Word from Jerusalem - April 2023 - USA Edition

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was established in1980 in recognition of the biblical significance of all of Jerusalem and its unique connection to the Jewish people. Today the ICEJ represents millions of Christians, churches, and denominations to the nation and people of Israel. We recognize in the restoration of Israel the faithfulness of God to keep His ancient covenant with the Jewish people. Our main objectives are:

• To stand with Israel in support and friendship;

• To equip and teach the worldwide church regarding God’s purposes with Israel and the nations of the Middle East;

• To be an active voice of reconciliation between Jews, Christians, and Arabs, and to support the churches and congregations in the Holy Land.

From its head offices in Jerusalem, the ICEJ reaches out into more than 170 countries worldwide, with branch offices in over 90 nations.

Our vision is:

• To reach every segment of Israel’s society with a Christian testimony of comfort and love, and

• To reach and actively represent to Israel the support of denominations, churches, and believers from every nation on earth.

The Christian Embassy is a non-denominational faith-based ministry supported by the voluntary contributions of our partners and friends across the globe. We invite you to join with us as we minister to Israel and the Jewish people worldwide by donating to the ongoing work and witness of the ICEJ.

Dear friends,

It has been 75 years since Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, read Israel’s Declaration of Independence at the Tel Aviv Museum in May 1948. For the first time in 1,800 years, a sovereign Jewish nation existed in the ancient Land of Canaan—Israel was reborn. This year, the ICEJ is preparing to celebrate that modern-day miracle, the impact of which reverberates today. In this issue of Word From Jerusalem, we look at the significance of Israel’s return to the world stage—and what it means for today’s Christians—in the article “Witnesses to Israel’s ‘Resurrection.’”

Israel’s rebirth looks back to Genesis 12, 15, and 17 and God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants. Christians today are witnessing the fulfillment of many of these promises with our own eyes! But there is much to learn from this man who believed God and looked forward to the day God would make good on His Word. Even Jesus said that Abraham, 2,000 years before Jesus was even born, “saw [My day] and was glad” (John 8:56). You can read more about what Abraham “saw” on pages 4–5.

You’ll also read about how God is continuing to bring His people home to Israel from around the world, just as His Word says. Aliyah from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) is up 400 percent this year. We provide an update about Aliyah from Russia and Ukraine on pages 11–13.

CREDITS

ICEJ President Dr. Jürgen Bühler

USA Director Susan Michael

VP International Affairs Dr. Mojmir Kallus

VP Finance David van der Walt

VP Operations Barry R. Denison

VP International Spokesman David Parsons

VP AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder

Managing Editor/Publications Director Laurina Driesse

USA Managing Editor Karen Engle

Staff Writer Anastasiya Gooding

Graphic Design/Illustrators Ryan Tsuen, Peter Ecenroad, Nancy Schimp

Photography Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Flash90, GPO, Getty Images, JAFI, MirYam Institute, United Hatzalah, CNET, Wikimedia Commons, Levi Dörflinger, Wikimedia Commons, Levi Dörflinger, ICEJ Staff and Branches

The New King James Bible is used for all Bible references unless otherwise noted.

Word From Jerusalem is published by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Word From Jerusalem has no subscription price and is supported through contributions worldwide. The ICEJ USA Branch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with offices in Tennessee, Florida, and Washington, DC. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible according to United States law.

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM - USA

Support our ministry online at: www.icejusa.org

We are watching seismic shifts in both the heavens and the earth. These are times of great transition, and Israel and the Jewish people are at the center of it. It is the time to dedicate our hearts fully to God, seek Him afresh, and be busy doing our Father’s work. God is indeed doing a “new thing” and “making a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19). And we are rejoicing in His faithfulness.

As you read this issue, I pray it will inspire you to join us in building God’s kingdom here in Israel.

Many blessings from Jerusalem!

Dr. Juergen Buehler President

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

FOR MAGAZINE ARCHIVES

visit www.icejusa.org/wfj

COVER PHOTO: Israelis dancing the Hora (photo credit: Israel Government Press Office)

8 NOT YOUR TYPICAL NINE-YEAR-OLD

Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, where Abraham offered Isaac (Wikimedia Commons)

ABRAHAM SAW MY DAY!

