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Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
Showing posts with label Maoz Israel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maoz Israel. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Maoz Israel Report January 2018 - Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Maoz Israel - Watch Shira's recent interview on UK's Revelation TV - Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram
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Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Everything you need to know about Jerusalem - Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram MAOZ ISRAEL
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JERUSALEM!
Monthly Report: July 2017
Tammuz - Av 5777
Tammuz - Av 5777
A rare photo of Israel's 1968 Independence Day parade—the first Independence Day of a United Jerusalem after Israel recaptured its ancient capital in the 1967 Six-Day War.
By Ron Cantor
If you turned on the news in the past few months, no doubt you heard more than a little about Jerusalem. In fact, the Old City of Jerusalem is the most controversial city in the world and it's hardly bigger than a large shopping mall.
Jerusalem is "a city that had been fought over countless times in its history. During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times." (en.wikipedia.org)
This is an ancient conflict that goes back a lot further than 50 years, although many believe that its troubles began only when Israel recaptured its 3,000-year-old capital in 1967. King David prophesied of a time when the whole world would be fighting over Zion.
"Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed." (Ps. 2:1-2)
The word in Hebrew for 'anointed' is Mashiach, or Messiah. Who are these kings of the earth who stand against God's Messiah and what are they up in arms about? Let's keep reading. In anger the Lord says:
"I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain." (Ps. 2:6)
They are fighting over control of Mount Zion, or Jerusalem. Who can forget just a few months ago that the United Nations' (i.e. "the kings of the earth") UNESCO voted, against all intellectual honesty, for a resolution concerning Jerusalem (or God's holy mountain), stating, "there is no connection between the Jewish people and the Western Wall." Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat responded, "In fact, it is the UNESCO vote that has no connection to reality."
Instead the UNESCO document referred to the Temple Mount only in Arabic as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, meaning the Islamic Noble Sanctuary. It called the Western Wall Plaza or the Buraq Plaza, again denying the Jewish connection.
Now the Truth about Jerusalem:
ANCIENT JERUSALEM
The Bible, backed up by archeological evidence, tells us that King David established Jerusalem, a Jebusite stronghold, as the capital of Israel in 1003 BCE or so. David moved his capital from Hebron, in Judah, to Jerusalem for several reasons.
By moving the capital from the center of Judah to the border with Benjamin, he united the Tribes of Israel. The City of David led up to Mount Moriah, where the Temple would be built. Jerusalem sits on top of the Gihon Springs, which would give them an endless supply of water.
Jerusalem was a near impenetrable walled city. David was only able to conquer it himself because Joab used the water tunnel to gain access.
However, in 586 BCE Jerusalem was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar and then again in 70 CE by Titus of Rome who burned the city to the ground. Emperor Hadrian visited her ruins in 130 CE and decided to rebuild the city to Jupiter, calling it Aelia Capitolina. The Jews revolted and were conquered. Hadrian expelled all Jews and Christians from the city. It is likely these "Christians" were Messianic Jews, as by this time they had been purged out of the synagogue and had their own Messianic Synagogues. All of the leaders of Jerusalem's Messianic community after James the brother of Yeshua were Jews—until Hadrian's expulsion.
The Bible, backed up by archeological evidence, tells us that King David established Jerusalem, a Jebusite stronghold, as the capital of Israel in 1003 BCE or so. David moved his capital from Hebron, in Judah, to Jerusalem for several reasons.
By moving the capital from the center of Judah to the border with Benjamin, he united the Tribes of Israel. The City of David led up to Mount Moriah, where the Temple would be built. Jerusalem sits on top of the Gihon Springs, which would give them an endless supply of water.
Jerusalem was a near impenetrable walled city. David was only able to conquer it himself because Joab used the water tunnel to gain access.
However, in 586 BCE Jerusalem was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar and then again in 70 CE by Titus of Rome who burned the city to the ground. Emperor Hadrian visited her ruins in 130 CE and decided to rebuild the city to Jupiter, calling it Aelia Capitolina. The Jews revolted and were conquered. Hadrian expelled all Jews and Christians from the city. It is likely these "Christians" were Messianic Jews, as by this time they had been purged out of the synagogue and had their own Messianic Synagogues. All of the leaders of Jerusalem's Messianic community after James the brother of Yeshua were Jews—until Hadrian's expulsion.
MODERN JERUSALEM
The Jews wandered the earth for 1,900 years. Never in history has an ethnic people been separated from their homeland for more than a couple of generations before they ceased to be. That is the point of exile—to destroy a race of people.
But by the grace of God the Jewish people survived the prophesied exile and they returned to their own land just as the Hebrew prophets said they would.
"I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the Lord your God. (Amos 9:15)
"And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (Is. 11:12)
"Hear the word of the Lord, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: 'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'" (Jeremiah 31:10)
AGAINST ALL ODDS
After dozens of attempted genocides and expulsions, against all odds, the Jews came forth out of the ashes of the Holocaust to rebuild their ancient homeland. But despite gaining statehood, Jordan seized the Old City of Jerusalem, deporting all Jews and then sought to destroy every historical connection to Israel, including the Great Hurva Synagogue in the Old City.
In 1948, when Jordan took control of the eastern part of Jerusalem, including the Old City, it divided the city for the first time in its 3,000-year history. Jordan destroyed more than 50 synagogues, and erased all evidence of a Jewish presence. In addition, all Jews were forced out of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City adjacent to the Western Wall, an area where Jews had lived for generations. No one has ever cared about the Jews who were forced from their homes in 1948.
However, in 1967, the Arab countries decided that 19 years of Jewish humiliation was enough. It was time to destroy Israel once and for all. Nasser of Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal—itself, an act of war, as it would close the canal to Israel's shipping and cripple her economy. Next he expelled the UN peacekeeping force meant to maintain peace between Egypt and Israel in the Sinai desert. Next, he put his troops on the Egyptian-Israeli border.
