Israel

Memorial for Katzrin’s Fallen Soldiers

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The black sky formed a domed canopy above the assembly that gathered in the big square next to the community center in Katzrin. It was a night of remembrance. On the stage stood a flag pole and three soldiers. The Israeli flag fluttered in the mild breeze at half-mast. As residents of the community filed in through several guarded entrances, they were visually checked for weapons and where weapons were found, those who held them were sent to an entrance where licenses must be submitted to the authorities. At this time in Israel, there is danger involved in taking chances in groups of this size. Imagine what could happen, if?… But all ifs dissolved last night, with the armed security and soldiers standing guard. 

Amichai, Fallen Soldier from Katzrin — October 7, ’23

Five hundred plus white plastic chairs awaited the expected crowd. Eager, yet serious, the attendees arrived, and soon row after row of family and friends shuffled into the makeshift auditorium under the stars. Many were Jews from different countries of the world, and perhaps even more were native-born Israelis.

Instructions had been given via every local media outlet that there would be a one-minute siren at exactly 8 pm, honoring the fallen soldiers of the past 7 months and especially those from Katzrin who gave their lives fighting Israel. The audience would stand at attention while the siren lasted. Further instructions were given to prepare the group for the eventuality of a bombing raid during the program. If this was to happen, all were to lay on the ground face down with their hands over their heads. Those who were disabled were to bow as low as possible in their seats and cover their heads in the same way. 

As the siren receded, the audience remained standing as Introductory words and dedications were made, including a memorial Kadesh blessing for Hashem honoring those who died. The three soldiers still stood at stiff attention beside the flagpole on the stage that was illuminated by spotlights of different colors. Not a hand movement nor nod of the head was seen. They stood this way for over an hour, erect and solemn in their military attire. 

Yehezkel Fallen Soldier from Katzrin 10/23

During this time, family members, friends, officials of the town d others brought colorful memorial wreaths and placed them by the flagpole in front of the three soldiers. The names of the fallen soldiers were read and pictures of their lives illuminated the giant screens on either side of the stage. Sadly, the first soldier was killed on October 7, the day the war began.  The second soldier died a few days later that week. The third was much later. 

The service had touching eulogies by the family members, two mothers and a father, honoring the boys. Then a talented soldier sang vocal pieces and accompanied himself on a large keyboard. 

Some of us did not know Hebrew well enough to follow the service literally, but the soul of the Israeli people was apparent and the meaning of it all sank deep into our hearts. We know that Israel is about being One People on the land, no matter what happens. 

The thought has been voiced by many, that at this time when the majority of the world wants to destroy our people, when many so-called Jews, even in government positions in the diaspora are happy to give away our land in exchange for making a name for themselves, we must take the position that we are alone–that we stand for the people of Israel and for this God-given land, whatever comes. 

Omri Fallen Soldier from Katzrin Dec ’23

And as always in the past, a remnant will survive and flourish. This must toughen us, come what may. There is no going back. We must strengthen our resolve to stand and not to fall prey to the lies that continue to fall from the mouths of those who hate us, even though many of them are Jews seeking temporal fame and a moment in the limelight. 

Like one seasoned veteran soldier said today concerning Jews that betray the Jewish people. “They are traitors, … and what do you do with traitors…?”

Let him who thinks he is standing take heed lest he fall…

Ariella

¡Bombas, terror y mi dulce cachorra Simcha!

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Por Binjamin Casey

Son las dos y cuarto de la mañana y el rugido sordo de los F15 que sobrevuelan en constante patrulla me despierta una vez más. Incluso con el suave zumbido del ventilador de ventana que usamos para el “ruido blanco”, la vibración profunda perturba mi sueño y mi cuerpo se tensa por el estrés de “¿Es esto solo otra salida o es algo real?”

El avión se inclina sobre su cabeza y comienza su amplio giro que lo lleva sobre la Cordillera de Hermón, a través del valle del Jordán y luego por la frontera libanesa de regreso al centro de Israel a través del Kinneret o Mar de Galilea.

Desde el Black Sabbath de octubre, hace poco más de seis meses, las patrullas aéreas y los ataques a Siria y el Líbano se han convertido en una realidad y en un recordatorio físico constante para aquellos de nosotros en los Altos del Golán de que, efectivamente, estamos en guerra. El ruido debería ser tranquilizador y lógicamente lo es, la mayor parte del tiempo. Durante las horas del día miramos hacia arriba para ver los aviones mientras sobrevuelan. Es algo difícil detectar los aviones porque vuelan tan alto y tan rápido. Tienes que juzgar la elevación por la intensidad del ruido y luego mirar hacia adelante, donde parece estar el sonido. A veces tienes suerte y vislumbras un F15, F16 o F35. Otras veces te dejas engañar porque es posible que un avión haya dado un giro cerrado y esté regresando hacia el sonido.