BY DR. JUERGEN BUEHLER, ICEJ PRESIDENT

The article “Heir to the Whole World” in our last issue of Word From Jerusalem showed that Abraham was perhaps the most prominent figure of the Old Testament, whose impact is still felt today. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). This statement presents a puzzling truth. Jesus indicates that Abraham received a prophetic glimpse into his life and ministry some 1,900 years ahead of time—and it caused him great excitement.

The King-Priest

Several events gave Abraham insights into various facets of Jesus’ ministry. We find the first one in Genesis 14, which contains what historians say is the oldest report of an armed conflict. Four invading kings (Amraphael, Arioch, Chedorlaomer, and Tidal) conquered the land of Canaan, placing their rulers under tributary submission. Some rabbis see these kings as prophetic foreshadows of the later world empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.

During their conquest, they took captives, including Abraham’s nephew Lot. But Abraham undertook the impossible. He summoned his personal militia of 318 soldiers, chased after these conquering armies, surprised and defeated the four kings, liberated the captives (including Lot), and returned with the bounty they had taken from the Canaanite tribes (Genesis 14:13ff).

T hen as Abraham returned in victory, he approached Jerusalem (the King’s valley) and “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18). This mysterious figure Melchizedek was ruler of Jerusalem, as well as the King of Righteousness (which translates “Melchizedek”) and King of Peace (“Salem”). He also served as priest of El Elyon, the Most High God, and he blessed Abraham, saying:

Blessed be Abram by God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:19–20 ESV)

Much can be said about this amazing person, yet the Bible is silent about Melchizedek until King David arises as another king-priest of Jerusalem (he was the only Israelite king to minister before the ark of the covenant). Thus, David prophesied:

T he LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! … The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations. (Psalm 110:1, 4–6a)

In this passage, David sees the appearance of a future Melchizedek-type who would be elevated to the right hand of God and rule the nations. The book of Hebrews connects the dots. The writer clearly presents him as a prophetic shadow of Jesus the Messiah, who passed through the heavens to the right hand of the Father, “having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:20). Hebrews 7 then sets out the many parallels between Jesus and Melchizedek and concludes: “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Hebrews 8:1).

Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, where Abraham offered Isaac (Wikimedia Commons)

The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, from The Story of Abraham, print, Adriaen Collaert, after Maerten de Vos (MET, 51.501.1717(2)), Wikimedia Commons

Even today, Jesus stands before God interceding on behalf of every believer. So just as Jesus said, we, too, can see how “Abraham saw My day, and was glad” when he returned from battle and encountered Melchizedek in the King’s valley.

The Day of the Lord

T here is another occasion when Abraham saw Jesus’ day. Genesis 18 records that three men appeared to Abraham (many theologians say they represent the triune nature of God), and one informed him that in a year’s time, he would hold the son of promise in his hands. As the three departed from Abraham, the same one hesitated, saying in Genesis 18:16ff: “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?”

W hat unfolded next was God’s righteous judgment on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In this passage, Abraham remarkably negotiated with God, but at the end, not even 10 righteous were found in these sinful cities: “And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace” (Genesis 19:27–28).

In Luke, Jesus recalled the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying the “day when the Son of Man is revealed” will be like the days of Lot (Luke 17:28–30). Abraham, in a way, received a glimpse into the end times. He saw what it will be like on the great day of the LORD when Jesus returns. As in the days of Lot, Jesus said people will live superficial lives of prosperity and selfcenteredness, then sudden judgment will come. In a very real sense, Abraham witnessed the severity of God’s righteous judgment.

One thing we can learn from Abraham: he did not fatalistically submit to the announced judgment, but he stood in the gap, earnestly interceding for a lost world. Likewise, the prophet Joel pleaded: “Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him” (Joel 2:14a). Let us follow Abraham’s

example; as we see the terrible day of the Lord coming, let us intercede for a world ripening for God’s judgment.

The Day of Redemption

Finally, the greatest moment in Abraham’s life of seeing “My day” is recounted in Genesis 22, in the story of the binding of Isaac. It was a most difficult test for Abraham, whom God commanded to “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:2). Abraham responded immediately. Early in the

painfully making his way up the mountain. Yet a spark of faith emanates from his prophetic reassurance to Isaac: “God will provide for Himself the lamb” (Genesis 22:8). Isaac was already bound upon the altar when an angel of the LORD stopped Abraham, and he saw a ram caught in a thicket. Abraham received a sacrificial ram (ay’il in Hebrew)—a grown, horned, male sheep. Then 2,000 years later, God provided the promised lamb (seh in Hebrew). This blameless Lamb of God, a direct descendant of Abraham, carried away the sins of the world for all who trust in Him (John 1:29).

morning, he departed and “took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son” (Genesis 22:6).

