After a year of escalating violence between warring factions in Northern Ethiopia, the Ethiopian government declared a state of emergency this week. The conflict may affect the capital city of Addis Ababa in the coming days or weeks. 

We at Jewish Voice are deeply concerned for the citizens of Ethiopia in light of this dramatic escalation. On our hearts especially are the many dear congregations and brothers and sisters in the Lord that we know and love there, as well as our NGO staff and in particular, precious family members of some of our USA team. 

““Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Psalm 122:6 (NIV)

Shalom, my friend. 

With so much tension and turmoil stirring against the Jewish people – with Hamas, Iran and those who are eager to see Israel destroyed — we must engage in battle through our prayers by asking God to intervene and accomplish His purposes. 

And this isn’t just about the global enemies who are surrounding Israel – it’s also about our own lives. We must be a people of prayer. That in every circumstance we face, we’re quick to hand over our cares and concerns to God.

Nothing moves the heart of God like the prayers of His people. 

That’s why, as you pray over the challenges – and as you join with us to pray over God’s people – you can know that He is eager to hear your heart and respond in His time.

CYBERATTACK IN IRAN – ISLAMIC REPUBLIC CASTS BLAME ON FOREIGN STATE

According to The Times of Israel, Iran’s subsidized fuel distribution system was partially restored late last week following an unprecedented cyberattack by unknown perpetrators last Tuesday.

Shortly after the disruption, which crippled Iran’s fuel distribution network and left frustrated motorists stranded, The Times of Israel reported that Iranian authorities said the system would be fully up and running this week.

Iranian authorities said the results of an investigation into the alleged attack would be ready within 10 days, and that it may have originated from outside Iran.

Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, told reporters that his country must be “seriously prepared” against cyberattacks. President Raisi also said that the attack was designed to get “people angry by creating disorder and disruption.”

The Times of Israel reports that Iran has blamed Israel for provoking unrest during protests in the past. As early as July of this year, Iran claimed to have arrested a Mossad cell that planned to provoke violence during demonstrations over water shortages in the country.

While Iran didn’t call out Israel specifically, we’ll be watching in the weeks ahead for the release of the Islamic Republic’s investigation. 

CURRENT PRIME MINISTER CLAIMS TRANSFER OF POWER IN ISRAEL UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN

According to Ynet News, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett privately delivered comments predicting that his government would not last long enough for Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to become prime minister.

As reported, Bennet told news outlets late last week, “I estimate that the rotation will not happen. There is a considerable chance that the government will dissolve between the budget and the time of the change of power, for various reasons.”

When asked about the report, Bennett’s office confirmed that the prime minister made the remarks but insists that the premier will honor the previously-agreed-upon power-sharing deal, nonetheless.

“The partnership with Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is based on mutual trust and fairness,” the Prime Minister’s Office responded to news outlets.

Lapid has been serving as Israel’s alternate prime minister since Bennett’s coalition government unseated former longtime leader Benjamin Netanyahu in June.

He is supposed to take over Bennett’s role as prime minister in August 2023 as part of a power-sharing deal the two politicians struck to form their government.

REPORT FINDS IDF COMPLIED WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW IN GAZA WAR IN MAY WHILE HAMAS SPREAD DISINFORMATION

The Jerusalem Post reported late last week that the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) issued their findings on the conflict with Hamas that broke out in May.

The findings indicated the IDF complied with the law of armed conflict and “consistently implemented precautions to mitigate civilian risk.” 

In addition, The Jerusalem Post also reported that despite accusations from human rights groups that Israel violated international law, some Israeli precautions actually exceeded “those implemented in recent U.S. combat operations that we participated in, despite confronting an adversary that often sought to exacerbate that risk deliberately.” 

But although the JINSA findings indicated that the IDF’s conduct of the war complied with international law, it also highlighted that “a significant gap between this reality of IDF LOAC [Law of Armed Conflict] compliance, and of Hamas’s violation of it, and the public’s perception. Israel’s messaging efforts were unable to close this gap.”

If the IDF was mostly focused on degrading Hamas’s attack capabilities, the Gazan terror group was equally investing resources in a massive disinformation campaign to delegitimize Israel, alongside its firing of rockets at Israeli civilians.