Pero, como dije antes, por tranquilizador que sea, encuentro que el sonido después de seis meses comienza a desgastarse en mi mente cansada de la guerra. Este es el undécimo conflicto importante en el que he estado involucrado y es el más largo y conflictivo.

Hace unos días, mi mente dañada por el trastorno de estrés postraumático finalmente cedió al sonido y rompí a llorar por el estrés. Mientras estaba sentada en nuestro jardín con la cabeza entre las manos llorando, mi pastora alemana Simcha (alegría en hebreo), de pelo largo, se acercó y puso suavemente su enorme cabeza peluda en mi regazo. Ella me miró con sus grandes ojos tristes y me lamió suavemente. Estallé en un torrente de lágrimas y poco a poco la tensión empezó a disminuir. Cualquier rincón oscuro de mi mente que había permitido que emergieron los fantasmas del pasado, lentamente cerró sus puertas y los demonios retrocedieron.

Estoy seguro de que muchos de nosotros en Israel hemos sentido este dolor abrumador últimamente, pero no todos tenemos una Simjá que nos ayude a superarlo. Sintiendo mi cambio de humor, ahora era su turno de recibir atención. Era hora de vengarse y esta niña de dos años quería jugar en serio a cambio de su afecto.

Los días transcurrieron hasta que una mañana llegó la noticia que esperábamos pero temíamos. Irán, el Estado patrocinador del terrorismo global, finalmente había decidido lanzar un ataque contra Israel. Nos advirtieron que se había lanzado un ataque masivo con misiles y que estábamos situados entre una hora y media y dos horas antes del ataque, dependiendo del tipo de proyectil que se lanzara. Elige tu opción; UAV, misiles balísticos y de crucero, así que mientras esperábamos, nuestros antiguos primos en el Líbano estaban aumentando su cuota de cohetes Quassam y Katyusha de corto alcance.

Mis ojos captaron la vista del valle del Yarden o río Jordán, que era como siempre hermoso. Debajo del enorme montículo del Monte Canaán, las luces de Rosh Piná y Hazor Hagalil brillaban en la oscuridad de la noche mientras la corona de la montaña estaba iluminada por las luces de Birya. Hazor, que es donde el profeta Josué, el protegido de Moisés, libró su batalla final después de entrar en la tierra hace unos 3500 años, después de los años de exilio en Egipto y luego de la saga del Éxodo. Esta zona estaba a punto de presenciar otro ataque contra los hijos de Israel.

Las luces continuaron parpadeando tranquilizadoramente y había una tranquilidad inusual en la noche, como si todo el campo estuviera conteniendo la respiración con anticipación. O los aviones habían regresado a la base para rearmarse y abastecerse de combustible o se dirigían hacia el este a través de Siria para hacer frente al ataque que se avecinaba.

El ataque en sí no fue del todo inesperado, ya que el ruido de sables se había prolongado durante días, si no semanas. Sin embargo, lo que sí me sorprendió fue una avalancha de mensajes de amigos en Gran Bretaña e incluso en Estados Unidos preguntando si todo estaba bien y asegurándonos que estábamos en sus pensamientos y oraciones.

Como había pasado la mayor parte de la noche despierto por la adrenalina esperando lo que fuera que nos ocurriera, no había mucho que hacer más que esperar. Entonces, como haría cualquier buen británico en una crisis, fui a prepararme una taza de té y me tranquilicé mientras esperaba.

