Word From Jerusalem May/June 2025

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM // MAY/JUNE 2025 // GLOBAL EDITION

A RIGHTEOUS REMNANT FROM EVERY NATION! Zechariah 8:23

FROM THE DESK OF THE

PRESIDENT Dear friends,

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 Senior Vice President David Parsons VP International Affairs Mojmir Kallus VP Finance David Van der Walt VP Operations Richard van der Beek VP AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder Managing Editor/Publications Director Laurina Driesse Staff Writers Nativia Samuelsen, Marelinke van der Riet Additional Writers Karin Lorenz, Dag Øyvind Juliussen, Howard Flower Graphic Design/Illustrator Ryan Tsuen Administration Tobias H Photography Adobe Stock, Firefly, Gemini AI, Shutterstock, JAFI, wikipedia, 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

Here in Israel, the last days of April this year have taken us once more on an annual rollercoaster of memories and emotions. On Yom HaShoah, we remembered the six million Jews who were brutally murdered in the Holocaust. The whole nation came to a standstill and honoured the memory of the countless victims of that still incomprehensible atrocity. Just a week later, the sirens rang again as all Israel stood on Yom HaZikaron to commemorate the nearly 25,000 fallen soldiers who have given their lives to defend the nation since 1948.

This year, we felt a particular heaviness as over 1,700 Israeli soldiers and civilians have died on and since the October 7 mass terror invasion from Gaza. Today, there is hardly an Israeli who does not have someone in their immediate family or close circle of friends that was killed in the past 18 months. According to official estimates, one-third of all Israelis are traumatised.

But on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, we then experienced a nation that moves from mourning to dancing as Israel celebrated its 77th anniversary. Of course, the mood was dampened, but on Mount Herzl the heroes of Israel were celebrated for their personal initiative that made a difference for the nation.

During all this, we listened to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, continuing his efforts to mobilize the people as they still face enemies on many fronts, including Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Iran.

Amid all this, the ICEJ is carrying out its mission as never before to stand alongside Israel in such difficult moments. Be it at our special Home for Holocaust survivors in Haifa, where dozens of precious Jewish survivors of the Shoah are given daily comfort and care to their last days; at Ben Gurion Airport, where we continue welcoming Jewish immigrants home to Israel; or our rebuilding efforts within the battered Israeli communities along the Gaza border.

Our message to Israel is simple: “Behold your God!” (Isaiah 40:9) The past two years were filled with tragedy but also miracles. Miracles that many soldiers report. Miracles that people on the street have experienced.

And even miracles that the freed hostages bring back from the dark dungeons of Hamas. God can be seen at work in Israel in ways like never before.

In these unique times, I want to invite you again to our special solidarity Feast of Tabernacles 2025 this coming October 6-13. Let us demonstrate to Israel our love and support, as at least ten righteous Christians from every nation, from every language and from every city, ascend to Jerusalem to seek the Lord at Succot. We look forward to welcoming you and your group of ten from your nation at this prophetic Feast!

Many blessings and thanks for standing with us so faithfully.

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! FOR MAGAZINE ARCHIVES visit www.icej.org/media/word-jerusalem

Dr. Jürgen Bühler ICEJ President

COVER PHOTO: Artwork from this year’s Feast Theme; “Ten From Every Nation”. An illustration of Jesus walking, as a hand reaches out to touch the hem of His garment.

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CONTENTS

M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 5 G L O B A L E D I T I O N

The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD meet to discuss Christendom. (AI-Generated Illustration)

FEATURED TEACHING

1700 YEARS 4 AFTER NICAEA

8

GOD SEEKS A ‘RIGHTEOUS REMNANT’ FROM EVERY NATION

16

ICEJ RAMPS UP ALIYAH EFFORTS IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

10

CHRISTIAN EMBASSY WELL REPRESENTED AT NRB

18

ICEJ BRINGS JOY TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE HAIFA HOME

TEACHING

1700 Years After Nicaea A special call to 100 days of prayer and fasting to heal the rift between the Church and the Jewish people

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 The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD meet to discuss Christendom. (AI-Generated Illustration)

This year many churches around the world are commemorating 1700 years since the landmark Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. According to Church historian Philip Schaff, Nicaea was – next to the Apostolic council in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 15 – “the most important and the most illustrious of all the councils of Christendom.” (1) Nicaea was only the second global council since the days of the original Apostles. In Acts 15, we read about the very first church council discussing how to deal with the new phenomena of Gentiles joining a predominantly Jewish church. In that

Jerusalem gathering, the early Apostles had opened wide the door for Gentile believers to join the Church.

The umbilical cord was cut between the Church and Israel, even though it was the nation and people who had birthed the Church.

Nicaea impacted the Church in a similarly powerful way. But unlike the Jerusalem 4 | MAY/JUNE 2025

council, at Nicaea the doors of the Church began to be firmly close on the Jewish people. The umbilical cord was cut between the Church and Israel, even though it was the nation and people who had birthed the Church. It also opened the door for growing anti-Jewish tendencies among Gentile Christians in the following centuries.

To be clear, this development was neither planned nor intended when the council was first called. Yet what made Nicaea end with a very different result from its inception was not inspired by spiritual leaders as in Acts 15, but by the Roman emperor himself.

Emperor Constantine, who reigned from 306 to 337 AD, was a new convert to Christianity.

This brought a tremendous sense of relief for the early Church, which had just survived one of the worst waves of persecution a few years earlier under Emperor Diocletian.

Constantine not only eased the fears of the Church but decided to make his newly-found faith the most official religion of the Roman Empire.

But Constantine quickly found out that Christianity was not a unified, harmonious group of people. It had many factions and theological views across the empire. One of the greatest challenges was the wide diversity of views on the person of Jesus Christ. Was he fully divine or a mere man?

Jesus with his disciples. “Was he fully divine or a mere man?”

(AI-Generated Illustration)

One of the main challengers to Christ’s divine nature was Arius, a priest from Alexandria.

He taught that Christ was a created being, was not fully divine, and did not share the same substance as God. While he was excommunicated from the Church, his teaching spread through many churches, mainly in the east, and caused significant disunity later referred to as the Arian controversy. Other key questions also arose, such as if backsliders who had compromised their faith during a time of persecution should be welcomed back in the Church.

However, one matter which unsettled Constantine was the lack of a unified holiday calendar for the Church. (2) Until then, many different traditions existed on when to celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection, and to ensure that Christianity would serve the entire Empire he wanted to establish a unified calendar.

Until then, most churches still celebrated Easter in relation to the Jewish festival of Passover.

Until then, most churches still celebrated Easter in relation to the Jewish festival of Passover. Many churches celebrated it on the first Sunday after the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, aligning with the biblical feast of First Fruits during Pesach (Leviticus 23:11). Others fixed it on 14 Nisan itself, and they became known as the Quartodecimans (Latin for 14). Still others insisted any Sunday in Nisan would do. Then there were those who separated Easter from the biblical calendar altogether and affixed it to the first Sunday after the spring equinox. For a new state religion, Constantine found this all too confusing.

Constantine was not just reaching a set date for Easter but the fact that Christians relied on Jewish input to celebrate the most important Christian festival.

Constantine wrote to the churches: “It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom [the calculation] of the Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded.” In the same letter he called it a duty of the Church “to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews” and “not to have anything in common with the murderers of our Lord”. (4)

To solve these questions, Constantine called for a global council. At Nicaea (today known as Iznik, just south of Istanbul), he wanted to settle these matters once and for all.

After months of deliberations, the divine nature of Jesus was affirmed in what became known as the Nicaean Creed. This doctrinal statement on the triune Godhead still serves as the core confession of faith for most churches around the world today, and thus it became a key unifying source for the Christian faith over the past 1700 years. This important outcome of Nicaea cannot be understated! In addition, those believers who hid from persecution were welcomed back into the Church. Finally, the Nicaean Council also wrestled with the lack of a unified Church calendar.

Of course, all this was not a quick, easy process.

