Word from Jerusalem - July 2022 - USA Edition

WORD

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM // JULY 2022 // USA EDITION

FROM JERUSALEM

Restored

IN THE PROMISED LAND The Messianic Church: A Sign of Our Times

FROM THE

PRESIDENT'S DESK Dear Friends, The last question the disciples asked Jesus before His ascension was: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) Many modern commentators scold the disciples for still clinging to an old paradigm of Jewish nationalism that was about to pass away. Today, we know better and would not ask such a seemingly foolish question.

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.

WORD FROM JERUSALEM

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 Julaine Stark Copy Editor Karen Engle Staff Writer Anastasiya Gooding Graphic Design/Illustrators Ryan Tsuen, Peter Ecenroad, Nancy Schimp Photography Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Carina Reiger, James Cheatham, Dennis Zinn/JNF, newsroom.intel.com, ICEJ Staff and Branches, wikimedia commons, YouTube.com,Evgeni Tcherkasski and Phil Goodwin on Unsplash

Just three verses earlier, Jesus was “seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” So it is remarkable to assume that after three years of experiencing the personal teachings of the great King Himself, followed by forty days of encounters with the resurrected Lord, the disciples had it all wrong and were stuck in a bygone hope. Remember, the disciples had already preached the gospel of the kingdom and rejoiced that “even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Luke 10:9, 19). Thus, it is remarkable how patronizing some theologians can be.

I believe the teachings of Jesus were clear and left them with no doubt. God would indeed restore His kingdom to Israel. However, the disciples were unsure about the timing, and His answer that day was “only the Father knows.” But the coming kingdom for Israel remained the hope of the early church, as Paul made so crystal clear—that Israel’s future restoration will be “life from the dead” for the whole world.

We are closer than ever to that day. Israel’s return to the promised land is miraculous.

Most Israelis I talk to agree that Israel’s existence, remarkable advances, protection during wartime, and the greening of the desert are all miracles. Plus, this nation— which started as a refugee nation in a desert land, has survived repeated wars, and is constantly threatened, boycotted, and criticized worldwide—has somehow overtaken some of the wealthiest countries of Europe regarding its GDP per capita. How amazing!

But all this is just the “overture” of the miracle still to come. A typical opera starts with a magnificent overture, an orchestral piece that immediately grabs everyone’s attention.

But the overture is just the intro to the main work of art—the opera itself. Israel today is just like that: an impressive, miraculous, and fascinating overture to the real thing, the promised manifestation of the kingdom of God. The next act we can expect is the outpouring of God’s Spirit. The Hebrew prophets repeatedly speak about this sooncoming day. And of course, the climax will be the coming of the King Himself.

Already today, the overture fascinates us and calls us to action until that day the curtain opens, and the main act begins. As the ICEJ, we are committed to standing with Israel in this critical stage of the nation’s history. I ask you to prayerfully consider standing with us as you read this month’s magazine.

In His great love,

WORD

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM // JULY 2022 // USA EDITION

Dr. Jürgen Bühler President International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

FROM JERUSALEM

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.

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Restored

IN THE PROMISED LAND The Messianic Church: A Sign of Our Times

CONTENTS

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J U LY 2 0 2 2 U S A E D I T I O N

THE MESSIANIC CHURCH A Sign of Our Times

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SMALL DEEDS OF LOVE

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12

ICEJ CLOSING THE ‘EDUCATION GAP’ FOR ETHIOPIANS

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HOW THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS IMPACTING OUR HAIFA HOME

JERUSALEM DAY TURNED OUT DIFFERENT FOR LOD

ICEJ TEACHING

Messianic THE

CHURCH

A SIGN OF OUR TIMES

BY D R. J Ü RG E N B Ü H L E R, I C E J P R E S I D E N T

“YOU CHRISTIANS WERE ZIONISTS BEFORE WE JEWS WERE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.” FORMER PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

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hese were the words of former Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he addressed the delegates of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast meeting in the Knesset in June.

Indeed, it was mainly Protestant and Evangelical theologians and ministers who arose after the Reformation who first publicly advocated for

a national restoration for Israel. Whether the Puritans, Moravians, Methodists, Pietists, or the emerging Pentecostal and Renewalist movements, they all believed in a future destiny of the Jewish people back in their ancient homeland. For the first time in centuries, the Reformation gave even ordinary Christians access to the Scriptures in their common

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languages, who rediscovered foundational biblical truths—including the promised Jewish ingathering to their ancestral land.

THE ADVENT OF A “HEBRAIC ROOTS” MOVEMENT With the increased availability of the Word of God, an awareness of Israel’s central and

ICEJ TEACHING

enduring role in redemptive history grew— especially in Europe and North America. In parallel, there was a greater awakening to the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. Talmudic and Old Testament research started to flourish in many theological institutes in Europe.

In the United Kingdom, the works of John Gill (1697–1771) and Bishop J. B. Lightfoot (1828– 1889) had a great impact, as their commentaries included many rabbinic insights and were widely read by Christians.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, several Institutum Judaicum were established in German universities—the most prominent in Leipzig by Franz Delitzsch (1813–1890), whose Old Testament commentary is widely read even today. Delitzsch is known for the first translation of the New Testament into Hebrew, notably decades before the revival of the Hebrew language

by Eliezer Ben Yehuda.

The Oxford lecturer Alfred Edersheim also significantly contributed to the growing understanding in that time of the Hebraic roots of Christianity. Edersheim was the son of a rabbinic family and received Talmudic training before becoming a converted Jew. His seminal work, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, expanded the Christian awakening to the Jewishness of Jesus and the Gospels.

A NEW PHENOMENON This newfound understanding of the Jewishness of Jesus and the early church led to the rise of another phenomenon in Christian circles. Many Jews began believing that Yeshua (Jesus) was their awaited Messiah while retaining their Jewish traditions. For centuries, Jews who came to faith in Jesus, though small in number, were generally forced to make a radical change by foregoing their Jewish identity. Since the early ecumenical councils, they were forbidden to attend synagogue, keep Jewish traditions, or celebrate Jewish holidays—including Shabbat.