Then, along with his neighbors, in line with Arab culture, the hyperbolic quotes began.
"The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel ... to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation. This act will astound the world. Today they will know that the Arabs are arranged for battle; the critical hour has arrived. We have reached the stage of serious action and not of more declarations."—President Gamal Abdel Nasser's speech on May 31, 1967, days before the Six-Day War.
OVER, BEFORE IT STARTED
On June 5th, early in the morning Israel attacked first—her only hope of escaping annihilation was a preemptive strike. Nearly Egypt's entire air force was destroyed. Israel achieved air superiority. Israel declared a news blackout for 24 hours. She didn't want the anti-Israel United Nations to realize she was winning.
As expected, Egypt began to tell tall tales of her victory.
"The Egyptian commander Marshal Amer sent a message to Jordan's King Hussein, reporting that 75 percent of Israel's planes had been shot down or disabled, and urging Hussein to open a second front."
Nasser convinced Jordan that the radar images of planes coming to Egypt, were Egyptian planes returning from their missions, when in fact, they were the Israeli planes bombing Egypt.
Israel sent the King of Jordan this message through the United Nations: "If you don't intervene, you will suffer no consequences." The King responded arrogantly (and regretfully, I might add), "They started the battle—well, they are receiving our reply by air."
The Israelis were concerned the U.N. would call for a ceasefire—but now that the Jordanians had chosen to fight, they had to retake the ancient Old City first.
Israel actually had no operational plan to take the Old City from the Jordanian army. This would be a dreaded "second front." The only relevant concrete plan was to rescue a group of Israeli soldiers permanently stationed with a UN agreement in an enclave on Mount Scopus (an extension of the Mount of Olives) where the Hebrew University and Hadassah Hospital had once been.
To reach the Israelis, the IDF circled around north of Jerusalem and engaged the Jordanians in a costly four-hour hand-to-hand battle at what became known as Ammunition Hill. When the IDF broke through, they were amazed to find almost no Jordanian military on the east side of the Old City, since Jordanian generals never dreamed they would see Israelis coming around the "back side" and conquering Jerusalem through the Lion's Gate opposite the Mount of Olives!
A West Point general is said to have remarked that though the U.S. Military Academy studies wars fought throughout history, they do not study the Six-Day War—because what concerns West Point is strategy and tactics, not miracles.
CBN just released a movie called "In our Hands, The Battle for Jerusalem" that retells this historic clash.
Colonel Motta Gur's famous statement was etched in history as he radioed his commanders: "The Temple Mount is in our hands. The Temple Mount is in our hands."
The Israeli soldiers could not believe they were back in the Old City. One soldier said:
"I'm walking right now down the steps towards the Western Wall. I'm not a religious man, I never have been, but this is the Western Wall and I'm touching the stones of the Western Wall."
Israel's chief military rabbi came into the city to thank God with the troops:
"I am speaking to you from the plaza of the Western Wall, the remnant of our Holy Temple. 'Comfort my people, comfort them, says the Lord your God.' This is the day we have hoped for, let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation. The vision of all generations is being realized before our eyes: The city of God, the site of the Temple, the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, the symbol of the nation's redemption, have been redeemed today by you, heroes of the Israel Defense Forces. By doing so you have fulfilled the oath of generations, 'If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its cunning.' Indeed, we have not forgotten you, Jerusalem, our holy city, our glory. In the name of the entire Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora, I hereby recite with supreme joy, 'Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us in life, who has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this day. This year in Jerusalem—rebuilt!'"
In short, had Jordan not attacked Israel, Jerusalem would most likely still be in Jordan. Israel has an ancient claim to Jerusalem and the entire West Bank, and a modern need for security. Furthermore, for those who believe in Bible prophecy, her recovery to Jewish hands brings us ever closer to the return of our Messiah. It is hard to believe that God restored Jerusalem to Israel, only for it to be turned over to terrorists.
Ron Cantor is founder of Messiah's Mandate and elder of Congregation Tiferet Yeshua in Tel Aviv. Find out more about Ron Cantor's books and testimony at RonCantor.com.
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A BAR MITZVAH AT TIFERET YESHUA CONGREGATION
"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house." (Deut. 6:7)
By Moti Cohen
One of the most effective ways to spread the Gospel is hosting events at the congregation where friends and family members of believers are invited to witness special occasions.
In Israel, and at Tiferet Yeshua congregation in Tel Aviv, many of us are the only believers in our families. Some might have another relative or two that believes, but that's pretty much it.
That's why, while planning a Bar Mitzvah celebration, we also pray that God would open a door to the hearts of all the relatives who come to the event. As in many cases, this gives us a rare opportunity to proclaim the gospel to people who've never before been to a Messianic Jewish congregation. So, during the week of the Bar Mitzvah, we also took the time to pray for the families.
At least ten unbelievers, together with the families who came to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah, came to the event. After the two boys who celebrated their Bar Mitzvah read from the Torah, and after the sermon was over, the parents of one of the kids who celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, came to me. God answered our prayers, and this father, who had seen the love that the congregation has for his family, said he's willing to learn about the meaning of being baptized in the name of Yeshua, and to take this act of faith and become a believer. His wife has been continually praying for him for fifteen years! That prayer has finally been fulfilled!
The meaning of the phrase 'Bar Mitzvah' is—the son of the Mitzvah (commandment). In Judaism, the age of 13 is the age where a child becomes an adolescent, where he starts to take responsibility for his actions. Physiologically and intellectually speaking, a young boy at this age can finally understand the depth of the consequences of his actions. It's important for us to teach these kids that they need to come to the congregation out of their own faith in God and in Messiah Yeshua, and not for the sake of pleasing their parents or friends.
