Word from Jerusalem - May 2023 - USA Edition

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was established in1980 in recognition of the biblical significance of all of Jerusalem and its unique connection to the Jewish people. Today the ICEJ represents millions of Christians, churches, and denominations to the nation and people of Israel. We recognize in the restoration of Israel the faithfulness of God to keep His ancient covenant with the Jewish people. Our main objectives are:

• To stand with Israel in support and friendship;

• To equip and teach the worldwide church regarding God’s purposes with Israel and the nations of the Middle East;

• To be an active voice of reconciliation between Jews, Christians, and Arabs, and to support the churches and congregations in the Holy Land.

From its head offices in Jerusalem, the ICEJ reaches out into more than 170 countries worldwide, with branch offices in over 90 nations.

Our vision is:

• To reach every segment of Israel’s society with a Christian testimony of comfort and love, and

• To reach and actively represent to Israel the support of denominations, churches, and believers from every nation on earth.

The Christian Embassy is a non-denominational faith-based ministry supported by the voluntary contributions of our partners and friends across the globe. We invite you to join with us as we minister to Israel and the Jewish people worldwide by donating to the ongoing work and witness of the ICEJ.

Dear friends,

This month Israel is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its rebirth as a nation on May 14, 1948. This momentous event was made possible by the passage of the United Nation’s Partition Plan for Palestine six months earlier, on November 29, 1947, which gave international legitimacy to the founding of a Jewish State in the historic Land of Israel.

In this issue of Word From Jerusalem, you’ll read about that Partition Plan and how it paved the way for Israel’s independence just six months later (pp. 4–5). But you’ll also consider another profound event: the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which happened right as Israel was about to be declared a State (pp. 6–7). These two events that astoundingly coincided with one another declare God is moving and making Himself known in our day!

You’ll also read about the latest group of 155 Ethiopian Jewish immigrants who arrived in Israel at the end of March (p. 11) and learn more about where they trace their roots in the Bible (p. 10). And you’ll enjoy reading about the impact ICEJ is having on at-risk communities as we continue to place bomb shelters to protect those under frequent rocket fire (pp. 12–13).

I hope to see many of you in person at the Feast of Tabernacles celebration. Please consider joining the US tour to Israel from September 29 to October 6, 2023, when we will worship with others from around the world God who is “King of all the earth” (Psalm 47:7).

CREDITS

ICEJ President Dr. Jürgen Bühler

USA Director Susan Michael

VP International Affairs Dr. Mojmir Kallus

VP Finance David van der Walt

VP Operations Barry R. Denison

VP International Spokesman David Parsons

VP AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder

Managing Editor/Publications Director Laurina Driesse

USA Managing Editor Karen Engle

Staff Writer Anastasiya Gooding

Graphic Design/Illustrators Ryan Tsuen, Peter Ecenroad, Nancy Schimp

Photography Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Flash90, GPO, Getty Images, JAFI, MirYam Institute, United Hatzalah, CNET, Wikimedia Commons, Levi Dörflinger, Wikimedia Commons, Levi Dörflinger, ICEJ Staff and Branches

The New King James Bible is used for all Bible references unless otherwise noted.

Word From Jerusalem is published by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Word From Jerusalem has no subscription price and is supported through contributions worldwide. The ICEJ USA Branch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with offices in Tennessee, Florida, and Washington, DC. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible according to United States law.

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM - USA

Support our ministry online at: www.icejusa.org

As we celebrate Israel’s rebirth—a fulfillment of God’s promise to bring His people home as the Hebrew prophets had foretold—we hope you are experiencing the same excitement as we are! May you be blessed and encouraged by all we do together, and we thank you for standing with us.

Many blessings from Jerusalem!

Dr. Juergen Buehler President

FOR MAGAZINE ARCHIVES visit www.icejusa.org/wfj

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

COVER PHOTO: Qumran caves in the Dead Sea region where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered

FROM PARTITION TO STATEHOOD THE UNHERALDED CHRISTIANS WHO AIDED ISRAEL’S REBIRTH 75 YEARS AGO

BY DAVID PARSONS, ICEJ VICE PRESIDENT & SENIOR SPOKESMAN

This year, Israel is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its rebirth as a nation on May 14, 1948. This momentous event was made possible by the passage of the United Nation’s Partition Plan for Palestine six months earlier, on November 29, 1947, which gave international legitimacy to the founding of a Jewish State in the historic Land of Israel.

The UN Partition Plan, approved on November 29, 1947, paved the way for Israel’s independence just six months later. It also enraged Arab leaders, who launched an invasion to choke the Jewish State at its birth. A review of these momentous events reveals the power and intrigue of great nations pitted against courageous Zionists, who triumphed with help from some unheralded Christian friends.

An Unworkable Mandate

With Arab-Jewish clashes mounting in Palestine, Great Britain suddenly announced in February 1947 that its Mandate was “unworkable” and referred the matter to the United Nations. Eleven member states were appointed to the

UN Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) to conduct an inquiry and propose a solution. UNSCOP came to Palestine to investigate in June 1947. Mandate authorities tried to hinder their fact-finding mission, but the committee resourcefully gathered information from all parties, including the Jewish underground movements. They were impressed with Jewish advances in the Land. They met in Beirut with intransigent Arab leaders who had refused to appear in Jerusalem. Finally, before retiring to Geneva to draft a report, the committee visited some of the 250,000 Jews in European refugee camps, who unanimously declared their longing for Eretz Israel—the Land of Israel.

The plight of these Jewish refugees weighed

heavily on the committee. Desperate efforts to bring them to Palestine were blocked by Britain’s pro-Arab policies. The sad ordeal of the ship Exodus 1947, packed with 4,500 destitute Holocaust Survivors, caught UNSCOP’s attention that summer.