But by rediscovering the Jewishness of Jesus and the early apostles, the awareness

grew that those original firstthe nineteenth to the twentieth century. According to the wellcentury believers did not join a Christian religion but were known Lutheran pastor Richard merely Jews who believed Wurmbrand, it grew to several that Yeshua is the Messiah. tens of thousands of adherents The first modern expression in Romania alone. In a doctoral of this was in 1882, when study by Mitch Glaser, head Joseph Rabinowitz, the son of of Chosen People Ministries, Joseph Rabinowitz a rabbinic family, embraced faith in Yeshua between 200 and 300,000 Messianic Jews lived as his Messiah. Though he refused to join a mostly in eastern Europe prior to World War II, Christian denomination, he did not abandon with only a few deciding to follow Rabinowitz’s his traditions but maintained a Jewish style of example by blending into traditional churches. worship with a unique Jewish prayer house in Kishinev, Moldova, where services were held Tragically, their faith in Yeshua did not save in Yiddish. Many consider this the beginning their lives in the land of the Reformation; of the modern Messianic Jewish movement. during the Holocaust, most Messianic Jews in Rabinowitz expectantly experienced significant Europe perished in Auschwitz and other Nazi resistance from both the Jewish and Christian death camps alongside their fellow Jews. One communities. But he also found enthusiastic Evangelical church in Germany back then even supporters in the Protestant adapted their bylaws, holding that “Jews were churches from leaders like not allowed in their congregations,” as they Franz Delitzsch in Germany, were “Christ-killers.” Sadly, the country that who saw in his stand a new helped launch the Christian Zionist movement representation of the very became a nation that wrote the darkest chapter origins of Christianity. While of Jewish-Christian history.

Rabinowitz later became a member of the Anglican A WINDOW TO OUR ORIGINS Church (to the concern of Today, the messianic movement is again some of his members), the idea experiencing a measure of growth, with of Hebrew Christians gained estimates of between 7,000 and 20,000 growing interest among adherents in Israel. For many theologians and Protestants and Evangelicals. church leaders today, the Messianic Jewish community represents a small yet prophetic According to church historian move of God in our time. Even in the Vatican Professor Donald M. Lewis, in Rome, consultations between Catholic clergy these growing numbers and messianic leaders have o f Je w i s h c o nv e r t s taken place in recent years. significantly impacted the The fact that after 1800 years a Jewish stream of development and theology of the new movement for Christianity is reemerging the restoration of Israel, is not only fascinating but especially in England. Lewis seems to open a window to when the church first sees even the “restoration language” of the Balfour started again.

Declaration in 1917 as strongly shaped by the For many Christian Zionists teachings of these Jewish today, this small yet growing believers, who were strong messianic shoot represents supporters of a restored the most original form of their faith. Over the Jewish homeland in Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel). centuries, many forgot that Jesus was Jewish and was The Balfour Declaration This nascent messianic referred to as “Rabbi” by movement experienced significant growth in His followers. His disciples and the writers eastern Europe, particularly during the turn of of the New Testament were all Jews. Until the

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ICEJ TEACHING

mid-second century, the church still followed Jewish traditions. The early disciples gathered in the temple in Jerusalem, observed Jewish dietary laws, and had no thought of starting a new world religion. Initially, gentiles were only reluctantly allowed in, and the baptism of the first gentile convert, Cornelius, came only after a clear leading of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 10).

Even when Paul—the apostle to the gentiles— later started his mission trips to Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome, he always made a point to begin his ministry stops in the local synagogues.

This is because he understood that God promised the good news of the arrival of the Messiah first to the Jews and only then to the gentiles (Romans 1:16ff ). But once the first gentiles were accepted, the demographics of the church rapidly changed. By the end of the first century, most Christians were gentiles, and after that, leadership of the church swiftly shifted from Jewish to gentile hands.

Two main factors contributed to this shift.

First, gentile converts quickly outnumbered Jewish believers. Many congregations within the Roman Empire, which started as predominantly Jewish, were altered by the large number of gentile believers even during Paul’s time. Second, Roman conquests of Judea under Vespasian and Titus (AD 69/70) and later Hadrian (AD 134) decimated the Jewish population in the Land of Israel, with roughly two-thirds killed and the remainder scattered abroad. In parallel, Jerusalem was lost as the center of Jewish spiritual life.

The importance of Jerusalem to the early believers is hard to overestimate. The first church council took place in Jerusalem, and Paul still routinely visited the holy city to report to the leading apostles on his expanding ministry efforts. While there, he also visited the temple for the biblical holidays and always brought donations from the new churches he founded for the “poor among the saints” of Jerusalem (Romans 15:26). And he never came alone; he always brought a delegation of new gentile converts (Acts 20:4)—apparently, he wanted to ensure they were well connected to Jerusalem.

Therefore, when the temple was destroyed in AD 70, it was not only a political but also a spiritual earthquake. In AD 134, Hadrian also banned Jews from Jerusalem. In an act of humiliation, the province of Judea was renamed

Palestina after one of Israel’s ancient enemies, while Jerusalem was renamed Aelia Capitolina.

With this, the bishopric of Jerusalem also was placed in gentile hands. The last Jew in antiquity to serve as bishop of Jerusalem was Judah Kyriakos, the great-grandson of Jude, the brother of Jesus. But he was replaced in AD 135 by the first gentile bishop, Marcus, who notably was no longer the “bishop of Jerusalem” but the “bishop of Aelia Capitolina.” From then on, the new spiritual center of Christianity was Rome. Over the following 200 years, not only did Jewish influence in the church wane, but the church separated itself more and more from Israel and the Jews. In fact, this gentile church considered itself the “new Israel,” replacing the Jews as God’s chosen people.