In these verses, we see the most profound moment in Abraham’s journey—when Abraham’s life became personally intertwined with God’s eternal purposes. He experienced a prophetic projection of what would take place 2,000 years later, again on Mount Moriah, when God would give His beloved, only begotten Son to redeem the world. Abraham’s sacrificial dedication to God’s purposes reflected the very character of God, who was willing to give His utmost to save the world. When he watched his son climbing the hillside with wood on his back, Abraham also saw Jesus of Nazareth carrying the cross to give eternal life to all the families of the earth.

Consider two highlights in this remarkable prophetic scene. We can only imagine Abraham

T hen, when Abraham ascended Mount Moriah with his son, he was not only obedient to the fullest but trusted that God would raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). From the start, he believed they would return from the mountain together. So in in a very real way, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

Abraham understood beforehand the great significance of the redemptive work of Jesus, the center point of salvation history. On Mount Moriah, where Abraham declared that God would provide, the Lord indeed provided forgiveness of sins, released the resurrection power of God, and opened a way of escape from God’s eternal judgment on that great and terrible day of the LORD.

Abraham indeed looked ahead and gladly saw “My day.” I pray that we all can look back and see it too! Jesus is our Royal High Priest seated at God’s right hand, interceding for us. He is also the One who will come one day to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5). So let us rejoice in the Lamb of God who forgives our sins and offers us His resurrection power even today.

Abraham e Isaac camino del sacrificio, de Pedro de Orrente (Museo del Prado), Wikimedia Commons

Jesus said: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

– John 8:56 –

Abraham’s sacrificial dedication to God’s purposes reflected the very character of God, who was willing to give His utmost to save the world.

WITNESSES OF ISRAEL’S “RESURRECTION”

BY DAVID PARSONS, ICEJ VICE PRESIDENT & SENIOR SPOKESMAN

As Israel prepares to mark 75 years since its modern-day rebirth in May 1948, the impact of that dramatic event is still reverberating to this day. So what does Israel’s return to the world stage mean for Christians today?

Birth Pangs

Israel’s national rebirth involved birth pangs, as it is forever linked to the Holocaust. The “miracle” of restored Jewish sovereignty in the historic Land of Israel occurred just three years after the Nazi genocide against the Jews ended. The Holocaust marked the lowest point of the Jewish people’s long, arduous journey of wandering among the nations. Yet only three years later, they suddenly attained national independence back in their ancestral homeland.

Amazingly, the apostle Paul declared long ago that Israel’s last-day ingathering would be like “life from the dead!” (Romans 11:15). This means the rebirth of Israel is nothing less than the resurrection power of God still at work in the earth today.

Paul based his teaching on Israel’s revival in Romans 11 on numerous Old Testament passages, such as Isaiah 6 and Jeremiah 24 and 31. The Hebrew prophets describe Israel’s final restoration as a two-phase process, starting with the physical ingathering of the Jews back to the Land of Israel in unbelief, followed by their spiritual ingathering back to God by a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “Return to Me and I will return to you,” the Lord states quite plainly in Zechariah 1:3 and Malachi 3:7.

Life from the Dead

But perhaps the clearest prophetic passages on how Israel’s promised restoration would play out are in Ezekiel 36 and 37. For example, in Ezekiel 36:24–28, God declares:

For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I

will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you.

Then in Ezekiel 37 the prophet declares his vision of the valley of dry bones, where Ezekiel speaks of a time of great calamity when the people of Israel would say: “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” It is as if he were looking down through time at the mass graves of Jews slaughtered in the Holocaust.

Yet then God declares that all is not lost; at their lowest moment, Ezekiel assures Israel that God will “open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you

Israelis dancing the Hora in May 1948 - GPO

Jews await mass execution at Sobibor death camp - Getty

For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

– Romans 11:15 –

into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves” (Ezekiel 37:12–13).

Four times in two verses, God decrees He would bring Israel out of its graves. Therefore, Paul can proclaim: “For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance (or ingathering) be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15).

“We Are Witnesses …”

We have witnessed the resurrection power of God at work in Israel for 75 years now. This places much responsibility upon us. How so?

The apostles told everyone they were “witnesses” of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the Hebrew mindset, being a “witness” carries a deeper meaning than just watching a crime or accident occur. It is a much weightier matter.

