World Cup: Anti-Semitic Displays, Iranian Love for Israel

Tuesday, June 24, 2014 |  Israel Today Staff  

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Israel might not be in the World Cup, but the nation’s attention is still very much fixed on the global sporting event taking place in Brazil.

And there is much happening at the World Cup that concerns Israel beyond the exciting gameplay, which thousands of Israelis have travelled half-way around the world to watch in person.

On Saturday, a spectator managed to run out onto the field during the German-Ghana match, take off his shirt and display for millions of viewers around the world the anti-Semitic and Nazi messages scrawled on his body.

FIFA, the World Cup’s governing body, was criticized after none of its own officials did anything to end the incident. The Nazi sympathizer had to be escorted off the field by a member of the Ghana team.

Earlier during a match between Russia and Croatia, a number of people in the crowd reportedly displayed neo-Nazi banners.

But it wasn’t all hate and racism.

When a group of celebrating Iranian fans were approached by a reporter from Israel’s Channel 2 News, they responded very positively.

“Israel? Israel is lovely,” one Iranian told the Israeli reporter before kissing him on the cheek. Another chimed in: “Israel and Iran are brothers. We have no problems [with you].”

When told by the Israeli that the Jewish state is “unfortunately not in the World Cup,” a third Iranian sympathized and said, “Next time. Don’t worry. We are here to enjoy ourselves. We aren’t going to win the World Cup, but we are having fun.”

Another Iranian fan holding the flag of his nation asked, “You are from Israel? Come on, we love Israel! My girlfriend is Jewish.” The girlfriend then informed the Israeli that her brother lives in the Jewish state.

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Abundance of camels

An abundance of camels will envelop you, camel colts of Midian and Ephah... gold and frankincense will they bear, and the praises of God will they proclaim. ISAIAH (60:1)   שִׁפְעַת גְּמַלִּים תְּכַסֵּךְ בִּכְרֵי מִדְיָן וְעֵיפָה ... זָהָב וּלְבוֹנָה יִשָּׂאוּ וּתְהִלֹּת יְ-הוָה יְבַשֵּׂרוּ יְשַׁעְיָהוּ ס:ו shif-AT g'-ma-LEEM t'-kha-SAYF bikh-RAY mi-d'-YAN v'-ay-FA ... za-HAV u-l'-vo-NA yi-sa-U u-t'-hi-LOT a-do-NAI y'-ba-say-RU

Today's Israel Inspiration The Hebrew word for camel is גמל “gamal” which also means “to be independent”: “And the boy grew up, and was weaned ויגמל (vayigamal)” (Genesis 21:8). The connection to the trait of independence refers to the camel's ability to survive without water for many months. Isn't it fun to see the intrinsic meaning of Hebrew words, unlike any other language in the world! Help us continue to spread the beauty of Israel » Camel Riding in Israel If you've ever wondered what it's like to ride a camel in Israel, here's your chance to get up close and personal with the tame yet strong desert animal. Enjoy the ride!   Watch here » Presbyterian Church USA to Boycott Israel Members of the Presbyterian Church USA voted last last week to divest from three companies with ties to Israeli security forces and Jews living in Judea and Samaria.   Read more » Camel Tote Bag  This tote bag made from sturdy cloth is adorned with an image of a caravan traveling through the desert, with the word “Israel.” Spacious and a pleasure to carry with large carrying handles attached to the top.   Only $9 and Free shipping » Israel Photo Trivia Camels have been an important part of the Holy Land’s landscape from Biblical times as described in today's verse. Can you guess where this photo of a camel byBoruch Len was taken? Send me an email or post your answer on Facebook!   Guess on Facebook » Thank You Please help us continue to spread the beauty and significance of the Land of Israel!   Sponsor a day in honor of a loved one » “Enjoy All Your Postings About Israel” 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 »   Thank you Rabbi Weisz. I really enjoy all your postings about Israel, I sure wish I was living there...the Jews are special to the Almighty God, and He will always protect them no matter what. God bless Israel and I wish that I could help in any way at all. V.J. I love the pics on your sight and I stand for Israel. F.J. Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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Israel Boasts Cyber Exports Second Only to USA

Tuesday, June 24, 2014 |  Israel Today Staff  

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Israel in 2013 boasted $3 billion in cyber-related exports, more than all other nations in the world combined outside of the United States.

Israeli experts in the field told the annual Herzliya Conference earlier this month that the Jewish state’s cyber exports represent some 5 percent of the entire global market, and that the figure could easily reach 10 percent in the next five years.

Other figures of interest include the fact that 11 percent of all global cyber-related investments come to Israel, and that 14.5 percent of all cyber firms worldwide that received funding in 2013 were Israeli-owned.

Israel is clearly a cyber superpower, despite its minuscule size, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to strengthen Israel further on that front.

In 2011, Netanyahu established the National Cyber Bureau, a government body that reports directly to him, and that has been doing much in recent years to bolster Israeli hi-tech companies.

“We established the National Cyber Bureau for the purpose of transforming the state of Israel into a cyber superpower,” Netanyahu saidfollowing a briefing earlier this year. “I see [NCB] also as a huge economic force multiplier. There is tremendous international interest in our abilities.”

Netanyahu later commented that “we always knew that we have a land flowing with milk and cyber.”

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Latter rain and grain

"I will give the rain of your land at its time, 

the early rain and the latter rain, 

and you will gather in 

your grain, your wine, and your oil." 

- Deuteronomy 11:14

Photo: מיכאל שמידט צלם-אמן

Faith & Freedom: Who's Best for America's Future?

