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.
Pro-Israel Protesters Counter Hateful al-Quds Day Protest
Thursday, July 07, 2016 | Israel Today Staff
Every year, hundreds of pro-terror Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian supporters march through London unopposed.
This year, the Israel Advocacy Movement had a great surprise for the protesters and it was epic.
Initially a handful of Zionist supporters stopped the progress of the hateful marchers in their tracks.
It was not not long afterwards that the terror supporting marchers were outnumbered by a sea of blue and white to counter the annual ‘Al Quds Day’ anti-Israel, pro-terror march in London.
Watch and learn how to successfully combat anti-Israel hate! Watch here: Protesters
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A young Tunisian Jew who lost his father in the Holocaust was given a Bible by a Christian friend and was challenged to search the Scriptures to see if Yeshua was indeed the Messiah promised by the prophets. This young man, Victor Smadja, with the horrors of World War II still fresh, took the challenge very seriously and poured over the Scriptures for two solid years. Finally he knew in his heart that Yeshua, the Son of God, was sent to bring him salvation. As far as is known, he became the only male bornagain Jew in all of Tunisia. In 1956, Victor brought his fiancée Suzy to faith and three days after they were married, they moved to Israel.
Samuel Smadja, the youngest of their four children, was born in Jerusalem when the city was still divided (the Old City was under Jordanian occupation) and when there were only about 2,200,000 Jewish citizens in all of Israel.
Early on, his parents noticed Samuel was having a very difficult time in school because of what today is known as a severe case of dyslexia. He simply couldn’t spell. They enrolled him in a vocational school where he could get extra help. Nevertheless, he wasn’t able to receive a high school diploma even though he attended a full 12 years.
However, in his school, he was captivated by a course in tourism, and immediately knew that some day he wanted to work in the tourism business.
His father, Victor, began the first congregation for Israelis in Jerusalem and is known as one of the early pioneers for what is now the Messianic Jewish movement in Israel. Victor was, of course, very bold about his faith. But Samuel, being the only believer in his school at the time, admits he denied his faith many times.
However, when as a soldier he found himself in the middle of the Lebanese War, he heard a voice ask a question inside, the same question Elijah had challenged Israel with some 3,000 years earlier: “How long will you falter between two opinions?”
Then Samuel, feeling a tremendous peace inside and around him on the battlefield, made his peace with God. He immediately began to work with his father, focusing on teenage camps and services for young adults, which he continued for many years.
After finishing the army, he began searching for work in a tourist company, but no one wanted him because he couldn’t spell. Finally he went to one company and said, “I’ll work for you for free. And then if I bring you business you can pay me a commission.” The owner agreed.
Meanwhile, Samuel’s father told him, “If you want to work in tourism, you need added value to your skills. You need another language.” So Victor sent Samuel to Germany to study German. In six months he returned with an astounding grasp of German - even though he couldn’t spell! But everyone realized God had given him a gift for languages. He now has a professional level of Hebrew, English, French and German.
Samuel, always the visionary, realized there are many Christians in India, and so in 1988 went there to see if he could generate some tourism to Israel. He wasn’t able to develop much business at that time, but did meet a famous Indian pastor and evangelist who began to prophesy over him, telling him God was going to use him mightily in the tourism business in a way that would impact Israel. At that time, there was nothing to confirm such a prophecy, but Samuel returned to Israel greatly encouraged. Soon, with his commission, he was making more money than his boss!
In 1993, Samuel felt it was time to open up his own tour company, but he needed $200,000 to get started. He went to his father and asked him to co-sign with him at the bank. Victor, known for his no-nonsense demeanor, replied “Who did you say gave you this vision?” When Samuel answered, “God!” Victor then replied, “Good. So go ask Him!”
Samuel was soon on a plane to Germany to offer 49% of his new company to a Christian investor. Armed with a business plan, he sat with the German man for two hours. The investor never asked to see the business plan, and simply gave Samuel the letter of credit for $200,000 for a small amount of interest - which Samuel paid back in a year and a half.
As he began his new company, Sar-El Tours, many competitors actually tried to get his business blacklisted by all the Jerusalem hotels. The Orthodox published newspaper stories, demanding people boycott his business because of his faith.
But Christian leaders like the late Pastor Chuck Smith began to use Sar-El. The late Dr. Paul Crouch also began using Sar- El Tours for TBN trips to Israel. We at Maoz immediately understood the significance of an Israeli tour company owned and operated by a Messianic Jew, and for several years carried a banner on our website advertising Sar-El Tours. It was clear to us that Christian tourists coming to Israel should use businesses owned by Israel’s Messianic Jews.
But then the Arab Intifadas took place in Israel, with suicide bombers and murderers killing over 1,000 Israelis. Even many Jews stopped touring Israel and tour company after tour company folded. However, Christian volunteers came through Sar-El to assist the nation on ministry trips during this horrific period. And amazingly, Christians continued to come in spite of everything. Sar-El went through difficult times, but survived.
Today, Sar-El Tours & Conferences is one of the largest tour agencies in Israel, serving about 50,000 tourists a year. And the Sar-El Group, consisting of a number of businesses, is now the largest employer of Israeli believers in the country.
As one of many examples of how God is using Samuel, he was invited to a special event of Who’s Who of Israelis with former politicians, military generals, and significant businessmen and women. Samuel used his invitation to share the Gospel with dozens of the most influential people in Israel. David had beaten Goliath. To God be the glory.
When Victor Smadja recently went to his reward, his son, Samuel, with all he has on his plate, decided he would also take up the leadership of the Jerusalem congregation “Messianic Assembly” that his father founded.