A SIGN OF HOPE Therefore, the reemergence of a Messianic church in Israel is, for many Christians, not just part of the modern-day restoration of Israel but a powerful antidote against Replacement Theology and even anti-Israelism. Even Paul himself used his very own identity as an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin as a symbolic message to the church that God has not rejected His people (Romans 11:1).

Many theologians ask today: How does the New Testament view the Messianic Jewish body?

This query might have been offensive to the early Jewish church, while for later gentile congregations—such as the German Lutheran Church, which vehemently excludes Messianic Jews from the program on their national church days—it would have been anathema. For them, it is hard to accept that the faith of the early church was a fulfilment of the ancient hopes of the Jewish people for their nation.

The early apostles, like Paul and Peter, never struggled with their Jewish identity, even while they fought for the acceptance of gentiles into the body of Messiah. Paul understood that salvation history is likened to an ancient olive

David Roberts: The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans under the Command of Titus, AD 70

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GENTILES COULD BE “GRAFTED IN,” SO THEY MIGHT DRAW STRENGTH AND HOPE FROM THE NOURISHING SAP OF THIS ANCIENT TREE OF MESSIANIC FAITH. tree. This noble tree sprang from the roots of Abraham’s faith as a tradition of mostly Jewish men and women of messianic hope. Now Paul understood that God was “making room” on this ancient tree for gentiles. Some of the noble branches (Jews) were partially cut off so that wild olive branches—gentiles—could be “grafted in” so they might draw strength and hope from the nourishing sap of this ancient tree of messianic faith. Paul saw in this process the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:8).

This “branch replacement” was not permanent, however. Paul understood that one day, God would graft the noble branches back into the olive tree again. Paul even gave the greatest significance to this return of the original branches. In Romans 11:12–15, he states an amazing truth: if the Jewish fall has already brought blessings to the gentiles, how much more their (the Jews’) acceptance. The original branches grafted back into the tree will represent a release of God’s resurrection power. Therefore, preachers like John Wesley foresaw it as the catalyst for the greatest revival yet to come.

Therefore, the focus should be more on how the church can give room and relevance to this newly formed yet still gentle shoot of Jewish believers again growing before our eyes. The church needs to stand with them in prayer, friendship, and support—all the while recognizing the uniqueness of our time.

Therefore, while we stand in unwavering support with Israel and the Jewish people, we also recognize our inseparable connection and friendship with our messianic brothers and sisters, particularly in Israel. Doing so helps shield the church from Replacement Theology and testifies that God’s eternal promises are indeed “Yes and Amen” in Messiah (2 Corinthians 1:20). These are truly amazing times in which we live!

INSIDE THE EMBASSY

ICEJ HOLDS ITS LARGEST-EVER INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

BY D R . M O J M I R K A L L U S , V I C E P R E S I D E N T F O R I N T E R N AT I O N A L A F FA I R S

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fter two years of virtual meetings, ICEJ national directors and staff from our global network were finally able to physically gather in Jerusalem in May for our annual International Leadership Conference (ILC). The three days of ILC meetings were full of joy and thankfulness to the Lord for bringing us through the difficult COVID period and making us even stronger and more united than ever. This was evidenced by record attendance, positive reports from our Jerusalem leadership, and the many testimonies from our ministry colleagues from around the world.

The ILC agenda started with a special tree-planting ceremony hosted

by KKL/Jewish National Fund (JNF) at a nursery near Jerusalem and culminated with the awarding of certificates to the first 13 successful graduates of the ICEJ Leadership Course. In between were excellent lectures and Bible teachings, presentations on the status and growth of the ministry, and much prayer and discussion about planning for the future.

The tree planting marked a reaffirmation of the ICEJ’s decades-long partnership with JNF to ensure the “greening” of Israel. The trees planted by our representatives from 25 nations were native Mediterranean oaks, which will be used to restore burned areas in the nearby Jerusalem Forest.

This year’s ILC was a hybrid event, meaning people could attend in person or online. Together with our Jerusalem staff, we had a record turnout of 264 attendees from over 75 nations. This included 52 physical attendees from abroad and another 190 who joined us via our online platform specially developed for our Feast and Envision conferences.

ILC attendees enjoy a final evening together in the old Jaffa port.

ICEJ and Jewish National Fund leaders at the special tree-planting ceremony to kick off the International Leadership Conference

ICEJ President Dr. Jürgen Bühler leads a session at the ILC.

Some delegates made extra efforts to be with us in Jerusalem, such as our Taiwanese National Director Joseph Chou and his wife, Deborah. They came for four days of meetings, knowing they would have to quarantine for two weeks once they arrived back in Taipei. Their ministry travels throughout the Chinese-speaking world have continued over the past two years of COVID travel restrictions, even though it has meant spending more than half a year total in quarantine.

The International Leadership Conference is the most important annual business meeting of our global family of leaders, who make up the backbone of the ICEJ’s ministry. With their skills and dedication, these national leaders are invaluable assets to the Christian Embassy, and we are blessed to work together with them toward the vision of reaching every nation on earth with the biblical message of standing with Israel.

INSIDE THE EMBASSY

ICEJ HOSTS SPECIAL BROADCAST FOR HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

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s Israel observed Yom HaShoah, its annual Holocaust Remembrance Day, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem engaged in a series of events to mark the solemn occasion, which fell this year on April 27–28. Given our unique partnership with Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial and museum, the ICEJ enjoyed special access that allowed us to share the official Holocaust remembrance ceremonies with the Christian world.

Our live broadcast of the official wreath-laying ceremony at Yad Vashem was the anchor event.

Entitled “Lest We Forget,” the streamed program featured a live report from senior ICEJ leaders

BY DAV I D PA R S O N S

Dr. Jürgen Bühler and Mojmir Kallus after they laid a wreath during the state ceremony in Warsaw Ghetto Square. It also included excerpts from the memorable speeches by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett the evening before, as well as several moving songs performed that night and footage about some of the six Holocaust Survivors who served as official candle-lighters. In addition, the broadcast went live to the ICEJ’s Home for Holocaust Survivors in Haifa for a report on Yom HaShoah observances. It ended with an interview with Sari Granitza, director of Christian Friends of Yad Vashem.