By David Brody

CBN News Chief Political Correspondent

Monday, June 23, 2014

WASHINGTON - Potential presidential candidates recently gathered in Washington, D.C., for the Faith and Freedom Coalition to talk about the country's future.

The annual event is an opportunity for politicians to make their case in front of a very important voting bloc in America: evangelical Christians.

One by one, they came to the stage, weaving a message of faith and freedom. Some of them were possible presidential candidates, like former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Others, like the new House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, came preaching a message of conservative unity, despite the disputes over the direction of the party between the Tea Party and establishment conservatives.

Backstage, in an exclusive interview with CBN News, McCarthy played up the harmony theme.

"First and foremost I want to make sure that we're united. But we want to change the country. We want to change the direction," he said.

"I want to restructure government itself, these agencies have become too large. They need to be streamlined. There is too much duplication in it as well. We want to unshackle what has held us back for so long," McCarthy added.

Division Over Iraq

McCarthy and GOP leadership in both the House and Senate will also have to confront a divide on what to do in Iraq.

Some lawmakers, like Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., say decisive military action needs to be taken. Other Republicans aren't so sure they want to get involved in this fight. Rubio feels that's a mistake.

"They're wrong," he said. "We're going to have to deal with ISIS."

"The choice for us is not whether or not we're going to have to deal with them. The choice is do we deal with them now while they are still kind of scattered or do we deal with them in 10 years or five years when they own a piece of land and they have their own country and they use it to plan and carry out attacks that kill Americans here and around the world," Rubio explained.

Rubio will surely play up his hawkish views if he runs for president.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is also considering a run for president. He came touting his pro-life credentials, complete with a video before his introduction. He's a bit on the defensive after he recently said how Republicans might need to agree to disagree on social issues.

"I don't want to change our party. We need to be the pro-life party, the pro-traditional marriage party. But can we accept people, some people who don't agree with those issues in the party?" Rand challenged.

"I think that if we are not so strident to push people away, maybe having some people in the party that don't all agree with us, maybe we'll have some chance to persuade them. And we'll be a bigger party," he concluded.

Clinton-Obama Administration?

One item all these speakers seemed to agree upon was that religious liberty is under attack, whether through Obamacare here at home or abroad, where Christians are being persecuted for their faith.

They also agrees that they don't want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., said that would be a nightmare.

"She will be Barack Obama's 3rd and 4th term, fundamentally transforming the United States of America away from the principles that the founders bled and died to give us," Bachmann warned.

It is those founder's principles that the Faith and Freedom crowd are fighting for.

The goal for them now is to mobilize other voters of faith to make a difference at the ballot box. The polling shows that when evangelical Christians show up, they can make the difference.

The Presbyterians and Anti-Christ

Monday, June 23, 2014 |  Tsvi Sadan  ISRAEL TODAY

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The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) continues its spiritual and social war against the people of Israel.

In my article "The Impossible People and PCUSA" (subscribe now to read it in the next Israel Today Magazine), I talk about this Church's new educational resource called "Zionism Unsettled: A Congregational Study Guide." This booklet should have created a loud Christian protest, particularly after the praise it received from White Supremacist leader David Duke.

I do not know if there were institutional Christian protests against PCUSA, but even if there were, the Presbyterians remained resolute in sticking to their defiled theology that denies not only the existence of Israel, but the existence of the people of Israel.

The 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church that was held from June 14-21, 2014 at the COBO Center in downtown Detroit, Michigan, generated a lot of Twitter posts that protested its resolution "to divest from three corporations – Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions."

Though this resolution clarifies that it does not constitute divestment from Israel itself, the justification for boycotting specifically these three corporations seemed to be a bit evasive.

The explanation that these specific corporations are supporting "non-peaceful pursuits" is hardly satisfying, and raises suspicion that, for example, Caterpillar is not being targeted because its bulldozers are moving earth in Syria, but because they are used by the IDF. Likewise, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard are targets not because they sell cellphones and printers to Iran, but because they have large operations in Israel.

The problematic element is, therefore, not what the PCUSA calls "non-peaceful pursuits." The problematic element is Israel.

That Israel itself is the target can be seen in another resolution, brought to my attention by the "Elder of Zion" blog. Though voted down, the suggestion and the reaction to it can teach us what's happening within the Presbytery's bowels.

The item under discussion, submitted by the Presbytery of Chicago, was "On Distinguishing Between Biblical Terms for Israel and Those Applied to the Modern Political State of Israel in Christian Liturgy." Though no resolution was reached, the General Assembly nevertheless recommended distinguishing between ancient Israel and the modern political State of Israel.

The General Assembly suggests that its new hymnal replace "the unfortunate heading: 'God's covenant with Israel'" with "God's Covenant with Ancient Israel," or even with "Our Covenant with the Oppressed." 

It further instructs the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Mission Agency as follow:

"Note that in using these texts that the biblical and liturgical 'land of Israel' is not the same as the State of Israel established in 1948, which is a contemporary nation state. The Bible contains differing descriptions of the parameters of Israel. Promises of land generally come with obligations to God for justice to be practiced with all inhabitants. Later in Scripture, the Gospel is to be preached to 'all nations'; in Jesus Christ all peoples are included in God's promise. Similarly, 'Zion' is frequently used in the Bible as a reference to the city of Jerusalem, but in Christian tradition this does not refer primarily to a specific geographical location or political entity but to 'the city of God' found throughout history and to the completion of God's purpose in the age to come."

Let no one be fooled. The motion to erase Israel from the Presbyterian vocabulary is a motion to erase Israel, and boycotting Caterpillar is one way to achieve this anti-Christ goal.

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