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The Silence is Almost Deafening
This is what one of my friends in Israel wrote me about a terrorist attack against a Messianic Jewish family Friday, March 21. CLICK HERE to read one of the first articles written after its occurrence in the Jerusalem Post.
During the Purim holiday on Friday morning a package was made to look like a Purim gift and was left on the doorstep of the home of David Ortiz a Messianic Pastor. David Ortiz's 15 year old son Ami sustained serious injuries from the blast after opening the package. CLICK HERE to read a personal e-mail account concerning the blast.
At first police thought it might be Palestinian terrorism, but now they're believing that it was from Jewish extremists. The boy had an 8-inch gash like someone slit his throat. He had ruptured lungs. Doctors had to operate on his tongue. He had second degree burns on his chest and arms, there was no flesh on his thighs and they had to amputate a couple of toes. Thankfully it appears that the boy will live. You can read a full report from the Jerusalem Post concerning the blast by CLICKING HERE. You can read an update concerning Ami from private e-mails that have been edited for security purposes, by CLICKING HERE.
When Palestinians attack Jewish settlements there has been a great deal of outrage from the Christian community. Now I ask the question: why would Christians be outraged about attacking innocent Jews, but be silent when one of our Christian brothers is attacked in such a savage way.
I am outraged about this attack. Israel is a democracy that guarantees everyone's freedom of religion. However, some of the anti-missionaries have been so vicious that now it has escalated to violence. Israel cannot allow this type of violence. Thankfully some Israelis are speaking up. But usually violence of this type if soon forgotten and no one is brought to justice.
Messianic Judaism, while still a small percentage of the population is growing rapidly and is considered to be a threat to some Orthodox Jews. I'm told that harassment of evangelical believers in general is increasing, especially against Messianic Jews. When I was at the Feast of Tabernacles last September, some Jewish leaders were telling others to boycott it because the thousands of Christians who were coming and showing unconditional love to the Jews were doing so with only one hidden agenda: to convert the Jews.
A couple of days after the attack a package was left on the doorstep of another Messianic family and of course because of the previous attach the family thought it might be another bomb. Thankfully it wasn't. CLICK HERE to read the article from Thursday, March 23.
Messianic believers in Israel are concerned that the violence is escalating and that this may be a new round of persecution. One of my friends sent me a private email which I've edited. You can read the anguish in his words if you CLICK HERE.
I'm not in Israel so I don't know if there is an outcry from Christian Zionists. If there is, I'd like to hear it. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and other Zionist groups should speak up even though they mostly distance themselves from the Messianics to try to be a little less controversial.
Most Americans have not heard about this. Most Christians have not heard about it. So in fairness there hasn't been time to make a public outcry here. We need to send this email to as many people as possible and urge leaders in the Jewish community to express their outrage.
In my work with Christians United for Israel I've gotten to know some high ranking Israeli officials, some of whom have become good friends. I'm going to write each one and ask them to stand with us when violence is perpetrated against evangelical Christians. Civilized people of all types should not tolerate this type of violence, but especially when it's violence against evangelicals in Israel especially when evangelicals are among the few friends Israel has--some would say the only friends Israel has.
Thankfully a few voices in Israel are speaking up.I've included an article (CLICK HERE) featured on YNetNews.com in which a Jewish writer compares this to an anti-Semitic attack that happened in France where the French officials bent over backwards to prove that all of France was not anti-Semitic. Now it's time for Israel, who now seems to appreciate support from the Evangelical Christian community, to show that they are not anti-Christians.
I've published many articles and several books that blast anti-Semitism. There's a long sad history of that. But there is also those who are anti-Christian. Many are secularists. Some are radical Muslims. But there are also ultra-Orthodox groups like Yad L'Achim who are responsible for constantly harassing Christian believers in Israel.
What can we do? I hope you join me in writing letters of concern on behalf of Evangelical and Messianic believers in Israel and bombard Israeli officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Tourism Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Ministry of Justice. Below I have included the links to their respective offices with their mailing address:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, www.mfa.gov.il/MFA
Tzipora Livini, MK, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs
9 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd.