A la 1:45 a. m., la alarma de mi teléfono comenzó a sonar advertencias de ataque tras ataque y esto ahora llegó más rápido de lo que podía leer. Hasta ahora, la mayoría de los ataques se produjeron en el sur, en las extensiones vacías del desierto de Negev. De repente, mis ojos captaron el brillo de una esfera roja que se elevaba lentamente hacia el cielo en dirección a Tiberio, la antigua ciudad romana y bíblica en Kinneret. Supe en ese momento que había comenzado. El orbe se eleva hacia el cielo y recuerda los días más felices de hace mucho tiempo, cuando la gente se sentaba y miraba las velas romanas arrojar sus orbes al cielo nocturno el 4 de julio o la Noche de las Hogueras para el deleite de los niños. Esta vez, sin embargo, el propósito era mucho más mortal, como lo indicó un repentino destello brillante. Al menos un misil ahora no alcanzaría su objetivo gracias al asombroso sistema de defensa aérea Cúpula de Hierro que ha salvado tantas vidas desde su primer despliegue en 2011. Se han disparado miles de cohetes contra Israel desde 2007, cuando Hamás tomó el control de Israel. La Franja de Gaza y Hezbollah, el representante iraní en el Líbano, y desde entonces disparan conjuntamente cohetes frecuentes e indiscriminados contra Israel. El costo financiero de detener estos cohetes es escandaloso y, sin embargo, sin la Cúpula de Hierro es sólo una suposición calcular el costo en vidas humanas perdidas.

El sonido de las explosiones empezó a resonar por todo el valle y el fuerte estallido de un cohete derribado por nuestras defensas. La Cúpula de Hierro es capaz de rastrear y calcular la velocidad, la dirección y el probable punto de aterrizaje de los misiles entrantes, por lo que sólo dispara a aquellos que considera que probablemente impactarán en áreas pobladas. Aun así, el coste de cada misil ronda los 60.000 dólares. Millones de dólares que podrían haberse gastado en escuelas, hospitales o utilizados en exploraciones científicas en beneficio de la humanidad, se han utilizado en cambio para derribar cohetes lanzados por ultrarreligiosos. musulmanes fanáticos.

Sorprendentemente, el ataque terminó muy rápidamente y comenzaron a llegar los informes iniciales. La única herida reportada fue la de una joven beduina que había sufrido heridas de metralla y algunos edificios fueron alcanzados en una base aérea. Esta noche se estaba presenciando verdaderamente un milagro, pero aún no sabíamos hasta qué punto.

La noche volvió a su solemnidad, los aviones habían regresado a la base y no se oían más explosiones en el valle. Eché un último vistazo por la ventana, asombrado de que se hubieran causado tan pocos daños o lesiones, y finalmente me dirigí a la comodidad de mi cama para dormir un par de horas.

De repente me despertó la estridente sirena antiaérea que subía y bajaba y nos advertía que teníamos 30 segundos para llegar a nuestra habitación segura. Esta vez nosotros éramos el objetivo, habíamos dormido vestidos sabiendo que esta posibilidad podría suceder así que agarramos una bolsa de emergencia y por supuesto a Simcha, quien pensó que esto era solo un juego divertido. Nos dirigimos a nuestro rincón debajo de las escaleras. Esta vez el sonido de las intercepciones de la Cúpula de Hierro fue mucho más fuerte, como un trueno directamente sobre nuestras cabezas, pero mucho más siniestro cuando comprendimos el peligro que podría causar la metralla de estos cohetes. De nuevo, después de lo que pareció muy poco tiempo, todo terminó, y el silencio repentino me recordó las historias que mi abuelo me había contado acerca de cómo después de un bombardeo de artillería en la Primera Guerra Mundial, el silencio repentino fue casi tan opresivo como el ruido del bombardeo mismo. Todo un infierno durante 15 minutos y luego un silencio como una tumba mientras tus oídos volvían a la normalidad. Más tarde esa mañana descubrimos que un cohete, probablemente un Katushkya, había aterrizado en nuestra ciudad. Sin quitarle ningún crédito a los miembros de las FDI y la IAF que habían hecho un trabajo increíble esa noche, el verdadero crédito tiene que ser para el Todopoderoso, sin el cual nuestro país sería un pedazo de tierra humeante con víctimas incalculables.

El cohete que había caído en la ciudad había impactado a unos dos metros de un muro de hormigón y roca coronado por una valla de hierro en la única zona de tierra blanda de los alrededores. La pared de roca dirigió la explosión lejos de las casas al otro lado de la calle y arrojó pequeños terrones de tierra y piedras pequeñas a unas dos cuadras de distancia. En el terreno había varios árboles frutales y se pudo ver cómo las raíces de los árboles también ayudaron a contener la explosión y alejarla de las casas a unos diez o quince metros de distancia. Alrededor del punto de impacto había viviendas de varios pisos que fácilmente podrían haber sido impactadas y destruidas. Si el cohete hubiera aterrizado al otro lado de la pared de ladrillos, se habría enterrado en un camino adoquinado hecho con ladrillos de tres kilos. Cada uno de esos ladrillos podría haberse convertido en misiles y el daño que habrían causado no es difícil de imaginar. Sin embargo, los únicos daños, aunque leves, fueron los de un coche cercano, la barandilla de la parte superior de la pared y varios paneles solares dañados por los terrones de tierra lanzados al aire por el impacto.

