Publication: CBN News
Type: Online
Date: November 21, 2009
Country: Israel
Title: Israeli Bombing Victim Forgives Attacker
Section: Inside Israel
Reporter: Chris Mitchell, CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief
Article: link
Video: link
Type: Online
Date: November 21, 2009
Country: Israel
Title: Israeli Bombing Victim Forgives Attacker
Section: Inside Israel
Reporter: Chris Mitchell, CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief
Article: link
Video: link
ARIEL, Israel - The surveillance video showed Jack Teitel leaving a bomb disguised as a Purim package in March of 2008. The bomb exploded in the face of then 15-year-old Ami Ortiz, nearly killing him.
Miraculously, Ortiz has recovered from nearly all of his wounds and now plays basketball for his high school. CBN News talked to Ortiz about his reaction to the long-awaited arrest of the man who tried to kill him.
"Relief, of course to hear that somebody that tried to murder you and your family is in jail," he said.
Despite the Ortiz attack and other crimes, Teitel told reporters he was proud and his goal was to wipe out Messianic Jews in israel.
"You are completely pure in what you did?," a reporter asked him.
"Absolutely," Teitel responded. "It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve my God."
Ortiz hopes Teitel has a change of heart.
"I'm praying and hoping that in this time in jail he'll think about it and understand and realize he's done some pretty serious mistakes and he needs to repent," he explained.
Ortiz says he has forgiven his attacker.
"From the beginning there was no hate for nobody,'" he said. "I thought maybe there would be a chance I'd change once I saw a face. But thank God, no, nothing's changed."
The one change is exposure. The bombing spread news about Jews believing in Jesus throughout Israel and the world. It also led to a groundswell of support and prayer for the Ortiz family.
" amazing how much support we got, the prayers," Ortiz said. "I believe it worked tremendously in this whole story."
The bombing nearly broke Ortiz's body, but he says it's also built his faith.
"I've seen many miracles on my own body," he said. "I've felt it. You see how awesome God is. He controls everything, every little thing. I understand why people say God is so great. Because he can control everything. No problem."
"I've heard that people said that it brought them closer to God and brought the congregation closer to each other and it's not over yet," Ortiz continued. "I believe God's still working and will work and do greater stuff. So we have to wait and see."
Miraculously, Ortiz has recovered from nearly all of his wounds and now plays basketball for his high school. CBN News talked to Ortiz about his reaction to the long-awaited arrest of the man who tried to kill him.
"Relief, of course to hear that somebody that tried to murder you and your family is in jail," he said.
Despite the Ortiz attack and other crimes, Teitel told reporters he was proud and his goal was to wipe out Messianic Jews in israel.
"You are completely pure in what you did?," a reporter asked him.
"Absolutely," Teitel responded. "It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve my God."
Ortiz hopes Teitel has a change of heart.
"I'm praying and hoping that in this time in jail he'll think about it and understand and realize he's done some pretty serious mistakes and he needs to repent," he explained.
Ortiz says he has forgiven his attacker.
"From the beginning there was no hate for nobody,'" he said. "I thought maybe there would be a chance I'd change once I saw a face. But thank God, no, nothing's changed."
The one change is exposure. The bombing spread news about Jews believing in Jesus throughout Israel and the world. It also led to a groundswell of support and prayer for the Ortiz family.
" amazing how much support we got, the prayers," Ortiz said. "I believe it worked tremendously in this whole story."
The bombing nearly broke Ortiz's body, but he says it's also built his faith.
"I've seen many miracles on my own body," he said. "I've felt it. You see how awesome God is. He controls everything, every little thing. I understand why people say God is so great. Because he can control everything. No problem."
"I've heard that people said that it brought them closer to God and brought the congregation closer to each other and it's not over yet," Ortiz continued. "I believe God's still working and will work and do greater stuff. So we have to wait and see."