Kiryat Ben-Gurion
Jerusalem 91035
Tel. 972-2-530-3111
Fax 972-2-530-3367
Ministry of Tourism, http://www.goisrael.com/
Rami Levi, Tourism Ambassador to North and South America
800 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
USA
Tel. 1-212-499-5650
Fax: 1-212-499-5655
Prime Minister's Office, www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng
Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister
3 Kaplan St.
Hakirya
Jerusalem 91950
Tel. 972-2-670-5555
Fax 972-2-670-5475
Ministry of Justice, www.justice.gov.il/mojeng
Daniel Friedmann, Minister of Justice
Salah -a - Din 29
P.O.Box 49029
Jerusalem 91490
Tel. 972-2-646-6340 ext.321
Fax 972-2-646-6357
When you contact them, say you're concerned about this violence and something needs to be done about it. It may or may not have been caused by these radical Orthodox Jews. But, someone did it and they should be brought to justice. Also say that Israel's reputation as a liberal democracy is at stake if they turn a blind eye to this type of violence. And, remind them to stand with the Evangelical Community as the Evangelical Community has stood by them.
I hope you join me in raising a voice of concern and support for believers in Israel!
Steve Strang
Publisher, Charisma
PS. Let me make this appeal to sign-up for the eNewsletter by entering your name and e-mail address at the top of this site. There is so much I want to share with you from my heart. Often there's an action item that I need to get tens of thousands of you to take--like I did this week. It's free. It's easy. And we'll even give you a $10 discount if you order $30 or more on StrangDirect.com. It's my "thank you" for subscribing and gives you an incentive to take advantage of some of the outstanding books that we believe will help you in your Christian walk. Many have already signed-up, but I want you to subscribe too. Please take advantage of this discount opportunity as it is offered for a limited time only.
I also want to remind you about joining me and Governor Mike Huckabee on a tele-conference call this Thursday, April 10th at 8 p.m. EDT. CLICK HERE to sign-up and receive information. More than 2700 signed-up for our call with Chuck Pierce a few weeks ago. Don't miss this opportunity to register and send in a question that may be asked during the tele-conference call!
During the Purim holiday on Friday morning a package was made to look like a Purim gift and was left on the doorstep of the home of David Ortiz a Messianic Pastor. David Ortiz's 15 year old son Ami sustained serious injuries from the blast after opening the package. CLICK HERE to read a personal e-mail account concerning the blast.
At first police thought it might be Palestinian terrorism, but now they're believing that it was from Jewish extremists. The boy had an 8-inch gash like someone slit his throat. He had ruptured lungs. Doctors had to operate on his tongue. He had second degree burns on his chest and arms, there was no flesh on his thighs and they had to amputate a couple of toes. Thankfully it appears that the boy will live. You can read a full report from the Jerusalem Post concerning the blast by CLICKING HERE. You can read an update concerning Ami from private e-mails that have been edited for security purposes, by CLICKING HERE.
When Palestinians attack Jewish settlements there has been a great deal of outrage from the Christian community. Now I ask the question: why would Christians be outraged about attacking innocent Jews, but be silent when one of our Christian brothers is attacked in such a savage way.
I am outraged about this attack. Israel is a democracy that guarantees everyone's freedom of religion. However, some of the anti-missionaries have been so vicious that now it has escalated to violence. Israel cannot allow this type of violence. Thankfully some Israelis are speaking up. But usually violence of this type if soon forgotten and no one is brought to justice.
Messianic Judaism, while still a small percentage of the population is growing rapidly and is considered to be a threat to some Orthodox Jews. I'm told that harassment of evangelical believers in general is increasing, especially against Messianic Jews. When I was at the Feast of Tabernacles last September, some Jewish leaders were telling others to boycott it because the thousands of Christians who were coming and showing unconditional love to the Jews were doing so with only one hidden agenda: to convert the Jews.
A couple of days after the attack a package was left on the doorstep of another Messianic family and of course because of the previous attach the family thought it might be another bomb. Thankfully it wasn't. CLICK HERE to read the article from Thursday, March 23.
Messianic believers in Israel are concerned that the violence is escalating and that this may be a new round of persecution. One of my friends sent me a private email which I've edited. You can read the anguish in his words if you CLICK HERE.
I'm not in Israel so I don't know if there is an outcry from Christian Zionists. If there is, I'd like to hear it. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and other Zionist groups should speak up even though they mostly distance themselves from the Messianics to try to be a little less controversial.
Most Americans have not heard about this. Most Christians have not heard about it. So in fairness there hasn't been time to make a public outcry here. We need to send this email to as many people as possible and urge leaders in the Jewish community to express their outrage.
In my work with Christians United for Israel I've gotten to know some high ranking Israeli officials, some of whom have become good friends. I'm going to write each one and ask them to stand with us when violence is perpetrated against evangelical Christians. Civilized people of all types should not tolerate this type of violence, but especially when it's violence against evangelicals in Israel especially when evangelicals are among the few friends Israel has--some would say the only friends Israel has.