Desde esa noche se ha confirmado que en aquella ocasión se dispararon unos trescientos proyectiles contra Israel. La gran mayoría fueron derribados por las fuerzas armadas de Israel y la Cúpula de Hierro y posiblemente por algunos de nuestros supuestos aliados, mientras que a otros se les permitió caer en áreas abiertas.

Gracias al Creador, esa noche solo ocurrió una lesión grave y oramos para que se recupere rápidamente y recupere su plena salud.

Considerándolo todo, el ataque fue un completo y miserable fracaso en lo que respecta a Irán. Con el mayor ataque con misiles de la historia lanzado contra nosotros, nuestras defensas resistieron la prueba y humillaron al agresor.

En los días siguientes, los aviones han reanudado sus patrullas y ataques contra objetivos dentro del Líbano, pero el ruido de su paso todavía me irrita los nervios.

Aunque conozco el compromiso de nuestros valientes soldados y pilotos, su habilidad, dedicación y compromiso continuamente me sorprenden pero sobre todo doy gracias al Eterno por su misericordia y guía.

También agradezco a mi esposa Ariella y a mis queridos amigos por su aliento y apoyo. Por último, mi dulce cachorrito Simcha, sé que es hora de jugar… ¡otra vez!

A Second Exodus–What does this War have to do with It?

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Difficult times are here for us. Jews and Bible believers everywhere are holding their breath unsure of what is going on in terms of their beliefs and what the Bible says about end time events–especially events that are even now spiraling out of control in the Holy Land! But what is it all about? 

Israel has broken into a catastrophic war just at the time when Jews are returning to the land en masse. It is almost like a second Exodus and this time Pharoah seems to be IN THE LAND as well as on the borders trying to destroy anyone who wants to return. Now it is not only Egypt, but all the bordering nations who have joined in on the daily attacks to steal the land of Israel and kill its inhabitants. Why now?

Ok so Jews have celebrated the first day of Pesach of 2024, and at most seders the question is at least contemplated if not discussed as to why Jews seem to suffer eternally, as if it is our destiny to suffer. This year the celebration of our freedom is questionable. How can we celebrate freedom when the nations want to wipe us out, again! — this time from our own G-d given land? Surely Hashem must not be watching! Why is this happening? We thought the end times was about returning to the land, ending the exile and welcoming the Messiah! Maybe there is something else that we  have not seen. Maybe God’s people need a transformation! Maybe returning to the Land is a test!

Perhaps we can draw strength from the negative things that are happening. Let’s look behind the reality of what is going on.

According to a Times of Israel article dated December 23, 2023, more than 2600 people moved to Israel between October 7 and the date of the article. According to the Jewish Chronicle, over 6500 Jews emigrated to Israel by February 14 and many applications for aliyah have been made.

What can be deducted from this? As of the time of the statement in Times of Israel (12/23) not a lot of anti-Israel protests had taken place around the world– at least not like there have been recently.. So what motivated those who came? Guilt for not being in the land to support it? A feeling of wanting to stand together, come what may? Or is there something else?

During the seder at some friends’ house here in the Golan Heights, we met some new people who had just moved from the United States. They still have not established residency but they claim that Israel is the only place for Jews. They sold everything and high-tailed it over here, with or without aliyah benefits! This is definitely not the first time I have heard people claim this! 

Is Israel really the safest place for Jews as the above article suggests? It may well be, but it does not feel like it at the moment. Feelings aside, what is Hashem’s plan for Israel? Is there a plan? Are Jews going to be forever persecuted and targeted? Is it because they are the Covenant People? Is it because they somehow went astray way back thousands of years ago? Well, maybe, but I don’t see a loving and gracious G-d eternally punishing a people with persecution when they have no idea why. I am sure there is something else involved in the overwhelming drive to return to the land of our forefathers. Why are we here, indeed? 

Another thing, why do Christian organizations, especially evangelicals, believe that the Jews must return to the land?
According to the the Zionist Christian statement in Wikipedia:
“God the Father, Almighty, chose the ancient nation and people of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to reveal His plan of redemption for the world. They remain elect of God, and without the Jewish nation His redemptive purposes for the world will not be completed.”
Of course underlying this statement is the premise that the Christian Messiah (Jesus) must return to Jerusalem and as some have stated, “convince the Jews of his “divine mission and Messiahship.”  

