Word from Jerusalem - January/February 2024 by ICEJ

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM // JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 // GLOBAL EDITION

FROM JERUSALEM

THE YEAR OF THE

WATCHMEN

FROM THE

PRESIDENT’S DESK Dear friends, Allow me to be very forthright about the current situation here in Israel.

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was established in 1980 in recognition of the biblical significance 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 recognise 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 to more than 170 countries, with branch offices in over 90 nations. Our vision is: * To reach every segment of Israeli 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 members 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 VP International Affairs Mojmir Kallus VP Finance David Van der Walt VP Operations Barry R. Denison VP International Spokesman David Parsons VP AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder General Manager Richard van der Beek Managing Editor/Publications Director Laurina Driesse Staff Writers Jonathan Parsons, Nativia Samuelsen Graphic Design/Illustrator Ryan Tsuen Administration Tobias H Photography Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Flash90, IDF Images/Flickr, Israel Police Spokesperson, JAFI, KKL-JNF, Wikimedia, 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. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible (in countries where this applies). For more information, visit us at www.icej.org

First, this is a time of war. This is a war not only between radical Islam and the free Western world. It has another dimension which the Bible identifies as a struggle against the spirit of Amalek. There is a wicked spirit of antisemitism – the most ancient hatred known to mankind – that is now cruelly targeting the Jewish state and people. We as people of faith must take a very clear stand against this evil force, which manifested itself on October 7. This battle is being fought in the natural, on the ground by the IDF. But it also has a spiritual dimension, like when Moses, Aaron and Hur stood on the mountain with arms lifted to heaven while Joshua led the fight on the battlefield against Amalek. I urgently appeal to every Christian to please pray for Israel every single day. This nation needs our prayer support more than ever before. Secondly, this is a time for action. Israel needs more than our professions of love; they need our practical help and support. This nation needs to see that there are Christians around the world who stand with Israel in very meaningful, material ways. Every church needs to collect offerings for Israel. Right now, there are more than 200,000 Israeli evacuees that had to flee their homes on the Gaza and northern borders and are now staying in hotels and hostels and guest houses around the country. There are still not enough helmets and bulletproof vests. There are people in this nation who urgently need trauma treatment. In fact, according to some reports, up to 30% of the people of this nation need trauma counselling. So, the needs are enormous, and Christians must respond with love and concern in very practical ways. I would add that we also need to speak up for Israel in our own countries like never before. It is unacceptable that in many Christian countries, there are more Muslims demonstrating against Israel on our streets than there are Christians standing up for Israel. We need to mobilize our churches to go out to the street and show this embattled nation that there are millions and millions of believers standing with them worldwide. Finally, it is a time for moral clarity. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.” Dear friends, this is happening right now around the world. When the International Court of Justice is asked to find Israel guilty of committing genocide, instead of Hamas, this is clearly calling evil good and good evil. Sadly, the United Nations’ voting record against Israel further proves it is an antisemitic organisation which repeatedly calls evil good and good evil. Thus, we should tell our governments to stop supporting this travesty of an institution. Many of you have already answered the call to stand by Israel in all these ways. May you persevere as the battle continues. Others may be challenged to start doing more for Israel. The ICEJ invites you to join with us in making a difference in Israel’s time of crisis. Blessings from Jerusalem!

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM P.O. Box 1192, Jerusalem • 9101002, ISRAEL

Support our ministry online at www.icej.org

SCAN ME TO BLESS ISRAEL TODAY!

Dr. Jürgen Bühler President International Christian Embassy Jerusalem COVER PHOTO: IDF Soldiers Praying recently near Israel’s northern border (Flash90) FOR MAGAZINE ARCHIVES visit www.icej.org/media/word-jerusalem

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CONTENTS

J A N U A RY / F E B R U A RY 2 0 2 4 G L O B A L E D I T I O N

FEATURED TEACHING

4 THE YEAR OF THE WATCHMEN

JUSTICE INVERTED IN GENOCIDE PETITION AGAINST ISRAEL

ICEJ-DONATED RADIOS SAVED THOUSANDS OF ISRAELI LIVES ON OCTOBER 7

THE YEAR 2023 IN REVIEW

SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL REACHES ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE

TEACHING

THE YEAR OF THE WATCHMEN 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 Northern Gaza Regional Brigade soldiers scouting the Gaza border. (IDF Flickr)

he horrific events of October 7th will be the subject of multiple investigations in Israel to determine what went wrong that fateful day. Already, many Israelis foresee numerous top political and military leaders being replaced. But one of the greatest failures is already known: the failure of the watchmen in Israel. To be more precise, military and intelligence officers higher up the chain failed to heed the warnings they had received from the watchmen. In the weeks and even hours just before the attacks, multiple signs of an imminent attack were noted by observers who constantly watch countless security cameras along the Gaza border fence. But their warnings were dismissed. The prevailing assessment by

senior officers was that Hamas would never dare try to breach the most secure border on earth. The price of this flawed consensus was the brutally inhumane acts committed by Hamas terrorists and even Gazan civilians, which have cost Israel nearly 1,500 lives so far. It was like the prophet of old warned: “…because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace…” (Ezekiel 13:10). Or when Paul said: “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

Israel has always served as an example for the Church, as Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 10:11 Israel has always served as an example for the Church, as Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 10:11. Indeed, recent events in Israel serve as sober, powerful lessons for the Church and every individual believer today. 4 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

Many times in the Bible, we are told to be watchful. The watchman plays a central role in the Word of God. Jesus admonished the disciples to “watch and pray” on the night he was betrayed (Matthew 26:41). The Hebrew prophets saw themselves as watchmen for the nation (Ezekiel 3:17). In troublesome times, the prophet Habakkuk even decided to climb a watchtower to hear what the Lord would say to him (Habakkuk 2:1f ).

Reconstructed watchtower in Moshav Yad Hashmona, Judean Hills (yad8.com) Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible describes a watchman as one whose duty it is to keep vigil, often on a tower or wall, whether for the king (1 Samuel 14:16), over a city

TEACHING watchmen who guard the President’s House and Prime Minister’s Office are some of the best trained security forces in Israel, as these sites are under constant threat. Without these watchmen, more terror attacks would get through. The Bible gives us four areas where watchmen are needed in the Kingdom of God to stand guard over our personal or communal watch tower. 1) THE PERSONAL WATCHMEN Everyone needs to be a watchman! A main characteristic of Israeli society is that virtually everyone has a duty as a watchman. A relatively high percentage of Israeli citizens carry a weapon, and many times these armed civilians are first on the scene of terrorist attacks and save lives.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 PETER 5:8–9

(Song of Solomon 3:3), or over a field (Isaiah 56:9-10). They carry out their task often at night (Psalm 127:1). Paul even counsels the church at Ephesus to be watchful of “savage wolves” preying on the flock (Acts 20:28-32). The events in Israel are a call to all believers to examine our own watchfulness and prayer habits. It is perilous that in many prosperous Western churches, the office of the watchman is neglected or non-existent. In Israel today, watchmen (shomrim in Hebrew) are part of daily life. They are at the entrances of communities, supermarkets, shopping malls, office buildings, and elsewhere. The more important the task, the younger and better trained they are. The

Israeli police officers stand guard in Jerusalem’s Old City (Israel Police Spokesperson)

other perverted, sensual offerings are just a mouse click away. One main reason for the lack of watchfulness among many believers is the great misconception that by joining the Kingdom of God, we think we have joined a nice country club with wonderful people as members. The Kingdom should be a place of righteousness, peace and joy. But, we also have joined an army in a state of war against Satan and this war will only intensify as the Day of the Lord draws closer. That is why Paul addresses his disciple Timothy as a soldier that needs to live according to the strict military discipline (2 Timothy 2:3-4). Undoubtedly, we live in a time of increased spiritual conflict, and we do well to remain alert to our own weaknesses and any outside attack. Now the most important question is what to do with the intelligence gathered as watchmen? It is one thing to see danger, but even more important is what to do in response. As I write this teaching, a security incident just happened in our village. A suspicious situation arose in our street that my dear wife Vesna noticed. She immediately contacted the head of security in our community, the matter was taken seriously, and positively impacted security procedures in our village. That means, as believers, we take these matters to the head of our security, the captain of our salvation, to Jesus and let him deal with it. That is why Jesus asked his disciples to watch and pray.