It took close to 300 Bishops from May 20 until August 24 to decide these matters, with the last weeks left to determine an agreed date for Easter. That date was finally determined based on the principles that Easter should always be on a Sunday, it should not be celebrated twice in one year, it should follow the spring equinox, and it should never be celebrated at the same time as the Feast of the Jews (Passover). (3) When the council was over, the closing letters were sent from the Emperor himself to churches around the world. But his summary revealed that possibly the biggest issue for 5 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

Constantine writing letters to the church voicing his concerns.

(AI-Generated Illustration)

While the creed and the twenty canons that emerged from Nicaea were free of antiJewish rhetoric, the official letters from Emperor Constantine contained a critical and condescending attitude towards the Jews.

Nicaea then became the gold-standard for future councils, setting the tone for centuries to come. Just a few decades after Nicaea, one of the most revered Church fathers, Chrysostom of Alexandria, lashed out against the Jews by comparing them to beasts “that are fit for slaughter”, adding that by killing Jesus they have “no chance for atonement, excuse, or defense.” (5) PAUL’S DOCTRINE ON ISRAEL This is even more startling when we consider that the Apostle Paul could not have been more clear in his teachings about the unique, enduring calling of Israel, to whom “pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God.” (Romans 9:4-5) Paul recognised that while most Jews had failed to accept Yeshua as their Messiah, they nevertheless remain “beloved for the sake of the fathers” (Romans 11:28). Paul saw their TEACHING

rejection of Jesus as only a temporary state which the Hebrew prophets foretold (for example, Isaiah 6). Yet he also believed the time would eventually come when “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).

He thus admonished Gentile believers not to be arrogant against the Jews (Romans 11:18) and to consider their own origins, when they were “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12).

Yet now by grace, they have been brought near and share in God’s promises to Israel.

“For if the Gentiles have come to share in their (the Jews) spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.”

- ROMANS 15:27 (ESV) -

This was not just theology; it had very practical consequences for the Church. To the church in Corinth, Paul wrote that every week something should be set aside as an offering for the saints in Jerusalem (see 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; also 2 Corinthians 9:5).

Wherever Paul went, he made sure that new congregations were instructed to support the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. The reason for that was straightforward: “For if the Gentiles have come to share in their (the Jews) spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.” (Romans 15:27 ESV) Paul also warned Gentile believers in the church at Rome not to become arrogant towards the Jews (Romans 11:20), while the Third Epistle of John indicates that Jewish believers were no longer being welcomed in certain churches.

The Apostle Paul.

(AI-Generated Illustration)

TEACHING

A CHANGE IN HOLY DAYS Until the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the churches were divided on how to celebrate Easter (Passover), and Sunday was never considered a holy day.

While most churches still relied on the book of Exodus as to how to fix Easter, after Nicaea any link to the biblical account of Passover was forbidden.

Constantine demanded a unified Christian calendar for his empire that had nothing to do with Jewish tradition, while he totally ignored the multiple parallels of the last days of Jesus Christ to the biblical Passover feast, and that Paul referred to Jesus as our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). All of this was ignored.

In the same manner, a new weekly holiday was established – Sunday. Until then, Sunday was not observed as a holy day at all, save for some Christians who held a time of prayers and scripture readings on Sunday mornings before going to work, remembering that the Lord was risen on the first day of the week. But Constantine’s aim was to separate the Church completely from any Jewish customs. So, to keep Christians from observing Shabbat, he invented the new holy day of Sunday. A number of Christians struggled to agree. But the follow-up Synod of Laodicea settled the matter. Christians who still kept the Jewish Sabbath were considered “Judaizers”.

A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE Further, Paul’s question, “what advantage has the Jew” was no longer answered “much in every way”, but with an opposite spirit of rejection. Instead of Jews being “beloved for the sake of the fathers” (Romans 11:28), they were now the “murderers of Christ”.

In various council records, the list of the damned included “heretics, heathens and Jews”. (6) After Nicaea, bishops asked Jewish converts to give up their Jewish names and adopt Christian ones. (7) In Paul’s world, it was Gentiles who were without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12), but now this applied to the Jews – a doctrine that ran contrary to New Testament thought.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT All this led to strict laws which forbade any positive engagement with Jews.

Nicaea and subsequent Church councils taught that Christians should have nothing to do with Jews. Leaders who visited and prayed in synagogues were to be removed from office, and ordinary Christians who did so should be “put off”. (8) The synod of Trullo forbade 6 | MAY/JUNE 2025

Celebrating Jewish feasts and keeping Shabbat, according to the bishops, was like “mocking Christ”.

any participation in their feasts, nor were Christians to take their unleavened bread during Passover. You could not even allow a Jewish physician to treat your illness, one synod ruled. Celebrating Jewish feasts and keeping Shabbat, according to the bishops, was like “mocking Christ”. (9) NICAEA’S IMPACT ON CHURCH HISTORY This entirely new approach of contempt for the Jews not only created a rift between the Church and the Jewish people, but it also set the Church on a path which eventually led to the atrocities of the Crusades, where the killing of Jews was considered pleasing to God. It later paved the way for the many inquisitions, expulsions, pogroms and eventually the Holocaust, when Hitler could quote the German reformer Luther to justify his hatred of the Jews.

The Crusades.

(AI-Generated Illustration)

A SPECIAL CALL TO PRAYER What was so tragic about Nicaea is that it was only the second universal council of the Church. Whereas in Acts 15, the Jewishled church went beyond their traditions to welcome and embrace Gentile believers, the Gentile church after Nicaea shamelessly rejected the Jews from all church life and began fuelling Christian antisemitism for generations to come.

Today, 1700 years after Nicaea, we sense a need to invite believers from around the world to join us in prayer and fasting for this tragic history. First, we want to thank God for all the good results and blessings that came out of Nicaea which protected the Church from many grave errors. Nicaea birthed an inspired, unifying creed that is still a great blessing to this day.

Yet, we also want to invite you to join us for the 100 days from May 18 to August 24 (roughly the anniversary dates for Nicaean council) to pray and fast concerning the unfortunate damage to Jewish-Christian relations which arose from Nicaea. Of course, you would not be asked to fast the entire time, but simply to

choose certain days and times when you can fast and pray on these matters.

has been occurring over the past 100 years and more of Christian support for Israel’s return.

We also plan on setting aside one day each week on the ICEJ’s daily Global Prayer Gathering on-line to pray into the various outcomes of the Nicaean Council – both positive and negative. May this prayer effort bring revival in our churches, as well as repentance, remembrance, reconciliation, and restoration.

RESTORATION We pray that, according to Malachi 4:6, our God will turn the hearts of the fathers (the Jewish people) to the children (the Gentile Church), and the hearts of the children (the Gentile Church) to the fathers (the Jewish people).

REPENTANCE Like Daniel, we want to repent for the sins of our fathers. We want to ask for forgiveness for the Church to have failed and sinned against the very people who gave us the Messiah and the Word of God.

NOTES:

REMEMBRANCE Every week we will spend time learning more about Nicaea, to understand and remember the time when much went right, but also wrong with regards to the Jewish people.

RECONCILIATION We pray that God will continue to grant reconciliation between Christians and Jews, as

We want to invite you to join us for the 100 days of prayer and fasting from May 18 to August 24

1. Schaff, P., & Schaff, D. S. (1910). History of the Christian church (Vol. 3, p. 630). Charles Scribner’s Sons.

2. Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity, Intervarsity Press 3. Hefele, C. J. (1871). A History of the Councils of the Church (W. R. Clark, Trans.; Vol. 1, p. 325). T&T Clark.

4. Schaff, P., & Wace, H., eds. (1900). On the Keeping of Easter. In H. R. Percival (Trans.), The Seven Ecumenical Councils (Vol. 14, p. 54). Charles Scribner’s Sons.

5. Chrysostom, John. Eight Homilies Against the Jews (p. 93). (Function). Kindle Edition.

6. Schaff, P., & Wace, H., eds. (1900). The XXX Canons of the Holy and Fourth Synods, of Chalcedon. In H. R. Percival (Trans.), The Seven Ecumenical Councils (Vol. 14, p. 278). Charles Scribner’s Sons.

