Recent Protests for Human Rights in Israel
Recently, advocates for women's rights in Israel held a large protest against the extreme ultra-Orthodox organization, Eda Haredit. These and other members of ultra-Orthodox sects have sought to impose very restrictive standards in territory where they have a significant number of residents. This includes making women walk on the other side of the street so that the men will not be defiled by accidental contact, rigidly modest dress codes and forcing women to ride in the back of public buses that provide service to ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods.
The “Peace Process” is dead and no one is mourning - but where do we go from here? Politicians wring their hands, heads of state pout and point the finger of blame at Israel. Meanwhile our Israeli leaders try every politically correct way to explain why we have a right to be here. We’ve heard history lessons ad nauseam, seen glowing reports of wondrous Israeli inventions showing how important we are for the world, what an island of democracy we are in a sea of totalitarianism, etc., etc.
On the 23rd of September 2011, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas submitted a formal request to the United Nations to recognize an independent state of Palestine. The proposal was then handed over to the UN Security Council, where it is currently being debated and will likely not be accepted due to a veto by the United States. These events have caused uncertainty and speculation as Israelis consider the future and the implications of the Palestinian move. Most believe that it will be harmful to the peace process, though the Palestinians have rejected Israeli and international offers to return to negotiations. With relations between Israel and the Palestinians at another low point, increasing Turkish belligerence, doubt over relations with Egypt, and the Iranian nuclear program it can be difficult to think about the future and have any hope for peace in this world. Our only peace is in God alone; the Prince of Peace –Yeshua the Messiah!
In late November the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) honored the Body of Messiah in an official session. Israeli leaders thanked a delegation of Believers from around the world for giving aid to Holocaust survivors and for continuing to support the nation of Israel.
Hanukkah, also known as The Festival of Lights, commemorates a time when the Jews took possession of Jerusalem from the Greeks and found a tiny flask of oil that miraculously stayed lit for 8 nights. It is a holiday that reminds us to put our hope and trust in an awesome and powerful God.
Article is written in Hebrew (kehila.org/he/posts/258-being-prepared-spiritually-for-the-marriage-life) and taken from the dating site www.2echad.com
כאשר אדם חושב על מקצוע או קריירה, עליו קודם כל ללמוד תקופה מסוימת כדי להכין את עצמו כך שיקבלו אותו לעבודה בתחום שבו הוא חפץ לעבוד. לגבי הנישואין, אין שום קורס הכנה אשר מחייבים אותך לקחת לפני הנישואין. ייתכן שבקהילתך, אחד האחים המבוגרים יותר באמונה מקיים שיעורים עם אלו החפצים להינשא על מנת להכין אותם לחיי הנישואין, אך עדיין לא מדובר כאן על תקופת הכשרה של שנים כמו בלימודים.
חיי הנישואין הם אחד הדברים החשובים ביותר בחיי האדם לאחר האמונה באלוהים, לכן חשוב מאוד להכין את עצמך לחיים האלה, אם ברצונך להצליח בחיי הנישואין שלך. יש תרבויות המחייבות את הגבר ו/או את הורי הכלה להכין את עצמם מבחינה כלכלית לפני החתונה, ומצפים שביום החתונה יהיה לזוג הנשוי בסיס כלכלי יציב. אינני טוען שכמאמינים אסור לנו לחשוב ולדאוג לצד החומרי, אך ברור שבסיס כלכלי יציב אינו הכל בחיי הנישואין. הדוגמא הכי פשוטה היא של הורים עשירים אשר אינם יודעים כיצד לחנך את ילדיהם, משום שהכסף אינו יכול לחנך אותם.
News reports in Israel, both in the print and television media, are constantly filled with news on the Iranian nuclear threat and with speculation on whether or not Israel will carry out a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. In addition to discussing the threat and debating the best course of action to counter Iran, concern and worry abound over the consequences, such as a regional war or Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon, which would come about as a result of Israeli action or inaction. Adding to these concerns are the mysterious explosions that have occurred at Iranian military sites this month and the launch of 4 Katyusha rockets from Lebanon that struck northern Israel for the first time since 2009. In times of uncertainty such as these, and with an awareness that war is likely to come at some point, we must remember and remind others that our ultimate hope, strength and security is to be found in God and the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua. Furthermore, we must not lose hope in the face of adversity and trial, because we know that God is with us and protects us.
On Dec. 7, 2011 the Jerusalem Post published the story about the judges' decision that Jack Teitel is mentally fit to stand trial with an obvious downplay, calling our family "American Christian Missionaries". As most of you know, the word "missionary" demotes us to the status of someone being under the auspices of the Vatican, or criminals who bribe people to convert to another form of religion. In this mentality it means that you are a stranger, a non-Israeli that has no contribution to Israeli society. We wrote this letter to protest:
On November 11th 2011 believers around the world gathered in multiple locations in order to pray and worship the Living God. Avi was invited to the Rose Bowl Gathering: A Line in the Sand, as a representative of Israel and the Jewish People. Many of our ministry friends came with the Israeli delegation, including 6 members of Adonai Roi Congregation. In all, over 25,000 people gathered at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California and prayed for nearly 12 hours, 10am to 10pm.
By Caroline Glick Jerusalem Post 12/12/2011 23:20
Gingrich's statement about the Palestinians was entirely accurate. That is, the Palestinian people were invented 91 years ago.
In addition to the coffee shop and Bible store ministry that occurs at Dugit, as well as Dugit Live, we also seek to carry out outreach projects within Tel Aviv. Through these projects we desire to demonstrate the love of Yeshua to the people of Tel Aviv in both physical and spiritual ways.