The Bible calls on all of us to be watchful at all times. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9) The believer is constantly surrounded by an enemy whose aim is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Satan wants to destroy your family, your calling, and your walk with the Lord. It should make us think that so many prominent leaders in the Church, though powerfully used by God, came under attack and their ministries fell. But it is not just the devil who can cause great harm to God’s people; often it is the weakness of the believer. In his anguish at Gethsemane, Jesus warns his disciples: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Jesus further teaches that two things are needed to overcome our fleshly desires: prayer and a state of spiritual alertness. Today, our fleshly desires are more under assault than ever as pornography and

I. T he Garden of Gethsemane by Giorgio Vasari, c. 1570, oil on panel - National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo (Wikimedia)

2) THE COMMUNITY WATCHMEN My wife’s personal alertness also benefited the whole community. In the same way, we are called to be watchmen for those around us, our families, our brothers and sisters in the Lord, and even our nations.

TEACHING

There is one area that the Word of God admonishes us to be especially watchful. Both Jesus and the Apostles warned that deceptions would come in the last days. Easy doctrines may tickle our ears, but they have little substance. Especially as leaders or elders in the work of God, we are called to be alert. Again, Paul warned the church at Ephesus: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, …. For I know, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, … Therefore watch….” (Acts 20:28–31).

We all need to watch ourselves and immerse daily in the Word of God and prayer Paul also wrote to his understudy Timothy: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16 / ESV) This warning indicates that not just others can be wrong, but Paul said, “watch yourself ”. Derek Prince once said Christians who believe they cannot be deceived are already deceived. We all need to watch ourselves and immerse daily in the Word of God and prayer. The Temple in Jerusalem had a special group of 4,000 Levites who served as ‘gatekeepers’ (1 Chronicles 23:5). Their functions varied, as they guarded the ark of the covenant while on the move, the finances or the entrance of the Temple. Their work was an essential part of the House of God. Today, we need the gift of discernment more than ever. What we need is not a physically strong bouncer to keep the wrong people from our services, but people of spiritual discernment to keep the wrong worldly influences from impacting the Church. The main purpose of the gatekeepers was not to create a cozy atmosphere for worship with the right people, but to assure that God’s glorious presence would be welcome in His own House. Rather than seeker-friendly churches, we need them to be God-friendly. For if His glory is there, the church will surely be a magnet for the lost. 3) THE PROPHETIC WATCHMAN The Hebrew prophets were called to be watchmen for Israel (Ezekiel 3:14). Their

task was to keep watch over Israel’s spiritual condition. But they also served as watchmen on a national level, warning Israel at times of imminent danger and giving heavenly strategies to the king. They were God’s mouthpiece to the nation, identifying what needed to change, warning of threats, and clarifying the purposes of God in the near and distant future. An important task of this office is to recognise the times and seasons in which we are living. The Bible applauds the tribe of Issachar as men “… who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do...” (1 Chronicles 12:32) The Body of Christ today needs believers like these men of Issachar. It requires more than just observing the cultural shifts in music or messaging to brighten our 90-minute Sunday service. Rather, there are seismic shifts taking place in the heavenly realm. Watchmen need to understand, like Daniel did, that our world is governed less by the leaders we vote into office and more by “… principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) This type of intelligence is gained in prayer and intercession, and by the gifts of the Spirit. There are great spiritual upheavals taking place in the Islamic world in our day. In recent decades, the number of Muslims finding Jesus as their redeemer is growing exponentially, yet we also are seeing an explosion of radical Islam manifesting not just in the Middle East but worldwide. Like in the time of Isaiah (21:11ff ), when people inquired about Dumah (today’s Arabian peninsula), watchmen are needed to assess the times and to give insights and strategies for victory for the Church. Our societies face other unprecedented challenges, such as Artificial Intelligence and gender confusion. Yet the biggest change in the spiritual landscape is the restoration of Israel, which has massive implications for the Church, especially as it will eventually bring the return of the Lord. However, this seems to be largely ignored by most churches today. Habakkuk lived in a time of tremendous shakings, yet he made a strategic decision: “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.” (Habakkuk 2:1) This, more than ever, is a call to the Body of Christ to man our watchtowers and see 6 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

what the word of the Lord is for our time, so we can act like the sons of Issachar and pray strategically. The place where watchfulness is most needed concerns the return of Jesus. More than in any other context, we are admonished to be watchful of his coming. The reason is very simple. Jesus said that we will not know exactly when he is coming (Matthew 24:36, 39, 42, 44, 50). It will catch us by surprise and the best way to be prepared is just to be watchful. Spiritual drowsiness and living Christianity on auto-pilot is dangerous. What is available to help us drive our cars with ease does not work in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica: “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them… Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6) Being alert means we invite afresh the Holy Spirit every day to speak to us, to have a lifestyle of prayer and studying God’s Word. Exceptional times require exceptional measures.

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” ISAIAH 62:6–7

4) WATCH AND PRAY In the Bible, watchmen are often associated with prayer. The prayer movement of the ICEJ takes its inspiration from Isaiah 62:6-7: “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;

INSIDE THE EMBASSY

They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” The watchmen of Isaiah 62 serve two functions. They make their rounds day and night to constantly remind the community of its need for alertness. They know it would be wrong to assume a moment of safety for the city and people of God. Now, in order to assure this safety and destiny, they also “remind the Lord” of His promises to Israel. They pray unceasingly for the full restoration of Jerusalem until its ultimate destiny is reached. And Isaiah foresees a coming time when these dual tasks are completed.

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU HOSTS ICEJ PRESIDENT AHEAD OF CHRISTMAS

n December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited ICEJ President Dr Jürgen Bühler for a meeting at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv to deliver Christmas holiday greetings to our constituency and thank Evangelical Christians for standing strong with Israel over the course of the current war. Dr. Bühler informed the prime minister about the ICEJ’s urgent war relief efforts and pro-Israel solidarity rallies worldwide, as well as our daily online prayer gatherings with thousands of praying Christians from around the globe.

In a way, these watchmen look out for imminent and future threats, but they also look beyond to the heavenlies, to the promises of God that still await fulfilment, and pray as long as it takes to see them come to pass. Thus, watching and praying always go handin-hand. The good news is that as we use the powerful weapon of prayer, we are aiming for victory. It is the praying watchmen who do great exploits. Much can be changed and accomplished through prayer, and particularly through corporate prayer. The reason God calls the watchman is not so he can watch the decay and fall of the world and thus become a bearer of bad news who sees nothing good coming ahead. On the contrary! He is called to the watchtower for an express purpose. “… until I make Jerusalem a praise on the earth.” (Isaiah 62:7) A CALL TO ACTION In conclusion, I strongly encourage you to become a watchman for your own personal life and your family, as well as for the community where the Lord has placed you. Ask the Lord to give you the needed divine intelligence to stand against the wicked schemes of the enemy and to carry out great exploits in these days of much upheaval. I also invite you to join our global Isaiah 62 prayer campaign. In doing so, you will join a mighty host of watchmen who are standing with Israel in this critical time. We are praying not only for Israel in the current conflict, but also reminding the Lord about the glorious future He has promised to His people. So, make 2024 your year as a watchman. May the Lord bless you greatly as take your stand on the walls of Jerusalem!