First, the Ten Commandments say: “Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16). Add to this the “law of witnesses” in Deuteronomy 19:15–21, which states that you need two or more witnesses to establish the guilt of someone for trespassing the law of Moses. But if a witness testified falsely to breaking a law, they were subject to the same punishment as the crime they accused someone else of.

Therefore, Jesus’ followers would have taken a huge risk to go before the Sanhedrin and testify of its complicity in the death of Jesus. But if that opportunity ever arose, the 12 Apostles were set apart to serve as witnesses before the Sanhedrin concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus, with all the risks that entailed—namely, the death penalty.

Then in Acts 10:39–42, Peter told the first gentile convert, Cornelius:

We are witnesses … chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

Paul makes a similar point when preaching to learned Greeks in Athens:

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. (Acts 17:30–31)

Peter and Paul concurred that the resurrection of Jesus carried a message—that by it, He was declared the Judge of all mankind. Therefore, you might have gotten away with your ignorance and idol worship in the past, but now you are accountable before God, and it is time to repent.

Every act of God’s resurrection power carries a message. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he declared, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). When God raised Jesus from the dead, He was declared to be the Judge of all humanity; no one can get away with their sin and ignorance of God any longer.

A Message for Today

So what is God’s message to the world in resurrecting Israel from the grave in our day? First, the world is about to be judged. Just as Noah building the ark was the most significant sign to the ancient world that they were about to be judged, the building up of Zion is the clearest sign we, too, are about to be judged (Psalm 102:16; Isaiah 54:9). And this judgment includes how we have treated the Jewish nation and people. Psalm 2, Joel 3, Jeremiah 30:11, Zephaniah 3:8ff, and other passages speak clearly of this.

Secondly, we can no longer be ignorant or indifferent toward Israel. For 75 years the Christian world has witnessed Israel emerging from the grave of the Shoah (Holocaust) and being placed back in their Land, a process still unfolding and awaiting its culmination in Israel’s national salvation. When Israel was scattered and in disfavor with God, we might have gotten away with ignoring the Jewish people or viewing them as being punished by the Lord. But not anymore; once God restored Israel in their Land, a new day began! And we will be held responsible for our reaction.

Some Christians want to put Israel back in the grave. They are working with antisemites to undermine Israel’s legitimacy and dismantle the Jewish state. They should fear God! But a much larger category of Christians is indifferent to Israel’s ongoing resurrection and think it has nothing to do with them. After 75 years of Israel overcoming so many challenges and blessing the world, we cannot remain ignorant and indifferent. Instead, every Christian needs to connect to Israel in positive, meaningful ways.

Having a love and concern for Israel is not a litmus test of whether a person is saved. But it does indicate whether they are flowing with the Holy Spirit.

After 75 years of a revived Israel, if we keep clinging to the old, negative views and attitudes toward the Jewish people or still think Israel does not matter, we risk being cut off from the move of the Holy Spirit in our day (Romans 11:20–21). Neither will God overlook this when we stand before Him in judgment.

ICEJ national directors for Finland and South Africa place a wreath at Yad Vashem’s Hall of Remembrance during the Envision Leaders and Pastors Conference 2020.

In the Hebrew mindset, being a “witness” is a much weightier matter.

In this excerpt from the newly released book Every Generation’s Story: 75 Years of American Christian Engagement with Israel, Josiah Neumann shares his experience going to Israel as a nine-year-old boy—and how it impacted his life forever.

T he whirling mind of an average nine-year-old often thinks irrationally and lacks maturity. It focuses on things like when they’ll get their next snack or be able to swing on the monkey bars or play another round of video games. The average nine-year-old does not necessarily yearn for knowledge from his elders on a day-to-day basis or desire to read nonfiction material to understand historical events.

But I was not a typical nine-year-old.

I was raised in a Christian home where we read God’s Word daily. My parents nicknamed me the “Old Testament Soul” because I was always drawn to Old Testament texts. The books of Kings, Esther, and Exodus are some of my favorites. I have always been in awe of the passion, level of faith, courage, and strength of the Jewish people whose stories are recorded in the Bible. As a child, I knew them all. I knew their names, their children’s names, their wives’ names—they were my ancestors! While most young children were watching television sitcoms, Marvel movies, and cartoon characters, I was obsessed with movies about King Solomon, Queen Esther, Jacob, and Joseph. These were my true heroes to emulate!