The Jerusalem Post also reported that the JINSA findings called out numerous organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch – organizations claiming to be experts in the relationship between law and military operations – who quickly seemed to accept Hamas’s assertions of unlawful IDF operations.

Tracking the disinformation campaign against the IDF, the JINSA said that the problem started with “the media and public’s misunderstanding of how LOAC applies to military operations – especially the false assumption that the effect of an attack, and especially the presence of civilian casualties.”

“Coupled with social media’s ability to transmit graphic images rapidly and globally without explanatory context,” JINSA said Hamas succeeded at making “audiences more receptive to Hamas’s disinformation that Gazan suffering was evidence of Israeli LOAC violations.”

The JINSA authors included about a dozen senior and retired U.S. military officers who traveled to Israel to examine the actions of both sides and included the following: Lt.-Gen. Robert Ashley, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; Lt.-Gen. John M. Bednarek, former senior defense official in Iraq; Lt.-Col. Geoffrey S. Corn, the former chief international lawyer for U.S. Army Europe and others.

Let Us Pray Together

Please pray with me for:

• God to move in the heart of Iranian leaders and officials to join the table of diplomacy and prevent any violence or potential war
• God to give wisdom and insight to Israeli leaders as they navigate threats from enemies who are surrounding them
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah

Eight-year-old Esther Gever laid hold of her father’s arm in their Vienna home, facing off against the Nazi soldier trying to take him away. “No! You cannot take my father!” she asserted. “Why would you take my father?” The soldier growled back, “Because he is a Jew.” Esther persisted, “You will not take him! He didn’t do anything.” The soldier had had enough of this little girl standing in his way, slowing down his dirty business that night. He grabbed Esther by the front of her shirt and threw her hard against the wall. Esther blacked out. What was Kristallnacht? Scenes like this one – played out in various ways in Jewish homes all across Hitler’s domain.

What was Kristallnacht?

Kristallnacht defined means “night of broken glass.” The event was a coordinated attack on the Jewish people in Germany and other areas under Nazi control. On the night of November 9–10, 1938, German citizens smashed the windows of Jewish businesses, looting and vandalizing till nothing was left to salvage.

Spurred by years of anti-Semitic propaganda and riled by a Jewish teenager’s revenge murder of a German diplomat, ordinary citizens formed mobs. They followed German soldiers to Jewish homes to arrest Jewish men, young and old, and terrorize Jewish families. They threw bricks through windows, rammed through front doors and ransacked Jewish families’ possessions. Some seemed determined to do as much damage as possible – slashing pillows and pictures, smashing furniture and stealing valuables. They roughed up whomever they chose or got in their way.

Some of the Jewish people had been vaguely alerted in advance. They’d heard rumors that something was afoot that day or received somber advice from kind-hearted neighbors or Jewish relatives in other cities already hit: “Stay home. Tell the men to hide. Do not go outside.” Jewish people who were unfortunate enough to be on the streets were often savagely beaten by people they once considered neighbors and friends – along with thugs brought in to accelerate the frenzy.

Mobs set fire to synagogues, cheering as new bursts of flame erupted. When a synagogue blaze was risky for nearby non-Jewish structures, crowds instead drug sacred books, Torah scrolls, and furnishings into the street and made a bonfire of them. Inside, they ransacked the worship houses and stole valuables.

Local authorities told to stand down

Meanwhile, police stood by, unable, unwilling and ordered not to do anything – even when bloodthirsty mobs invaded Jewish orphanages and hospitals, rousting little ones into the cold night in their nightshirts and bare feet.

What was Kristallnacht? It was a night of broken humanity. In all, Nazi soldiers and wild mobs murdered 91 Jewish people, destroyed hundreds of synagogues, looted and ransacked thousands of Jewish homes, businesses, schools and hospitals. Aside from this, they arrested tens of thousands of Jewish men, hauling them off to concentration and labor camps. One of them was Esther’s father.

For weeks, Esther’s family inquired with Jewish neighbors trying to learn where Hitler’s soldiers had taken the men. After three weeks, they received a censored postcard from Dachau concentration camp. Between blackened-out words, they read that he loved and missed them and that he was “well” – though they didn’t trust that he was. Many of the men arrested on Kristallnacht were released after a few months. The following year, after Esther’s father returned home, the family fled to Poland. When the war’s danger followed them, they headed to Siberia, where Esther’s mother died. Esther moved to Israel in 1949 and to the U.S. in 1959.

