Tag Archives: Messiah

September 3, 2024 · 8:30 AM

Hope Is Rising in Tel Aviv

Shalom in His grace. I am delighted to write and bring you up to date on what God is doing through our 130-year-old mission to Jewish people.

Israel is still deeply in turmoil, which keeps me on my knees. Even if Israel agreed to some type of peace accord with Gaza, welcomed all the living hostages back, received the bodies of those who died in captivity, and secured the safe return of the tens of thousands of Israelis who evacuated their homes near the border, Israel would still have to face all the challenges of a future plan for Gaza! Even if Israel fully dismantles the threat of Hamas (and Hezbollah), how long would peace last? 

POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIPS FOR ISRAEL

There is also the question of potential governing bodies who would partner with Israel in controlling any future terrorism from Gaza. If an alliance of Arab countries with Israel had equal authority in the Gaza Strip, would this partnership endure? I realize these scenarios are hard to imagine, and we cannot predict the future. We can only follow the One who can!

Who could logically believe this alliance could work? The Palestinian Authority, who controls the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), has proven itself to be an undependable partner in peace. Judea and Samaria have been rife with terrorism, and it is possible more Israeli soldiers will die in this territory than in Gaza!

And what about Hezbollah’s frequent rocket attacks into northern Israel, destroying homes and causing raging wildfires? Can we really trust Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy, to remain within the demilitarized zone already established at the Litani River in 1985? Hezbollah moved into southern Lebanon after the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was forced out in 1982. What assurance does Israel have they will not use their Iranian-supplied arms to bring destruction to the north, including to cities like Haifa or in the Galilee? Many believe their rockets and missiles can even reach Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as well. You can see Israel’s options for partners is getting slimmer as time goes by.

SOME OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY WITH LEBANON

This is not the first time Israel thought a solution would work in southern Lebanon. An Israeli news source, Ynet News, describes the first Lebanon war:

The 1982 Lebanon War began on June 6, 1982, as what was supposed to be a short-term military operation—Operation Peace for Galilee. The operation was meant to destroy [Palestinian] militant infrastructure on the Lebanese-Israeli border, which had been used by terrorists to attack [the Israel Defense Forces] . . . as well as the Israeli communities abject to the border. In 1978 Israel launched Operation Litani, temporarily occupying southern Lebanon up to the Litani River. Once the IDF withdrew its forces later that year, an alliance was formed between the IDF and the South Lebanon Army (SLA), resulting in a buffer zone along Israel’s border.1

However, this plan for northern security did not hold as Ynet further describes,

January of 1985 saw the Israeli government decide to gradually withdraw from Lebanon, and by springtime most of the IDF’s troops—with the exception of those stationed in the south Lebanese buffer zone—were out of Lebanon. 

According to the Defense Ministry, Israel suffered 1,217 fatalities in the war itself, which lasted between 1982 and 1985. 

The rising number of fatalities among IDF soldier[s] stationed in the buffer zone led to a growing public outcry to pull all troops out of the area and in 1999, then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak led his government to vote for the complete withdrawal from Lebanon.

The last Israeli soldiers left Lebanon on May 24, 2000.2

Why would the lack of lasting peace be any different today? Israelis old enough to remember these events ask themselves this question. What has changed other than Iran and Hezbollah drawing closer and becoming more militarily capable?

Israel will do whatever it takes to survive. If viciously attacked, Israel will defend herself once again. Only this time, with the memory of what happened previously, Israel’s response will be fierce and decisive, leading to further and more massive destruction on all sides.

ISRAEL’S DILEMMA

As you can see, Israel is still in a very difficult situation. I do not want to leave you feeling hopeless but to help you get a sense of what our staff in Israel is going through as they reach Israelis at this critical time with the message of true hope through the Messiah. Not even one of our workers permanently left Israel during the war—though many of them could have gone elsewhere. I am so proud of their dedication and selfless service.

I could not be more pleased with the way our staff has served the Messiah and shown His love in dozens of ways, touching the lives of thousands of Israelis who feel so vulnerable and hopeless at times.

So, our staff continues to serve faithfully, and they can do this because you care and stand with them in their efforts!

A WARTIME MIRACLE: THE NEW NEW TEL AVIV CENTER

Now, let me tell you about what I can only call a wartime miracle. Our beautiful new ministry center in Tel Aviv is almost done. Can you believe it? We still need a little more than a half million dollars toward this $6.5-million-dollar project. 

But the true miracle is not the funding but rather overcoming the lack of labor over the last year as building projects in Israel so often depend upon Palestinian laborers—many of whom came in through Gaza each day. 

And yet God provided laborers from among Christian Arabs and Israelis to get us very close to the finish line on the building. We cannot tell you how thrilled we are to see God’s provision. It reminds me of the miracle of the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:13–21). We did not bring much to the table by way of labor, but God maximized what we brought. 

THE FREEDOM TOWER, A SYMBOL OF HOPE

May I explain to you a little bit more how I feel about what the Lord has done? 

I lived through the 9/11 tragedy in New York City. My house in Brooklyn is downwind from the World Trade Center towers, meaning smoke was clearly visible from my home. I cannot tell you about the horror of those moments, when more than 2,977 people died. In September 2021, on the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, we honored the hundreds of law enforcement, fire department, military, and Christian workers who perished as they worked to save others. We also thanked those who rallied to the challenge to help rebuild New York City. 

I am sorry to say both Israel and the United States have a common enemy. Those who perpetrated the awful tragedy of 9/11 and those who are behind the war in Israel have a common ideology. This ideology of evil goes far beyond borders and resides across many nations. These adherents hate the West, hate Jewish people, hate Christians, hate the Lord, and hate Judeo-Christian values. But the Lord overcomes our enemies! 

I watched the new Freedom Tower being built for years. Today, it stands grand and proud as a symbol of our freedom and our enemies’ inability to destroy us. 

HELP US FINISH THE NEW TEL AVIV MESSIANIC CENTER

I want our new Messianic center in Tel Aviv to stand as a sign of God’s faithfulness to Israel, Jewish people, and in particular to the Messianic Jewish movement within Israel, which is growing by leaps and bounds over the last twenty-five years. Our Romans 11:5 remnant is increasing, and Chosen People Ministries—Your Mission to the Jewish People—is one of the largest ministries in Israel.

In Tel Aviv, we hope to plant a congregation, continue our outreach concerts, and implement other ministries. Our staff across Israel will continue to reach out to children, young adults, elderly Holocaust survivors, and many others.

Endnotes

1 “The Lebanon War (1982),” Ynet News, November 30, 2008, https://www.ynetnews.com/ articles/0,7340,L-3631005,00.html.

2 Ibid.

1 Comment

Filed under evangelism, Holocaust Survivors, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Middle East, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

August 15, 2024 · 8:30 AM

The Time for Rebuilding Is Now

I visited Israel recently to spend time with our staff, hear their stories, pray with them, and encourage them in the great work they are doing to reach our Jewish people in Israel during these very difficult days.

Our staff gathered to try to get away from the stress of war and travel around on a brief Jeep tour in the Judean Hills.

During the trip we were able to get to know some of our drivers. One of them was Avi, who lived on a moshav1 a few hundred feet from the border with Gaza. This community is called Netiv HaAsara, which means “the path of the ten” and reflects how the community was formed. The name comes from the ten soldiers who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in 1971 in the Gazan town of Rafah. Netiv HaAsara is known for its various peace initiatives, and prior to October 7, many Gazans lived in the village and worked alongside the locals in different capacities.

MOSHAV NETIV HAASARA

This moshav was created so families who wanted to make peace with Palestinians could intentionally live on the border to be close to their neighbors in Gaza. The families of the moshav created something called “The Peace Wall” (pictured on the cover), where people could paint bright colors as a symbol of their hopes for peace in the region.2 The moshav was established in 1982 and had close to 1,000 individuals living on the land owned by the community. In 2005, with the disengagement of Israel from Gaza, it became the closest Israeli community to the Gaza Strip.

The story of what happened at the moshav on October 7, 2023, is well known: thirty-five Hamas terrorists attacked the community and killed at least twenty people. Their security team fought valiantly, but three of them were murdered during the attack. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were able to save the rest of the people on the moshav once they arrived, about six hours after the attack started. They either arrested or killed the remaining Hamas terrorists.

Our new friend Avi, who drove one of the vehicles for our staff, was one of the first to see the paragliders land in the center of the community.3 We kept in touch with Avi after our staff trip, and he invited us to visit the moshav to hear his story. He showed us around to see where the gliders came in and the homes where his neighbors were killed. Avi even took some time to tell us the story of this morning of terror.