Rev. John Grauel

Rev. John Grauel, a Christian sympathizer with the Zionist cause, volunteered as the only non-Jewish crew member and witnessed the British assaults on Jews aboard the Exodus 1947 off Haifa. He rushed to Jerusalem and gave compelling testimony before the committee— how the ship was rammed seven times, then boarded by armed sailors who shot and clubbed to death defenseless boys.

SS Exodus 1947 following British takeover (note damage to makeshift barriers), March 22, 1947

“The Exodus had no arms,” Rev. Grauel insisted. “All they fought with were potatoes, canned goods, and their bare fists.” The refugees eventually were returned to Germany. The tragedy stretched out several months before a worldwide audience, fueling the committee’s growing sense of its humanitarian mission.

Rev. William Hull

Rev. William Hull also impacted UNSCOP that summer, especially the Canadian delegate, Justice Ivan Rand. Also from Canada, Rev. Hull had ministered in Jerusalem since 1935 and knew firsthand of the injustices visited upon the Yishuv by British and Arab alike. Over dinner one evening, Justice Rand listened to Hull’s views and later admitted their encounter clarified his understanding of the dispute and gave him new appreciation for Zionist endeavors. Hull also presented his biblical, pro-Zionist views in a letter to the full committee. Justice Rand was a respected member of the committee and, since Canada was part of the Commonwealth, his anti-British leanings held great sway. One Jewish Agency representative called Rand “the conscience of the committee.”

Reflecting Hull’s influence, Rand took a firm position: “The pledge concerning a Jewish national home has never been fulfilled … For the past 10 years, immigration and land purchases have been artificially restricted, and the Jewish community has had to remain static. It’s clear that were it not for the White Paper (of 1939) and the land legislation, the Jews would have had far larger areas than they hold today.”

Guatemalan Ambassador Jorge GarciaGranados, a member of UNSCOP and veteran of his own country’s struggle for freedom, understood the real meaning of the Jewish return. In The Birth of Israel, Granados writes of UNSCOP’s enthusiastic welcome in Tel Aviv that summer:

I contemplated the enormous mass of humanity filling the square and overflowing into the streets … still applauding, still cheering. … It was then that I first really realized what the coming of our committee meant to the Jewish people. We held in our hands life or death.

The majority of UNSCOP recommended ending Britain’s role in Palestine, partitioning it into separate Jewish and Arab states with economic ties and placing Jerusalem under an international trusteeship. The UN Partition Plan (Resolution 181) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 29, 1947.

The Jewish Agency accepted this decision, but the Arabs launched an armed resistance to the plan. By the time the British Mandate ended on May 14, 1948, Arab-Jewish fighting had resulted in a de facto partition of Eretz Israel, and the Jewish people were poised to declare the rebirth of their ancient nation.

As May 14 dawned, the last British commander in Jerusalem lowered the Union Jack and departed for Cyprus. At 4:00 p.m., Ben-Gurion rose to address the crowd gathered inside the Tel Aviv Art Museum. The moral and legal foundations for the new State had been laid by “the Balfour Declaration, the UN Partition Resolution, the sacrifice of the Zionist pioneers, and the torment suffered by Jews in recent years.” Reading from Israel’s Declaration of Independence, he proclaimed:

The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious, and national identity was formed. Here they achieved independence and created a culture of national and universal significance. Here they wrote and gave the Bible to the world. Exiled

from the Land of Israel, the Jewish people remained faithful to it in all the countries of their dispersion, never ceasing to pray and hope for their return and the restoration of their national freedom.

The Jewish State would reach out in peace to all its neighbors and take its rightful place among the community of nations.

Later that day, the United Nations met again in New York to consider last-minute Arab proposals designed to avert impending Jewish statehood. Amid the debate, the American delegation was surprised by whispers that President Truman had just given de facto recognition to the new State of Israel at 6:11 p.m. Moments later, the US delegate went to the rostrum to officially confirm American recognition.

There was no further need for the special UN session. But before adjourning, Ambassador GarciaGranados, just months earlier a key member of UNSCOP, arose to announce Guatemala as the second country to recognize the new State of Israel.

A Day of Celebration Turned Dark November 2022 marked 75 years since the UN approval of that Partition Plan by a margin of 33 votes to 13, with 10 abstentions. Sadly, what should have been a day of celebration for Israel and her friends worldwide turned into a day of global protests against Zionism and for passing numerous anti-Israel resolutions at the UN headquarters in New York. Gil Kapen, executive director of the American Jewish International Relations Institute-B’nai B’rith International, said the passage of those resolutions means the nations of the world are paying the office of the UN Secretary General to publish and distribute daily strident antisemitic materials.

It is time for this travesty to stop, and for November 29 to be turned back into a day to celebrate Israel’s founding, not to call for its demise. This is especially true for Christians when we consider the unique role certain Christian figures played in passing the UN Partition Plan and the rebirth of Israel 75 years ago.

The 1939 White Paper was a British-issued policy document that limited Jewish immigration to 75,000 over 5 years and ended Jewish land purchases.

Rev. William Lovell Hull (photo credit www.mhs.mb.ca)

Rev. John Stanley Grauel on the SS Exodus 1947

THE GREAT LEGACY OF THE HEBREW BIBLE

BY DAVID PARSONS, ICEJ VICE PRESIDENT & SENIOR SPOKESMAN

When we consider the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, it all begins with the Scriptures we share: the Hebrew Bible. On this point, the apostle Paul stated a simple yet enduring truth: “To them were committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2).