Along with a night of unchecked – indeed encouraged – rioting and hatred toward Jewish people, Kristallnacht was also the proof Hitler needed to proceed with his plans in confidence. The Night of Broken Glass showed him that the masses would not rise up against his plans to eliminate the Jewish people from among them. For the most part, Kristallnacht proved that Hitler had successfully stirred the non-Jewish population to wild hatred of the Jewish people or frightened them enough to stand by and let it unfold. And so he proceeded with his “Final Solution,” executing 6 million Jewish people before he was stopped.

What was Kristallnacht? It was a warning for us today, showing us how human nature can be turned, manipulated, and run wild with prejudice. Anti-Semitism is very much alive today, more than 70 years after the horrors of the Holocaust. This Kristallnacht, and every day, let’s pray for God to bring it to an end and for His peace to reign on Earth. Pray with us for Holocaust survivors everywhere to come to know the eternal peace and love of Messiah Jesus.

Sources:

Holocaust Survivors Remember Kristallnacht, Encyclopedia Britannica YouTube channel showing 1994-2008 USC Shoah Foundation Institute video

The Lucky Ones, Esther Gever. New Friends Publishing book page

““Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Psalm 122:6 (NIV)

Shalom, my friend.  

While the Scriptures tell us to pray for the “peace of Jerusalem” in any and every season — my heart is moved for us to be more vigilant in prayer than ever before.  

While all indications appear that war with Iran seems to be inevitable and even imminent, we know that God has the power to change hearts, lives and circumstances.  

I’m sure you’ve experienced God’s supernatural presence in your own life. And I hope you’ll hold up your experience as a point of confidence and faith as, together, we ask God to bring His peace to Jerusalem, to Israel and to the Jewish people.  

“CONFRONTATION WITH IRAN IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME . . . AND NOT A LOT OF TIME” 

Israeli Finance Minister, Avigdor Liberman, told reporters late last week that a confrontation between Israel and Iran is inevitable. His comment comes, according to Ynet News, in response to questions regarding the overall efforts being made to bring Tehran back to the 2015 nuclear deal.  

While there have been hints out of Iran that negotiations of some form will continue, Tehran continues their nuclear program development — refusing to abide by the 2015 nuclear agreement. 

“A confrontation with Iran is only a matter of time, and not a lot of time,” Liberman continued. “No diplomatic move or agreement will stop the Iranian nuclear program. This is a problem of the international community but first of all ours because they have stated that their policy is the destruction of Israel, and they do mean it.” 

The Finance Minister, as reported by Ynet News, also added that the Israeli government recently approved a $1.5 billion budget to prepare for a strike against Iran. 

ISRAEL, IRAN SEPARATELY RUN AERIAL DRILLS IN PREPARATION FOR POTENTIAL MILITARY CLASH 

The Jerusalem Post reported last week that both Israel and Iran are reportedly holding large-scale aerial exercises. This report comes as tension between both countries continues to accelerate. 

The Jerusalem Post indicated that Israel and seven nations – Germany, Italy, Britain, France, India, Greece and the US – are participating in Blue Flag 2021, the largest and most advanced aerial exercise ever held in the Jewish State. 

This year’s drills will focus on the integration of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft, including the F-35 Adir in complex operational scenarios, the Israeli military said. 

Israeli Air Force commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin told reporters that the threats posed to Israel continue to increase and that the drill is a “steppingstone” toward cooperation with other countries in the region. 

“We are living in a very complicated region, and the threats to the State of Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran are only increasing,” Maj.-Gen. Norkin said. “Holding an international exercise in this current reality, while continuing our public and covert operational activities on all fronts, is of utmost strategic importance and has an extensive impact over the Israeli Air Force, the IDF and the State of Israel.” 

Meanwhile, according to The Jerusalem Post, Iran’s Air Force kicked off Modafe’an Aseman-e Velayat 1400 (Guardians of ‘Velayat Sky’ 1400) last week, which is aimed at testing the capabilities of the Islamic Republic’s Air Force. 

As reported by The Jerusalem Post, the drill will see the use of indigenous and upgraded systems and weapons, including heavy and semi-heavy smart bombs, all kinds of laser, television, thermal, radar missiles, rockets and bombs. 