7. Percival, H. R. (1900). The Canons of the 318 Holy Fathers Assembled in the City of Nice, in Bithynia.

In P. Schaff & H. Wace (Eds.), The Seven Ecumenical Councils (Vol. 14, p. 32+504). Charles Scribner’s Sons.

8. Schaff, P., & Wace, H., eds. (1900). The Apostolical Canons. In H. R. Percival (Trans.), The Seven Ecumenical Councils (Vol. 14, p. 598). Charles Scribner’s Sons.

9. Schaff, P., & Wace, H., eds. (1900). The Canons of the Council in Trullo. In H. R. Percival (Trans.), The Seven Ecumenical Councils (Vol. 14, p. 370). Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Watch our special teachings on

CHRISTIAN ZIONISM Only on the ICEJ WEBINAR SERIES FEATURING:

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To watch the webinars scan the QR code or visit: on.icej.org/ws2025

GOD SEEKS A ‘RIGHTEOUS REMNANT’ FROM EVERY NATION BY

DAV I D R . PA R S O N S , I C E J S E N I O R V I C E P R E S I D E N T & S P O K E S M A N

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his year’s Feast theme, “Ten from Every Nation,” comes from the prophetic visions of Zechariah. He had been assigned a difficult task. The Persian emperor Cyrus had died, and with him expired the royal decree allowing the Jews to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem, as well as his funding. The local Samaritans also opposed the work. Finally, many old timers had seen or heard about the glory of Solomon’s Temple and insisted this house fell far short of its splendour.

Yet the Hebrew prophets took a different view. Haggai declared “the glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former.” (Haggai 2:9) Zechariah also proclaimed: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it... Who has despised the days of small things.” (Zechariah 4:9-10)

(Zechariah 8:1). He vows to bring the Jewish people back to dwell safely in the city (vs. 7-8). The Lord also promises to prosper and bless them, for “I am determined to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.” (vs. 11-15) Equally remarkable, Zechariah foresaw multitudes of Gentiles also ascending to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. People from one city would urge those from other cities “to go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of hosts… Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.

In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” (Zechariah 8:20-23)

This is an extraordinary vision which ran contrary to the prevailing circumstances of that day.

Only a small Jewish remnant had returned Zechariah saw this restored Temple drawing to a city and Temple in ruins, and the task not only Jewish pilgrims but also many of rebuilding them seemed monumental, God-fearing Gentiles. In fact, he foresaw much less turning them into something a day when all the nations would come up more glorious than before. But the word to Jerusalem every year “to worship the of the Lord assured that the Temple indeed King, the Lord of Hosts, and to keep the would be rebuilt, and it would have even more Feast of Tabernacles.” (Zechariah 14:16) This glory than Solomon’s Temple. The scattered Pilgrims wave their national prophetic vision is what inspired those pioneers Jewish people also would be regathered and flags as a representation who in 1980 launched the first public Christian completely rebuild their nation into a prospering of the nations. celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles for Gentile and peaceful kingdom. Furthermore, the Gentiles believers, which quickly grew into the largest annual also would be drawn as never before to Jerusalem, tourist event in Israel. to make pilgrimage alongside the Jews and to worship the Lord at the feasts of Israel.

Zechariah chapter 8 expands on this prophetic vision in a powerful way. The passage first makes clear that God is “zealous for Zion… This had happened in small measure during the time of with great fervour” – meaning the city of Jerusalem and the Temple Solomon’s Temple, but Zechariah saw it extending to all

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peoples, with a righteous remnant of at least “ten from every language of the nations” grabbing hold of the Jews and ascending to Jerusalem to worship and serve their God. This is an incredible prophetic vision not only from the perspective of the days of Zechariah, but also from the broader perspective of redemptive history. The truth is that God had once abandoned the Gentiles to worshipping other gods and preserved Israel alone as His own inheritance.

Here, the original Hebrew preserved in the Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, actually says that God divided the nations according to the bnei Elohim, or “sons of God” – meaning certain angelic beings who sit in the heavenly council (see, e.g., Job 1:6 and 2:1; Psalm 82:1).

Deuteronomy chapter 4 sheds further light on the divine judgment at Babel. Here, Moses warned his people against worshipping false gods like the Gentile nations, saying: “And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the Lord your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day.” (Deuteronomy 4:19-20) According to such noted Bible scholars as Michael Heiser and Gerald McDermott, these passages are speaking of the Tower of Babel, when God actually disinherited the nations. Each nation that arose from the seventy sons of Noah was assigned a god or angelic being that would become a spiritual principality or power over them – a unique aspect of biblical cosmology affirmed in the New Testament (see, e.g., Romans 8:38; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16).

Meanwhile, God retained Israel as His own special inheritance, for “the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.”

(Deuteronomy 32:9) They were to be “a special treasure to Me above all people.” (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6; Psalm 135:4) And the archangel Michael was assigned as their guardian (Daniel 12:1; Jude 1:9).

I.

THE TOWER OF BABEL The Jewish concept of a minyan of at least ten righteous men required to offer communal prayer comes from Genesis 19, when Abraham pleaded with the Lord to spare Sodom from destruction even if He could find only ten righteous men there. But we must go back to Genesis 11 and the Tower of Babel to begin to understand the spiritual journey and destiny of the Gentile nations as a whole.

It is clear from the story that the builders of Babel became extremely proud and united in their determination to build a city and make a name for themselves. Yet other peoples and generations have been similarly arrogant towards God. What was it about their decision which so angered the Lord that He came down to confuse their languages and scatter them?

It was because they refused to follow His command to Noah and his family to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” (Genesis 9:1) In fact, the builders of Babel set about to build a city, “lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4) Later, we learn from Moses there was something even more consequential occurring at this moment.

“When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 32:8-9)

The flags of the nations are raised at the Roll Call of the Nations night at the Feast of Tabernacles 2018.

Not long after Babel, God called Israel into being through the calling of Abraham and gave them the special task of bringing salvation to the entire world. This calling was contained in the divine promise that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) The Apostle Paul later describes this as the first preaching of the Gospel (Galatians 3:8).

How remarkable then is God’s salvation plan! He disowned the nations at Babel, but already determined before the worlds were made that He – through Israel – would redeem for Himself a righteous remnant from among every nation, tongue and tribe on earth (Revelation 5:9).

Zechariah spoke forth this plan as well, even in a time of many obstacles and frustrations for Israel, when he said that one day God would draw unto Himself at least ten men – that is, a righteous remnant – from among every language of the nations. This remnant would grab hold of a Jew and make pilgrimage to Jerusalem, because they know this is where God placed His name, where He can be found in prayer and worship, and where the promised redemption took place on the Cross!

How amazing the grace of God! As Gentiles, we were “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel… having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:12-13) Please take the passage from Zechariah 8:23 as your prophetic invitation to come to Jerusalem for this year’s Feast of Tabernacles. Tell others to join you in ascending to Zion to seek the Lord and pray in this city. Make sure there is a righteous remnant of at least ten Christian pilgrims representing your nation at this year’s Feast.

I. Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Tower of Babel (Wikipedia)

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TEACHING

DR. BÜHLER ADDRESSES SOUTH AFRICA PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

I Dr Bühler addresses the South African delegation at the FOZ Museum banquet.

n early April, ICEJ President Dr. Jürgen Bühler spoke to a high-level delegation from South Africa which included 14 members of parliament, the Chief Rabbi of South Africa Warren Goldstein, several influential pastors, and ICEJ-SA national director Vivienne Myburgh. He greeted the VIP delegation at a banquet held at the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem, where Dr. Bühler thanked them for their courage in standing with Israel amid the rising antisemitism in their home country. The delegation’s extensive tour of Israel was organised by South African Friends of Israel and included visits to battered Israeli communities near the Gaza and northern borders, the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria, other key biblical sites, the Knesset and Foreign Ministry, plus an audience with President Isaac Herzog. Recent polls indicate that a more pro-Israel government could come into power after South Africa’s next national elections.

CHRISTIAN EMBASSY WELL REPRESENTED AT NRB

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CEJ Senior Vice President David Parsons travelled to Dallas, Texas in February to join the ICEJ-USA team, led by national director Susan Michael, at the annual National Religious Broadcasters convention.