The ICEJ also cosponsored the annual Christian Leadership Seminar hosted that week by Christian Friends of Yad Vashem, which drew dozens of top church and ministry leaders from around the world to Jerusalem for the Yom HaShoah ceremonies. They also were enriched by a series of lectures by Holocaust experts and personal encounters with Survivors.

ICEJ LEADERS JOIN PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION, KNESSET PRAYER EVENT

The ICEJ is honored to serve as the official Christian partner of Yad Vashem, which is highly revered as the State of Israel’s only institution specifically tasked by Israel’s parliament to honor the six million Jews who perished in the Nazi genocide.

Senior ICEJ leaders Jürgen Bühler and Mojmir Kallus lay a wreath during the official state ceremony on Yom HaShoah in Warsaw Ghetto Square at Yad Vashem.

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ith public gatherings allowed once more here in Israel, ICEJ leaders in Jerusalem have been busy taking part in official meetings and receptions, which were not possible over the past two years. Among these events, ICEJ President Dr. Jürgen Bühler was invited to the traditional Passover reception held at the President’s residence in April for diplomats and religious community leaders in Israel. Besides greeting President Isaac Herzog, Dr. Bühler also engaged with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid at the reception (see photo).

Meanwhile in early June, Dr. Bühler was asked to bring a message and prayer at the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast’s opening reception in the Knesset, with several hundred Christian and Jewish leaders in attendance. His wife Vesna was asked to sing at the event, where she performed the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace,” among other worship songs.

Among the other speakers addressing this sixth annual edition of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast were Israeli cabinet minister Matan Kahana, Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, former US Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and Nick Vujicic, a Christian motivational speaker born without arms or legs who will also be speaking at the Feast of Tabernacles in October.

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ICEJ HOMECARE

SMALL DEEDS of LOVE

BY M A X I N E C A R L I L L

S

ince the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ICEJ’s Homecare head nurse, Corrie van Maanen, has had a more difficult task caring for her elderly Ukrainian housebound patients. Many have followed the news with aching hearts for family members still in Ukraine.

Blue and yellow flowers given to Ukrainian patients of ICEJ’s Homecare nurse, Corrie van Maanen, pictured below purchasing diapers.

FLOWERS FOR THE ELDERLY In those early days of shock and disbelief, Corrie took a small gift to each patient in her weekly visits to represent the love and prayers coming from Christians around the world. She gave a small pot with blue and yellow spring flowers to a lady who has a son and daughter-in-law, sister, and other family members still in Ukraine.

The dear lady cried when she saw the colors of the Ukrainian flag displayed in the flowers!

Her response spoke volumes: “These flowers are alive.”

Many of these older immigrants that Corrie assists remember well another invasion.

They have memories of a terrified flight, massacres, and losing loved ones as the Jews were systematically hunted down. For example, as a teenager, Zachar was placed in a ghetto in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, from where Jews were taken out, shot, and buried in mass graves. He escaped only to be caught and placed in an overcrowded concentration camp, where children and adults died of starvation every day. Amazingly, young Zachar escaped from this place where only 1,200 Jews survived out of 11,000 total.

As Zachar, one of Corrie’s patients who is blind, listens to the news, he is reminded of a terrible period in his life. The news of the war in Ukraine makes his spirit heavy. Corrie’s weekly visits to encourage and cheer him up are more important now than ever.

Hand-knitted blankets for Ukrainian infants

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Stuffed sheep toys for Ukrainian orphans

TOYS FOR ORPHANS Gestures of love can take many forms.

Sometimes gifts from the nations come in forms other than financial. ICEJ Homecare recently received two large bags of stuffed sheep toys from a 93-year-old lady. Corrie happily accepted the gift and began thinking about where it could be the biggest blessing in Israel.

Less than 24 hours later, she heard that 100 Jewish orphans were on their way from Ukraine who would appreciate these cuddly toys.

When the lady who donated the sheep collection heard that they had found a home with these children, she was filled with joy.

BLANKETS AND DIAPERS FOR BABIES Meanwhile, boxes full of hand-knitted baby blankets had just arrived from the Netherlands when a request came from a social worker: new Ukrainian immigrant families with babies who urgently needed diapers. So Homecare quickly purchased some, placed them in bags along with the blankets, and then handed over these parcels of love to the delight of the social worker.

It was a gift that said: “You are not alone; we are thinking of you!”

Such small deeds of love, conveying a sincere message of hope and comfort in these troubled times, are a part of ICEJ Homecare’s role.

Please continue to support the work of our ICEJ Homecare: www.icejusa.org/ homecare

ICEJ HAIFA HOME FOR SURVIVORS ICEJHOLOCAUST ALIYAH & INTEGRATION

HOW THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS IMPACTING OUR HAIFA HOME

BY Y U D I T S E T Z

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he TV is full of images of women, children, and the elderly in Ukraine fleeing their homes with only a small suitcase of belongings. This is making a huge impact on our residents at the ICEJ’s Haifa Home for Holocaust Survivors. Many are reliving what they experienced as children in the Shoah (Holocaust).

CHAYA’S STORY For Chaya Caspi, watching the news from Ukraine stirs up disturbing memories from her past. To this day, Chaya regularly relives a certain unimaginable pain of Nazi cruelty, and she feels great compassion for people in Ukraine.

Chaya “I feel a deep pain in my heart when I think of Ukraine. The war is not face-to-face, so there are many civilian casualties. Families have been ripped apart. Innocent women and children have been killed by Putin’s bombs,” said Chaya.

Chaya was born in Romania and was eight when World War II started. When the Nazis came, any man over the age of fifteen years was rounded up and shot. Chaya’s 19-year-old brother was among them. Chaya’s father and younger brothers were later rounded up and crammed into cattle cars. He and his younger sons were on the train for eight days without food or water. At the end of the journey, the doors opened, and all the dead were tossed out.