Thankfully a few voices in Israel are speaking up.I've included an article (CLICK HERE) featured on YNetNews.com in which a Jewish writer compares this to an anti-Semitic attack that happened in France where the French officials bent over backwards to prove that all of France was not anti-Semitic. Now it's time for Israel, who now seems to appreciate support from the Evangelical Christian community, to show that they are not anti-Christians.
I've published many articles and several books that blast anti-Semitism. There's a long sad history of that. But there is also those who are anti-Christian. Many are secularists. Some are radical Muslims. But there are also ultra-Orthodox groups like Yad L'Achim who are responsible for constantly harassing Christian believers in Israel.
What can we do? I hope you join me in writing letters of concern on behalf of Evangelical and Messianic believers in Israel and bombard Israeli officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Tourism Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Ministry of Justice. Below I have included the links to their respective offices with their mailing address:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, www.mfa.gov.il/MFA
Tzipora Livini, MK, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs
9 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd.
Kiryat Ben-Gurion
Jerusalem 91035
Tel. 972-2-530-3111
Fax 972-2-530-3367
Ministry of Tourism, http://www.goisrael.com/
Rami Levi, Tourism Ambassador to North and South America
800 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
USA
Tel. 1-212-499-5650
Fax: 1-212-499-5655
Prime Minister's Office, www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng
Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister
3 Kaplan St.
Hakirya
Jerusalem 91950
Tel. 972-2-670-5555
Fax 972-2-670-5475
Ministry of Justice, www.justice.gov.il/mojeng
Daniel Friedmann, Minister of Justice
Salah -a - Din 29
P.O.Box 49029
Jerusalem 91490
Tel. 972-2-646-6340 ext.321
Fax 972-2-646-6357
When you contact them, say you're concerned about this violence and something needs to be done about it. It may or may not have been caused by these radical Orthodox Jews. But, someone did it and they should be brought to justice. Also say that Israel's reputation as a liberal democracy is at stake if they turn a blind eye to this type of violence. And, remind them to stand with the Evangelical Community as the Evangelical Community has stood by them.
I hope you join me in raising a voice of concern and support for believers in Israel!
Steve Strang
Publisher, Charisma
PS. Let me make this appeal to sign-up for the eNewsletter by entering your name and e-mail address at the top of this site. There is so much I want to share with you from my heart. Often there's an action item that I need to get tens of thousands of you to take--like I did this week. It's free. It's easy. And we'll even give you a $10 discount if you order $30 or more on StrangDirect.com. It's my "thank you" for subscribing and gives you an incentive to take advantage of some of the outstanding books that we believe will help you in your Christian walk. Many have already signed-up, but I want you to subscribe too. Please take advantage of this discount opportunity as it is offered for a limited time only.
I also want to remind you about joining me and Governor Mike Huckabee on a tele-conference call this Thursday, April 10th at 8 p.m. EDT. CLICK HERE to sign-up and receive information. More than 2700 signed-up for our call with Chuck Pierce a few weeks ago. Don't miss this opportunity to register and send in a question that may be asked during the tele-conference call!
posted by Steve Strang @ 7:01 PM
2 Comments:
At April 8, 2008 9:41 AM ,
Ed said...
Like the Government of the United States, Israel's government is anti-God and could care less about anyone's beliefs unless they seem to threaten the flow of tax money into the hands of politicians and their bureaucrat bedfellows. I think the best way to support the Messianic Jews would be to raise enough money to resettle them to a country like say, Canada. Now there's a place where if you even look cross-eyed at anyone you'll find yourself being "re-educated" for commiting such a vile hate crime. However, they should be much safer there while helping Christians all around the world save a huge amount of money by not investing in Israel at all. They'll just have to see if begging and bootlicking will be sufficient to garner support from other religions, like the Televangelists of the United States. Lets face the facts folks. If Messianic Jews are unsafe in their own homeland, what does that spell for Christians?
At September 24, 2008 8:39 AM ,
Christopher said...
Yes, the silence is deafening and it is going to be quiet. You see, in the surreal and bizarre world that the church's Israel-fanatics live in, Jews have far greater value that Christians!
So don't expect to hear much about this, especially from Hagee & Co.
On the other hand I commend Brother Strang for breaking ranks with his friends and for speaking up. There is a man of integrity!
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