Indeed, all the Holy Scriptures we hold dear— both Old and New Testament—were written by Jews, operating under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As some have said, the Jews were God’s “scribes” in delivering His eternal Word to us.

Nearly every religion has sacred books, yet none are as old or have as much wisdom, truth, revelation, inspiration, and accuracy as the amazing book we call the Bible. It is the most widely read and best-selling book of all time and the first holy book written using an alphabet.

In ancient times, the first written languages were pictorial, such as Egyptian hieroglyphics, Mesopotamia cuneiform, and the Chinese language characters that have survived to this day. They all seemed to emerge independently in distant cultures around 5,000 years ago, using thousands of pictograms and marks to represent sounds, syllables, or concepts used in the spoken languages of that day; only the learned could read, write, and understand these vast arrays of symbols.

In contrast, scholars say our modern-day alphabets began developing around 3,500 years ago—and there is mounting evidence that the first language to employ a small set of alphabetic letters was Hebrew.

The earliest alphabetic inscriptions ever found were in a proto-Semitic form discovered in 1905 by British archaeologist William Flinders Petrie on the walls of a cave in the Sinai. He proposed the Israelites made them as they journeyed from Egypt to the promised land. Then in 1916 a British Egyptologist named Alan Gardiner further concluded the Sinai cave inscriptions used an alphabet derived from shortened forms of Egyptian hieroglyphics. He and others have theorized that this early proto-Hebraic

alphabet was developed around 2000 BC by Semitic peoples working or trading in Egypt to communicate better with the Egyptians.

The ICEJ screened a documentary film on this topic at a recent Feast of Tabernacles, Patterns of Evidence: The Moses Controversy with Timothy Mahoney, which credits the Hebrew patriarch Joseph—who is described as a wise man in Genesis 41:39—with developing this first alphabet to help his family understand their Egyptian hosts better.

Unlike the older pictorial language scripts, the development of the alphabet seems to have only one point of origin, and all our modern alphabets descend from it. Interestingly, the word “alphabet” itself is derived from the first two letters of the Hebrew language: “aleph” and “bet.”

This was a revolutionary leap in the advancement of humanity—a language reduced to 22 letters that anyone could learn, allowing them to read and write just like the scribes and nobles.

By the time Israel reached Sinai, God delivered to them the Ten Commandments and all the Torah in an easy-to-use Hebrew script, with the repeated instructions to “teach them to your children” (Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 4:9–10,

6:7, 11:19, 31:19). Isaiah adds: “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children” (Isaiah 54:13).

Thus, Israel became the first nation to develop an alphabet and have universal literacy among their people. In his commentary series on Exodus, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks sees this evidenced in the book of Judges when Gideon “caught a young man of the men of Succoth and interrogated him; and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men” (Judges 8:14). Gideon rightly assumed this young Israelite could read and write.

The secret to why so many Jews are so learned and successful and win Nobel prizes is because they have always placed a premium on being a literate people, which arose from the Lord’s command to teach the Word of God to their children even from a young age. This has greatly separated the Jews from other peoples over the centuries. And it is a legacy they bequeathed to Christians, who also began to emphasize that everyone should learn to read and write at a young age, primarily so they can read the Bible.

So if you want to explore the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith, start with a word of thanks to God and the Jewish people for the Bible itself—and even for our own alphabets.

Codex Sassoon, believed to be the oldest complete Hebrew Bible dating back 1,100 years, is to be auctioned in May 2023. (cnet.com)

ISRAEL’S NATIONAL REBIRTH AND THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

BY DAVID PARSONS, ICEJ VICE PRESIDENT & SENIOR SPOKESMAN

As David Ben-Gurion prepared to declare the reborn State of Israel 75 years ago this May, another major event in Jewish history was transpiring—the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. In fact, on the same day the United Nations voted the previous November to create a Jewish State in Mandatory Palestine, a leading Hebrew University archaeologist confirmed the far-reaching historical significance of the scrolls.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are widely recognized today as the most significant treasure trove of ancient original religious manuscripts ever found. They verify sacred biblical texts and reveal intricate details of Jewish faith and culture in the late Second Temple era.

The timing of these two events could not have been more striking—right as Israel was about to be revived as a nation in its ancestral homeland after 2,000 years of exile, that land gave up incredible secrets of its rich Jewish past. The timing also could not have been more critical, for if the archaeologist had waited another day to take custody of and examine the first batch of scrolls, they might never have made it into Jewish hands.

The first scrolls were found in February 1947 by a Bedouin shepherd boy searching for a lost sheep near the ruins of Qumran, an ancient Jewish community at the north end of the Dead Sea. He tossed a stone into a cave opening above him, heard the sound of pottery cracking, and climbed into the cave with a friend to discover two large jars filled with old parchments.

Months later, the boys showed the scrolls to two antiquities dealers in Bethlehem. The Arab dealers accompanied the shepherd boys back to the cave to search for more and found seven intact scrolls.

Curious about what they had discovered, they asked an Armenian acquaintance in the Old City of Jerusalem to find an antiquities expert to assess their significance. He, in turn, contacted Eleazar Sukenik, an archaeology professor at Hebrew University.

By now, British forces were about to leave Mandatory Palestine, and violence was brewing between Jews and Arabs. The British had divided Jerusalem into military zones with barbed wire separating Jewish and Arab neighborhoods. It was hard to move between zones, but Sukenik agreed to meet the Armenian broker near a checkpoint and got his first peek at one of the scrolls through the security fence. He noticed it resembled the Hebrew scripts

found etched in first-century Jewish tombs around Jerusalem.