AVI’S STORY OF OCTOBER 7

Now, please take a few moments and try to imagine what it was like for the members of this moshav on the Gaza border, surrounded by security walls and barbed wire fences as well as lush terrain growing beautiful roses, olives, and fruit trees. It was very sad to hear how their hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict with Gaza was crushed by the brutality of the attacks of October 7.

HERE IS AVI’S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS:

At 6:00 in the morning, like always, I woke up to take the dog for a walk. At around 6:20, I heard the sound of small firearms. There was also the sound of rocket fire, and not the typical ones you hear. It’s usually one rocket or two rockets, but now there were a lot of rockets.

I thought it was a reaction, maybe to an IDF operation where maybe we took out one of the leaders like Sinwar,4 and they’re upset, so they’re firing. But it was something very unusual, something unexpected, this amount of rocket attacks. It didn’t stop. It just kept coming and coming and coming. Normally, we have a rocket or two, or maybe four or five, and then it stops, but it was wave after wave after wave.

Then I understood. I heard the sound of a motor of some kind of aerial vehicle. The first thing I did is I called the security manager for the moshav, but he didn’t answer, so then I called the local IDF coordinator, but he also didn’t answer. And then I heard another motor from another aerial vehicle coming up. So I said to myself, “I have to do something. I’m going to film it.” And so, I started recording it.

So when I started filming the second glider, I realized the first terrorist had already landed and was walking around in the moshav. I wanted to see where the terrorist was going to land so that I could report it to the security squad protecting the moshav. But the terrorist saw me and changed his direction so that I wouldn’t be able to identify where he landed. He probably thought I had a weapon, but I didn’t have any weapons at the time.

I continued to try to call and inform people, and the only one I could reach by phone was my neighbor who said, “I’m not at home, I’m up at the Sea of Galilee.” So I came home and I told my wife and kids to stay home, to stay inside. I didn’t tell them that there were terrorists loose in the moshav. I didn’t want them to be stressed by the situation.

I continued to try to reach people unsuccessfully, and then suddenly there was no water or electricity. And of course, no internet either. The telephone was hardly working, but WhatsApp5 was somehow working. As soon as the terrorists landed, within a few minutes, there was constant gunfire. I heard the firing all around me and at houses nearby and at the house across the street.

I left the bomb shelter because I thought if they’re going to come toward me, I could interact better with them outside than inside the bomb shelter where I can’t do anything. So I left with a knife and a fishing spear gun, as that’s all I had. For some reason the terrorists didn’t come to my house.

The children of my landlord who lived nearby called me because their mom, my landlord, wasn’t answering the phone. They were concerned for her. So, I went to her house. I tried to hide because I wasn’t well armed. So, I was trying to get over there without being seen. The reason I was hiding was not because I was afraid of being seen by the terrorists. I was afraid of being misidentified by the army as a terrorist, so I was hiding. I totally expected the army to be here already, but they didn’t come for hours!

I arrived at my landlady’s house, but she wasn’t there. I didn’t find her in the house, and I didn’t think to look in the bomb shelter. I looked on the street because she’s an older woman. I thought maybe she had fallen or something, but I didn’t see her, and I didn’t want to cross

the street. I didn’t want to be out exposed for too long. I was sure that the army was coming, and they would interact and engage these terrorists, but the army didn’t come so I came home.

When I got home, I was able to finally reach the IDF security coordinator for the area, but our connection was in and out. Sometimes the phone lines would drop, so I used a combination of phones and WhatsApp messages back and forth, and I finally got ahold of somebody. Then I started to relax a bit.

I knew or at least had some idea of what the terrorists were doing because first of all, you could not only hear it, but you could also smell it. But also on the WhatsApp messages, I was getting updates from the security squads about where the terrorists were going and what they were doing. And so I knew more or less what was going on around me as they burned a few houses, and you could smell the smoke.

At 9:00 or 10:00 am more terrorists arrived, in addition to the original thirty. They were armed. One of them even had a bulletproof vest; they came to steal and then to kill. The security team of the moshav captured them but didn’t kill them. They transferred them for interrogation.

Tactical units and the border patrol came in the afternoon, and I understood that the situation was more or less under control, but they didn’t leave because there was still fighting all around them in some of the other towns in the area. And we stayed in our bomb shelter until 5:30 or 6:00 at night, so for about twelve hours.

I heard (but can’t verify the authenticity of it) that the IDF listened to the recordings of the conversations between the terrorists and their leaders back in Gaza, and that they had originally planned to destroy the border wall and completely take over our moshav and kill all of us.

But when the terrorists came and started killing people, they found hardly anyone in their homes or walking the street and reported back that they killed everyone that was here, and that the village was now unoccupied. And so, they decided not to break the wall and completely invade. About 1,000 people were in their bomb shelters. So when the terrorists came, they didn’t see anyone, but whenever they found somebody in a safe room, or a bomb shelter, they threw grenades inside and kept going.

I found out the terrorists had all taken a particular drug (Captagon)6 that removed their fear. It also affected their reasoning and their logic, which is why they may have reported that the town was empty, when in fact, they did meet people, and they knew they were in bomb shelters, but they reported that the town was empty. This drug is big business for Hezbollah in Lebanon. They sell it all over the Middle East. It’s a cheap drug to make, and they make a lot of money on it, and it’s very popular in the West Bank. So it’s hard to know what really happened and why we seemed to be protected from additional murders.

All of this is very unfortunate as I worked regularly with Gazans, and they work really hard. One Gazan worker equaled three regular workers. I don’t know if there’s going to be peace or not, but I don’t hate them. Okay, those who committed atrocities, like murder and rape, there’s no question they just need to be eliminated. But at the end of the day, there’s still going to be two million Gazans.

I then asked Avi about his view of the future of the moshav. He continued,

First of all, we have to eliminate Hamas. That’s the first thing. And then whatever happens, it’s politics. We can’t know. But what we do know is we have to eliminate Hamas. They’re fanatics and they’re murderers, and they need to be removed.

I further asked Avi if he believed the moshav would return to normal and the hundreds of people who used to live there would return to their homes. He simply answered, “Yes, I hope so!” I was greatly moved by his hope and by his bravery. He is a hero and shows the determination of Israelis to survive and thrive even when facing seemingly unsolvable conflict.

A CALL TO PRAYER

So, how can we pray for Avi, his family, and the members of this beautiful moshav where its members were so hopeful to create peace between Gazans and Israelis?

We can pray for the families of those who were murdered. We can pray God will keep terrorists from attacking once again. And most of all, please pray Avi, his family, and many others at the moshav who dreamed about peace will find true and lasting peace through the Prince of Peace, Jesus our Messiah.

As the psalmist wrote, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you’” (Psalm 122:6).

Thank you for your support, which enables us to help friends like Avi and our workers in Israel and around the globe in all their many efforts to bring the good news of hope and peace through the Messiah Jesus “to the Jew first” and also to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16)!

We would like to have additional funds to help members of Netiv HaAsara, as well as Israelis who cannot yet return to their homes in towns near the Gaza border or on the border of Lebanon. Your gift of any amount to the Israel benevolence fund will support Israelis in this dark time. We so appreciate your partnership.

We want to help Israelis practically and find ways to tell them about the Prince of Peace who brings peace to the hearts of all who call upon Him! He specializes in solving the unsolvable.

1 A moshav is similar to a kibbutz but allows for private ownership of property among some other key differences.

2 “Another inspiring project in Netiv Ha‘Asara is ‘The Path to Peace’ project led by artist Tsameret Zamir. The project transformed a once-plain security wall into a colorful canvas of hope by placing colorful brushstrokes bearing positive messages on the wall. Each stroke of paint symbolized hope for a peaceful future. It was a poignant reminder how, even in the shadow of conflict, the people of Netiv Ha‘Asara were dedicated to the pursuit of peace, one brushstroke at a time” (Kim Paffen, “Life near the Gaza Border: Living amid Ongoing Gaza-Israel Conflict,” Our Planet in My Lens, October 8, 2023, https://ourplanetinmylens.com/life-near-the-gaza-border/).

3 Hamas terrorists used paragliders on October 7, 2023 to get over the border fence into Israel.

4 Yahya Sinwar has been the leader of Hamas in Gaza since 2017.

5 A mobile application popular in Israel and many other countries, WhatsApp supports instant messaging and phone calls through the internet.

6 Joseph Pergolizzi Jr., et al. “The Emergence of the Old Drug Captagon As a New Illicit Drug: A Narrative Review,” Cureus 16 (2), Feb. 2024, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10977473/.

Leave a comment

Filed under Anti-Semitism, evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Palestinian

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

August 1, 2024 · 9:00 AM

The Time to Stand against Antisemitism Is Now!

