9. 7 75 Years Anniversary ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 In 1936, a new wave of Arab terror began, with Nazi Germany also involved in the background. Husseini demanded that the British administration stop Jewish immigration and ban the sale of land to Jews. The violence swelled into an outright civil war that lasted until the summer of 1939 and led to the result the Arabs wanted. In defiance of protests from the League of Nations, London decreed even more far- reaching Jewish immigration restrictions. For five years, only 10,000 Jews were allowed to enter annually and 25,000 once. Afterwards, Jewish immigration was to be subject to Arab approval. This measure cost countless European Jews their lives, as they could not flee to Palestine and were not welcome elsewhere in the world either. El Alamein During World War II, Husseini fled to Berlin after much wandering, where, as a guest of Hitler, he conspired with Nazi leaders to have as many European Jews exterminated as possible and provoke violence against Jews elsewhere. He was also involved in planning a holocaust of Jews in Egypt and Palestine. The Germans had a special ‘SS- Einsatzgruppe’ ready for this in 1942, commanded by SS Colonel Walter Rauff. This also maintained operational contacts with the Mufti, and under their cooperation, the construction of gas chambers and crematoria was planned in the Biblical town of Dothan, just south of the Palestinian-Arab city of Jenin. Unwanted Guardian The Einsatzgruppe had been scheduled to travel to Palestine via Egypt in the wake of the German Africa Corps. But the German advance eastward was halted by a British army commanded by Bernard Montgomery near the Egyptian town of El-Alamein in October 1942. Had that not happened, the Jewish communities in Egypt and the lands of Palestine would probably have been exterminated by Rauff’s units and their local cronies, and of course, the state of Israel would not have been founded. And so, Britain, which had wanted to stop the national Jewish rebirth, itself still became its unwitting guardian. Mohammed Amin al-Hoesseini inspects a unit of the SS division Handschar, which he founded. This unit murdered 12,600 of the 14,000 Bosnian Jews. | Photo: Wikipedia General Edmund Allenby arrives in Jerusalem, 11 December 1917. | Photo: Tower of David Museum Archives Visit of Lord Allenby and Mr Heinrichs at the new YMCA building in Jerusalem. | Photo: Wikimedia

24. 14 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Political Analysis Dr Ron Weiser AM Hon Life Pres of the Zionist Council of NSW This amazing week we celebrate both the 75th anniversary of Israel and the 56th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Israel’s external and internal challenges remain the same, with some coming more sharply into focus during the very recent round of over 1,400 rockets being launched against Israel’s civilian population. The tactics of Iran and her proxies have changed somewhat with an understanding that at 75, Israel is militarily stronger than she has ever been. Recognising this, Israel’s enemies direct their campaign of terror against Israel’s civilians, in an attempt to destroy their resilience and spirit. Iran’s near-term tactics had appeared to be, continuing attacks by their proxies, but at a relatively low enough level to not spark an all-out response from Israel. PIJ (Palestinian Islamic Jihad) being more under their influence than Hamas. In early May, PIJ member Khader Adnan, died in an Israeli prison after being on a long-term hunger strike, after which PIJ initially launched over 100 rockets at Israel. Patiently waiting a week for PIJ to miscalculate Israel’s response, Netanyahu launched Operation Shield and Arrow , directly targeting PIJ leaders. Actions by Israel showed that Prime Minister Netanyahu is increasingly reasserting his leadership over the government, whilst dealing with two major internal challenges. The ongoing anti judicial reform demonstrations continue and with expanding agendas. Despite the unprecedented nature of the size and frequency of the protests, they are not Netanyahu’s current biggest political headache. Particularly, as long as the talks under the auspices of President Herzog continue and Netanyahu manages to delay judicial reform legislation. Netanyahu’s biggest internal challenge is keeping his coalition together and getting the budget passed by May 29th. One issue is the commitment to the Haredim to pass a law that ensures they can continue to be exempted from the IDF draft. This they threaten, is a coalition deal breaker. Maybe. Smotrich, who is the finance minister, is focussed on getting the budget through and has been remarkably low key on other issues for the past few weeks. More serious for Netanyahu is the position of Ben Gvir and his party, who in April criticised his own government’s decision to bar Jews from the Temple Mount for the last 10 days of Ramadan, but said this was not yet a trigger for him to leave the government. With the emphasis on ‘yet’. This time Ben Gvir and his party were openly making threats to leave the government, going so far as to boycotting cabinet meetings and threatening to not turn up to vote in the Knesset over budget issues. Previously, Ben Gvir had been upset at being excluded from security cabinet meetings and was very unhappy with the government’s response to the rockets from Gaza, calling for a stronger response and the targeting of Gazan terror leaders directly. Despite this being in line with Ben Gvir’s policy demands and whilst it allowed him to climb down from his threat to boycott the government – for now – it is clear that Netanyahu did not include him in the deliberations, as he wanted to control the parameters of Sheild and Arrow without Ben Gvir’s input and agitation. Netanyahu was also concerned with keeping the operation a surprise, so as not to drive the PIJ leaders back into hiding. Netanyahu bypassed the security cabinet and took the operational decision with Defence Minister Galant and the IDF Chief of Staff Halevy—and with the approval of the attorney general it should be noted. This seems to be a return of the patient, calm and considered Netanyahu who waited a week after the IDF was actually battle ready, to pick the right moment. The operation has also been strongly backed by Lapid and Gantz whose parties were also at pains to minimise Ben Gvir’s role. Notable aspects of the Israeli government’s policy this time were: • the targeted assassinations of PI J leaders • the non mobilisation of large-scale combat gr ound forces • and whereas in the past Israel had held Hamas r esponsible for all rockets coming out of Gaza, this time they specifically blamed PIJ and sent messages to Hamas to stay out of the current round Iran and her proxies miscalculated and failed to understand the strength of Israel’s democracy and the population’s resilience. Despite the weeks of protest, despite the rhetoric and the high emotions, as soon as Israel was under attack, the country united, the reservists turned up for their duties and there was wall to wall support in Israel’s defence. This goes a long way to understanding why the people have confidence in the IDF and Intelligence services to protect them and Iron Dome’s amazing abilities only go to strengthen that feeling. As if to emphasise the resolve of the ordinary everyday Israeli, in the midst of the 5 day war, on the Thursday night, Aviv Gefen’s outdoor concert in Tel Aviv went ahead with 40,000 people attending. Concert goers received SMS’s with instructions of what to do in the event PIJ launched rockets at the show, but thank G-d, all was well. Prime Minister Netanyahu and all of Israel sent a strong message to Iran and her proxies, that Israel’s democracy is robust and that hundreds of thousands can protest against the government, but that Israel’s enemies should not misunderstand this for weakness. As Rabbi Leo Dee said at the funeral of two of his daughters, murdered by terrorists: "Let the Israeli flag today send out a message to humanity. Today the Jewish People have proven that we are one. When a family in Efrat hurts, we all hurt. There is no clearer proof of our unity. Left wing next to right wing, religious next to secular, uniting against the real threat. We will all march as one. Am Yisrael Chai." _______________________________________________________ Dr Ron Weiser AM is a Life Member of the ZFA Executive, Past President of the ZFA and Hon Life Pres of the Zionist Council of NSW. Israel's Resilience: Milestones, Challenges, and Unity Amidst Adversity Today the Jewish People have proven that we are one. When a family in Efrat hurts, we all hurt. There is no clearer proof of our unity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo Credit: Kobi Gideon | GPO

15. 5 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Article continued from Greg Cumming... the surf and the tennis ball (and there is nothing wrong with that) - or it could, in an instant become a fascinating object lesson and mystery about the Lord and His Word. Ask this question - ‘Any ideas on how such an amazing shell came to be here?’ Or ‘I wonder why the surf only comes up to this level every day and never sinks all those houses up there.’ That romantic stroll or drive in the car could become a wonderful opportunity to draw nearer to each other by discussing Him and how He views your relationship—as individuals and as a couple. Ever seen the box of Chinese fairy lights that has the instructions—‘For indoor and outdoor use only’. Have you discovered anywhere else you can hang Chinese fairy lights? Chinese fairy lights therefore are for use EVERYWHERE. So too we are commanded to talk about the scripture—‘ When you sit in your house and when you walk by the way’. It means ‘EVERYWHERE‘. When You Lie Down And When You Rise Up When the scripture tells me to speak of His commandments ‘when you lie down and when you rise up ’, it tells me that the Lord wants His Word to be the centrepiece of our lives—a regular continuous occupation that lasts one’s whole lifetime. 'When you lie down and when you rise up' means ‘ALWAYS‘. Since the days of the apostles the Jewish people have understood this to mean that the words of the Shema should be recited when a person wakes up in the morning and before a person retires at night and so through Rabbinical teaching on this, the reciting of the Shema has become an integral part of daily Jewish prayer life. So our imperative is that we are to talk about the Word of God—EVERYWHERE and ALWAYS. Like you, I lead quite a busy life, with both personal, business and ministry interests vying for my time, but I still believe that my spiritual life comes first— both prayer and His Word. For myself, I like to recite the Shema every morning in my own morning prayer time and then again when I go to bed. I also like to combine this with ‘the Lord’s Prayer’ which Jesus commanded us to pray daily. What a pure joy this habit been in my life. I sense the joy of His Spirit acutely and I always sleep soundly and wake refreshed; I believe it has to do with my commitment to prayer and the Word over the last nearly forty years. Additionally, I try to make my home an exciting and fun place of family, food and song and, of course the Word of God. My trips in the car usually alternate between business calls and podcasts. I am a blessed member of a thriving congregation pastored by my son, which values the Word of God highly. I also attend a weekly Life-group which focusses on the study of the Scriptures. I have amazing children and grandchildren who love to talk about God and I tend to intentionally hunt down people who love the Lord and His Word—fellow Christians or my wonderful Jewish friends. ‘Speak of them’ EVERYWHERE and ALWAYS! I encourage you to make the Word of God and simple prayer a part of your daily routine as well. You will sense the Lord’s Presence around you as you do - it is only one choice away. And I conclude with this final prayer for you – that you too will find a friend like the one who I mentioned when I started this story—a friend who can’t wait to talk with you about the Lord—whenever you are together. —————————————————————— For more information on The Torah Portion visit www.thetorahportion.org

18. 8 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Gathering all Peoples in Anticipation of Jesus' Return Imagine a world where people from all nations and backgrounds come together to learn from the teachings of the Lord and walk in His paths. This is the vision presented in Micah 4:1-2, where the mountain of the house of the Lord is established as the highest of all mountains and people from all over, flow to it. Micah 4:1-2 reads, "It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills, and peoples shall flow to it. And many nations shall come and say: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." This end-time prophecy speaks to the time when the Messiah will come as a victorious King and reign from Mt Zion. We know that this Messiah is Jesus, who will come not as the suffering servant but as a triumphant King. With Him, the resurrection of those who believed followed and obeyed His voice. He will rule and reign from Jerusalem and bring His government to the world. The prophet Zechariah continues in this prophetic vein and exclaims that the nations of the world, in those days, will make an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Tabernacles. What is the feast of Tabernacles? Who should be at it? How do we celebrate it, and how do we prepare for it? If we could travel back to the days of Jesus, we would witness the great pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the dancing in the streets, the food, living outside in small huts—much like camping, having people over for meals, a time of hospitality, music, joy, the daily ritual pouring of water from the pool of Siloam onto the altar, learning from the Bible, sharing stories and testimonies, and of course, the great march around the temple seven times while blessing the name of God with great anticipation of His presence. On top of this, people from all nations gathered to be part of this event and in the future, when Messiah Jesus returns, both Jew and Gentile will be gathering in His name—the name of Yeshua, our Messiah (Ephesians 2:11). People from all backgrounds will make the great journey, take time off from work, and get ready for a holiday like no other to celebrate the festival of the Kingdom of God. In anticipation of this great event, we would love to invite you to join us for Kingdom Festival, which will be held on the Gold Coast during the Feast of Tabernacles. Starting on September 29th and continuing through October 3rd, Kingdom Festival will feature heart-pounding worship with special guest artists and worship teams. It will be a celebration of great joy, with food, fun, engaging teaching, and guest speaker sessions. This year, we will have Andrew Tucker ( Christians for Israel International ) and Johannes Gerloff (Theologian and Journalist) to discuss Israel’s place in the world from different perspectives and also how a Christian can be involved in preparing the world for Jesus’ return. We will also be joined by Wendy Francis, National Director for the Australian Christian Lobby , who will dissect and empower us on how to take practical action according to God's righteous standard, and Dr. Scot Devlin from Creation Ministries , who will speak on how to effectively battle the growing unbelief in our world through the theory of evolution and how to have conversations which lead people to faith in God. In addition, we have many of the writing team from this newspaper, Ps Enoch Lavender, Ps Craig Hepplewhite, Ps Fraser Harding, and Ps Greg Cumming, who will be discussing end-time prophecy, engaging in the Scriptures, Israel today and how to develop a life of spiritual maturity. The festival will feature how-to sessions: including song-writing and dance workshops and a Town Hall session for questions and answers. To top it all off, the Mayor of the Gold Coast, His Worship, Tom Tate, will be closing the festival. Everyone is welcome to the festival. We have a great program for adults and also a fun and safe Kingdom Seekers program for the kids where they will have fun learning about the festival and the Lord. While we are not yet in Jerusalem, we are preparing ourselves for that great day of the return of Jesus and will be joined by people from many nations. All of the sessions will be recorded, and attendees will be able to receive these. Our hope is that each person will leave equipped and ready to take on the mantle of preparing the world for Jesus' return. Pastors and leaders will be able to connect and develop inter-ministry relationships with other world leaders. God is bringing the nations together. Kingdom Festival is not about one person, it's not about one church. It's about the body of Messiah coming together under the banner of Jesus. The return of Jesus is the greatest event that this world will ever see. That's what Kingdom Festival is all about: Jesus. —————————————————————— Pastor Kyal Cumming is the Senior Pastor of Kingdom Church on the Gold Coast, and he is committed to the mission of making wholehearted disciples of Jesus. His personal mission revolves around equipping individuals for the imminent return of Jesus, imparting the message of repentance, and sharing knowledge of God's commandments (Torah). He also focuses on revealing the value and significance of the people and land of Israel and guiding believers to live a holy life that is pleasing to God. Kyal Cumming Senior Pastor of Kingdom Church on the Gold Coast Kingdom Festival: A Gathering of Nations to Celebrate Jesus In 2016, Senior Pastors from 15 churches congregated in Carrara for Kingdom Festival, joined by the Mayor of the Gold Coast, Tom Tate. Kingdom Festival (The Feast of Tabernacles) 2016 on the Gold Coast brought together a great gathering of the nations, including representatives from the Pacific Islands, South East Asia, Africa, United States, and Canada. Kingdom Festival is not about one person, it's about the body of Messiah coming together under the banner of Jesus. The return of Jesus is the greatest event that this world will ever see.

6. News 4 ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Yochanan Visser n Correspondent in Israel With hopes of an anti-Iran alliance with Arab Gulf states looking dim, Israel turns to new allies in Central Asia to join the fight. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is currently very active in forming a new international bloc against Iran after the Gulf states of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates restored relations with the Islamic Republic. Iran, meanwhile, is busy strengthening and expanding the so- called ‘resistance axis’ against Israel, as we shall see. Cohen Building New Anti-Iran Bloc Cohen is currently expanding Israel’s relations with countries in central Asia, with one of those countries being Azerbaijan, a Shiite Muslim country bordering Iran. Cohen announced during the opening of the Azerbaijan embassy in Tel Aviv on 29 March that he would travel to the capital Baku within a month for talks with the government of Azerbaijan. That visit took place on Tuesday, 18 April, and was mainly about ‘strategic challenges’ that Azerbaijan and Israel have in common. Cohen said after his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev that the conversation mainly focused on ‘the fight against terrorism’ and on expanding ‘cooperation’ between Israel and Azerbaijan. Cohen led a thirty-person delegation from Israel and discussed possible contracts in the fields of security, defence, cyber security and innovations in Azerbaijan’s agriculture. The trade volume between Israel and Azerbaijan currently stands at more than $230 million, but this amount is expected to double in the coming years. As mentioned, however, Cohen’s main focus was on strengthening defence and intelligence cooperation with the government in Baku. At the end of his visit to Azerbaijan, Cohen said: “Israel and Azerbaijan share the same perception of the Iranian threat. The Ayatollah regime threatens both of our regions, financing terrorism and destabilising the entire Middle East. We must take action together to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.” According to various media reports, Israel is operating from Azer baijan’s territory through its spy agency Mossad, while Iran has repeatedly accused its neighbour of facilitating Mossad actions against its nuclear programme. For example, the Iran nuclear archive that Mossad agents stole from a warehouse in a suburb of Tehran in January 2018 was smuggled to Baku by Mossad in two trucks. The archive was then flown to Israel from an airport in Azerbaijan. Mossad reportedly also launched unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) attacks against nuclear facilities in Iran from Azerbaijan. Cohen’s visit to Baku came amid steadily growing tension between Iran and Azerbaijan. In early April, Azerbaijan expelled four Iranian diplomats suspected of terrorist activities and espionage. It was the latest incident in a long series of incidents between the two countries, and a war between the two neighbours can no longer be ruled out. When that happens, Israel will most likely assist Azerbaijan with more weapons and military advice. Israel has been supplying arms to Azerbaijan on an unprecedented scale, with flight track data showing that 92 cargo planes from Azerbaijan have landed at Uvda Air Force Base near Eilat since 2016. The weapons Israel supplied to Azerbaijan were crucial in the country’s military victory over Armenia in 2020 and September 2022, when another round of fighting broke out over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Israel has now strengthened relations with yet another country neighbouring Iran. After his visit to Azerbaijan, Cohen flew on to Turkmenistan, where he opened the permanent embassy of Israel in the capital Ashgabat. The Israeli embassy in Turkmenistan is now housed in a new building only 17 kilometres from the border with Iran. The top Israeli diplomat said his visit should be classified as historic and said he was in Turkmenistan to discuss strategic matters related to ‘regional security’. The visit to Turkmenistan was to be viewed as part of an Israeli initiative aimed at strengthening relations with countries in central Asia, Cohen sa id. New Israeli Initiative This new diplomatic initiative gained momentum after Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia recently restored relations with each other and decided to reopen embassies and other diplomatic missions. The rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia dashed the Israeli government’s hope of building a regional coalition against the Islamic Republic with Arab Gulf countries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia in a recent interview with the American TV station CBNC and claimed it had more to do with the situation in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia leads a pro-government coalition of Muslim countries fighting the Iranian-backed Ansar Allah, or Houthi militia. This militia is part of Iran’s resistance axis and repeatedly carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia using Iranian- supplied ballistic missiles and UAVs. Normalisation of Relations with Saudi Arabia? During the CBNC interview, Netanyahu did not rule out that Israel could still normalise relations with Saudi Arabia and hinted that there were still contacts with the government in Riyadh. Netanyahu said Israel as a world leader in innovation was ‘important’ to the oil-rich kingdom, a clear reference to the largely covert activities of Israeli innovation companies in Saudi Arabia. Israeli companies are reportedly involved in the construction of the megacity NEOM, a futuristic project along the Saudi Red Sea coast that involves green energy and hydro agriculture. The Prime Minister was also asked what he thought about recent visits to Saudi Arabia by Hamas leaders and a delegation from the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu downplayed these meetings, saying they could have been about the wave of terror that has been plaguing Israel for some time. This now sounded implausible since Saudi Arabia has been changing its policy towards old enemies for some time now, with Hamas as an example of this, and certainly Iran. Saudi Interests Talks are also underway between the government in Riyadh and the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. These discussions concern the restoration of relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia and reconstruction aid from the Kingdom for the devastated predominantly Arab country. Commentators specialising in Saudi Arabia see all these developments as proof that the government in Riyadh is only interested in its own interests but, at the same time, does not rule out the possibility of normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia in the future. However, there is clearly a change in the course of the largest Arab country, which is widely seen as a response to Israel’s internal turmoil over the judicial overhaul. This is a wrong assessment, too, since Riyadh changed course after the United States failed to meet certain demands to Washington for normalisation with Israel, which had almost nothing to do with the Jewish state but everything with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s distrust of President Joe Biden ’s Administration. The two leaders have had a difficult relationship from the outset of Biden’s presidency and had many differences of opinion on important issues. Israel’s Change of Course For Israel, Saudi Arabia’s change in its policies vis-a-vis Iran was apparently the reason for the shift of attention to Muslim countries in Central Asia in light of the ever- growing threat Iran poses to the Jewish state. Israel is also reaching out to the European Union because of Iran’s growing threat and wants the EU to increase pressure on the regime in Tehran. Cohen was recently in Spain which is slated to take over the EU presidency soon, and met with EU Foreign Policy chief, Joseph Borrell. During his conversation with Borrell, the Israeli top diplomat asked the EU to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Iran to the list of terrorist organisations and to support referring Iran to the UN Security Council over its escalating nuclear weapons programme. Iran’s Lastest Activities and Threats Iran, meanwhile, continues to strengthen its so-called axis of resistance, the loose coalition of terrorist movements and Shiite militias. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian recently embarked on a regional tour and was in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, countries he visited last week. Abdollahian was also the architect behind the rapprochement with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and was in China for talks with Saudi diplomats ahead of the reconciliation between Iran and the Kingdom. While in Lebanon, Abdollahian toured the border with Israel, where he claimed that “Zionists only understand power” and that Iran’s recent activities against Israel will lead to its “isolation and destruction.” Netanyahu reacted to Iran’s escalating threats during the weekly cabinet meeting and said that Israel would not allow Iran to tighten the ring of terrorism around it. “We are taking action on this matter around the clock, at all times, even now,” Netanyahu said while vowing again to take all sorts of measures to stop the Islamic Republic. Originally published at www.jns.org. Republished with permission. Israel’s Reaction to Latest Developments Foreign Minister Eli Cohen shoring up new allies for Israel in the fight against Iran. | Photo: Flash90

