On Thursday, February 3rd the hearing we were all waiting and praying for, of the State of Israel against Jack Teitel, did take place. The proceedings started at 9AM sharp which in itself was highly unusual. This past year, even though we always have to report to court at 9AM, there are usually a few cases being heard before us, and so the proceedings have always started an hour or so later. However, we were the only case being heard on Thursday, and it was a momentous day.
PSYCHIATRISTS' TESTIMONIES
Three psychiatrists were testifying for the prosecution, meaning, there were three court appointed professionals who, after assessing Jack Teitel's mental state for several months, came to the conclusion that he is mentally fit to stand trial. We arrived at court with three of our sons, Ami, Natan and Elad. When Jack Teitel was escorted into the courtroom, he looked around for his friends and/or family, none of whom had arrived. Only two friends arrived later, but his family was not present. When he saw Ami, he looked shocked and looked at him up and down as if he was seeing a wonder in front of his eyes. When the proceedings began, much to our surprise, the prosecution asked the judges to dismiss our family from the courtroom as we are also witnesses, and therefore,until we testify we cannot hear the testimony of other witnesses!! We didn't know that! The reasoning is that the testimony of others could affect our testimony, and influence our memories of the incident, and so could cause our testimonies to be considered null and void. And so for the rest of the day, we sat in the large room where the media congregates to interview defendants. Throughout the day our lawyer, Yossi, and friends who had come to support us, Moran Rosenblitt of Hope for Israel ministry, Chaim Goldberg from Maoz ministries, and Howard Bass, the Pastor of Nachalat Yeshua from Beersheva, came out to update us periodically on what was going on. They also sent us text messages from inside.
The first psychiatrist was sworn in, and he proceeded to give his testimony. Jack Teitel has two court appointed defence attorneys, and they are extremely experienced and very crafty. They had done their homework well, and they grilled the witnesses unrelentingly. They found every loophole in the Psychiatrist's reports, and every word that they said that wasn't mentioned in the report was used to try to raise reasonable doubt in the judges mind as to the validity of the their reports and findings. The first witness was grilled by the defence for five hours! The reason that the judges allowed it to go on for so long was because , as our lawyer explained, they have to deal with the sanity issue very carefully as if it isn't fully resolved and proven, it can be raised again at essential points in the trial. Also, because Teitel has fully confessed to all his indictments, and has done re-enactments, insanity is his only defence.
The judges seemed inclined, it appeared to our lawyer and friends, to believe the psychiatrists reports, even though the defence was trying to poke holes in the validity of their assessments. Everyone agreed that it was gruelling and even nerve racking to sit in the courtroom, but several very important facts came out during the psychiatrist's testimony. It was stated very clearly that Teitel talked about his working association with Yad L'Achim, the anti-Messianic organization that targets Messianic believers and congregations and harasses and persecutes them. This came out because the psychiatrists were proving that Teitel was capable of having normal working and personal relationships with other people. He is also married and has four children. It was also revealed that Teitel received orders from someone, but he didn't reveal from whom. This was in addition to and separate from his claim that he also received orders from God to carry out his crimes.
Unfortunately, the State Prosecutor acting for the State of Israel who has given this case, is in comparison, young, inexperienced and very nervous before the judges, but more on that later.
CONFRONTATION
Several notable things happened in the long hours we were there sitting outside the courtroom.
There were several recesses during the long hours, when Teitel was taken out of the courtroom and then returned, hands and feet shackled, and surrounded by guards. We were forewarned not to approach him or talk to him. When he would come out, we would go near to the door of the courtroom, and Ami would sit on a barrier which is used to keep the media separated from the prisoners, which is in itself pretty high. When he sat on it, his head nearly touched the ceiling, and from that perch and vantage point, he watched Teitel. Ami remained very calm, and took seeing Teitel for the first time in person very well. He said that he felt OK, and it didn't seem to throw him off his equilibrium to see his attacker.