We continue to see antisemitism on the rise, especially οn college campuses! Hillel, the main Jewish campus organization worldwide, recorded a total of 1,810 reported antisemitic incidents on college campuses since October 7, which is a 700 percent increase compared to last year.1

This is a matter of grave concern as students look forward to beginning a new semester at universities across the country. Christian students often set up book tables and find ways to introduce their ministries to new students. The pro-Israel and Jewish Christian groups on campuses will be reluctant to be out-front and vocal because of the possible intimidation and opposition by pro-Hamas groups on campus. They need our help and prayers!

But, the problem is not limited to the campus. It seems to be happening everywhere. May I take a moment of your time and tell you about my heart and concern over this growing wave of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiments sweeping across our country and so much of the Western world? 

THE PERNICIOUS NATURE OF ANTISEMITISM

From a biblical point of view, antisemitism is a hatred aimed at destroying Jewish people. 

The Hamas rallying cry “from the river to the sea” is a twisting of Genesis 15:18, which promises the land to Abraham’s descendants “from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.” So, from river to river, God promised the land of Israel to Jewish people by covenant. As believers in God’s Word, we have no other choice but to affirm what He has already promised. 

If we support those seeking the destruction of Jewish people or the removal of Jewish people from the land of Israel, then we are working at cross purposes with God. Instead, let us make certain we are partnering with God in every way, including His plan for Jewish people. Let us love what He loves and speak out against what He hates!

Once again, we are not calling all Christians to support every Israeli policy or military action, but rather simply to advocate for Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign nation. We do believe God gave the land of Israel to Jewish people, but we realize war is hard on everyone. Mistakes are made. But, remember, Israel is defending herself against Hamas, who initiated the conflict by storming Israel with close to 4,000 terrorists who set out to murder, kidnap, and brutalize innocent Israelis. 

Those condemning Israel’s wartime behavior seem to have lost sight of October 7! If not for this Black Sabbath, Israelis and Palestinians could have continued the process of trying to work out a reasonable peace and relationship. Hamas destroyed what so many tried to build through peaceful means. And in the process, their behavior has brought terrible damage to their own people, whom they use as human shields. Hamas’ leader, Yahya Sinwar, openly admitted Palestinian civilian deaths is part of his agenda. As the New York Post reported,

Hamas’ top official in Gaza, who helped mastermind the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, coldly admitted he sees the deaths of Palestinian civilians as “necessary sacrifices” to keep its war against Israel raging. . . . Yahya Sinwar lauded his efforts in stalling cease-fire talks. . . . “We have the Israelis right where we want them,” Sinwar said in a message to Hamas officials meeting with Qatari and Egyptian negotiators.2

What a terrible statement for a leader to make about his own people who are suffering!

And now it is not only Israelis and innocent Palestinians who are suffering because of the actions of the Hamas leadership, but Jewish people everywhere are now the subject of a new wave of antisemitism raging like a fire across the globe!

We must put a stop to antisemitism!

A COALITION AGAINST ANTISEMITISM

We held a significant event on Broadway, in Manhattan on June 20 to oppose antisemitism. Hundreds of people attended and made a commitment to do something about the rise of antisemitism. This was a first step in our efforts to fuel a movement of loving support on the part of Christians for their Jewish friends and neighbors.

Now I am asking you to do the same!

We are building a Coalition Against Antisemitism. This effort is especially designed to enable followers of Jesus to make a difference by becoming better informed and taking a more active role in this spiritual battle for the souls of Jewish people. 

We cannot underestimate the importance of providing Christians with a spiritual and biblical foundation for their prayers and actions. Just imagine how Jewish people will feel about Christians and may even take a new and different look at the gospel message because of a Christian’s love and concern, especially after centuries of anti-Jewish attitudes and actions by so-called Christians. My beloved community and God’s chosen people need to see a church in love with the Jewish Messiah and ready to stand with His kinsmen according to the flesh! 

The following statement will form the basis for this new Coalition Against Antisemitism, which we hope and pray will capture your heart and the hearts of believers in Jesus across our country. Please read the statement prayerfully and ask the Lord to help you find ways to support Jewish people during this time of need. 

THE COALITION’S FOUNDING STATEMENT 

  1. Antisemitism is spiritual in origin. When God chose Jewish people to accomplish His purposes on earth, the devil selected Jewish people as well and has sought to destroy this nation. 
  2. Antisemitism became embedded in the church from the fourth century onwards as many Christians took a negative view of Jewish people. 
  3. Antisemitism was linked to Christian political entities, which formulated various anti-Jewish policies during the medieval period. 
  4. Antisemitism became an essential part of Islam as the Muslim armies conquered the Middle East and parts of Western Europe. 
  5. This theologically-fueled disdain for Jewish people ultimately influenced a more virulent form of racial antisemitism, culminating in the Holocaust. Jewish people today often understand modern antisemitism as stemming from the negative views of Jewish people in Christian cultures. 
  6. Antisemitic conspiratorial views spread throughout the world during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Various population pockets around the world accepted these lies. 
  7. The founding of the modern State of Israel in 1948 became a focal point for Islamic antisemitism, which already had a long history in the annals of classical Islamic writings. This hatred has turned especially volatile and violent during the last few decades, erupting into the massacres of innocent Jewish people on October 7, 2023. . . .3 

THE PRAYER

Would you also pray the following prayer:

Oh God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Father of our Messiah Jesus, I ask You to bless and protect Your chosen people and to bring peace to all who live in the land of Israel. By Your Spirit, please guide me to find ways I can help support Jewish people during this season of rising antisemitism. Use me, Lord, through my congregation, small group, my family, and wherever I have influence for You to inspire others to love Jewish people. Lord, may I be Your instrument of mercy, grace, and love to bring help, comfort, and protection to all the children of Jacob in the Holy Land, the United States, and around the globe.

In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

Thanks so much for caring!

Mitch
(Romans 10:1)

P.S. Pro-Hamas activists and their sympathizers are targeting Jewish students around the globe. Many students are cautious, fearful, and concerned about their freedom of expression in their public identification as Jewish people, or as friends of Israel and Jewish people around the world. 

Students, parents, and grandparents, let us encourage them to stand for the Lord and Jewish people during this difficult moment!

Endnotes

1 “Antisemitism on College Campuses: Incident Tracking from 2019–2024,” Hillel, last updated June 17, 2024, https://www.hillel.org/antisemitism-on-college-campuses-incident-tracking-from-2019-2023/. 

2 Ronny Reyes, “Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Believes Palestinian Deaths Are ‘Necessary Sacrifices’: Leaked Messages,” New York Post, June 11, 2024, https://nypost.com/2024/06/11/world-news/hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar-believes-palestinian-deaths-are-necessary-sacrifices/. 

3 To read the full statement and join the Coalition, go to http://www.opposeantisemitism.com. 

Leave a comment

Filed under Anti-Semitism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

July 15, 2024 · 9:30 AM

Christians Will Stand with Israel

I am writing to you from Israel, where I was encouraging our twenty-five-plus staff members—visiting one-on-one to talk and pray with them as they serve the Lord in the midst of some really challenging conditions.

I spoke to a gathering of more than seventy-five young adults at our current rented Tel Aviv Center. My message was from the book of Acts about relying on the Lord and the power of His Spirit during very stressful times. I was also part of a teaching team at a leadership retreat for forty young adults serving in congregational and mission leadership throughout Israel.

The summer is always a busy time for Your Mission to the Jewish People as we are in the midst of many evangelistic efforts and campaigns around the globe, especially in New York City and in Israel. Please take a moment to pray for our annual Shalom New York outreach, which takes place during the last week of July.

Also, please pray for our children’s camps in both the United States and Israel. Our Israel camps this year will focus on both Russian and Ukrainian new immigrants and their families who have fled one war only to find themselves in the Holy Land experiencing another.

I found some very desperate needs in Israel because of the Israel-Hamas war, and I am praying and hoping for good fruit through our Israeli staff at this very moment.

I am particularly concerned for several groups within Israel, including evacuees, soldiers, and the hostages brutally taken on October 7.

PRAYER FOR EVACUEES

There are still thousands of evacuees unable to return to their homes because they live in border towns in both the north and south of Israel. There are thousands of families who have been living in hotel rooms for almost a year now. This living arrangement is becoming so hard, especially on their children. At the hotel where we held the leadership retreat, there were evacuees all around us, which led to some great opportunities to speak to them and try to encourage them during this very difficult moment in Israel’s history! I told many of those displaced people how American Christians are praying for them, and they greatly appreciated this news. So, please pray for these displaced Israelis all throughout the country.