In the Bar Mitzvah lessons, we study the many prophecies we have of the Messiah in the Bible. We talk about the importance of all the covenants God had with our father Abraham, Moses, and, of course, about the importance of the New Covenant. In addition, every week we have a Torah Portion, which is a segment from the Bible that we read from the scrolls. The Son of Mitzvah must know how to read his entire Torah Portion, which is very hard, as the traditional scrolls are rolled up and written on parchment. They don't have any punctuation to the words, no commas or periods, and that's why the Sons of Mitzvah must practice, often for months, reading their portion.
In addition, the Son of Mitzvah prepares a small written sermon regarding his Torah Portion and he must read it in front of the entire congregation.
The meaning of the phrase 'Bar Mitzvah' is—the son of the Mitzvah (commandment). In Judaism, the age of 13 is the age where a child becomes an adolescent, where he starts to take responsibility for his actions. Physiologically and intellectually speaking, a young boy at this age can finally understand the depth of the consequences of his actions. It's important for us to teach these kids that they need to come to the congregation out of their own faith in God and in Messiah Yeshua, and not for the sake of pleasing their parents or friends.
In the Bar Mitzvah lessons, we study the many prophecies we have of the Messiah in the Bible. We talk about the importance of all the covenants God had with our father Abraham, Moses, and, of course, about the importance of the New Covenant. In addition, every week we have a Torah Portion, which is a segment from the Bible that we read from the scrolls. The Son of Mitzvah must know how to read his entire Torah Portion, which is very hard, as the traditional scrolls are rolled up and written on parchment. They don't have any punctuation to the words, no commas or periods, and that's why the Sons of Mitzvah must practice, often for months, reading their portion.
In addition, the Son of Mitzvah prepares a small written sermon regarding his Torah Portion and he must read it in front of the entire congregation.
Every time it amazes me to see how our kids grow up so fast. Kids who, "just a minute ago" were so small, are now becoming mature boys. We, as a congregation, have a spiritual responsibility to teach our boys and girls about the Kingdom of God. To instill in them values and encourage them in their faith in Messiah Yeshua. We know that one of the reasons God chose our father Abraham was because he knew how to bequeath his faith in God to his family:
"For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." (Genesis 18:19)
Friends, we want you to co-labor with us in prayer for our nation, Israel. We also invite you to keep the families and newcomers in our congregation in prayer. Some of them are very close to surrendering to the Lord. Also, remember our children at the congregation, as well. Many leaders around the country are witnessing a new powerful wave of God's Spirit in Israel's young generation.
Moti Cohen is an elder at Congregation Tiferet Yeshua (The Glory of Yeshua). He and his wife Anna have four children. TiferetYeshua.org.
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TEXAS STANDS WITH ISRAEL
By Ted Vanlandeghem
On Thursday, February 9th, 2017, a unique event occurred with profound spiritual implications. At the State Capitol building in Austin, Texas, an event called "The Texas Stand with Israel/Citizens Advocacy Day" was held. The event was organized by Texas State Representative Phil King (R) from Weatherford, Texas. This event was the first ever of its kind to be held in Texas.
The purpose for this historic gathering was to garner support for a new bill being introduced in the Texas State Legislature. The bill, House Bill 89, and its companion Bill in the Texas State Senate, SB 134, were designed to defeat the economic warfare being waged against Israel through a movement called BDS, which means Boycott, Divest and Sanction.
Israel's enemies devised this new form of unconventional warfare in their never-ending desire to find new ways to combat Israel's very existence. In fact, Pro-BDS author John Spritzler says, "I think the BDS movement will gain strength from forthrightly explaining why Israel has no right to exist." (goo.gl/cmeYKH)
The co-founder of the BDS movement, Omar Barghouti, said, "We oppose a Jewish State in any part of Palestine." The heart of the BDS movement is to wage warfare on Israel and her right to exist in her ancient homeland!
The BDS movement has gained steam and notoriety around the world with numerous universities, governments, labor unions and businesses now participating. In fact, even some Christian denominations have come onboard with the BDS movement!
"For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." (Genesis 18:19)
Friends, we want you to co-labor with us in prayer for our nation, Israel. We also invite you to keep the families and newcomers in our congregation in prayer. Some of them are very close to surrendering to the Lord. Also, remember our children at the congregation, as well. Many leaders around the country are witnessing a new powerful wave of God's Spirit in Israel's young generation.
Moti Cohen is an elder at Congregation Tiferet Yeshua (The Glory of Yeshua). He and his wife Anna have four children. TiferetYeshua.org.
Back to Top
TEXAS STANDS WITH ISRAEL
By Ted Vanlandeghem
On Thursday, February 9th, 2017, a unique event occurred with profound spiritual implications. At the State Capitol building in Austin, Texas, an event called "The Texas Stand with Israel/Citizens Advocacy Day" was held. The event was organized by Texas State Representative Phil King (R) from Weatherford, Texas. This event was the first ever of its kind to be held in Texas.
The purpose for this historic gathering was to garner support for a new bill being introduced in the Texas State Legislature. The bill, House Bill 89, and its companion Bill in the Texas State Senate, SB 134, were designed to defeat the economic warfare being waged against Israel through a movement called BDS, which means Boycott, Divest and Sanction.
Israel's enemies devised this new form of unconventional warfare in their never-ending desire to find new ways to combat Israel's very existence. In fact, Pro-BDS author John Spritzler says, "I think the BDS movement will gain strength from forthrightly explaining why Israel has no right to exist." (goo.gl/cmeYKH)
The co-founder of the BDS movement, Omar Barghouti, said, "We oppose a Jewish State in any part of Palestine." The heart of the BDS movement is to wage warfare on Israel and her right to exist in her ancient homeland!
The BDS movement has gained steam and notoriety around the world with numerous universities, governments, labor unions and businesses now participating. In fact, even some Christian denominations have come onboard with the BDS movement!
TEXAS WAGES WAR AGAINST BDS
This is where HB 89 & SB 134 come in. Texas Representative King and Senator Brandon Creighton (R) saw this new form of warfare being waged on the economy of Israel and felt that something had to be done!