Amid clouds and drizzle, thousands gather to board Noah's Ark
USA TODAY NETWORKScott Wartman, The Cincinnati Enquirer July 5, 2016) AP
WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. — A line of cars crept along the highway toward life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark in a muddy Kentucky pasture.
There was no worldwide flood Tuesday, but rain clouds hovered and drizzled over the ark.
Believers and media from around the world descended on the rural Kentucky town of Williamstown for the ribbon cutting and sneak preview of Ark Encounter in Grant County. The 500-foot-long, $100 million ark opens to the public on Thursday.
A man in Biblical-era robes warmed the crowd up with a flute solo before the creationists christened the ship.
The staff at the Ark Encounter estimated 7,000 in the crowd for the invite-only event for donors.
It remains to be seen whether it will draw the 2 million people annually the Ark Encounter owners expect.
Clint Bishard of Tulsa, Okla., stood outside the ark Tuesday to see where the money he donated went. He wasn’t disappointed.
“It’s about telling the true history,” Bishard said. “There was a supernatural creation. There was a global flood. That’s very different from what you hear in the public school system.”
Controversy and debate have flooded the ark much like the Creation Museum a few miles north. Both are created and managed by the same parent organization, Answers in Genesis.
The displays tout the creationist worldview, taking the Bible literally, that the Earth is 6,000 years old, people lived with dinosaurs, etc.
Inside the ark, replica dinosaurs sit in pens with bears, birds and other fauna. A cacophony of recorded animal sounds reminds the visitor there are two of everything behind these pens. Displays ask and answer questions.
Want to know how Noah kept the polar bears cool? According to the ark researchers, Polar bears weren’t on the ark, just two bears that gave rise to polar bears.
The beliefs of the creationists have spurred ridicule. They expect protests when it opens to the public.
But when Ken Ham looked out at the thousands who attended the ceremony, he felt vindicated. Ham is the founder, CEO and president of Answers in Genesis, who has worked on building a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark for 12 years.
“There are thousands of people out there who support God’s word beginning in Genesis, bigger than anyone realizes,” Ham said.
Debate rages over tax credits and government support
While there weren’t protesters, Ham and many in the crowd felt they were being attacked.
Ham slammed the criticism over the Ark Encounter receiving tax credits. State and local governments approved tax incentives worth $80 million over the next 20 years. The state is also spending $10 million to revamp the I-75 exit next year to handle the traffic.
This has sparked debate over separation of church and state. Ham drew some of his loudest applause defending their right to have tax credits like any other organization.
He calmly answered media questions from Germany, Britain and elsewhere. He maintains taxpayer dollars aren't paying for the ark.
The $18 million in sales tax rebates the state approved means the ark will have to generate that income for the state, Ham said. The bonds issued by the city of Williamstown are the responsibility of the Ark Encounter to pay off, not the taxpayer, officials have argued.
Ham said his organization is entitled to the same treatment as other organizations.
“People say you’re a religious organization, you’re a Christian organization, and you’re getting support from the government,” Ham said. “What’s the difference between that and a 501c3 or any church where people give tax-deductible donations?”
It was these very tax credits that convinced Ham to open the ark in Kentucky, Ham told the crowd. He had considered Indiana prior.
A federal court sided with Ham reinstating the tax credits former Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, had rescinded, based on concerns about the separation of church and state.
Many of the conservative politicians and business leaders in Northern Kentucky that attended agreed the ark deserves the tax credits. Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, and Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore all were present Tuesday at the ark. They waxed enthusiastic about the Ark Encounter, the Creation Museum and the boon economically they hope the region receives.
“I’m a Christian and I support the Answers in Genesis ministry and what they do,” Thayer said. “For me as the senator for Grant County, it’s about economics, the jobs it’s going to create.”
Thayer said he “mostly” agreed with the Creationist philosophy. Moore he agreed with their worldview.
“I don’t see a conflict in science and biblical teaching,” Schickel said. “I’m not a scientist and I’m not a bible scholar. But when there is a conflict, I believe in the Holy Scripture.”
While many at the ceremony on Tuesday expect the ark to draw millions a year to the state, Gov. Matt Bevin did not attend the festivities. Lt. Gov. Jenean Hamptonattended instead. A message seeking comment from Bevin was not returned. Hampton said she hopes the ark draws millions.
“It’s absolutely beyond imagination,” Hampton said. “This is such a blessed day.”
Tower of Babel and more planned
The ark is only the beginning for the site in Grant County, Ham said. The next step will be to build an ancient walled city and a pre-flood village. Future construction will be a Tower of Babel to speak against “prejudice and racism,” Ham said. These will be built over the next two or three years.
While the state road improvements are a year off, Ham believes the road will handle the millions of visitors.
“They won’t all come at once,” Ham said. “I think there will be some peak times, but we also have lots of police and state troopers that we have talked to looking after the traffic out there.”
The creationists who boarded the ark on Tuesday didn’t seem worried about the traffic.
Trinity Adams, 4, perched on her dad’s shoulders as they walked through the mock animal pens and living quarters.
Her parents, Brent and Pamela Adams of Cincinnati, pointed out lessons of good and evil, Adam and Eve.
All three wore patriotic red, white and blue and beamed with enthusiasm about the Ark Encounter. They believe this proves the Bible.
“I find it interesting people want to squash it and don’t want to hear it,” Pamela Adams said. “This is showing that it’s possible. A lot of people want to say the ark was not possible, you couldn’t have these animals. Here is a representation that yes, it’s possible.”