PRAYER FOR SOLDIERS

Please also pray for the young people in Israel, especially those serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Remember, Israel has a mandatory draft, which begins when these teenagers graduate high school. Every day, eighteen- and nineteen-year-old Israeli boys and girls head to the military. They are young, not yet seasoned for battle, and are learning about life the hard way!

Please pray the Lord would especially keep the believing soldiers safe and also provide them with ways to grow spiritually and opportunities to proclaim the gospel among their fellow soldiers. I cannot tell you how many great stories I heard from our staff during my recent time in Israel as well as from some of the younger leaders who took the weekend off from battle to join us! Two brothers in the Lord are tank commanders and went back to Gaza immediately after the retreat to rejoin their fellow soldiers.

PRAYER FOR THE HOSTAGES IN GAZA

Please continue to pray for the hostages. The Israel Defense Forces have made repeated attempts to rescue the more than one hundred hostages still held in Gaza. Some continue to die in captivity, and others have been tortured and mistreated to an incredible degree. How human beings can treat one another so cruelly is not something I can even begin to understand.

We hear of repeated attempts to bring the hostages home, but for the moment, there has been only limited success. On the last day of the leadership retreat, we rejoiced to hear how four hostages were freed by the IDF in a very dangerous and costly military operation.

We need our all-powerful Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to directly intervene on behalf of those still in bondage. While in Israel, I saw signs all over the country asking for their release. There are pictures of these young men, women, and even still some children, who are being held by merciless captors. It reminds me of the words in the Psalms,

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us songs, and our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy. (Psalm 137:1–6)

In Jewish tradition, the authorship of this beautiful and mournful psalm is sometimes attributed to the prophet Jeremiah—the weeping prophet. The contemporary Messianic songwriter Joshua Aaron from Israel sings a soul-filled version of this psalm, which captures the hopes of Jewish people in exile from the land of Israel and their longing to return. I am sure hearing his modern rendition of the ancient text will inspire and bless you!1

I can hardly imagine what the hostages are going through and what their families are experiencing. Of course, I am writing well before you receive this so, perhaps, by God’s grace, additional hostages may have been released or rescued by the time you read our newsletter. At this moment, it does not seem likely, and if they have not been released, please pray, ask your church to pray, and may the Lord bring them home soon!

May I make two more prayer requests?

PRAYER FOR GAZANS SUFFERING UNDER THE HEAVY HAND OF HAMAS

Please pray for the Gazans who are suffering at the hands of Hamas who constantly use their own citizens as human shields. I pray for their deliverance and for the “day after” plan for Gaza to include a more benevolent and caring government to nurture the well-being of so many who have suffered. Pray Israelis and Gazans would find hope and peace through the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Messiah, and for the Lord to touch both groups.

PRAYER AGAINST ANTISEMITISM

Finally, please pray for Jewish people around the globe who are experiencing the greatest movement of antisemitism since the Holocaust. This resurgence of the “oldest hatred” is why Your Mission to the Jewish People recently held a rally with more than 400 attendees in Manhattan last month.

We are also planning a larger conference to gather Christians of all ages and backgrounds to stand against antisemitism. This event is also at Moody Bible Institute on November 9. 

I cannot tell you how powerful and positive it is for Christians to stand with Jewish people and against antisemitism. This creates a new environment of friendship between Jewish people and Christians, which I know will be a blessing to both communities!

A NEW SURVEY OF CHRISTIAN VIEWS ABOUT ISRAEL AND JEWISH PEOPLE

So, what do Christians think about Jewish people and the State of Israel post-October 7? We felt we needed to know, so we asked two Jewish scholars who have done some amazing surveys on this topic to let us help them do a new survey. I believe you will be encouraged by what you read!

So, please keep praying for Your Mission to the Jewish People during these very challenging days!

Thank you for caring and for your generous support and prayers!

1 Joshua Aaron, “Bring Us Back (By the Rivers of Babylon) Psalm 137,” music video, 4:25, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7lHsoascJY.

Leave a comment

Filed under Anti-Semitism, Boycotts against Israel, evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, New York City

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

July 3, 2024 · 8:30 AM

They Survived!

I am writing to you on behalf of some special Jewish people we love so dearly. They are the last remnant of Jewish people who suffered more than any others during their lifetime. They are elderly, lonely, in need of our love and help, and do not have many more years on this earth before they pass into eternity.

I am, of course, speaking about the worldwide community of Holocaust survivors!

There are fewer than a quarter million Holocaust survivors remaining, with an average age of eighty-six.1 About half of them live in Israel, where Your Mission to the Jewish People has been serving hundreds of these precious souls since 2003.

MINISTERING TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS IN ISRAEL

Approximately 130,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel today, 99 percent of whom are Russian speakers from the former Soviet Union.2 Most were children at the time of the Holocaust. Many of them underwent horrific experimentation by Nazi doctors and, as a result, could not have children of their own. This outcome led to greater loneliness because they do not have children or grandchildren to care for them in their old age.

Chosen People Ministries—Israel has been faithfully ministering to Holocaust survivors in many ways. First, our staff in Israel care for some of their physical needs. In March, for example, our staff bought a washing machine for one of our survivor friends. Our staff helps by buying groceries, making home visits, and trying to ensure each survivor gets what they need.

In addition, Your Mission to the Jewish People is helping address their health concerns. The psychological trauma many Holocaust survivors endured when they were so young often led to sickness. The current conflict in Israel is also taking a toll on them physically. Our staff visits them when they are in the hospital, takes them to doctor’s appointments, and purchases medical equipment like walkers, hearing aids, and glasses. Our staff also takes them to buy their medications.

Most importantly, our ministry is caring for the spiritual and emotional needs of these precious survivors. Before the current war, our staff held community events, like art classes, to provide Holocaust survivors with companionship. But since October 7, survivors—who were already experiencing severe trauma—now need more intensive spiritual and psychological help. For many of them, the horrific events of October 7 reminded them of the Holocaust. One woman fled Israel because she did not want to go through “one more Holocaust.” After seventy-five years, October 7 brought all those memories back to the surface.

PROGRAMS AND TRIPS FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

Through it all, our ministry is reaching Holocaust survivors with the love of Jesus the Messiah. At our three-day retreats for survivors from the south of Israel, our staff spend time with them, pray with them, and answer their difficult questions like, “Why is this happening?” and “What will happen in the future?”

Our staff also visit the more than one hundred post-October 7 survivors who are now evacuees living in hotels. We pray with them, read Scripture with any who want us to, and even bring them homemade food, which they love!

We occasionally bring them to our Jerusalem Messianic Center to provide a much-appreciated break from the noise and lack of privacy at the hotels. Some of our staff also take survivors on tours to biblical sites in Israel, like the Sea of Galilee for a brief walk and a boat ride, complete with worship and teaching!

One of the most significant ways Your Mission to the Jewish People serves Holocaust survivors is by celebrating the Jewish and Israeli national holidays with them.

WE ARE THEIR FAMILY!

One staff member said, “We always pray so they understand we are not trying to change their religion but hoping to help them find a personal relationship with God. By doing this, everyone knows who we are and what we believe.” This emphasis makes Chosen People Ministries different from other humanitarian organizations because we focus on God, express our love for the Messiah, and minister one-on-one, all while serving physical needs. Taking care of physical needs is crucial, and adding spiritual care brings great fruit with eternal impact. Through caring for the soul, especially at this time of their lives, we are giving the survivors the gift we know will endure forever!

WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7, 2023, AMONG THE SURVIVORS?

Sderot, a small city bordering Gaza, was greatly affected by the storm of rockets fired by Hamas just prior to the attacks of October 7. Many Holocaust survivors watched in horror from their windows as terrorists killed others outside their homes. Some survivors called our staff trying to explain what they were seeing through their windows. Many of them spent up to seventy-two hours sitting in bomb shelters with not enough water or food to carry them through. It was, as one staff member put it, “A huge, tragic mess.”

The inhabitants of Sderot, including the survivors, were evacuated after ten days.

Ashkelon, a larger city near the border, also suffered major devastation as Hamas launched uncountable rockets toward the city. Thankfully, most were shot down by the Israeli air defense systems, and the Iron Dome in particular.

The city of Ofakim is home to many Holocaust survivors and was also the target of Hamas terrorism. When the terrorists violently entered Ofakim on October 7, they cornered the Holocaust survivors and killed six of them. When our staff visited the town on November 1, there was no one on the street. “Until today,” said one staff member, “people are afraid to open their doors there.” Unfortunately, some of the survivors know exactly what happened to their fellow survivors and will be scarred for the remainder of their lives.

