark contrast, Muslim extremists venerate death and teach their children that their highest calling is to die as a suicide fighter. What a tragedy! This philosophy leaves no basis for any desire for peace. 

http://patdollard.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Hamas-Children-600x350.jpg

I will finish with the passage I read at Mum's funeral yesterday, a passage of hope for all who  truly know Yeshua (Jesus):

 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11: 21-25 (NKJV).

 HAMAS RATTLES ITS SABRES

Today  (Friday) the sirens blared out again in the south as residents scrambled for cover and the third rocket since the August  "Ceasefire"  slammed into Israel. 





Rocket fired into Israel from Gaza today (19/12/14)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4605554,00.html



We still don't know who fired this rocket, but over the last week Hamas has been indulging in some blatant sabre rattling. They have been test firing missiles into the sea and on Sunday this week, they staged a massive rally to celebrate the 27th Anniversary of the foundation of Hamas.




Thousands attend Hamas rally in Gaza
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4603331,00.html





Gaza's children attend the rally



 Showing off a rocket



Wolves in sheep's clothing?
http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/25655/Default.aspx
 

At the rally, Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida, had this to say:  

 
"Hamas was able to stop the ambitions of the Zionist enterprise and because of that, it is today on the verge of collapsing and disappearing.
We will not lay down our weapons until we use them to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Hamas and its battalions know how to write history. For many years we have produced the al-Qassam army that you and the world sees, the combat units that today are taking part in this spectacular demonstration."
 

 Many are Israel's enemies who  have made such a boast in times past. I thought of the time  when Ben Hadad, king of Syria, and a confederation of 32 other kings with him,  came up against Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel in the time of Ahab, as is recorded in I Kings 20:

Now Ben-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together; thirty-two kings were with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, and made war against it. ² Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-Hadad: ³ ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your loveliest wives and children are mine.’”
 “The gods do so to me, and more also, if enough dust is left of Samaria for a handful for each of the people who follow me.” 

 So the king of Israel answered  and said, “Tell him, ‘Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.’” 
 
 Then the king of Israel went out and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.

 Ever since the August ceasefire we have been bombarded with a continuous stream of boastful threats from Hamas. They claim to have 'won the war' and that the 'Zionist entity' (their euphemism for Israel, which they will not pronounce) is on the verge of collapse and defeat. They perhaps have gained some courage by the recent collapse of the Israeli government but they do not really understand democracy and its processes. Israel, like most democracies, functions just as well with or without a government in power, at least in the short term.  Our military might is in no way diminished and there is nothing like an external threat to bring us all together in unity.

In any case, the real issue is not political stability or even military might. As we read in the passage quoted above, Ahab's army was massively outnumbered and outgunned, but God was with Ahab (on this occasion) and gave him the victory. If God is on our side, no one will ever destroy Israel. They may have temporary victories along the way but ultimately they will fall. Where are the Assyrians, the Persians , the Greeks, the Romans, and the Nazis today? The armies of Islam may win the odd battle but in the end God will destroy them.

This is the word of the Lord against the enemies of his chosen people.

For violence against your brother Jacob,
Shame shall cover you,
And you shall be cut off forever...

 

“For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near;
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.

¹⁶ For as you drank on My holy mountain,
So shall all the nations drink continually;
Yes, they shall drink, and swallow,
And they shall be as though they had never been...

“But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,
And there shall be holiness;
The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
¹⁸ The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
And the house of Joseph a flame;
But the house of Esau shall be stubble;
They shall kindle them and devour them,
And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,”
For the Lord has spoken.

Obadiah 1: 10, 16-18

As Hamas is busy rebuilding its terror tunnels and rearming  for the next round of war with Israel, the people of Gaza continue to suffer. Tens of thousands are still living in tents supplied by the refugee agency UNRWA as the winter cold takes hold and the rains flood the streets with raw sewage.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79359000/jpg/_79359383_79359382.jpg
 

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/11452173323_e0351cef38_c.jpg

Of the $US 54.4 billion aid promised during the negotiations in Cairo two months ago, barely 2% has been received, at least partly because Hamas has not honored its commitment to hand over control of Gaza's border crossings.  There are also reports that Hamas is diverting those funds which have been received to rebuilding its terror tunnels instead of building homes. http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Report-Material-for-Gaza-reconstruction-diverted-to-Hamas-for-tunnel-reparations-385178 In fact it seems that Hamas  is doing everything in its power to prevent any reconstruction of Gaza so that it can use the suffering of the people as a propaganda weapon against Israel.  Israel Today reported that " Israel, for its part, has been working for months with the UN to advance the reconstruction in Gaza. But every step of the way, Hamas has scuttled any progress, such as when it suddenly raised taxes on imported cement."
http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/25655/Default.aspx 

Some news just coming in  ( Saturday 20/12) ....
Israeli jets have bombed a Hamas training institution in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza Strip last night in retaliation for yesterday's rocket attack on Israel. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4605646,00.html Tensions are escalating and one cannot help but wonder if we are already about to start the next round of conflict with Hamas in Gaza - just 4 months after the end of the summer's war. I hope not for everyone's sake.

