"Flooding "Al Aqsa" with Jewish Prayer, Galilee Green, Update #118

 

We're Your Family in Israel

Link to View or Share this Email Online   My wife prayed on the Temple Mount this week WAR UPDATE 118 Flooding "Al Aqsa" with Jewish Prayer On the morning of October 7, 2023, shortly after they launched their murderous attack on Israel at 6:30am, Hamas released information to the press explaining what they had started. At 9:28am Gianluca Pacchiani reported the following on the Times of Israel Live Blog: Hamas says it has launched 5,000 rockets at Israel in an early morning surprise attack it calls “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.” Mohammad Deif, the Hamas military commander, issues a statement saying that the ongoing attacks are in retaliation for Israel’s “desecration” of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. “Today, the people are bringing back the revolution and reviving the March of Return,” he says. He urges Arabs in Jerusalem and inside Israel, in the Negev, the Galilee and northern Israel “set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers.” He further calls on the “Islamic resistance in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon” — countries with terror movements that are militarily supported by Iran — to “merge their resistance with that of the Palestinians today,” and “start marching towards Palestine now.” Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas who is considered to be its leader in the West Bank, issued a statement along the same lines, calling on the Arab and Islamic nations to join “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.” What was the Desecration of Al Aqsa? The desecration that Dief and al-Arouri were referring to were the large number of Jewish pilgrims who had ascended to the Termple Mount and prayed there during the Sukkot festival the previous week. Al Jazeera reported that Hamas described the attack as a reaction to “provocative tours” by Israeli 'settlers' at the mosque complex. Why would Jews visiting Israel's holiest site be so "provocative" at this point? You have to understand the "status quo" that was put in place in 1967 when we retook the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Moshe Dayan, fearing an attack by hundreds of millions of Arabs decided to give religious control to the Jordanian Muslim Wakf. Only Muslims could pray on the Mount which they called the Al Aqsa Compound in English.  To understand how outrageous the situation was, I suggest reading this article by David Kirshenbaum. In it he explains how bad the situation was still in 2009: In December 2009, the day before my oldest daughter got married, we went up to the Temple Mount. The next time she joined me was this past Shavuot eve. I have been going up the Temple Mount at various times of the year and on special occasions since the Israeli government reopened the holiest place in Judaism to Jews in 2004, albeit in very small numbers, and, until recently, with all forms of prayer by any non-Muslim strictly prohibited. Simply closing one’s eyes in introspection, or plaintively looking up to the heavens, were grounds for removal and questioning at the police station. That is where my daughter and I found ourselves the day before her wedding in 2009. During separate questioning, I was asked, “Was your daughter swaying?” Incredulous, I asked the officer to repeat the question, thinking perhaps I hadn’t heard right. “You know,” and he nodded his head back and forth, explaining, in a hostile manner, how that was quite obviously a provocative action and, therefore, an unlawful and improper movement for a Jew to make on the Temple Mount. Before we were released, we were required to hear a lecture from the officer in charge of Jerusalem’s holy places, admonishing us in absolute seriousness that body motions, gestures, and facial expressions by Jews on the Temple Mount, even without an audible prayer, could trigger a religious war by surrounding Muslim countries and populations. NO LONGER AFRAID The last three years has taught Israel a lesson. The threat of a mass uprising of the Arab Nations is a "paper tiger."  Hamas thought by declaring a religious war "Al Aqsa Flood" ... the Arab and Muslim world would unite with them. They didn't. This became a war against Iran and its proxies. And now both Iran and its proxies are basically physically defeated, but they won't be spiritually defeated until they see a tangible spiritual defeat as well. The fact that the Israeli government allows full Jewish prayer and singing on the Temple Mount as witnessed by my wife's video this week, is a threat to Muslim control of the Holy site. My feeling is the Jordanian Wakf should be removed from the Temple Mount (like we removed UNWRA from Jerusalem) and it should be administered by the Israel Ministry of Religion. Then Jews would at least be given equal status on the Holiest site to the Nation of Israel.  And we will be another step closer to fulfilling our promised destiny. To paraphrase visitors singing in the video below: May the Almighty give strength to His People; ... and bless His People with Peace.  IF THIS UPDATE WAS FORWARDED TO YOU. CLICK HERE to ensure you get my next update.     R. Shmuel Veffer and Sarah Eliana Galilee Green You'll love this versatile recipe One of the best-loved appetizers served at Israeli weddings is a bureka topped with a wonderful mushroom sauce. The crispy and flakey pastry contrasted by the smooth creamy sauce is a perfect combination. You can use this sauce to pour on top of mashed potatoes or meatloaf. Yumm. FULL RECIPE!

Singing and Praying on the Temple Mount Here is a couple of minutes of Sarah's visit to the Mount. The group had already prayed the formal weekday afternoon prayers facing the site where the Holy of Holies stood in the Temple. That site is where the Golden Dome of the Rock stands today. On their way out of the Temple Mount compound, the group burst into song, singing Psalm 29 which is sung on Friday evening during the Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming the Sabbath) service in synagogue. Here is the English translation of some excerpts from the Psalm. When they sing Adon-oy, (Our Lord) it is a replacement for the four-letter name of God YHVH.   Psalm 29 A Psalm of David. Ascribe to Adonoy— you sons of the mighty — ascribe to Adonoy glory and might. Ascribe to Adonoy the glory due His Name, prostrate yourselves before Adonoy in the splendor of holiness. Adonoy's voice is upon the waters. Almighty of glory thunders, .... and in His Sanctuary all proclaim [His] glory. Adonoy sat enthroned (even) at the flood, Adonoy is enthroned as King forever. Adonoy will give strength to His people; Adonoy will bless His people with peace.   WATCH NOW