At one point, David and I were being interviewed by Chaim and John his cameraman in the hallway about 10 feet from the door of the courtroom. You can see the actual location of where we were standing in this video blog that Chaim did on Thursday:
http://maozisraelblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/video-blog-from-jack-teitel-hearing.html
Suddenly, a recess was called, and Teitel and the guards came out, and proceeded to walk in our direction. I looked at him directly in his face, and for the first time he made eye contact with me. His eyes searched my face for my reaction to him. I just looked at him, and he saw no hate in my face, because I refuse to hate, even though my poor son has suffered and continues to suffer from his hatred and violence. He looked at David the same way, searching his face for a reaction. Then Chaim called out to him, "How did it feel to see Ami Ortiz in Court today?" Chaim said that Teitel turned around and looked at him with a demonic look that chilled him to the bone. He said he had never experienced anything like that stare before.
NEXT HEARING
By 4:30PM there was no reason for us to remain outside the court, and so we agreed with all that we should go home at that point. Our lawyer and Moran stayed until the hearing ended at 6:30 or 7PM! When court finally did adjourn, a new date was set for February 15th, 2011. We found out that Teitel had 13 psychiatrists that had been hired privately that had also tested his mental state and some of them will be testifying. Our lawyer brought up a good point. Who is paying for this? No one seems to know where the funding is coming from for the thorough and excellent defence that Teitel is receiving. It is enormously expensive to bring in that large number of psychiatrists, and this raises question marks as to the security service's insistence that he was a lone wolf acting completely solo.
On February 15thTeitel's mother and wife will also be testifying for the prosecution in order to disprove his lawyers claim that he has been insane all his life. We don't think the prosecution is using wisdom in this move, but again, something interesting happened as a result. On our way home, as David and I were discussing the hearing, and in particular the State's prosecutor, David said that he felt complete peace. He said that he received from the Lord that it didn't matter who the lawyers were, and if they were effective or non-effective, he had complete assurance and peace that it was all in the Lord's hands, and under His authority.
When we arrived home, our lawyer called us. He is an Orthodox Jew, and as we were talking, he told me, "You know, I'm a religious Jew, and I pray, and I believe that the Lord has given me several signs that He is looking at this trial, and it's under His control. I am not worried about the prosecutor." I told him that David felt the same way, exactly.
So what can we say? Again, Romans 8 is the word that applies
"if God is for us, who can be against us?" He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Messiah Yeshua who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
This is all the assurance that we need.
Thanks to all who have written to encourage us, and thank you for your prayers! This battle will be won on our knees.
In Him,
Leah
PSYCHIATRISTS' TESTIMONIES
Three psychiatrists were testifying for the prosecution, meaning, there were three court appointed professionals who, after assessing Jack Teitel's mental state for several months, came to the conclusion that he is mentally fit to stand trial. We arrived at court with three of our sons, Ami, Natan and Elad. When Jack Teitel was escorted into the courtroom, he looked around for his friends and/or family, none of whom had arrived. Only two friends arrived later, but his family was not present. When he saw Ami, he looked shocked and looked at him up and down as if he was seeing a wonder in front of his eyes. When the proceedings began, much to our surprise, the prosecution asked the judges to dismiss our family from the courtroom as we are also witnesses, and therefore,until we testify we cannot hear the testimony of other witnesses!! We didn't know that! The reasoning is that the testimony of others could affect our testimony, and influence our memories of the incident, and so could cause our testimonies to be considered null and void. And so for the rest of the day, we sat in the large room where the media congregates to interview defendants. Throughout the day our lawyer, Yossi, and friends who had come to support us, Moran Rosenblitt of Hope for Israel ministry, Chaim Goldberg from Maoz ministries, and Howard Bass, the Pastor of Nachalat Yeshua from Beersheva, came out to update us periodically on what was going on. They also sent us text messages from inside.
The first psychiatrist was sworn in, and he proceeded to give his testimony. Jack Teitel has two court appointed defence attorneys, and they are extremely experienced and very crafty. They had done their homework well, and they grilled the witnesses unrelentingly. They found every loophole in the Psychiatrist's reports, and every word that they said that wasn't mentioned in the report was used to try to raise reasonable doubt in the judges mind as to the validity of the their reports and findings. The first witness was grilled by the defence for five hours! The reason that the judges allowed it to go on for so long was because , as our lawyer explained, they have to deal with the sanity issue very carefully as if it isn't fully resolved and proven, it can be raised again at essential points in the trial. Also, because Teitel has fully confessed to all his indictments, and has done re-enactments, insanity is his only defence.
