October 19, 2011

Yesterday, Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by the Hamas and held in captivity in Gaza since 2006 for five years and four months, came home. The number of Palestinian prisoners exchanged for him was 1,027. Many are terrorists who were involved in the most heinous terror attacks in Israel, such as the bombing of the Sbarro Pizzeria in 2001 in which 15 Israelis were killed, seven of whom were under the age of 18, and scores wounded. Many of the terrorists who were released had been given multiple life sentences, as they were responsible for many deaths. They have been released to Gaza, some to the West Bank, and others to foreign countries such as Turkey. There have been very mixed feelings over this in Israel, although 70-80% of Israelis were in favor of the swap. But the bottom line is, Gilad is alive, and he has to be brought home.

REACTION


However, in reaction to the release of the terrorists that wreaked such havoc in the lives of so many, and in the collective morale of Israel, certain Ministers in the Knesset, including Eli Yishai of the Ultra Orthodox Shas party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shas_Party) are petitioning the government to release Jewish terrorists that have murdered Arabs and are in jail for their crimes. On the list is Jack Teitel. We got a phone call from a well-known TV journalist in Israel who has a very popular radio talk show as well. In light of the petition that was going to be discussed in the Knesset, they wanted to hear Leah's comments on this proposal. However, we were advised by legal counsel not to be interviewed at this time as it wasn't in our interest to do so strategically. Just the thought that it would enter the minds of people who govern this country to make such a move is shocking. Jack Teitel is more than a terrorist, he's an assassin and serial killer who admitted in his confession that he worked for Yad L'Achim for five years. Anyone who did not agree with his religious viewpoints and how Israel should be run was his enemy. He tried to kill our family because we are Messianic Jews and murdered two Palestinians in cold blood. He laid bombs in various places, wounding his victims, and the full extents of his crimes are still not known, but the whole story is slowly being unravelled.

The fact that Michael Ben Ari (http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_ben_ari) and others like him refuse to condemn the actions of the Price Tag and the attack against us including the other attacks, violence and harassment against Messianic Jews is frightening. So we urge those of you who have contacts in Knesset, and with bodies of decision makers in Israel and in your own countries to write to them to condemn this proposal.

SERIOUS MATTER FOR PRAYER

Many believers have come to Ariel to visit, to volunteer, and to carry out projects here.. Many have been told that their projects and activities are welcome, on the condition of mainly two things. That they will not talk about Yeshua to anyone, that they will not have contact with the Messianic believers in Ariel and they will also not have contact with Messianic Congregations in Israel. In the College of Judea and Samaria which is the college in Ariel, before they're accepted to a program to learn Hebrew for a year, they are debriefed and are told that if they talk to people about Yeshua, or attend meetings of Messianic Jews especially the Messianic Congregation of David Ortiz, their visas will be revoked.

The person handling the applications to the program was a believer who today is converting to Rabbinical Judaism and of course that means denying Yeshua. There are many believers today who are converting to Judaism and are worshipping Israel, and not the God of Israel. The apostles had the same exact situation with the Sanhedrin who told them that they would let them go, and everything would be OK, but they were warned not to speak in that name (Yeshua). (Acts 4:13-22; Acts 5:40-41) Sad to say many believers have succumbed to the threats to the point of denying they have ever walked with Him, like Peter said when he denied Yeshua and denied having been a part of the company of His disciples, saying, "I do not know the Man". (Matthew 26:69-75) Many believers in Yeshua in this country are under siege. Pray that God would give us courage to break the siege, to go outside of the camp, to suffer the reproach and to identify with Him. (Hebrews 13:12-13)

DAVID SPEAKING AND AMI NEWS

"I've had many incidents where people have ignored me throughout the years here in Israel because of the name of Yeshua. Recently, I was in a public place where someone had to address me in order to get some information, for his own benefit. As soon as he saw that it was me, he refused to speak or address me, acknowledge me or even look my way, even when he was forced to speak to me. He let me know that as far as he was concerned, I am no one. As we continued to engage, I kept on monitoring the thoughts of my heart to make sure that my attitude and my reaction to him was right and pleasing to God, and I didn't give him the same treatment that he was giving me.

After he left I was suddenly struck with the presence of God and a spirit of rejoicing, that I was counted worthy to be reproached by this man. He didn't know me and I didn't know him personally, but he sat in judgment of me. However, when the Holy Spirit hit me that way, I had total awareness that honor and approval from God was what counted. I continued throughout the week with a deep sense of rejoicing from that incident. As my wife once said, the antidote to the fear of man, is the fear of God. Sometimes we lick our wounds and tell ourselves, "That's Ok, the way that person treated me, it's nothing, I'll recover." There was nothing of that - the Holy Spirit just hit me hard with the reality that if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31, 1Peter 4:12-14)

(Leah) Ami has been in the U.S. since September with good friends of ours who are leaders in the congregation that we are connected with there. Ami has been working doing maintenance in the building, and he was able to take the ACT exam for college matriculation. When he got the results, he had a very good composite score! We were so overjoyed and relieved! Ami speaks English fluently but all of his 12 years of studies have been in Hebrew which is his mother tongue. He and I studied for several months from study materials that were provided for us by a miracle! He also was privately tutored in Math to get ready for the test, and still, when he took it he felt very shaky about what the results would be. He couldn't stop thanking God when he got them! He's now applying to several colleges, and is also going to visit some and try out for their basket ball teams. He is trusting the Lord to put him in the place where He wants him to be, but we are thankful for all the blessings he has experienced while in NY.

One blessing has been the home that he's been staying in, with a family who loves him like a son, and who are extending royal, red carpet hospitality! They are caring for him and helping him every step of the way in the college application process and in every other way, even though they themselves are inundated with their own ministry and family responsibilities and challenges. Another blessing has been a brother who is a professional personal trainer, and who was in the past a trainer of basketball players. He has been working with Ami once a week without accepting payment, and is even driving him to some of the schools that Ami is applying to, for visits. Another blessing has been a brother who is a Ph.D. in Music who teaches piano to Ami's hosts' children, and who offered to give Ami a free half hour piano lesson every week as well while he's there. This plus all the brothers who have reached out to Ami from the spiritual community, taking time to take him out to various activities on the weekends, and helping in whatever way they can. Blessing after blessing has indeed been poured out, and we are grateful beyond words.

Thank you for your prayers for Israel, the believers in Israel, and our family.

In Yeshua,

Leah

1 comment