This spurred his interest enough to consider venturing to Bethlehem to meet the two Arab dealers and see their scrolls up close. But the United Nations was about to vote on partition that very day, November 28, 1947, and he knew clashes would erupt immediately if a Jewish State was approved. When Sukenik learned the vote had been delayed for a day, he decided at great personal risk to head to Bethlehem the next morning and return with the scrolls before the United Nations convened again in New York.

On November 29, 1947, Sukenik boarded an Arab bus for Bethlehem and met the dealers, who loaned him three parchments for closer analysis. He rushed back home with the scrolls and immediately deciphered them as ancient Jewish religious manuscripts, which today are known as the

“Thanksgiving Scroll” and the “War Scroll” from Qumran Cave 1. The third scroll contained portions of Isaiah (the entire book of Isaiah was later found and today is housed in the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem).

As Sukenik pondered the enormity of these finds, news bellowed over the radio that the United Nations had approved the creation of a Jewish State. He joined his family and neighbors out in the streets of Jerusalem to celebrate the decision.

And by the next morning, fighting had erupted on numerous fronts across the Land.

Sukenik died just a few years later, but his son, Yigal Yadin, a renowned IDF military commander, took up his father’s profession and became one of Israel’s foremost archaeological experts. Yadin would later write of his father’s breakthrough discovery: “I cannot avoid the feeling that there is something symbolic in the discovery of the scrolls and their acquisition at the moment of the creation of the State of Israel. It is as if these manuscripts had been waiting in caves for 2,000 years, ever since the destruction of Israel’s independence until the people of Israel had returned to their home and regained their freedom.”

The Isaiah Scroll housed in the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem (Flash90)

Professor Eleazar Sukenik

ICEJ USA LEADS PASSOVER SEDERS

“WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER NIGHTS?”

BY ICEJ USA STAFF

This year the ICEJ held several seders in different locations across the United States. Each was unique but carried a common theme: God’s faithfulness to bring His people out of slavery and establish them in the Land of Promise—a picture of what Jesus, the true Lamb of God, did on the cross when He won our salvation.

Dallas, TX

It was a night of celebrating freedom as 230 people gathered for a Passover seder at VIVA Church in Dallas, Texas. “A seder is a telling of the Hebrew people’s journey from slavery to freedom—from Egypt to the promised land,” said Peter Ecenroad, ICEJ USA Young Adults Director. “Tonight included the reading of the Passover story, and it was moving for me to hear the youngest congregants asking four questions to learn why the night of the seder is different from all other nights.”

Bram Maas and Peter Ecenroad from the USA Branch of the ICEJ led the seder with explanations and prayers expressed in English that were translated into Spanish by VIVA Church worship leader, Andrew Roman. Young children at the seder needed little help in understanding their job of finding the aifikommen, a special piece of matzah, hidden for them. Families experienced the rich meaning of the seder and enjoyed a delicious and festive meal.

“Our seder is always family-friendly, and we enjoyed seeing young families with their children participating,” said Bram Maas, ICEJ USA Marketing Director. “The seder brought this special congregation together in song and celebration, and it was definitely an evening to remember.”

Murfreesboro, TN

On Thursday April 13, 2023, the ICEJ hosted a Christian Celebration of Passover in Murfreesboro, TN, with 140 families from the area. The evening was permeated with a sense of excitement and enthusiasm to learn more about Passover in light of Jesus’ death and resurrection as the perfect Lamb of God.

While enjoying a delicious three-course meal, Rev. Malcolm Hedding took the group through the significance of Passover in its fulfillment as Jesus came to remove the bitterness and slavery to sin by His death and resurrection. Children participated in parts of the evening, giving them the opportunity to learn about the Passover on their own level. As the final cup was taken, celebration erupted in not just the grateful remembrance of all Jesus did but what He is doing today in our lives, and that He is returning soon! The evening concluded with the singing of Hebrew praise songs and messianic dancing to thank the Lord for all He has done!

Christina Merino and her family attended the event and commented, “The 2023 Passover dinner—what a blessing! We are so thankful for ICEJ and the work they do here and internationally.”

El Dorado Hills, CA

Also on April 13, 2023, ICEJ USA Managing Editor Karen Engle organized a seder at Vintage Grace Church in El Dorado Hills, CA, for almost 200 people—many who had never experienced a seder before. Young and old enjoyed the experience, led by Messianic Jewish Rabbi Josh Rubenstein of Beth Yeshua Congregation in Sacramento. The evening started with a time of moving worship that included learning a song in Hebrew. Rabbi Josh brought his youngest son to sing the four questions, typically read or sung by the youngest child at the table, starting with: “Why is this night different from all other nights?” Karen shared, “It was a beautiful and moving evening—and many said the seder helped them understand the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection in a new way.”

THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF ETHIOPIAN JEWS AND THEIR JOURNEY TO ISRAEL

BY HOWARD FLOWER, ICEJ ALIYAH DIRECTOR

This year around 1,500 Ethiopian Jews are expected to immigrate to Israel, many with the help of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ). For over two millennia, Ethiopian Jews, known as Beta Israel, have faced immense challenges, including religious persecution, discrimination, oppression, and violence. Yet despite these hardships, they have maintained their Jewish identity and community.

According to Ethiopian tradition, the Queen of Sheba’s son, Menelik, was born in Ethiopia. He later visited his father, King Solomon, in Jerusalem, who told him to spread the Jewish faith in God to the Ethiopians. King Solomon gave Menelik a Torah scroll to teach the Ethiopian people about biblical Judaism. Around 500 BC, a group of ancient Israelites also migrated to Ethiopia to escape religious persecution. Over the centuries, they became known as the “Beta Israel” and developed a unique culture influenced by Judaism and Ethiopian traditions in isolation from other Jewish groups. Yet despite immense hardships, they remained devoted to their faith and community.