ICEJ HOLDS CHRISTMAS CONCERT IN IMPRESSIVE JERUSALEM CHURCH

any churches in the Land of Israel decided not to hold Christmas celebrations in public in December due to the war in Gaza, but the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem felt the holiday season carries a message of hope and joy that was so needed amid the current troubles. Thus, the ICEJ hosted a special Christmas caroling service at the stately St. Vincent Church in the Mamilla Mall section of Jerusalem, just outside Jaffa Gate. The musical program was arranged by Vesna Bühler and featured a choir, a harpist, a youth strings ensemble, and the popular Arab Christian vocalist Nazir Francis from Nazareth. Several local pastors gave season’s greetings and offered prayers for Israel, the hostages, IDF troops, and the Christians and civilians of Gaza. The holiday concert was well-attended and also was live-streamed to viewers around the world. 7 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

CURRENT AFFAIRS

“You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” (Isaiah 62:4-5)

A LAND NOT FORSAKEN BY DAV I D PA R S O N S , I C E J V I C E P R E S I D E N T & S E N I O R S P O K E S M A N

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi with Idan Amedi (IDF Photo)

he news out of Israel these days is filled with negative stories about the IDF’s painful, protracted fight against Hamas in Gaza. There is overall progress being made, but most headlines tell of more dead Israeli soldiers, of hostages still suffering in dark tunnels, of rising dissent inside Israel, and of even greater threats looming on other fronts. In such times of crisis, we long for any positive news about Israel. Well, even though this war with Hamas has triggered waves of antisemitism worldwide, it also is generating a surge of interest in Aliyah. Reports indicate that Jewish applications to immigrate to Israel have risen sharply in some countries, including by 500% in France. It also was encouraging to see the swift return of tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad when war erupted last October. Inbound flights were packed as Israeli airlines added extra seats to fit everyone on board. Many returnees were IDF reservists, including some who had not been called up for duty but reported anyway. That indeed was another very positive sign. When the IDF called up 300,000 reserve soldiers, over 360,000 showed up to fight. It is unheard of for any army to see a 120% rate of reporting among reservists. They all knew the seriousness of the battle ahead but came anyway.

One IDF reservist who reported for duty was Idan Amedi. Born into a family of Kurdish Jews, he won a song contest on Israeli TV back in 2010 and soon recorded five studio albums. Idan then joined the cast of Fauda, a successful TV drama on the gritty struggle between Israeli security and Palestinian terrorists. The series was even picked up by Netflix and now has a huge following in the Arab world. Despite being a star singer and actor, Idan answered the call to serve in Gaza with his combat engineering unit. But in January, he was seriously wounded in a tragic incident while helping prepare a Hamas tunnel for demolition. Idan is now recuperating but given his fame he probably could have skirted off to Hollywood and avoided this vicious war. Yet he represents a whole army of young doctors and lawyers and hitech innovators who have left behind successful businesses and lucrative careers to fight in the cramped alleyways and tunnels of Gaza. Many IDF reservists also left behind wives and children, but they know they are fighting for their homes and for the very existence of Israel.

8 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

This all bodes well for Israel. Another wave of Jews around the world are preparing to come home to Israel, even though they have safer options elsewhere. We should salute every Jew who chooses to come live in this land of conflict, as well as those who refuse to leave but stay to defend their ancestral homeland. God surely “delights” in these acts of faith and courage by His people. Isaiah 62 inspires us to be vigilant watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, to pray for the city to shine forth and become “a praise in the earth,” and for the children of Israel to become deeply attached to their ancestral homeland. God once asked the Jewish people to forsake all other gods and serve Him alone. Today, He is asking them to forsake all other lands and come “marry” themselves to the Land of Israel, even by putting their lives on the line for its sake. Thankfully, many are answering that call. In fact, the most popular battle song in this war is the Hebrew tune “Am Yisrael Chai,” which lyrics proclaim… “we have no other land.” There is a lesson here for Christians as well, to wed ourselves to God’s prophetic purposes over Israel, and over our own lives in these challenging days.

CURRENT AFFAIRS

JUSTICE INVERTED IN GENOCIDE PETITION AGAINST ISRAEL BY DAV I D PA R S O N S , I C E J V I C E P R E S I D E N T & SENIOR SPOKESMAN

he horrid Hamas massacre of Israelis last October 7 was rightly described by President Isaac Herzog as the darkest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The Hamas onslaught certainly was not on the same scale as the Nazi mass extermination of over six million Jews, yet a number of Holocaust survivors themselves insist the events of that day were actually worse than what they suffered from the Nazis in terms of the intense brutality and perverse glee shown by the perpetrators. This is why the recent legal stunt by South Africa’s ANC-run government to drag Israel into the International Court of Justice on the charge of committing genocide in Gaza is so twisted and odious. The recent hearings in The Hague are a clear example of what scholars on modern-day antisemitism call “Holocaust inversion.” It goes beyond Holocaust denial by turning the Holocaust on its head in portraying Israel as just as bad as the Nazis, if not worse. And if such is the case, then the Jewish state and people today deserve to be eradicated.

describe the enormity of the Nazis’ crimes, so in 1944 a Polish Jewish lawyer coined the term “genocide.” Following the Second World War, the international community not only established the United Nations as a bulwark against such wide-scale massacres in the future, they also enacted a specific treaty to ban this most extreme crime of genocide. The Genocide Convention of 1948 defines genocide as the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular national, ethnic or religious group with the aim of destroying them. This uniquely heinous crime requires not only systemic acts of mass murder, but also the specific “intent” to wipe out another people. In the time since the treaty was enacted, there have been numerous clear acts of genocide worldwide, such as in Rwanda and Darfur. Oddly, post-apartheid South Africa never bothered to bring these perpetrators to trial at the ICJ. So why is South Africa now concocting an indictment of genocide against Israel?

ICEJ joins rally for Israel outside the Peace Palace in The Hague. Thus, the ANC today remains extremely hostile towards the Jewish state and people, helping turn the 2001 Durban Conference on racism into an antisemitic hate-fest, and now willingly representing Hamas before the world’s highest court. But their case was extremely flawed and poorly presented. To begin with, genocide is considered the highest war crime and the hardest to prove – which they failed to do. This made it easier for Israel to refute South Africa’s charges and make its own strong case. But what really stood out were all immensely important facts overlooked by South Africa, starting with the Hamas terrorist invasion itself on October 7, which left 1,200 Israelis dead, with many more wounded, raped and tortured. They skipped over the 240+ hostages taken back into Gaza. They ignored the hundreds of miles of terror tunnels under Gaza and the way Hamas deliberately uses Gazan civilians as human shields. They also were silent about the IDF’s extraordinary measures to protect civilians in Gaza, such as the millions of phone calls, text messages and dropped leaflets warning of impending military operations.

South Africa legal team at ICJ (France24)

To expose this ruse, let’s start with the simple historic fact that the Jewish people were indeed victims of the world’s cruellest campaign of industrialized slaughter at the hands of the Nazis during World War Two. There was not even a word yet to adequately

The answer starts with the close ties which the African National Congress and PLO forged as radical Marxist liberation movements backed by the Kremlin in Cold War days. The Soviets spoon-fed them propaganda that Israel was a Western, colonialist implant in the Arab world. 9 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

Perhaps most telling of all, the South Africa team dared not speak about Hamas’s own genocidal, jihadist agenda, which is openly stated in its founding charter as a sacred Islamic duty to eradicate the Jews both in Israel and worldwide. Thankfully, Israel gave the court a clearer picture of recent events in Gaza. Still, the panel of justices could already be politically stacked against Israel, and we may see some sort of novel ruling that demands Israel stop certain actions which would ease the pressure on Hamas. But if the court does its job right, South Africa’s shameful legal move will backfire, and all these endless, inverted accusations of genocide against Israel will hopefully start to lose their steam worldwide.