7. 5 News ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Short News Israel Prize Rewarded to Female Neuroimmunologist Internationally renowned Weizmann Institute of Science Professor of Neuroimmunology Michal Schwartz received the Israel Prize for life sciences on Israel’s 75th Independence Day. A trailblazer in her field, Schwartz is being recognised for her discovery of the connection between the brain and the immune system, which has led to possibilities for harnessing the body’s immune system to treat neurodegenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Schwartz is only the fourth woman to receive an Israel Prize for science since the prize’s inception in 1953. The Israel Prize is the country’s highest award. | Photo: Israel Weizmann Institute of Science. Poll: Most Israeli Citizens are Proud to be Israelis Only 49% of Israeli citizens are ‘very proud’ to be Israelis, a new poll found. This number is down 7% from last year. The poll showed that most of those who define themselves as right-wing are ‘very proud’ to be Israeli, compared with only 22% of those who define themselves as left-wing. Overall, 81% of respondents said they are either ‘fairly proud’ or ‘very proud’ to be Israeli. ‘Common Blue’ now National Butterfly The common blue butterfly has been named ‘Butterfly of Israel’ in a special ceremony with the Minister of Environmental Protection, Idit Silman. The naming of the insect was a joint initiative of several organisations, including the Association of Butterfly Enthusiasts, with the aim of joining other nations that have a butterfly as a national symbol. Th e selection of the ‘National Butterfly of Israel’ joins the list of the country’s well-known natural symbols, such as the national bird Upupa and other symbols such as the anemone and the olive. This butterfly was chosen to represent the often-overlooked division of insects that are an important part of the ecosystem. The common blue butterfly can be found throughout much of the country almost year-round. Yochanan Visser n Correspondent in Israel Within one week at the beginning of May, Israel and the Palestinian terror groups in Gaza came close to war again twice. The pattern of these recent confrontations differs from what we saw in the past. The conflict started on Tuesday, 2 May, when Palestinian terror groups in Gaza fired a total of 104 rockets and mortar shells at southern Israel. Another Gaza war seemed inevitable. The renewal of the rocket attacks on southern Israel happened after it was revealed that a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader from Jenin, who was being held by Israel, had died in an Israeli hospital after he went on a hunger strike. Khader Adnan had gone on a hunger strike for 86 days before he died. Immediately following the announcement of his death, threats emanated from Gaza. PIJ published a compilation photo on Facebook and Instagram showing missile batteries alongside masked terrorists. “You will burn in our hell,” it read in Arabic and Hebrew. Soon after, rockets and mortar shells began to rain down on southern Israel. Iron Dome The government in Jerusalem announced a strong response would be forthcoming, and indeed for a short while, it seemed this could be true. I personally observed six Israeli Air Force (IAF) Hercules cargo planes transferring Iron Dome missile defence batteries from the Golan Heights to the border area around Gaza. It was reported that the IDF was deploying additional Iron Dome systems in both the northern part of Israel bordering Lebanon as well as the Gaza belt. PIJ and Hamas fired 104 rockets into southern Israel. Iron Dome shot down 24 of these projectiles, while 25 failed to reach their target. The IAF responded with a total of 16 airstrikes against Hamas and PIJ targets in Gaza, destroying a part of the military infrastructure there. According to Hamas, one civilian was killed, and five other civilians were injured, while eyewitnesses reported the IAF planes were shot at with surface-to- air missiles. ‘Weak Reaction?’ Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, 2 May, it was announced that Egypt, along with Qatar and the United Nations, was making a frantic effort to negotiate a ceasefire. By 4am, the rocket fire was slowly halted. Then came massive criticism of the Israeli government over its ‘weak response’. National Security Minister Itamar Ben- Gvir challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire him for refusing to take part in Knesset votes. Without Otzma Yehudit, Ben Gvir’s far-right party that holds five seats in the Knesset, the government would fall. Before the IAF responded to the rocket fire, the possibility that a second front might open up in the border area with Lebanon was taken into account in Jerusalem. It became clear that the Israeli response to the rocket fire from Gaza had been only an initial one. Israeli warplanes and suicide drones suddenly carried out a massive attack on the leadership of PIJ and on the military infrastructure of the organisation. Four top commanders of the Iranian-backed terror organisation were assassinated in their homes. The IAF used suicide drones and guided precision missiles to eliminate the PIJ top, as it had done in August 2022 when the Israeli air force took out the entire PIJ top in Gaza in an operation that lasted only one hour. As in 2022, the recent operation was the result of months of intelligence gathering during which the phones of the PIJ commanders were eavesdropped. The IAF hit at least five military outposts belonging to PIJ and destroyed a large number of missiles that were ready for use against Israeli civilian targets. The apartments of PIJ commanders Haij Tariq Izz-a-Din and Dr Jamal Khadaoun in Gaza’s a-Shahdaa street were hit by precision missiles that destroyed only the homes of the PIJ commanders and not the whole building. The same counted for the apartment of another PIJ commander, Khalil al-Bahtini. The IAF used a so-called suicide drone to assassinate a fourth PIJ commander, Jihad al-Ahnam, who was the head of the PIJ southern division in Gaza. Among those who were assassinated was the PIJ terrorist who planned the murder of T ali Hatuel and her four daughters, who were shot to death in their car near the Kissufim crossing in Gaza in May 2004. Immediately after the beginning of the new Israeli operation, which was dubbed ‘Shield and Arrow’, the IDF Home Front brigade issued guidelines for residents of the so-called Gaza belt en declared the area of the Gaza border a no-go zone. Bomb shelters in the south of Israel were opened, and schools were closed while people were allowed to work from home. All these measures were taken in anticipation of a new round of rocket fire after both PIJ and Hamas vowed to take revenge. The revenge came on Wednesday afternoon, 10 May, when PIJ launched massive salvos of rockets on the south and centre of Israel. Hamas Hamas stayed out of the fray while the IAF launched 40 counterstrikes - another indication that the Iranian Axis of resistance isn’t interested in a wider confrontation with the Israeli military at the moment. The Israeli army is preparing for a long- anticipated multi-front war with the Iranian Axis, during which approximately 1,300 rockets per day are expected to be fired at Israel from three or even four fronts (Yemen). According to Israeli defence officials, Iran has now accumulated enough highly enriched uranium hexafluoride gas for the production of 5 nuclear warheads. As Israel’s military is far superior to that of Iran and even to the many Iranian proxies, Iran plans to launch a multi-front war under a nuclear umbrella. For the time being, it uses its Palestinian proxies in both Gaza and Israel’s biblical heartland for a war of attrition against the Jewish state. The IDF and Israeli political leadership are unwilling to completely root out these proxies for fear of the international response - despite PM Netanyahu’s conviction that Iran is responsible for 95% of the Palestinian violence against Israel and the knowledge that PIJ and Hamas are now working on a missile capacity in Palestinian cities like Jenin and Shechem (Nablus). Palestinian Violence and Iran’s Multi-Front-War Against Israel Palestinians protest while Israeli Security Forces stand guard in the West Bank. | Photo: Flash90

23. 13 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Israel at 75 – A Reflection On Sacrifice Australian visitors returning from Israel often remark on the energy and vibrancy they experienced during their stay. In our conversations, they share a common impression of their Israeli experience with me – bustling cities characterized by relentless activity and vigor, whether it be the ultra-modern metropolis of Tel Aviv, or the ancient limestone streets of Jerusalem. As a nation, we are proud of our industrious and exuberant character. It is a hallmark of our economy, politics and our people, and it has underpinned Israel’s remarkable success since achieving independence in 1948. It would therefore come as surprise to some that once every year, for precisely two minutes, Israel comes to a standstill. Every year on Yom HaZikaron , Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism, at exactly 11am, sirens sound across the country - and life comes to a standstill. Literally. Pedestrians will freeze on the sidewalks. Cars will come to a halt on busy freeways. For those two minutes, Israelis will share the sorrow of parents and grandparents who have lost those they loved most, and the family members and friends who have died in defence of a free and independent homeland. Every year, I grieve for Jacob Maimon, an uncle that I never knew, who was killed in action on 9 January 1948. He was 20 years old. The remainder of the day is devoted to solemn tribute, and grief, at cemeteries and memorials across the country. As is customary, the following day Israel celebrates its Day of Independence, known as Yom HaAtzmaut – this year for a landmark seventy-fifth time. Every year, the consecutive commemoration of these national days, Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut , remind Israelis of the very dear price that has been paid to re-establish our home in the land of our ancestors. It is a painful reminder that there are those who still seek to do us harm. It is an affirmation of our duty, and our unwavering resolve, to defend our people and our country. This year, in a rare concurrence, Yom HaZikaron in Israel coincided with the commemoration of Anzac Day in Australia. I have a deep and abiding admiration for the Anzac spirit, which began well before my posting as Ambassador in Canberra. My formative years were spent in the city of Be'er-Sheva – a place that holds deep significance in Australian history. As a boy, many years before the construction of the Memorial to Australian Soldiers that stands at Be’er-Sheva today, I remember hearing stories of the daring and courage of the Light Horsemen, charging Ottoman positions on their Walers with bayonets thrust toward the enemy. Some years later, after serving almost two decades in the Israel Defence Forces, my diplomatic career would take me to Turkey. There, I visited the Ari Burnu Memorial at Gallipoli, where Ataturk’s moving message to the mothers of Australians and New Zealanders stands carved into stone. Long before I set foot in Australia for the first time, I learnt about the proud history and resilient character of its people through the legacy of the Anzacs. Like Israel, Australia’s modern nationhood was formed in the crucible of conflict, with the Anzacs marching under the banner of a Commonwealth, instead of the various colonies that preceded it. And like Israel, Australia has only ever placed her sons and daughters in harm’s way to pursue and defend the cause of freedom. Since assuming my duties in this wonderful country, I have developed a personal passion to explore the historic links between Israel and Australia. Recently, I came across a digitised copy of faded yellow newsprint from the Israel State Archives. An excerpt that immediately captured my imagination, translated from Hebrew, reads as follows: “They are energetic, cheerful young men with their wide smiles, showing their white, healthy teeth. Upright and brave, their joie de vivre was in full force, as was their love for other people, patience for their neighbours, compassion for frail old people, and children.” The clipping is dated 11 February 1940, and reports on the arrival of Australian troops in Haifa. At that stage, diggers could be found in cities across the Land of Israel, as the Second Australian Imperial Force was preparing for campaigns in North Africa and the Middle East. Within a few months, Australian exploits in these theatres of war would be known to the world. To this day, names such as Tobruk, Bardia, and El Alamein hold deep significance in Australia’s rich military history. The newspaper article’s description of the young Australian soldiers struck a particular chord with me. It resonates with the many personal encounters I have been so privileged to share with Australians from all walks of life during my time here. What the journalist so perceptively captured about the Australian character in 1940, remains true to this day, more than eighty years later. But it also stirs deep emotions within me. Because, when I think of those friends and comrades who I served with, and who sacrificed their lives in defence of Israel, I too remember them as young people, with wide smiles, upright and brave. Lost to their loved ones the flower of their youth. And I share in the profound collective sorrow for lives that were never fully lived. This past Anzac Day, as the dark retreated before dawn, we were once again forced to contemplate the cost of freedom – that fundamental value which unites our countries, despite the distance that separates us. As the echo of the Last Post pierced Canberra’s chill autumn air, I honoured the Australian men and women who have served their country, and who have sacrificed so much in answering the call of duty. At the same time, I grieved for my Israeli brothers and sisters in arms, who have laid down their lives in defence of my homeland. Amir Maimon Ambassador of the State of Israel Amir Maimon Ambassador – Embassy Of Israel In Canberra Every year, Israelis come to a standstill, sharing the sorrow of those who sacrificed their lives in defense of a free and independent homeland. Reflections from Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon Memorial flag in front of graves on Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers of Israel and victims of terrorism. Gallipoli, Canakkale, Turkey: The Ari Burnu Memorial with words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first leader of the Republic of Turkey. A special place for many from NZ and Australia. Photo by Salena Stinchcombe| shutterstock.com

3. Understanding Israel and world events from a Biblical perspective Israel & Christians Today is the premier publication of Christians for Israel 11 The Royal City 14 Israel, the Land of Absolute Miracles Israel celebrates its 75th birthday under siege. But the Lord will protect His people. As Israel celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948, the country was under attack. The month of May this year witnessed escalation between the Iranian-sponsored terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Gaza and the Israeli army (IDF). The PIJ fired more than 1,300 rockets and mortar shells at Israel. Some rockets reached Israeli towns in the centre of the country and even the Jerusalem area. Two people were killed in these rocket attacks: a woman in Rehovot and a Palestinian worker in the Gaza area. Of the projectiles fired at Israel, about a quarter landed in Gaza itself, taking the lives of four Palestinian Arabs. The Iron Dome, Israel’s air defence system, intercepted 371 rockets. The Israeli army carried out a total of more than 370 airstrikes against PIJ targets in Gaza. These included the use of regular fighter jets and remotely piloted aircraft. The Israeli air force liquidated six top commanders of the Palestinian terror group. However, these liquidations did not cause an immediate effect on PIJ’s ability to continue its rocket attacks. The fact that Hamas stayed out of the fighting cannot be taken as a sign that Israel’s deterrent power has increased. Both Hamas and Hezbollah showed patience, probably on the orders of the Iranian regime. It is Iran that determines the course of the war of attrition against Israel. The regime in Tehran continues to supply sophisticated weapons to Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran is waging a war of attrition against Israel through various armies. The escalation in terror, including that in Judea and Samaria, is the result of the Islamic Republic’s strategy. The ultimate goal of this strategy is the destruction of the state of Israel, as officials of the regime in Tehran have repeatedly said. The question now is when Israeli will take pre-emptive action. Let us remember that the Lord is bringing His people home, to settle the land, and be a blessing to all people— including the Palestinians and all the surrounding nations. He will protect His people, and destroy the enemies of Israel. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121 Israel Celebrates 75th Birthday Under Siege June 2023 Sivan — Tamuz 5783 ISRAEL Celebrating Back in Jerusalem at Last 8 4 ... Bnei Menashe Face ‘Appalling’ Conditions Iron dome anti-missile system fires interception missiles as rockets fired from the Gaza Strip to Israel, as it seen from Ashkelon, on 13 May 2023. | Photo: Flash90 AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA www.c4israel.com.au | info@c4israel.com.au

16. 6 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 A Word from the Heartland of Biblical Israel Celebrating Judea and Samaria Israel is 75 years old. For an individual, that is already an advanced age, a time when one can begin to look back and evaluate a life that began with great dreams and finds itself winding down after years of activity and accomplishments. For a nation, it is a small increment of time. And for the Nation of Israel, that dates its inception back 4,000 years to the time of our first forefather Abraham, or at the very least to the Exodus from Egypt, a few hundred years later, 75 years is the equivalent of minutes. But it is still a good time to look back and reflect. When Israel was established, there were approximately 600,000 Jews living in the country. Within a short time, hundreds of thousands of refugees streamed into the country with nothing but the clothes on their backs – Holocaust survivors and Jews who had been expelled from their homes in Muslim countries. There was no housing, not enough food. Most of the refugees knew little or no Hebrew and came from a mixture of cultures and backgrounds. The parents struggled with the cultural differences, but the children all played soccer together on the dirt fields just outside their temporary homes. They were all struggling to survive, but they were thrilled to be part of building the Jewish State of Israel. Jerusalem was a tiny backwater, A slum. There was no glorious main street with shops and hotels. No one wanted to visit Jerusalem because it wasn't the real Jerusalem. The Old City, hidden behind its stone walls, was occupied illegally by Jordan. Jordanian soldiers were stationed on the path leading to the Jaffa Gate, periodically taking potshots at the half- destroyed buildings of Mamilla, where refugees eked out a meager existence while dodging the bullets from Jordan. I remember visiting Jerusalem in 1973, after the Jordanians were already gone, and seeing the holes that the shelling had left in the walls of the crumbling Mamilla structure. For 19 years, Israel celebrated its independence but lacked the confidence to look forward. Surrounded on all sides by hostile neighbors, no one knew what the future would bring. In May of 1967, just a few weeks before the Six Day War began, Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook, an elderly, pious rabbi, head of a small yeshiva in Jerusalem, addressed his students on Israel's 19th birthday. His cry rang out to them: "Where is our Hebron? Where is our Shechem?" It was a ringing cry that echoed what so many Jews had since forgotten, that while we finally had a state of our own, we did not have the heart of Biblical Israel. And of course, at that time, we didn't even have the Old City of Jerusalem. Just a few weeks later, Jordan attacked Israel as part of the overall war against Israel in June of 1967, what became known as the Six Day War. Jerusalem was liberated as was all of Judea and Samaria. At that point, Rabbi Kook's students recalled his passionate words and understood that he had been prophetic in his cry. Seventy five years after Israel was established, the country is doing better than anyone would ever have imagined in 1948. It has become a leader in technology, initiating advances in the world of computers, science and medicine. It boasts a strong economy and a vibrant society. More Bible is being studied in Israel than ever before in our history. We have the highest birth rate of any western country and there is more faith in our country today than when we were established. But there is one issue that remains controversial – the very miracle of the Six Day War, the liberation of Judea and Samaria. Around the world, many are celebrating our 75th birthday and political leaders have sent warm greetings to Israel on our special day. But at the same time, these same political leaders condemn Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria. And when hundreds of thousands of Jews gathered in Jerusalem on Jerusalem Day, to celebrate the reunification of our capital city and to march in celebration throughout the city, those same leaders expressed disappointment that we were actually marching in our very own Old City of Jerusalem. We have come a long way but there is still a distance to travel ahead of us. Today, more than 500,000 Jews live in Judea and Samaria and hundreds of thousands more live in the liberated areas of Jerusalem. We will never give up. We will never bend to misguided opinions on the world arena. King David urged us to ask God for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). Joel tells us that God will judge those who divide His land (Joel 4:2). We have reunited the land. We are settling the land. And you are helping us to do that. Thank you, dear Christian friends. _______________________________________________________ Sondra Oster Baras is the founder and director of CFOIC Heartland , representing the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria to Christians all over the world. To support the work of CFOIC Heartland and help the truth get out, please use the form on the back page and select CFOIC ( Christian Friends of Israeli Communities ). Karnei Shomron, a growing town in Samaria and home of Sondra Oster Baras, is 45 years old! Sondra Oster Baras Former Attorney, Bible Student and Director of CFOIC Heartland olivetreetravel.com.au EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST Seventy five years after Israel's establishment, the country is thriving, but the issue of Judea and Samaria remains controversial