Iranian F-4, F-5 and F-7 fighter aircraft as well as Sukhoi Su-27s, F-14s, Mirage F1s, and MiG-29s, are taking part in the drill. 

ISRAELI AIR FORCE DRAWS UP PLANS FOR STRIKES ON TEHRAN’S NUCLEAR SITES 

In light of growing uncertainty regarding a return by Iran to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), amid long-stalled negotiations with the United States, The Times of Israel reported earlier this week that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in recent months has ramped up its efforts to prepare a credible military threat against Tehran’s nuclear facilities. 

At the beginning of this year, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi announced he had instructed the military to begin drawing up fresh attack plans, and last week the government reportedly allocated billions of shekels toward making those plans viable. 

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared that “Iran’s nuclear program has hit a watershed moment, and so has our tolerance. Words do not stop centrifuges from spinning . . . We will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.” 

Earlier this week, The Times of Israel indicated that they had learned that some aspects of the strike plan, which is still in the “draft” stage, could be ready within a short period of time, while others would take more than a year to be fully actionable. 

Preparing for such a strike has become a top priority for the Israeli Air Force and making the necessary preparations has required changes to its training schedule. 

In addition to having to find ways to strike Iranian facilities that are buried deep underground, requiring specialized munitions and tactics, the Israeli Air Force will have to deal with increasingly sophisticated Iranian air defenses in order to conduct such a strike. The air force will also have to prepare for an expected retaliation against Israel by Iran and its allies throughout the region. 

ISRAEL TO OPEN BORDERS TO VACCINATED TOURISTS STARTING NOVEMBER 1 

Ynet News reported that, while waiting for the final approval of the Coronavirus Cabinet, Israel’s Health Ministry has agreed to open Israel’s borders for vaccinated tourists, starting next week. 

This decision, however, comes with a variety of conditions for entry, depending upon the tourist’s country, vaccination type and/or recovery from COVID.  

Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov said this was only the beginning of the resumption of tourism to Israel.  

“I commend Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz for maintaining a balance between public health and a robust economy, and thank the professional staff that has worked hard to bring the tourism industry back,” Razvozov said. 

Let Us Pray Together 

Please pray with me for: 

• God to give wisdom and insight to Israeli and global leaders as tensions continue to escalate in regard to Iran’s nuclear threat 
• God to move in the heart of Iranian leaders and officials to join the table of diplomacy and prevent any violence or potential war 
• God to protect His people, their neighbors and tourists as the Israeli borders open amidst the ongoing effects of COVID-19  
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies 
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we have not been able to visit this land and its people as often as we would’ve liked over the past two years. But now we have a great opportunity and are asking for your fervent prayers.

We have permission to hold a Medical Outreach from November 7 through 11 in Zimbabwe. It will be on a smaller scale than the large ones we typically hold, but we know, by God’s grace, it will hugely impact the people of a rural region in southwestern Zimbabwe.

We first visited this particular area on a scouting trip and again during our Food Distribution Outreach earlier this year. We are so grateful to be able to return. Please join us in covering every aspect of this Medical Outreach in prayer:

Wednesday, October 27 – Wednesday, November 3

Preparations | John 9:4

• Our Global Outreach staff, who are simultaneously completing the last details of our recent Ethiopia Outreach while quickly taking care of every logistic required to launch this Zimbabwe Outreach successfully
• Preparation of the local clinic we will use and the property that will serve as campgrounds for the team and volunteers
• Spiritual preparation of the region, in which witchcraft and other practices are quite common. May the Lord’s presence prepare the way, pushing back the darkness and any forms of opposition in response to our prayers

Thursday, November 4 – Friday, November 5

Travels and Adjustments | Psalm 34:10b

• Our small team of Outreach volunteers as they prepare to leave home and serve in various capacities
• Safe travel and timely arrivals for all team members, in-country medical professionals and international volunteers
• Good health and negative COVID-19 tests at every checkpoint

Saturday, November 6 – Sunday, November 7 

Set-up and Clinic Opening | Colossians 3:23

• The ability to effectively minister to local congregation members and their families and neighbors
• Favor among local officials and tribal elders, leading to open doors for ministry now and in the future
• A God-ordained plan for spiritual care that will lead to many coming to know Yeshua (Jesus)
• Unity and effective communication between everyone working to see this Outreach glorify God