Now for another, but related, topic...


SEX SLAVERY IN THE ISLAMIC STATE

A pamphlet entitled " Questions and Answers on Taking Captives and Slaves" published by the Islamic State (ISIS) was recently distributed in Mosul, Iraq. In a question and answer format it explains the official position of the Islamic State concerning female slavery.

The 27 questions and answers have been translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). Here are some excerpts as quoted by the Jerusalem Post:

Question : "Can all unbelieving women [  that is, non-Muslim women] be taken captive?”

Answer : “There is no dispute among the scholars that it is permissible to capture unbelieving women."

Question: “Can one have intercourse with a female captive?”

Answer: “It is permissible to have sexual intercourse with the female captive. Allah the almighty said: ‘[Successful are the believers] who guard their chastity, except from their wives or [the captives and slaves] that their right hands possess, for then they are free from blame [Koran 23:5-6].’”

“If she is a virgin, he [her master] can have intercourse with her immediately,” explains the pamphlet. “However, if she isn’t, her uterus must be purified [first]... ” [How to purify a uterus is not explained in the pamphlet].

 

And on child rape....
Question: “Is it permissible to have intercourse with a female slave who has not reached puberty?”

Answer: “It is permissible to have intercourse with the female slave who hasn’t reached puberty if she is fit for intercourse; however if she is not fit for intercourse, then it is enough to enjoy her without intercourse.”http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-published-female-sex-slave-handbook-384510

One can only ask - in what way could a girl who hasn't reached puberty ever be 'fit for intercourse' or rape? What an abomination!!

 All this is not just theory, the Islamic State is practicing mass female slavery in the areas it has overrun. According to researchers of the University of Bristol's Gender and Violence Research Center,  ISIS  has kidnapped more than 2,500 Yazidi women, after killing the men. The women and girls are being subjected to systematic rape and sex slavery. In Mosul in Iraq and in Raqqa in Syria they have been paraded in markets carrying price tags, like cattle. According to one 19 year old girl, Jana,  who managed to escape, the young women of her village were herded into a big house with hundreds of other young women, and ISIS men would come and chose three or four at a time to take home with them. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/30/world/meast/isis-female-slaves/


With so much that is dark and tragic in the world today it is important to search for points of light too. There is still much that is good and beautiful and the apostle Paul, who also lived in dark times, advised us (even when he was in jail) to meditate on,  

whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy.

   Philippians 4:8.

Here are a couple of things that are of good report and lovely:


ISRAELI AID TO SENEGAL

Israel is always in the news and is often painted unfairly and incorrectly as the cause and focus of all the violence in the Middle East. What is not often spoken about is the massive amount of aid that Israel gives to other countries in need, especially in the continent of Africa. For example, earlier this month Israel,  working in cooperation with the ‘Fondation Servir le Senegal' organization, inaugurated an irrigation project in drought prone Senegal.   Fifty farm plots have been set up in the city of Fatick and these will be run by women allowing them to improve their family income.  These plots will use a low-pressure, drip irrigation developed in Israel to improve crop yield and quality.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4603023,00.html

Growing lettuce in Senegal using drip-irrigation (Photo: MASHAV)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4603023,00.html

NEW SONGS OF WORSHIP

On Wednesday of this week I joined around 2000 others in two concerts in which were presented  the best of the new Messianic worship songs written over the last few years. Worship leaders and singers from many congregations around the country joined together to put on this memorable event. These concerts were recorded live and the DVD or CDs will  soon be available for purchase. I am always blown away by the power and beauty of our worship songs in Hebrew. There is a cadence about them that is just so uplifting and special. Many of the songs presented were written and sung by members of the worship team of my own congregation, Shemen Sasson, and that made it even more special for me.

During the concert I felt that God was just smiling at us and saying proudly "They're my people".  At times like that it is encouraging to think that everyone of us is a point of light helping each in his way to hold back the encroaching darkness.

Photo credit: Hannah Nesher (used with permission)

The words on the overhead projector say in Hebrew,

   "God is for us, our covering and strength, our very great help in trouble".
 