In addition to our ministry booth in the massive Exhibit Hall, the ICEJ also co-sponsored the popular Israel Breakfast, held a special reception to mark the 10th anniversary of our American Christian Leaders for Israel initiative, and spearheaded an ACLI press conference to support Israel’s rights and claims to Judea and Samaria. Over 100 ACLI members were present at the reception, including NRB president Troy Miller, his chief assistant Linda Smith, as well as Michele Bachmann, Earl Cox and Robert Stearns, among many others.

David Parsons speaks at the ACLI press conference to support Israel’s claim to Judea and Samaria.

STAFF PURIM PARTY

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he ICEJ Staff in Jerusalem recently celebrated Purim with a creative costume contest. As each staff paraded down the red carpet to show off their festive attire, the best costume award was handily won by our Vice President for AID & Aliyah, Nicole Yoder, who came cleverly disguised as an elderly lady shopping at the Mahane Yehuda market.

INSIDE THE EMBASSY

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JOIN ICEJ IN REBUILDING ISRAELI COMMUNITIES NEAR GAZA

BY DAV I D PA R S O N S , I C E J SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

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ith the IDF cornering Hamas forces inside Gaza, the devastated Israeli communities of the western Negev are slowly starting to return home and plan for the future. Many of these families experienced traumatic events in their own homes, and those chilling memories will not be easy to overcome. One key to this rebuilding process will be to offer a wide range of community activities and services that will make living back in their villages more attractive. Each community will need to find the resources needed to restore their public buildings, which are so central to their communal life together.

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is supporting those efforts by funding a series of major rebuilding projects which will help these communities recover from the trauma of the October 7 massacres and restore their lives.

Over the past 15 years, the Christian Embassy already assisted many of these farming villages with mobile bomb shelters, fire-fighting equipment and other emergency aid. So, they know us well and are now requesting our help once more to meet their latest urgent needs.

The ICEJ has responded by sponsoring six major rebuilding and renovation projects in the Gaza border region that will help draw back evacuated families to their homes and communities. This includes:

ICEJ Senior Vice President David Parsons and VP of Operations Richard Van Der Beek at a ground-breaking ceremony in Be’eri. ● Remaking a damaged kindergarten into a children’s trauma treatment center in Kfar Aza; ● Turning an abandoned building into an innovative music therapy center in Kfar Aza; ● Completely rebuilding a destroyed youth activity center in Kibbutz Be’eri; ● Renovating a retirement home into an elderly care and activity center in Kibbutz Be’eri; ● Restoring and expanding an animal therapy corner in Kibbutz Urim, and ● Building a new greenhouse classroom at an agri-tech school in Sde Nitzan.

Looking over plans for the agri-tech school in Sde Nitzan.

This is a truly unique opportunity for the Christian Embassy and our supporters around the globe. We have never had so many major building projects underway at one time. But we need your help! Join us in assisting these Israeli communities as they return and rebuild with a hopeful eye to the future.

The significant funds needed for these projects has been coming in from Christians all over the world, but we still have some way to go.

The sooner we cover these costs, the quicker we can move on to other major rebuilding projects in other nearby farming villages hit hard by the October 7 terror invasion.

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ICEJ will assist in renovating the animal corner on the Urim animal therapy farm.

Indeed, the prophet Isaiah foresaw a time when God-fearing Gentiles would be involved in such efforts, saying “The sons of foreigners shall build your walls” (Isaiah 60:10).

Donate today to our ‘Israel in Crisis’ fund at: help.icej.org/crisis AID UPDATE

ICEJ DELIVERS GIFT PACKAGES TO EVACUATED ISRAELI COMMUNITY

BY N AT I V I A S A M U E L S E N

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n ICEJ team recently visited the displaced Jewish community of Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha to deliver special gift packages as they slowly work their way home post-October 7.

HaAsera and Ein HaShlosha, all due to the generosity of Christians in Singapore.

While in Netivot, Shiri noted that 92% of the community were in this temporary neighbourhood.

Two years ago, a miraculous event unfolded at Ein HaShlosha during the October 7 invasion.

Located right next to Gaza, the kibbutz was especially vulnerable as 75 Hamas terrorists crossed the surrounding fields to infiltrate the community.

“The kibbutz community is strong, and living together restores a small sense of normality, despite the transition from a rural environment to a larger city,” Shiri related.

“But they were left exposed because the grain had just been harvested a few days before,” explained our host, kibbutz board member Shiri Aviv. “An IDF helicopter saw them and neutralised them, preventing further ambushes. If those terrorists had entered the kibbutz, most of the community would not be here today.”

With the community together, they have reestablished their routines and created group and individual therapy activities to enable healing of the trauma they experienced. A favourite therapy has been through art, which has become so popular the kibbutz may open a therapeutic art house once they return home.

Jannie Tolhoek of ICEJ Aid delivers gift packages for evacuee families staying in Netivot.

Still, four people from the kibbutz were murdered, and 16 houses were burned. Some homes were riddled with bullets, while others were looted or sustained damage from rocket fire over the following days.

As the time to return to the kibbutz draws closer, new challenges have arisen. Many families have grown accustomed to the sense of safety and the conveniences of city life in Netivot. The kibbutz board, alongside the government, is actively working to support their transition back home in the coming months.

hid with her children as terrorists roamed outside her home. Then, by a miracle, the terrorists suddenly left. When rescue finally came, she did not pause to grieve or crumble.

She simply washed her face and began leading the community support efforts ever since, using her strength to bring hope and healing to the community.

“There are many arrangements to be made, things like setting up more streetlights,” said Shiri. “At first, you might think it’s not urgent, but since October 7 many children are afraid of the dark and therefore don’t go out at night.

So, accommodating these needs is a major priority.”

“On behalf of the members of Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha, I want to extend our deepest gratitude for the wonderful gift boxes you personally delivered to our members,” community assistant Yael Sherby-Hurwitz later wrote to the Christian Embassy. “They have experienced so much trauma. However, your kindness and generosity have brought warmth and comfort, and we are truly touched by your support. Gestures like yours remind us that we are surrounded by compassion and solidarity. Your generosity has made a real difference.”

After spending several months living as evacuees in hotels in Eilat, the community was relocated to Netivot in the fall of 2024 until they can move together back to Ein HaShlosha. During a recent trip to Netivot, a Christian Embassy delegation delivered 130 gift boxes to the evacuated families for the Tu B’Shvat holiday.

“These gifts are an expression of love to let the people know that they are remembered in these After the gifts were challenging times,” distributed, kibbutz Nicole Yoder presents shared Nicole Yoder, members sent us the gifts at Netivot.

ICEJ Vice President for touching letters.

AID & Aliyah. “Each comes with a blessing to let them know “In the book of Ecclesiastes, it that they are not alone.” says that a good name is better than high-quality oil… but thanks to our friends, Over the past year, the ICEJ has delivered gift we now have both,” wrote Adi. packages to over 1,463 families from evacuated communities near Gaza, including Nir Oz, Shiri’s own survival story on October 7 is Re’im, Be’eri, Kfar Azza, Nachal Oz, Nativ extraordinary. For 36 agonising hours, she ICEJ AID

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The ICEJ is committed to helping more Israelis in need during these challenging times. Please support our Israel in Crisis fund today.

Donate today to our ‘Israel in Crisis’ fund at: help.icej.org/crisis

DUTCH BRANCH DONATES ‘GYMBOREE’ FOR CHILDREN OF KIBBUTZ ALUMIM

BY M A R E L I N K E VA N D E R R I E T

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n a heartwarming gesture of support, the ICEJ-Netherlands branch recently donated a ‘gymboree’ for the children of Kibbutz Alumim, one of the Israeli communities near Gaza assaulted during the October 7 massacres. The playground is part of our broader initiative to support the recovery of Israeli children traumatised by the ongoing conflict in the region.

Kibbutz Alumim is a small farming village surrounded by lush greenery and natural beauty, but it sits less than four kilometers from the Gaza border. Its members are mainly observant Orthodox Jews, an exception to the area’s largely secular farming villages. However, they too have faced repeated rocket barrages and other threats from Hamas in Gaza over the past two decades.