Chaya’s youngest brother died on that train.

His father miraculously survived the war as a slave laborer and was eventually reunited with his remaining family.

ESTI’S STORY Another Survivor, Esti, was born in Poland. Her father was killed when the Germans arrived and burned her village. Esti, her mother, and her sisters fled to the forests for nine long months. They built small shelters and made blankets from leaves. One day, German soldiers walked into the forest and started shooting.

Her mother and two sisters were killed right next to her. Esti and her other sister somehow managed to escape.

in several of these Survivors. When Ukrainian Survivors arrive in Israel, they will first be cared for by the Jewish Agency. We will meet with them during this time to see who are a good fit for the Haifa Home.

When Esti hears about Ukraine, tears well up in her eyes. It reminds her of the time when Ukrainians helped the Germans kill Jews.

In the meantime, after overcoming several hurdles, the elevator is finally being installed in our newest apartment building, which may be the ideal place to house some of these Ukrainian Survivors. It is almost too much to fathom what these people went through as children and are now going through late in life. The Christian Embassy wants to do all that we can to comfort and support these future residents.

“But today’s Ukrainians have nothing to do with the old generations. It’s the same with the Germans. I love all the volunteers from Germany who care for me today. They’re not guilty,” Esti insists.

IN MEMORIUM March was a difficult month at the Haifa Home, as three of our dear residents passed away. May the memory of Zvi Cohen (90), Klara Berkovitz (90), and Edmond Bozaglo (82) be blessed.

She feels sad that Ukrainians are going through similar things that she had to endure, like being forced to suddenly pack up belongings and then be uprooted—and see dear family members murdered “However,” Esti says, “I’m glad that the Ukrainians receive so much help and refuge from around the world. Back then, no one wanted to help us because we were Jews.”

EDM OND BOZAGLO

ZVI COHEN

KLAR

A BERKOVITZ

Few years remain to extend comfort and care to Holocaust Survivors. Please show your love toward them by supporting the ICEJ’s Haifa Home.

Esti AT THE HOME We are working with our partner organization to rescue Holocaust Survivors from Ukraine and are preparing rooms here in Haifa to take

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Donate today at: www.icejusa.org/haifa

ICEJ ALIYAH

ICEJ CLOSING THE ‘Education Gap’ FOR RECENTLY ARRIVED ETHIOPIANS

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he modern-day return of Ethiopian Jewry to Israel has often been a story of daring rescues. It also is increasingly a success story as more Ethiopians find success in Israel’s hi-tech society. This has required determination from the Ethiopian immigrants themselves, as well as much outside help to adjust to life in Israel. And the ICEJ is actively involved in both the Aliyah and absorption phases of their return.

share that moment with them,” said Ahronoviz.

“But the real work for us begins once they arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport. They face huge gaps in language and education and lack the skills needed to compete for good positions in the Israeli job market. Because of these gaps, the Ethiopians are the only immigrant community who are given two full years for free in absorption facilities.”

Last year, the “Operation Rock of Israel” airlift flew 2,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel, and the ICEJ sponsored flights for over 500 of them.

Israel is planning another airlift of 3,000 more

But she then noted an interesting change, making her more optimistic about the current wave of Ethiopian Aliyah.

“Those families who are now being reunited— the 2,000 that we brought last year, as well as the 3,000 we are now working to bring very quickly—are ones that have spent quite a significant period of time in an urban environment,” said Ahronoviz. “They left their small farming villages more than a decade ago, so many of the children and the younger adults have ... attended school or received some sort of formal education and have been exposed more to technology and modern life.”

Ethiopian Jews expected to start arriving soon, and currently, the ICEJ is raising funds to bring several hundred of these immigrants. But just as important is helping them through the crucial absorption process, which usually takes longer than other immigrant communities. Thus, over the past decade the ICEJ has expanded its efforts to assist Ethiopian newcomers in integrating better into Israeli society.

Amira Ahronoviz, CEO of The Jewish Agency for Israel, recently explained some advantages the latest arrivals have over previous Ethiopian immigrants.

“For Ethiopian Jews, the dream of reaching the promised land is fulfilled once they land in Israel. They kiss the ground and burst into tears, and we

“This means they come to Israel with a better base for us to help them acclimate into a Western society,” she continued. “And we are seeing that suddenly, we have more than 100 of them with higher academic degrees within our absorption centers. We have more than 500 of them who have completed 12 years of education, which is phenomenal because it means that it sets them on a whole different accelerated track of absorption in Israel.”

“We see that in some vocational training courses, we assumed not more than 20 would enroll in computer literacy skills, but then found 80 of them standing in line to join the courses,” added Ahronoviz. “That’s magic!

We were never able to do that in the past.”

12 | JULY 2022

So the good news is that many new Ethiopian immigrants already have some level of computer skills. But some cannot afford a decent home computer or must share an old computer with family members. In addition, many must complete their high school education before enrolling in university studies or vocational training. To help them, the ICEJ is currently sponsoring a special program for 25 recent Ethiopian immigrants who will finish high school in only 9 months. Our support includes providing them with computers to complete the course.

“Once again, the ICEJ is leading the way with an amazing cutting-edge program for Ethiopian immigrants,” said Nicole Yoder, ICEJ Vice President for AID & Aliyah.

“These young students need computers and other assistance to close the education gap they face for successful integration.”

We invite you to join us in making the return of more Ethiopian Jews a true success story.

Help us not only sponsor their Aliyah flights but also be ready with the educational courses and computers they will need to speed up their adjustment to life in Israel.

Donate today at: www.icejusa.org/ aliyah

ICEJ ALIYAH

ICEJ SPONSORS CAMPS FOR JEWISH YOUTHS

BY A N A S TA S I YA G O O D I N G

Y

oung people play a significant part in determining the future of a country. Therefore, the Christian Embassy is supporting Jewish youth, not only in Israel but also in other lands—especially to encourage them to make Aliyah to the promised land.