TESTIMONIALS OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS SERVED BY CHOSEN PEOPLE MINISTRIES

Caleb* and Gavriela:* Caleb was the first person on a trip to Poland to accept Jesus as his Savior. During the trip, the Word of God touched him, and he could not stop asking questions. He saw the Light! Upon returning to Israel, he attended a local congregation and was baptized. His wife supported him in everything but was a bit uncertain herself about Messiah until she heard from the Holy Spirit. She then was baptized, and now the couple shines when they talk about their walk with God.

Levi* and Eliora:* Our staff have known Levi and Eliora’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for a long time. Seeing how our staff assist people, this couple also wanted to get involved. Their grandson repeatedly contacted our staff to offer his help, and he bought various medical supplies for Holocaust survivors. We are seeing the hand of God in this couple’s life and how He has carefully turned their hearts toward His own.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE SURVIVORS?

Our staff in Israel knows the days of this heartfelt ministry to survivors are numbered. They are aging quickly, and in the near future, they will pass into eternity—either with the Lord or without Him. We are sobered by this thought and sense a holy urgency to reach these precious Jewish people before it is too late. The time to act is NOW.

Our efforts in loving survivors and spreading the gospel have been a joy, but we need to do more. It is critical to help the survivors TODAY! Each opportunity to introduce them to Messiah is invaluable—with eternal consequences.

As we look toward the future, we are focusing on the next couple of generations of the survivors’ descendants. Some of them were able to marry, and we have ongoing relationships with their children and grandchildren, in part because they have seen how we love their families. We hold a children’s camp each Passover for the grandchildren of survivors.

On behalf of our staff in Israel and those they serve,
Mitch

P.S. According to Israeli law, you cannot talk about the gospel and provide material help at the same time unless those you are helping initiate the conversation. We do all we can to follow this policy, and more often than not, survivors pepper us with questions about why we love and help them. We are then free to respond and talk to them about our faith.


Endnotes

1 Kirsten Grieshaber, “Almost 80 Years after the Holocaust, 245,000 Jewish Survivors Are still Alive,” AP News, January 23, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/holocaust-survivors-numbers-reportclaims-conference-890c9ad6aa7bc1cf99e1cbe40e61c013.

2 Ibid.

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Holocaust Survivors, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

June 15, 2024 · 9:00 AM

Christians against Antisemitism

I have been pondering the touching story in the New Testament about the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant (Luke 7:1–10). As the story progresses, we discover this centurion was noteworthy for his surprising love for Jewish people, which led him to build a synagogue for the Jewish community of Capernaum (Luke 7:5).

Perhaps the centurion saw the dimming spark of God’s presence in the Galilean city, which Jesus Himself chided for its lack of spirituality (Matthew 11:23). Conversely, Jesus commended the words and actions of this centurion who had come to love the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

I find the Roman centurion to be an inspiration! He loved the God of Israel, the Messiah of Israel, and the people of Israel.

While Jewish people today do not usually require Christian help to build synagogues, we do need help fighting the increasingly virulent antisemitism not seen since the Holocaust. Additionally, our not-yet-believing Jewish people need to hear the gospel message so they, too, can powerfully encounter Jesus the Messiah, the Prince of Peace.

A PROMISE

We live in a world overwhelmed by spiritual, moral, and political confusion, which is why it is so important to see life through the lens of Scripture. For example, though more than 60 percent of Christians above the age of fifty believe the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, our younger generation of future leaders in the church are not as certain. The number of those believers under forty who support Israel drops down to below 50 percent! However, when we read about God’s assurances to Abraham and his descendants and the Abrahamic promise to create a people destined to live in the Promised Land, we are clear on this fundamental truth: God gave the land of Israel to His chosen people.

In Genesis 12:1–3, we learn this promise is without conditions and free of time parameters. The fulfillment of the promise depends upon the power of God rather than the capabilities of humankind. Jewish people were created for a holy purpose and mission to bless the world. God said directly to Abram, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, emphasis added). God created Jewish people for the sake of the Gentiles!

A PEOPLE

The very creation of the people was a miracle. Abraham and Sarah were beyond childbearing age, yet God supernaturally intervened to create Isaac, who was the first fruits of God’s promise to Abraham.

God promised no one would ever destroy this people. Numerous nations tried to destroy the people of Israel, but God would not allow it and kept His mighty hand upon them (Jeremiah 31:35–37).

A PLACE

The boundaries of the land given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are outlined in Genesis 15:18: “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.’”

The answer to those who question if Jewish people have a right to the land is to believe this passage and take it literally—as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.

The cry of anti-Israel protesters, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” opposes what God promised in His word. As faithful followers of Jesus and those who believe the Bible, we reject the slogan entirely as it displaces Jewish people from the very land God Himself promised!

The tension in the Middle East will never subside until those involved in the conflict recognize the biblical promises of God to Jewish people and take them to heart. God pledged ownership of the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Any efforts toward reconciliation apart from this promise will ultimately fail.

We do not wish to debate whether 1948 was a human act or accomplished by the power of God. We understand the current conflict is complex, yet at the heart of the issue is the question of whether the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel by virtue of God’s covenant with Israel. If we read the Bible literally and come to the conclusion that He gave this land—with the Genesis 15 boundaries—to Jewish people, then we must support the right of Jewish people to live in the land God established for His chosen people.

A PURPOSE

God promised Jewish people would live in the Holy Land and be a blessing to the nations. Isaiah predicted shalom (peace) would come to the Middle East: “In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth” (Isa 19:24).

Jewish people will enjoy an enduring peace when the Prince of Peace reigns on His rightful throne. This hope reminds me of the temporary nature of all earthly conflicts, which the Messiah Himself will one day resolve.

A PRAYER WITH A PROMISE

The prayer we should pray throughout the Israel-Hamas conflict is the one for peace the psalmist penned in Psalm 122:6–7: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’”

This prayer includes a promise: Those who love Jerusalem will prosper. The Hebrew word shalah, which is translated as “prosper,” refers to a sense of inner peace, as those who pray for peace will experience peace in their lives as well.

The peace we enjoy in our relationship with God is a foretaste of the global peace God will bring to the world when His Son returns to reign on His rightful throne. He is the Prince of Peace and will remove the curse of sin at the heart of the current conflict. He will bring humanity back to the peace Adam and Eve experienced in the Garden of Eden. The prophet Ezekiel mentioned a future day when the nation of Israel will turn to the Lord, and the land will be “like the garden of Eden” (Ezekiel 36:35).

A PLEA: FOR CHRISTIANS TO OPPOSE ANTISEMITISM

I am hoping both local churches and individual Christians will boldly pray against and actively oppose the rising global antisemitism. Our 130-year-old ministry is here to inspire you to pray for, support, and act on behalf of Jewish people by opposing antisemitism.

Jewish people need our help today!

SEE SOMETHING . . . SAY SOMETHING: A CALL TO ACTION

How can we stand by and watch Jewish people suffer at the hands of modern-day Hamans and Hitlers? Antisemitism is anti-gospel and anti-God. It is antithetical to God’s promises found in Scripture. The problems in the Middle East cannot be solved by removing Jewish people “from the river to the sea.” The beginning of any diplomatic solution must be to allow Jewish people to live safely and peacefully in the land God promised to His chosen people.

Let me be clear: We believe the gospel is the only ultimate hope for Jewish people, Arabs, and all who seek authentic and enduring peace.

So, how can we be part of the solution to this seemingly insoluble problem?

The first step is to turn to the Lord in prayer and intercession and then view the conflict through the lens of Scripture. Our actions must begin with prayer because this battle is a spiritual one, and prayer puts us in the right relationship with the One who made these promises. The Scriptures provide the understanding we need to propose workable solutions because they are in sync with God’s eternal purposes.

Then, like the centurion, we ought to find ways to bless Jewish people, as blessing the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will lead to blessings for the world. If we support those working toward the destruction of Jewish people and their removal from the land of Israel, then we are working against the eternal purposes of God (Acts 5:39)!

Let us join the Holy One in blessing Israel, Jewish people, and all men and women who are created in the image of God and for whom Jesus died.

Thank you for caring, praying, and supporting the 130-year-old work of Your Mission to the Jewish People.

Leave a comment

Filed under Anti-Semitism, Boycotts against Israel, evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Middle East, New York City

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

June 1, 2024 · 9:00 AM

Ministry in Israel Continues during War

Grace and peace in our Messiah, Jesus. We praise God for your faithful support and pray you will continue to be a friend to Israel. When surrounded by enemies, one’s friends become clearer and dearer. 

I do not need to remind you of the more than 3,000 Hamas terrorists who stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, murdering, raping, and kidnapping innocent Israelis living near Gaza as well as young people attending a music festival—all crimes against humanity. Many Israeli soldiers and Gazan civilians whom Hamas used as human shields have since lost their lives due to the ensuing war. 