On October 5, two years ago, Alumim hosted a large ICEJ delegation as part of our Feast of Tabernacles 2023. Two days later, it was invaded by terrorists arriving in three separate waves. The defensive effort was led by 15 kibbutz members who bravely held off as many as 80 terrorists, even while some families had to spend up to 30 hours in their bomb shelters. Tragically, 12 Thai farm workers and 10 Nepalese agricultural students were killed during the assault, and one Nepali worker remains hostage in Gaza.

Despite this horrific assault, some 85% of the kibbutz’s population has since returned to their homes.

In response to the trauma caused by the events of October 7, Tamir Idan, mayor of the Sadot Negev region, has launched an initiative to provide therapeutic playgrounds, or gymborees, to serve the regional council’s children.

The new gymboree at Kibbutz Alumim provided by ICEJ-Netherlands is more than just a play area. It is designed to offer support as professional therapists assist the children in processing their emotions and trauma.

The gymboree also is connected to a large library and will be accessible seven days a week to everyone in the community.

would be a place of healing and joy for the children and their families.

Chani, a teacher and manager of the center, expressed gratitude for the ICEJ’s support, saying she knew “it was given from the heart...

We don’t take your care for Israel for granted.”

In addition to the gymboree, the ICEJ has provided protective bomb shelters, fire-fighting equipment, communication devices, paramedic kits and group trauma therapy for emergency responders in Alumim and the entire Sadot Negev region. These efforts are part of a larger, ongoing mission to help those most affected by the extreme violence of October 7 to heal and rebuild their lives.

Nitai, a physical therapist and seasoned first responder from Alumim, shared his personal experiences on October 7.

“The hardest part is that you go out of your house, and you are already in battle,” he explained, recalling the chaos and fear of that day.

Nitai has taken up running as a means of coping with the trauma and proudly shared that he had recently completed the New York City Marathon in November 2024, symbolising his resilience in the face of adversity. But it was his poignant reflection on the nature of this war with their Gazan neighbours that resonated deeply with all those present.

“If we stop the war, we will all be killed. If they stop the war, there will be peace,” he said.

The ICEJ’s efforts to support Kibbutz Alumim and other embattled communities in the western Negev are part of a broader call for Christians worldwide to stand with Israel and support its people in their time of need. Through our donations and prayers, we can all play a role in helping these communities heal and rebuild.

Representing Dutch Christians at the dedication, Jannie Tolhoek of ICEJ AID shared with kibbutz members how special it was for her to be there and to express the donors’ hopes that this gymboree

The road to recovery for Kibbutz Alumim and other affected communities may be long, but with the support of Christians like you, healing and hope are within reach. Together, we can make a difference.

If you would like to contribute to these rebuilding efforts, please give to our Israel in Crisis fund. Donate today at: help.icej.org/crisis

ICEJ staff with members of Kibbutz Alumim at the gymboree dedication.

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ICEJ AID

Hands-on Tour

FINDS ‘MISSION’ IN HELPING ISRAEL DURING WAR

BY N AT I V I A S A M U E L S E N

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he International Christian Embassy Jerusalem recently hosted a group of Christian volunteers for yet another Hands-on Serving Tour to Israel during wartime, with participants from around the world engaging in aid projects to show their love for the embattled Jewish state.

We also spent time at the Leket logistics center, where we helped sort 3,400 kilos of clementines for families in need.

On another day, we sorted food, clothing and Purim gifts for families impacted by the crisis. “You do not realise how many families you have helped today who cannot afford these items,” said our host.

At Kibbutz Be’eri, a hard-hit community near Gaza, we also picked 16,000 kilos of oranges together with Israeli volunteers from Bank Leumi.

We could see the tangible benefits of our labour everywhere we went, and with each day our connection to Israel deepened.

One highlight was meeting with Jürgen Bühler, ICEJ President, who said: “Your presence leaves behind a footprint in Israel. Bring a good report back to your home countries of what you experienced in Israel.”

Traveling to the north, we also met some incredible young Arab students who are part of a high-tech program sponsored by ICEJ. Maram, the program’s CEO, explained, “We connect Arab students to the job market through mentorship, job searches, and company visits. After the events of October 7, the program’s focus expanded to rebuilding trust between Arab and Jewish students during these difficult times.”

Hands-on Tour harvesting oranges at Kibbutz Be’eri.

As antisemitism rises and Israel remains locked in a tense conflict with Hamas in Gaza, many Christians sense an urgent call to come serve here. For those who did come with this group, the experience was transformative.

We also heard firsthand from the Arab students about the program’s impact on their lives. “It gave me the tools to enter the job market,” said Ibrahim, a recent graduate. “I’m now co-owner of a start-up in Tel Aviv… We want peace and humanity, to meet with people and talk to them, and together to search for true peace.”

On day one, the volunteers visited a new agricultural high school in Sde Nitzan, near Gaza, where the ICEJ is building a greenhouse classroom for Israeli students. Asaf, the driving force behind the advanced farming school, shared how it has become his way of healing after the October 7 massacres, by bringing life and hope back to the South as young Israelis connect to the land.

As the trip concluded, Stephan, from Germany, recalled the warm conversations with locals in Be’eri, while Shawn, a returning volunteer from the USA, summed it up with one word: “Rewarding!” He especially emphasized the joy of being a light to the people of Israel.

Finally, Grace from Singapore encouraged everyone to seek the truth beyond the biased media and continue praying for Israel.

We rolled up our sleeves and joined the teenagers in preparing mango trees for harvest. While we worked together, Asaf’s words echoed in our minds: “The best response to what happened is to work and find your mission. From crisis to mission.” Indeed, as the tour continued, the phrase “from crisis to mission” served as our own guiding force.

Everyone agreed that the most impactful part of the trip was the people they met – each leaving a lasting mark.

We next visited an elderly care center in the Eshkol region, bordering Gaza. Their stories of resilience and survival on October 7 were powerful and inspiring. They shared their memories of that day and their artwork capturing the experience. It was a privilege to embrace them, sense their pain, and admire their determination to keep going.

This included meeting Bella, a Holocaust survivor who lost her grandson Yotam – a hostage who escaped his captors but was tragically killed. “Our message is for you to tell our story wherever you go, especially to the younger generation in your country,” she shared.

“Thank you so much for coming.”

ICEJ AID

For those interested in coming to volunteer in Israel, the new ICEJ Hands-on Serving Tour will be in November. Find out more at: https://www.icej.org/hands-on-tour Meantime, please support our ongoing aid projects to help Israel recover and rebuild through our ‘Israel in Crisis’ fund.

Donate today at: help.icej.org/crisis

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TEARS, CLOWNS AND A NIGHT IN THE BUNKER

BY K A R I N LO R E N Z

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ears and laughter, Purim parties and rocket alarms. In March, a group of some 30 German-speaking Christians from Austria, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland visited Israel on a nine-day solidarity tour. We experienced many encounters that touched and healed hearts.

Here is a look at our travel diary.

TEARS ON THE PLANE Even on the flight from Frankfurt, we met Martine, an elderly French Jew who could hardly believe Christians were visiting Israel to show support during wartime. “We feel so alone,” she said with tears. “I didn’t know there are Christians who take to the streets for us Jews! ...My father was murdered in the Holocaust. Thank you for everything you do for us.”

HAIFA HOME AND PURIM The first day of touring started at the ICEJ’s Haifa Home for Holocaust survivors, then a visit to an Orthodox synagogue. A rabbi had invited us to read the Book of Esther for Purim. Cake and drinks were on the tables.

The rabbi’s children greeted us in colourful costumes, while he was also dressed in a purple clown wig.

HOSTAGE SQUARE Next came a solidarity visit to “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv. We saw the replica of a terror tunnel showing how the remaining hostages have lived in harsh conditions for almost 18 months now. We also saw a small Batman sweater in memory of the two little Bibas boys murdered by Hamas in Gaza. Then we met their slain mother Shiri’s sister, Dana,

to hand over a book of condolences from Israel supporters for the surviving father, Yarden Bibas.