In 1973 Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the chief Sephardi rabbi of Israel, ruled that the Ethiopian Jewish community was Bnei Israel or “Sons of Israel,”

according to Jewish law. This has allowed them to immigrate to Israel in large numbers. The Beta Israel practice their own form of Judaism, distinct from the Jewish mainstream. They follow the laws of the Torah but not the Talmud. Their religious practices uniquely blend Jewish and Ethiopian traditions after centuries of relative isolation.

Israel officially recognizes the Beta Israel as a distinct Jewish ethnic group and supports efforts to preserve their traditions and identity. Organizations worldwide also promote awareness of the Beta Israel’s rich history, faith, and perseverance. The Beta Israel’s remarkable story should be celebrated as a source of inspiration, reminding us of the power of identity, faith, and community.

Today the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel numbers around 150,000 people. Thankfully, the last remnant of this proud, ancient people is coming to Israel under humanitarian provisions of the Law of Entry. Help us make dreams a reality for the remaining Ethiopian Jews waiting to make Aliyah! You can be a part of bringing them home and planting them in the Land of Israel. Make your best gift today to support the ICEJ’s Aliyah efforts.

ICEJ WELCOMES 155 JEWISH ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANTS

BY ANNALIESE JOHNSON, PUBLICATIONS/ EVENTS REGISTRATION ASSISTANT

On March 30, 2023, the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport was abuzz with activity, music, and welcome banners. Israeli officials and ICEJ staff stood ready with Israeli flags and candy, eagerly awaiting the arrival of 155 Jewish Olim (new immigrants) from Ethiopia. The youngest was just four months old, and the oldest was 70.

This Aliyah flight, sponsored by the ICEJ, not only represents the homecoming of Jewish people to Israel but also unites families. Despite the ongoing strikes and protests related to Israel’s proposed judicial reforms, Aliyah never stops! These Olim were joyfully welcomed to start their lives afresh in the promised land, the home of their forefathers.

God is still delivering His people today, just as the Hebrew prophets wrote: “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my worshipers, the daughters of My scattered ones will bring My offering” (Zephaniah 3:10, TLV).

As part of the government-approved Rock of Israel II operation, 3,000 Ethiopian Olim are approved for Aliyah, and the hope is that all will arrive by this June. With the recent March flight, we celebrated crossing the 2,000 mark. This arrival was especially timely, as these Olim were able to celebrate Yom HaAliyah and Pesach (Passover) for the first time in Israel. Yom HaAliyah marks the day the Israelites entered the Land of Israel in the Pesach story, commemorating how God delivered the Jewish people out of Egyptian slavery and into the promised land.

Faces glowing with excitement and awe, many Olim knelt to kiss the ground as they set their eyes upon the Land of Israel for the first time. One exuberant man raised his arms to the sky and shouted praises to God for bringing him home at last. Women dressed in traditional white clothing smiled shyly as they accepted Israeli flags. Young mothers elegantly carried their babies on their backs as fathers, in their nicest suits, proudly led their daughters by the hand down the stairs to be welcomed with delicious treats and more Israeli flags.

Families who have waited many long years to be reunited with those who came decades before can now be together in the Land of Israel, which they have been dreaming about for their entire lives—a testament of God’s faithfulness and care. For the younger generations on the flight, this journey meant meeting relatives for the first time, such as grandparents who could finally embrace their kin with warm hugs.

This community, which traces its roots back to the time of King Solomon’s reign, if not even further back to the time of Moses and his Ethiopian wife (Numbers 12:1), has been through intense trials, adaptations, and adversity but is strong and committed to starting new lives afresh in Israel.

For these newest arrivals, many challenges await, like bridging cultural and language barriers. Landing at Ben Gurion Airport is the beginning of a journey that can take years before the Olim feel fully integrated. Upon arrival, families will go to Aliyah centers across the country, including in Tzfat,

Haifa, Beit Alfa, Be’er Sheva, Arad, and Ibim.

ICEJ AID Director Nicole Yoder greets newly arriving Ethiopian immigrants.

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS… ISRAELIS MAKE LEMONADE

BY NICK HANSEN, ICEJ DENMARK NATIONAL DIRECTOR

The clouds over our heads tell us rain is coming, but we are on a mission and have no time to stop. I’m standing in the heart of a kibbutz called Erez, right at the border with Gaza. Together with ICEJ Vice President of AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder and our team, we have come here to inspect the equipment that donors of the Christian Embassy have so generously provided. We walk through the kibbutz as the local chief of security explains the current situation. This day, we are going to visit several places not just to inspect but also to see what new initiatives are being taken to ensure a brighter future for these frontline Israeli communities.

Earlier in the day, we had met up with Rabbi Shmuel Bowman, executive director of Operation Lifeshield and longtime partner of ICEJ. We gathered at a parking lot, and as soon as we said “hello,” he took out a map—a good oldfashioned paper one that can be folded and put in the glove compartment. He put it on the windshield of the car and started drawing on it.

“This is where we are going. The dashed line indicates the 40 km line from Gaza, where the Hamas rockets can reach us,” said Shmuel while drawing his own thick line along the edge of the Gaza border. “This is the seven-kilometer line

Our trek took us through the heartland of Israel, from the Jerusalem hills to the lush, green valley that surrounds Sderot. I sat next to Rabbi Shmuel in the car, and we talked about Scripture and prophecy. As we passed by the Elah Valley, we talked about David overcoming the giant, the meaning of the five stones, and how the spirit of David still endures in the Israeli people.