HALLELUJAH - THE LORD REIGNS!!!




 

WHEN LEADERS LEAD.... OR NOT

 



Devorah and Barak
http://www.biblebios.com/judges/deborah/barak_deb.jpg



 

Sometime last week I was reading in the Book of Judges and after reading one chapter, I paused and asked the LORD to speak to me through the passage. The very next verse I read was this:



“When leaders lead in Israel,
When the people willingly offer themselves,
Bless the Lord!..."

Judges 5:2  (NKJV)

And I thought - how apt!!! Last week our coalition government, under the leadership of Benyamin Netanyahu, collapsed, less than two years into its term, and this will now propel us into new elections on March 17th, 2015. The coalition was never a comfortable one and the writing has been on the wall from its beginning. Zach Beauchamp writing in the online magazine of Vox media, explained it this way:

The timing is a big surprise — but that fact that Israel's government has fallen apart isn't. Netanyahu's coalition was riven by a deep, fundamental contradiction between its hard-right and centrist members. The two blocs have irreconcilably different views of Israeli society: no possible government could have kept them both happy forever. The big question now is whose vision wins in the next election. 

The coalition fell apart when Netanyahu fired his Finance Minister, Yair Lapid, and Justice Minister, Tzipi Livni. Lapid is the leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, which holds the single largest number of seats of any party in the Knesset. Livni heads Hatnua, a smaller centrist party.

Without these parties, Netanyahu's government no longer has majority support in the Knesset. So he needed either to add new parties to his coalition or call a new election. Netanyahu chose the latter. 

 http://www.vox.com/2014/12/2/7320115/new-israeli-elections

The fuse that lit the final explosion was the introduction of the controversial "Israel State Law"  to the Knesset legislatorial process. Israel does not have a Constitution as such but a series of Basic Laws. This new Basic Law is intended to define and cement the Jewish character of the State of Israel. Critics claim it is unnecessary, undemocratic and provocative in the current political and security climate. The fate of this law is unclear now and will be shelved at least until the new elections take place.

Hamas was quick to make use of this opportunity to add some feathers to its nest.  Arutz 7, Israel's National News online, reported Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, as saying,
"The collapse of the Israeli coalition is another example of our victory and of Netanyahu’s defeat in Gaza" http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/188167#.VIMVpJscRLM. Of course this is nonsense. Or is it? One of the results of the Gaza war, and the increase in violence within Jerusalem and other parts of the country over the months following, is that opinion in Israel has shifted to the right. This perhaps has given confidence to the political right wing, lead by Netanyahu, to take harsh measures against the rioters and terrorists, and to introduce the State Law to the legislature, which moves caused a backlash from the more left wing coalition partners.  

Perhaps I should explain the meaning of 'right' and 'left' in Israel, since it is different than in other countries. Although 'left' and 'right' do apply to economic policies, the primary meaning here is one of religious and political stands regarding the Land and the relationship with the Palestinians. The right wing is capitalistic, conservative, and religious,  and takes a strong position stating that the Land belongs unequivocally to the Jews and that the Palestinian Arabs have no place here. The more extreme right wing is in favor of ending the occupation by removing the Arabs and settling the entire historical extent of the Land of Israel, by force if necessary.  It supports expanding the Settlements in the occupied territories, swift retaliation for terrorism, including the demolition of terrorist family homes, and is opposed to the 'two-state solution'.   The left wing, is socialist, liberal and secular and wants to make peace with the Palestinians by means of negotiation, land swaps and the 'two - state solution'. The majority of the Israeli public takes a more or less centrist stand but in recent times has become more polarized because of the ongoing violence, missile attacks and wars. There has also been a certain shift to the right as we saw during the recent Gaza War. Initially Netanyahu enjoyed massive support but as the operation dragged on and on, and finished without any clear resolution, he lost a lot of support from those who felt  he had not taken a strong enough stand causing Israel to miss yet another opportunity to get rid of the cancer of Hamas once and for all. In general there seems to be less support for a two state solution and an increasing feeling of despair that any negotiated settlement with the Palestinians is possible.

We are also seeing a similar move to the 'right' in Palestinian society with a dramatic increase in fundamentalist rhetoric, incitement and acts of violence. We feel more and more that there is no one with whom to talk peace. Over the last few months it has been the voice of the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, who has been shouting loudest of all the message of incitement to violence (for example see http://www.timesofisrael.com/abbas-israel-sparking-devastating-religious-war/). He and others have been accusing Israel of defiling and plotting to destroy the mosque of Omar, accusations without any basis whatsoever in fact. Yet, truth is irrelevant in this part of the world; what matters is what people believe. Sad to say that thanks to Abbas and others like him, some 86% of Palestinians now believe this libel against Israel (http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/25629/Default.aspx). It is a very dangerous libel and can only breed more violence as Muslims see this as a deep offense and a threat to the very core of their religion.