8. 6 Wim Kortenoeven n Author, Journalist and Former Politician 26 April 2023 marked the 75th anniversary of the restoration of Jewish independence in Israel. Naturally, the pan-Arab war of annihilation against the Jewish state, which began immediately afterwards, was also remembered. In that war, the army of Trans- Jordan was led by British officers, even though London had made a commitment in 1917 to facilitate a Jewish national home in the lands of Palestine. There was, however, from the outset, much more British treachery against Zionism. But ironically, it was precisely British troops who prevented a German holocaust of the Jews in Palestine, thus securing the foundation of Israel. On 9 December 1917, the first day of the Hanukkah festival, British military units led by General Edmund Allenby captured Jerusalem from the Turkish army in Palestine led by German General Erich von Falkenhayn. Allenby’s ceremonial entry, two days later on foot through the Jaffa Gate, marked the end of exactly 400 years of Turkish-Ottoman rule of the Land of Israel, although it would take until September 1918 before even the last Turkish troops in its north were defeated. The British conquest also marked the first return of European armies since the Crusaders had been expelled from the holy city in 1244. In that light, Allenby is reported to have declared, “Now the Crusades are complete”. British Mandate Exactly a week before the capture of Jerusalem, British foreign secretary and Christian Zionist Arthur Balfour, (pictured right) had issued the famous declaration, later named after him, in which Britain promised the Jewish people a national home in the land of Palestine. Palestine then consisted of the area of the present-day states of Israel (including Judea and Samaria) and Jordan. The Balfour Declaration later became an official part of international agreements on the future status of the territories conquered from Turkey. At the San Remo Conference in April 1920, Britain was granted the mandate over Palestine, with implementation of the Balfour Declaration as its central task. On 1 July that year, British military administration over Palestine was replaced by a provisional mandate government for civil administration, which was later formally recognised by the newly formed League of Nations (precursor to the UN). The mandate order referred to promoting ‘large-scale Jewish settlement’ in the entire area, i.e. including Trans-Jordan plus Judea and Samaria. Violation of the Mandate On 16 September 1922, however, London split off the eastern part of Palestine (78% of the mandate area) and closed it to Jewish settlement. It was then handed over as an ‘emirate under British supervision’ to the Mecca-based Hashemite emir (Prince) Abdallah, a British ally during World War I. This was the first of a series of gross violations of the Balfour Declaration and mandate. The background to this policy was threefold. Firstly, even before accepting the mandate, prominent British policymakers had concluded that British imperialist interests were inconsistent with Christian-Zionist-inspired British promises to the Jewish Zionist leadership. Secondly, part of the British political and administrative establishment was driven by virulent antisemitism. And finally, the mandate authorities failed to quell violent Arab resistance to Jewish immigration that had already begun in 1920. That violence, shockingly, had been directly promoted by British officials to make the establishment of the promised Jewish national home impossible in advance. Mohammed Amin al-Hoesseini According to diary entries by the head of the British army’s political service, Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen, his colleague Colonel Bertie Waters-Taylor was the chief implementer of that treacherous policy and acted with the full approval of his superiors. On 1 April 1920, Waters-Taylor held a meeting with the main anti-Jewish agitator in the area: Mohammed Amin al-Hoesseini, a younger brother of the then Mufti (Muslim leader) of Jerusalem. Waters-Taylor maintained to Husseini that Zionism was neither popular with the British Mandate administration nor with the government in London. Also, he indicated to Husseini that an Arab outbreak of violence during the then- upcoming Easter weekend might lead the British to abandon the plan for a Jewish national home. Husseini’s supporters followed that advice and organised bloody anti-Jewish riots in Jerusalem the following Friday. The British had withdrawn their troops so the Arabs could attack and loot unhindered. However, Husseini had been so ‘visible’ in the incitement that the authorities did have to arrest him. However, he escaped and was sentenced in absentia to 10 years, was granted amnesty a year l ater and was appointed ‘grand mufti’ (Muslim leader with absolute authority) of Jerusalem by the British high commissioner on 11 April 1921. Three weeks later, 47 Jews were killed in new pogroms initiated by Husseini. The British mandate administration subsequently restricted Jewish immigration, and anti-Jewish violence became structural. Waves of Terror A new series of bloody pogroms took place in 1929, the victims of which included the Jewish community of Hebron. In the aftermath, London published a mandate policy document in October 1930 that proclaimed new immigration restrictions on Jews, as well as measures to make it difficult to sell property to Jews. That ‘White Paper’ also denied that the development of a Jewish national home would be the central mandate. 75 Years Anniversary Treason and Gas Chambers were to Prevent Jewish Statehood What preceded the founding of Israel–Part 3 ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 The Balfour Declaration later became an official part of international agreements on the future status of the territories conquered from Turkey. The British conquest of Jerusalem was greeted with jubilant headlines, as seen here in the New York Herald | Photo: Wikipedia SS Colonel Walter Rauff (right, photographed after his arrest in 1945), inventor of the mobile gas chamber, was charged with carrying out a Holocaust of Jews in Palestine. | Photo: War History Online

19. 9 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Kingdom Festival Event 2023 Have you downloaded the FREE C4I app yet? • Read the latest editions of Israel & Christians Today , plus past editions. • Easily access all current and past topical articles. • Listen and watch teaching resources about Israel and the Church from a Biblical perspective. • Access current and past prayer calenders , so you know what and how to pray for our ministry. • Make secure online donations towards Israeli Projects, C4I Australia and teaching resources. • You can also stay in touch by sending secure messages via a simple form. DOWNLOAD TODAY! SEARCH: ‘C4I’ in your app store Inspiring and informative content, wherever you are.

25. 15 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Biblical Insights from Heartland of Judea & Samaria Fight Like Ittai: A Biblical, Non-Jewish Response to Terrorism Against Jews If you have kept up with what has happened in Israel over the past few months then your heart is aching for the families of the recent terror victims. Among the victims were three sets of young Jewish siblings—Yaakov and Asher Paley, Hallel and Yagel Yaniv, and Maia and Rina Dee. These were such gentle and loving people. The best of the best. These murders scream the question: Can people like you and I—non-Jewish, lovers of God, Israel, and the Jewish people— do anything to stop the continuous slaughter of God’s chosen people? The first question we need to answer is, are we okay with not doing anything about it? I assume that you are on the same page with me. The answer is a resounding, “No!” No, we are not okay with standing idly by. We have learned from history. We know what happens to Jewish people when Christians forsake their biblical mandate to bless Israel. Millions of innocent people have been mercilessly slaughtered as those who claim to serve the God of Israel did absolutely nothing to stop it. We know we cannot carry on the sins of our forefathers. No, we will not. Not on our watch. But has it actually sunk in that just like during the Holocaust, Jews are being murdered today just because they are Jewish? What are we doing now about what is happening now? We want to do better. We know we must! Are we? These are hard questions. But if we are who we say we are, we need to ask them. What can we do that would actually stop Palestinian Arab jihadists from indiscriminately murdering innocent Jewish civilians? A friend of mine, Rabbi Elie Michele, recently wrote an article entitled “Fight like David.” In that article he says that Jewish people in Israel should be more bold in their efforts to defeat their internal enemies. He contends that Israel should: “Send a clear and unequivocal message to all terrorists: when you commit an act of terror, your family will be deported from this land and will suffer for your acts of evil. If the State of Israel fought like David, it would tell our enemies: after every act of terror, we will declare sovereignty over another town in Judea and Samaria, our biblical homeland. And if the State of Israel fought like David, it would use overwhelming force to punish terrorists and all those who protect them and give them shelter.” That is the role of Israelis. What is our role as non-Jews? Enter: Ittai. You may not have ever heard of this particular Biblical character. He is not so famous and only shows up twice in the whole Bible. King David was having a very rough time. Internally, the state of Israel was falling apart. David’s own kin played a successful propaganda campaign against him and drove him out of his capital, Jerusalem. As he was on his way out of the city with those faithful to him, he is surprised to find that Ittai the Gittite is also leaving Jerusalem. King David says, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” (2 Samuel 15:19-20) David tries to convince Ittai that this is not his fight and that he really doesn’t have to follow him. Ittai, however, would not take no for an answer! He replied, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” (2 Samuel 15:21) When times got rough for David, Ittai was right there beside him. What’s amazing is that just three chapters later we see that Ittai has been appointed as one of David’s top generals! Ittai stood with King David in his weakest hour and helped him to re-establish order in Israel. The Prophet Zechariah makes a very interesting declaration in chapter 12 verse 8. He says, “On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David.” What he’s saying is that all those who are now in Israel, whether they miraculously made it through the Holocaust, survived the wars of Israel, terrorism, economical challenges, making aliyah and re-settling in the land, no matter how unstable they are, God will make them like David. How is God going to do that? Let’s read a little further in Zechariah. In Chapter 14 verse 23 is says, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” Psalm 126 tells us that these non- Jews will also help Israel realize that God has done great things for them. Isaiah 61:5 says that these modern day “Ittai's” will help Israelis with their agricultural endeavors. Isaiah 56 declares that all gentiles will come to pray and worship the God of Israel in Jerusalem. I propose that you should find a David and be his non-Jewish Jonathan. You must become a modern-day Ittai to a modern-day David. If every David had ten Ittai's, we would stop terrorism! Especially if all ten emphatically declared that the David should, as my friend rabbi Elie put it, “send a clear and unequivocal message to all terrorists: when you commit an act of terror, your family will be deported from this land and will suffer for your acts of evil.” “...after every act of terror, declare sovereignty over another town in Judea and Samaria” , and “use overwhelming force to punish terrorists and all those who protect them and give them shelter.” The thing is, we have to do it! We cannot stand back and say, “Well, there are a lot of internal issues and I’m not so sure about the modern ‘conflict’ and ‘occupation.’” That is not what Ittai did! It is what many Christians did leading up to and during the Holocaust. Ittai showed up the day before he made his stand with King David. If you feel like you are behind, or don’t know how to start, the first step is to come to Jerusalem. Relationships and opportunities will grow from there. Now is your time. For God’s holy name sake, find a David and become an Ittai! Zac Waller HaYovel Executive Director Demonstrators take part in a protest outside the Federal Building against Palestine and in support of Israel, Sunday, May 16, 2021 in Los Angeles. Photo by Ringo Chiu | shutterstock.com If every David had ten Ittai's, we would stop terrorism!

22. 12 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Opinion Piece + Register for September 2023 Conference The Seven Messages of the Messiah to the Seven Churches All around the world there are changes taking place. The vast majority of these changes are not good. This evil is actually preparing the world for an empire that will rule over all the nations. This one world government will eventually be ruled by the antichrist. When Yeshua (Jesus) spoke about the end times, He commanded His disciples to watch and not to be deceived. Do you know for what to be watching? When examining the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Yeshua stated that those who have an ear must hear what the Spirit says. It is most significant that there is a consistent message to the churches to overcome. What is the Church called to overcome? The Bible is most specific about what is going to happen in the end times and it is incumbent upon every believer to be ready. The Book of Revelation contains much more information for the Church than many individuals know. The seven messages to the seven churches are some of the most relevant instruction that Christ has given His people in light of what will take place prior to the Rapture. A thorough study of these seven letters also reveals to the reader an important aspect of our Lord and Savior. In fact, each of the seven letters give the reader an additional description of Yeshua. It is necessary to remember that the Book of Revelation is the revelation of Messiah Yeshua. This means that in these seven letters, the reader learns an important detail concerning the Messiah which will assist him or her to be prepared for what will take place in the last days to believers. Is it correct to believe that the next great event on God’s prophetic calendar is the Rapture? Difficult times are approaching and it is necessary for believers to learn and implement the content of these seven messages into our lives. In our study of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, we will learn why these letters do not relate to seven different periods of Church history. We will also learn why the reader must receive the instruction found in these two chapters as one message to the Church, in light of what will happen in the end times. I would like you to consider this brief article as your personal invitation to attend the LoveIsrael.org Sydney conference. We believe that worship brings a Godly change into believers’ lives. It is for this reason that we are pleased to announce that not only is this conference a time of study, but also worship will be a major part of our time together. With this in mind, we have invited Joshua Aaron to lead our times of worship. I am personally most excited to have a fellow Israeli participating in this year’s conference. I truly believe that year’s conference will encourage you and help to prepare you for what is coming and what is perhaps soon on the horizon. See you on September 9th! —————————————————————— Dr. Baruch Korman is the senior lecturer at the Zera Avraham Institute based in Israel. The purpose of www.lovelsrael.org is to provide Biblically-based teachings with an emphasis on the Jewish context of Scripture. Dr. Baruch’s Bible Study program broadcasts on numerous television networks across the United States, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Many of his lectures are available in video, audio and written format on www. lovelsrael.org You can view his expository bible-teaching program on the Daystar Network and GodTV . Dr. Baruch holds a PhD in Jewish Studies. Dr Baruch Korman Senior lecturer at the Zera Avraham Institute based in Israel. Difficult times are approaching and it is necessary for believers to learn and implement the content of these seven messages into our lives 2023 Love Israel Conference CONFERENCE VENUE Wesley Conference Centre 220 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 "End Times Counsel: Messages to the 7 Churches in Revelation" SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2023 • 8.30AM to 6:30PM CVM GROUP PTY LTD PRESENTS... Praise & Worship led by award-winning American-Israeli independent singer and songwriter Joshua Aaron. Register online at: loveisrael2023sydney.eventbrite.com.au PRAYER & MINISTERING TIME W e will be having a time of "prayer and ministering" from 5.15pm to 6.30pm for those who would like to receive prayer for themselves or their loved ones. We will have ushers leading those who want prayer up to the stage where our prayer team will be available to talk and pray with you. BABIES & CHILDREN T he venue provides a "parents room" for those who want to bring their babies or small children. It is a comfortable room with seats, a clear elevated view of the conference stage, and sound speakers to still be able to hear the worship and teachings. C hildren under 10 years old have FREE admission. We ask that children under the age of 10 remain in the "parents room" with one parent or guardian as it is a sound-proof room and more comfortable for little ones. HOW TO REGISTER Register online at: loveisrael2023sydney.eventbrite.com.au Please submit all enquiries to: Australasia@loveisrael.org CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE $75.00 per person (not including Eventbrite's fee) We can also take 'walk-in' registrations on the day.

20. 10 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Historical Perspective This series has previously mentioned that the San Remo Resolution, which resulted in the Mandate for Palestine that was ratified in July 1922, enshrined into international law the title deed that Almighty God had given to the Hebrew Patriarchs as an everlasting possession. Perhaps this was not obvious at the time, but I believe this was what God was doing behind the scenes 100 years ago. At that time Great Britain, along with the empire that was attached to it, was the ‘world superpower’ of the day, although in decline by then. In the decades that followed, the United States of America would accede to that position. Nevertheless, Great Britain and its empire was responsible for the Balfour Declaration, the dismembering of the Ottoman Empire, which had inflicted a genocide on ethnic minorities within its empire, and the implementation of the Mandate for Palestine. The Decree of Cyrus This wasn’t the first time in recorded history that the ‘world superpower’ of the day would be responsible for facilitating the restoration of the nation of Israel. The Bible records that the head of the Persian Empire, King Cyrus, was given a similar role during the Babylonian exile in the 6th Century BC. What happened is recorded in a number of books in the Hebrew Scriptures, notably 2nd Chronicles (chapter 36), as well as the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The Hebrew Bible, which has a different configuration to the Christian Old Testament, actually concludes with of the second Book of Chronicles, which itself closes with the decree of Cyrus: 'Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: “All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all of His people? May the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!”' (2 Chronicles 36:23) One could say that this decree from the Persian king was ‘the international law’ of its time. Not only do we find it in the Bible, but it is also inscribed on the ‘Cyrus Cylinder’, which comes from the ancient Persian Empire and dates back to 538 BC. Today this ancient historic artefact resides in the British Museum! For those who believe in neither the authority nor the accuracy of the Bible, God provides extra-biblical evidence of something that so many today seek to deny: the Jewish historic connection to Jerusalem! Restoration and the Coming of Messiah So why was the return of the Jewish people and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple so crucial back then? There could be many answers to that question, but I would like to offer just one: to prepare the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people for the First Coming of Messiah—the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). More than 2,000 years after the Cyrus decree, the Lord raised up another great empire—the British Empire—the most extensive empire the world had hitherto seen. Apart from taking the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth, the British Empire would assume its ‘Cyrus’ role to facilitate the restoration of Israel to its ancient homeland once again. Sadly, many British people today hold the former British Empire in contempt, in the same way that they hold the gospel and the rebirth of the Jewish state in contempt. While there were atrocities committed in the name of the empire—after all we are a fallen humanity—nevertheless, the Lord had his purposes for the rise of the British Empire, just as with the Persian Empire in the days of Cyrus. Some years ago, I produced and directed a documentary film, which was largely the vision my Australian historian friend Kelvin Crombie, who presented it. It was entitled ‘The Destiny of Britain’ and you can view a trailer (7 minutes) through the link given at the end of this article. It examines how Britain’s Christian heritage was instrumental in leading to the Balfour Declaration. San Remo and the Mandate for Palestine: The Modern-Day Cyrus Decree The San Remo Resolution, and the Mandate that followed it, which raised the Balfour Declaration to the status of an international treaty, could be likened to the ‘Cyrus Decree’ for the modern era. As was pointed out in the earlier article looking at the San Remo Conference in some detail, the territorial extent of the Jewish national home was discussed, and while the actual boundaries were not finalised then, the intention was expressed that it should incorporate the area of Israel’s domicile during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. Included within that is the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria, and particularly Israel’s historic capital, Jerusalem. So, why is this latter-day ‘Cyrus Decree’ so crucial in the purposes of God? I would suggest that it is to prepare the Jewish people, who have been largely scattered across the face of the earth for two millennia, the Land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem for the Second Coming of Messiah. His mission this time? To rule and reign over the whole earth from the throne of David—His throne—in Jerusalem. The City of the Great King—not ‘Al Quds’ The Lord Jesus once referred to Jerusalem as “the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35)—in reference to Himself. Through the Prophet Zechariah, he declared: “I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Lord of hosts, the Holy Mountain” (Zechariah 8:3). Clearly, the Lord Jesus is not going to return to ‘Al Quds’ (the Arabic name for Jerusalem) as the capital city of an Islamic Palestinian state. And therein lies the heart of the Middle East conflict as we see it today – the onslaught of the demonic spiritual powers of darkness against the declared purposes of God. Most nations of the world, particularly the European Union and the United Nations, are hell-bent on disinheriting Israel of her historic capital city and her Biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria. Certainly, in a spiritual sense, we are seeing the fulfilment of Zechariah 12: 2-3: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will be cut in pieces ...” I believe we are seeing the spiritual fulfilment of this prophecy in the BDS movement of today. Britain’s betrayal of the Mandate for Palestine in the 1930s and 40s laid the groundwork for this to happen. Centenary of the Mandate for Palestine: Part 6 – The Spiritual & Prophetic Significance Hugh Kitson Writer, Director and Producer of the Whose Land? documentary. Cyrus Cylinder in the British Museum The ECI gathering at the Villa Devachan in 2010. Danny Danon is third from left in the front row. San Remo Resolution: A Modern-Day Cyrus Decree to Prepare Jerusalem for the Second Coming of Messiah.

