Iraq's Yazidi Minority Asks for Israel's Help

Sunday, February 01, 2015 |  Israel Today Staff

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Iraq’s Yazidi minority, a small group of Kurdish people who cling to an ancient religion, were virtually unknown before coming under siege by ISIS last summer. Now they, much like the larger Kurdish nation, are seeking Israel’s aid in battling their Islamist foes.

In a telephone interview with Al-Monitor last week, a top Yazidi militia commander said his people, most of whom remain trapped on Mt. Sinjar in northern Iraq, would eagerly forge ties of friendship with the Jewish state.

“The Arab countries do not recognize us, nor do they recognize you,” said Lt.-Col. Lukman Ibrahim. “We regard you as a friendly state, with an opportunity for relations on the basis of neutrality and respect.”

While the Yazidi militia has managed to recruit no fewer than 12,000 fighters from a population numbering just over 200,000 in the region today, they are largely untrained and sorely under-equipped.

“We appeal to the Israeli government and its leader to step in and help this nation, which loves the Jewish people,” said Ibrahim. “We would be most grateful for the establishment of military ties.”

Israel is no stranger to aiding the Kurds in their battles against Arab neighbors. Kurdish-Israel ties are a poorly kept secret, and if a Kurdish state is ever realized, there is little doubt it would immediately become the Jewish state’s closest friend in the region.

Like the wider Kurdish nation, the Yazidis see Israel as a natural ally.

“We are not Arabs, nor are we Muslims. We see ourselves as sharing a fate with the Israelis, who went through similar pogroms,” said Majdal Rasho, a Yazidi who immigrated to Germany, but returned to help fight ISIS. “Those besieged on the mountain approached me and asked, ‘Maybe our Israeli brethren could lend a hand?’”

The Yazidis are adherents of a monotheistic faith linked to ancient Zoroastrianism. They believe in God as the Creator of all, but hold that He has given rule of this world to seven powerful archangels, the chief among them known as Malek Taus (the Peacock Angel). Muslims regard the Yazidis as devil-worshippers because according to Islam, Malek Taus is the archangel who fell from God’s grace and became Satan.

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300 Armed Muslims Attack Christian Boys' School in Pakistan

300 Armed Muslims Attack Christian Boys' School in Pakistan in Retaliation to Charlie Hebdo's Prophet Muhammad Drawings

BY STOYAN ZAIMOV , CHRISTIAN POST REPORTER

January 30, 2015

(PHOTO: REUTERS/AKHTAR SOOMRO)

Supporters of Ahl-i-Sunnat Wal Jamaat, a political and religious group, chant slogans as they carry a sign during a protest against satirical French weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which featured a cartoon of the Muslim prophet Muhammad as the cover of its first edition since an attack by Islamist gunmen, in Karachi, Pakistan, January 23, 2015. The sign reads in Urdu: "We martyr for the Prophet's sanctity."

Close to 300 Muslim students armed with iron bars and sticks attacked a Christian boys' school in northern Pakistan, reportedly in retaliation to French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo's controversial drawings of the Muslim prophet Muhammad. The attack left four Christians injured.

"It is very sad that Islamic radicals attack Pakistani Christians because of Charlie Hebdo. Christians condemn the blasphemous cartoons. It is a shame that even after 67 years since the birth of Pakistan, Christians have not yet been considered Pakistani citizens, but are seen as 'Western allies,'" Nasir Saeed, director of the NGO Center for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement, told Fides News Agency.

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The attack occurred on Panel High School in the city of Bannu, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Muslim students apparently were able to jump over the outer walls of the school and open the gates before attacking the Christians.

The school has been closed down at least for two days, with additional security measures being considered to protect the students.

Last weekend, Muslim mobs burned down a number of churches and pastors' homes in Niger, also in protest of Charlie Hebdo's drawings. At least 10 people were killed in the clashes, with pastors in the capital Niamey revealing that almost anyone associated with churches was targeted.

Marches have also been held in Pakistan, where Muslims insisted that freedom of speech does not give the right to disrespect religion.

The protests concern the Muhammad drawings published by Charlie Hebdo throughout the years, which are considered offensive to many Muslims around the world. The satirical magazine experienced a terrorist attack organized by al-Qaeda earlier in January, when 12 people were shot dead in its offices in Paris. The two gunmen who carried out the attack, and were later killed, said that they were "avenging" Muhammad.

Charlie Hebdo's cartoons have often targeted Christians as well, as Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill pointed out on Sunday.

"The cartoons of prophet Muhammad are childish caricatures compared to what this publication allows itself in mocking the feelings of Christians," Kirill said in a sermon.

"Today, in saying 'no' to terrorism, killings, violence, we also say 'no' to the inexplicable drive by a certain group of people to deride religious feelings."

Several other Christian leaders, including Pope Francis, have said that it is wrong to ridicule religion in such a way, while also speaking out against terrorism.

"You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others," Francis told reporters after the attack.

The minority Christian community in Pakistan has been targeted both by the ruling government's blasphemy laws that often focus on religious minorities, but also by radical mobs that seek to take justice into their own hands.

Saeed said that Christians in such communities are often targeted for actions in Western countries.

"Whenever incidents occur in western countries, the faithful Pakistanis are attacked. Christians, who are already living under constant fear for their lives, become even more vulnerable," the CLAAS director said. "It is the politicians' duty to create a cultural environment and a society in which Christians and religious minorities feel safe."