We first came to a kindergarten to inaugurate two brand-new portable bomb shelters donated by the ICEJ global family. This kindergarten only has 17 seconds to bring the more than 40 children to safety when the alarm goes off. Up until now, they had no protection.

from the Gaza border. Here we do not wear our seatbelt, so we can get out of the car fast in case a mortar shell or rocket comes. We just had one rocket shelling a week ago.”

Shmuel looked at me and said, “It’s a miracle that no one has been injured so far. When it is bad, 400 rockets a day fly over the heads of these children. This will give the staff and parents the safety and peace of mind they need, knowing that the children will be protected.”

At the kindergarten where a brand-new portable bomb shelter was donated

Now at Kibbutz Erez, we inspect a light ATV firefighter and a heavy trailer with a big water tank donated by Christians. Shmuel explains to me what this is about:

Terrorists in Gaza have been sending over balloons with explosives or kites with burning devices attached to them, just to burn the fields and orchards. They don’t care what happens. If a community catches on fire, great. If they burn the fields and destroy the economy of the area, fine. If they destroy the wildlife and the animals, so be it. And so, the question is: How do you extinguish a fire as quickly as possible, when a big fire truck cannot get to where the fire is happening in the middle of a field? The only way to do it is with an ATV, as it can go anywhere and get there fast. This saves lives and it saves homes, businesses, and nature.

take us immediately, as fast as possible, to where the fire begins.’ If you can catch it right at the beginning, then you can contain it. If you wait a few minutes, it expands exponentially,” Shmuel said.

“I’ve been in six field fires, and they literally look like ocean waves of fire literally sweeping over the area, destroying everything.”

As I walk around the place, see the orchards of lemon and orange trees, and look over the border into Gaza, I cannot help but imagine what the price of living here must be for the local Israeli families. I turn to Shmuel and toss him a question.

“If my children and I were living here and I would experience what they are experiencing, I would be filled with rage and hatred. Is that what you sense in this community?”

And they understand that there are two million Palestinians that are suffering under their totalitarian rule. Our war is not with the Palestinian people, and these kibbutzim here understand that. So, it’s ironic and it’s interesting. This is our land, and something in us is saying “We will not back down.” You would think that the people in these kibbutzim would be filled with rage and revenge. In fact, this place is growing, people are moving in, and there are even people on the waiting list.

I then come to realize that this must be the same “spirit of David” we talked about earlier that day—the strong will to overcome all odds.

As our visit comes to an end, we stand in the middle of the rows of citrus trees, where the

Shmuel looks at me with stern, concerned eyes, explaining the absolute necessity for the firefighting equipment.

“The idea came from the fact that we talked to security chiefs, and asked, ‘What do you need?’ And they said very clearly, ‘A vehicle that can

With a firm voice, he responds:

Not at all! What I’m sensing here is hope and optimism. [They recognize] that the enemies, the people who are shooting the rockets, are just a small percentage of the total population of the people of Gaza.

keeper tells us to take as much fruit as we like. It is the harvest season, and the trees are loaded with oranges, mandarins, and lemons—branches hanging low from the weight. I see the abundance of this place. I peel an orange that I just picked from the tree and find it sweet and juicy. Everybody lights up as they taste the magnificent fruit of this embattled corner of Israel.

And as I consider the resilience of the Israelis living here in this difficult place, I think: When life gives you lemons …

To help provide more lifesaving mobile bomb shelters and firefighting equipment to Israeli communities under constant terror threat, please give to our Israel in Crisis fund.

GIVE TO: www.icejusa.org/israel-in-crisis

Rabbi Shmuel Bowman and Nick Hansen inspect firefighting equipment

A plaque is placed onto a newly installed shelter with thanks to our partners from around the world.

A freshly picked orange right from the orange grove

MENTORS FOR ISRAELI FAMILIES IN NEED

BY LAURINA DRIESSE HEAD OF MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS DEPT.

The ICEJ is coming alongside single mothers and new immigrants in Israel to advocate for them and ensure they receive essential help and a path toward a good future. Twenty years ago, an outreach program opened for Israeli families living below the poverty line that provided basic weekly aid. Soon, however, it became apparent that truly effective assistance would require more than a food basket but a new way of thinking and operating.

From that point, a new comprehensive plan was developed using professional mentors to help Israeli families make a new start. This plan brought a hopeful message: “The family budget not able to last through the month? Let’s see what can be done to increase your income. Struggling to know how to access the best care for a disabled child so you can work? There is a mentor waiting to advocate for you and help you understand what must be done.” The main thing this communicates is: “You are not alone—and poverty is not your destiny.”

Today, mentors operate in different cities, providing essential support. While practical assistance such as food vouchers, school supplies, furniture, and electrical appliances are still distributed, the goal is to help families achieve financial independence.

Nicole Yoder, ICEJ Vice President for AID & Aliyah, noted: “Much can be done by using available community resources, and we’re excited that today, more and more Israeli families are learning effective financial management and are paying down their debts. They are also locating better paying jobs and enjoying a host of other successes on their way to a better quality of life.”

Pondering the recently celebrated holiday of Tu B’Shvat, the new year for trees, Mentorship Program Director Yehuda Armshalem shared:

I have always wondered why we plant trees and celebrate Tu B’Shvat in January or February when we do not see any leaves or fruit yet. However, this is a picture of celebrating the potential of the tree. We do not see it right now, but the life inside comes to fruition when it gets warmer. In a nutshell, this is our philosophy: We see the potential in people from many different backgrounds, and with the right help from the community, this potential can materialize.