In this context the coming elections in Israel will be a crossroads in our history. If the right wins we will likely see more Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the end of any hope for a negotiated peace or two state solution, rising despair and anger amongst the Palestinians and more violence. If the left wins, we will try to restart the peace talks, but with whom? 

The elections this time will also be about internal social issues and economics. Netanyahu's government has promoted the usual capitalistic view that if you make the rich richer, then the money will somehow trickle down to the 'lower' classes. Although the rich have got richer during his time as Prime Minister, we in the 'lower classes' have not seen any trickle down effect, and poverty and hardship have been inexorably on the increase. This situation is untenable long term, and already there have been stirrings of a popular uprising against the rampant price increases we see in our supermarkets and in the housing market especially, the erosion of welfare benefits  and the desperate state of our hospitals and schools. Any new government will have to address these issues or we will face serious internal unrest as well as all the external threats.

Several months of political wheeling and dealing lie before us as our politicians, and their myriad political parties, jostle for power and influence.  It makes me long for the days when our 'leaders will lead' according to the direction of God through his prophets, as Barak lead the army of Israel against  the armies of the Canaanite King, Jabin, according to the prophetic word brought to him by Devorah, thus bringing Israel victory over her enemies and peace in the Land for 40 years. How many of our leaders are willing to subjugate their personal ambitions and opinions to the will of God, and willingly offer themselves for sake of the people of the Land?

My heart is with the rulers of Israel
Who offered themselves willingly with the people.
Bless the Lord

Judges 5:2,9
 

Please pray for godly and righteous government in Israel.

THE WORST ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IN ISRAEL'S HISTORY

On Tuesday night last week 5 million liters of crude oil gushed out of a broken pipeline and flooded the Ein Evrona Nature Reserve about 20 km north of Eilat. The spill has created a 7 km long river of oil in the Reserve posing a great danger to the many plants and animals in this very sensitive and fragile ecosystem. Many have already died, and in the coming months and years others will succumb to the effects of the toxic and carcinogenic soil and fumes. Massive cleanup efforts are in progress in a race to clean up as much of the contaminated soil as possible before heavy rain arrives. Flash flooding could wash the oil down the Arava Valley and into the Red Sea, causing an even greater ecological disaster to the beautiful coral reefs and beaches, which are a major tourist attraction in both Israel and Jordan.  





http://rt.com/news/211551-oil-spill-devastates-israel/

http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.631095.1418261700!/image/3845521757.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_640/3845521757.jpg

FAMILY ATTACKED BY ACID SOUTH OF BETHLEHEM

As I am writing reports are coming in of a family of seven that was attacked by terrorists who threw acid upon them through an open window in their car  stopped at an intersection south of Bethlehem. They were all injured in the attack.

This is just the latest in the ongoing violence in our city and its surroundings. The strict anti-terrorism measures, the strong police presence and the strategic placement of concrete barriers does seem to have calmed things down a bit over the last couple of weeks, but isolated violence is still occurring.

Two days ago a Palestinian Member of Parliament died of a heart attack during a scuffle with Israeli police. Videos of a policeman purportedly grasping him around the neck have gone viral on the internet, even though it looked more like he grasped his shirt collar to me. Of course Palestinian leaders are blaming Israel for his death and claiming he was murdered. He was honored as a shahid (a martyr) at his state funeral on Thursday. One should ask however why a man in such fragile health, who was both diabetic and had already had several heart attacks, was staging a demonstration and provoking the police in the first place? In his condition, any excitement or stress could have caused a fatal heart attack. However, as I have already said, truth is not relevant here but what people believe. The accusation has gone out, and it will undoubtedly give rise to more terrorist attacks in the coming days, like the acid attack on the family described above,  and the attempted running down of soldiers at a checkpoint yesterday.

