"And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews." John 7:12-13
It is amazing how relevant the Bible is and how human nature never changes. The above verse exactly describes the division that has come to light after the airing of the program on Channel 2 Israeli TV called “Fact”. The story was ½ hour long and very moving. They covered the story of the incident with much sensitivity bringing forth the following points.
1) It was a terror attack carried out by a radical, Jewish group or organization;
2) The police are not arresting suspects, and haven’t even interrogated one suspect for unknown reasons, and this means that our family and the whole community of Messianic Jews are still in danger;
3) There are anti-missionaries that say that we are nice people, but like the verse above, we are like snakes that slip under the door, into homes, and we deceive people, stealing the souls of Jews;
And 4) Ami is a total over comer, has forgiven his attackers and is pressing forward to return to a full and normal life. Our family has also forgiven, and we have no desire for revenge. Justice yes, revenge no.
RESULTS
From the moment that the story was over, our phone began ringing off the hook. Israeli’s from all over the country, from the north to the south, began to call. The message from everyone was the same - They all said that the story was shocking and heart wrenching, and that it was shameful that such a thing happened in the land of Israel. They all said that they supported us, and that they send us hugs and kisses to our family. They said that Ami was adorable and sweet, and they are so sorry that this happened to him. They all said- “send Ami warm hugs, and that he should go forward in life and only succeed in whatever he wants to do in life.” One man called from the Tel Aviv area was in tears, he said he couldn’t stop crying.
The telephone did not stop ringing for two days. Even a Hasidic Jewish man called us at around midnight one night, and said, “I am a Hasidic Jew, but I don’t agree with what these people did to your son. Then he said - “I see that Messianic Jews like to contribute - we have many needy families in our community, maybe you’d like to contribute to them?” We told him that we are regular contributors to another organization that helps needy families and children with illnesses, but we’d take his telephone number in case someone else wanted to help them!
David was with Ami in Petach Tikva, around 20 minutes drive from Ariel the day after the airing of the program. They had errands to run, and afterwards were eating falafel. A man with a kippa recognized them from the TV, came up to Ami and exclaimed “You are a hero! Keep overcoming, never give up!” David took our car for an oil change and when the people in the car garage saw him, he said it was like a storm broke out! The Israeli’s there expressed anger over what had happened, over the opinion of the anti-missionaries, and really tried to encourage him. People continue to stop us wherever we go, in Ariel and outside of Ariel, to offer their support and love. Tonight we went out to dinner in Tel Aviv and a woman came over to us and said, “Excuse me for having the nerve to do this, (and she looked Ami in the eye), but I am so ashamed that this happened to you in our nation, and I pray that you will only succeed in life. I saw you, and I remembered you from the program - I will never forget your face. You are so sweet………
The point of the program was to raise public awareness about this horrible crime that was committed, and to place pressure on the authorities to bring the criminals to justice. The talk backs on the internet where the story can be seen until next Monday, have been split down the middle - On one side, the opinion of the anti-missionaries who disdain the Name of Yeshua, on the other side, support for our family and community and the opinion that we are living in a democratic nation with freedom of religion.
God wiling, the story will have English subtitles added to it soon, and will be uploaded onto YouTube. We’ll keep you informed.
AMI NEWS
Doctor’s appointments have begun with a flurry again. We were at the rehab hospital this week, and the occupational therapist was there with a specialist in hand therapy, and they determined that Ami doesn’t need any more occupational therapy. We will God willing have our meeting with the hand surgeons soon. Please continue to pray for full restoration of his left hand. We have to also see a burn specialist who will be able to tell us if Ami still has to wear the pants of the pressure suit, but that won’t be until May. Please pray for miraculous healing of his scars. There are many large scars from the skin grafts that in the natural can only be covered over by radical plastic surgery. But our God is a mighty God, and Yeshua is Mighty to heal - Let’s pray for continuous healing.
Ami has begun to express more freely what the Lord has done in his life through this experience and we are grateful for that - so many of you have prayed in this direction.
IRON SHARPENING IRON
We received a very special email that I would like to share with you - as I read it my heart was pierced by the truth that we have to wait in patience until that which the Lord is doing is complete. This verse came to mind -
Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
This person responded to my last update:
What came to mind is related to building a house. I have been blessed to see my brother’s house being built in the various stages and to be part of various stages of construction as a helper with friends. Initially as the house goes up there is preparation and then time usually in waiting for the foundation to set. Once the framing happens things seem to move along relatively quickly. The contractor is generally focused and things happen in relative good order. Then almost always in my experience I have noticed the following. About the time the job seems complete, the finish work begins to happen: tile work, cabinetry, finish carpentry painting, and then the walk through, and punch list of things that have to be complete. The energy I’ve experience in these closing moments of construction are at best slow - actually almost painfully slow. It seems like the house, addition, whatever it is, will never be finished as the list of minor details, which makes the house complete seems endless.
This is the sense I get of where Ami is at. He has had a very long haul to get to where he is. The doctors are saying in effect, on the punch list of things that we can do for you is an upgrade to where you’re at now, but before we complete the work we have to “deconstruct” this part of your house in order to make it that much better. All Ami wants to do is move in already.
I agree with you - the question was a very good one: “What do you want?” While it is painful to consider, and truly I cannot fully appreciate how painful or frustrating this is for Ami - it is my prayer, if that counts at all, that YHWH bring him the strength to breathe in deeply and know that in the scheme of things - any minor sacrifice of time now can bring him greater dividends and joy later. I have no place to do so, but I encourage Ami, you, David, your family - and BELIEVE with a full heart that Ami is fully healed already.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. We are blessed to be able to fellowship with you via email. It has been one of the unexpected joys in the midst of this event. May the Lord Yeshua receive all the glory.