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

THE YEAR 2023 IN REVIEW BY I C E J S TA F F W R I T E R S

he year 2023 saw modern-day Israel turn 75 years old. At the outset, this was to be a year of celebration for Israel. However, internal divisions over judicial reforms dampened the festivities, and then – in a flash – all joy dissipated when Hamas terrorists poured into southern Israel on that dark day of 7 October, igniting a war that persists to this day. Nonetheless, as we look back over the past twelve months, we see that the ICEJ – thanks to our faithful supporters worldwide – was able to stand strong and bring hope and comfort to all sectors of Israeli society, while also helping thousands of Jewish immigrants reach the Promised Land. Take a look at what we were able to accomplish together in 2023. JANUARY The surge in Aliyah in 2022, largely due to the war in Ukraine, rolled over into 2023. During January, the ICEJ continued to support this urgent wave of ingathering, such as assisting with Aliyah winter camps for Ukrainian Jewish youth in the safety of the nearby Baltic states. Meantime, as the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, the ICEJ was recognised with an award for our work with Holocaust survivors at an event in Haifa attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and several dozen residents from our

Aliyah winter camps for Ukrainian Jewish youth.

Home for Holocaust survivors. Finally, our annual Envision leadership conference drew 100 pastors from 25 countries up to Jerusalem, while another 130 joined online.

crucial Aliyah seminars for desperate Ukrainian Jewish families seeking a path to safety from the ongoing war with Russia.

Residents from the ICEJ’s Haifa Home for Holocaust survivors.

Aliyah seminars held in Ukraine.

FEBRUARY In early February, the ICEJ assisted with two Aliyah flights to Israel carrying 120 new Ethiopian Jewish immigrants young and old. Meanwhile, the ICEJ was still helping hundreds of Ukrainian Jews make Aliyah to Israel one year after the Ukrainian war broke out. Also in February, Israel rushed to the aid of Turkey after a massive earthquake devastated the region around biblical Antioch. The ICEJ quickly rallied behind an Israeli relief organization to assist with warm clothing, first-aid kits, oxygen tanks, defibrillators, and other emergency medical equipment delivered to some of the hardest hit areas.

Later in March, the Christian Embassy welcomed 155 Ethiopian Jews arriving on an ICEJ-sponsored Aliyah flight at BenGurion Airport. ICEJ staff also prepared and distributed nearly 800 beautiful holiday gift packages ahead of Passover in early April. The recipients of these gift baskets included new immigrants from Ethiopia, Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, as well as Holocaust survivors, pensioners, single mothers, and needy families.

ICEJ staff packing gift packs for Passover.

MARCH The ICEJ began the month by sponsoring 1 0 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

APRIL During the Passover season, the ICEJ supported a weekend Aliyah seminar for young Russian-speaking Jewish families held in Lithuania. The ICEJ also assisted a family of five from eastern Ukraine with a special medical rescue flight to Israel so the

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

grandfather could receive urgently needed dialysis treatment. Meantime, our ICEJ Homecare team had many special encounters with elderly immigrants under their care as they delivered Passover gifts for the holiday season.

ICEJ assisted a family of five from eastern Ukraine. MAY Israel turned 75 in May, but the festivities were restrained when massive rocket barrages from Islamic Jihad in Gaza rained down on southern Israel for three straight days. In response, the ICEJ quickly delivered a new mobile bomb shelter to a youth center in the Hof Ashkelon region that first afternoon. The ICEJ also delivered life-saving equipment (a blood warmer and three defibrillators) to Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, one of Israel’s top hospitals.

on a special medical rescue flight and then purchasing an air conditioner for her new apartment.

in Israel. Finally, we renovated a number of homes for newly-arrived Jewish immigrant families at Kibbutz Merchavia.

Elderly Jewish immigrant is delighted with her new air conditioner.

ICEJ staff welcome Jewish high school students at Ben Gurion Airport.

JULY ICEJ staff were eagerly waiting on the tarmac at Ben-Gurion in mid-July to welcome 130 new Ethiopian Jewish immigrants on an ICEJ-sponsored Aliyah flight. By month’s end, the ICEJ had sponsored Aliyah flights for more than 1,000 Jewish immigrants in 2023, including 180 from Ukraine, 200 from the Baltic states, and 270 from Russia and other former Soviet republics, plus another 375 from Ethiopia. Over the summer months, the ICEJ also sponsored three Aliyah summer camps held in Latvia and Lithuania for over 1,000 Jewish youths, many of them Ukrainian Jewish evacuees.

SEPTEMBER The ICEJ sponsored Aliyah flights for a group of 26 Jewish high school students from wartorn Ukraine who arrived to study in Israel. We also partnered with a local Arab Christian congregation to bless 110 Holocaust survivors with Rosh HaShana gift baskets to start the fall High Holy Days. Then on 29 September, the ICEJ welcomed to Israel some 3,200 Christians from 80 nations for our annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration, while several thousand more joined online.

The Feast of Tabernacles 2023. Mobile bomb shelter delivered in Hof Ashkelon.

ICEJ welcomes Ethiopian Jewish immigrants.

JUNE T he ICEJ renovated t wo rundown underground bomb shelters in Kibbutz Dorot, located just five miles from Gaza.

AUGUST When a tribal conflict erupted in the Gondar region of Ethiopia, the ICEJ assisted with the rescue of 61 Ethiopian Jews by funding their emergency Aliyah flights to Israel and absorption costs once in the land. Meanwhile, we delivered six new mobile bomb shelters to Shlomi, a town right on the Lebanese border which was hit by Hizbullah rockets at Passover. Over the past 15 years, the ICEJ has now donated over 200 mobile bomb shelters to vulnerable Israeli communities along the Gaza and Lebanon borders. The ICEJ also sponsored recertification courses for licensing new immigrant doctors to practice medicine

A renovated underground bomb shelter in Kibbutz Dorot. The renovations included new bathrooms, adding small kitchens, fresh coats of paint, and installing new ventilation systems with special pumps which remove dampness and prevent mould in the shelters. The ICEJ also assisted an elderly, disabled Ukrainian Jewish immigrant by bringing her to Israel

OCTOBER TO DECEMBER As our week-long Feast celebration concluded on 6 October, the very next morning the nation of Israel was reeling in shock due to the treacherous mass infiltration of Hamas terrorists from Gaza on the Jewish high holy day of Simchat Torah. The ICEJ’s response was immediate, with an ongoing three-pronged approach to helping the Jewish nation, which we sustained over the final three months of 2023 and into the new year. The three main facets of our response included: Prayer: The ICEJ hosted a daily online Global Prayer Gathering to pray for Israel with thousands joining us every day from all over the world. The intensive prayer times also featured recurring three-day Esther Fasts by many participants. In addition, our monthly Rosh Chodesh prayer chain was expanded into a 24/7 vigil, with churches and prayer groups from some 70 nations helping carry the round-the-clock prayers for Israel, the Middle East and the nations. Solidarity: ICEJ branches worldwide hosted public rallies and prayer events to stand in

11 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

solidarity with Israel. Some rallies were met with opposition and even violence, but the ICEJ global family continued to support Israel with passion, truth and grace. Relief Aid: The ICEJ engaged in numerous activities and projects to bring urgent war relief aid to Israelis still reeling from the troubling events of October 7. This included the following areas of urgent assistance: FOOD & SUPPORT FOR NEEDY FAMILIES The ICEJ helped with urgent food distribution and humanitarian efforts to assist evacuated Israeli families, the elderly, new immigrants, and other needy families nationwide, including: • Packing over 14,000 food boxes for evacuated families. • Leasing two delivery trucks to distribute food packages to evacuated and disadvantaged families. • Providing food and water to firstresponders near the Gaza border. • BBQ cookouts for those defending the country. • Sponsoring a mentoring program and aid basket for 40 vulnerable families from the heavily-impacted areas of Ofakim, Ashdod and Ashkelon.

acking over 14,000 food boxes P for evacuated families.