A video made available by the Middle East Media Research Institute this week records  a spontaneous sermon recorded at the Al Aksa Mosque on November the 28th,  in which Sheikh Omar Abu Sara proclaimed that battle with the Jews draws near, and he praised the Islamic State “caliphate” as one of the vehicles for the Jewish people’s destruction. He is quoted as saying:

“I say to the Jews loud and clear: The time for your slaughter has come. The time to fight you has come. The time to kill you has come…Please do not leave in our hearts a single grain of mercy towards you, oh Jews, because when the day of your slaughter arrives, we shall slaughter you without mercy.”

http://www.timesofisrael.com/al-aqsa-speaker-the-slaughter-of-the-jews-is-near/



Sheikh Abu Sara
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8w9fPNXH9DU/mqdefault.jpg

Where will all this incitement, hatred, violence and bloodshed end? Whatever lies ahead, only one thing is sure. God will never allow Israel to be destroyed. He has put his name on the people of Israel forever and promised that one day he will destroy all our enemies. Perhaps that time is near? I don't know but please continue to pray for Jerusalem and this whole region and all its people, Jew and Arab alike. We all need to know the peace of Yeshua (Jesus), the peace that only He can give. We all need so badly the Messiah  to come and sort out this mess. Until then may more and more individuals have revelation of the love of God for them regardless of their ethnic origin, and for His love for His chosen people, Israel.

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming...

 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem...

Then the Lord will go forth
And fight against those nations....

And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be  -
“The Lord is one,” ...

The people shall dwell in it (Jerusalem);
And no longer shall there be utter destruction,
But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

       Zechariah 14 (NKJV)

MAY THE MESSIAH, YESHUA COME SOON!

 THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

http://www.mountmadonnaschool.org/userfiles/Fiddler.jpg

 

 

Have you ever tried to play a fiddle on a roof? I cannot say I have myself, but I suspect it is no easy task, keeping one's balance in such a precarious situation.

 

 As a Christian living in a Jewish State, in a mixed Jewish and Arab city (Jerusalem), torn daily with hatred, suspicion and fear, not to mention violence, it is no easy task to keep my balance. I have experienced at least 4 wars and three Intifada's, and have learned what it is to have enemies who want to kill me. It is very personal.  Every day as I set out to work or the shops, or just take a walk down the street, I do not know if it will be my last day on this Earth. The man walking behind me may pull a knife and stab me, the tractor pulling up behind me at the traffic lights may keep on going and crush my car, the worker at my school may be a suicide bomber, with explosives strapped under his jacket. It is hard not to fall prey to fear, which in turn gives rise to feelings of anger, hatred, revenge and violence.  And in such a climate, it is so easy to be influenced by the opinions and events around me, to allow the tiny seeds of hatred, prejudice and, yes, even violent thoughts creep into my thinking. I often have to check my balance. It is something I have to consciously do from time to time. I thank God, I have an anchor, a plumb line with which to correct my thinking and heart, the love of God for all mankind, Jew, Arab and Gentile alike. Yeshua (Jesus) taught us to love our enemies and pray for their salvation.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’   But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 5:43-45.

What a contrast this is to the spirit of revenge and hatred that rules this region.

A large part of the battle in the Middle East today is the battle of the mind. Truth is being distorted, history rewritten, and values overturned. One of the main battlefields lies in the minds of our children. A generation of children are being brainwashed, filled with fear, hatred and violence.

Last week Ynet News, the online version of one of the main newspapers in Israel, interviewed a group of young children, aged between 8-13,  who were taking part in the riots in East Jerusalem, choosing to burn tires, throw rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli police, risking injury or death, rather than attend school. Why?

 



Palestinian children who have skipped school to join the rioting in East Jerusalem. (Photo: Mohammed Shinawi)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4594812,00.html





“We are willing to die as martyrs, we have nothing else to lose,” says one. 

 

Another says,

“All of us are willing to sacrifice our lives and die as martyrs. We have nothing to lose. It is true we are kids but we have courage and strength to do many things like heroes. Israel attacks children and we will not let this happen quietly. Al-Aqsa is ours and we will not give up on it."

A third says, “Our blood is not cheap. This is the time to resist, it is more important than being at school or at work. If we do not respond they will eat us. Everyone always calls on students to join the struggle” .
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4594812,00.html

Who are these people who call the children to sacrifice their lives to save the Al Aqsa Mosque from 'the Israelis who are attacking it'?  Who is it who is feeding them the lie that Israel is 'attacking' the Al Aqsa Mosque? Who is it who dresses even the tots in the garb of a shahib (suicide bomber or martyr) and teaches them that this is their highest calling in life? Where are their parents? Why do they permit them to do this? Surely this is child abuse of the highest order!

https://themuslimissue.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/babyjihadicropped.jpg?w=610

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Sad to say prejudice and hatred are not to be found only amongst the Arabs. It is alive and well too amongst the Jewish population.  Not very long ago a Palestinian teenager was burned alive by Jewish teenagers in revenge for the deaths of the three Jewish students murdered near Hebron.  In recent months, Jewish extremists have carried out a whole series of 'price tag' revenge attacks on Arab property, slashing tires and spraying racist hate graffiti on mosques, churches and other buildings.