12. 2 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Reflections Surrounding the Tragedy of the Holocaust ‘The ruthlessness of the Holocaust and the dignity of Jewish resistance’ - Alex Ryvchin A moving service commemorating the Holocaust, the systematic genocide of European Jews by the Nazis during World War II, was held on Sunday evening 16 April in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. It was combined with a remembrance of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising that took place just 80 years ago in April 1943. Throughout the ages, the Jewish people have had to fight for their freedom from all kinds of oppressors. From Egypt to modern-day antisemitism, the Jewish people have defended their rights to freedom and safety, and always will. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was the largest uprising by Jews during World War II and is widely considered to be one of the most significant events in their history as well as a powerful symbol of Jewish resistance. My wife Trixie and I were privileged to represent both Christians for Israel Australia and the wider Christian community at this event organised by the State Zionist Council of Queensland, the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies (QJBD), and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, whose co-CEO Alex Ryvchin was the keynote speaker. It was especially heart-warming for us to connect on this sombre occasion with members of the local Sunshine Coast Jewish community, including an encouraging number of young people, as well as with local political representatives. After we all stood together for a minute’s silence, a series of presentations were brought by different members of the Jewish community, highlighting harrowing aspects of the Holocaust as well as recounting poignant personal stories impacting their families. After each presentation the speaker lit one of the six memorial candles, representing the six million Jews tragically murdered at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust. The candles are also powerful symbols of life and light that help us to remember that the Holocaust must never be forgotten. Alex Ryvchin’s (left) compelling message focused on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943. The ghetto was established by the Germans in 1940 and was the largest of many in occupied Poland. At its peak it housed nearly half a million Jews, who were crammed into an area of just over a square mile and suffered widespread disease and starvation. Alex Ryvchin provided a chilling context for the absence of major organised resistance to the Nazis prior to the uprising in the Warsaw ghetto: “The Nazis.... engaged in deception, assuring the Jews that deportation to death camps meant resettlement, gas chambers meant showers, and forced marches to pre-dug graves meant reporting for work assignments. “Jewish leaders were forever trying to find out from the Nazis what was going to happen next. The answers were always vague, dismissive or dishonest. The truth that their annihilation was imminent was always kept from them.” He went on to remind us that “the actual process of mass-killing... occurred not gradually but as a blitzkrieg. In March 1942, almost 80 per cent of the eventual victims of the Holocaust were still alive. “By February 1943, just 11 months later, that number was reversed. 80 per cent of the 6 million were already dead. When the Final Solution became policy, murder became industrialised—and not a moment or a life was spared.” Alex reminded us that the two “most incredible instances of organised resistance occurred at the Sobibor death camp and in the Warsaw Ghetto.” After a sobering summary of the Sobibor uprising, he recounted what occurred in Warsaw. “A force of 700 Jews led by Zionist and Communist groups led the uprising. It unified Jewish nationalists and internationalists, hitherto bitter political foes. They created a network of dugouts linked to the sewage system. “They smuggled in small arms, fashioned molotov cocktails, and took down collaborators, informers, and policemen inside the ghetto before engaging in combat with the SS. “They held the factories for as long as they could - jumping from collapsing buildings or escaping through the sewers when the SS battalions began the systematic destruction of the ghetto, scorching or toppling buildings and all inside them, to end the uprising. “For all their valour and determination, the Jewish fighters killed no more than 16 of their tormentors. The uprising was crushed. The remaining Jews of the ghetto were either shot on site or deported to the death camps.” Alex concluded his moving address by emphasising how the Jewish fighters in the ghetto in Warsaw speak to us today. “They resisted to restore their dignity and that of their people, to assert their honour, to restore some individualism, wrest back some scrap of freedom after everything good in this world had been burned and choked off. This, to me, is the height of bravery and nobility.... “They tell us that they lived, did not succumb, they did not go quietly, they did not give up. They teach us what it means to have courage, to be strong even when faced with an unstoppable force. To see a world and a destiny beyond our own lives. And we, even here, so far in space and time from the scenes of the crimes, honour them, remember them—we speak their names and we marvel at their greatness.” —————————————————————— Keith Buxton is an ordained pastor. He currently serves on the C4I Australia management committee and is a liaison with C4I Oceania Island affiliates Keith Buxton Former National Director of Bridges for Peace Australia Yom HaShoah Commemoration & Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Remembrance Captured Jews who participated in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising are rounded up by the Waffen SS on Nowolipie Street between April 19 and May 16, 1943 Rabbi Asher Goodman, Alex Ryvchin, Fiona Simpson MP, Carine Rozem MC and Paul Myers (Vice President of the QJBD) Jewish fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: A testament to courage, resilience, and the pursuit of dignity

14. 4 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 And Speak Of Them – ודברת בם I have a very good friend who I catch up with every few months for breakfast. We order our food and co ff ees and then sit down and the conversation starts with something lik e - ‘How are you?’ ‘How are things with the family?’ ‘’Have you heard the one about the pastor, the priest and the rabbi?’ But usually by the time brekkie has arrived we have changed tack and are speaking about what we love to discuss the most, and that is the Word of God, and what the Lord is doing in our midst and in the world. We can keep going like that for hours. Do you have someone you do that with? Whenever we discuss the Word of God together, we are simply obeying a command in the Torah that is attached to the Shema. Deuteronomy 6:7 '... and ( you) shall SPEAK OF THEM when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.' In Hebrew ‘SPEAK OF THEM’ is ‘DIBARTA BAM’. The command simply wants us to let the Lord and the Bible be our main topic of discussion throughout our day. And not just a general discussion but specifically about His commandments and how they might apply to our life. For that to occur successfully, we must always have something fresh to share from the Bible. And the only way we can do this is if we expose ourselves to the Word daily and allow it to be fresh to us daily. Some people don’t know how to do this so I’d like to try to make it simple for us by breaking it down into a short series of simple and easily attainable How Tos. 9 Ways To Always Have Something Fresh From The Bible To Talk About 1. Firstly – in order to expose yourself more to the W ord of God, you could easily begin by committing to read the Bible daily—even for a few moments. 2. Having mastered that goal, graduall y extend the time you spend reading the Bible and find a good devotional booklet to work through. 3. Perhaps give yourself some chapter goals - f or example reading a chapter a day, or five chapters a day. 4. Add to this – listening to good podcasts – perhaps whil e out walking or at the gym. 5. Progress y our commitment to spending an hour a week to watch some great Bible videos. My personal favourites are on Biblical archeology. 6. Suppl ement this with a dose of Word- based worship music. 7. For the zealous among y ou - join others studying every week in a forum like a life-group or Bible study club. 8. For those wishing to reall y break through into another dimension in your spiritual walk - join a weekly Torah Portion or the Milk Course. 9. But best by far, and this is a cl osely guarded secret amongst us Bible teachers, the most e ff ective way to learn is w hen you make to decision to teach others. Start small - teach your friends. Then if you have time, join a Religious Instruction program to teach the Bible in a school or find a way to teach in your church or synagogue congregation - children or adults. You will bound ahead in your knowledge of the Bible. Any of these things when done regularly will most surely equip you with something fresh from the Bible to talk about when you are with others. Now that you always have something fresh from the Bible to talk about, where should you use it? When You Sit In Your House The first place we are to speak of the Word is naturally our own homes. ... and ( you) shall talk of them when you sit in your house... When God commands this, the first thing I think of is a picture of the family dining table - with a meal. It could be just with your family or with lots of friends; it may be a beautiful Shabbat meal, or just a co ff ee and a bikkie with your spouse at morning tea. Or perhaps ‘ in your house’ could be your lounge room or out by the pool with friends, or on the edge of the bed with your spouse before you go to sleep, or when you read a book to your children or grandchildren. Of course it’s quite normal to talk about all sorts of everyday things; that’s normal day-to-day life. We all have stu ff to talk about. But wh y not intentionally try to also make your Bible conversation a regular and integral part of your life in your home. Do you think you could even aim to make it your number one topic? That will take some intention and practise. But it WILL happen if you want it to. Rabbi Rashi said of speaking about God’s commandments. ‘Speak of them’ - that your principal topic of conversation should be only about them; make them the main topic, not the secondary one. Rashi on Deuteronomy 6:7 When You Walk By The Way ... when you walk by the way ... Learn to walk and talk. When Jesus joined two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus He seemed to launch straight into a conversation about the Torah and the prophets and how they revealed Him as Messiah. Their hearts burned within them as He spoke. Do you have that e ff ect on people w hen you expound the Bible with others? You can if you want to! With just one question you can change ANY topic to the Word of God. Here’s one question you might use - ‘How do you think God views that?’ That walk on the beach with the children or the grandchildren could just be about Greg Cumming The Torah Portion www.thetorahportion.org Teaching from the Torah Make the Word of God the centrepiece of your life—speak of it when you lie down and when you rise up

26. 16 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Biblical Commentary Through Jewish Eyes Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus has brought us salvation and granted those who believe eternal life. He is rightly called our Saviour, but from a Jewish perspective He cannot—yet—be fully called the Messiah. The Anointed One Messiah literally means ‘the smeared one’ or the ‘anointed one’. As the anointing has become synonymous with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, many Christians already see Jesus as ‘anointed’. However, the Biblical term literally refers to being physically anointed with a unique anointing oil to take the throne of Israel. The recent coronation of King Charles the III gave millions of viewers worldwide a once-in-a-lifetime viewing of this ancient practice. In full public sight, Charles was disrobed of his royal garments, leaving him dressed in rather plain white undergarments. Charles was then ushered to an area concealed by large decorative screens where he was anointed with oil uniquely chosen from the Mount of Olives. Once the anointing was complete, Charles emerged to be dressed in his spectacular golden royal robe. He was then crowned with his royal crown with the Archbishop of Canterbury declaring “God Save the King!” The Missing Anointing Oil For Jesus to fulfil His role as Messiah, He literally must return to earth and be crowned King over Israel—just as the Angel Gabriel foretold (Luk 1:32). There is a problem however. Israel’s formula for anointing oil contains its own unique ingredients including persimmon oil. This oil was exceedingly rare in ancient times, with only two known groves in existence at the time of Jesus. Both of these groves were destroyed during the destruction of the Temple, leaving Israel without a means to anoint their Messiah as King—until now.1 The Missing Anointing The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran caves not only provided priceless ancient scrolls of Biblical texts, but also a rather unusual Copper Scroll. It took researchers years of careful restoration work before they were finally able to unfurl the scroll and read its contents. The scroll effectively contained a treasure map of 64 treasures from Bible times. While it has been hard to match its descriptions with Israel’s current landscape, researchers nevertheless were able to use its contents to uncover a sealed clay jar in Cave 11 at Qumran. This jar contained a very unusual and sticky substance, with chemical analysis showed it to be composed of Moses’ unique ingredients for anointing oil. The jar was carbon dated back to the days of Jesus, as published by the National Geographic.2 According to Grant Jeffrey, this unusual jar is now in the safekeeping of the chief rabbis in Israel, and perhaps it will be the very substance used to anoint Jesus as the future King of Israel. I believe Jesus is truly coming again, and when He comes, we can expect there to be a far greater and more magnificent crowning ceremony than the world has ever seen. On that day, He will be finally be declared as the Messiah of Israel and the King over all the Earth—may that day come soon! References: 1 Jeffrey, Grant. R, The New Temple and the Second Coming (2007), page 50-51, 56-57 2 See Special To The New York (1989-02-16). "Balsam Oil of Israelite Kings Found in Cave Near Dead Sea". The New York Times. Also see Jones, Vendyl. A Door of Hope: My Search for the Treasures of the Copper Scroll (2005). Lightcatcher Books. —————————————————————— Ps. Enoch Lavender is the director of Olive Tree Ministries (formerly known as Shalom Israel). The Case of the Missing Anointing Oil Enoch Lavender Director of Olive Tree Ministries (formerly known as Shalom Israel) The Jubilee Bible Study with Video Teachings BY PASTOR ENOCH LAVENDER $20 inc. postage This interactive Bible Study series covers topics like: The Gospel Jesus’ Preached The Restoration of Israel and the Church The Jubilee and the final Trumpet The Resurrection of the Dead The study includes a • 32 Page Booklet • DVD with all the teaching videos • Online version of the teaching videos ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY olivetreeministries.org.au/eshop The Final Ingathering of Israel The Restoration of all Things Join us in this interactive Bible study as we explore how the Jubilee sets the stage for Jesus’ 1st and 2nd Comings. This Bible Study features five 10-15 minute lessons, followed by questions and answers that help you dig deep into the subject matter. Illustration of David Anointed King Over Judah with oil as described in 2 Samuel 2:1-4

10. Rev Cornelis Kant n Executive Director | Christians for Israel International From 11-16 May, 80 representatives from Christians for Israel International—coming from 22 different countries —gathered in Jerusalem for a 4-day Forum. Normally, this Forum takes place every two years. Due to Covid-19, however, the last Forum was held in 2019. During the time together, we listen to speakers from various countries (including Israel), visit projects of Christians for Israel and meet with their leaders, and explore Biblical sites. This year’s Forum was a blessed time of encouragement for all participants. For some of them, it was their first visit to Israel. The opportunity to meet personally, learn from each other, pray and worship together creates the unique feeling of belonging to a global (C4I) family. Doing so in the land of Israel adds an important value. Many of the people involved in the worldwide work of Christians for Israel International are volunteers. Spending time together strengthens our common mission to spread the Biblical message about Israel in our respective countries. Our international Forum is also a fascinating melting pot of languages and cultures. It is always impressive to see how people from Africa, Asia, the America’s, Oceania and Europe live their faith, and experience the role of Israel in their faith. 8 C4I News ISRAEL Celebrating Back in Jerusalem at Last June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Dr Leon Meijer n Chairman | Christians for Israel International One of the highlights of the C4I Forum in Jerusalem was the visit to The Jewish Agency on 14 May. Danielle Mor , together with Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, the chairman of The Jewish Agency, welcomed us at the Agency’s headquarters. The Jewish Agency is responsible for helping Jewish people making Aliyah and their first integration into Israel’s society. Almog is a former Major General of the Israeli Defence Force and was a commander of the raid on Entebbe in 1976. During our visit, he shared his inner convictions. At the age of 22, he lost his younger brother Eran in the Yom Kippur War. His brother was wounded and left behind after his tank was struck. “And therefore”, Doron Almog emphasised, “my main motto in my work in the military, and now as the chairman of The Jewish Agency, is to leave no one behind”. Almog honoured Koen Carlier and Ira Sulim for their work in Ukraine. On behalf of Christians for Israel, they (and their dedicated team) are helping Jewish refugees from all over the country to leave for Israel. Prophetic It had not appeared to me at the time that Doron Almog’s words were prophetic. That happened the next day when Rev Willem Glashouwer opened the Word of God with us on the Mount of Olives. Overlooking Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, Glashouwer explained how God has been planning to bring His people back. In Ezekiel 39:28, God states that He is responsible for the return of the Jews from exile. That Scripture ends with: “I will leave none of My people behind”. The life motto of the chairman of The Jewish Agency, responsible for the return of Jews to their homeland, comes directly from Scripture. Terror Attacks We had 80 participants from 23 countries who attended the Forum arrived at another difficult time for Israel. During the first days of the Forum, more than 1200 rockets were launched at Israel by Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. In retaliation, Israel took out six leaders of this terror group, targeting their hiding places. Many rockets were stopped by Israel’s air defence system but some still caused damage, and two people in Israel were killed. Due to the terror attacks, we had to change our programme. Our visit to a family living at the Gaza border had to be cancelled as the family had been evacuated from the area. We did, however, visit new olim in Kibbutz Revivim, in the southern part of the Negev desert. Feeling Safe The young families from Russia, Ukraine and Brazil told us why they had moved to Israel. For all of them, their Jewish identity was the reason to come to Israel and leave everything behind. The couple from Ukraine fled the war, and felt safe in Israel now, even when rockets from Islamic Jihad were trying to take away that feeling. The couples are participating in the so-called ‘First Home in the Homeland’ integration programme, which is supported by Christians for Israel. Seeing firsthand how much joy and comfort the project gives new immigrants encouraged us to continue our support for this project. Young People During our time together, the 80 Forum participants encouraged each other by sharing the developments in their respective regions. Praying, worshipping, listening to Bible teaching, visiting Biblical places together and talking to the people of the land strengthened the family bond among the participants. Young people from Isreality and Israel Connect used the opportunity to tell the other participants how they use social media to inform their peers about Israel. One of the results of meeting at the Forum was the decision to start a monthly Zoom prayer meeting for young people. Participants from Germany, Austria, Italy, Vietnam and Taiwan immediately signed up. “Now I Have Seen” At the end of the Forum one of the participants who visited Israel for the first time gave a wonderful insight in why people should attend our next Forum. “I am interested in Israel”, she said. “I got several books about Israel, but usually, after two chapters, I stopped reading. I did not get it. But on this trip, I began to understand: to see with my own eyes what God is doing; to see how Jews are still reading the Bible, and are celebrating the Shabbat for example, has opened my eyes for God’s plan with Israel. Back home, I will finish reading these books, since now I ha ve seen!” | Photos: Christians for Israel On 14 May 1948, David Ben Gurion, then chairman of the Jewish Agency, signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence with 36 others. It was the beginning of the State of Israel. Exactly 75 years later, on 14 May 2023, representatives from the 42 countries where Christ ians for Israel has a branch, met in the Jewish Agency building. There, together with Doron Almog, the current Chairman of The Jewish Agency, signed a declaration expressing our commitment to the State of Israel. The signed declaration of commitment to the State of Israel: A bible teaching on the Mount of Olives by Rev Willem Glashouwer. The participants at this year’s Forum at Sde Boker. Rev Cornelis Kant with some Forum participants at the Western Wall. Signing the Declaration with Doron Almog. The C4I Fiji delegation with Natalia Kryzhanivska, Ira Sulim and Koen Carlier from C4I Ukraine.

32. Joanne Nihom n There are talented people everywhere in the world. Israeli culture, however, ensures that its people are willing to take risks and go to extremes. How that came about? Perhaps because of the Jewish mother, or the Jewish father. Or because of the waves of immigration or the fact that Jews everywhere had to keep starting over. Every generation has its successes. Around 1900 it was the kibbutzim; in 1948, the creation of the State of Israel, and now there is the start-up explosion. The country changed from a barren desert to a green, healthy country in 75 years. This is mainly thanks to the Jewish National Fund (JNF). Forest planting, water management, innovation and research in agriculture has not only changed Israel, but also this knowledge is shared with the rest of the world. The numbers don’t lie. Today, Israel has more trees than a hundred years ago. Almost 100% of all wastewater is reused for agriculture. 70% of drinking water comes from desalinated seawater, and more than half of the vegetables for export come from the desert south. Own Eyes —Vivian Rinat, director of the JNF: “These facts are incredible. The best way to experience Israel’s success is to visit the country. Meet the people, eat the delicious food, and see the wonders with your own eyes. That will give you enough energy for the next 75 years!” Miraculous —What has been achieved in the field of science and invention is also miraculous. Here is a brief list of Israel’s numerous discoveries, some of which changed the world: solar energy, drip irrigation, cherry tomatoes, the Epilady (the first device for women to wax electronically). And, of course, the family game Rummikub. Even if it is not always mentioned, they are all originally Israeli inventions. Health —Small and large Israeli companies provide inventions that are good for our health and the well-being of the planet. Like Better Juice’s sugar-free juices, Tipa’s responsible packaging, and a multitude of vegetarian and vegan products. Like Tivall’s vegetarian smoked sausage, specially developed for the Dutch market and delicious on a sandwich, with hotchpotch or sauerkraut in winter. Or Redefine Meat, a product made of 3D-printed vegetable ‘meat’, currently the first in the world. It is already available in a number of restaurants in the Netherlands. Then the Israeli wines that are causing a furore and winning awards around the world. Vines can be found from the north to the south, yes, even in the desert. ‘Camera Pill’ —In the medical field is the ‘camera pill’, developed for simple and painless internal bowel examination. The idea is simple. The patient swallows the pill, a mini camera with a transmitter. As it travels inside, a number of pictures are taken and sent to a recorder that the patient carries in a waist bag. But there is much more. Israeli scientists have discovered new methods of measuring and injecting insulin for diabetics. Copaxone, a drug that inhibits the physical breakdown caused by multiple sclerosis (MS) comes from Israel, as do the two other well-known MS drugs Betaseron and Avonex. Stem Cell Therapy —To better treat Parkinson’s, a stem cell therapy has been developed. There is a new method to combat acne, and an automated system to work more efficiently and avoid mistakes, such as writing out the wrong drugs. Equipment has been developed for both diagnostic and treatment methods, including computed tomography (CT) scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, ultrasound scanners, nuclear medical cameras, and surgery lasers. Curious and Inventive —What is the reason so many world-class inventions have their origins in Israel? Objectively, it is because of the military industry, which is well known. As a result, investors are always interested in what is happening in Israel. Also, the government puts a lot of money into all kinds of research. Not objectively... Israelis are curious, inventive and look beyond. Beewise —Start-up Beewise developed the world's first autonomous beehive. A two-by-five-metre container that can accommodate 40 bee colonies, some two million bees. Using artificial intelligence and robotics, the bees’ habitat is monitored. Independence —Another Israeli invention is the ReWalk, a creation of engineer Amit Goffer, founder of Argo Medical Technologies. “In 1997, I was paralysed in an accident and discovered that in this kind of circumstance, only the wheelchair is there to propel you forward,” says Amit. ReWalk is a robotic suit that allows wheelchair users to walk, sit and stand again. This with the help of crutches and a system of motion sensors, minicomputers and rechargeable batteries wrapped in very light material. Not only does the disabled person regain much of their independence, but moving their limbs prevents all kinds of ‘wheelchair symptoms’, such as bowel and urinary tract problems. Information Technology —Then there is a multitude of IT (information technology) inventions. It does not matter if you do not (re)know all of them: security software, network firewalls, antivirus programmes, System Software, Microsoft Operating System software (XP and Vista), Google’s search engine, hardware, Disk on Key (USB stick), Wifi, Intel Pentium Chips, the navigation system WAZE, and the SniffPhone, a device that can diagnose diseases by analysing smell. When it comes to telecommunications, Israeli inventions have also made the world look different. Think of mobile telephony, the camera phone chip, voicemail, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), such as Skype, Digital Voice and Dutchphone. Mazel Tov —It’s quite a list, it will leave you breathless, and all in just 75 years. We say: Mazel tov Israel, keep it up, we will keep writing about it. 14 Modern History Israel, the Land of Absolute Miracles ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Young Israeli inventors at a congress. | Photo: Flash90 Prof Elka Touitou of the Israeli School of Pharmacy with her invention: a nanotechnology for administering drugs through the skin | Photo: Flash90 Marie-Louise Weissenböck n and the Isreality Team On 22 April 2023, the time had come—after four months of planning, promoting and networking, our kick-off event took place in Vienna. Young adults between 18 and 35 years old were invited to an evening with a lecture and fellowship, followed by an Israeli buffet with falafel, hummus, pita, sesame bread and much more. More than 30 young people accepted the invitation and followed the teaching of Tobias Kraemer, a theologian from Stuttgart. He illuminated the topic ‘What does Jesus have to do with Israel?’ with selected Bible texts and sketches. His starting point was: “If we only want to know how to be saved, it is enough to understand the cross and the resurrection. But if we want to understand Jesus, we must go back to Judaism. For Jesus was, and is, a Jew. Understanding Jesus is crucial. Because we don’t just believe in the cross and resurrection, we believe in a per son: Jesus!” Beginning with explanations of Jesus’ life before his baptism, Jesus as a scriptural theologian, rabbi and exegete, Jesus as Messiah, the cross and resurrection, and Jesus’ return to earth, Tobias took his audience on an exciting journey through the Bible. Also, statements of Jesus and Paul, which today are often interpreted one-sidedly or wrongly, were put into the necessary Jewish context and thus presented themselves in a completely new light. At the end of his lecture, those present agreed that as Christians who believe in Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, we can only stand in friendship and solidarity alongside the Jewish people and Israel. There is no alternative position. After another half hour of questions and discussions, the Israeli buffet was opened and the conversations about this exciting topic continued during the meal. The success of the kick-off evening and the great interest expressed in such events has greatly encouraged us to organise similar meetings in the future as well, building bridges between the Jewish people and Austria—and thus being a blessing for Israel as a young generation. Isreality in Austria—Time for Take-Off Tobias Kraemer, teaching at the relaunch of Isreality in Austria.