The generosity of our ICEJ donors currently enables 50 single-parent families in Israel to receive mentoring support. In Jerusalem and Beersheva, struggling single mothers are participating in a one-year program offering them guidance, a listening ear, emotional support, and practical help—like childcare—so they can find employment. By the end of 2023, we anticipate that most of these mothers (87 percent) will be employed and able to provide for their families’ needs.

Meanwhile, new Jewish immigrants to Israel often feel overwhelmed upon arrival. Lacking Hebrew skills and local knowledge makes it tough to access services, navigate employment options, and bridge cultural norms without family or friends to help. In many instances, educational qualifications are not recognized in Israel, requiring new immigrants to take additional courses or even redo entire degrees to be recertified. Otherwise, they will have to accept lower-paying jobs.

Mentors are ready to assist new immigrants in their first year in Israel, as well as immigrant families who have been in the Land for some time but have recently fallen on tough times. In addition to one-on-one sessions, mentors provide courses, training, and workshops in particular subjects as needed. Each family mentored is encouraged to dream about their future. Then they create a plan, set goals, and monitor progress toward

those dreams. The focus is on employment, financial management, family/community, and quality of life. If these key areas are stable, their Aliyah can be considered a success!

David and Sofia* and their two children recently arrived in Israel from South America. Before coming to Israel, David worked in hi-tech, and Sofia taught Hebrew for 25 years. However, Sofia discovered that her certificate to teach Hebrew was not valid in Israel, and she needed to undergo retraining. Lital, a veteran mentor of eight years, immediately helped her with the recertification process. Today, Sofia is enrolled at the Open University and has started taking classes toward a new degree.

Meanwhile, David was determined to learn Hebrew and made the difficult choice to take a low-paying cleaning job to concentrate on learning Hebrew. Although his wife encouraged him to take a job working remotely for a hi-tech company overseas, he prefers to clean for now in hopes it will pay off in the long run.

Meanwhile, Esther,* a single Jewish mother from the Netherlands, arrived recently with her teenage daughter. Braving cancer treatments abroad, she arrived in Israel in remission. But neither Esther nor her daughter could speak Hebrew, causing much stress for her daughter when school began, which led to behavior issues.

Then Esther discovered her cancer had returned, and her health deteriorated. Fortunately, she was introduced to Lital, a mentor who worked with Esther and her daughter closely. Although Esther wanted to leave Beersheva for Jerusalem, Lital encouraged her to continue her medical treatments in Beersheva, knowing she would otherwise have to wait longer for treatment. This sound advice allowed Esther to undergo surgery and recover quickly. Only six weeks later, she began a job search.

Along the way, Lital also discovered that Esther had yet to receive her government child support grant. The right knowledge and some wellplaced Israeli “chutzpah” (daring effort) resolved that right away, and now Esther is receiving her monthly stipend and full back-payments. She is also applying for a disability pension because of her health condition. During a recent mentoring seminar Lital gave at the Beersheva Aliyah Center, Esther walked in and went straight up front to hug her. Despite the challenging journey, Esther is grateful for the remarkable victories along the way, big and small, which left few dry eyes in the place.

The ICEJ is thrilled to support this professional mentorship program that helps needy Israeli families reach for a better future and regain hope. Thank you for helping ensure professional mentors are available for those in need.

*Names have been changed to protect anonymity.

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A PEOPLE CHOSEN

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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PENTECOST

BY KAREN ENGLE, ICEJ USA MANAGING EDITOR

Throughout the Bible, God provides types and shadows to help us understand better how He has worked throughout time, a unique kind of symbolism that foreshadows a thing or person in the New Testament. Pentecost, the day God’s Spirit indwelt Jesus’ disciples in Acts 2, is one such New Testament event. In the Old Testament, Pentecost is called the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of Harvest. Today, Jews refer to it as Shavuot.

Knowing how and when the Jews in Jesus’ day celebrated Shavuot, where this feast shows up in the Old Testament, and what exactly was happening that day in Acts 2 helps us more deeply understand the significance of Pentecost—what it means for us today and what it tells us is yet to come.

Acts 2

Exactly 10 days after Jesus ascended to heaven, on Shavuot, as Jesus’ disciples were waiting in Jerusalem for the “helper” He had promised to send (John 14:26), they all heard “a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind” that filled the whole house. Acts 2:3 says there “appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.” Consider what happens next:

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. (Acts 2:4–6)

Up to that point, God’s presence had primarily existed outside His people; the Spirit of God sometimes indwelt prophets, priests, and kings, but it was selective, temporary, and usually for a specific task. Yet in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit filled Jesus’ disciples, it was permanent. It’s a familiar story to most believers, but there’s more to unpack about this profound day! Going back to the “shadow” of Shavuot in the Old Testament can help.

What Is Pentecost?

The Bible lists seven “feasts” in Leviticus 23, times God set for His people to draw near to Him. Shavuot is one of those feasts. In Leviticus, right after God instructed Israel on how to celebrate the spring feasts of Passover and Firstfruits, He told the children of Israel to start counting:

You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord.” (23:15–16)

God required Israel to count 49 days from the day after they brought the first grain offering for the feast of Firstfruits. Day 50 is Shavuot. This helps explain the different names for the holiday! Shavuot means “weeks,” so “Feast of Weeks” points to the 7 weeks of counting. And because the feast centers on bringing firstfruits offerings of the spring wheat harvest before the Lord, it’s sometimes called the Feast of Harvest. (The 50-day count gives it the name “Pentecost” in the New Testament— Pentecost in Greek means “fiftieth.”)

In Jesus’ day, Shavuot was a holy day set aside for giving thanks for the harvest. It was the day the children of Israel brought the firstfruits of the wheat harvest to the temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God; because it was the first ripened wheat of the season, this offering indicated there would be a greater fall harvest—a guarantee of more to come.