However, in the case of the former Soviet republics, this often involves reestablishing the connection between the Jewish community and their religious and cultural roots, which were severed during the Communist era.

“During the seven decades of the Soviet regime, the Jewish community of the former Soviet Union (FSU) experienced severe identity loss,” explained Roman Polonski, director of the FSU department for The Jewish Agency for Israel Israel (JAFI). “Thirty years after the regime’s collapse, only an estimated 20 percent of the 800,000 Jews across the broad expanse of what is now the FSU are meaningfully engaged in Jewish life. Russian-speaking Jews, therefore, have unique Jewish educational needs.”

In response, the ICEJ has been sponsoring Aliyah programs for Jewish youths for many years, including youth Aliyah camps. In these JAFI camps, Jewish children from age seven and up learn about Israel and the opportunities that await them here. Through the Naale and Sela programs, they also can continue their education and Jewish identitybuilding in Israel. Altogether, these youth Aliyah programs have been a huge success in bringing Jewish children to Israel ahead of their parents, who also benefit once they arrive. Thus, it has been a great blessing for the ICEJ to support these youth camps and other pre-Aliyah programs.

In fact, the ICEJ helped sponsor two Aliyah camps earlier this year. One occurred near St. Petersburg, with 34 young people aged 10 to 15. Joined by six counselors, they enjoyed their camp experience in the historic city of Pushkin, a suburb of St. Petersburg. The camps helped participants embrace their Jewish identity and learn about Israeli culture through creative workshops, games, and other activities.

One local attendee, 11-year-old Daniel, was thrilled to take part. “I really enjoyed [it],” he said. “The camp counselors made it fun

Jewish youths who attended a winter youth Aliyah camp in Pushkin, Russia.

and productive. We studied the history, traditions, and culture of the Jewish people, [and] held various master classes and games.”

Another ICEJ-assisted camp took place near Minsk, in Belarus, which included 52 children plus their camp counselors. The camp was allowed to happen despite strict COVID restrictions, which meant twice as many buses were needed. Thanks to our Christian supporters around the world, the ICEJ quickly covered these extra expenses as well.

Life in Belarus is difficult, and parents want their children to transition to Israel, where they know it will be better. And we have the privilege to witness young Belarusian Jews discovering and embracing their heritage after decades of concealing it.

Young Israelis usually staff these Aliyah youth camps, and it is inspiring for the campers to connect with them as they learn about life in modern Israel. For most children, the camp is their first genuine encounter with what it means to be Jewish, providing the foundation of their Jewish identity and nurturing the desire to make Aliyah.

Please continue to support our Aliyah efforts in helping more young Jewish people find their future in Israel and be a blessing to their country.

Give toward the Aliyah efforts of the ICEJ.

Donate today at: www.icejusa.org/aliyah

1 3 |WORD FROM JERUSALEM

ICEJ AID

JERUSALEM DAY

TURNED OUT DIFFERENT FOR LOD THIS YEAR

BY L AU R I N A D R I E S S E

Jerusalem Day flag march at the Damascus Gate on May 29, 2022 (photo credit: James Cheatham)

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n Sunday, May 29, Israel marked Jerusalem Day—usually a time of celebration and flag marches. But in recent years, it has also become a day filled with tension and threats from Israel’s foes.

Last year on Jerusalem Day, Hamas fired missiles at Jerusalem from Gaza, triggering an 11-day rocket war. The violence swept across Israel as clashes between Arabs and Jews broke out in several major cities. In Lod, near BenGurion airport, Jewish and Arab residents who had lived together for decades began fighting in the streets.

Lod is a mixed town of Arabs, religious Jews, and Ethiopian Jewish immigrants, and unfortunately, it is chronically rife with poverty, drugs, violence, and crime. But last year’s street brawls were a new low for everyone.

MAKING ROOM FOR PEACE Nicole Yoder, ICEJ Vice President for AID and Aliyah, recently visited one of the 14 schools in Lod still healing from last year’s conflict.

There she learned that the children and local teachers continue to deal with trauma and fear from that crisis.

Working with local educational officials, the ICEJ is supporting a special initiative called the Peace Room, which is being placed in schools in Lod. It creates a space for healing within the school framework by providing counseling, diagnosis, treatment, and group therapy sessions for children but also provides advice to parents.

Peace Room in Lod

“I am crying out for more hours of treatment,” school counselor Sabrin told Nicole. “We see children who need service, and if they do not get it, you will see the results in the community, like suicide, drugs, and crime.”

1 4 |JU LY 2 0 22

“Last May, I was afraid to come to work due to the violence. Now we are seeing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder—and all of this on top of COVID,” she added. “We first need to feel secure; then we can give a response and help.”

Nicole also heard from Diana, a veteran psychologist who described her work in Lod last year as one of the most challenging times in her life. She tried to remain neutral and professional, but with the conflict so close, it was extremely difficult.

“This is almost the only opportunity for the children here to get help, especially the Arabs.

They are so underprivileged. To return them to a good development path, they need to get help at school because they likely will not receive it anywhere else,” she concluded.

“With your donation, we built a first aid response,” noted Hadas, a psychologist for the city of Lod. “This school did not have a Peace Room, but it was added since the conflict last May. In another instance, children saw their classrooms being set on fire in front of them.

We put in three Peace Rooms there.”

Nicole Yoder with Arab and Jewish leaders in Lod

Hadas also told of an encounter with one mother whose child was nearing the end of treatment who did not want the sessions to stop because they were helping so much.

Indeed, through your generous giving, these Peace Rooms are bringing hope again for the children of Lod. SHINING LIGHT IN A DARK PLACE While in Lod, Nicole also visited the Ramat Eshkol Community Center, which had become a friendly place for people to engage in uplifting activities. In 2018 they deliberately shifted to organizing events for Jews and Arabs in a shared space on the same floor. Then came the street battles of May last year.

Chanadi, an Arab community leader, shared how difficult it was to start working again with her Jewish counterparts. “There was a lot of fear. I had to separate internal issues of identity and politics to consider the practical implications for everyday life,” she explained.