Thankfully there are those, and not a few, who are working to build bridges, to counter the prejudice and brainwashing on both sides, and working for peace and understanding. One such is the "Hand in Hand" organization that runs five mixed Jewish and Arab schools around the country. Last night one of those schools was set ablaze and anti-Arab graffiti sprayed on its walls. A first grade classroom was gutted before the fire brigade brought it under control. More than 600 students, equally divided between Jews and Arabs, attend this pre-school to high school bi-lingual institution.  I am glad to say that the school opened today and classes were held in spite of all.

Firefighters inspect a burned classroom at the Max Rayne Hand in Hand Jerusalem School, Nov. 29, 2014. Photo by Tali Meir
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.629147

There are other similar mixed institutions around the city and wider Israel too, including the International School in which I work. Please pray for the staff and students of these schools which could now also become a target, by extremists from both sides of the conflict.

It is not only the Muslims and the Jews who are prone to losing their balance, Christian and Messianic believers in Yeshua may also fall.

This week  we saw the Pope praying with the Muslim Grand Mufti of Istanbul towards Mecca. Though not the first Pope to do so, it is nevertheless rather shocking. How can a man who claims to be the leader of the Christian Church worldwide pray to a pagan idol (a black meteorite) that was adopted by Islam, housed in the Kaaba  in Mecca? What is he thinking?  This is not the answer.

Pope Francis and Istanbul's Grand Mufti Rahmi Yaran pray together in the Blue Mosque. Photograph: AP
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/29/pope-francis-turkey-pray-blue-mosque-islam-cooperation

There is an answer and the only answer lies in the person of Yeshua (Jesus). He came to bring peace to the world and only in Him is there hope for forgiveness, reconciliation and love between men, Jew, Arab and Gentile.  Only He can bring healing to this broken world. As Christians and Messianic believers we must not water down the gospel for it is the only hope of mankind. We must pray for our enemies as we pray for our friends. Love is the only antidote for fear and hatred.

Here in Israel I have often been saddened by the attitudes of some of my brothers and sisters in the Lord who suffer a kind of blindness with regards to God's love for Israel, either believing that God has rejected her in favor of the church, or loving her so enthusiastically that they forget that she has rejected her Messiah and needs salvation. Though God created Israel to be the vessel through whom he would bring the prophets, the Holy Scriptures,  and ultimately the Messiah himself, it wasn't for Israel's benefit alone, nor even principally, but rather so that he could bring restoration to the whole world. One of my Jewish friends put it eloquently in an email she sent me this week. She said we need to  come

"...  back to a focus on the only place where there will ever be any peace or rest -- I should say the only one, Yeshua -- and the only focus where we will we see with spiritual eyes to see how God is actually seen to be working out the fullness of his plan from before the foundation of the earth.

If I can speak honestly, I have found that focus sadly missing from much of what I see being shared by many who love and support Israel.  While I certainly am overjoyed that the church is awakening to the whole truth about God's intentions towards Israel and the Jewish people, and that he hasn't abandoned her, nor will he, and his supernatural deliverance in preserving the physical descendants of Abraham over and over and over again; I now find myself wondering if we haven't gone too far over to the opposite extreme or into a kind of tunnel vision where it concerns Israel  (as we human beings seem prone to do about so many things).  It seems like in the midst of this kind of renewal, we're losing sight that neither is God only concerned about the Jewish people -- and really never was.  His plan from the beginning was always so much greater than that -- to bring all things under the lordship of Yeshua -- to reach out to the whole lost world."

 

And though we know the ultimate outcome that God has for Israel's good, the reality right now is the Jews are still in a state of rejection and rebellion against our own messiah, and there are consequences to that, and it remains yet to be seen how God will have to bring things about to turn our hard hearts back to him.  There's even a teaching around by some well-known teachers that there's no need to bring the gospel to the Jews, because God's going to bring about their salvation some other way.

 

We need to keep that focus, because the only real hope for peace and reconciliation amongst men is in Yeshua. Only He can heal the hurts, the fear and the anger. Only He can give us love in our hearts for one another. Only He can bring about peace on earth.

I was thrilled to learn this week that our (Messianic Jewish) congregation is opening its doors to an Arab congregation which will be using our building for its meetings. We hope that we can fellowship together from time to time and demonstrate to our broken peoples that forgiveness and love is possible in Yeshua. It is sad that there are some believers in our city, and indeed  even in our congregation itself, who oppose our position in this matter.  