33. 15 From Our Projects Part of our mission is to comfort Israel and the Jewish people through prayer and action. If you would like to support one of our projects you can complete the coupon on page 16 or make an online donation. Thank you very much for your support! Aliyah Aliyah is the Hebrew word for the return of the Jewish people to Israel. We support Aliyah mainly from Ukraine (and the former Soviet Union), but also from India and France. Furthermore, we help new immigrants (in Hebrew: olim) to integrate into Israeli society. Hineni Soup Kitchen We help the poor of Israel, by providing them with food. We do this in partnership with the Hineni Center in Jerusalem, headed by Benjamin Philip. Your gift for the soup kitchen goes directly to the purchase of food. Holocaust Survivors We support impoverished Holocaust survivors in Israel and Ukraine through various projects which provide assistance to survivors of the Holocaust. Those survivors are elderly and will not be among us for long, and there is a growing demand for practical assistance. Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) You can support the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, the heart of Biblical Israel. The main purpose is to encourage the people in the Biblical Heartland and to show them that there are Christians throughout the world who support them and share the belief that the areas of Judea and Samaria are part of Israel’s inheritance. Food Parcel Campaign Ukraine We distribute food parcels amongst Jewish people in Ukraine. These parcels are handed out to Holocaust survivors, needy families, and the sick. Those food parcels are a sign of friendship that demonstrates your support for our Jewish brothers and sisters and that they are not alone. Arab Christians Life for Christians in Bethlehem is often not easy. Christians for Israel supports the First Baptist Church of Rev Naim Khoury in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The members of this church spread the gospel among Arabs and share their love and heart for Israel and the Jewish people. For country-specific or further information on our projects, go to our website, www.c4israel.com.au Overview of our projects Benjamin Philip n Director | Hineni Suddenly, the world is surprised by protests in Israel, with many thinking it is solely about democracy. In my view, however, the protests reveal a struggle that has existed since Biblical times and is now returning with the Jewish people to the Promised Land. The true struggle revolves around whether Israel should be a secular democracy protected by a secular Israeli Supreme Court or should be a democracy where democratically elected politicians can pass laws taking into account a growing population in Israel that is in favour of maintaining a Jewish identity and traditions. Israel’s Supreme Court is not democratically elected and yet has the power to reject democratically passed laws based on secular laws and/or principles. In doing so, the focus is often on a (secular) minority and sometimes goes against a Jewish majority and centuries-old Jewish traditions. This situation has already been foretold by many prophets (including Ezekiel ) as a sign that the Messianic era is coming. Therefore, these protests for or against a Jewish Israel are only cause for optimism and joy. For Israel will come to maturity and eventually be restored as God’s people to be a light to the nations. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3b). Messianic Era Approaching ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Dr David Portowicz n Director | The Jaffa Institute Israel just celebrated its 75th birthday. But, after recent internal unrest, you might be asking the question: Was there a reason to celebrate? Any historian looking back on Israel’s magical transformation over the past 75 years is obliged to express the well-known American slogan: “You’ve come a long way, baby”. The miraculous return of a people to their homeland after a 2000-year exile is only one aspect of the wonder. Israel has emerged to be a nation with more Bible scholars than ever before in its history while at the same providing extraordinarily disproportionate contributions to technology, medical advancements, art and music. Not surprisingly, Israel was just found to be the 4th happiest place to live in the world. The tiny nation standing out in a neighbourhood that includes a number of enemies still faces challenges, but, at the end of the day, Israel prides itself on its progress against the odds, its unwavering belief in making peace when possible, and its ever-optimistic approach to the future. A special reason to be joyful is that more and more children grow up with the knowledge that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob continues to shine His countenance upon them, and they see with their own eyes the fulfilment of the Words of the Holy Prophets. The children of Israel see God’s miracles as everyday occurrences. So, yes, unequivocally, there are a multitude of reasons to celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday and to look forward to the next 75 years! Israel Has Turned 75 Sondra Oster Baras n Director | Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) Israel is the greatest miracle of all time. Over 3,000 years ago, God promised that after a time of dispersion to the far corners of the earth, He would restore us to our precious Land of Israel, where we would prosper (Deuteronomy 30). Fulfilling this promise meant nurturing the Jewish people throughout the exile, ensuring they would remain a unique people. God kept His eye on His people, kept His eye on His land and joined them together, granting them independence in 1948. An amazing miracle indeed! When Jews came back to the land during the late 19th century, the land was desolate. When the State was established, millions of new immigrants poured into the country with nothing but the clothes on their backs. There was no housing, not enough food and very few jobs. But there was a dream and a drive and faith. Today, 75 years later, Israel is a high-tech giant, a diverse society, a robust democracy, and a nation constantly growing in faith. We still have so much to accomplish, but Israel is truly a cause for celebration! Israel is the Greatest Miracle

13. 3 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 Downunder Messiah Conference 2023 MESSIANIC Jewish Pastor, Yehudah Bachanah, travels from Jerusalem to the ends of the Earth (Brisbane, Australia) in June 2023. Yehudah is the senior Pastor of Netivyah Messianic Congregation in Jerusalem, and is the keynote speaker for the Conference, From Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth. The Conference brings together believers from local messianic congregations and churches throughout SE Queensland. Our goal is to see Acts 1:8 fulfilled: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The theme of the conference is Unity in the Body of the Messiah . Our vision is to see all believers come together in unity because of their love for Jesus their Rabbi, the Jewish Messiah and hunger to see the Kingdom of God established here in Brisbane and SE Queensland. This vision aligns with ICC’s vision under Pastor Jono’s Battle Cry for a prayer gathering at the RNA Showgrounds on 14 June 2023. Pastors from local churches have joined together to be part of the conference. Acts 2 shows that when God’s people come together in unity, amazing things happen—the Spirit (Ruach) works in people’s lives and lives are radically changed... "and all who believed were together" and “day by day they continued with one mind” and “everyday the Lord was adding to their number." The speakers are gifted in “equipping the saints.” They are: • Matt Prater, New H ope Church (Kelvin Grove) • Kyal Cumming, Kingdom Ch urch (Biggera Waters) • Allen Sen, Internati onal City Church (ICC Newmarket) • Paul Par dede, Live City Church (Redbank Plains) • Craig Hepp lewhite, Beit Neitser at Intenciti Church (Wynnum) The conference is being held over two Saturdays: 1. The first conference day is 17 June 2023 from 9.00am to 5.00pm at Beit Neitser at Intenciti Church, Wynnum. 2. The second conference day is 24 June 2023 , also from 9.00am to 5.00pm at New Hope Church, Kelvin Grove. The Keynote Speaker: Yehudah is a third generation Israeli. Both his father and grandfather were born in Israel. Yehudah is married to Lydia, and they have three (3) children. Yehudah served in the IDF as a paratrooper for three years full time. He continues to serve in the IDF Reserves today. Yehudah was recently appointed as Senior Pastor to lead the Netivyah Messianic Congregation of Jerusalem. Netivyah is one of the earliest Messianic Jewish congregations in Jerusalem, established by Joseph Shulam in 1981. “I am walking into big shoes,” says Yehudah. “Joe was pioneer for Messianic Judaism in Israel.” The goals of Netivyah are to influence the body of Messiah, to present the gospel from its Jewish cultural setting and to see all Israel saved. Some of the ministries of Netivyah include: • The Ro ’eh (Shepherd of Israel) Shabbat meetings • Teachings – pub lishing books and magazines • Hamotzi – a food distributi on program to feed the poor in Jerusalem • Pro-life Israel • Financial support for families in other Messianic congregations • Student scho larships • Youth ministry • Support f or Messianic soldiers in the IDF Further information on Netivyah can be found at www.netivyah.org Yehudah is excited about coming to Australia. Yehudah has a passion to serve, driven by the commandment ‘to love our neighbour as ourselves’ (Lev 19:18; Matt 22:39-40; Gal 5:14). “The topic of unity is so important” stated Yehudah. “We need to break the spirit of disunity, for the glory of God. We need to help one another and serve without an agenda. We do not need to get anything out of the ministry, but give with baseless love out of the abundance given to us by our Heavenly Father." For Yehudah, he follows the teaching of Master Yeshua from Matthew 5 says - we serve so that God will be glorified. Yehudah will also be speaking in local Brisbane churches between 18 to 25 June 2023. For further information on dates, places, and service times for the Sundays and for the Registration details for the Saturday Conferences, please visit www.jerusalem2brisbane.com From Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth (Brisbane) 17 to 25 June Unity in the Body of the Messiah: A Conference Bringing Believers Together from Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth

27. 9 History of the Church Signs of Faith By Kees de Vreugd Zecher Lechurban In this series, ‘Signs of Faith’, objects, procedures and concepts that express Jewish faith are explained and discussed. Zecher lechurban means ‘remembrance of the destruction’ of the temple. Tisha B’Av, the 9th of the month of Av (this year it falls on July 27), is the day when the destruction of both the first and second temples is commemorated by fasting and reading the Book of Lamentations. The Romans set fire to the temple in 70 AD on the same day Nebuchadnezzar’s troops had done in 586 BC. These were the most traumatic events in Jewish history. But disasters that befell the Jews later also fell on that day, for example, the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. Tisha B’Av has therefore become a symbol for all the calamities that befell the Jewish people in their history. Tisha B’Av is one day. But the destruction of the temple—and the longing for its rebuilding—is so defining of the Jewish experience that its commemoration is shaped in all sorts of moments and ways. One notable custom, for example, called zecher lechurban, is to leave a piece of wall in your house one cubit by one cubit bare, i.e. not wallpapered or painted. You see it in every Jewi sh house where people live according to Judaism, usually in the living room. Another custom is that when going out, a woman will never wear all her jewellery at once but will always leave at least one item at home. Another, is to leave the dining table not fully set. For a very long time, it was also a custom not to make music except only for joyous life events like a wedding. I also read that there was a custom for a groom to put ashes on his head under the chupa instead of putting on the tefilien (prayer belts). These are all customs dating back to the time of the Talmud (roughly to the end of the 5th century). In later times, for example, the custom arose of the groom smashing a glass as zecher lechurban after the wedding ceremony. Joy cannot be complete until Jerusalem and the temple are rebuilt. Rev Cornelis Kant n Executive Director | Christians for Israel International In this series of articles Rev Cornelis Kant explains how it happened that the role of Israel was seen as insignificant in the development of our Christian faith and in the history of Christian theology. During the Middle Ages, the perception strengthened that the Jews were cursed and that only conversion to Jesus and joining the Christian church would save them. In addition, the popular opinion developed that Judaism was a corrupted religion. The Jew should not only convert but also renounce his Jewishness and stop his Jewish life. In addition, Jews were increasingly seen as inferior and dangerous. In the minds and hearts of many Christians, not only did an incorrect Biblical-theological view of the Jews take root, but also a negative image of Jews as human beings. Churches and governments often instituted measures to restrict the freedom of Jews. Regular outbursts of looting, violence and murder of Jews also took place. Statements about Jews Numerous caricature images of Jews emerged during this time, including accompanying cartoons. Jews were often blamed for economic crises and epidemics. If Jews were rich, they were referred to as greedy scavengers, and if they were poor, as ‘schmucks’. It became common to speak in negative and crude terms about Jews and their Jewish religion. Well-known are the statements of Martin Luther (1483-1546) in his later writings on Jews. He called for burning synagogues and expelling Jews from Germany. The well-known humanist and scholar Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) called Judaism a “pernicious plague” and a “danger to the church of Christ”. According to him, Jews are “arrogant, unruly, corrupt and utterly blind”. He even wrote to Strasbourg’s Wolfgang Capito in a letter: “There is nothing more dangerous to the teaching of Christ than this most pernicious plague, Judaism”. Anti-Jewish Racial Doctrines In the 19th century, all restrictive measures against the Jews were lifted. Jews became equal citizens with equal rights in Europe. At the same time, a process of secularisation and enlightenment emerged, in which the accusation of the murder of Jesus was no longer relevant to modern man. The deeper aversion to Jews, however, persisted. And so, a new form of antisemitism developed, which was not religiously based, but on a racial doctrine. Jews were seen as an inferior race that posed a threat to the healthy Germanic race. Many Christians also proved to be sensitive to this racial doctrine. The German reverend Adolf Stöcker (1835-1909), court chaplain at the Kaisers’ court, said in a sermon: “The Jews, they are the poisoners (...) strengthening the Christian- Germanic spirit is the remedy to carve out the tumour of Judaism in Germanic life, to put an end to this pernicious cancer”. Thus, the old anti-Judaism shifted to antisemitism. In the 1930s and 1940s, Prof Gerhard Kittel was a Professor of New Testament in Germany. His Theological Dictionary of the New Testament has become kn own worldwide and used by numerous theologians and pastors. He is considered the most prominent New Testament scholar of the twentieth century. He wrote a book entitled Die Judenfrage (The Jewish Question) in 1936, in which he said: “The struggle against Judaism must be given a Christian sense. This struggle is a conscious and clear Christian cause”. Kittel calls the New Testament “the most anti-Jewish book in the whole world”. He is obviously a passionate anti-Semite. He believes there is no place for Jews in Germany since the rise of Christianity. Shocking It is shocking to see how prominent scholars have turned against Jews and Judaism. They proved that, despite their academic training and Bible knowledge, they had no real understanding of God’s plan of salvation for Israel and for the world. Apparently, a person can be so stuck in rigid, dogmatic frameworks and feelings of aversion, that there is no place for what the Bible really says about Israel. We find such statements unacceptable in our time and call them antisemitic. We know where this all ended: the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were murdered. But before World War II, antisemitic feelings and statements were commonplace also among Christians. The term’ antisemitism’ was first used only in the 19th century, but the phenomenon itself is, therefore, centuries old. It is obvious how deeply both replacement theology and aversion to Jews and Judaism are rooted in Christian theology and human thinking and feeling. Believing Without Israel Jews and Judaism are Bad—Part 5 ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Anti-Jewish cartoon. Prof Gerhard Kittel. Churches and governments often started to take measures that restricted the freedom of Jews. Regular outbursts of looting, violence and murder of Jews also took place. Breaking the glass at a Jewish wedding. | Photo: Shutterstock

1. Please send mail-in donations to: Christians for Israel Australia PO Box 1508 Springwood QLD 4127 AUSTRALIAN EDITION EMAIL: info@c4israel.com.a u PHONE: 07 3088 6900 ABN: 58 655 970 086 See over for credit card and other giving options My Gift Thanks for your financial sup port $ ____________ MY TOTAL DONATION TO: Christians for Israel Australia Foundation Name: _________________________________________ Member Number: ____________________________ 17 June 2023 LeN0623 Yes Ian, I’d like to give a special one-off tax-deductible donation towards... $ __________ Aliyah: $350=1 person $1250=5 people $6250=25 people $__________ Food Parcels ($25 per parcel–see over for what’s included) $ __________ General Donation (Admin, Print + Post Costs) *please don’t use staples* Bring Hope! Adopt a Holocaust Survivor. “‘And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.” — Isaiah 58:10 Dear friends, The ongoing war in Ukraine is causing immense suffering for the remaining Holocaust survivors, especially those living in poverty. However, there is a unique opportunity for you to make a lasting impact on their lives and those of needy Jewish pensioners—and we urgently need your support before June 30. Hundreds of Holocaust survivors in Ukraine, who have already endured the horrors of concentration camps, are now reliving the horrors of war, many of them alone. While over 16,000 Jewish people have made Aliyah from Ukraine to Israel since February 2022, not everyone has been able to join their families due to lack of necessary documents or support. This has left many survivors behind. The war in Ukraine has presented significant challenges for these Jewish survivors. With a monthly pension of just $60, they struggle to afford even basic food and medical treatment. They have no health insurance, and their survival is constantly at stake. These survivors and post- war children also bear the weight of difficult memories and profound loneliness. By supporting Christians for Israel with a monthly contribution of $45, you can provide comfort, practical assistance, and most importantly, hope. Your sponsorship will directly address their urgent needs, including Your latest edition of Israel & Christian’s Today is enclosed. We hope you enjoy and are greatly encouraged by the latest News articles and stories. Simple. Just visit myaccount.c4israel.com.au and login with your username and password. Haven’t setup your online account? Go to myaccount.c4israel.com.au/ web/signup and follow the instructions. Need to change your address or Newspaper order? continued over...