Shabbat Shalom ✡ "Abraham Was Still Standing Before the Lord"

The men turned from there and went to Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the Lord. GENESIS (18:22)   וַיִּפְנוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיֵּלְכוּ סְדֹמָה וְאַבְרָהָם עוֹדֶנּוּ עֹמֵד לִפְנֵי יְ-הֹוָה בראשית יח:כב va-yif-nu mi-sham ha-a-na-sheem va-yay-l'-khu s'-do-ma v'-av-ra-ham o-de-nu o-mayd lif-nay a-do-nai

Shabbat Inspiration When Abraham learns of God's plan to wipe out Sodom, he begins to earnestly pray for God to annul His plan. But God's answer was clearly "no" and the city was destroyed. Jewish tradition holds that no prayer is ever in vain, so what happened to Abraham's sincere prayers? In a beautiful answer, our Sages describe Abraham's prayers being passed down to protect his descendants in the Land of Israel. We learn here the incredible significance of our prayers, which may bring huge benefit to us and to the world, now and in the future.   Join a new prayer forum » Questions from God God won't ask you how high your salary was, or how many baseball games you watched. But He will ask you these questions.   Watch here » Rabbi Tuly Weisz on Israel Radio Rabbis Jeremy Gimpel, Tuly Weisz and Yitzchak Meir Malek share insights that transform this week’s Torah portion into a practical guide for every person and for the nation of Israel as a whole. Tune in to discover how the Biblical story of the Exodus is a blueprint for our lives. Tune in to Israel radio » 50% Off: Illustrated Books of Genesis and Exodus This unique, hand-illustrated coffee table book makes the Books of Genesis and Exodus come to life! With beautiful illustrations, Torah verses, and descriptive commentary based on Midrash and other sources, in Hebrew and English. Get this Great Deal at 50% Off » Today's Israel Photo Rebecca Kowalsky's captivating photograph of a man praying in a field in Israel, draped in his tallit (prayer shawl).   See more photos by Rebecca Kowalsky » Thank You Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Linda Sklar from Las Vegas, Nevada. Toda Raba!   Sponsor a day » “Thank You for Your Coming to My Inbox With All Sorts of Information” It’s great to hear from so many of you - stay in touch and let us know where in the world you are enjoying Israel365!   Stay in Touch » Dear Rabbi Tuly, Shalom and Shabbat Shalom! Toda raba for sharing the wonderful Word of God. Today's word and caption has been unusually blessed word for me personally. Thank you again! The Lord Bless you and your family and ministry. God Bless, Elizabeth Thank you also for your 'coming to my inbox' with all sorts of information about Israel and Israeli products. I live in a place called Canvey Island, an Island in the river Thames estuary. And our borough is Essex U.K. Every rich blessing on you all. Kenneth Shrimpton. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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Battle Is His: 'Brave German Woman' Draws Backlash

Battle Is His: 'Brave German Woman' 

Draws Backlash

CBNNews.com

Friday, January 30, 2015

Heidi Mund is a Christian German woman with a passion to stop the spread of radical Islam across Europe.

More than a year ago, Mund went to a church service where a Muslim imam was invited to give a call to prayer.

She shouted, "Jesus Christ alone is Lord of Germany; I break this curse."

Now, Mund, known as the "Brave German Woman," said she is facing backlash for her bold proclamation and her involvement with the group Passionate Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA).

Mund said she has been called a "nazi" for her affiliation with the group. On Monday, she said thousands of people showed up to protest the PEGIDA demonstration in Frankfurt.

"They threw eggs on us and tomatoes and firecrackers; it was really dangerous," Mund told CBN News.

Mund, a former atheist, said she is not afraid because God is with her.

Watch what she told CBN News' Charlene Aaron and why she is asking for your prayers.

Young Israeli Believers Boldly Share Their Faith

Thursday, January 29, 2015 |  David Lazarus   ISRAEL TODAY

"A lot of Messianic friends said that they were encouraged to speak out about their faith once I took the step of openly talking about Yeshua on national TV," Shai told Israel Today

The full interview appears in the February 2015 issue of Israel Today Magazine.
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Katy Perry's Preacher Dad Has Plenty to Say About Pop Star's Superbowl Performance

1/29/2015 JESSILYN JUSTICE  charisma news

Katy Perry with her parents, Mary and Keith Hudson. Perry will be performing at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show. (Dish Nation/YouTube)

Come Sunday, Keith Hudson will be among the crowds. Not at as a traveling minister, though, but in the stands during his daughter's Super Bowl XLIX halftime performance. 

"Oh no, I don't have a problem. She's gonna do some good ones—she's excited," Katy Perry's father tells the DailyMail. 

Perry and Hudson have clashed over values since Perry left Christian music to pursue a pop career. Perry believes in astrology and aliens, but not God—yet their relationship remains intact. 

"People don't understand that I have a great relationship with my parents—like, how that can exist," Perry tells Marie Claire. "There isn't any judgment. They don't necessarily agree with everything I do, but I don't necessarily agree with everything they do. They're at peace with—they pray for me is what they do."  

However, in that same interview, she tells MC she has barred her parents from certain performances—like President Barack Obama's inauguration—because the family disagreed on politics. 

Hudson has attended Perry's megaconcerts before, though he was disturbed by what he saw. 

"I was at a concert of Katy's where there were 20,000 people," he says of one performance. "I'm watching this generation, and they were dancing and jumping around. It was almost like church! I stood there and watched how much they were admiring Katy. I thought, 'They're loving and worshipping the wrong thing.' I couldn't help but weep and weep and weep."  

Hudson and his wife, Mary, became pastors in the 1980s and traveling evangelists in the '90s. Keith labels himself as an end-times messenger, while Mary is an author and prophet, according to their website.