Contained in these bills is a legally binding commitment by the State of Texas to prohibit the State from investing public funds in any group that wages economic warfare on Israel. What does this mean? Texas, now the 10th largest economy in the world, with a $1.6 trillion dollar a year GDP, will use its growing economic might to STAND WITH ISRAEL!
Texas is now Israel's 4th largest trading partner, conducting over half a billion dollars in bi-lateral trade annually. Since 1996 Texas has done over $13 billion in trade with the State of Israel. In fact, nearly 300 companies in the state of Texas do business with Israel.
10-YEAR DROUGHT BREAKS
In May of 2015 Texas representatives came together and began planning these bills to Stand with Israel. In that same month, heavy rainfalls began to fall on the State of Texas. Over the ensuing months, 17 trillion gallons of rain came down on the State of Texas—thus ending a 10-year devastating drought!
Of course, some may say this is mere coincidence. I say it is God keeping His promises! Genesis 12:3 states, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed!"
Texas has not only enjoyed record breaking rainfall but Texas' oil boom produced one half of all job growth in the US since 2009 and added over $600 billion to the overall US economy. In its growing relationship with Israel, Texas A&M University announced in late December 2015 its plans to bless Israel by opening a $6 million marine research center in partnership with the University of Haifa.
MUSLIMS FIGHT PENDING BILL
All of this support for Israel has not gone without opposition. One week before our group of 500 supporters converged on the State Capitol, over 1,000 Muslims came to the Capitol in Austin and campaigned one-on-one with all of the State Legislators, urging them vigorously to vote against HB 89 & SB 134. They pressed the Texas legislators to not stand with Israel.
Although they went before us, we came with humility and the strength of God's mighty Word! We represented Israel and God got the last word in this battle.
Over 500 advocates for Israel came to this event from both the Christian and mainstream Jewish communities! Maoz was the only representative from the Messianic community at this event. "
In fact, the bill sailed through both chambers and its author Representative King called this law the "strongest that any state has passed" and "a model for other states to follow."
In May of 2015 Texas representatives came together and began planning these bills to Stand with Israel. In that same month, heavy rainfalls began to fall on the State of Texas. Over the ensuing months, 17 trillion gallons of rain came down on the State of Texas—thus ending a 10-year devastating drought!
Of course, some may say this is mere coincidence. I say it is God keeping His promises! Genesis 12:3 states, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed!"
Texas has not only enjoyed record breaking rainfall but Texas' oil boom produced one half of all job growth in the US since 2009 and added over $600 billion to the overall US economy. In its growing relationship with Israel, Texas A&M University announced in late December 2015 its plans to bless Israel by opening a $6 million marine research center in partnership with the University of Haifa.
MUSLIMS FIGHT PENDING BILL
All of this support for Israel has not gone without opposition. One week before our group of 500 supporters converged on the State Capitol, over 1,000 Muslims came to the Capitol in Austin and campaigned one-on-one with all of the State Legislators, urging them vigorously to vote against HB 89 & SB 134. They pressed the Texas legislators to not stand with Israel.
Although they went before us, we came with humility and the strength of God's mighty Word! We represented Israel and God got the last word in this battle.
Over 500 advocates for Israel came to this event from both the Christian and mainstream Jewish communities! Maoz was the only representative from the Messianic community at this event. "
In fact, the bill sailed through both chambers and its author Representative King called this law the "strongest that any state has passed" and "a model for other states to follow."
BILL SIGNED INTO LAW!
On May 2, 2017, Israel's 69th Birthday, at a festive gathering of officials and Jewish and Christian leaders, Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill into law!
"Any anti-Israel policy is an anti-Texas policy," said Abbott. "Texas is not going to do business with any country that boycotts Israel." The law mandates that companies that contract with Texas government entities must verify they do not and will not boycott Israel. It is likely the toughest anti-BDS law in the world.
Groups that do business with the State of Texas, that have joined in on the economic warfare against Israel, stand to lose untold millions in revenue.
Abbott thanked House and Senate leadership noting, "I have never seen a bill so many people came together to get behind." Signing the anti-BDS bill as the very first piece of legislation of the state's 85th Legislature sends a powerful message. Abbott expressed his unwavering support tweeting "Texas says, Don't Mess With Israel. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott congratulates State Representative Phil King, author of law outlawing state business with companies involved in BDS.
He added, "The people of the Lone Star State and Israel share an unbreakable bond based upon mutual values, and by passing this legislation—ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not fund discrimination—Texas has reaffirmed this important friendship."
"People in Israel are just like Texans," said Abbott who spoke on the "cultural connection between the people of Texas and the people of Israel," calling that connection "very deep and very genuine."
Texas is the 18th state to pass an anti-BDS law.
For me, it was so encouraging to speak directly with many State Legislators and to hear first-hand their deep commitment to STAND WITH ISRAEL.
If you'd like to learn more about how you can STAND WITH ISRAEL through Maoz Ministries, go to IstandwithIsrael.com!
Watch the governor sign the bill into law
Ted Vanlandeghem is U.S. Spokesman and Director of Partner Relations at Maoz Israel Ministries.
Friday, June 16, 2017
The Holy Land: Official Documents and Fake News - Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram MAOZ ISRAEL
Celebrating Jerusalem's 50th Year Jubilee
AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT IN MY LIFE
Monthly Report: June 2017
Sivan - Tammuz 5777
A scene from the film "Dry Bones," on which I began work in early 1968. Though the film deteriorated before the days of digital, I believe it still packs a powerful message! —SSR
By Shira Sorko-Ram
"You are destined to live in Israel."
This prophecy was given to me numerous times as a young girl in my early 20's.
At that time, there were areas of my life not in right standing with God. I had my own plans and goals, and to me, moving to Israel sounded like I was being shipped off to a third-world country like Afghanistan or Siberia.