HELPING EVACUEES The ICEJ assisted scores of Israeli evacuee families with housing, emergency aid, educational needs, and emotional support, including: • Respite days for 450 evacuees, including new immigrants living near the Gaza border and other families from the South hosted at Yad HaShmona. • Gift cards for 440 evacuee families from Kfar Aza and Sderot. • Housing 18 evacuees, including with food and emergency items. • Meeting basic needs of hundreds of children, including toys, games, mattresses, first aid kits, food, etc. • Sponsoring activities, therapy and/or emotional support for some 1,000 evacuee children, some with disabilities. • Providing computers for children in 10 evacuee families. • Establishing 11 classrooms for evacuated children, with equipment and books. • Giving 250 bags packed with toys to children of evacuated families in Haifa.

help traumatized children in evacuated families, being published by the already re-opened print house in the hard-hit community of Kibbutz Be’eri. HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS The ICEJ made a special effort to assist Holocaust survivors during this crisis by: • Purchasing emergency food supplies and a back-up generator for Holocaust survivors at the Haifa Home. • Providing survivors with mattresses, toiletries, etc. • Supplying food for survivors across northern Israel. MEDICAL & EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT The ICEJ donated medical and emergency equipment, including: • Providing 30 paramedics and search & rescue workers with protective helmets and vests, search and recovery tools, first aid and medical intervention equipment, and other emergency supplies. • Four new ambulances, including one for Kibbutz Be’eri. • One new medi-scooter.

• Funding the printing of 4,000 books to

Packing toys for children of evacuated families in Haifa.

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2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

•F our medical packs and four defibrillators for security officers in Hof Ashkelon. •F our new fire-fighting ATVs to combat recent fires ignited by Hamas rockets hitting the Western Negev. •D onating warm clothing, tents, and other outdoor equipment for those on the frontlines. •D elivering more sets of special radio transmitters to communities along the Gaza border like those which helped save thousands of lives on October 7. BOMB SHELTERS The ICEJ placed more portable bomb shelters and renovated existing underground shelters in the North and South of the country, including: • Ordering nine new above-ground mobile shelters. • Renovating 120 existing underground shelters, including 73 shelters in Shlomi, 41 in Ma’alot-Tarshiha, and 6 in central Israel. TRAUMA RESPONSE The ICEJ sponsored trauma counselling and care for hundreds of Israelis severely shaken by the conflict, such as:

• Providing leadership and resilience training and support to 120 doctors and nurses who are responsible for over 1,500 medical staff. • Offering trauma therapy and emotional support to evacuated teens and at-risk young adults. • Horse-back riding therapy sessions and equipment for traumatized children. • Helping establish a PTSD trauma center in the North for IDF veterans and others. • Renovating a treatment center in Jerusalem caring for hundreds of Israeli soldiers and civilians suffering from PTSD.

• Harvesting fruit trees and crops for farmers in the western Negev. • Volunteering to drive pregnant women to the hospital to give birth. Many of these urgent war relief efforts over recent months are continuing into 2024. But we want to take this moment to thank you so much for your incredible support throughout the year of 2023. It is only because of your generosity that the Christian Embassy was able to achieve all that it did, reaching out to many people to bring hope and comfort to a nation still stunned by the hatred and terror surrounding it. We look forward to continuing our partnership with you in the coming year to meet the needs of the nation and people of Israel.

HANDS-ON VOLUNTEERING The ICEJ staff engaged in hands-on volunteer work to help Israelis in a number of areas, including: • Packing food boxes for over 14,000 evacuees, as well as 4,900 toiletry kits for IDF soldiers. • Visiting wounded IDF soldiers and civilians, with 19 receiving gift bags. • Visiting evacuee families from Kfar Aza and sitting shiva with them. •H omecare visits to dozens of the elderly and disabled in need of physical and emotional support.

ICEJ-sponsored trauma counselling training.

Delivering more sets of special radio transmitters to communities along the Gaza border.

Harvesting fruit trees and crops for farmers in the western Negev. 13 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

ICEJ Vice President of AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder visiting evacuee families.

ICEJ AID

ICEJ ‘SHELTERING’ RESIDENTS IN NORTHERN ISRAEL BY J O N AT H A N A . PA R S O N S , I C E J S TA F F W R I T E R

ecently, an ICEJ delegation visited communities under constant rocket fire on Israel’s northern border where we have been placing life-saving bomb shelters and renovating older underground shelters in dire need of repair. When we arrived in the town of Shlomi, it was quiet at first, until we heard the thunder of out-going artillery rounds from a nearby IDF battery. Shlomi is home to some 9,000 residents who live just below the ridge line which divides Israel and Lebanon. The newest neighbourhood lies only 150 meters from the UN-marked border fence – and the prying eyes of the Hizbullah terror militia. We thought Shlomi would be a ghost town after several months of intense artillery duels between the IDF and Hizbullah right along the border. But we could see numerous locals driving around town, and even a few children playing outside as we arrived at the municipal building to meet with the mayor.

Back in April, Shlomi was struck by a barrage of rockets from Lebanon on the first day of Passover, sowing panic in the town due to its lack of enough bomb shelters and the dire condition of those it did have. The ICEJ quickly stepped in and delivered the nine mobile bomb shelters to Shlomi and started renovating all 73 underground shelters in town. Mayor Na’aman stressed that his town fears not just that Hizbullah has a lot more rockets than Hamas, but that their elite Radwan Forces have been planning to carry out the same massacres on the northern border as Hamas did in the south on October 7. The mayor insisted the only way for local residents to feel safe enough to return is if the IDF pushes Hizbullah back above the Litani river. We also visited Ma’alot-Tarshiha, a unique community of 22,000 located seven kilometers from the border and made up of two adjoining towns – one Jewish and one Arab. With the ICEJ’s help, the town is in the process of refurbishing 67 public shelters – with 41 at or near completion and 26 still under repair. During our visit, we were shown several shelters where the renovations were finished, and others awaiting an overhaul. As in Shlomi, the main difference between the repaired and unrepaired shelters was the stench from mold and stagnant sewage in the untouched bunkers, which would make it impossible to linger there for even a few minutes, much less during weeks of heavy bombardment. The finished shelters were heaven in comparison. These shelters are even being fitted with new water pumps, circulation fans and AC units, as well as toilets, sinks and showers, so people can stay safe there without having to leave the shelters.

Mayor Gabriel Na’aman meets with ICEJ Vice President & Senior Spokesman David Parsons and ICEJ Vice President of AID and Aliyah Nicole Yoder. Mayor Gabriel Na’aman was quick to thank the ICEJ for helping his town over recent months by donating nine portable above-ground bomb shelters and renovating 73 existing underground shelters. He explained that most residents of Shlomi were evacuated early in the war to some 27 hotels in Jerusalem, Haifa and Tiberias, but 700 have returned to keep their businesses going “only because the shelters you provided are here to protect us.”

Air conditioning unit installed in the bomb shelter.

Over the last 15 years, the ICEJ has now donated over 200 portable bomb shelters to vulnerable Israeli communities, some 50 of them along the northern border. In addition, we have now built or renovated some 125 underground shelters across Israel in recent years. Help us provide more life-saving shelters to protect Israelis under relentless rocket fire. You can do so by giving to our Israel in Crisis fund.