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) called up 360,000 reserve troops to join this fight against the terrorists and eliminate the threat against Israel. The IDF is also searching for 130 hostages taken on October 7 who are still held in captivity. 

In addition to Hamas’ brutal assault, Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon continue to threaten Israel. Hezbollah is firing rockets daily into northern Israel, preventing 60,000 Israeli evacuees from returning to their homes. On Saturday, April 13, 2024, Iran launched more than 360 missiles and drones into Israeli territory— targeting mostly civilian areas! Thanks to Israel’s air force, the Iron Dome, and help from the United States, Jordan, and the United Kingdom, 99 percent of these missiles were eliminated. 

I heard from our staff about all they went through during the Iranian attack. We praise God for His protection, but as one of our staff members told me, “It was terrorizing for hours, knowing the attack was coming because we had hours to think about it and prepare.” I saw the pain on our staff member’s face when she told me how she felt during our call. Thank God all our staff are safe. We consider it to be a modern-day miracle there was no loss of life and minimal destruction of property. 

By God’s grace, our staff in Israel continue to proclaim the gospel and do all they can to meet the needs of suffering Israelis.

MINISTRY IN ISRAEL DURING WAR

Thank you for supporting Israel and Jewish people around the world. Please continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). By God’s grace, our staff in Israel is doing more than ever to reach “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). They discovered new ways to proclaim the good news to Israelis hungry for the Word of God. Many turned to the book of Psalms for comfort and hope while waiting for the drones to arrive.

Our wonderful staff worked with other ministry partners in Israel to bring food, clothing, hygiene items, and various necessities to soldiers and Israelis evacuated for their safety from their homes near the northern and southern borders. 

Chosen People Ministries—Israel continues to proclaim the gospel of Jesus in these difficult times. Our Bible studies, prayer meetings, and outreach events are filling with seekers and believers needing help through the challenges of daily life. Our staff are finding Israelis more open to the Lord as they seek answers to life’s deepest questions. 

Here are a few great stories about how God is working through our staff during this critical time in Israel’s history! 

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUNG ADULTS

One young Israeli man, wanting to grow spiritually, began asking one of our staff serious questions about the Bible and his relationship with Jesus. He felt he was losing the spiritual excitement he experienced early on as a believer when he sensed God’s peace. Previously, he had multiple opportunities to proclaim the gospel, but his zeal had worn off and was replaced with such emotional pain and spiritual struggle he even began to weep. His passion to grow in the Lord during difficult days moved our Israel staff!

ISRAELI SOLDIER COMES TO FAITH

Oren* first connected with our staff on social media late last summer. Although he grew up in an atheistic family, he found himself increasingly pondering the existence of God. After starting his mandatory military service, he began reading the Tanakh (Old Testament). He was surprised by Isaiah chapter 53 and how it predicted the life and ministry of the Messiah, Jesus. Oren wanted to know more and asked one of our staff to meet with him.

During the meeting, Oren took notes and expressed delight when our staff member gave him a Hebrew copy of my book, Isaiah 53 Explained. He met with this staff member several times, and then October 7 happened. At the beginning of November, Oren reached out again. He told our staff how he miraculously survived during the initial terror attack in southern Israel. Because he was saved while so many others were killed, his hunger for the truth about God continued to grow. 

When the situation in southern Israel improved, Oren asked to resume meeting with our Israel staff. During one of these meetings, they read together from John chapter 3. When he reached verse 16, Oren—in his own words—told us he finally realized the depth of Yeshua’s love for him. He asked our staff to pray with him to confess his belief in Jesus as his Savior. Oren is now baptized and growing in his faith!

AGNOSTIC ISRAELI WOMAN ATTENDS BIBLE STUDY

Someone invited Rotem,* a formerly religious and now agnostic Israeli woman, to an event at our Tel Aviv Messianic Center. She arrived late, fatigued, and had missed most of the program, but bounced back to life as she spoke with our staff. Our staff invited her to an upcoming women’s Hebrew Bible study, and she eagerly accepted.

The Bible study took place at our Tel Aviv center a few days later, and Rotem was the first to arrive. As others trickled in, one young lady asked what it meant to be created in God’s image and likeness. This launched a vigorous discussion even before the Bible study began. Once the study started, Rotem was obviously excited as the group was studying the life of Joseph (Genesis 39–40), which “happened” to be her favorite Bible story! Rotem volunteered to read and then engaged in the discussion. 

When they closed in prayer, she made a prayer request, and our staff could hear her faintly praying under her breath. Afterward, she told a staff member she had not prayed in months, certainly not since October 7. She thought God would not and could not hear her prayers. However, as our staff prayed, she sensed God was listening and prayed along! 

Rotem accepted a Hebrew Bible, which also listed Messianic prophecies. Two weeks later, at our women’s brunch, she told our staff she was reading the Bible regularly! Please pray for Rotem; God is at work.

PSALMS OF HOPE

Aside from all the wonderful personal ministry with Israelis, our staff members are also seeing success in our online approach to evangelism. We learned the term “Psalms” was the primary Google search in Israel over the last few months—especially on Saturday, April 13. I was stunned, as most Israelis are quite secular. This tells me Israelis are open to a relationship with God at this critical time in Israel’s history. 

We plan to initiate a “Psalms of Hope” campaign this month, using the Psalms to turn the eyes of Israelis toward the Messiah of Israel. We will start with a budget of $75,000 to provide the advertising punch for this campaign. We will advertise online through Facebook, YouTube, and other sites, as well as through brochures and newspapers. We hope to distribute a new booklet based on a selection of Psalms with some devotional and evangelistic thoughts included as well. 

Since we know Israelis are currently seeking for answers and turning to Psalms, we hope to encourage their search as we prayerfully try to reach as many as possible with God’s Word. We cannot wait for Israelis to discover Psalms 2, 16, 22, 110, and other Messianic psalms. We will begin by inviting them to read Psalm 23, which is familiar to most Jewish people, then introduce them to psalms speaking of the comfort we can have through the Messiah, Jesus.

We know God’s Word never returns void! 

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Messianic Jewish, Middle East

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

May 15, 2024 · 9:00 AM

Say “No” to Antisemitism!

As the war in Israel continues, our hearts go out to those suffering due to the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah! The impact of the conflict now stretches across the globe. It has caused the rise of new challenges for the worldwide Jewish community and for Your Mission to the Jewish People, as you can see from the following reports about the growing number of antisemitic incidents in the United States. Sadly, I am certain further events will have transpired by the time my letter crosses your desk or kitchen table. Yet, the pro-Hamas protestors act as if October 7 never happened!

THE CHILLING TRENDS

The Anti-Defamation League, the world’s leading organization tracking and opposing antisemitism, reported in early January, 

In the three months since the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, U.S. antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed, reaching a total of 3,291* incidents between Oct. 7 and Jan. 7, according to ADL’s (the Anti-Defamation League) preliminary data. This represents a 361-percent increase compared to the same period one year prior, which saw 712 incidents.

The preliminary three-month tally is higher than the total number of antisemitic incidents tracked in any year in the last decade, except for calendar year 2022, when the total number of incidents reached a historic high of 3,697. Since Oct. 7, there was an average of nearly 34 antisemitic incidents per day, putting 2023 on track to be the highest year for antisemitic acts against Jews since ADL started tracking this data in the late 1970s.1

Although these statistics are from the United States, this dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents is global, especially affecting Western countries where you might not expect this dramatic rise in Jewish hatred.

I am especially astounded by the antisemitism currently raging in England. According to the Community Security Trust, which gathers information on antisemitism in the United Kingdom, there were 3,328 incidents of abusive behavior, 266 assaults, 305 threats, and 182 acts of damage and desecration throughout 2023. The charity said there was a total of 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom in 2023, up from the previous annual record of 2,261 in 2021.2

Similar occurrences of antisemitic hatred were recorded in Canada and Australia, home to hundreds of thousands of Jewish people.

MY FAMILY’S STORY

My maternal grandparents emigrated from Belarus to the United States to escape the everyday horrors of antisemitism. Little did they know the most extreme, diabolical, and destructive expression of antisemitism would soon come from Germany, one of the most sophisticated and Christianized countries in Western Europe.

My grandparents left their homes and families behind because of the attacks against Jewish people (called pogroms), which motivated them to make the dramatic move to an unknown country! Like so many Jewish people, they were desperate to get away from those who sought their destruction and build a better life for their children. They willingly left the land, language, and life they knew to live in a land built upon freedom of religion.

The United States still had some restrictions prohibiting or limiting Jewish people at colleges and fraternal organizations and in certain professions. But my grandparents could still own property, get a better education, and enjoy opportunities in their new homeland they could not get in Europe.