But on October 15, 1967, 50 years ago, I arrived in Israel for a two-week visit with my parents. Only four months before, the little nation of just over two million Jewish citizens had escaped complete annihilation by the concerted efforts of Syria, Jordan and Egypt along with Iraq, and had achieved a victory that was beyond the imagination of the prime minister, the army chiefs and the whole population of Israel.
The euphoria of the Jewish state was indescribable. To the Orthodox Jews, there was no doubt the Days of Messiah had arrived.
To the secular citizens, an unexplainable miracle had occurred. The Arab armies had been crushed—and surely they had learned their lesson. There would be no more war!
Everyone repeated in joyous rapture, "Jerusalem is once again ours!" It was into these stratospheric heights that my parents and I landed in Israel. And I stayed.
Two scenes I can never forget: When the next Independence Day rolled around in 1968, it was the first one where Israelis could celebrate in the ancient city of Jerusalem. I was standing on an incline looking down at tens of thousands of Israelis surrounding the area of Jaffa Gate (before it was landscaped). Spontaneously, with no microphones or musical instruments, the people began to sing "Jerusalem of Gold," the song that had been composed only shortly before war, and became the song of the Six Day War.
Later that night, the streets of modern Jerusalem were filled with musicians on balconies with their accordions and clarinets, while soldiers stood their rifles up teepee-style in the middle of circles they formed up and down the streets, while dancing the Hora through the night.
THE EARLIEST MESSIANIC PIONEERS
Quickly I discovered there was only a tiny remnant of Jewish believers in the entire land. For all practical purposes, they didn't exist. Yes, there was a family here and an individual there. Victor Smadja and his family, immigrants from Tunisia, had established a Messianic Assembly in Jerusalem; and the Heimoff family (now Bar David) that emigrated from Bulgaria, had a small group meeting in a Tel Aviv suburb. Ostrovsky hosted a Bible study in Jaffa. That was about it.
I thought to myself, "How in the world will the Israeli people, with only a tiny handful of believers in the land, ever have the opportunity to hear a clear explanation of salvation, according to the Bible?"
Even though I had no prior plans to remain in Israel, after consulting with my father, I decided to produce a 28-minute documentary on the establishment of the new state of Israel and the recent return of Jerusalem to the Jewish people, exactly as it had been foretold by the prophets.
I felt it was critical for Christians to understand that important portions of Biblical prophecy were unfolding "right now" and Israel needed the prayers of intercessors worldwide. I also began to study the Hebrew language.
CREATING THE "DRY BONES" SCRIPT
Together with my language studies, I spent almost three years working on this film which I called "Dry Bones." I struggled for months over the script, and then one day I thought to myself, "Why should I try to describe current fulfillment of prophecy? I have the best scriptwriters in the world—Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zachariah, to name a few!" And so I spent many months poring over the books of the entire Old Testament.
Each time I read a verse that foretold the suffering or described the glory of the coming Messiah, or talked about the return of the Jewish people to Israel, or Jerusalem's restoration, I wrote the Scriptures on a card. In those days there were no computers!
When I was finished, I had a stack of cards four inches tall. Out of those Scriptures I created a script and contracted an Israeli company to produce the film which I directed.
ASSEMBLING THE ARTISTS
During the filming, I had many opportunities to witness to my cinematographer, Adam Greenberg, who went on to be a much sought-after director of photography in Hollywood, filming movies such as "Terminator 2" with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Adam taught me so much with his flowing lyrical camera work!
The only obstacle—and it was a big one—was that Israel was such a young country there was not even a single film lab in the country to develop film. We had to send the film to France, and they ruined a great deal of the original film. We had to re-film a number of sections, much to our dismay. (These were the days before video!) Nevertheless, we persevered.
I had the greatest of privileges to meet two of modern Israel's founders—giants in Israel's history: First prime minister David Ben Gurion in 1965 and prime minister Golda Meir in 1971. PM Ben Gurion asked me, "WHEN ARE YOU MOVING TO ISRAEL?"
I met one of Israel's finest composers and conductors, Noam Sheriff. Having run out of funds to enlist such a world-renowned musician, I asked him if he would compose the music for free. He agreed! I only had to pay for the recording sessions.
I searched for a very expressive voice with an Israeli accent to read the script. I was introduced to Yossi Yadin, a famous actor in Israel, and brother of the celebrated archeologist, Yigael Yadin, who excavated Masada and Megiddo, and who later became Deputy Prime Minister.
Yossi agreed to narrate the film. In order to physically make the script, I simply took a Bible and cut out the Scriptures, one by one, and pasted them on paper. At first Yossi was taken aback, asking if I wasn't desecrating the Bible by cutting it up. I told him that desecrating the Bible was done by those who did not keep the commandments written in it. He was satisfied with the answer and we recorded the narration.
GOLDA MEIR ASKED TO SEE "DRY BONES"
Yossi talked to Golda Meir, then Prime Minister of Israel, about "Dry Bones." She told him she wanted to see the film herself. Knowing how busy she was, I wrote her, offering to bring the film to her home. She invited me to show her the film on August 10, 1971.
With great anticipation, this opportunity brought me to much prayer! As a girlfriend and I prayed, I seemed to see Golda Meir on her bed at night, looking up and asking, "Is there really a God?" I also felt there was going to be some type of spiritual opposition to this invitation, and I and my friend began to pray with deep intercession that the Lord would allow me to show her this film without interruption.
The day came for me to take the film to her house and I entered with a large bouquet of flowers. I remember the security people looking carefully through it to make sure there was no bomb planted among the stems. Several aides and family members were also there.
After small talk, the film began. Its theme portrayed Israel in the late sixties as a nation raised out of the ashes just as the prophets had prophesied would come to pass in the latter days. There was also a section where the narrator read Isaiah 53 about the suffering Messiah who would die for the sins of His people.