Be that false as most of us claim, the outcome is that many Jews are being helped to return. Shall we condemn their good will and refuse to accept their gifts, even though they are motivated by wrong reasoning? Do we throw the baby out with the bath water? I am not so sure. Hashem has worked with nations to bring about his will over the millennia  and I don’t see Him changing plans now. So what could be His purpose in bringing Jews to experience a horrible war against Israel at what many of us believe to be the end times? Are we to see something spectacular?

Some see this war as being completely controlled by a secular government that is not directed by YHVH. Some have stated that G-d is not in our midst and cannot work with this government? Wait!

Did G-d work with Cyrus of Babylon to send the Jews back to the land. Does that not mean that all is in the Hands of the Eternal Architect of History? 

Another thing, besides the attack on October 7 (see my article Dancing with the Devil here), there have been many missiles, drones, rockets, and bombs fired at Israel from all sides. Besides many of our dear soldiers being killed in the fight with Hamas, Hezbollah and other proxies of Iran, there have been very few civilian casualties. Like for example what happened on Saturday night April 13 when over 300 projectiles were fired at Israel from Iran and nobody was hurt except one bedouin girl who was injured. One missile landed in our town between a couple of apartment buildings and left a 10 foot hole in the yard and some structural damage. But curiously, it did not hurt anyone! Is the secret in the strength of our defense forces and our Iron dome? Or is it possible that Somebody Up There is watching out for us? It is true that our government for the most part looks to themselves as the sole protection of Israel. Evil as that may be, is Hashem there working behind the scenes? Is it possible that He alone is guiding the movements of the war? Can you tell me He is not? He can uproot kings whenever He wants to. It just happens that He is working alongside and bringing about what He wants?

Some of us still question the apparent stupidity of our government for being surprised at the October 7 attack, or even ignoring it until it was too late. Did G-d have a purpose in  allowing it? Did He have a message for us? Did He use it somehow to begin a bigger scale attack on Israel that would play out to show His Mighty Hand at the last? And now, what about our 133 hostages which many of us believe are mostly dead by now? I cannot fathom the reason for their torture and death, but I will not allow my faith in YHVH to fail. I have prayed for them over and over and it is time to leave them with the Almighty who protects the innocent. Does He or does He not? Some say He clearly has not protected any of them. So what do we do? Throw out our faith? Could there be a reason for all of this? I say there is, but I cannot tell you what it is. Shall we place the blame on the government, or is the government just a puppet in Hashem’s hands? 

If we read the prophecies of Ezekiel 37-39, it is pretty clear that something corresponds with what is going on. 

I know I am arguing to save G-d’s reputation. Some may claim that I am a religious fanatic. I may be. But a couple of things are clear to me.

  1. This war is necessary to fulfill the Divine Plan and is hinted at in the Bible.
  2. People have always suffered, especially the Covenant People.
  3. The Bible promises to bring back those who have died (hostages?) in the resurrection. (See Isaiah 26, Daniel 12, Ezek 37).
  4. The Land of Israel belongs to YHVH and He promises to wipe out Edom (Isaiah 63). He says he will do it alone (Isaiah 63:3).
  5. There is to be a separation between the righteous and the wicked. (Wickedness is showing its face especially now. This war is revealing people’s attitudes and secret motivations. Some Jews are hanging onto their money as the most important thing they have. Some are selling everything and moving to Israel, whatever the cost. Many non-Jews are lining up to help, while others are covering their ears so that they do not hear. Some are searching the ancestry of their parents and doing DNA searches  to see if they may be Jewish or from the 10 lost tribes. 

So, yes, there is a lot to contemplate and the best thing we can do is trust G-d to work out His will. He alone is in charge no matter what governments and organizations are doing. Let’s not get in His way!

My hope is for a greater faith while we see mountains crumble and towers fall. May we be faithful through it all!

Ariella

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A Second Exodus–What does this War have to do with It?

Difficult times are here for us. Jews and Bible believers everywhere are holding their breath unsure of what is going on in terms of their beliefs and what the Bible says about end time events. Especially events that are even now spiraling out of control in the Holy Land! But what is it all about? 