BEER MUG WITH FLAG Ascending to Jerusalem, we visited Yad Vashem and then the Mahane Yehuda open market. Someone with a full beer mug grabbed a German-Israeli flag from our group and danced through the street.

The flag passed to many hands. Purim joy in Jerusalem! Israelis were thrilled by the foreign visitors during war. Many pulled out cell phones to snap photos of the moving moment. The city pulsated with the holiday spirit, as drums boomed everywhere, while people in colourful costumes crowded the streets. “Whether Haman, Hitler or Hamas – our enemies are disappearing. We’re staying!”, the revellers rejoiced.

GOD’S PRESENCE Next, we toured the ALEH center for severely disabled children in Bnei Brak. About 20% of their 300 special-needs children were once completely healthy until one day a swimming accident, illness or other misfortune befell them. We marvelled at the happiness on the children’s faces, and the caregivers. A deep love emanates from them for the children.

ICEJ-Germany recently financed an urgently needed ambulance so ALEH can safely transport their children to the hospital and other necessary places.

THE WOUNDS OF BE’ERI We then were guided through the hard-hit community of Kibbutz Be’eri by local hosts Yarden and Niv. They grew up in this once 15 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

idyllic village, where Hamas terrorists from Gaza raged unhindered on October 7 – even though Be’eri was well known for its peace activism. The terrorists spared no one, with even infants brutally massacred. We saw the destroyed houses. Our hosts assured that Be’eri will become a place of life again. One key rebuilding project is an elderly rehab and trauma center, which ICEJ-Germany is funding.

PEPPERS AND HERBS We then spent half a day picking ripe peppers in a nearby greenhouse with local Israeli volunteers, followed by a tour of the religious kibbutz of Shuva, also near Gaza, which managed to survive the onslaught on October 7. Two mobile bomb shelters donated

by ICEJ now enable a natural herbal-based cosmetics factory there to operate even during rocket threats.

ROCKET ALARMS The last night ended abruptly due to a rocket alarm at 4 AM. Rushing to the hotel shelter in pyjamas, we read from the Psalms and sang praise songs, even as the IDF dealt with a missile fired by the Houthis in Yemen.

Another missile alert came at midday, while we were waiting to board our return flight at the airport. This time, Hamas launched several rockets from Gaza, and we could hear the Iron Dome interceptions in the distance.

Despite the danger, no one in the tour group regretted our visit to Israel. We knew many hearts were touched – including our own.

ICEJ AID

ICEJ RAMPS UP ALIYAH EFFORTS IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

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

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oday, Aliyah from the West is rising, and the ICEJ is marking significant milestones in our Aliyah and integration work in Western countries. Notably, the Christian Embassy has been active in promoting and facilitating Aliyah for 20 years in Germany and 15 years in France. Through seasons of challenge and opportunity, we have remained committed to assisting Jews who hear the biblical call to return.

This policy triggered one of the most significant Jewish migrations in recent history. Between 1991 and 2005, over 220,000 Russian-speaking Jews settled in Germany, strengthening Jewish communities in cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich. Remarkably, during the early 2000s, more Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union chose Germany over Israel, driven by economic considerations, language barriers, and security concerns during the Second Palestinian Intifada.

The Jewish communities of France and Germany share histories marked by both rich cultural contributions and painful persecution.

In both countries, the ICEJ is combating antisemitism to ensure the safety of Jewish families and individuals, while also standing ready to assist those who decide to make Aliyah.

It was within this context that ICEJ’s German Aliyah work began.

In 2005, we launched the Habaita (“Homecoming”) program in partnership with the Jewish Agency and the Global Calling Center.

This initiative provided integration grants and pre-Aliyah outreach and encouragement to many Russian-speaking Jews in Germany.

Germany once hosted a very vibrant Jewish community, with over 500,000 Jews making significant contributions to society, science and culture before the Holocaust. After World War II, only a few thousand remained. Yet today, against all historical expectations, Germany hosts one of Europe’s largest Jewish populations—a demographic shift bolstered by the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Through Habaita, ICEJ addressed the community’s unique challenges by engaging their Jewish identity, providing practical integration assistance, and creating pathways for German Jews to experience Israel firsthand. Our approach was based on reconnecting people with their heritage. As a result, Aliyah from Germany has nearly doubled since our programs began.

When the USSR dissolved in 1991, Germany made the decision to welcome Jews from former Soviet republics as part of its historical responsibility.

The German government established the Kontingentflüchtling (quota refugee) program, offering Jews from the former USSR an opportunity to immigrate with a path to citizenship and integration incentives.

At 22, Alon Kogan, born in Offenbach, moved to Israel feeling like an outsider in his birth country.

“I always felt like I was a tourist attraction almost,’ Alon said. “Here in Israel, I no longer feel like an outsider.”

Despite growing up near Frankfurt among 6,500 Jews, he experienced antisemitic incidents and felt uncomfortable there. Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents have surged across Europe and North America.

ALIYAH FROM FRANCE France currently has Western Europe’s largest Jewish community, with roots dating back to Roman times. This history has been marred by centuries of antisemitism, from medieval expulsions to the Dreyfus Affair to the Holocaust. In recent decades, French Jews have faced a resurgence of antisemitic incidents, particularly from North African and other Muslim immigrant communities during periods of heightened tensions in the Middle East.

French Jewish immigrants making Aliyah on an ICEJ-sponsored flight in August 2024. (Photo credit: JAFI)

ALIYAH

ICEJ’s work in France began in 2010 with our first sponsored group Aliyah flight from Marseille, a response to the growing challenges facing French Jewry. The Second Palestinian Intifada (2000-2005) marked a turning point, as the conflict in Israel spilled over into France. Synagogues were firebombed, Jewish schools vandalised, and individuals attacked for wearing Jewish symbols.

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The vulnerability of French Jewry was further underscored by several antisemitic attacks, such as the 2012 Toulouse school shooting, the 2015 Hyper Cacher supermarket attack, and the brutal murder of Sarah Halimi in 2017. Each conflict in Gaza—2009, 2015, and 2023—was followed by a disturbing surge in antisemitic incidents across France.

“I wanted to raise my future children in a place where they could be proud of their Jewish identity without fear,” said Alison, a 28-year-old teacher from Marseille who moved to Israel last year.

Growing up in a traditional Jewish family, Alison always dreamed of making Aliyah but was hesitant due to family ties. However, the increasing hostility towards Jews in Marseille convinced her that the time had come.

Since the October 7 massacres, antisemitism in France has reached alarming levels, with authorities documenting a staggering increase in incidents. Surveys indicate that approximately 38% of French Jews – around 200,000 people – are now considering Aliyah. The ICEJ has sponsored Aliyah flights for 654 Jewish immigrants from France in the past two years, including 154 so far this year. French Aliyah is up 53% so far in 2025, and we are committed to meeting this growing need.

YOUTH ALIYAH FROM GERMANY One of ICEJ’s most transformative initiatives has been supporting the Naale Elite Academy program in Germany. Naale offers Jewish teenagers worldwide the opportunity to complete their high school education in Israel tuition-free, providing full room and board and a comprehensive integration package. The program recalls the historic Youth Aliyah movement of the 1930s, which rescued thousands of Jewish children from Nazi Germany. Today’s Naale students follow in those footsteps.

Naale children from Germany at Ben Gurion airport in 2024. (Photo credit: JAFI) Meanwhile back in France, young French Jews like Yaron, an 18-yearold from Paris, have made the courageous decision to make Aliyah despite – and even because of – the current conflicts. He is currently studying Hebrew and will soon serve in an IDF combat unit.

“When I saw the injustice unfolding on October 7, I knew I had to be in Israel,” Yaron insisted.

By 2019, recognising the dangerous surge in antisemitism across Europe, the Jewish Agency approached ICEJ to establish a new program focused specifically on younger generations of Jews in both France and Germany. This initiative includes virtual and physical seminars on Israeli culture and opportunities, one-on-one mentoring with Israeli peers, and specialised tracks for young professionals.

“The program gives us a connection to Israel that feels real and personal, not just historical or religious,” explained Daniel, a 26-year-old participant from Berlin whose grandparents immigrated from Ukraine in the 1990s. “It helps us see Israel as our future, not just our past.”