Donate today at: give.icej.org/crisis

Installation of a wifi modem in the bomb shelter.

1 4 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

Renovations included refitting toilets in the bomb shelter.

ICEJ AID

ICEJ PROVIDES TRAUMA TRAINING FOR ISRAELI MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS BY N AT I V I A S A M U E L S E N

f there is one overwhelming need in Israel today, it is for trauma care. Even veteran trauma counsellors are being overwhelmed in dealing with the deluge of patients still struggling with the shock of the October 7 massacres. The same is true in Israel’s medical field, which has long been a shining example of Jewish-Arab coexistence. Yet those collegial bonds have been tested by the mass Hamas pogrom, as Israeli medical professionals from all ethnic and religious backgrounds grapple with the trauma triggered that day.

BY N AT I V I A S A M U E L S E N atrocious acts of terrorism, and as a result his department is facing major secondary trauma. Monique Atias, head nurse of the maternity ward at the Soroka Hospital in Beersheva, shared how one third of her staff were evacuated from the Gaza border communities and she was left to find new temporary workers. “The mothers in the wards come with all kinds of challenges,” noted Monique. “Their husbands are in the army, so they may have no family support and they have other children to care for… This course helps me train my team to help the mothers get the best care possible.” Already, the training course has positively impacted 1,500 medical workers as managers implement their new approaches in their departments around the country, leading to better medical care for all.

Recent surveys show a 30% increase in Israelis suffering from depression and anxiety. Hospitals and clinics also face a sharp rise in injured patients and a shortage of medical staff. In response, medical caregivers urgently needed trauma and resilience training to help them cope so they could then help others. So, the ICEJ decided to sponsor a pilot course on resilience and trauma training for 30 select managers from hospitals around Israel, knowing it would positively impact thousands. The nationwide program for medical professionals is especially helping reduce tensions between the Arab and Jewish sectors. It is an innovative course that no other country in the world has. Indeed, Israel is becoming a world leader in the area of trauma care – whether they want to or not. While not on IDF reserve duty, Shauli is the head nurse in emergency medicine at the Ziv Hospital in Safed. He said his team treated many young people from the music festival in the south with severe injuries from

ICEJ SUPPORTS THE UNIQUELY SACRED WORK OF ZAKA

Please stand with the ICEJ as we help Israelis from all walks of life to overcome together the traumas of the current conflict. You can do your part by supporting our ‘Israel in Crisis’ fund.

DONATE TODAY AT: give.icej.org/crisis

s the brutal Hamas terror attacks on October 7 were still underway, Israeli emergency first-response teams quickly swung into action, selflessly putting their own lives on the line to save others. It always falls to a very special group called ZAKA to collect the remains of the fallen and reverently provide them an honourable Jewish burial. An ICEJ delegation recently visited ZAKA’s logistical warehouse in Israel to meet some of their volunteers. Scattered around the huge warehouse were a myriad of supplies essential to their overall operation. At the core of ZAKA are hundreds of Orthodox Jewish volunteers dedicated to giving terror victims a traditional Jewish burial. They have been working tirelessly since the war started to carry out their sacred mission, often under rocket fire and other serious threats. In the weeks after the October 7th massacre, ZAKA was struggling to bring more than twelve hundred bodies to a proper burial, many of them mutilated and in various states of decay. They desperately needed more equipment for their volunteers to get the unpleasant work done. When they sent out an urgent appeal for help, the ICEJ responded by providing their teams with protective vests and helmets, first aid and medical intervention equipment, and containment supplies for recovered remains. These have all proven invaluable to their work, which unfortunately must continue as the war goes on. Please join us in supporting these and other emergency firstresponse teams who are still processing the harrowing scenes they witnessed.

ICEJ Vice President of AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder meets with ZAKA emergency first responders. 15 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

DONATE TODAY TO OUR ISRAEL IN CRISIS FUND AT: give.icej.org/crisis

ICEJ AID

ICEJ-DONATED RADIOS SAVED THOUSANDS OF ISRAELI LIVES ON OCTOBER 7

hen waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border and slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis on October 7, four Israeli communities just north of Gaza managed to fend off the attackers and avoid the carnage which befell other border villages. According to Amnon Ziv, security chief for the Hof Ashkelon region, it was special communication equipment donated by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem last year which helped save the lives of over 3,000 local residents under his watch on that fateful day. Amnon lives in Netiv HaAsara, next to the Erez Crossing, which was penetrated by hundreds of armed Hamas militiamen. He quickly assessed the gravity of the threat and used the radio devices provided by ICEJ to send a simultaneous alert to all the standby squads in his kibbutz as well as in Yad Mordechai, Zikim and Karmia. This allowed all four communities to rapidly organize and fight off the terrorists at their gates and perimeters fences. Their swift, courageous actions prevented the Hamas gunmen from entering and massacring residents like in Kfar Aza, Kibbutz Be’eri and other Israeli villages near Gaza. Amnon said the regional council had been asking the Israeli army for these special radio devices for the last five years, but never got a

ICEJ HELPING DISPLACED ISRAELI CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL BY DAV I D PA R S O N S

n one project to help Israel see through the current war, the ICEJ is providing eleven classrooms for children of evacuated families from the Eshkol Regional Council, so students from kindergarten through sixth grade can resume school together again. The Eshkol region is a fertile area along the Gaza border with 32 thriving farm communities, but many were devastated by the horrific Hamas invasion of October 7. In its wake, over 17,000 Eshkol residents were evacuated to temporary housing in Eilat, the Arava, Dead Sea and Jerusalem. Once they realised it could be months before they can

response. Yet once the ICEJ learned of the need, he soon received the special equipment. The devices feature medium wave radio technology that can use existing signal towers to send secured alerts to everyone simultaneously in real time. The Christian Embassy has now supplied these same radio devices to all the regional councils in the Gaza envelope. We recently learned the radio devices also helped alert residents of Kibbutz Re’im in time to keep it from being overrun as well. The ICEJ continues to respond to the urgent needs of communities along the Gaza border and throughout Israel. Please support these worthy efforts by giving to our Israel in Crisis fund at: give.icej.org/crisis

VP of AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder with Executive Director of Operation Lifeshield Shmuel Bowman and Amnon Ziv.

safely return to their homes, community leaders started looking for ways to provide classrooms for their children. When they approached the Christian Embassy for help with ten classrooms, the request letter explained how the Eshkol region had suffered greatly on October 7, as the Hamas terrorists rampaged through the villages of Be’eri, Sufa and Nir Oz, several nearby army bases, and the outdoor music festival near Reim, where 350 young people were massacred that day. The ICEJ quickly agreed to help fund the project and later committed to one more classroom. Thus, the Christian Embassy will be providing eleven classrooms for displaced Eshkol children this school year. The ICEJ’s donation includes equipment for the classrooms as well as three roomy tents to serve grade school classes. The classrooms will each hold up to 20 or 25 children. Several 1 6 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

grade levels will be using the classrooms and tents at various times in the school day, so this initiative will end up serving several hundred children every day. The ICEJ also is sponsoring a special children’s book being printed at the re-opened Be’eri print house. The book aims to help children work through the trauma they experienced, and the 4,000 copies will each have a dedication page to the ICEJ in the front. The residents of the Eshkol region are trying to hold their communities together as best they can until they can safely return home. Until then, they have given priority to getting their children back in school in as uplifting an environment as they can create. Your donations to the ICEJ are helping meet that need. Please continue to support our Israel in Crisis fund. Donate today at: give.icej.org/crisis