The images portrayed a Messiah-like figure falling among his sheep in a black and white, heavily overexposed film, giving it a mystical appearance. That scene was interwoven with a sheep being slaughtered on an altar. It ended with the prophets' call to repentance, and God's promise in Ezekiel to redeem his sheep from the wolves among the nations.
When the film was finished there was silence. Then Golda asked, "What part of the film was Old Testament and what part was New?" I answered, "The entire narration was only Old Testament." She sat thoughtfully, and then said, "But why the blood? What significance does it have?"
Of course, that opened up the theme of the priestly office of the Levitical tribe which was commanded to shed the blood of animals in order to pay the price for the sins of the Israelites. I stressed that only after the shedding of blood, could the Cohanim (priests) enter into the presence of God to make supplication for the people.
"That," I explained, "is why Yeshua had to die and offer his life so we might live. He is the Lamb of God. He is the way to permanent forgiveness of sin for the Jewish people—and, in fact, all who want it. He is the gateway to the presence of the God of Israel."
"Golda again brought up the scene of Isaiah 53, and said softly, "That was Jesus." I was amazed at how open her heart seemed to be as she spoke.
Suddenly, another person in the room shouted out rather angrily, "This is idol worship (avodah zarah)! This is against Judaism!"
That ended our conversation. But I had spent almost an hour speaking about the way to salvation with Prime Minister Golda Meir. I felt certain that through our prayers (and others who had been praying for us) the Lord held back the comments of the angry man until the prime minister had had an opportunity to hear the Good News through the prophets' own words.
I left her residence at midnight, after having spent two hours with her; I felt God had desired that she have opportunity to ask questions of her heart.
The next day I received a phone call from the same aide who had burst out with his comments of idol worship. He told me the prime minister had enjoyed very much the film and the evening. In fact, he told me everyone there had found the evening very interesting.
I heard, after she died in 1983, that she had requested to have a believing doctor care for her in the hospital in her last days. He later wrote me that as a Christian he had the privilege of giving her care, but had not spoken to her about faith. I do know she asked serious questions that night and listened carefully to the Good News of Israel's ancient prophets.
One day the Good News will permeate this land in such clarity and power that all Israel will be saved. We believers in Israel today are pioneers, knowing that eventful day is coming! And oh, how we long to see it!
View this 47-year-old film "Dry Bones":
This article was printed in the Maoz Israel Report 10 years ago. On this 50th anniversary of Jerusalem's liberation, I thought it appropriate to retell the story of my visit with Golda Meir, the prime minister who led the nation between the miraculous Six Day War and the terrible Yom Kippur War which happened six years later. SSR.
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A little dose of history
THE HOLY LAND:
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS AND FAKE NEWS
Archeological dig at City of David.
So history repeats itself. For the 50 years I have lived in Israel, every single new U.S. president has made one of his top-priorities the goal of solving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and bringing peace to the Middle East. And who doesn't want peace? The Israeli people are desperate for peace. And I'm sure many Arab citizens also yearn for peace.
As President Donald Trump tries his hand at this ultimate peace deal, hopefully his advisors are supplying him with accurate briefs on the subject of "whose land is this?" Certainly, for every Bible believer, it is worth spending a few minutes to review the historical facts.
Yes facts, not fiction. Genuine historic documents—instead of the fake history that was first propagated by terrorist Yasser Arafat and now disseminated by all Palestinian leaders. Their rewriting of history has been phenomenally successful. Today the world's 1.6 billion Muslims and almost all world leaders have accepted the "Palestinian narrative."
Perhaps the only group of people who are currently open to the real facts will be Christians who are truth-seekers and their understanding is based first of all on God's word. So here goes: Mohammed never visited Jerusalem and did not consider it important enough to mention in the Quran even once. Mecca is mentioned, but not Jerusalem. The Quran does refer to the children of Israel and states that the Promised Land belongs to them.
Quran, 17:104 : "And thereafter We [Allah] said to the Children of Israel: Dwell securely in the Promised Land." Quran, 5:20-21: "Moses said to his people ... O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has assigned to you."
Some twenty-five hundred years before Mohammed was born, Abraham talked with his God who promised him the Holy Land long before any other current world religion was conceived. The Jewish Holy Temple stood on Mount Moriah 1500 years before Islamic warriors spread across the Middle East ultimately conquering great swaths of the earth and forcing Islamic conversion on its citizens.
BEFORE THERE WERE MOSQUES
But when Yeshua walked on the streets of ancient Jerusalem there were no mosques nor churches there—only the Jewish Temple and nothing else. King David himself purchased the land on which the first Temple was built in the 10th century BC. The Bible records the deed, the name of the previous owner, and the purchase price:
Then David said to Ornan, "Grant me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar on it to the Lord. You shall grant it to me at the full price ... So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place.
Now Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. (I Chronicles 21:22,25; II Chronicles 3:1)
The Temple Mount was purchased by a Jewish King for the Jewish people.
THE YEAR 1517AD
But allow me to skip over hundreds of years for the sake of brevity, to the year 1517 when the Ottoman Turks conquered the Holy Land and ruled for exactly 400 years.
The land was so barren and unimportant that it didn't begin to approach the concept of a nation state with borders. One traveler, Charles Thompson in 1744 wrote, "I shall henceforwards, without Regard to geographical Niceties and Criticisms, consider myself as in the Holy Land, Palestine or Judea; which Names I find used indifferently, though perhaps with some Impropriety, to signify the same Country." (books.google.co.il)
When the Allies defeated the Turks in 1917, the British and French carved up the Middle East between themselves: France agreed to administer a mandate over Lebanon and Syria. Britain governed Iraq and the Holy Land—the latter they referred to as "Mandatory Palestine" (although rich Syrian absentee landlords and rulers saw the land as Southern Syria). Palestine then became the area's common name. (cotf.edu)
THE MANDATE DID NOT GIVE BRITAIN SOVEREIGN RIGHTS
It must be understood that the British Mandate which was validated by the League of Nations (forerunner to the UN) did not give the British sovereign rights over the Holy Land. In fact, the Mandate specifically and only appointed Britain to support the creation of a Jewish state! Yes! Read the Mandate. (avalon.law.yale.edu)
While all non-Jews living in Palestine were assured civil and religious rights, the Mandate did not mention the word "Arab," much less "Palestinian."