28. 10 Theology Recommended Reading ISRAEL Celebrating The Land of Hope & Fear—Israel’s Battle for its Inner Soul By Isabel Kershner In The Land of Hope and Fear, veteran New York Times correspondent Isabel Kershner crisscrosses ‘a country on the precipice’ and comes away with ‘great faith in the people’. Over the past few months, as tensions and disagreements over the government’s judicial overhaul plan have wracked the nation, many have opined that the country is more divided than ever before. But a new book from Isabel Kershner suggests that such a fissure was a very long time coming—and has its roots in divisions that date back to pre-state Israel. “It feels like this judicial overhaul plan came out of nowhere three months ago – but actually, if you look at the divisions and the increasingly competing worldviews of the different tribes living here, I guess you could have seen it coming,” Kershner told the Times of Israel during a recent interview in Jerusalem. “There are long processes that have been going on here – fundamental changes, generational changes, demographic changes, our politics have changed,” she added. “So I guess you could have seen something like this coming... in terms of the general trends in society, what’s happening now definitely has roots.” Over 400 pages, Kershner delves into the religious, political, racial and ideological divides that have plagued Israel since before its founding and in many ways, only sharpened as time went on. “This is a portrait of a country on the precipice, battling for its inner soul,” she writes in the book’s introduction. As the country approached its 75th anniversary, “the looming challenges instilled fear in those who dared look over the precipice,” Kershner wrote. “A demographi c trajectory pointing to a population more ambivalent and conflicted about Zionism and less equipped to contribute to a robust and modern economy; a potential nuclear arms race in the region, and a people’s army fighting to preserve its popular legitimacy; the rise of the political fringes and the threats to liberal democracy.” After months of Israelis taking to the streets in mass protests, Kershner said she has seen both fear and hope—but few who are raising their hands in defeat. “One thing we’re seeing in this very current crisis—which is extremely acute and has brought to the surface a lot of these old resentments—we’re seeing this incredible energy and dynamism, the fact that people care so much, there’s no apathy here,” Kershner said. “There’s definitely a sense of ‘this is our country, and we’re going to fight for it,’ wherever you turn,” she added. “And I think that’s a source of hope and inspiration that you don’t find in every place.” Johannes Gerloff n Theologian, Journalist, Lecturer & Author This is part eleven in a series of articles based on the book Rejoice, You Nations, with His People, by Johannes Gerloff. In this article, we continue to examine Paul’s exposition about God’s sovereignty in Romans 9:6-33. Paul expounds in five steps what makes Abraham’s descendants ‘children’ and the foundation on which this is established. In summary, it could be said that physical descent from Abraham is no ‘guarantee of salvation’. In order to become Abraham’s heir, one needs more than an appropriate genealogical tree. In the previous article, we looked at God’s dealing with Isaac and Ishmael and Jacob and Esau. In this article, we will consider three other ways in which Jews and non- Jews become children of God. The Meaning of Pharaoh’s Existence God, in his freedom and sovereignty, is not only able to elect in order to show his mercy, and loving kindness, but he can also harden a person’s heart. When he wills, he can raise up a Pharaoh and put him on the stage of history for the sole purpose of revealing himself as the Almighty and making this known to all the nations of the world. In order to execute His plan of salvation with mankind, for the sole purpose of glorifying His name, God is able to harden a human being, as He did with Pharaoh. Again, the Apostle addresses the logical objection any listener or reader must surely come up with: If God does whatever He wills in any case, is that not justification enough for a fatalistic worldview? Whom can He hold accountable then? What human being could ever resist God’s will if everything is predestined by Him anyway? It is wrath, the (destructive) manifestation of His power, which God wanted to show in the vessels of wrath. The Apostle, however, emphasises God’s ‘longsuffering’ towards the vessels of wrath as His distinct characteristic. The Election of the Gentiles Jesus had already said, in John 10:16: “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice.” God can even add Gentiles to the elected, even if this means that he makes ‘My people’ out of those who were originally ‘not My people’ (compare 1 Peter 2:9-10), ‘loved ones’ of those who were ‘not loved’ and ‘children of the living God’ of those who were far off. God is able to call non-Jews ‘My people’, even if this means that only a remnant of Israel will be saved. For in the end, it is neither the well-being nor the salvation of man that is decisive, but the holiness, glory and honour of the living God. The decisive measure is not ‘human rights’ but ‘God’s right’. Neither human feelings nor experiences, neither opinions nor considerations of men decide the final outcome, but rather, the Lord will completely fulfil his word upon the earth. Paul’s emphasising that God in his sovereign power calls “not Jews only, but also Gentiles”, is nothing new to Judaism nor in the Hebrew Bible. Already during the exodus from Egypt, ‘a mixed multitude’ went up with the chosen people (Exodus 12:38) and many non- Israelites were among David’s mighty men. From the very beginning, Israel’s Torah was also intended ‘for the stranger who sojourns among you’ (Exodus 12:49). For law-abiding Judaism, The ‘rock of offence’ appears in the last verses of this chapter, where Paul illustrates the Creator’s absolute sovereignty in election. The Preference of the Gentiles The King James Version says that Israel “hath not attained to the law of righteousness”—in contrast to the Gentiles who have attained to “the righteousness which is of faith”. Many have falsely concluded from this passage that the Gentiles were justified instead of Israel in order to replace Israel, and are now the ‘new’ chosen people of God. But this is not what our text says. The Greek word ‘phthanein’ does indeed have the meaning ‘to reach’, ‘to achieve to something’, ‘to attain’, but it also includes the sense of ‘to come first’, ‘to arrive earlier’, ‘to be ahead of’ or ‘to surprise’. Paul uses this word, for example, in 1 Thessalonians 4:15. There he explains “that we, the living, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede (me phthasomen ) the sleeping.” According to the original Greek wording, Romans 9:31 should be translated as: “Even though Israel [in contrast to the Gentiles who did not care at all] pursued the law of righteousness, it did not [as should have been expected] attain it first.” Why [not]? Because they were not [motivated] by faith but by their own efforts. They have stumbled over the stone of offence. As it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of offence, a rock of stumbling. Whoever trusts in him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 9:32-33) The God of Israel is, and always will be, God—fundamentally independent of all human legal claims or desires to hold Him accountable. God’s Sovereignty Jesus had already said, in John 10:16: “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice.” | Photo: Shutterstock June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 If God does whatever He wills in any case, is that not justification enough for a fatalistic worldview? Whom can He hold accountable then? What human being could ever resist God’s will if everything is predestined by Him anyway?

11. Dear Faithful readers and friends (Chavorim). Welcome to the June-July edition of Israel and Christians today —Australian insert. I recently returned from my first trip to Israel in nearly three years, attending the Christians for Israel International Forum in Jerusalem to celebrate Israel's 75th Anniversary. Alongside 8 2 delegates from about 25 nations where we are active, I had the privilege of dedicating a new rapid response vehicle. Thanks to the support of Christians for Israel Australia and our generous readers, we raised $40,000 to provide this practical gift, bringing comfort and saving lives in Israel. During the dedication ceremony, I met Alma, a 20-year-old EMT ambulance driver and volunteer for Magen David Adom (Israel's Ambulance service). Alma expressed her love for driving the new vehicle and shared inspiring stories of how she has already saved lives from accidents and assisted victims of rocket attacks in southern Israel. After the unveiling, we were given a tour of the remarkable high-tech call centre. Operating at full capacity, it responded to numerous calls from citizens seeking help amid the ongoing rocket attacks on unarmed civilians in rural and city communities. The urgency of the situation became evident as we learned that individuals have only 15-20 seconds to find shelter after the warning siren, forcing many to take cover in the gutters, praying for survival. Presenting this vehicle on behalf of Christians for Israel Australia filled me with immense joy, and I hope it signifies the beginning of many more contributions. Currently, we are exploring the possibility of providing a new Medicycle, specially designed to navigate crowded city streets and deliver life-saving assistance within minutes of receiving an emergency call. Your continued support through prayers and tax-deductible donations enables us to make a significant impact. Together, we can bring comfort, aid, and hope to those in need, making a difference in Israel and beyond. Our Historic visit to the Jewish Agency During our visit to the Jewish Agency on May 14 , exactly 75 years after the declaration of Israel's independence, we were honoured to hear from retired Major General Doron Almog, Chairman of the Jewish Agency. General Almog, a highly esteemed IDF serviceman, established a residential and rehabilitation village called Adi for individuals with disabilities and complex medical issues. Despite the ongoing rocket threats from Gaza and Lebanon, General Almog expressed deep appreciation for our visit. He shared personal army experiences, including the loss of his brother and the challenges of raising a special needs son. He acknowledged our unconditional love and support for Israel, even during difficult times. General Almog presented a video showcasing highlights of the 1948 declaration of independence and surprised us with a modified replica. Inviting us to reaffirm our commitment, he asked us to sign it at 4 PM, coinciding with Ben Gurion's signing 75 years earlier. As an additional surprise, he honoured eight members of our delegation from Christians for Israel Ukraine for their exceptional work in assisting Ukrainian Jewish refugees, some descendants of Holocaust survivors, to relocate to Israel. It was a moment filled with honour and humility. To support our ongoing work in Ukraine, you can make tax-deductible donations at c4israel.com.au/donate or by visiting the back page of our newspaper. Your contribution will make a difference in the lives of those we assist. Adopt a Holocaust Survivor Another project we would like to highlight is the opportunity to sponsor Jewish Holocaust survivors who are still living in war-torn Ukraine under very impoverished conditions. Many of these survivors live on their own, and your sponsorship ensures they receive regular food parcels, warm clothing, and visits from our team to provide love, ensure they have their medications, and supply other essential items. For more info, please visit myaccount.c4israel.com.au/ adopt-a-holocaust-survivor We recently received heart-warming photos and a message from some of the ladies in Ukraine who were delighted to receive warm garments, including scarves and gloves, knitted by Lorrain, one of our readers. These gifts of love brought joy to their lives. There were numerous other features and highlights of the Christians for Israel Forum in Jerusalem that I would like to update and share with you. However, I may have to wait until the next edition, as we have several pages already filled with informative and inspiring content. First Timers to Israel & Jerusalem. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the first-time visit of Rudy and Melanie Oei, who faithfully serve with the C4I team here in Australia. It was their inaugural experience of walking and immersing themselves in the life of Israel—the land of the Bible. Perhaps I can encourage them to write a short report on their experience for all of us to read and enjoy in the next edition. VALE Judy Russell Lastly, I received both sad and joyous news while in Israel. Our dear sister Judy Russell (pictured above opposite Steven Green from Olive Tree Travel ), a foundational member of Christians for Israel Australia , passed away on May 14, Israel's 75th Birthday. For over 20 years, she served as a dedicated advocate and ambassador for Christian pro-Israel relations. Judy organized events in Parliament House and led 8 tours to Israel and Ukraine, raising awareness and support for Holocaust survivors. Her service has left a lasting impact. I have wonderful memories of Judy's impactful work alongside our committee, including petitioning the Government for the Embassy relocation. She was loved and respected by many, even receiving tributes in Hebrew which her children translated for her. Her absence will be deeply felt as she enters into the arms of her Saviour, leaving behind a legacy of love and service. I will attend her memorial service in Sydney, which will be live-streamed. The link will be shared for those who want to honour Judy. A more detailed tribute of Judy's life will be included in the next edition. I will conclude with two Scriptures. Psalm 116 says, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Additionally, Christians for Israel International President Rev Willem Glashouwer shared a comforting and encouraging Scripture with Judy's family: "And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, 'Write: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!"' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.'" - Revelation 14:13 NASB Once again, I express my gratitude for your continued prayers and generous tax-deductible donations, which enable us to inform, inspire, and pray for the comfort of Israel. Please give by June 30 to be eligible for your tax-deductions for this financial year. Ian Worby National leader, Christians for Israel Australia Foundation Ltd. June 2023 Report From Our National Leader Comforts Informs Inspires Ian Worby C4I Australia National Leader and Regional Director for Oceania Ian and Mandy Worby with Rudy and Melanie Oei— C4 I Australia team members—with the Temple Mount in the background.

2. Informs • Inspires • Comforts / Other Easy Ways To Donate Name on card: My Donation Today: $ Exp Date The 3 digits of the reverse of your credit card. (4 digits if using Amex) Card No Visa Mastercard Amex (Payable to Christian’s for Israel Australia Inc) Cheque/Money Order Credit Card *CVC Cardholder’s signature: Over the Phone 07 3088 6900 (during office hours) Securely Online c4israel.com.au TEL. 07 3088 6900 EMAIL info@c4israel.com.au www.c4israel.com.au Visiting address: 3398 Pacific Highway Springwood QLD 4127 P .O. Box 1508 Springwood QLD 4127 Australia ABN: 58 655 970 086 Christians for Israel Australia Foundation Ltd. Bank Transfer BSB: 014-279 ACC: 433641954 REF: Member Number medication, food, clothing, and repairs, all coordinated by our dedicated local team in Ukraine. As a sponsor, you will receive a biography of the person you support, allowing you to connect with their journey on a personal level. Christians for Israel has been tirelessly working with Jewish communities to preserve the memory of these dark chapters of history. We urgently need 30 caring Australian sponsors to adopt Holocaust survivors and demonstrate God’s love with a monthly contribution of $45. I urge you to prayerfully consider adopting a Holocaust survivor or a needy Jewish pensioner. Your support will bring hope to their hearts and remind them that they are not forgotten. By making a contribution today, you will shine a light on their dark situation, fulfilling the message of Isaiah 58:10. All donations to Christian’s for Israel Australia are tax-deductible, maximizing the impact of your support . Thank you for considering this cause and your unwavering commitment. Together, we can bring hope, comfort, and practical aid to those who need it most. In His Strong and Mighty Name, Ian Worby National Leader And the Christians for Israel Australia team P.S. Time is of the essence. We kindly request that you make your donation before June 30 to ensure that our efforts can continue without interruption. Your generous support will make a tangible difference in the lives of Holocaust Survivors and needy Jewish pensioners in Ukraine. Please visit c4israel.com.au/adopt today and join us in this vital mission. To make your donation and become an ‘Adopt a Holocaust Survivor’ sponsor, please visit c4israel.com.au/adopt and follow these four easy steps: Step 1: Enter Your Details Enter your name and login email address used to access your C4I Donor Portal. Step 2: Select Period Select the length of your sponsorship: • 1 Year (12 Payments of $45) • 2 Years (24 Payments of $45) Step 3: Register Your Card Register your Credit/Debit card to generate a payment token. Step 4: Await Advice C4I will allocate your adoptee and set up a recurring payment as per Step 3. You will then receive an email notification with the details. How You Can Adopt a Holocaust Survivor

31. 13 Israel Today ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Short News Druze Have Increased Tenfold Since Establishment of Israel The Central Bureau of Statistics released data on the Druze community living in Israel. According to the data, at the end of 2022 the number of Druze in Israel was 150,000, ten times higher than at the founding of the state! At the same time, their growth rate is currently below that of the Muslim and Jewish populations, but above that of the Christian Arab population. 98% of Druze in Israel live in 19 villages, 17 of which are in the Northern District and two localities (Daliat el Karmel and Isfiya) in the Haifa District. The three localities with the largest number of Druze in 2021 were: Daliat al-Karmel, Yarka and Magar. How Israeli Start- Ups Protect the Environment Many Israeli companies are committed to introducing innovative technologies aimed at optimising the use of resources in agriculture. The desire to use solar radiation as an environmentally friendly source of energy is therefore at the heart of the mission of Agri-Light, a start-up that improves agricultural yields and prevents the destruction of agricultural land. In doing so, the solar panels developed by Agri-Light serve a dual purpose: they generate solar energy while improving growing conditions for individual crops, for example, by shading cultivated land. This reduces carbon emissions and increases agricultural productivity. Microsoft Promotes Israeli Agri-Food Start-ups Worldwide Microsoft is working with Israeli startups developing pesticide and irrigation technology to ease food shortages globally. The tech giant will connect them to its vast network of contacts to help them find new markets and collaborations. Over 40 Israeli start- ups were earmarked for collaboration, with the first two—Projini and Saturas—are already working with Microsoft. Projini develops herbicides with AI technologies traditionally used in the pharma industry, and Saturas has developed a sensor that is embedded in the trunks of trees, vines, and plants to determine crop water status. The partnership programme is led by Start- Up Nation Central (SNC), a nonprofit that promotes Israeli innovators to help solve global challenges. Shraga Evers n My name is Shraga Evers. I have been happily married to Eden van Dijk for almost 14 years. We are blessed with five children. We both grew up in Amsterdam (the Netherlands). At 14, I actually already knew Eden was the right choice for me, but she did not yet know that. It took a few more years to convince her. In 2008, I asked her to marry me at a vantage point on the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Eden had to return to the Netherlands for her studies, and I had just finished my service in the IDF. We promised each other that we would stay together in the Netherlands for the time being but make Aliyah permanently as soon as we could. In 2009, we got married on the roof of Yeshivat Hakotel, the Torah school where I studied religious studies after high school and before my IDF time. On 26 March 2012, on our daughter’s first birthday, ‘Ta’ir Bat-Zion’ (a new Light will s hine over Zion), we made Aliyah, first to Jerusalem, then to Efrat. Jews and non-Jews alike sometimes ask us why we made Aliyah and what it is like to live in Israel and Judea. There is no single answer to that. I grew up with Oma Bloeme, who, as an Auschwitz survivor, kept telling us that the Netherlands was not our home, but Israel. She had also tried to make Aliyah in 1945 when she returned from the camps but had to postpone it temporarily. Meanwhile, she met Grandpa Hans, who was a ‘salon Zionist’ and thought Aliyah was a nice idea, in theory. She eventually made Aliyah two weeks before she died. Eden grew up with Saba Mordechai, who managed to escape from a camp in France and eventually reached the Land of Israel ‘illegally’ in 1944. After working hard to establish Kibbutz Neve Ilan and fighting in three wars, his wife (Safta Miriam), who was visiting relatives in Brussels, did not want to go back. She couldn’t take another war. The family moved to Germany because they could not manage financially elsewhere. Saba Mordechai hated every day in Germany and longed to return to Jerusalem. Only after his retirement did he succeed. Eden also grew up with Grandfather Lion and Grandmother Betty, ardent Zionists. They had even applied for an Aliyah visa from The Jewish Agency before World War II but never heard anything. On the first day of Passover in 1942, they had to report with their baby for transport to one of the camps. Like many Dutch Jews, they obeyed and sat down to the Seder meal with their suitcases packed for the next day. During the Seder, there was a knock on the door; there was a telegram from The Jewish Agency in Switzerland; they had received a visa to emigrate! They saw this as a sign from above. Lion went to the Gestapo the next day to ask for a postponement, saying they were going to emigrate to Palestine. The Nazi on duty apparently found it amusing and gave them permission, after which they went into hiding and survived the war. They ended up making Aliyah only after retirement. It is important that your ideals are fuelled by constructive motives; the Holocaust and persecution of Jews are not. Yet, it is one of the main reasons why we, and many other Jews, consider or make Aliyah. In Jewish Holland, it felt a bit like living in a monument. The commemorations were often crowded, the memorial sites large, but the synagogues empty. Of course, that was partly because of the Holocaust, but also certainly because of assimilation. The assimilation is a result of the fact that Judaism is not a good alternative in the Diaspora. Many other ways of life are more interesting. If you want to integrate well into Western society, you are very likely to have your identity slowly diluted. In any case, we knew we were not going to wait until retirement but actively wanted to make Aliyah. Life in Israel is a dream. It is the Land of the Future, where the focus is forward, on the future and not forgetting where we came from. The Holocaust does exist in the background, but we are building and developing the land, perhaps the best therapy after two thousand years of persecution of Jews. It is also the natural habitat for us as Jews, and, as a (religious) Jew, you notice that in everything. If it’s Passover, it’s spring. When it’s Toe Bishwat, the trees are in bloom. On Sukkot, it is autumn, and on Yom Kippur, everything is at a standstill. Bible stories play out around you, and the language you speak is modern and old at the same time. Actually, everything is brand new and ancient at the same time. It tel ls the story of our people, the experience of now and also the future. Even the obsession of the EU, America, Arab countries and the rest of the world with tiny Israel is nothing new; just look at the Bible’s Book of Nehemiah. The most important thing about Israel, though, is that your Jewish identity is allowed to be part of everything and can also be present in public life. You can be a doctor, pilot, rubbish collector or teacher while expressing your Jewish identity. You are not only Jewish in your private time, but always. This is much more natural and perhaps Israel’s greatest blessing for Jews. Even non-religious life in Israel is Jewish, from the songs and stories at the nursery to the atmosphere on the streets and holidays. Everything revolves around Judaism, holidays, traditions and lore. In this time of political discord, I think it is important to emphasise that in Israel, people love, help and care for each other. Just like in a big family, there is also disagreement, but when it comes down to it, people are together. The Dee family also lives in our neighbourhood. On the second day of Passover, mother Lucy and her daughters Maya and Rina were killed in a cowardly Palestinian attack. First, we attended Maya and Rina’s funeral and, two days later, Lucy’s, who eventually succumbed to her injuries. The response from the community and from father and husband Leo Dee was impressive. The support, love and call to do good for each other and unite were overwhelmingly reciprocated. For me, Leo’s call to trust in God and the Jewish people, hang out the Israeli flag and practice charity underscored the aforementioned point. It is precisely (or even) during extreme suffering that one looks to the future. What is important for the country and the people now? We are together, and together we get through the difficulties. Shraga Evers is the founder of the Shivat Zion organisation. Shivat Zion means ‘Return to Zion’ and is mentioned in Psalm 126, “When the Lord brought back those that returned to Zion.” The period of Ezra and Nehemiah is also called ‘Shivat Zion’ in Jewish history. Shivat Zion aims to advance Aliyah and help new immigrants from Western Europe and Latin America in every step of their Aliyah and integrate into Israeli society. The Olim are helped in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch and the people helping them are Olim themselves. Shivat Zion was founded because, unlike American, French and South African Olim, no professional frameworks were present for Olim from Latin American and Western European countries. Israel, the Best Medicine for a Jew Shagra Evers with his wife and children. Even non-religious life in Israel is Jewish, from the songs and stories at the nursery to the atmosphere on the streets and holidays.