COUNTERING THE CURRENT WAVE OF ANTISEMITISM

So much of the current wave of antisemitism is rooted in the belief in Israel and Jewish people in general as aggressors. We would not suggest every criticism of the policies and actions of the State of Israel, valid or not, springs from the poison of antisemitism. Yet, from what we have seen taking place across the United States, anti-Zionism and the belief Israel is an illegitimate state is often fueled by antisemitism.

I am sorry to say Jewish students on our university campuses are feeling the brunt of a growing, unreasonable anger and hatred. They are often targeted by Hamas sympathizers, who are abetted by administrations at various—and not just “elite”—schools, which seem to look the other way and tolerate targeted protests.

One of the groups countering the growing antisemitism on campuses across our country is the Brandeis Center in Boston—part of the enduring legacy of the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, the late Louis Brandeis. He was a staunch supporter of Jewish rights and the State of Israel. The Brandeis Center plays a vital role in opposing antisemitism on campus.

Let me give you a couple of examples of what they are doing:

The Brandeis Center and Jewish on Campus (JOC) filed a joint complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on behalf of numerous Jewish students at American University (AU) who have been assaulted, threatened, harassed and intimidated in dormitories, classrooms and campus spaces. According to the complaint, AU was fully aware of the pervasive and hostile environment for Jewish students, and not only ignored it, in some cases, it chose to subject Jewish whistleblowers to harassment and disciplinary proceedings.3

And further,

In another story, on the downfall of Harvard’s and UPenn’s presidents and the double standard applied to Jewish students by campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, Marcus [president of the Center] stated: “DEI offices have often acted as if Jewish Americans were outside their scope of responsibility.” When Jewish students go to DEI offices seeking support, “they will receive a cold shoulder from administrators who are quicker to support members of other groups such as African American, Hispanics, or gay or lesbian students.”4

Whereas we hope all those who feel the pain of discrimination and prejudice will find help, the overt dismissal of Jewish student concerns is intolerable and unfair. I believe followers of Jesus need to spring into action on behalf of Jewish people.

SHOULD CHRISTIANS OPPOSE ANTISEMITISM?

We must ask ourselves the question: “Is opposing antisemitism a spiritual duty for all believers in Jesus?”

Today’s antisemitism, seen in synagogue shootings, attacks on a kosher market in France, the taking of hostages at a synagogue in Dallas, and through the growing presence of antisemitism on social media, is no longer merely latent. To a large degree, tensions in the Middle East have exacerbated this growing antisemitism.

However, we would be mistaken in thinking this “oldest hatred” did not exist prior to October 7 or before Israel became a modern state.

After October 7, it did not take long for antisemites to begin targeting Jewish people in the United States, Germany, England, and across the globe. It is apparent their hatred of Jewish people was not new, and the events of October 7 simply sparked what was already there, causing it to rise to the surface. Really, the opposite should have been the case. It is also remarkable how quickly Hamas sympathizers swept the atrocities committed by the terrorist organization on October 7 under the rug.

Jewish people worldwide are now the objects of anger and contempt by these same sympathizers. It seems as if any Jewish event on campus and in various communities is subject to the wrath of radical and violent advocates who believe their mission is to remove Israel “from the river to the sea.”

This terrible surge of global antisemitism needs to be stopped. First, by our prayers, followed by our actions.

THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF ANTISEMITISM

The roots of antisemitism remain deeply woven into our culture and those of many Western countries, as well as those nations part of the Arab world. Yet, the problem goes deeper than this!

As I have mentioned in the past, the root of antisemitism is profoundly spiritual.

We affirm God chose Jewish people to be His people and to accomplish His purposes (Genesis 12:1–3). At the exact moment God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants, the devil chose Jewish people as his target throughout the ages. The devil hates God, our Messiah, the Bible, and Jewish people.

As believers in Jesus, we must support Jewish people globally, even if we have political disagreements with the modern State of Israel. Affirming God’s chosen people is a personal duty for all Christians and requires our standing against antisemitism.

In light of God’s far-reaching purposes for the global Jewish community, we have no option other than to find ways in this hateful environment to defend and protect Jewish people and to oppose antisemitism wherever we see it today.

Thanks for your love, prayers, and support for Israel and Jewish people—and all who are oppressed by Hamas—especially for the hostages held in Gaza since October 7. The next section of the newsletter will offer some practical suggestions for ways Christians can support Jewish people and oppose antisemitism.

Endnotes

*Note: This is preliminary data. An earlier version of this press release was updated on January 17, 2024 to reflect the latest findings.

1 “U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Skyrocketed 360% in Aftermath of Attack in Israel, According to Latest ADL Data,” ADL, January 17, 2024, https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/us-antisemitic-incidents-skyrocketed-360-aftermath-attack-israel-according.

2 Yoni Gordon-Teller, “Antisemitic Incidents 2023,” Community Security Trust, 2024, https://cst.org.uk/data/file/9/f/Antisemitic_Incidents_Report_2023.1707834969.pdf.

3 “February 2024 Brandeis Brief,” Brandeis Center (blog), February 8, 2024, https://brandeiscenter.com/february-2024-brandeis-brief/.

4 “February 2024 Brandeis Brief.”

Leave a comment

Filed under Anti-Semitism, evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Middle East, New York City, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

May 1, 2024 · 4:22 PM

Campus Antisemitism on the Rise

On May 14, 1948, Israel declared itself a modern nation. This joyful event is celebrated by the Jewish community every year on May 14. It is called Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut), but this does not mean Israel had never been an independent nation throughout history, including the biblical story.

As Mark Twain wrote so many years ago,

The Egyptians, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished.

The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was. . . . All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he [the Jew] remains. What is the secret of his immortality? 1

The secret to Jewish people’s survival, of course, is God’s faithfulness to His glorious promises for Israel as a land and a people. As the prophet Jeremiah wrote,

Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; the Lord of hosts is His name: “If this fixed order departs from before Me,” declares the Lord, “then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.” (Jeremiah 31:35–36)

I view 1948 as the year when Israel “reasserted” her independence as a nation. As students of the Bible, and especially those who cherish prophecy, we believe the events of 1948 were not merely the fruition of the combined human effort of great men like Theodor Herzl and other early Zionist leaders but rather an act of God. We celebrate this holiday and honor its momentous occasion with Israel and Jewish people around the world, especially in light of the hardships Israelis are facing today. 

As we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut in solidarity with Israel, we recognize and pray for lasting peace, which has been so elusive since the first attacks in 1948 by the Arab coalition seeking to destroy Israel even before the ink was dry on their declaration of independence. So, following the words of the psalmist, we continue to pray for the peace (shalom) of Jerusalem, knowing our prayers for Israel come with a promise, as the psalmist adds, “May they prosper who love you” (Psalm 122:6). 

ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUS

Sadly, it has not been a peaceful time for Israel or Jewish people lately, especially at universities around the globe. I never thought I would come to this stage of my life to witness the growing antisemitism taking place today. It is deeply disappointing for me and many Jewish people. The number of antisemitic attacks on Jewish people rose 700 percent after October 7 compared to the same period the year prior. The social media climate has become an intolerable hotbed of antisemitic tropes and attacks.

Let me give you some facts to consider and, hopefully, this will encourage you to pray and even to take action.

The following reports are from the Jerusalem Post, a reputable Israeli-based newspaper, from February 20, 2024.

The number of antisemitic incidents on college campuses in the United States since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7 passed 1,000 on Monday. Adam Lehman, President and CEO of the Hillel International, revealed during a joint session of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations and the Knesset Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs on Tuesday morning. According to Lehman, the number of antisemitic incidents marked a 700% rise since the parallel period a year earlier. Some 44 of these incidents were physical attacks—more than the past 10 years combined; and 56% of Jewish students [said] they feel unwelcome on college campuses, he added.2

The rise of antisemitism on campuses throughout the United States is causing some Jewish high school students to consider this as a factor in where they apply to college!