Israel has broken into a catastrophic war just at the time when Jews are returning to the land en masse. It is almost like a second Exodus and this time Pharoah seems to be IN THE LAND as well as on the borders trying to destroy anyone who wants to return. Now it is not only Egypt, but all the bordering nations who have joined in on the daily attacks to steal the land of Israel and kill its inhabitants. Why now?

Ok so Jews have celebrated the first day of Pesach of 2024, and at most seders the question is at least contemplated if not discussed as to why Jews seem to suffer eternally, as if it is our destiny to suffer. This year the celebration of our freedom is questionable. How can we celebrate freedom when the nations want to wipe us out, again! — this time from our own G-d given land? Surely Hashem must not be watching! Why is this happening? We thought the end times was about returning to the land, ending the exile and welcoming the Messiah! Maybe there is something else that we  have not seen. Maybe God’s people need a transformation!

Perhaps we can draw strength from the negative things that are happening. Let’s look behind the reality of what is going on.

According to a Times of Israel article dated December 23, 2023, more than 2600 people moved to Israel between October 7 and the date of the article. According to the Jewish Chronicle, over 6500 Jews emigrated to Israel by February 14 and many applications for aliyah have been made.

What can be deducted from this? As of the time of the statement in Times of Israel (12/23) not a lot of anti-Israel protests had taken place around the world– at least not like there have been recently.. So what motivated them? Guilt for not being in the land to support it? A feeling of wanting to stand together, come what may? Or is there something else?

During the seder at some friends’ house here in the Golan Heights, we met some new people who had just moved from the United States. They still have not established residency but they claim that Israel is the only place for Jews. They sold everything and high-tailed it over here, with or without aliyah benefits! This is definitely not the first time I have heard people claim this! 

Is Israel really the safest place for Jews as the above article suggests? It may well be, but it does not feel like it at the moment. Feelings aside, what is Hashem’s plan for Israel? Is there a plan? Are Jews going to be forever persecuted and targeted? Is it because they are the Covenant People? Is it because they somehow went astray way back thousands of years ago? Well, maybe, but I don’t see a loving and gracious G-d eternally punishing a people with persecution when they have no idea why. I am sure there is something else involved in the overwhelming drive to return to the land of our forefathers. Why are we here, indeed? 

Another thing, why do Christian organizations, especially evangelicals, believe that the Jews must return to the land?

According to the the Zionist Christian statement in Wikipedia::

“God the Father, Almighty, chose the ancient nation and people of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to reveal His plan of redemption for the world. They remain elect of God, and without the Jewish nation His redemptive purposes for the world will not be completed.”

Of course underlying this statement is the premise that the Christian Messiah (Jesus) must return to Jerusalem and as some have stated, “convince the Jews of his divine mission and Messiahship.”  

Be that false as most of us claim, the outcome is that many Jews are being helped to return. Shall we condemn their good will and refuse to accept their gifts, even though they are motivated by wrong reasoning? Do we throw the baby out with the bath water? I am not so sure. Hashem has worked with nations to bring about his will over the millennia  and I don’t see Him changing plans now. So what could be His purpose in bringing Jews to experience a horrible war against Israel at what many of us believe to be the end times? Are we to see something spectacular?

Some see this war as being completely controlled by a secular government that is not directed by YHVH. Some have stated that G-d is not in our midst and cannot work with this government? Wait!

Did G-d work with Cyrus of Babylon to send the Jews back to the land. Does that not mean that all is in the Hands of the Eternal Architect of History? 

Another thing, besides the attack on October 7 (see my article Dancing with the Devil here), there have been many missiles, drones, rockets, and bombs fired at Israel from all sides. Besides many of our dear soldiers being killed in the fight with Hamas, Hezbollah and all the proxies of Iran, there have been very few civilian casualties. Like for example what happened on Saturday night April 13 when over 300 projectiles were fired at Israel from Iran and nobody was hurt except one bedouin girl who was injured. Is it the strength of our Iron dome? Or is it possible that Somebody Up There is watching out for us? It is true that our government for the most part looks to themselves as the sole protection of Israel. Evil as that may be, is Hashem there working behind the scenes? Can you tell me He is not? He can uproot kings whenever He wants to. It just happens that He is working alongside and bringing about what He wants?