Which brings me back to the "Fiddler on the Roof". Whether we are Jewish or Arab or neither, if we are truly Christian or Messianic believers we have to keep our balance. We have to love all people, no matter who they are, even or especially our enemies.  We have to pray for the salvation of all mankind and the ultimate redemption of the world. Only when this is finally completed, will there be peace and love amongst men.

May the LORD God of Israel help us all  keep our balance on the roof!!!

 

 



 

 

TERROR IN THE SYNAGOGUE

Early on Tuesday morning in Jerusalem this week the 'thub thub' of helicopters circling overhead announced trouble in the city once more. Turning on the TV I learned that two Palestinian terrorists had entered a synagogue in the west Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Nof, armed with axes, knives and a gun, and had set about hacking and shooting the men inside who were at their morning prayers.  They killed four, three rabbis and another man, and injured 8 others.  Security forces were quick to respond and were there within seconds. In the shoot-out that followed a Druze policeman  was seriously injured, and later died, and an ambulance driver broke a leg while running for cover. The two terrorists were killed by police. 

The scenes in the synagogue after the attack were not for the faint hearted. Five Israeli citizens were dead, 8 injured and 26 children made fatherless.





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The terror organization, Hamas, immediately claimed that the attack was revenge for the killing of an Arab bus driver found dead by hanging in a bus on Sunday. Even though the autopsy report ruled the death as suicide, the belief that it was a murder perpetrated by "Israeli settlers" persists among Palestinians and is igniting many riots and violent acts around the city. Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas had called for a "Day of Rage" on the Tuesday  to avenge the bus-driver's death, which act makes his later condemnation of the synagogue massacre ring a little hollow.

 

Immediately after the attack, celebrations broke out in Palestinian areas, and especially in Gaza. The two terrorists were acclaimed as 'martyrs' and heroes, and sweets were thrown in the streets in celebration.

 

                                                        Celebrations in Gaza

 

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Within minutes the social media were flooded with cartoons and other propaganda celebrating the massacre, such as those below:

 

 

 

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http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Hamas-affiliated-social-media-abuzz-with-cartoons-glorifying-Jerusalem-terror-attack-382152



http://media.cagle.com/180/2014/11/20/156519_600.jpg

The feeling amongst the Jewish population in Jerusalem is that, with this massacre in a place of prayer, a red line has been crossed. Although we have suffered months of rioting and terror attacks, this is a dangerous escalation, and has the potential of igniting the city in a whirlwind of religious war. On the night of the attack I received a recorded phone message calling me to participate in a protest at the Meitar Strings Bridge at the entrance to Jerusalem, near the central bus station. I didn't go of course but around  300 did and were calling for  "revenge," and for Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich to be fired for failing to deal with the ongoing and escalating Arab violence. Scuffles broke out with the police and a number of protestors were arrested.





                                 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187610#.VHBmS5scRLM

 

The city is tense and the streets emptier than normal. People are fearful and we all wonder what will happen next. The sad thing is that most of the people in this city, Jews and Arabs alike, just want to get on with our lives. There are 300,000 Arabs in this city of 1 million and mostly we all get along just fine. We live cheek by jowl, work together, shop together, travel on the same buses and streets and even eat at the same restaurants. Contrary to the opinions of many, there is no apartheid here. The Arab population is as fearful as the Jewish population. None of us know who will carry out the next attack. Arabs can be killed in these attacks just as easily as others. Perhaps the next terrorist will be the man sitting behind us in the bus, or in the car stopped next to us at the stop light, or the shop keeper from whom we buy our groceries. In many ways this sort of warfare is worse than a conventional war because you cannot identify your enemy. He is amongst us and looks just like anyone else. Someone you have worked with for years, and have come to like and trust, can suddenly turn and sink a knife into you. (The two terrorists who carried out the synagogue attack worked in a shop in the same street).

 

This fear prompted  the mayor of Ashkelon to bar Arab construction workers at three kindergartens in his city, a move which was instantly criticized by government ministers and many others. However we all understand the fear. Even at my school we employ Arab cleaners and our school bus drivers are all Palestinians from East Jerusalem. This climate has led many Palestinians to fear for their jobs and this is only exacerbating tensions.

The two young men who carried out this horrendous act were from the Arab neighborhood of Jebel Mukaber, which abuts my own (Jewish) neighborhood of Armon HaNatziv. We have been subjected to a constant barrage of fireworks, rocks and Molotov cocktails for months from Jebel Mukaber and the adjacent village of Tsur Baher, but following this attack, the intensity of the rioting increased greatly. It has been difficult to sleep because of the noise. Residents of my neighborhood say they are afraid to walk the streets or shop at the shopping center, which has been bombarded with rocks on occasion.  Those who live close to Jebel Mukaber have had rocks raining down on their houses and breaking windows. Fortunately I live across the valley and feel quite safe in my own house, but it is very unpleasant for those affected. I used to drive to work past Tsur Baher but lately I have been taking a different route for fear of being a target.    