Join Other Christians Helping with this Year's Olive Harvest in Israel My friend Jonathan Feldstein has an organization called Root & Branch that helps connect Christians to Israel in a meaningful way. Much of this year's tour from October 18 - 27 is harvesting olives from trees in National Parks and public areas.    There are still a few limited spaces available!   MORE INFO HERE IF YOU LOVED LUCY... You will love our Galilee Green Olive Oil! What does one have to do with the other? Nothing. I just wanted to bring a smile to your day. Now that you are in a good mood... order some today! CLICK HERE NOW Subscriber Photo of the Week   "Much Better!"   This week's photo is from Ruth Macdonald of Cheltenham, UK. Ruth has been part of our Galilee Green Family since November of 2016! A short while ago she shared this photo above of her GGOO tins in her kitchen! In March of 2025 she posted her recent order of her four-pack that arrived at her home in England and mentioned that the red tops were hard to open. But that she finally managed! Those were the last of our old tins that had been manufactured in Turkey. Since trade has been cut off for now with Turkey, we switched to the new round tins. I hope these are easier to open for you Ruth! Thank you for your loyal support all these years. Blessings for a healthy and sweet new year to you and your family! ------------------------------------------------------- Because of the strengthening of the Israeli Shekel against the US Dollar (20 percent since January!) we are trying to make up for our effective loss in revenue by increasing the number of people using our products. Please encourage at least one other friend or relative who loves Israel to give us a try! P.S. You can forward this newsletter to a friend to introduce them to us.  RAW NATURAL HONEY Bring some sweetness of the Land of Israel into your home! GALILEE GREEN OLIVE OIL Support our small business and bring the blessings of the Land into your home.   Have you read the first five chapters of my upcoming Jerusalem-based Thriller? CONTINUE READING HERE

Chaim Malespin reports from southern Israel.

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Chaim Malespin reports from southern Israel. 

“Love Letters” by Steve Martin

​Love Letters

 

Discovering what makes you “tick”, or energizes you, may be a good indicator of your calling in the Lord. Even if you are retired and wondering, “What next, Lord?”

 

That happened to me earlier in my life (and several times since), as I was seeking the Lord and His will. But it was not easy.

 

Reading His Word; asking others for counsel and advice; receiving prophetic words…I was for sure looking for that next part of the journey as best as I knew how.

 

“What next, Lord?” had been an ongoing question.

 

In 2010, after coming back from another Israel trip, having just started Love For His People ministry, that question was foremost in my mind.

 

I am sure you too have been at that crossroads along your path before.

 

His response, which came as clearly in my mind as I again write about it here, was quick and unexpected.

 

 “Write love letters.”

 

And thus began by ongoing love for writing about Him, about what He was revealing to me, and how to encourage others.

 

I knew I wasn’t a Bible theologian. Nor was I one to stand up in front of others and expound on the 88 reasons why Jesus was coming back when others said He was. (I’ll let others do that.)

 

My task, which has become my joy, was to write words of encouragement, as if they were love letters from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

And you know that has been a real joyous gift He has given me.

 

What are your gifts? Are you using them to bring about His Kingdom, share His love, reach out to a dying world?

 

He will direct your path to and with them as you ask Him to.

 

“What next, Lord?” May be your question too. So, keep asking Him until He shows you.

 

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14, NASB

 

Ahava and shalom

Steve Martin

Ai and the Beast - Lance Wallnau & Ben Petersen

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Photos and images - Steve Martin

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A few of my recent images and photos.

Be blessed,

Steve Martin

Chaim Malespin and Rabbi Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz sit down and talk.

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Rabbi Adam E. Berkowitz and Chaim Malespin

Grandson Levi - what a testimony of the Lord’s love

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Our grandson Levi’s school project as he starts 5th grade.

In the first box he writes “TAR Syndrome” which at birth he had half arms and curled fingers, both feet inverted badly inward, and ongoing effects on his immune systems.

But he loves Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Father!

Thank You, Lord! And his Mom Hannah, father Jonathan and Grandma Martin.

Steve Martin, Grandfather

“Remember” by Steve Martin

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Remember

 

Most of our memories from “way back when” are good ones. The ones we cherish and look to as guideposts and solid rocks on which our lives were shaped and refined.

Those “markers” in days gone by when we lived the moment, and we swore we would never forget them, are good memories. 

“Keepers” for the future to tell our children and grands. (My son Ben often says, “That’s a good memory” after a new one has been completed.)

In May 2023, nine of us from our home group and beyond went on a journey overseas. In time it became known as the “Nine By Design,” as together we traveled the land where Jesus (Yeshua) walked. In this the Land and nation of Israel, we saw and remembered what He did and still does.

By all accounts, out of the mouths of the bonded  friends, “that was a good memory” as we reflect on that trip past.

“I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; I will certainly remember Your wonders of old.” Psalm 77:11 NASB

Often our Father’s Word encourages us to remember. Sometimes it is even a command, for He knows we best not forget His promises, His provision, His ongoing faithfulness in our lives. Because of Who He is, and our need for Him daily.

“Since God us assured us, I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?” Hebrews 13, The Message

Give some time to meditate on what the Lord has done, for you, your family, your nation. If you do not end up with a “Thank You, Lord” in your spirit, then you have not thought long enough.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Overcoming Dusappointment - Peter Kumar short video

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Love For His People Ministry was founded in 2010 by Steve & Laurie Martin. Charlotte, NC USA