Some of us still question the lame stupidity of our government for being surprised at the October 7 attack, or even ignoring it until it was too late. Did G-d have a purpose in  allowing it? Did He have a message for us? Did He use it somehow to begin a bigger scale attack on Israel that would play out to show His Mighty Hand at the last? And now, what about our 133 hostages which many of us believe are mostly dead by now? I cannot fathom the reason for their torture and death, but I will not allow my faith in YHVH to fail. I have prayed for them over and over and it is time to leave them with the Almighty who protects the innocent. Does He or does He not? Some say He clearly has not protected any of them. So what do we do? Throw out our faith? Could there be a reason for all of this? I say there is, but I cannot tell you what it is. Shall we place the blame on the government, or is the government just a puppet in Hashem’s hands? 

If we read the prophecies of Ezekiel 37-39, it is pretty clear that something corresponds with what is going on. 

I know I am arguing to save G_d’s reputation. Some may claim that I am a religious fanatic. I may be. But a couple of things are clear to me.

  1. This war is necessary to fulfill the Divine Plan and is hinted at in the Bible.
  2. People have always suffered, especially the Covenant People.
  3. The Bible promises to bring back those who have died (hostages?) in the resurrection. (See Isaiah 26, Daniel 12, Ezek 37).
  4. The Land of Israel belongs to YHVH and He promises to wipe out Edom (Isaiah 63). He says he will do it alone (Isaiah 63:3).
  5. There is to be a separation between the righteous and the wicked. (Wickedness is showing its face especially now. This war is revealing people’s attitudes and secret motivations. Some Jews are hanging onto their money as the most important thing they have. Some are selling everything and moving to Israel, whatever the cost. Many non-Jews are lining up to help, while others are covering their ears so that they do not hear. Some are searching the ancestry of their parents and doing DNA searches  to see if they may be Jewish or from the 10 lost tribes. 

So, yes, there is a lot to contemplate and the best thing we can do is trust G-d to work out His will. He alone is in charge no matter what governments and organizations are doing. Let’s not get in His way!

My hope is for a greater faith while we see mountains crumble and towers fall. May we be faithful through it all!

Ariella

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Strong as a Dead Lion–Then What?

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Painting by a Highschooler named Uri in Katzrin, Israel

At the time before there was a king in Israel, Samson arose as a judge and spent his life wiping out the Philistines, one episode after another. After having killed a lion with his bare hands, he later came upon the carcass and it was full of bees which had made honeycomb and was dripping with the sweet honey. From this experience he thought of a riddle with which to trick the Philistines that should attend his wedding to a beautiful Philistine woman.

“…Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness…” Judges 14:14

Do we remember that the Philistines occupied in part what today is called Gaza? The town of Timnah, where the wedding was to take place, was located a few miles east of what today is Gaza.  

It comes to mind that Judah was called a lion in the blessing given to him by his father, Jacob. Judah was to hold the kingship of Israel and rule like a lion. But what we see today is appearing to be an almost dead lion. What will happen if the lion is killed? What then? Will sweetness come from the carcass? Let’s look a little deeper. 

What we see in modern Israel is a political government that is not concerned with its mandates from its covenant the God of Heaven. This is the lion we see trying to fight with all the worldly power it can muster, trying to satisfy the different nations that supply weapons and yet subjugate themselves to the foreign policy of nations who care nothing for Israel–those who wield world power at the touch of a switch, and we see our nation “going along to get along.” Perhaps this lion will die. Then what?

Could we even imagine that something could happen then to help Israel in its most trying time? Is there Anyone watching this struggle? Anyone in the Heavens who might just be ready to take the reins when all seems lost? Will there yet be a sweetness that exudes from this dead lion? Wouldn’t it be better if we were not looking to might and power but to something else?

“Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” – Zec 4:6

Few know what it means to depend on El Shaddai, and even those may wring their hands in fear of what is coming upon the world and especially what will happen to those in this land given and  promised to God’s people. It is mandatory that we take heart at this time. 

It will get very ugly before it gets over. Maybe it should get over, the sooner the better. We need to stop being led by those who think like the world thinks, however wise that may seem. What if we had pure faith (Emunah if you will) in YHVH and His great power? Will He let us down? Where are we in the line up of what is happening to bring about the Divine plan for this world? How does Israel play a part in this? Do we fight like the nations, or do we march out with trumpets blowing when we hear a sound in the mulberry trees? 

“And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” – 2Sa 5:24.

But we are a long way from that type of trust. Why do we tremble? Is it because we have never seen the Hand of Providence guiding our lives? Is it because we remember pogroms, Holocaust, and the Kristanacht? Where was God during those times? Maybe somehow we were in the wrong places or worse yet, that we were not listening to Him? 