Monday, November 8 – Wednesday, November 10

Worship and Work | I Chronicles 16:11

• Fervent, daily prayer and worship that affect the spiritual atmosphere as well as impact all those who are investing time and spiritual energy to serve this week
• Open hearts to receive not only medical care but also spiritual care and, most essentially, salvation
• The Spirit of the Lord to move in power wherever our Spiritual Care team ministers
• Open doors, favor, and kingdom impact for the Living Waters team as they distribute family-sized LifeStraws® and share the Good News in the community

Thursday, November 11 – Sunday, November 14

Closing and Returning | Numbers 6:24-26

• Protection over every aspect of closing out the Medical Clinic and traveling home
• The Lord’s blessing to rest upon the community as we leave – and upon all those who have served
• Timely follow-up as the local Zimbabwean team meets with individuals to review the use of LifeStraws® and once again share Good News
• Encouragement and growth for the local congregation, leading to more significant spiritual impact in the region

We continue to pray that more doors will open for effective ministry in many places, wherever the Lord may lead us. But for now, we focus our prayerful attention on this particular location and Outreach.

Let’s pray:

Lord, for the last several years, we have sensed You highlighting this area of Zimbabwe, and we are so glad to be going there again as You have opened doors and prepared the way. God of Miracles, we ask You for the healing, deliverance, and salvation that You alone can give. May this small Medical Clinic glean enormous and eternal results. Continue to prompt us to pray as we partner with You in the work of Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

God is always faithful. I can say that with faith and confidence — even after the adversities we’ve faced these last 18 months.

As you know, the pandemic created many challenges for our ministry over this past year and a half — especially in Africa. But COVID-19 doesn’t stop our God! During this time, He has opened up new opportunities to meet needs, offer encouragement and share the Good News with Jewish communities.

A recent trip to Zimbabwe is a perfect example of this. We typically hold Outreaches that provide medical care, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, our focus changed.

God opened the door for our Jewish Voice team to spend 11 days traveling throughout the country — encouraging, praying and ministering with local Messianic Jewish congregations we partner with. Many of the people within these congregations — and in the surrounding communities — are Lemba, a tribe of African Jewish people who are members of the “Lost Tribes of Israel.”

God blessed our time together as we served numerous communities with much-needed food items and spiritual encouragement! Our team shared with me that they experienced such joy as they worshipped side by side with these Messianic Jewish Believers.

Despite their country’s economic instability, political turmoil and health challenges due to the pandemic, these Believers rejoice because of their love for Jesus, their Messiah.

Jewish Voice has helped establish over 150 Messianic Jewish congregations in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia, thanks to the help of partners like you. These groups of Jewish Believers meet regularly and help meet the needs of their communities — while they share their faith in Jesus.

I’m writing to ask for your continued prayers and a financial gift to support this life-changing work with Messianic Jewish congregations in Africa.

Here is what one of our staff members shared about the recent Outreach in Zimbabwe:

“This was an incredible Outreach! Our team was able to pray for and encourage so many of our Lemba brothers and sisters, while distributing essential food items and LifeStraw family filters in this most challenging time. Please join us in prayer as we seek the Lord on how to continue to strengthen the many congregations.”

Please give today. Together, through the congregations in-country, we’re able to meet physical and spiritual needs. And while we’ve seen incredible success and lives transformed, we must do more!

When you partner with Jewish Voice, you’ll provide real encouragement and practical help to the congregations we helped establish in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and elsewhere as they minister in their communities. Your gift will help equip these congregations to meet spiritual needs — from encouraging Messianic Jewish Believers to grow in their faith to introducing people to Yeshua
(Jesus) as their Messiah.

And when you send a gift today of any amount, we want to send you our 12 Tribes of Israel Bracelet. It is my hope that it will remind you to pray for the Lemba people and the work God is doing among these congregations. I also hope it will remind you of the important difference you are making through your support.

If you’re able to give $50 or more, in addition to the 12 Tribes of Israel Bracelet, we’ll send you our exclusive JVMI Boxed Notecards. You’ll receive 18 cards, three each of six different beautiful photos taken at our Outreaches and Festivals.

As we enter this season of thanksgiving, please prayerfully consider how you can be a blessing to fellow Messianic Jewish Believers in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe through your giving. Thank you.