The ICEJ’s Aliyah efforts span the generations. In 2010, we established the Haifa Home for Holocaust Survivors, providing fully subsidised housing, medical care, and trauma counselling. Many of our residents survived the Holocaust and later immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union or Western Europe. Since 2022, the Haifa Home has provided a safe haven for elderly Ukrainian Jews fleeing the conflict with Russia. This work stands as a living testimony to our commitment to supporting Jewish immigrants wherever they are.

“For French and German Jews, Israel is not just a safe haven but a place where they can live their Jewishness to the fullest,” Natan Sharansky, former chairman of the Jewish Agency, once told the German newspaper Die Welt. “Every Jew must decide where to build their future, but we want them to know that Israel is always here, ready to welcome them as family.”

Naale Elite Academy. (Photo credit: JAFI) “My grandparents hid their Judaism in Ukraine. My parents rediscovered it in Germany. Now, I get to live it fully in Israel,” shared Talia, a Naale student from Frankfurt.

Her journey reflects the transformative power of the program, which turns the complex legacy of dispersion into empowerment. The success is measurable – some 90 percent of Naale graduates remain in Israel, while about 60 percent of their families follow. Beyond statistics, each student represents a living bridge between Diaspora communities and Israel.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2014, Europe has witnessed another significant Jewish migration. Many Ukrainian Jews initially sought refuge in Germany, rather than Israel, perhaps hoping they could more easily return if the war subsided.

The story of Jewish migration from Western Europe to Israel reminds us that history takes unexpected turns. From the ashes of the Holocaust emerged renewed Jewish communities in France and Germany, while Israel stands as the thriving Jewish homeland. And the ICEJ faithfully supports the prophetic work of God gathering His people home.

The prophet Amos said: “‘I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them,’ says the Lord your God.” (Amos 9:15) With your support, we can help Jews from France, Germany and beyond get re-planted back in their ancestral homeland forever.

Please support the ICEJ’s Aliyah efforts.

Donate today at: help.icej.org/aliyah

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ALIYAH

ICEJ BRINGS JOY TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE HAIFA HOME

BY Y U D I T S E T Z

W

e are excited to bring you an update from the ICEJ’s special Home for Holocaust survivors in Haifa.

Spring has arrived and here is the latest.

OPENING THE BEAUTY CORNER Thanks to the generous support of ICEJAustria, the Holocaust survivors living at our Haifa Home now have a beautifully renovated Beauty Salon — a special place where both men and women can relax, refresh, and enjoy a little extra care. In just a short time, 15 residents have already sat in the chair, had their hair or nails done, and walked away smiling!

The transformation of the space has been remarkable. What was once just a simple room is now warm and welcoming, with freshly painted walls in soft, soothing colours. Bright new lighting fills the space, mirrors line the walls, and comfortable salon chairs invite residents to sit back and enjoy the experience.

Every detail, from the styling tools to the carefully chosen nail polish colours, was selected with love and care.

The grand opening was filled with excitement, conversation, and plenty of laughter. Two of our dear residents had the honour of cutting

the red ribbon. As they stepped inside, they and the other women of the Haifa Home explored every corner, admiring the transformation with wide eyes and big smiles. The space was not just new, it felt like a gift, a place where they could feel beautiful and cared for.

For many of our residents, life has been filled with hardship and loss, but this salon offers something simple yet powerful: the chance to feel refreshed, valued and uplifted. A fresh haircut, or a neat manicure or pedicure, might seem small, but to them it means being seen, being cared for, and being reminded that they matter. One resident, after looking around, heartily expressed: “It’s so amazing here. Thank you all for making the effort.”

To make this experience even more special, we have welcomed a talented hairdresser and a nail specialist to the Home. Working with the same heart as we have for the residents, they have already made a beautiful impact through conversations and gentle encouragement to each person who sits in their chair.

This salon is a space where our residents can feel their best, where they can take a deep breath and enjoy a moment just for themselves. The convenience of having an onsite salon saves the residents from having to take a taxi to their hairdresser or to have their nails done. It is a small but meaningful way to show them that they are loved and cherished .

We are deeply grateful to ICEJ-Austria and to all those who made this possible. Because of you, our residents have another reason to smile, and their joy touches us all.

Two residents cutting the ribbon to open the new beauty salon.

HAIFA HOME

HONOURING OUR CAREGIVERS When our residents need 24/7 help, many have a foreign caregiver who lives with them.

Our community at the Haifa Home includes not only 50 Holocaust survivors but also a dedicated group of 18 caregivers. These caregivers come from various countries to accommodate the different languages spoken 1 8 | MAY/JUNE 2025

by our residents. They hail from Ukraine, India, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Moldova and the Philippines.

Many caregivers come from challenging economic backgrounds, often leaving their own families behind in search of better opportunities for their children. Their work is demanding, as caring for elderly survivors requires patience, strength and deep compassion. Despite these challenges, they perform their duties with remarkable dedication. Far from home and frequently feeling isolated, they bear not only the weight of their daily responsibilities but also the worries about their loved ones back home.

They often share their stories about difficulties with residents or with their family back home, yet they continue to give their best, day and night.

Giving angel cookies to caregivers at the Haifa Home.

Caring for those who help serve the unique needs of these survivors only improves our level of care for the Haifa Home residents.

These caregivers give their all every single day, and we are grateful for the opportunity to remind them that they are seen.

CELEBRATING LIFE Miriam was born in Poland and lived in ghettos and concentration camps from September 1939 until ending up at the Auschwitz death camp, from where she was liberated at the end of the war in 1945. Recently, we celebrated her 103rd birthday. Even though it becomes more and more difficult for Miriam to communicate with words, the language of love never fails to put a smile on her face.

The first client at the beauty salon receives a fresh haircut.

Reah from the Philippines recently shared her heart, saying: “When we are able to tell you our problems and you help us find solutions, it relieves so much of the stress we carry.”

We wanted to honour them with a special event organised just for them!

The story from Genesis 16 seemed so fitting.

It tells the story of Hagar who ran away as Sarah treated her badly. On the way to Egypt, the Angel of the Lord found her at a spring and spoke to her. “Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are the God who sees’ ...” (Genesis 16:13).

The message we wanted to convey is that we see them, and God sees them too.

To show these caregivers how much they are valued, one of our team members baked angelshaped cookies with golden hearts and gifted them to each caregiver. It was a small gesture, but it carried deep meaning. Many tears flowed as they realised that their sacrifices, struggles, and love for the residents were truly recognised and appreciated.

“Thank you so much for the wonderful surprise and the appreciation for our hard work and dedication. It was an unforgettable surprise,” said one caregiver.

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN How exciting it is to see 15 residents, all 80+ years old, studying Hebrew in our “ulpan” language classes. Studying at an advanced age has more benefits than just learning a new language. It keeps our brain active, like mobility in our body, thus fending off Alzheimer’s and other mental frailties that come with aging. There are different classes for different levels of Hebrew, and some have been studying for more than a year.

“I was able to make myself understood in the hospital today in Hebrew,” one resident proudly shared. Others can order things in Hebrew or answer simple questions they are asked. It gives them a feeling of connection and being part of the Jewish homeland in a deeper way.

Another way to deepen the connection of these recent immigrants to Israel is by teaching them the Biblical Feasts. Most of the Jewish people from the former Soviet Union know very little about their Jewish heritage, and that is why learning about their own history through the Feasts we celebrate is of great interest to them.

“I am eagerly waiting for the Hebrew lessons, which I get twice a week,” said Alla.

Alla gets a Hebrew lesson from Maria at home.

Sitting in a wheelchair at home and having to deal with the trauma of leaving everything in Ukraine has made Alla feel down and depressed. Receiving the Hebrew and art lessons in her own apartment have given her a new desire to live, and a smile can often be seen on her face now.

IN MEMORIAM: YAACOV GROSSMAN Our dear resident Yaacov passed away unexpectedly in March. We had danced at the Purim party just a few days before, and he was doing well.

Yaacov was well loved by everyone. Every day, he walked to the synagogue in the neighbourhood, where he spent all morning studying. He would return for lunch and eat with us before he would go home for a rest.