Maybe these terrible tragedies should tell us something. Maybe we need to step back and ask who we are following in our religion? Who wrote the instructions? When did we deny our Creator to go after a strange doctrine? 

The way I see it is that we follow the nations because we believe there is more wisdom and skill than that offered by the ONE who made a Covenant with us about land and protection and about raising us up to be a Holy Nation. 

What would happen if we really knew the God of Israel? Would He come alongside and win the war for us so that we could go out with tambourines and march (dance perhaps) to the sound in the myrtle trees?

Judah, “you’ve come a long way, Baby” but maybe in the wrong direction. 

In hopes of a new day after the storm…

Ariella

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A Hostage Crisis and Hotel California

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We in Israel find ourselves sitting in the dark tunnels of the lying media wars that accuse Israel of war crimes and excuse those who kill and rape and burn people alive. And we are supposed to feel sorry for terrorists? Really? We have all been taken hostage…How?

Illustrative art from students of Katzrin highschool gallery

The stress among many in Israel is getting out of hand and it is turning into anger for some of us. Unfortunately, that anger has nowhere to go so let me tell you about it! Just now another two planes are circling overhead with their deafening roar shutting out the normal sounds of small town life. We believe that it is our IAF planes. We trust it to be so. But in our subconscious we ask, what if? And we know that even though they are Israeli planes, they are responding to sudden attacks by missiles from outside.

All of nature has gone away. It seems the birds have hidden and the flowers hide their brilliant colors.

We honestly don’t know what the HELL is going on. If we read the news, we see things that make no sense. There are lies inside and outside of this war, we see our own diplomats and statesmen telling us things we can’t fathom—things we would never support. And another cliffhanger is that Israel has scrambled our GPS so that if we need to travel to a town an hour away, we open our apps and find ourselves in Beirut or Cairo. We don’t know where in G-ds green earth we are. And I said we feel like hostages. Except we still have enough to eat and we are not being raped physically, not yet. BUT, it feels like betrayal from within and without. It feels like our souls have been raped. And we are actually starving for words of hope. Words we can trust.

We tell our friends that going back to America or Europe would be much worse, that Iran or Russia will nuke America first. Shall we kid ourselves?

No I don’t want to leave Israel, but it really seems like we have been taken hostage. Or should I say Israel has become Hotel California. We hear that we have to prepare the bombshelters for three days. We hear that they are going to cut off our electricity and water. Ok so it may happen and then what?

We look for comfort watching right wing YouTubers who used to support Israel. One by one they are turning their backs on Israel! Almost everyone says we are starving the “poor Gazan children” and that we are killing them along with their mothers. Good grief! Doesn’t everyone know that Terrorists kill their own people? Doesn’t everyone know that the women and children, yes Gazan civilians also participated in the horrendous October 7 massacre and afterwards? It is the civilians that have housed our hostages and forced them to work without food, some raping them as often as they desire.

Should there be no consequence to a people who not only allowed this but are aiding and abetting it?

Terrorists have no consideration for civilian women and children when they place their armaments under hospitals and kindergartens and push the kids and women out in front of their war machines? What do people say about the terrorists who have shot children for “stealing” food from the multitudinous trucks that bring them “free food?” Just imagine, if we laid out tables filled with all the food that is coming into Gaza they would be lined up all the way to the Nile and back! We know they are not starving, but many of our cousins in America and England think otherwise…Why? Because they believe what they hear. Because they refuse to be upset by anything. When will the stupidity stop? When will people stop believing the propaganda on the News and mainstream media? When was it ever a crime to tell the truth? When will people realize that perhaps, going to church or synagogue to hear words of comfort is “blue pill” that puts them to sleep as they ignore the very real threats that stare them in the face?

Back in the Covid days, the propaganda in the media was nauseating, as if the vaccine was saving lives and “you will probably die without it!” Didn’t people learn from this? Unfortunately there are many who still believe they were protected by a triple dose of big pharma, even though they still have side effects. And for those who did learn, why don’t they realize that this is the same hired media that is covering and promoting this propaganda to please whatever powers are paying them to do it?

What we need is smarter people. People who ask what is NOT being said. Who when they hear the same lines repeated, conclude that there is an agenda and that they are being played.

Why don’t they ask us here in Israel what is really happening? Maybe they are afraid to know the truth? Maybe it is easier to sit back and let the world take care of itself. And maybe they will still be in their comfortable recliners when all hell breaks loose for them as well.

“ The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ~~author unknown

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