NOT YOUR TYPICAL NINE-YEAR-OLD

BY JOSIAH NEUMANN

T he average nine-year-old also does not have the opportunity to travel across the globe to the war-torn Middle Eastern country of Israel. But here again, my experience was not average. In 2014 when the Gaza War started, one of the deadliest outbreaks of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, my parents still accepted an opportunity to travel to Israel with Bishop Robert Stearns and Eagles’ Wings Ministries.

My father and Bishop Stearns were youth group friends and continue to share a deep connection to this day. Because of their close friendship, my parents were comfortable trusting Bishop Stearns and Eagles’ Wings with their safety during this trip. And they knew it was not an option to leave me at home! At nine years old, I was fully aware of the ongoing conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis. I found myself constantly watching the news on TV and social media. I understood the threat posed by ISIS and other terrorist groups in the area when we would be traveling. Even after returning from the trip, I continued to stay informed with updates from Israel regarding attacks by terrorist groups in the area and other relevant news.

U nfortunately, the Gaza War of 2014 and ongoing terrorist attacks are not recent or new phenomena. The Jewish people have been persecuted and scattered among the nations of the world throughout history, and modern Israel’s very existence is continuously threatened. However, for the first time in 2,000

years, the Jewish people have been reunited as a nation due to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. Even though there has always been a Jewish presence in the Land, the founding of modern Israel marked the reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in their ancient homeland.

Despite everything that has happened to the Jewish people throughout history, they still stand to this day. As a people, they have not wavered in times of trouble and turmoil but have maintained their faith and connection to God. Even amid the Holocaust, as they were on the verge of being wiped out by the evil Nazi agenda, many did not turn from their faith in God and trusted Him that better days were to come.

TWO PROFOUND IMPRESSIONS

T hat trip to Israel in 2014 left two indelible impressions on my life. The first has to do with my reflections on the Holocaust. As I stood in the Land, I wondered, What was the rest of the world doing while this [the Holocaust] was happening to these people? My next question was, What needs to be done so this history will not be repeated?

But my experience in Israel also caused me to realize how important it is for the United States to support Israel and protect the freedom she now holds. Before I experienced the Land of Israel for myself, I never truly understood the need to support the Jewish State. Even though my family had participated in events led by

Josiah on his first trip to Israel at nine years old in 2014

Bishop Stearns and Eagles’ Wings Ministries, such as the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem and Buffalo Celebrates Israel, my connection with God’s chosen people did not truly begin until I stepped foot in the Land.

While in Israel, I saw the Jewish people’s dedication and passion for God—but God allowed me to preview this before I even arrived in Israel. While on the plane, I experienced something profound that demonstrated the commitment and longing to speak with God that the Jewish people live for. I was awakened early that morning by the sound of praying and crying out to God. I turned in my seat to see the entire back of the plane filled with young men praying and seeking God out loud. I was shocked—I had never seen anything like this! But as I began to understand why they were doing what they were doing, I connected with them on a spiritual level because I felt their desire to connect with God. For them, nothing else mattered except their relationship with God, and the deep hunger I witnessed was something I wanted too.

We were in the Land during the holiest time of the year on the Jewish calendar: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Watching the Jewish people

spiritual experience that would forever change me. I was in awe as I walked the desolate streets on Yom Kippur, streets that were empty as an entire nation observed the most holy day of the year. I was also incredibly moved when praying at the Western Wall with my father, Bishop Robert Stearns, and other men in our group. To stand in a place with such a rich history, where so many generations had stood before us, was humbling to say the least. I carry these precious memories of Israel in my heart.

I am finishing my senior year of high school and will soon head to college to pursue a career in law, but my experience in Israel as a young boy will inspire me forever in my support of Israel. God willing, I hope to one day be a part of global meetings in which I can stand for Israel with my voice and pen. In the meantime, I stand with Bishop Robert Stearns and Eagles’ Wings Ministries as a watchman on the wall in the calling to protect Israel (Isaiah 62:6).

J osiah Neumann is a senior at Grand Island High School in Grand Island, NY, and plans to pursue a career in law

Read more stories like Josiah’s by 17 other people from 5 different generations whose lives were changed forever from going to Israel. Get your copy of Every Generation’s story: 75 Years of American Christian Engagement with Israel, available now on Amazon or at www. embassypublishers.com.