The judges seemed inclined, it appeared to our lawyer and friends, to believe the psychiatrists reports, even though the defence was trying to poke holes in the validity of their assessments. Everyone agreed that it was gruelling and even nerve racking to sit in the courtroom, but several very important facts came out during the psychiatrist's testimony. It was stated very clearly that Teitel talked about his working association with Yad L'Achim, the anti-Messianic organization that targets Messianic believers and congregations and harasses and persecutes them. This came out because the psychiatrists were proving that Teitel was capable of having normal working and personal relationships with other people. He is also married and has four children. It was also revealed that Teitel received orders from someone, but he didn't reveal from whom. This was in addition to and separate from his claim that he also received orders from God to carry out his crimes.
Unfortunately, the State Prosecutor acting for the State of Israel who has given this case, is in comparison, young, inexperienced and very nervous before the judges, but more on that later.
CONFRONTATION
Several notable things happened in the long hours we were there sitting outside the courtroom.
There were several recesses during the long hours, when Teitel was taken out of the courtroom and then returned, hands and feet shackled, and surrounded by guards. We were forewarned not to approach him or talk to him. When he would come out, we would go near to the door of the courtroom, and Ami would sit on a barrier which is used to keep the media separated from the prisoners, which is in itself pretty high. When he sat on it, his head nearly touched the ceiling, and from that perch and vantage point, he watched Teitel. Ami remained very calm, and took seeing Teitel for the first time in person very well. He said that he felt OK, and it didn't seem to throw him off his equilibrium to see his attacker.
At one point, David and I were being interviewed by Chaim and John his cameraman in the hallway about 10 feet from the door of the courtroom. You can see the actual location of where we were standing in this video blog that Chaim did on Thursday:
http://maozisraelblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/video-blog-from-jack-teitel-hearing.html
Suddenly, a recess was called, and Teitel and the guards came out, and proceeded to walk in our direction. I looked at him directly in his face, and for the first time he made eye contact with me. His eyes searched my face for my reaction to him. I just looked at him, and he saw no hate in my face, because I refuse to hate, even though my poor son has suffered and continues to suffer from his hatred and violence. He looked at David the same way, searching his face for a reaction. Then Chaim called out to him, "How did it feel to see Ami Ortiz in Court today?" Chaim said that Teitel turned around and looked at him with a demonic look that chilled him to the bone. He said he had never experienced anything like that stare before.
NEXT HEARING
By 4:30PM there was no reason for us to remain outside the court, and so we agreed with all that we should go home at that point. Our lawyer and Moran stayed until the hearing ended at 6:30 or 7PM! When court finally did adjourn, a new date was set for February 15th, 2011. We found out that Teitel had 13 psychiatrists that had been hired privately that had also tested his mental state and some of them will be testifying. Our lawyer brought up a good point. Who is paying for this? No one seems to know where the funding is coming from for the thorough and excellent defence that Teitel is receiving. It is enormously expensive to bring in that large number of psychiatrists, and this raises question marks as to the security service's insistence that he was a lone wolf acting completely solo.
On February 15thTeitel's mother and wife will also be testifying for the prosecution in order to disprove his lawyers claim that he has been insane all his life. We don't think the prosecution is using wisdom in this move, but again, something interesting happened as a result. On our way home, as David and I were discussing the hearing, and in particular the State's prosecutor, David said that he felt complete peace. He said that he received from the Lord that it didn't matter who the lawyers were, and if they were effective or non-effective, he had complete assurance and peace that it was all in the Lord's hands, and under His authority.
When we arrived home, our lawyer called us. He is an Orthodox Jew, and as we were talking, he told me, "You know, I'm a religious Jew, and I pray, and I believe that the Lord has given me several signs that He is looking at this trial, and it's under His control. I am not worried about the prosecutor." I told him that David felt the same way, exactly.
So what can we say? Again, Romans 8 is the word that applies
"if God is for us, who can be against us?" He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Messiah Yeshua who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
This is all the assurance that we need.
Thanks to all who have written to encourage us, and thank you for your prayers! This battle will be won on our knees.
In Him,
Leah