Yaacov was 89 when he passed away. He is very much missed by the Haifa Home family and his own family as well.

TO SUPPORT THE HAIFA HOME, DONATE TODAY AT: help.icej.org/survivors

When teaching about Pesach and the Exodus from Egypt, one resident said: “Oh, now I understand why we eat matzah on Pesach.”

Jewish traditions suddenly gained deeper meaning and understanding for them.

Through the classes, our Haifa Home residents have become much more connected to one another and new friendships have developed.

Also, birthdays are celebrated together with cakes and drinks at the end of the lessons.

The teacher, Maria, also gives private Hebrew lessons at home to two homebound residents from Ukraine.

19 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

Celebrating birthdays after Hebrew class.

HAIFA HOME

OSLO SYMPOSIUM 2025 MOST POWERFUL GATHERING YET

BY DAG ØY V I N D J U L I U S S E N, I C E J - N O RWAY N A T I O N A L D I R E C T O R emphasizing that it was a reaction to Norway’s official policies – not the Norwegian people.

Josh Reinstein at the Oslo Symposium 2025 in Norway.

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or many years, ICEJ-Norway has been co-sponsoring the Oslo Symposium, a bi-annual gathering of government, media and community leaders to discuss and debate the nation’s policies, including towards Israel and the Middle East. Our team just co-organised Oslo Symposium 2025 and hosted a special session “Israel, Antisemitism and Democracy”, and we are proud to declare this year’s event the most successful and impactful in the gathering’s history.

Since 2011, the Oslo Symposium has been convened ahead of national election years, held every other year, to bring together voices who champion faith, family values, and freedom. In 2025, this platform was more important than ever, as the relationship between Norway and Israel has reached a critical low point. Israel recently recalled its ambassador from Norway,

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This year’s symposium was a bold and necessary response. With unwavering clarity, speakers addressed the growing tide of antisemitism and misrepresentation of Israel in public discourse. The facts were laid out: Hamas started the war on October 7, 2023. It seeks the destruction of Israel. The war could end instantly if Hamas released the hostages and disarmed. Instead, it has promised to repeat October 7 until Israel is erased.

president of the Israel Allies Foundation participated.

Throughout the event, hundreds joined in worship, prayer, and conviction, voicing their support for Israel and their stand against antisemitism. For the first time in years, Oslo received positive attention in Israeli media.

Parliamentary elections will be held in September, and we are praying for a change of course. Thus, at Purim the ICEJ-Norway office launched a 100-day prayer campaign ahead of this election.

Against this dark backdrop, the Oslo Symposium 2025 became a powerful declaration of solidarity with the Jewish state and people. One significant development was the relaunch of the Israel Allies Foundation Stortinget, a parliamentary friendship group that will cooperate directly with the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus in Jerusalem.

Led in Norway by MP Himanshu Gulati, this group connects Norway to a global network of over 50 such government alliances. From Israel, Knesset Member Shelly Tal Meron and Josh Reinstein, director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and

TAIWAN BRANCH OPENING GATES TO ASIA

r. Mojmir Kallus, ICEJ Vice President for International Affairs, recently travelled to Taiwan to visit one of the strongest ICEJ branch offices and a true leader in Asia. During his visit, Mojmir preached in the large Bread of Life Church in Kaohsiung, met pastors from various denominations in Taipei, Taoyuan, Tainan and Kaohsiung, toured the towering 101 skyscraper in Taipei, and visited a successful church which meets in the landmark building.

Taiwan has long been among the top ten financially contributing branches for the ICEJ globally. Donating towards Aliyah is especially popular among Asian believers. ICEJ-Taiwan national director Joseph Chou is a member of the ICEJ’s international Board of Trustees, runs the ICEJ office in his country, and together with his wife Debora also pastors a church in Beijing.

During Mojmir’s visit, strategic discussions were held on how to better promote the ICEJ’s work throughout East Asia, a region with much ICEJ INTERNATIONAL

potential for our ministry. Plans are underway for a special Envision Asia conference in late March 2026 that will serve the whole East Asian and Pacific Rim region, location to be announced soon.

Dr. Mojmir Kallus with Joseph and Debora Chou, and the pastor and worship team at Bread of Life Church in Kaohsiung.

2 0 | MAY/JUNE 2025

For either booklet, simply contact the German branch at info@icej.de

GERMAN BRANCH PUBLISHES BOOKLET TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM

BY K A R I N LO R E N Z

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CEJ-Germany recently published a booklet to combat Antisemitism, provocatively titled “Nothing against Jews, but”, which is being widely distributed and has become a bestseller. An initial print run of 250,000 copies will soon run out as demand has grown for the booklet, which provides background information and tips for acting against hatred of Jews.

It is being distributed to home groups, schools, churches, rallies and other community gatherings.

Eighty years after the Holocaust, antisemitism is once again parading in the streets and universities of Germany. The booklet thus deals not only with the historical hatred of Jews, but above all with current antisemitism, which is often disguised as criticism of Israel. It also sheds light on Replacement and Disinheritance theology still found in many Christian circles today.

REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN THE BALKANS

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n March, a regional conference for Southeastern Europe was held in Sofia, Bulgaria. Participants from the host country, Czech Republic, Slovakia, North Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina were present and shared their experience in implementing the ICEJ’s vision in their countries. Most participants are rather new additions to our global network, with Bosnia-Herzegovina

Last year, the German branch also published a booklet on “Israel in Fact Check” which explained false narratives and slogans against Israel. It was printed over half a million times and is now available in English free of charge from ICEJ-Germany.

being the latest one, where Branko Erceg was confirmed as the national representative. The Balkan conference coincided with the anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews in 1943, a source of pride for Bulgarians.

Bulgaria had been an ally of the Nazis in WWII but when secret plans for the deportation of Jews were leaked, the country stood up against them in a remarkable show of unity. The King, the Orthodox archbishop, intellectuals from all walks of life as well as simple people all opposed the deportations and thus saved over 48,000 Bulgarian Jews. The unique act of bravery has positively influenced attitudes to Jews and Israel until this day.

Historic Synagogue in Sofia, Bulgaria.

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CEJ-Costa Rica, led by Mauricio Bolaños Barrantes, recently joined with other Christian pro-Israel ministries to form a national umbrella dedicated to supporting Israel in more consistent and organised ways, including by prayer, rallies and education. The group also met with Israeli Consul Amir Rockman to schedule joint activities, combat antisemitism, advocate for the release of the hostages in Gaza, and mobilise more people to stand with Israel in the media, social networks and other channels.

ICEJ-France national directors Robert and Kathryn Baxter recently visited Jerusalem headquarters with a French tour group.

21 | WORD FROM JERUSALEM

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Zechariah 8:23

6-13 October 2025

In Person or Online packages available

This year's Feast of Tabernacles is especially significant for Israel as it emerges from the prolonged conflict in this region. Thus, the ICEJ is reducing the entry price for our Feast 2025 to an all-time low! Starting from $120 USD. We want to bring together as many Christians as possible for a solidarity and victory tour this Succot, to support the nation as it recovers. Israel needs our friendship and presence now more than ever.

Online Packages

starting from $50 USD

● Full Online access to the 5-day Feast gathering ● Videos On Demand accessible until the end of January 2026 ● Digital certificate of participation

In-Person Packages** starting from $120 USD

● Registration to 4-day Jerusalem gathering or 5-day Desert-Jerusalem gathering ● Videos on Demand accessible until end of January 2026 ● Southern Solidarity Tour Add-on for $100 USD (6 Oct)

Feast Land Package

starting from $1,629 USD

Embark on an unforgettable journey to Israel with our incredible itinerary from 5-11 October 2025.

The Jerusalem Land Package includes all Feast 2025 events, VOD until end of July 2026, & touring as per itinerary.

(Subject to changes.)

11-14 October. Galilee Add-on Tour starting from $990 USD

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

** The In-Person Feast packages include all entrance fees to locations and exclude airfare, accommodations, meals, day tours, transport, and other related fees in attending the Feast. To know more, email us at events@icej.org