But the feast also remembered what happened at Mount Sinai, linking the process of freedom (salvation) that began in Egypt with Passover to the giving of God’s law.

A Shadow of Things to Come

Now let’s explore a bit deeper the importance of types and shadows in the Bible. In Colossians 2:16–17, the apostle Paul references something twenty-first-century Western readers sometimes gloss over because they are unfamiliar with the cultural context behind some of the words and phrases:

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival [including feasts like Shavuot], a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (NIV)

In this passage, Paul refers to festivals (or feasts) as a “shadow” of something to come. A shadow gives an idea of what something looks like, but it has no substance. It’s a picture pointing to what the real thing is like. Consider this image of a tree: the shadow of the tree provides an idea of what the actual tree looks like, but the substance is the tree itself—a tree whose trunk, bark, branches, and leaves we can see and touch.

The thing of substance, Paul says, is Jesus. This means that to understand the significance of what happened that day in Acts 2 better, we must go back to the “shadow” that points to that reality—and that shadow is found in Exodus.

The Shadow

The Bible tells us that on the first day of the third month—50 days after God brought Israel out of Egypt—they arrived at Sinai and camped before a mountain (Exodus 19:1–2). Verses 16–18 describe what happened next:

Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire.

Verses 19–20 tell us the “whole mountain quaked greatly” and the blast of the trumpet “sounded long and became louder and louder.” When Moses spoke, God answered him “by voice,” and then Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain.

What a fascinating, noisy scene! Moses brings the entire nation of Israel out to meet with God against a backdrop of loud thunder and lightning, the earth quaking, and a thick cloud that enveloped the mountain covering it in smoke—and then “the Lord descended upon it in fire.”

Words in the Bible often have a deep, spiritual meaning, so consider a few from the Exodus 19 passage to help connect what happened at Mount Sinai with Acts 2:

Fire and cloud: The presence and glory of God

Wind: The Spirit of God, His breath of life

Thunder: Sound or noise

Trumpet: God’s voice

Clearly it was God’s presence that descended upon Mount Sinai that day. Immediately after, God gave Israel His Torah, or “law,” which included all of God’s instruction for how the children of Israel should live. It was like a marriage contract between God and Israel, His bride. That first Shavuot established a relationship.

Israel’s physical liberation (their redemption from slavery in Egypt because of the blood of the lamb painted on their doorposts) was complete. But they needed to know how to live as a redeemed people so that they would look different from the nations.

Though Jews today still celebrate Shavuot 50 days after the feast of Firstfruits, there are no specific requirements for how to do it, though several customs exist, like reading the book of Ruth. Yet from ancient biblical times to today, on Shavuot, Jews remember God’s presence on Mount Sinai as a cloud, fire, smoke, noise, and quaking as He gave them His law—what we know today as the Mosaic covenant.

The Reality

It’s no coincidence that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those 120 disciples as tongues of fire happened on Shavuot, 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection—the very day Jews were remembering the events of Mount Sinai.

Recall that Jesus’ disciples were in Jerusalem because He had told them

to remain there until the promised helper came. But Acts 2 says there were also Jews in Jerusalem from “every nation under heaven” (v. 5), and they, too, heard the commotion. Interestingly, Shavuot was one of three “pilgrimage” feasts; God required all male Jews to gather in Jerusalem and worship God on that day, so the city was packed with Jews from surrounding nations there to celebrate the feast. This meant the entire nation of Israel was represented to witness what was happening, just as at Mount Sinai.

On that day, the Bible says everyone in Jerusalem heard a “great sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind”—God’s Spirit—and His presence filled the whole house where the disciples waited as tongues of fire descended on them and the Holy Spirit filled their hearts.

The events of Acts 2 were the reality, the “substance,” of the shadow of Exodus 19, profoundly occurring on the same date God had given Israel His law on Mount Sinai.

A New Heart and Spirit

The prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel shed light on what was happening that day in Jerusalem. Jeremiah declared that one day God would make a new covenant with Israel, unlike the one He had made at Mount Sinai (which they broke). He would put His laws in their minds and “write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). And Ezekiel said God would give Israel “a new heart and put a new spirit within them” and cause them to walk in His statutes (36:26–27). God’s Spirit within His people would enable them to obey His instruction (36:26–27), something they could never do of their own will.

On the first Shavuot after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, as the children of Israel were bringing the firstfruits of their spring wheat harvest to the temple as a deposit for the fall harvest to come, those first believers, now filled with the Spirit, were a “deposit” of a greater future harvest of believers:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

(2 Corinthians 1:21–22)

Later Paul would write that anyone filled with God’s Spirit is a living epistle, or “letter,” of Christ, “written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3). No longer was God’s instruction external and temporary, but for anyone who believed, it was internal and permanent. Jesus, God’s perfect instruction, the “living Torah,” would dwell within His people, sealing their relationship.

Conclusion

The writer of Hebrews says, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves” (Hebrews 10:1). Understanding how the “shadow” of Shavuot and the events of Exodus 19 connect to the Pentecost story of Acts 2 not only increases our faith in God and affirms His Word but points to a day when what began at Pentecost is completed, when Jesus—the fulfillment of God’s instruction given at Mount Sinai—returns to earth to dwell among His people and God’s law goes “out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:2 NIV).

September 26 — october 7, 2023

Tour Israel and Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles

Two days in the Dead Sea Region • Three Days in Galilee Five days in Jerusalem • Parade of Nations Communion at Garden Tomb Jerusalem March Worship, Praise, & Prayer in Israel

“For

Psalm 47:7