Racheli, a Jewish social worker, described her struggles. “Suddenly, there was war in the streets, and it was very scary,” she recalled.

“There was a lot of confusion. I love my Arab and Jewish coworkers, but after the crisis, it was hard to return to work and speak to my Arab colleagues.”

Hadas, a Jewish programs director at the Center, added, “Last May was tough, but we have lived together peacefully for many years. . . . We must decide what we’ll do going forward.”

Iludai, an Ethiopian Jewish worker, recounted

how no one could go to public shelters when the rocket alarms sounded due to the street clashes. “My workplace was burned,” she said.

“We talked a lot about what happened. It was very difficult. My daughter is still afraid when I leave for work.”

With Lod shaken by the events of last May, small steps are being taken to rebuild trust and unify the communities, including “shared space” projects. The process included conducting a community survey, which showed the children’s need for a shared play area. So the playground was remodeled, and new equipment was purchased. They also prepared a place for bicycles and created a bicycle club the children can enjoy.

The Christian Embassy is supporting reconciliation and coexistence at this Lod Community Center by funding the refurbishment of the outside bicycle area to serve the new bike club, upgrading benches so children can sit in the shade, and purchasing bicycles the children can use.

In time, the Arab and Jewish children in the bicycle club hope to represent Lod together in competitions.

“The donation was significant because it turned on a light in a dark place,” assured Hadas. “Everyone was in post-trauma. It opened possibilities for both Arabs and Jews.

It is forbidden to let this opportunity die.”

Thank you to everyone who is supporting our social aid work in Israel. Through your giving, this Jerusalem Day turned out much different for this Israeli community than last year.

Please continue to support the ICEJ at: www.icejusa.org/aid 1 5 |WORD FROM JERUSALEM

ICEJ PODCAST: OUT OF ZION

THE STORY THAT BEGAN IN GENESIS IS NOT OVER

BY DR. SUSAN MICHAEL

F

or many Christians there is a disconnect between the Bible and today. In fact, for some, there is a disconnect between the Old and New Testaments.

However, the story that began in Genesis is still going on today, and we are called to be part of it.

STORY OF THE BIBLE The Bible tells the story of God’s love for the world, His plan to redeem that world, and the battle against God’s plan of redemption. Central to this plan is the calling and role of the Jewish people.

God’s choice of the Jewish people is not because he loves them more than another. God did not line up all the people groups on earth and choose one over the other. Rather, because of His great love for all mankind, He created a people through whom He would carry out His redemptive plan.

In fact, the story in Genesis actually began far earlier—in eternity.

Ephesians 1:4–5 says that before the creation of the world, we were predestined to be adopted as sons through Christ Jesus. Revelation 13:8 confirms this eternal existence of God’s plan when referring to the “Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.” This means that Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross was always God’s plan.

THE NEW TESTAMENT Too often, Christians believe God’s work with the Jews ended in the Old Testament, and the New Testament launched a new plan with new people: the church. However, in Romans 11, when speaking of the Jewish people, the apostle Paul said that that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (v. 29). There is not a separate Old Testament plan and New Testament plan. Jesus’ ministry, death, and future return are all part of Plan A found in the Old Testament covenants and prophecies.

God was not surprised by Israel’s rejection of Jesus—He used their rejection to carry out His plan. The apostle Paul said this rejection allowed the gospel to go to the gentiles. For this reason, he admonished Christians to approach the Jewish people in humility and give them honor, even if they were enemies to the gospel (Romans 11:28). God is greater than human weaknesses and failures.

His promises are true, He knows the end from the beginning, and He will fulfill His will.

SINCE THE NEW TESTAMENT When the last New Testament book was written and the canon of the Bible was closed, the Jewish people and the newfound Christian church were scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Over the next 1,800 years, the two faiths developed in very different directions, and the church became severed from its Jewish roots, going so far as to teach contempt for the Jewish people. It is an agonizing history of exile and persecution that culminated in the tragedy of the Holocaust.

But God—the sovereign creator of the universe—has miraculously brought the Jewish people back to their homeland. He is fulfilling everything He promised Abraham, Moses, and King David, just as the Hebrew prophets predicted. The story is not over, and what began in eternity long before Genesis was written will not end until eternity comes.

What a privilege it is to be in this generation. God is bringing His people back to the land and setting the stage for His final act in this redemptive story.

The day you get this in your gut is the day the Bible becomes the most exciting book on the planet. It is also the day you will want to become part of the story!

Dr. Susan Michael is USA Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and host of the Out of Zion podcast.

SUBSCRIBE T O DAY to listen to her Israel Answers series on the Out of Zion podcast. www.outofzionshow.com Plan to travel to Israel on ICEJ Tours www.icejusa.org/tours 1 6 |JU LY 2 0 22

ICEJ PODCAST: OUT OF ZION

CONNECTING THE BIBLE TO TODAY For many Christians, there’s a disconnect between the Bible and today. In this powerful Israel Answers podcast series, Susan Michael connects the people and story of the Bible to modern events by explaining various developments over the 2,000 years since the New Testament was written. The conclusion to the series is that the story that began in Genesis is still going on today.

ISRAEL ANSWERS PODCAST SERIES

PART 1: JUDAISM Four main sects existed in Judaism during the time of Jesus’ ministry. But after the destruction of the temple in AD 70, only one remained. In Part 1 of Connecting the Bible to Today, you’ll find out which one—and what it means to be a Jew today.

PART 2: CHRISTIANITY As the early church grew, it became predominantly gentile, lost appreciation for its Jewish roots, and became hostile toward the Jewish people. In Part 2 of Connecting the Bible to Today, you’ll learn about the birth of Evangelical Christianity—and what contributed to modern-day Jewish-Christian relations.

PART 3: ANTISEMITISM The evil, relentless pursuit of the Jewish people known as antisemitism can be likened to a mutating virus that reinvents itself for new generations. In Part 3 of this series, you’ll learn about the two most prevalent expressions of antisemitism today—and why this irrational hatred of the Jewish people can only be explained biblically.