AID & ALIYAH

ICEJ PREPARING FOR BIG YEAR IN ALIYAH! OPENS NEW YEAR WITH WINTER YOUTH CAMP IN LATVIA BY H O WA R D F L O W E R , I C E J A L I YA H D I R E C T O R Credit: JAFI in the Baltic states

he war thrust upon Israel over recent months has left many Israelis traumatised, even while scores of Jews abroad are preparing to move to the Jewish homeland to escape the rampant wave of antisemitism now spreading worldwide. As we start the new year, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem stands committed to helping with both the war relief efforts here in the Land of Israel, and the expected return of more Jews from abroad. In fact, our Aliyah efforts for 2024 are already underway in the form of winter Aliyah camps for Jewish youths which we sponsored the first week of January in the Baltic states. As antisemitism continues to rise across the globe, more and more Jews are considering returning to their ancestral homeland of Israel. Already since that dark day last October 7th, more than 4,000 Jewish olim (newcomers) have arrived in Israel on Aliyah. Although many prospective Jewish immigrants are delaying their move to Israel for a few months to see how the war progresses, the Jewish Agency For Israel reports that the number of Diaspora Jews submitting Aliyah applications since October has jumped significantly. For example, more than 1,200 French Jews opened Aliyah files in the last three months of 2023, an increase of 450% over the same period the previous year. American Jewish applications for Aliyah were up as well since the war started. Recently, Jewish Agency chairman Doron Almog boldly forecast that Israel could see as

many as one million new Jewish immigrants in the next few years due to the mounting wave of antisemitism around the globe. In the new year of 2024, the ICEJ is committed to bringing as many Jewish immigrants home to Israel as possible and assisting them with fully integrating into Israeli society. Our Aliyah efforts have brought more than 175,000 Jews home to Israel since the ICEJ’s founding in 1980, including more than 5,000 just last year. So, the promised Ingathering of Israel is a core calling of our ministry, and with your help we can help many more Jewish families reach the Land of Israel this year. Our Aliyah activities for 2024 are already underway, as we started the year by sponsoring winter Aliyah camps for 73 Jewish youth aged between 12 to17 who eagerly packed their warmest clothes and came together in early January for a life-changing adventure in chilly Latvia! There was a jovial atmosphere as the youth arrived and began mingling with each other. The Jewish teens, including Ukrainian refugee children now living in Poland, Germany and the Baltic countries, as well as Israeli youth temporarily out of Israel, all gathered at an ICEJ-sponsored Aliyah winter camp on the shores of the Baltic Sea in Latvia. Despite the freezing temperatures, which dipped as low as -20 degrees Celsius, the young people participated in a variety of fun activities. They had an awesome pajama party, navigated through a web of strings, made new friends, played in the snow and, most importantly, 17 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

learned about Israel while embracing their Jewish identity. These Aliyah camps truly plant the seeds within these Jewish youngsters for their eventual move to Israel.

Credit: JAFI in the Baltic states

The Christian Embassy has been assisting with these Aliyah youth camps in winter and summer for nearly two decades now in a number of countries, including Ukraine, Finland, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania. And we will be involved in more such youth camps this year, as well as Aliyah fairs for entire Jewish families, the Aliyah flights themselves, preflight transport, post-flight integration, and all other stages of their prophetic journey home to Israel. Thank you for supporting the urgent need to bring the Jewish people back to their biblical homeland in keeping with God’s great promises to Israel. Please continue to give generously to our Aliyah efforts.

DONATE AT: give.icej.org/aliyah

HAIFA HOME

UNUSUAL HOLIDAY JOY AT THE HAIFA HOME BY Y U D I T S E T Z

srael remains at war and the troubles are far from over. Here in Haifa it has been reasonably quiet, and life goes on even though the underlying tensions are affecting every one of us. The residents of our Home for Holocaust survivors find it hard to deal with the costs of the war to Israel in terms of the many young lives being lost or badly wounded, and the threats from many different fronts that Israel is facing. There is also the vicious hatred and antisemitism that is being so openly displayed all over the world. The vow “Never Again!” seems to be empty words today, and it is affecting our Holocaust survivors deeply.

HANUKKAH SURPRISES! The Haifa Home received a number of visitors over the Hanukkah holidays and the candle lighting festivities each night held much joy and many surprises. One evening, Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stopped by to give a word of encouragement to the Holocaust survivors and to help light the Hanukkiah candles that night. ICEJ President Dr Jürgen Bühler was on hand and received a plaque from Minister Cohen in recognition of our many years of work with Holocaust survivors.

A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

A group of Israeli Arab children-at-risk, ages 7-9 years old, recently came to visit the Home accompanied by some of their supervisors and parents, to bring joy and presents to the survivors. The program’s managers had prepared the Arab children beforehand and shared with them about the Holocaust. Even though almost all of the youths are from a Muslim background, they came dressed like Father Christmas, sang “Jingle Bells” in Arabic, and gave holiday presents to the residents.

love that was exchanged was precious to behold. The children had such a nice time, and the survivors just loved meeting them. This was a wonderful example of co-existence is our city of Haifa, where Jews and Arabs live in peace together. A true light shone brightly amid all the darkness around us today.

We had prepared pages from a colouring book and crayons, so the children had much fun colouring together with the residents. The

We continue to work to make the environment at the Haifa Home as pleasant and beautiful as possible for the residents. Recently, we added a fitness room to our physio room which was designed and beautifully decorated by Simcha, the physiotherapist on our ICEJ team at the Home. We want our elderly residents to keep moving and using their muscles in a very pleasant environment. The Holocaust survivors who would generally not be part of our two weekly gymnastic groups are now coming to the fitness sessions and enjoy themselves very much. Mobility is very important at their age and the warm atmosphere together with the professional coaching from Simcha is uplifting for their souls.

BEAUTIFYING THE HOME

Right now, we also are in the process of renovating the dining room. It is a public area where our residents spend a lot of time during meals, and many other activities are held there as well. Together with a professional team, we hope to change this area into a more homey and inviting place where people love to connect and be together.

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HAIFA HOME

THERAPY THROUGH ART

Many of the Holocaust survivors residing at the Haifa Home still suffer from traumas in their youth and their lives have not been easy. Especially in this difficult time for Israel, many dark memories from their past come up, and the residents can feel sad and depressed. Nancy, an art therapist, comes once a week and does art therapy with individual residents who are housebound, and with small groups. It brings a lot of joy as it opens people up and allows them to talk about their feelings while they do art with different materials and colours. This latest time the subject was based on Psalms chapter one, about “the tree planted by streams of water”, and the winter that brings rains to water the trees. So, they talked about what brings “water” to their lives, which can be nice words from a friend or a hug. Then they drew a tree and its surroundings with colours that can bring them strength and joy. Together with beautiful music in the background, it brought great comfort and joy to the residents who took part. “This so helped me to forget for a little all the horrible things that happened and to think about something else”, Sofia said.

the ttle all li a r o t f bout to forge and to think a e m d helpe pened “This so ings that hap h t horrible else” g somethin

DOLLS THAT BRING COMFORT AND JOY

Several years ago, we received therapeutic dolls from Christians in Finland, which we regularly use to this day. It is wonderful to see how these dolls, which feel and look like real babies, bring comfort and joy to the residents and even to their caregivers. One of our foreign caregivers has a grandson she has not seen for almost a year, and she took care of a doll for several days and even bought it a set of new clothes. These dolls also are used in physiotherapy and balance exercises, which suddenly become so much more enjoyable and easier. It is amazing how much good and happiness these simple gifts from caring Christians have brought for all of us.