30. Kees de Vreugd n Theologian | Christians for Israel International & Editor | Israel & the Church In the second half of the first century, the Jews in the land of Israel rebelled against Roman rule. But Roman supremacy was great. Eventually, the Jewish insurgents entrenched themselves in Jerusalem, which was besieged by the Romans for three years. The term Jewish revolt suggests a certain unity, but nothing was further from the truth. Even in besieged Jerusalem, different Jewish factions also fought each other to the death. The city was finally taken by Roman general Titus, who would later become emperor. Fire Although Titus seems to have initially ordered that the temple be left unharmed, a fire did start in the temple, probably caused by a Roman legionnaire—whether it was deliberate is not clear. In no time, the temple was on fire. It happened on the afternoon of 9 Av, in the middle of summer. Throughout the next day, the temple continued to burn until it was completely destroyed. Other disastrous events in Jewish history are also associated with 9 Av, such as the destruction of the first temple in 586 BC and the decisive defeat in the second Jewish revolt in 135. Moreover, according to the Mishna (Jewish oral teaching), Emperor Hadrian had the temple square ploughed up (Jeremiah and Lamentations). In 1942, the deportation to Treblinka of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto also began on 9 Av. Exile Although more Jews had lived outside than in Israel for centuries, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 nevertheless marked in Jewish consciousness the beginning of a new exile, or a new phase of exile, namely, the Roman exile. Moreover, the temple had been the central religious institution of Judaism to which all Jewish life was oriented. Now that there was no more temple, Judaism had to reinvent itself, so to speak. The only groups that already had the infrastructure for this were the Pharisees and the Jewish Christians. The Talmud relates that when the fall of Jerusalem seemed inevitable, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, the leading Pharisee, had himself smuggled out of the besieged city in a coffin. Roman soldiers brought him to Titus. Rabbi Jochanan prophesied to him that he (Titus) would become emperor, which happened a short time later. In gratitude, he complied with Jochanan’s request: “Give me Yavne and its students.” The study house in Yavne (also called Yamnia) became the new centre where, from the traditions of the Pharisees, rabbinic Judaism was further developed. This Judaism would become normative for Israel in the centuries to come and until today—as Jesus had also announced in Matthew 23:2-3: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore, all that they tell you, do and observe.” Several attempts to rebuild the temple came later, but they all came to nothing. The last was in 365 AD under emperor Julian the Apostate. He had allowed the Jews to do so, while his immediate predecessors had begun to Christianise Jerusalem by building all kinds of churches. Unfortunately, a natural underground gas explosion soon put an end to the work that had only just begun. Under later Christian emperors, Jews were admitted to the Temple Mount only for 9 Av, the day of mourning for the destruction of the temple, where a church now stood. Observance 9 Av, in Hebrew Tisha be-Av, is a complete day of fasting. That means no eating or drinking from sunset to sunset, no washing, no wearing leather shoes and no sexual intercourse. No Torah is even taught. It is a day of mourning—one sits on the ground or on low benches. During the morning service, the tallit (prayer shawl) is not worn. One does not do that again until the afternoon. The Book of Lamentations is read on this day. It poignantly sings of the downfall of the city and the first temple: How lonely sits the city that was full of people! She has become like a widow Who was once great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces Has become a forced labourer! The mourning period actually begins three weeks earlier, on 17 Tammuz, the day a breach was made in the city wall and does not end until 10 Av in the afternoon. The prophets’ readings of the three Sabbaths between 17 Tammuz and 9 Av announce the judgement of Israel’s sin and idolatry. This is how it was at the time of the first temple. The real reason for the fall of the second temple, according to Jewish tradition, was the people’s internal divisions, selfishness and hatred of the people’s fellow man. But after 9 Av, then, words of consolation may sound: “Comfort, comfort My people”. These words from Isaiah 40 herald four Sabbaths of consolation. 12 Biblical Reflection ISRAEL Celebrating A Daily Devotional by Rev. Willem J.J. Glashouwer Get daily readings in your inbox Did you know the Book of Revelation is the only book of the Bib le to give a special blessing to those who read, hear and appl y its message? (Rev 1:3) Study God’s roadmap for the future, step -by-step. You only need a couple of minutes each day to study one or two verses of the Book of Revelation to come to a clear er understanding of its major themes and messages. Subscribe Free Today at www.beholdhecomes.life June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 9th of Av Mourning the Destruction of the Temple Destruction of holy Jewish temple in ancient history, Tish B’Av. | Photo: Shutterstock

21. 11 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 San Remo 90 As mentioned in a previous article, it was the San Remo Conference of 1920 that paved the way for all of the Mandates awarded to Britain and France in the former Ottoman Empire. Britain has sought to cover up its comprehensive violation of the Mandate for Palestine resulting in the records of the San Remo Conference being buried for several decades. In 2010 the European Coalition for Israel organised a commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the San Remo Resolution on 24th and 25th April at the Villa Devachan in Sanremo. Villa Devachan is where the original conference took place just over a century ago. The gathering included some international lawyers and around 30 intercessors from different nations, including the UK. At the conference there was repentance for the nations—particularly Britain—for ‘breaking the covenant’ made there, and a new declaration was signed affirming the original San Remo Resolution. The official report from the gathering records: We felt that Sunday (25th April) would be a day which we would dedicate to the Lord and His purposes for Israel. We read out His promises from the Word of God as we lifted up His name in worship. The guest of honour to witness all of this was the then Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Danny Danon. He later served as Israel’s Ambassador at the United Nations (2015 to 2020). The Time for Repentance Real repentance is not just a question of apologising to Israel for Britain’s betrayal of the Mandate, but re-aligning its foreign policy with the spirit and the letter of the treaty that was entered into 100 years ago. At the time the international community unanimously endorsed this treaty. Without this repentance the United Kingdom remains on a collision course with the God of Israel. The Lord, speaking through the Prophet Joel, gave us a dire warning: For behold, in those days, and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have also divided up My Land. (Joel 3:1-2) Isaiah chapter 60 is a passage of Scripture that relates to Israel in the latter days in which we are now living, and beyond. We see in this passage something of the dark days in which we are now living, but we also see the glory of the Lord arising upon Israel at such a time. We also see something of the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, and the wealth of the Gentiles being gathered to Israel. Although it is not directly mentioned, it also seems to reflect the glory of the Lord’s actual presence among His ancient people in Jerusalem – after His return. But there is also a dire warning in verse 12: “For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish, and those nations shall be utterly ruined.” Clearly there are many nations that fall into that category. In the final months of his earthly life in 2003 the renowned Bible teacher, Derek Prince, carried a deep burden for the welfare of the United Kingdom, as many intercessors do today. He believed that verse Isaiah 60:12 would be Britain’s fate if we are not prepared to repent before the Lord of our past actions, and once again to re-align ourselves with his purposes for Israel, as we were 100 years ago. The Lord’s ancient edict in Genesis 12:3 will come to pass either way: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you.” Today, as the reborn State of Israel passes its 75th anniversary against all odds – humanly speaking – should we not be looking to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and worshipping Him for His faithfulness to His covenant promises? 'The Destiny of Britain' trailer: https://vimeo.com/178193851 —————————————————————— Hugh Kitson is a documentary filmmaker who has made many films about Israel. His films about the British Mandate for Palestine include “ The Forsaken Promise” —a three-part series (Hatikvah Film Trust 2006) and “Whose Land?” Part One , presented by Colonel Richard Kemp (Title Deed Media 2017)—see www.whoseland.tv . Part Two is still in production. This is the final article in a six-part series exploring the significance of the British Mandate for Palestine for today. To contact Hugh Kitson please email him: hugh.kitson@titledeedmedia.com Hugh Kitson Article continued... Watch Episodes Online: c4israel.com.au/whose-land Sign up a friend to ‘ Israel & Christians Today ’ and receive the ‘Israel: Covenants and Kingdom book’ OR the ‘ The Signs of the Times DVD’ FREE! * You can help us grow the reach and impact of our premiere publication. Your Full Name: ____________________________ Address: _________________________________ _________________________________________ State: ________________ P ostcode: __________ Friends Full Name: _________________________ Address: _________________________________ _________________________________________ State: ________________ P ostcode: __________ Number of Newspapers Bi-monthly: c 1 c 2 c 5 c Other: ______________________ *1 Book or DVD per person. Limited offer. While stocks last. SEND TO: Christians for Israel, Australia , PO Box 1508, Springwood, QLD, 4127 Israel: Covenants & Kingdom Book by Willem J.J. 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5. News 3 ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Avi Kumar n Writer | JNS Members of the tribe, who claim descent from the biblical Menashe, told JNS what it has been like taking refuge in military camps. Caught in the middle of violence between Meitei Hindus and Kuki Christians, the Bnei Menashe, who claim descent from a ‘lost’ biblical tribe and whom Israel accepts upon conversion, have been displaced from their homes. The Bnei Menashe identify as Jews, most belonging to the Mizo and Kuki ethnic groups that hail from the hills of the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, while Meiteis live in the valley. Some 200 homes and churches have been set ablaze in Manipur. Yoel Bayta, a Bnei Menashe father of four, has been killed, and synagogues, Torah scrolls and a mikvah (Jewish ritual bath) reportedly have been burnt. Many have been living in shelters awaiting the chance to return home, and some people have been unable to reach missing family members. “The conditions we face are appalling,” Lalam Hangshing, chairman of the Bnei Menashe Council, told JNS. The recent violence has broken out largely in the state’s capital, Imphal, and the village of Beit Shalom. Lemuel Haokip, another communal leader, told JNS that the homes of many members of the group were razed, and the Bnei Menashe had to flee to the forest to hide until the Indian military arrived. Individuals are now housed in military camps operated by the Assam Rifles—part of the Central Armed Police Forces under India’s home affairs ministry—and others are hiding in private residences. Conditions in the military camps are “very chaotic,” and the Bnei Menashe and others are “living in squalor,” Haokip told JNS. Those in the camps have to wait in line for three hours to receive basic meals, rice and lentils, with more than 100 people assigned to a single toilet and shower facility, according to Haokip. People are sleeping on mats on floors or in makeshift tents. The government has been trying to return people to their homes, but there are still reports of mobs attacking the camps and vehicles parked outside the camps, said Haokip. Government Has Behaved Like Medieval Warlords Disagreements about which ‘scheduled’ tribes the Indian state recognises triggered the recent violence. For years, the Meitei Hindus, who form the majority of Manipur’s population, have sought recognition in the category for which the government sets aside jobs, college admissions and elected seats, responding to historical discrimination and exclusion. Haokip and Hangshing told JNS that only scheduled tribes can purchase land in the Manipur hill region, and there is a fear that if the Meitei are granted that status, then they will take over the land inhabited currently by the Kuki, Mizo, Naga and other hill tribes. India deployed its army to Manipur with shoot-on-sight orders to halt the riots. “It is just appalling that the state government took two days to quell the riots, but the central government of New Delhi was able to do it in no time,” Hangshing told JNS. “The state government has behaved like medieval warlords and is complicit in this.” Rioters have attacked buses and private vehicles transporting displaced people, according to Hangshing. “Whichever corner the army can’t get to, the Bnei Menashe will face impending danger.” He added that there are reports of Meitei attacking houses of worship used by Christians from their own group. “The fact that they torched churches attended by their own ethnic group shows how much disregard they have,” he said. An estimated 5,000 Bnei Menashe remain in India, and nearly that same number has made Aliyah in the past several decades. They must undergo conversion to be officially recognised as Jews in Israel, and as such, be able to serve in the military, receive financial and other benefits, and marry. The government and religious leadership view the Bnei Menashe as a ‘lost’ tribe. The Bnei Menashe, or ‘Sons of Manasseh’, claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, exiled by the Assyrian Empire more than 2,700 years ago. Their ancestors wandered through Central Asia and the Far East before settling in what is today northeastern India along the borders of Burma and Bangladesh, according to Shavei Israel, an NGO that promotes the immigration of Bnei Menashe. (Some Bnei Menashe leaders dispute some of this narrative.) Shimon Gangte, a Bnei Menashe leader in Israel, told JNS that the Indian government has blocked the Internet and social media, and some displaced people lack the means to charge their phones. This hampers their ability to contact their loved ones in this difficult time. There is no indication that there is antisemitism involved in the current violence, which seems to involve the Bnei Menashe insofar as they are Kuki and Mizo. Isaac (Yitchak) Thangjom serves as the Israel-based director of Degel Menashe, a group that aids Bnei Menashe people in India and Israel and that grew out of an oral history project funded by the Jewish Federation of New Mexico. “This is ethnic cleansing,” he told JNS. “We urge the Indian government to expedite a comprehensive investigation. The perpetrators should be brought to justice. Originally published at www.jns.org. Republished with permission. Caught in Violence, Bnei Menashe Face ‘Appalling’ Conditions | Photo: Shutterstock Short News Israeli Schoolgirls Shine at European Maths Olympiad At the European Girls’ Mathematics Olympiad (EGMO) in Slovenia, for the first time, a team of young Israeli math students took home all the medals available. The young math talents won the gold, silver, and bronze medals after competing against 214 participants from 54 countries. Not only was this an extraordinary achievement for the young students, but one student, in particular, stood out from the crowd. Participant Noga Friedman took home the gold medal for her performance and took first place in the competition with a ‘perfect score.’ The three students who represented Israel at the EGMO competition were from Rehovot and Herzliya and attended 10th through 12th grades. The competition has existed since 2012, and Israel has already brought home 19 medals since its first participation in 2016. | Photo: Future Scientists Center and Ministry of Education. Israel—A Blessing to the World The state of Israel, celebrating 75 years, is often portrayed as a ‘think tank’. Israel’s inventions include innovations made for the military—yet transformed to bring great blessings in the civilian sector, eg. medicine. One example: The ‘Surgical Rehearsal Platform’ (SRP), which helps surgeons practice and plan operations using dynamic 3D images. Originally, this was an innovation for pilot fli ght simulators. The transformation of this military development can be traced back to veterans Moty Avisar and Alon Geri. Israir Direct Flights from Ramon Airport to Istanbul Israeli airline Israir has announced direct flights from Ramon Airport in Eilat (southern Israel) to Istanbul starting in mid-June. The flights will operate twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays. This is the first time that flights from Ramon Airport will go to the Turkish capital. Round-trip airfare is US $250 per person, and a two-night package including transfers to and from the airport will cost from US $385 per person, the company said.

4. June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Editorial 2 Colophon Israel & Christians Today is the premier publication of Christians for Israel. Mission Our mission is to bring Biblical understanding in the Church and among the nations concerning God’s purposes for Israel and to promote comfort of Israel through prayer and action. Editorial Team Andrew Tucker International Editor-in-Chief atucker@c4israel.org Cathy Coldicutt Managing Editor newspaper@c4israel.org Marloes van Westing International Communications Manager international@c4israel.org Ian Worby, Bryce Turner, Rita Quartel, Marie-Louise Weissenböck and Marijke Terlouw Scripture references: THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. C4I Offices Christians for Israel International Leon Meijer, Chairman Rev Willem JJ Glashouwer, President Rev Cornelis Kant, Executive Director PO Box 1100 | 3860 BC Nijkerk, The Netherlands | Tel: +31 33 422 0405 info@c4israel.org | www.c4israel.org The English Edition of Israel & Christians Today is published by the following English speaking branches: Christians for Israel - Australia Ian Worby, National Leader PO Box 1508, Springwood Queensland, Australia 4127 Tel: +61 7 3088 6900, info@c4israel.com.au www.c4israel.com.au Christians for Israel - New Zealand Bryce Turner, National Executive Director PO Box 12 006, Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand 1642 Tel: +64 9 525 7564, +6421 127 7214 info@c4israel.org.nz www.c4israel.org.nz Christians for Israel - Korea Rev Paul Wonil Jung, Director Suite 3, 37 Railway Parade, Eastwood NSW, Australia 2122 Tel: +61 410 430 677 email: c4israelkorea@gmail.com www.c4israelkorea.org Christians for Israel - USA David Sudlow, Chairman PO Box 400, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA usa-info@c4israel.org www.c4israel.us DISCLAIMER - Articles printed in Israel & Christians Today express the views of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Editors or that of the Board of Christians for Israel. The printing of articles or advertising in Israel & Christians Today does not necessarily imply either endorsement or agreement. ©Christians for Israel International. Reproduction, or storage in a r etrieval system or in any other form, is prohibited without permission. Please contact the Managing Editor should you wish to syndicate or republish any articles or materials appearing in Israel & Christians Today. Andrew Tucker n International Editor | Christians for Israel This year, on 15 May, the hypocrisy and utter corruption of the United Nations surely reached new heights. On that day, the UN commemorated for the first time the Palestinian ‘Nakba’. On that day, the nations of the world gave the Chairman of the PLO, Mahmoud Abbas, a platform to spew lies and filthy libels at the Jewish people. The Arabic word ‘Nakba’ means ‘catastrophe’. By adopting the Palestinian term, the UN is, in practice, condemning the Jewish longing for a homeland and denying the State of Israel’s legitimacy as a homeland for the Jewish people. According to Abbas and the UN, the creation of the State of Israel in May 1948 was instigated by the international community but primarily by the US and UK, which must now be rectified by abolishing the Jewish State. By qualifying the establishment of Israel as a ‘catastrophe’, the UN is actively complicit in rewriting history. The real catastrophe is not the establishment of the State of Israel but the Palestinian rejection of it at the expense of its own people. The real criminals in this tragedy are the Palestinian leaders—from the Great Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin Husseini in the 1920s to 1950s, to Yasser Arafat from the 1970s, succeeded by the equally corrupt Mahmoud Abbas, who is currently serving the 18th year of a four year term of office, while his personal coffers and those of his clan are filled with the dollars given by the international community that, year after year, pours mainly Western taxpayer money into the ephemeral dream of the ‘two-state solution’. And the victims are the ordinary Palestinians themselves, the vast majority of whom simply want to live in peace with their neighbours. But the victims are not entirely innocent. The fact is that, for one hundred years, the Arab-speaking peoples who live in the territory of Palestine have allowed themselves to be governed by a leadership that has sacrificed the well-being of its own people in order to oppose, by whatever means, the possibility that the Jewish people might exist as a nation anywhere in land that h as belonged to the Islamic world. As a consequence, the Arab Palestinian leaders have brought upon themselves and their people the misery in which they now find themselves: many of them living as stateless refugees without realistic hope of a truly independent national existence of their own. The Palestinian Arabs have rejected multiple concrete opportunities to live peacefully side-by-side the Jewish nation. In the 1920s, they ignored the fact that Transjordan had been created as an independent, autonomous region for the Arab population of Palestine. Instead, they launched a series of pogroms against the Jews, frustrating every effort to find a way for Jews and Arabs to live side-by-side as nations in Palestine. In the 1930s, they rejected the Peel Plan (1937) and McDonald White Paper (1938), and in 1947 they rejected the UN Partition Plan. In the 1960s and 1970s, they continued to launch terror attacks against the Jewish state, even though the Arab State of Jordan was in control of the West Bank. After initial agreement was reached between Israel and the PLO in the Oslo Accords (1993- 1995), the PLO leadership (Yasser Arafat, succeeded by Mahmoud Abbas) rejected many US-sponsored Israeli offers that would have given them up to 97% of the territory they were claiming: 2000 (Clinton), 2008 (Bush) and 2014 (Kerry/Obama). On every occasion, the Arabs have chosen to prefer violence against Jews over territorial compromise. While the Jewish people have got on with the hard work of building a successful state, the Palestinians have squandered every chance of doing the same. Perhaps the greatest catastrophe is the fact that the international community has been complicit in this tragedy. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the nations of the world have turned a blind eye to the corruption and hatred that has characterised the Palestinian leadership. Worse, they have aided and abetted the Arab/Islamic/Palestinian misuse and abuse of the UN system. By holding the ‘Nakba’ event just a few weeks ago in New York, the United Nations has demonstrated that it is utterly bereft of any moral compass. It has been hijacked by the enemies of peace. ISRAEL Celebrating Prayer Points Israel l “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). Give thanks that things have calmed down a little in Israel again after months of unrest and demonstrations over the influence of the Supreme Court. Pray for wisdom for the government as to how best to respond to the protests and proposed legislative changes. l Pray for Israel’s protection from cyberattacks. As a world, we are becoming increasingly dependent on internet technologies, which bring with it many vulnerabilities. This is especially true for Israel which has many enemies. l In addition to the many challenges Israel faces, there is certainly a lot of good news to report. There has been a lot of rain recently, which has replenished water supplies. Ground-breaking discoveries are being made in the medical field, and Jews continue to emigrate to Israel every day. Give thanks for these blessings. Israel & the Nations l Israel’s enemies are seeing the divisions that have recently prevailed in Israel and are looking at ways to capitalise on this and attack Israel. Pray for protection from this. l ”Lord, you are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago” (Isaiah 25:1). Unfortunately, there are still many Christians who don’t think Israel plays a vital role in God’s plan and sometimes even oppose the State of Israel. Pray that this will change, and people will see that God is forever faithful to Israel and will bring His people home. Christians for Israel l From 11-16 May, over 80 leaders from the Christians for Israel network worldwide gathered in Jerusalem for five days of fellowship. The theme of the conference was ‘Celebrating Israel’. Give thanks for the opportunity to be together, encourage one another, visit projects of Christians for Israel and learn from the Bible about God’s everlasting faithfulness to the Jewish people. For daily Prayer Points, go to our website www.c4israel.com.au The Real Catastrophe Palestinians watch the speech of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on television from New York, in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on 15 May, 2023. President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a high-level event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Nakba at UN Headquarters in New York. | Photo: Flash90 www.facebook.com/c4israelAUS