PART 4: THE FOUNDING OF ISRAEL The founding of the State of Israel is nothing less than a miracle. In Part 4 of Connecting the Bible to Today, you’ll explore key events that allowed for the founding of Israel at the end of WWII—and how, just 70 years later, opposition to Israel is easily explained by ideologies ruling our day.

PART 5: MODERN ISRAEL Modern Israel’s ethnic diversity and geographic contrasts make the country a fascinating place to visit. But more than that, the vibrancy of Israeli society is a modern marvel found in its religious diversity and political system of parliamentarian coalition governments. In Part 5 of this series, you’ll learn more about modern Israel and discover two powerful factors that unite the nation.

PART 6: THE STORY IS NOT OVER Once we understand the overarching story of the Bible, we realize that it is not over. That is the day the Bible becomes so exciting it can be life-changing! In Part 6 of Connecting the Bible to Today, you’ll see how God is setting the stage for the ultimate fulfillment of His plans and promises made thousands of years ago and why it’s a privilege to live in this generation!\

Watch the entire podcast series at:

www.icejusa.org/out-of-zion-podcast/israel-answers-series/

SHABBAT SHALOM WEEKLY DEVOTIONALS Join Susan every Friday for a short devotion that will inspire, strengthen your faith, and bring a peaceful close to a busy week. Get a little shalom sent right to your phone—text “Zion” to 72572 to sign up for text alerts every Friday afternoon with a short, encouraging Shabbat Shalom devotional from Susan to start your weekend.

Your Israel Answer

Why Christians Support Israel: Practical Reasons Part 2 of a 5-Part Series

By Dr. Susan Michael, ICEJ USA Director

T

here are many very practical reasons for any American—not just Christians—to support Israel. America benefits from its relationship with Israel in many ways, and it only makes sense we would partner with and show support for the nation and its people.

DEMOCRATIC VALUES It is vital for America to maintain a strong alliance with the only liberal democracy in the Middle East. Israel advances our national interests and shares our values of freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and human rights. Israel is the most stable, pro-American country in a volatile region and deserves a strong and committed friendship with the United States.

NATIONAL SECURITY If there were no Israel, the United States would have to deploy aircraft carriers to the Middle East, along with tens of thousands of US soldiers. This would cost our country tens of billions of dollars annually, possibly dragging the United States into unnecessary local, regional, and global conflicts. Instead, we can rely on our partnership with Israel to represent our interests in the region.

American and Israeli militaries conduct joint training exercises that benefit both countries. Israel’s intelligence leads the world in its expertise and provides valuable intel, allowing US officials to prevent attacks on its citizens and bases overseas. Israel created an underside reactive armor for our Bradley tanks, which has saved thousands of US soldiers from IEDs. In battlefield medicine, Israel’s expertise in combat and the development of post-traumatic stress treatment directly helps our American troops.

US police commissioners, police chiefs, and sheriffs have cooperative programs with their Israeli counterparts. Thanks to Israeli knowhow and training in best practices, our airline

and airport security has been dramatically enhanced.

ECONOMIC Support of Israel is a good investment. The United States’ first Free-Trade Agreement was signed with Israel in 1985, and it produces a trade of goods and services totaling more than $40 billion annually. Thirty states in the United States benefit from cooperative agreements with Israel in technology, agriculture, energy, business, and homeland security. Out of the 250 multinational companies with operations in Israel, two-thirds are US companies such as Apple, Intel, Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco.

MEDICAL INNOVATIONS Israel’s medical innovations are another vast resource for Americans. Israel is home to almost 1,000 medical device companies and is a leading country in terms of both patents per capita and in absolute number of patents.

The intersection of hi-tech and health care by these companies is generating cutting-edge mobile health devices, AI-powered diagnostic platforms, novel therapeutics, pharmaceutical innovation, and new digital tools that improve access, quality, and precision of care.

Israel is also leading in the growing field of cybersecurity for health infrastructure and supply chains. In short, hundreds of Israeli companies in the United States are bringing new technology to hospitals and public health systems, improving our healthcare, and supporting jobs across the country.

HUMANITARIAN AID AND VOLUNTEERISM Although just the size of New Jersey, Israel has achieved acclaim all over the world because of its humanitarian aid efforts. Israel’s Foreign Ministry division, MASHAV, runs Israel’s official humanitarian assistance program.

Since its founding in 1957, MASHAV’s training courses have trained more than 270,000 participants from 132 nations. As a

result, millions of lives in developing nations are being impacted as participants return to their countries and improve agriculture, medicine, water, and other necessities.

Government programs are only part of the story in Israel. Israeli citizens are also known for volunteerism and assisting in disaster relief worldwide. IsraAID, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization, focuses on disasters and long-term support. It has been on the ground in nearly every major humanitarian crisis since its establishment in 2001. Their civilian and Israel Defense Force personnel, including medics, doctors, search and rescue teams, and post-trauma experts, often arrive in the earliest days of a disaster.

IsraAID has helped in over 140 countries.

In the United States, they have assisted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Hurricane Harvey in Houston, wildfires in Washington State, and the Florida Surfside condominium collapse, where they were heralded for their advanced techniques for locating victims’ remains.

TIKKUN OLAM The drive to help others and make the world a better place is nothing new. It is simply part of the Jewish DNA. Generations of Jewish people have prayed daily for Tikkun Olam, or the repair of the world. The biblical foundation of this concept is found in Isaiah 1:17, where the people of Israel are instructed to “Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” This value permeates Israeli society, which carries out Tikkun Olam in times of need.

Israel is certainly making our world a better place in ways that far outweigh its size in population or land mass. The world—and particularly Americans—should be grateful and support Israel’s efforts to be a light of goodness to the nations.

Visit us at: www.IsraelAnswers.com and get your question about Israel answered!

EPISODE 108 Israel Answers • Why Christians Support Part 2: Practical Reasons

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