DONATE AT: give.icej.org/survivors

19 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

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ICEJ

HANSJÖRG BISCHOF RECEIVES NEHEMIAH AWARD FOR 2023

very year at the Feast of Tabernacles, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem presents its annual Nehemiah Award to a Christian leader who has distinguished themselves as a committed supporter of Israel and the Jewish people. At the Feast 2023, the ICEJ bestowed the Nehemiah Award on Hansjörg Bischof for his lifetime of accomplishments in building support for Israel, while also acknowledging the faithful contributions of his dear wife Astrid. They are considered part of the ICEJ’s founding generation with over 40 years of service to the ministry. Hansjörg and Astrid first attended the Feast in Jerusalem in the early 1980s and learned of the Christian Embassy. In 1983, he organised the first Swiss tour group to the Feast. Then in 1984, he founded ICEJ-Switzerland and served as its president for the next 37 years. Under

his leadership, the Swiss branch became one of the ICEJ’s strongest national offices, with an impressive record of pro-Israel activities. In 1985, Hansjörg spearheaded the first Christian Zionist Congress held in Basel, Switzerland in the same landmark Casino building where the first Zionist Congress was convened in 1897 by Theodor Herzl.

Over the past four decades, Hansjörg has pursued with excellence the mission and mandate of the Christian Embassy. For most of that time, he and Astrid served on the ICEJ’s governing Association. He is greatly respected among Church leaders, the Jewish community and Israel’s diplomatic corps. He has travelled widely to speak and encourage Christians to support Israel, leading many to discover a love for God’s people and Land.

Under his leadership, the Swiss branch also began assisting with the Return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, beginning with the quiet exodus of Soviet Jews from behind the Iron Hansjörg Bischof receives the Nehemiah Curtain in the 1980s. ICEJAward at the Feast of Tabernacles 2023. Switzerland later provided valuable support for our Raoul Wallenberg Center established in Budapest in the early 1990s to assist Soviet Jews on their way to Israel. The Swiss branch also organised numerous van convoys to collect thousands of Jews from across Ukraine and bring them to airports for Aliyah flights to Israel.

JOIN LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR THIS UNIQUE TIME OF GLOBAL PRAYER FROM JERUSALEM AND THE NATIONS

s u n i o J

“And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord. – Isaiah 66:23

24/ 7

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C H AIN

LEAD • SERVE • PRAY on.icej.org/ICEJGlobalPrayer

The ICEJ Rosh Chodesh prayer chain now runs 24/7! Enjoy prayer and worship and intercession and praise, from Israel and the Nations, from one Rosh Chodesh to the next!

roshchodesh.icej.org 21 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

ICEJ INTERNATIONAL

ICEJ SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL REACHES ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE

ince Hamas ignited a war with Israel on October 7, a major wave of antisemitism has spread worldwide, but there also is a very strong wave of pro-Israel solidarity circling the globe. The International Christian Embassy, through our global network of national branch offices, has been standing with the Jewish state and people in a variety of ways. Here are just some of the recent reports of our branch activities.

CZECHS DONATE AMBULANCE TO KIBBUTZ BE’ERI The ICEJ branch in the Czech Republic partnered with the local chapter of the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) to raise funds for a new, advanced military ambulance which was delivered in January to the IDF medical corps and assigned for use at the hard-hit community of Kibbutz Be’eri. In just a few short weeks, the ICEJ-Czech branch raised half the funds for the ambulance and thereby exceeded in a short time its annual average of giving by 300 percent. Kibbutz Be’eri was chosen as the beneficiary since it was devastated by the Hamas onslaught, and its story reminded many Czechs of when the Nazis brutally wiped out the village of Lidice in 1942. The initiative for the gift also arose from the video footage of Hamas gunmen shooting at and damaging an ambulance during their rampage through Be’eri on October 7.

Meantime, donations for new ambulances also have been received from many other faithful Christian supporters of Israel worldwide, giving us funds to deliver at least three more ambulances so far. The ICEJ-USA and ICEJ-Switzerland branches have each collected enough gifts to purchase fully-equipped ambulances which will be donated to Israel through Magen David Adom. A fourth ambulance also is being donated by the ICEJ to serve Holocaust survivors in northern Israel through Yad Ezer L’Haver, our partner organization at the Home for Holocaust survivors in Haifa.

ICEJ-SOUTH AFRICA STANDING TALL FOR ISRAEL ICEJ-South Africa national director Vivienne Myburgh has been helping lead valiant efforts in her nation to stand with Israel. She helped organise a recent pro-Israel rally at Sea Point Park in Cape Town, where they were expecting about 3,000 Christians to come pray for Israel and the hostages. But police called off the event due to the violent threats of an unapproved counter-protest by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who attacked several people and also clashed with police. More recently, Vivienne joined many Christian and Jewish leaders in signing a public statement opposing the ANC-ruled government’s misguided decision to charge Israel with genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Many

2 2 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

ICEJ INTERNATIONAL

A SURPRISE GIFT FROM VIETNAM

Christians in South Africa are praying earnestly for a drastic change in course for their country in the upcoming national elections.

ICEJ-USA JOINS MASS RALLY FOR ISRAEL IN WASHINGTON In mid-November, ICEJ-USA national director Susan Michael led many of our supporters nationwide in attending the “March For Israel”, a massive rally in Washington, DC to stand with Israel, demand freedom for the hostages, and oppose antisemitism. The gathering on the National Mall facing Capitol Hill far outdrew expectations as some 290,000 Christians and Jews came from across the country for what turned out to be the largest-ever pro-Israel rally in the US. The impressive array of speakers included Israeli President Isaac Herzog, senior leaders of the US Congress, celebrities and relatives of the Israeli hostages, while several musical acts featured prominently at the event. ICEJ-USA also followed up with a well-attended pro-Israel rally in Nashville, Tennessee.

ICEJ-CANADA RALLIES FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE In early December, ICEJ supporters were among the 20,000 Canadian Christians and Jews who ascended Parliament Hill in Ottawa to stand in solidarity with Israel and Canada’s Jewish community. Even though the capital had just experienced its first significant snowfall with sub-zero temperatures, Canadians bravely stood with the Jewish state and people during this time of crisis. The rally speakers included parliamentarians, prominent rabbis, wellknown journalists, and social influencers, as well as the families of Israeli hostages. ICEJ-Canada played a pivotal role in rallying Christians to the gathering, thanks to our national director Donna Holbrook and our Ottawa area representatives, Michael and Leonor Ward. Dr. Leonor Ward gave a powerful speech of Christian support for Israel on behalf of Evangelical Christians.

FINLAND STAGES NATIONWIDE RALLIES TO RELEASE HOSTAGES In late November, ICEJ-Finland joined with 20 other organisations in the umbrella group Finnish Friends of Israel to stage 24 simultaneous pro-Israel rallies in 24 different cities featuring a special call for the release of the kidnapped Israelis held in Gaza. The nationwide rallies of Finnish Christian supporters of Israel stretched from Lapland in the north to Helsinki and Turku in the south.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA EMBRACES ISRAEL The ICEJ branch in Papua New Guinea joined with numerous church leaders to hold a nationwide gathering in Port Moresby in December to bless and support Israel, with more than 50 denominations represented. ICEJ-PNG national director Peter Harut also has plans to invite the Prime Minister for an upcoming major pro-Israel event, and also has been invited to share about Israel at other congregations in the country. PNG recently opened its embassy in Jerusalem and even plans to open a consulate in the Jewish community of Ariel, in Samaria. 23 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

ecently, a group of Vietnamese Christians boldly held a public rally to sing Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah” and declare “Vietnam stands with Israel” while waving Israeli flags. They also were able to raise funds enabling them to ship a container full of raincoats worth $60,000 to Israel. Esther Bach shared that two-thirds of the raincoats were donated by Vietnamese Christians, and the other third came from Vietnamese non-believers. These raincoats will be extremely useful during Israel’s current winter season, and were sent to Israel via the Israeli Embassy in Vietnam, with Israeli Ambassador Yaron Mayer on hand to receive the gifts.

E SAV THE E DAT

16-23 october 2024

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6

For more information visit feast.icej.org or email events@icej.org