“The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace.”
Psalm 29:11 (NIV)

Shalom, my friend. 

As I write to you today, my attention is turned towards the words of the Psalmist who acknowledges the reality of God strengthening His people — and blessing them with peace. 

There’s an underlying tension in the above verse. We will face circumstances that will require a supernatural measure of strength to endure and overcome. But in the midst of it all we’ll experience the blessing of peace.

I pray over you now that God would give you strength and peace, no matter what you’re facing today. And as Israel and the Jewish people continue to face the threats and uncertainty of the future of Iran, I also ask that you join with me and everyone at Jewish Voice as we pray for God’s strength over His people – and His blessing of peace. 

ISRAEL, U.S. DISCUSS “PLAN B” FOR IRANIAN NUCLEAR THREAT

The Washington Post reported late last week that U.S. and Israeli officials are exploring a “Plan B” for dealing with Iran if the Islamic Republic does not return to negotiations to salvage the languishing 2015 nuclear deal.

According to The Washington Post, details of any other options were not publicly released, though there are a wide range of non-diplomatic options that could be considered – ranging from stepped up sanctions to covert or military actions. But The Washington Post did report that a Biden administration priority has been to revive the deal, and abandoning that goal would be a blow to its foreign policy objectives.

At a joint news conference at the State Department, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the window for Iran to return to the agreement is closing but again declined to give a date at which it would be too late. “Time is running short,” he said. “We are prepared to turn to other options if Iran doesn’t change course, and these consultations with our allies and partners are part of it.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, according to The Washington Post, was much more blunt – raising anew Israel’s warnings that it will act, with military force if necessary, to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

“There are moments when nations must use force to protect the world from evil,” he said. “If a terror regime is going to acquire a nuclear weapon we must act. We must make clear that the civilized world won’t allow it. If the Iranians don’t believe the world is serious about stopping them, they will race to the bomb.”
 
The Washington Post further reported that those concerns appear to have struck a chord within the Biden administration, which is loath to appear less than supportive of Israel. 

Before Blinken and Lapid spoke, the administration’s special envoy for Iran negotiations, Robert Malley, made similar comments about exploring paths beyond diplomacy with Iran.

“We have to prepare for a world where Iran doesn’t have constraints on its nuclear program and we have to consider options for dealing with that,” Malley said. “We will be prepared to adjust to a different reality in which we have to deal with all options to address Iran’s nuclear program if it’s not prepared to come back,” he said. “There is every possibility that Iran will choose a different path, and we need to coordinate with Israel and other partners in the region.”

IRAN’S U.N. AMBASSADOR WARNS ISRAEL AGAINST THREATENING IRAN

The Jerusalem Post reported last week that Majid Takht Ravanchi, the Iranian ambassador to the U.N., slammed Israel, claiming that “over the past months, the number and intensity of Israeli regime provocative and adventurous threats has steadily increased to alarming levels.” 

According to The Jerusalem Post, Ravanchi has slammed Israel in the past. 

Several weeks ago, he complained about Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s speech, claiming it was “full of lies.” Bennett said that Iran was trying to dominate the region. “Iran-phobia runs rampant at the U.N. The Israeli regime PM’s speech was full of lies on Iran,” Ravanchi said.  

Now Iran is angry about comments reported from Israel. The Jerusalem Post reports that the quote that has Iran up in arms was the warning from Israel’s IDF Chief of Staff – “Operations to destroy Iran's capabilities in various fields will continue at any time.”

Iran says there are explicit systematic threats by the Israeli “regime”, and that this constitutes a violation of international law. This coming from the same country whose leaders often threaten to destroy Israel. 

The Jerusalem Post comments that Iran, in this sense, is playing the victim, which is interesting. It basically admits it has a dangerous nuclear program, but at the same time wants that program to be protected – which shows that Iran is concerned about Israel’s recent comments and actions.

“PEACE IS THE VICTORY OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN US”

Last week a Knesset event was held to commemorate the first anniversary of the Abraham Accords. 

According to Hamodia, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, is quoted as saying, “The Abraham Accords will go down in history as one of the moments when people chose life. The new government in Israel not only accepted and embraced the Abraham Accords, but it also moved them forward. It made them a lever of a new reality: economic, security and political.”