29. Kameel Majdali n Director | Teach All Nations Inc. Its transformation was breathtaking. From an obscure heathen Jebusite walled village perched on Ophel Hill, it became the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel. The arrival of the ark of the covenant, symbolising the throne and presence of Almighty God, made it a holy city. And God’s promise to give David a son and heir, who would rule from his throne forever made it the city of the great king. To seal its special nature, God Himself said that the city was the place where His name would dwell (1 Kings 11:36; 2 Kings 21:4; 7; 2 Chronicles 6:6; 33:4; 7; Revelation 3:12). This is Jerusalem, the city of David and the city of God. It was already a thousand years old when David took control of it. Now that his kingdom was established, Jerusalem became the royal city. In this article, we will see how the sons of David fared while ruling and reigning from there. Temple of Solomon (963 BC) As a worshipper of God, David had a passionate desire to build a house in Jerusalem for Him. After all, David lived in a king’s palace, while God’s earthly abode was a glorified tent called the Tabernacle. God declined David’s offer because he had shed too much blood as a warrior king. Yet, at that point, God made the famous Davidic covenant of 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17, promising the coming son of David, King-Messiah. The job of building the temple was left to David’s successor and son, Solomon (Hebrew: Shlomo), whose name means ‘peace.’ Solomon commenced building the temple according to the plans and material resources left by his father, David. No expense was spared; it had to be exceedingly magnificent. Some estimate that it would have cost billions of dollars in today’s currency. The dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8 was one of the pinnacles of Israel’s Old Testament history. Now God had a stable local earthly address, Israel had a meeting place for the three pilgrimage feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles; and the Gentiles had a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46). An Avoidable Split Solomon’s love of many strange foreign women, who worshipped false gods (1 Kings 11:1-2), caused him to fall out of favour with God. As a result, the union between Judah and the northern ten tribes was about to rupture. Rehoboam as Solomon’s successor, seriously lacked his father’s wisdom. He was the ‘son’ addressed in the Book of Proverbs (3:1) who rejected wisdom’s invitation. He and Jerusalem suffered as a result. The battle lines were drawn: King Rehoboam, the grandson of David, ruling from his throne in Jerusalem, was confronted by Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who represented the ten tribes of the north. “Lighten our burden that Solomon your father put on us,” said Jeroboam, ‘and we will serve you’ (1 Kings 12:4). Solomon’s advisors urged Rehoboam to agree to their reasonable demand. However, he foolishly rejected their advice and listened to his mates who told him to “add to their yoke” and “whip them with scorpions.” It was the height of arrogance and folly and cost the king the bulk of his kingdom. The ten tribes from the north, led by Jeroboam, separated from the kingdom of David. All Rehoboam was left with was Judah, Jerusalem and the holy temple. Jeroboam and the northern tribes became known as ‘Israel’, and Rehoboam and the house of David became the kingdom of Judah. Give us a King God’s plan from Day One was His Kingdom, and it still is. God’s Kingdom and His forever king are His first priority. Everything else flows from that. Yet, the free will that God gave us has resulted in some terrible decisions and outcomes. The first couple, Adam and Eve, rejected God’s rule. Their disobedience introduced sin and death into the world. Centuries later, the people of Israel rejected God as king by demanding that the prophet Samuel give them a human king. Why? So they could be like all the other (godless) nations of the earth (1 Samuel 8:20). Samuel warned them that a human king, even an Israelite one, would use and abuse them, all pain and no gain. Unmoved by this grim prospect, Israel still clamoured for a king. They ended up with Saul, and he was a disaster. After the division of the house of David into Israel and Judah, there was a succession of kings on both sides. Many were bad (they did what was evil in the sight of the Lord), and some were catastrophic. Out of thirty-nine monarchs in Israel and Judah, only eight were good, all from Judah. Some of the notable good ones were Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, yet even they made their foolish mistakes; Josiah’s cost him his life. Jerusalem witnessed all this and more. The lesson: even the best of earthly kings is no match for the King of kings and Lord of lords. Centuries later, that perfect king did come to Jerusalem, and it responded by hanging Him on a tree. He rose from the dead and is coming back, but not before they say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” Matthew 23:39. 11 Theology Biblical Roots A Post-Redemptive Season Afterthought Since the beginning of March, the Jewish calendar has been full of redemptive celebrations. We began with Purim (Book of Esther) and culminated with Shavuot, the festival that marks the moment when the Heavenly Torah was brought to earth at Sinai (Exodus 20). In between these holidays, we remembered the Exodus from Egypt— Pesach (Passover) as well as marking two significant moments in modern-day sacred history, Israel’s Independence Day and Jerusalem Day. One of the key lessons we can take away from this redemptive season is that God intervenes in human history to save His elected people from near physical annihilation while at the same time moving redemptive history closer to its apex. We are a generation living in a privileged season where we can directly demonstrate God’s existence and His hand in history—a reborn Israel with Jerusalem as its capital. Our prophets envisioned the ingathering of Jewish exiles from the four corners of the world returning home and a remnant within the nations playing a part within these prophecies. It is truly easier to be a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because there is a State of Israel with Jerusalem as its capital rather than a follower of the false ideologies of Richard Dawkins. No one can rationally explain the continued existence of the Jewish people and their return to Israel after 2,000 years of exile, along with an active remnant of the Christian world standing side by side with us. It is God and God alone! Biblically speaking, there is a Hebrew phrase that constantly stands in the shadows of God acting in history— Ehyeh asher ehyeh (Exodus 3:14). Most translators translate this phrase as ‘I am who I am’ or ‘I am that I am’. These translations take their cue from the Vulgate (I am who am) or the Septuagint (I am He who exists) and assume that the entire three- word phrase is God’s name, and it is a self- definition of who He is: self–existent, with no dependence upon any other. Delving into the intricacies of Hebrew grammar for ehyeh is beyond the scope of this article. It is safe to say that ehyeh can be translated in the present or future tense. Therefore, it is possible to translate the first ehyeh in Exodus 3:14 as God’s name ‘I will be’ and the phrase asher ehyeh as His commitment to Israel, ‘What I will be’. This Hebrew phrase becomes a game changer. Not only does it create the idea of hope in the world by taking an entire nation from slavery to freedom in broad daylight, but it also means others witnessing this moment will need to decide to choose Him or not. At the time of the Exodus a ‘mixed multitude’ (Exodus 12:38) decided to anchor their destiny with God and walked out of Egypt in broad daylight alongside the biological descendants of Jacob. The Ehyeh asher ehyeh phrase is more important than ever before. When Ehyeh asher ehyeh was first articulated by God, the Exodus was not yet manifested in the world. However, we are living in a time where Ehyeh asher ehyeh is in fulfilment, but the world is saturated in fleeting pagan values and brokenness. This has caused a veil for nations to see the miracle in front of them that true hope is in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Both Jews and Christians need to work together to help others to become the modern-day ‘mixed multitude’. David Nekrutman is an Orthodox Jewish theologian involved in the sacred calling of Jewish-Christian relations for over two decades and currently serves as the Israel Director for The Isaiah Projects. In 2018, Mr Nekrutman received his master’s in biblical literature from Oral Roberts University. By David Nekrutman The Royal City The History of Jerusalem—Part 3 In the City of David, archaeological site revealed birth place of Jerusalem on Ophel Hill near the Western Wall. | Photos: Shutterstock ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783

17. 7 June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan — Tamuz 5783 The Hague Initiative for International Cooperation ( thinc. ) is a global network of international law academics, practiti oners and experts in related disciplines (history, religion etc.). thinc. was founded in 2017 in The Hague, with the assistance of Christians for Israel, as a non-profit under Dutch law. The thinc. network is managed by its Directors, assisted by Senior Fellows, Associates and an Advisory Board. Our mission is to challenge the misuse of international law to delegitimize the State of Israel and advocate fair and reasonable use of international law to promote peace and security between Israel and her neighbors. We are the only international law think tank on the European continent including a broad Christian outreach. Our focus is on rallying the Christian community to join with our Jewish brothers and sisters in our commitment to promote peace and security in the Middle East based on cooperation and mutual respect. Lawfare has become the prime strategy of those who seek to abolish the Jewish State and Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem – the eternal, undivided capital of Israel. The State of Israel is under attack in the United Nations, European Union, World Health Organization, and judicial institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. The Hague Initiative for International Cooperation has developed a proactive, sound and sensible response to that lawfare. Our strategy We achieve our mission through education, research and advocacy: • thinc.Education : equips l earners from all over the world through a variety of educati onal programs that teach practical skills, theoretical frameworks and information relevant to current political and legal debates about Israel. • thinc.Research : Our research explores international law, history, religion and politics in relation to Israel and shines a light on and combats lawfare against Israel by governments and non-governmental organizations. Our research results in articles, blogs, reports and briefing papers that provide context, alternative views and fresh arguments concerning Israel’s legal challenges. • thinc.Advocac y : provides anal yses, briefings and submissions that speak directly to international organizations, national governments and NGOs. We engage with networks of politicians, academics, lawyers and concerned individuals, while building communities of shared expertise and mutual support. Why thinc. can make a difference  Close ties in the Christian Zionist world across the globe: Europe, Asia, Americas, and Oceania/Pacific.  Active partnerships with global and national organizations having networks in legal, political and religious circles (e.g. UK Lawyers for Israel, UN Watch, NGO Monitor, International Legal Forum, Christians for Israel, and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ)).  European base; seated in The Hague, the capital of international law, and a European network including i.a. the Israel Allies Foundation and the European Leadership Network (ELNET).  Multidisciplinary approaches to projects to ensure the use of international law in context.  Leveraging a global network with a small management team of committed professionals. Some key achievements in just 6 six years  2017 - Inaugural seminar in the Peace Palace resulting in the Statement of Jurists¹ on the Israel-Palestine Conflict (available in 7 languages, German and Hebrew in progress).  2018 - Publication of the textbook Israel on Trial .2  2019 - Inaugural thinc. Summer School in Israel. ³  2020 - Submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the Situation in Palestine .⁴  In 2023 so far, we have convened a major educational conference⁵ on the theme Israel on Trial, published a 300 pp research book titled Two States for Two Peoples: the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, International Law and European Union Policy ,⁶ and engaged in the process of assisting states to make amicus submissions to the International Court of Justice. Our Priorities for 2023/2024 Our main goals over the next two years: • Influence E uropean policy – prepare and present policy papers and organize workshops in European cities in collaboration with partners like Christians for Israel, ICEJ, ELNET and the Israel Allies Foundation. • Advocate against the misuse of in ternational law – through submissions and reports in tribunals and councils (ICJ, ICC, UNHRC, etc.). • Train the next generati on of leaders - Christian and Jewish - in key countries through educational programs and projects, to stand against the delegitimization of Israel. Immediate Challenges in 2023 We are currently working on these high- priority projects: • The UN General Assembly has r equested the International Court of Justice to issue an Advisory Opinion concerning the legal consequences of Israel’s “prolonged occupation.” This is highly threatening for Israel. We have launched a counter-initiative to mobilize UN member states to make submissions to the Court against the requested advice by 25th July 2023. So far, we are liaising with the governments of several European, African and Pacific Island states. We support these states with in-depth international law advice. • Establishing educational h ubs in Europe (The Hague), Asia/Pacific (Singapore) and USA. These hubs will offer programs for high-potential young leaders to train them to argue the legal case for Israel in their region including summer schools, webinars, a mentoring salon, and pilot projects. • Disseminate our EU two-state Poli cy critique, Two States for Two Peoples? via workshops and seminars in European capitals. • Challenging EU labeling laws that stigmatize pr oducts from outside the Green Line as illegal. • Establishing a presence in the U nited States with a 501(c)(3) non-profit named thinc.America. Join the fight! The need is great, and our ambitions are high. We invite you to join us in our fight against the anti-Israel lawfare. In fact, we offer you the opportunity to become an Angel Investor or Sentinel of Jerusalem at the level of your choice! Angel Investor - Investing, impacting and safeguarding the work of thinc. • Friend - $100- 249 • Sponsor - $250-499 • Advocate - $500-999 • Founder - $1,000-4,999 The Sentinels of Jerusalem - Guarding the gates of Jerusalem to protect Israel • Benefactor - $5,000-9,999 • Champion - $10,000-24,999 • Visionary - $25,000 and above T ax deductible donations to thinc . in Australia can be made to Christians for Israel . See coupon on back page. All donations earmarked for “ thinc. ” will be passed on 100%. For more information, and to make a donation directly to thinc. please visit: www.thinc-israel.org References: 1. www.thinc.info/the-hague-statement-of-jurists-on-the- israel-palestine-conflict-3 2. www.thinc.info/israel-on-trial 3. www.thinc.info/?s=summer+school+2019 4. www.thinc.info/amicus-curiae 5. www.thinc.info/conferences 6. sallux.eu/bookstore/two-states-for-two-peoples.html ——————-———————————————— Andrew Tucker is Director of thinc. and International Adviser, Christians for Israel International : www.thinc.info Join us in defending Israel! Something to thinc. about with our C4I strategic ministry partner Andrew Tucker Director of thinc.

34. YES, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TOWARDS... C4I Ministry 1 Teaching Resources Price inc GST Quantity SUB TOTAL $ _______ MY TOTAL $____________ $___________ $___________ General donation (inc costs for Israel & Christian’s Today ) thinc. (countering anti Israel “lawfare” ) $30-$50 ____________ ____________ $________ The End Times Through Jewish Eyes (DVD) by Ps Enoch Lavender Why Israel? $15 (BOOK) $30 (DVD) $35 (DVD + Study Guide) $5 (Study Guide) $5 (Facilitators Guide) by Willem Glashouwer $36 each ____________ Behold He Comes (BOOK: 800 pages) by Willem Glashouwer Living A Life In Victory (BOOK) by Willem Glashouwer $20 each ____________ $20 each ____________ Rebuilding the Temple – Ps Enoch Lavender $20 each Until... (BOOK) by Willem Glashouwer $25 each ____________ CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDERS: Please make out to: Christians for Israel Australia Foundation Ltd. (don’t use staples) INTERNET BANKING: BSB: ANZ BANK— 014-279 Account No: 433641954 Ref: Your name & gift purpose Please confirm by emailing info@c4israel.com.au MY DETAILS: Name: __________________________________________ Christians for Israel Australia Foundation Ltd. ABN: 58 655 970 086 ICT0623 4 3 Social Welfare Projects 2 Aliyah—Bring the Jews Home *NOTE: Certificates for individuals and families from Ukraine only. MEMBER ID (IF KNOWN) : C4IA + while stocks last From Our Projects lena %FMarskP ,etires Koen Carlier n Aliyah Fieldworker | Christians for Israel Ukraine On Friday, 12 May, we (C4I Forum participants) visited Kibbutz Revivim in the Negev. We not only met with olim there but also said goodbye to Elena Kovarsky (pictured right). Since 2007, she led the First Home in the Homeland programme, a wonderful integration programme of The Jewish Agency for new olim in various kibbutzim in Israel. I first met Elena Kovarksy in 2012 at The Jewish Agency’s office in Vinnitsa, Ukraine. Elena had a large model of a kibbutz with her and gave a presentation on the ‘First Home in the Homeland’ integration project, which I had never heard of. After the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1991, leaders of several kibbutzim got together to think about how they could help accommodate the large influx of Soviet Jews who came—with almost nothing—to Israel. Eventually, they decided to free up cottages in a number of kibbutzim where (especially) young families with children could live. While the children went to school in the kibbutz, the parents could learn Hebrew for five months, five times a week, five hours a day. The safe environment of the kibbutz ensured a ‘soft landing and smooth integration’. Elena herself, with her husband and daughter in 1991, coming from Russia, also attended the First Home in the Homeland programme. In 2007, Elena was asked by The Jewish Agency to head this programme. Elena agreed. She said she wanted to give something back to Israel and to the programme that had helped her integrate herself and her family. In 2013, The Jewish Agency decided to stop the integration programme; there w ere insufficient funds. Elena was in sackcloth and ashes. How to proceed now? She wrote a letter to the board of Christians for Israel with the distress cry “Save the programme!” Her cry for help was heeded. The board decided to contribute financially so that the integration programme could continue. ‘A miracle,’ Elena called it afterwards. There are now 55 kibbutzim affiliated with First Home in the Homeland, and the cooperation with Christians for Israel is still running like clockwork. Recently, Elena told us she wanted to step back to pass the torch on to the younger generation: Juliya and Valeria, who themselves integrated into Israel through First Home in the Homeland. So, on 12 May, there was a beautiful but emotional farewell party for Elena. There were speeches by Rev Cornelis Kant, Frank van Oordt and me. And of course, the presents, snacks and drinks were not missing. Elena also spoke. She assured us that she would keep the same phone number, so we could still reach her. We will keep that in mind! 16 ISRAEL Celebrating June 2023 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan—Tamuz 5783 Elena with the Christians for Israel Forum participants. IF YOU DON’T KNOW OR HAVE YOUR MEMBER ID PLEASE INCLUDE: Address: _____________________________________ _____________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________ Email: _______________________________________ PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND RETURN TO: Christians for Israel Australia, PO Box 1508, Springwood, QLD, 4127 or donate securely online c4israel.com.au/donate For enquires: 07 3088 6900 $___________ Hineni soup kitchen Jerusalem ($10 per cooked meal) $___________ Holocaust Survivor Comfort Ukraine ($50 or best gift) $___________ Meals on Wheels Ukraine ($10 per cooked meal) $___________ Help Ethiopian Jews make Aliyah ($875 per person) $___________ First Home in the Homeland in Israel ($675 per person) $___________ Food Parcels Ukraine: $25 per parcel for 1 month/pp $___________ ADI (for children with disabilities) $30 or your best gift $___________ CFOIC (Judea and Samaria) Heartland ($30 or your best gift) $350 One Person from Ukraine* $6250 One Busload from Ukraine (25 persons)* $1460 Bnei Menashe—Asian exiles (1 person) $1250 One Family from Ukraine (5 persons)* SUB TOTAL $____________