Indeed, the Mandate stated that Britain would be responsible for putting into effect the declaration originally made on November 21, 1917, [i.e. The Balfour Declaration] which declared Britain's intention to help the Jewish people establish a homeland for the Jews. As for the former owners of the Holy Land's "state lands," the Ottoman Turks showed no interest in repossessing their lost lands in Palestine. So to whom did the land belong?
The rest of the Mandate's story is all down hill. Britain decided to ask the League of Nations to detach [separate] the land east of the Jordan River from the very Mandate which was supposed to create a Jewish nation. In other words, it asked the League to exempt three-quarters of the land mandated for the Jewish people in order to give it to the Arabs. This in spite of Article 5 of the Mandate which specifically stated: "The Mandatory [Britain] shall be responsible for seeing that no Palestine territory shall be ceded or leased to, or in any way placed under the control of the Government of any foreign Power." (Ibid.)
TWO STATES FOR TWO PEOPLE
Bending to Britain's request, The League of Nations (which became the UN) did create an Arab state, called it Jordan and then handed it over to a Saudi emir. Now look closely! The British high commissioner in Palestine explained they were simply creating two states for two peoples "a Jewish National Home in Palestine west of the Jordan [River] and a separate Arab entity in Palestine east of the Jordan." (palestinefacts.org)
Anyone who knows Middle East geography would understand that the commissioner was saying that there would be two states for two peoples: the area where the nation of Jordan was created would be the state for Arabs. The area on the west side of the Jordan would include all of modern Israel and all of what is called today "occupied Palestinian territory."
So the British did create a "separate" Arab entity called the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. But Allah demanded the entire Holy Land. The Arabs' rioting continued for years, killing both Jews and British soldiers, while insisting that there would be no Jewish state. Finally an exhausted Britain gave up and turned the whole mess over to the United Nations.
THREE STATES FOR TWO PEOPLES?
The UN divided up what was left of the Holy Land into a second Arab state (which would be in Judea and Samaria) and a Jewish state. The Jewish leadership accepted the UN plan for the establishment of two states. The Arabs rejected it out of hand.
Indeed, the area allotted for a second Arab state (west of the Jordan) was rejected by all surrounding Arab states. A day after Israel announced their new state in 1948, the Arab nations launched a war of annihilation against the Jews. Miraculously, newborn Israel survived and even expanded its UN designated borders.
In this war to destroy Israel, Jordan's army overran and occupied Judea and Samaria (where a second Arab state was to have been planned) plus East Jerusalem. The only two countries that ever recognized Jordanian sovereignty were Britain and Pakistan! Though Jordan annexed what is called the West Bank in 1950, it was never recognized by the international community. So, again, to whom did the land belong? Remember, at that time there were no "Palestinian people."
Sixteen years later, when Jordan, Egypt and Syria stood ready to attack Israel again, Israeli forces executed a preemptive strike and conquered Judea and Samaria and ancient Jerusalem in what is known as the Six Day War. (Israel also pushed Egypt out of Sinai and Gaza, and Syria out of the Golan Heights, but that's for another story.) But here is the question again. To whom did Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem belong? Jordan? Britain? The Turks?
One thing is for sure, the land didn't belong to any Palestinians because, as we know, at that time there were no Palestinian people. Notice that in the UN-proposed division of the land, and all the documents up to the Six Day War, there was mention only of Arabs; not a Palestinian was to be found!
Today, this newly created people-group is determine to conquer the entire Holy Land including East Jerusalem, but they really have no justified legal claim to it, having never ruled it. In fact, Jerusalem has never been the capital of any nation throughout history, except Israel. Furthermore, how can Israel be occupying another nation's land since there has been no recognized sovereign entity in the Holy Land west of the Jordan River since the Ottoman Empire? And as we have seen, the Turks now for a hundred years have shown no interest in reclaiming it.
Mandatory Palestine map
JORDAN ABDICATES RIGHTS
When Israel signed a peace agreement with Jordan in 1994, King Hussein, the former occupier of land mandated for a Jewish state, asked of Israel two conditions: the first was a promise that the Jordan River would continue supplying water to the people of Jordan. No problem. Israel agreed.
The second condition was that the Jordanian army would continue guarding the east bank of the Jordan River (Jordan's border) but that Israel, not Jordan, would guard the west bank of the Jordan including Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem. Therefore, the king of Jordan waived any legal rights his country might have claimed.
Even when the Jordanians did occupy Jerusalem, from 1948 to 1967, they never considered making it their capital. I myself visited Jerusalem in 1959 and 1965, and the Jordanians had left it a backwater, poverty-stricken village, while the Jordanian King ruled in his capital of Amman.
What will it take for the nations to acknowledge that no other nation has ever made Jerusalem their capital? Believe it or not, the one and only source for the Muslim's claim to Jerusalem and the site of the Temple Mount, is a mention in the Quran of a dream that Mohammed had about an unknown "far distant place." As one author asked, "Can any Muslim in the world produce any credible evidence for Islamic connection to Israel's Temple site, other than in Mohammed's dream?"