So far the rioting has involved rock throwing, Molotov cocktails and the firing of fireworks. It may sound fairly harmless but even these so-called light weapons can cause serious injury or even death. This week, just two days after the synagogue massacre, Israeli police captured a large shipment of fireworks and other weapons from China disguised as Christmas decorations and destined for Palestinian interests in Beit Hanina, Jerusalem. Inside the containers confiscated police found 18,000 fireworks of the restricted 20mm variety, as well as 5,200 commando knives, 4,300 flashlights that can be modified into improvised Tasers, 5,500 Tasers, and 1,000 swords. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Police-Massive-weapons-cache-uncovered-among-Christmas-decorations-382393

 

 http://www.algemeiner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Israel-police-weapons-capture-2.-Photo-Facebook-300x300.jpg

Watching the police unpacking these boxes of 'Christmas decorations' was a horrifying experience. Just imagine what could be done with such weapons. I thank God they were discovered in time but one cannot help wondering if other shipments have somehow slipped through. The Palestinian terrorists  of East Jerusalem may not have easy access to guns but they are very inventive and almost anything can be used as a weapon - including cars and JPG diggers (tractors) as we know only too well. Last night a group of Jewish students were attacked and injured on the Mount of Olives by a gang of Arabs armed with boards through which long nails had been driven.

The atmosphere of fear in the city is almost palpable. We are all aware of it. The problem with fear is that it easily breeds hatred and hatred breeds violence. And violence breeds revenge. It can all build in a vicious cycle and escalate out of control very easily. It is hard to know what can be done to break the cycle. For many months our security forces have taken a 'softly, softly' approach in the hope that things will calm down of their own accord, but the latest developments have raised an outcry against this policy and many are calling for stronger reprisals and a harsher response. A massive police presence in the hotspots, surveillance balloons overhead, concrete barriers and checkpoints have sprung up over the city.

The government has reinstituted the controversial policy of destroying terrorists' homes and the first such razing took place yesterday.  Many see this as a humanitarian crime and a kind of group punishment. However terrorists do not grow out of a vacuum. They are formed and educated by their families, who very often support and celebrate their acts. Even so, the efficacy of such a policy was doubtful during the second intifada and only inflames passions more in my opinion.

Is there any solution?  It seems likely that the situation will only deteriorate at least in the near future. So how can we pray? The Bible commands us to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" but conflict and warfare play a big part in the prophecies concerning Jerusalem and are apparently a necessary precursor to the ultimate redemption of the world. Nevertheless at the bottom line God does not want bloodshed, whether it be Jewish blood or Arab, or that of anyone else. We can and should pray for peace amongst all peoples and watch our own attitudes and beliefs, guarding our hearts against prejudice and hatred.  As a child I was taught in Sunday school a song that I still remember, and it goes like this:

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.... 

Songwriters
WILLIAM BRADBURY, ANNA WARNER, TOM FETTKE

Published by
Lyrics © ALFRED PUB CO INC

 

I am grateful to my teachers who instilled that sentiment into my young heart. Would that more  would do so for the present generation.

 
I believe that God grieves for all who die whether they be Jew or Arab or Gentile. He loves us all. This present violence is grievous to a loving God and he longs for a better world just as much as we do. It is hard for us to understand why he allows it, but we must trust his judgment in this and walk in faith that it is all ultimately for good, and as his Word promises,  one day peace and goodwill will reign on Earth. In the meantime we must play our part in the process, praying and acting in love towards all. After all, Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies, as radical an idea in his time as it is in ours. I am learning what that means in reality - to pray for the salvation of those who want nothing more than to kill me. After all they can only destroy my body. My eternal soul is safe in Yeshua's hands, but they face Hell and judgment and are thus to be pitied. Muslim teachers promise Paradise and 70 virgins to all martyrs in the cause of 'holy' Jihad, but I often wonder what a shock these young, people must get when they die and are confronted the Holy God of Israel and his wrath. I feel sad for them. They are the real victims of Satan's deception.  

So let's continue to pray for peace in Jerusalem, both in the material and in the spiritual realms and especially in our hearts and minds, and may we all know the 'perfect peace that passes all understanding' that can be found only in relationship with Yeshua (Jesus).

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  

Philippians 4:7