According to the Jerusalem Post,

A new survey of nearly 2,000 BBYO participants across North America, taken in recent weeks, found that 64% said antisemitism on campus was an important factor in their decision regarding where to attend college.3 More than 60% said they had experienced antisemitism in person. “It made me not apply to some colleges,” Bianca De Almeida, a senior from Miami, told JTA regarding the December congressional hearing, where the presidents of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also declined to say outright whether campus policy prohibited calls for the genocide of Jews.4

It is a mistake to consider only the “elite” universities problematic. Antisemitism is now everywhere and on almost every campus, including high schools. Earlier this year, a Texas school district reviewed a request to remove a graphic adaptation of Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl from school libraries. The episode received significant attention. According to a report from the “Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission Study on Antisemitism in Texas,” this is the timeline of events:

  • A parent in the Keller Independent School District near Dallas challenged the appropriateness of offering the graphic adaptation of Anne Frank’s diary in the school library, saying it should be viewed only in the presence of an adult. 
  • On August 15, Keller school officials temporarily removed all books that had been challenged during the year during their review process, as part of a policy they had just approved. 
  • On August 19, the book was returned to circulation. . . .
  • The school superintendent wrote to parents “Keller ISD is not banning the Bible or The Diary of Anne Frank, as has been suggested in some headlines and shared on social media.”5

My dear friend, antisemitism is a tool in the hands of the devil, and, as believers, we need to OPPOSE ANTISEMITISM wherever we see it. Antisemitism is an attack on God Himself, as Jewish people are still the “apple of His eye:”

For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8).

We need to be united, love what our Savior loves, and hate what He hates!

Your Mission to the Jewish People is sponsoring several conferences as we continue to provide resources and opportunities for Christians to stand together against antisemitism. 

THE MOODY CONFERENCE AGAINST ANTISEMITISM

Join us at the Moody Conference against Antisemitism, scheduled at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, November 8–9, 2024. Michael Rydelnik, vice president of the undergraduate school; Mark Jobe, president of Moody Bible Institute; myself; and many others will explore the spiritual roots of antisemitism.

We will suggest ways believers can support Jewish people and take a united stand against this oldest hatred! 

THE COURAGE CONFERENCE

We scheduled a conference at Moody this summer for younger adults serving the Lord on campuses nationwide. We are expecting up to one hundred students who serve the Lord and support Israel and Jewish people on their campuses.

Jewish students on college campuses are being persecuted, and we want them to know they are not alone. We plan to train these young people how to stand with Jewish people and handle persecution because of their identity and faith. We will also have experts join us to teach these students how to find legal protection if needed and how to work with faculty and university administrators to protect their freedoms on campus.

We hope to build a national fellowship of students standing for the Lord and for Jewish people, and your prayers and support are critical to our success.

Thanks for caring.

Your brother,

Mitch

P.S. Please continue to pray for the hostages held in Gaza!

Endnotes

1 Mark Twain, “Concerning the Jews,” Harper’s Magazine, March 1898, https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1898twain-jews.asp.

2 Eliav Breuer, “College Campuses See Disturbing Rise of Antisemitism since October 7,” The Jerusalem Post, February 20, 2024, sec. Diaspora: Antisemitism, https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-787895.

3 BBYO (B’nai Brith Youth Organization) is a youth movement for Jewish teenagers. 

4 Jacob Gurvis and JTA, “Jewish Teens Looking at a New Factor in College Search: Antisemitism,” The Jerusalem Post, February 17, 2024, sec. Diaspora: Antisemitism, https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-787385.

5 Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission, “Study on Antisemitism in Texas,” November 1, 2022, https://thgaac.texas.gov/assets/uploads/docs/THGAAC-Study-on-Antisemitism-12-2022.pdf. Emphasis added. 

Leave a comment

Filed under Anti-Semitism, Boycotts against Israel, evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, New York City, Palestinian

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

April 15, 2024 · 8:30 AM

Passover Points to a God Who Keeps His Promises

I would like to wish you a Happy Passover and Easter.

Since the exodus, Jewish people have celebrated Passover as a memorial to God’s love, power, and plan for His chosen people. It is a reminder of how the Lord of the universe, against all odds, promised to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and bring them back to the land of Israel (Genesis 15:13–14). Passover reminds us God has not forgotten His promises to His people.

If God keeps His promises to Jewish people, then we have further confidence He will keep His promises to all those who have trusted in Jesus!

Each year, on the fourteenth day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, God asks the people of Israel to stop whatever they are doing and observe the Passover—regardless of circumstances. The Jewish community observed the festival amid the darkest moments of Jewish history—the Crusades, pogroms in Eastern Europe, the Holocaust, and the wars following the formation of the modern State of Israel in 1948. 

Despite the terrible loss of life on October 7, 2023, and the ongoing war we currently face in Israel, Jewish people will again remember God’s miraculous redemption and faithfulness revealed in the Passover! The observance of Passover is a higher priority than all other events or challenges we face as families and as Jewish individuals. Our busy schedules must bow to the Lord’s commands and plans—this is true not only for Jewish people but for every follower of Jesus as well! 

The prioritizing of God’s will we learn from observing the Passover and other holidays is a critical lesson for those who want to follow the Lord. We need to be ready to drop what we are doing in order to obey the Lord and follow Him. This practice is an important lesson Christians can learn from Jewish people. 

PASSOVER: HOPE FOR SHATTERED TRUST

On October 7, most Israelis lost trust in the army and government, whose preparation for and response to the flagrant violation of Israel’s borders was insufficient at best. I cannot blame my fellow Jewish people living in Israel for feeling this way, as they were profoundly disappointed by those entrusted to protect them. When we draw back the curtains of history and look at the story of Passover, we see there is only One who merits our complete trust—God Himself. 

Egypt trusted in their numerous gods, but the God of Israel proved Himself stronger than them all. The Lord delivered His people “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 26:8). Passover teaches us God shows up at the right time, even when it seems all odds are stacked against Jewish people. We trust in God alone for Israel’s ultimate deliverance from her enemies at the end of days.

The Bible teaches all humankind is damaged by sin, which clouds our judgment and often causes us to place the concerns of this world above God’s concerns. Even the people we love sometimes disappoint us because of sin. Sin also taints all human institutions, which ultimately disappoint us.

God warned Israel not to trust in man but rather in God:

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord! (Isaiah 31:1)

I understand this passage very personally, as I trusted in the world until the day I met the Jewish Messiah, who delivered me from my false reliance and enabled me to stand upon the rock of His faithfulness. Though it may take some time, and we may struggle with trusting in the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding—or the understanding of others—the Lord will always prove Himself trustworthy. My prayer for my people today is for this disenchantment with institutions and people to lead to a deeper trust in the God of Israel and His promises.

IN GOD WE SHOULD TRUST

When I think about the future of Jewish people, I think of passages in the prophets like Isaiah 62, Amos 9, and Jeremiah 31. Perhaps we can take a quick look at this last passage and remember God’s promises of Israel’s deliverance: 

Thus says the Lord, “If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:37)

God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham will not allow Him to stand by and watch the destruction of His chosen people. The Lord Himself will make sure Israel fulfills the purposes for which He created and chose them. Passover is an excellent example. For the Israelites to fulfill their divine calling, they had to dwell in the land of promise. Egypt’s power could not stand in the way, and God rescued His people with great signs. Passover is a reminder of God’s faithful track record. Because He has saved and sustained His people thus far, we can be confident He will continue.

We already see signs of Jesus’ soon return when all Israel will recognize Him as the Savior. Many Jewish people have returned to the land of Israel in unbelief and will one day experience the fullness of the Spirit of God. The dry bones of Ezekiel 37 will come alive! Yet, this fulfillment is only the beginning. Jewish people simply living in the land does not satisfy the totality of the Abrahamic promise, as Israel must inherit the land and dwell in peace with her neighbors:

In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:24–25) 

As we well know, this has yet to happen! However, it will come to pass when Jewish people turn to Jesus, and He returns to reign as King. Jerusalem, Israel, and the world will then be transformed.

Too often, we end Israel’s story at the cross and see Jewish people replaced by those who follow Jesus—including Jewish people and Gentile nations—without understanding the day will come when Jewish people return to the Lord and Messiah. Only then will the world be blessed as the Holy One promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:3).

Darrell Bock, a New Testament scholar, often says the inclusion of the Gentiles does not demand the exclusion of the Jewish people from the purposes of God (Romans 11:17–18).

Another incredible blessing we look forward to when Jesus returns is God Himself will once again rule over His creation without the limitations the fall caused. As Jeremiah wrote:

They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, declares the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. (Jeremiah 31:34)

For those who follow Jesus, part of this verse has already come to pass, as God has forgiven all our sins because of our faith in the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. However, this prophecy has obviously yet to be fulfilled entirely. Nevertheless, I believe the universal reign of the one true King is one of the glorious results of the second coming of Jesus!

Passover not only reminds Jewish people of God’s plan of redemption but also reminds those who love the Jewish Messiah today He will come again to deliver our beautiful-but-broken world from the darkness and frailty of sin once and for all. 

Passover makes me cry out: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Happy Easter and Passover from your Chosen People Ministries family,
Mitch

P.S. My heart still breaks for the hostages. We must not forget about them but continue to pray for their release from captivity, especially during Passover!

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Holidays & Festivals, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jewish Holidays, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Passover, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,