Love in Messiah,
Leah
It is amazing how relevant the Bible is and how human nature never changes. The above verse exactly describes the division that has come to light after the airing of the program on Channel 2 Israeli TV called “Fact”. The story was ½ hour long and very moving. They covered the story of the incident with much sensitivity bringing forth the following points.
1) It was a terror attack carried out by a radical, Jewish group or organization;
2) The police are not arresting suspects, and haven’t even interrogated one suspect for unknown reasons, and this means that our family and the whole community of Messianic Jews are still in danger;
3) There are anti-missionaries that say that we are nice people, but like the verse above, we are like snakes that slip under the door, into homes, and we deceive people, stealing the souls of Jews;
And 4) Ami is a total over comer, has forgiven his attackers and is pressing forward to return to a full and normal life. Our family has also forgiven, and we have no desire for revenge. Justice yes, revenge no.
RESULTS
From the moment that the story was over, our phone began ringing off the hook. Israeli’s from all over the country, from the north to the south, began to call. The message from everyone was the same - They all said that the story was shocking and heart wrenching, and that it was shameful that such a thing happened in the land of Israel. They all said that they supported us, and that they send us hugs and kisses to our family. They said that Ami was adorable and sweet, and they are so sorry that this happened to him. They all said- “send Ami warm hugs, and that he should go forward in life and only succeed in whatever he wants to do in life.” One man called from the Tel Aviv area was in tears, he said he couldn’t stop crying.
The telephone did not stop ringing for two days. Even a Hasidic Jewish man called us at around midnight one night, and said, “I am a Hasidic Jew, but I don’t agree with what these people did to your son. Then he said - “I see that Messianic Jews like to contribute - we have many needy families in our community, maybe you’d like to contribute to them?” We told him that we are regular contributors to another organization that helps needy families and children with illnesses, but we’d take his telephone number in case someone else wanted to help them!
David was with Ami in Petach Tikva, around 20 minutes drive from Ariel the day after the airing of the program. They had errands to run, and afterwards were eating falafel. A man with a kippa recognized them from the TV, came up to Ami and exclaimed “You are a hero! Keep overcoming, never give up!” David took our car for an oil change and when the people in the car garage saw him, he said it was like a storm broke out! The Israeli’s there expressed anger over what had happened, over the opinion of the anti-missionaries, and really tried to encourage him. People continue to stop us wherever we go, in Ariel and outside of Ariel, to offer their support and love. Tonight we went out to dinner in Tel Aviv and a woman came over to us and said, “Excuse me for having the nerve to do this, (and she looked Ami in the eye), but I am so ashamed that this happened to you in our nation, and I pray that you will only succeed in life. I saw you, and I remembered you from the program - I will never forget your face. You are so sweet………
The point of the program was to raise public awareness about this horrible crime that was committed, and to place pressure on the authorities to bring the criminals to justice. The talk backs on the internet where the story can be seen until next Monday, have been split down the middle - On one side, the opinion of the anti-missionaries who disdain the Name of Yeshua, on the other side, support for our family and community and the opinion that we are living in a democratic nation with freedom of religion.
God wiling, the story will have English subtitles added to it soon, and will be uploaded onto YouTube. We’ll keep you informed.
AMI NEWS
Doctor’s appointments have begun with a flurry again. We were at the rehab hospital this week, and the occupational therapist was there with a specialist in hand therapy, and they determined that Ami doesn’t need any more occupational therapy. We will God willing have our meeting with the hand surgeons soon. Please continue to pray for full restoration of his left hand. We have to also see a burn specialist who will be able to tell us if Ami still has to wear the pants of the pressure suit, but that won’t be until May. Please pray for miraculous healing of his scars. There are many large scars from the skin grafts that in the natural can only be covered over by radical plastic surgery. But our God is a mighty God, and Yeshua is Mighty to heal - Let’s pray for continuous healing.
Ami has begun to express more freely what the Lord has done in his life through this experience and we are grateful for that - so many of you have prayed in this direction.
IRON SHARPENING IRON
We received a very special email that I would like to share with you - as I read it my heart was pierced by the truth that we have to wait in patience until that which the Lord is doing is complete. This verse came to mind -
Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
This person responded to my last update:
What came to mind is related to building a house. I have been blessed to see my brother’s house being built in the various stages and to be part of various stages of construction as a helper with friends. Initially as the house goes up there is preparation and then time usually in waiting for the foundation to set. Once the framing happens things seem to move along relatively quickly. The contractor is generally focused and things happen in relative good order. Then almost always in my experience I have noticed the following. About the time the job seems complete, the finish work begins to happen: tile work, cabinetry, finish carpentry painting, and then the walk through, and punch list of things that have to be complete. The energy I’ve experience in these closing moments of construction are at best slow - actually almost painfully slow. It seems like the house, addition, whatever it is, will never be finished as the list of minor details, which makes the house complete seems endless.
This is the sense I get of where Ami is at. He has had a very long haul to get to where he is. The doctors are saying in effect, on the punch list of things that we can do for you is an upgrade to where you’re at now, but before we complete the work we have to “deconstruct” this part of your house in order to make it that much better. All Ami wants to do is move in already.
I agree with you - the question was a very good one: “What do you want?” While it is painful to consider, and truly I cannot fully appreciate how painful or frustrating this is for Ami - it is my prayer, if that counts at all, that YHWH bring him the strength to breathe in deeply and know that in the scheme of things - any minor sacrifice of time now can bring him greater dividends and joy later. I have no place to do so, but I encourage Ami, you, David, your family - and BELIEVE with a full heart that Ami is fully healed already.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. We are blessed to be able to fellowship with you via email. It has been one of the unexpected joys in the midst of this event. May the Lord Yeshua receive all the glory.
Love in Messiah,
Leah