The best reference for understanding the Muslim-Arab mentality and its politically-motivated falsification of history is Mohammed's own advice to his followers: "War is deception." In the feckless mandate, Britain and then the UN "solved" the problem of Jerusalem by declaring it an "international city." But the Arabs would hear none of it. The idea was a dead letter from the start. Israel captured its ancient capital back from Jordan in a war with Arabs who fought to eradicate the Jewish state. In 1980, Israel's Knesset passed the Jerusalem Law, declaring it to be the undivided capital of the Jewish state forever. Zachariah saw it all: And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zachariah 12:3)
Not a good deal for anyone. We must pray earnestly for President Donald Trump as he looks to make the ultimate deal to bring peace to the Israel-Palestinian conflict by dividing up His Land in order to create an Islamic State. At this writing, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has announced he's ready to negotiate for peace with Israel.
Yeshua the Messiah said: "Jerusalem shall be trodden down by nations, till the times of nations be fulfilled." (Luke 21:24)
Not a good deal for anyone.
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After four years of hard labor ...
DR. DAVID H. STERN'S
JEWISH NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY
IN HEBREW IS FINISHED!
Jewish New Testament Commentary in Hebrew
One of the largest projects Maoz has ever undertaken was the translation into Hebrew of the Jewish New Testament Commentary. It took four years! And now it is completed!
We invited 120 of Israel's Messianic pioneers and leaders from all over Israel to celebrate David Stern's life and his contribution to the Messianic Movement in Israel and around the world. He and his wife Martha, two children and their families, including eight grandchildren, were all in attendance.
Each Messianic leader who attended received a copy of the Hebrew version of the Jewish New Testament Commentary as our gift to them. It was a glorious evening which none of us will ever forget. And we will always be grateful for our Maoz contributors who donated the $100,000 for the translation. We estimated it would cost that amount, and that's what it came out to—within a couple of hundred dollars! Thank you, Maoz partners! Your investment is now a reality and will impact Israel for years to come!
A great time of prayer and blessing
Dr. David H. Stern Event
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PASSOVER SEDER AT
CONGREGATION TIFERET YESHUA
Over 70 people came to celebrate the last Passover Seder at Tiferet Yeshua. "The event was amazing; it felt like we were all of one heart, and nobody rushed home!" says David Trubek, elder of Tiferet Yeshua.
Eyal, an Israeli from Tel Aviv, who attended for the first time, was surprised how interactive all the members of the congregation were with the Seder, the dynamics between them and the fact that everyone participated in the readings and Messianic songs!
Of course, an inseparable part of the traditional Seder is the music, which contains traditional songs everybody sings around the table. The Lord brought our hearts together as worship leaders Roman and Tanya Kadin led us in joyful praise, singing these ancient songs together with songs that glorify the Lamb of God.
"I don't remember ever participating in such an extremely blessed Passover Seder," says Olga Gez, a member of Tiferet Yeshua congregation. Many believers and non-believers desire to experience a Messianic Passover Seder, but because of the size of our congregational fellowship hall, we were limited with the number of people we could host. Tiferet Yeshua has an aspiration to renovate our main hall, so that next year we'll be able to invite many more to our Passover Seder! And next year we would love to livestream our congregational Seder, to give a chance for Israelis all over the world to take part in it!
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TWENTY-TWO ISRAELIS
HEADING FOR MJAA CONFERENCE
2016 Conference Attendees -- Messianic Jewish Alliance of America
Every year the largest gathering of Messianic Jews in the world takes place at Messiah College in Pennsylvania. The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America hosts a week-long conference of teaching, fellowship, worship, concerts, youth events, and much much more. In fact, it was at this conference in 1975 that David Stern met Martha and soon they were married!
We have seen that bringing Israelis to the MJAA enriches the Messianic experience for both Israeli and American Jewish believers, not to speak of those who come from many different countries around the world. Israelis have the opportunity to see large numbers of strong Messianic Jewish believers, while Jews from around the world can rejoice in the fact that they see with their own eyes Israeli Messianic Jews who are also members of congregations throughout Israel.
Every year our Maoz partners have supplied the funds to enable Israelis to attend the MJAA Conference, for which we are so grateful. This year 22 Israelis have been selected to attend. Each of them has paid $500 for which many have saved up for a long time. Also the MJAA is participating in bringing the Israelis to the conference. The amount yet needed for each young adult attending and for which Maoz is committed, is $1850* per person.
We are sowing into the lives of the new generation of Israeli born-again believers. It is worth it!
June 2017
Dear Maoz Partner,
This is a monumental time for Israel!
Having just celebrated Jerusalem's 50th anniversary on May 24 according to the Hebrew calendar, many of us will celebrate it again according to the Gregorian (Western) calendar on June 7!
Fifty years! Fifty years ago there was only a tiny handful of Jews who had been introduced to Yeshua the Messiah as Lord and Savior!
Now no one really knows the number. Gallup should do a poll in Israel!
What we do know is there are hundreds of teenagers who attend Israeli Messianic Jewish congregations, and many hundreds more on the outskirts of the Messianic movement, believing in their heads, but not yet making a complete commitment to what they know is the truth.
We at Maoz know there is no better investment than impacting the lives of our Israeli young people—to not only be a follower of the God of Israel and His Son Yeshua, but to become leaders, using their talents in ministry, in the marketplace, in music, art and every other means that builds the Body of Believers in Israel.
That is why each year we send a number of Israeli young people who are committed to the Lord and their local congregation to the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America's annual conference. The interaction of Israeli Jewish believers with their counterparts from America and many other countries is beneficial to all involved.
Therefore the MJAA and Maoz partner each year to bring Israeli young people to the week-long MJAA conference at Messiah College in Pennsylvania. Each one of the delegates also contributes $500 toward his or her trip.
Our part is to raise the remainder—$1850 per individual. We have 22 in our delegation this year.
Every year, you, our Maoz partners, have understood the vision and the importance of this trip for the spiritual life and growth of our Messianic teenagers and young adults in Israel.
Last year was fantastic. May this year be even more so!
For the day when "All Israel shall be Saved!",
Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram
P.S. Thank you for investing in our young people! Their future and Israel's future is worth it!
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