In addition to words of gratitude for former Israeli Prime Minister and current Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump for leading the agreements, Lapid called on other countries to join the accords, notably the Palestinian Authority. 

“I take this opportunity to call on the Palestinians, as well as the citizens of every Arab nation, to turn to peace. The people of Israel have not returned to their ancient homeland to fight, but to build a life of prosperity and good neighborliness here.

“I call upon the Palestinians, and every Arab nation that is listening: We seek peace. Peace is not a compromise or a weakness but rather an embodiment of the human spirit. Those living in the Middle East are welcome to look around and see which countries are in a better position – those who seek peace, or those who seek war.

“If you decide to join the Abraham Accords, to bring prosperity, jobs, a culture of progress and success to your peoples – our hand is extended to you. Let’s do it together.

COVID: ISRAEL TO GIVE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE TO THOSE AFFECTED BY PFIZER

The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel will start offering the option of receiving the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine starting this week.

The vaccine will be available with a specific medical referral, which will be given to those who cannot receive an mRNA vaccine for medical reasons, those who have experienced significant side effects after Pfizer or those who have other special circumstances.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the vaccine by AstraZeneca is based on a different technology than Pfizer’s and Moderna’s, which are both messenger RNA vaccines. AstraZeneca uses a weakened animal virus as a viral vector. It contains the coronavirus spike protein so that the body’s cells will be able to recognize it and produce antibodies.

Individuals who receive two AstraZeneca shots or get a shot of AstraZeneca after receiving one Pfizer vaccination will be considered fully protected 14 days after the second shot.

Individuals who receive a booster shot of AstraZeneca will also be considered inoculated after two weeks (for Pfizer it is after seven days).

As of Monday, 6.2 million Israelis have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, 5.7 million at least two and 3.8 million have been inoculated also with a booster.

On Monday, Israel was expected to pass 8,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. In the morning, the death toll stood at 7,999.

In the past month, on average, 15 people succumbed to the virus every day. Since the beginning of October, 213 people have died of COVID in Israel. 

Let Us Pray Together

Please pray with me for:

• God to bless the efforts and the intention of the Abraham Accords – bringing peace and prosperity to regions rife with turmoil and violence 
• God to give wisdom and insight to Israeli and global leaders as they continue to navigate the nuclear threat from Iran 
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah

From drugs and violence to hope for a better future

You helped a young family make it through the pandemic

Kalia has three young children and is doing her best to raise them all by herself in a country that is not familiar to her.

When Kalia and her husband moved from Ukraine to Israel, they just had one child, Daniel. Her husband was in recovery for his drug addiction.

Subsequently, the couple had another child, Vivian. She is severely disabled because of her father’s drug abuse. It was a constant struggle to make ends meet and provide for their kids.

Kalia’s husband entered multiple drug rehab programs. He would get better for a little while, but ultimately end up taking drugs again.

He was violent at times and even though Kalia fought for her marriage, she ended up feeling hopeless and alone. For years, Kalia was responsible for providing for her family. With two young children, she could only work while they were in school. She didn’t make much and because she wasn’t a full citizen of Israel yet, Kalia didn’t receive any social benefits.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the kids were at home so Kalia wasn’t able to work at all.

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Your support helped put food on their table

Thankfully, one of Jewish Voice’s partner ministries stepped in to help this young family. Your support means Kalia and her kids received groceries and other needed supplies.

Kalia and her husband reconciled briefly, and she got pregnant. But after the birth of another child and then a painful separation with her husband, Kalia and her children need help more than ever.

A volunteer from our partner ministry does the grocery shopping for Kalia and her kids and even helps cook meals for them.

In addition, a ministry staff member regularly visits the family and takes Daniel for play dates with other kids since Kalia needs to be home with Vivian and the baby.

Bringing hope to a whole family

Kalia takes part in regular prayer counseling and a peer support group for single moms. The ministry is also able to serve as a liaison between Kalia and the government agencies she is working with to get benefit assistance for her family.

Daniel enjoys being involved in the ministry’s children’s programs. Kalia and her kids have hope for a brighter future today – thanks to your support of Jewish Voice and our partner ministries in Israel.

You are blessing single moms, widows and orphans, recent immigrants, Holocaust survivors and other Jewish people in need in Israel.

Together we are changing lives in the name of Jesus the Messiah!

Thank you!