Taking pastors and ministry leaders to Israel is one of the great privileges of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. We understand just how important it is to have a proper biblical perspective of the nation and people of Israel, and there is no better place to teach about God’s purpose and plan for Israel than in the Land itself. That is why we were so encouraged to partner with Dr. Randall Smith, founder and director of the Christian Travel Study Program, in taking a group of pastors this year. We spent 10 days traveling throughout Israel and investing in the lives of these pastors by opening the Word of God with them and reading Scripture together.

While in the Land, we love to connect them with what God is currently doing in and among the people of Israel. On this trip, we did this by visiting the Kfar Etzion community south of Jerusalem. We watched an incredibly moving documentary about the struggle the Jews have had since beginning to return in more significant numbers in the early 1900s. A story that begins in tragedy with the slaughter of many men and women defending their homes ends in redemption: as their children return home after the 1967 war and rebuild what had been torn down. This small story speaks volumes about the Jews’ resilience in the face of hatred and points us toward God’s faithfulness to keep His promise to His people. In Ezekiel 36 God promises the Jews that He will return

C–O–N–N–E–C–T–I–N–G PASTORS WITH WHAT GOD IS DOING IN ISRAEL

BY JOHN VEDDER CHURCH RELATIONS COORDINATOR

them to their land and restore them to it. We see the fulfillment of that promise in our days. It does not mean that the journey will be easy for the Jews, but it does point again and again to God’s power and faithfulness to keep His Word.

Through world-class teaching, many shared meals, personal interactions with the people, and personal reflection, these pastors went home with a deeper understanding and personal connection to and love for the Jewish people. As this group departed Israel at the end of their tour, many shared a similar sentiment of how impactful this trip had been for them personally and for their ministries back home. We at the ICEJ want to thank everyone who partners with us in our calling and purpose to love and bless the Jewish people. We do that in many ways, and one of the most important is by educating and connecting those in ministry to Israel. This trip, designed specifically for pastors and those in ministry positions, is integral to the work of the ICEJ. With God’s blessing and guidance, we look forward to taking another group of pastors in 2024. To send a pastor or sponsor a pastor so they can go, contact our tours department at (615) 895-9830.

ICEJ Tour Leader John Vedder at Masada

Dr. Randall Smith, Christian Travel Study Program

Ijust returned from leading two back-to-back tours of Israel, and let me tell you, I don’t recommend it. Not the touring of Israel—THAT I highly recommend! I mean the back-to-back part.

It was my privilege to co-lead the two-bus Foundations Church tour of Israel alongside Pastor Michael Hines, a former staff member of the ICEJ and architect of our tours program. That was followed by the Freedom Church tour with Pastors Paul and Laurie Andrews, who really became like family by the end.

Touring can be tiring at the best of times, even if you’re not speaking and running the day-to-day mechanics of a tour. But that was not even the most challenging part of going for a twofer.

What I found out is that déjà vu is a real thing and can be extremely confusing. This hit me on two fronts. The first was at several sites where, amid my presentation to the group, I found myself speaking words I could not be certain I hadn’t already uttered to this particular group. Was I repeating myself? Or was I saying the same thing in a very similar way to the group I had before? To this day I cannot quite be sure. The second came from the group members themselves. It’s not

HOW NOT TO TOUR ISRAEL

BY DARYL HEDDING ICEJ USA DEPUTY DIRECTOR

uncommon to answer familiar questions from pilgrims along the way. However, when you get very particular questions—like one elderly gentleman asking how he could get Israeli coins for his collection at home—you start questioning your sanity when a week later, another elderly gentleman asks you the same question, and you are not sure if you already answered him or if it’s a new person asking. I am not certain which, but I did help him (or them!) out as best I could.

My general feeling and prayer is that the groups never noticed my semi-state of confusion. But if they did, they were kind and chose not to point it out. In fact, despite my issues, both tours went extremely well and everyone, including me, was blessed along the way.

And that’s the remarkable thing about touring Israel. You will probably face some obstacles and difficulties. My second group was delayed for eight hours and missed a whole night in Israel. Some people got sick, and others suffered from common belly issues (usually solved by cutting back on the delicious hummus, as hard as that may be). However, through it all, I have yet to be on a tour of Israel when God doesn’t meet those on the trip—including me—in a significant way.

And that makes it all more than worthwhile.

I CEJ Tour Co-Leaders Daryl Hedding and Pastor Michael Hines

Pastors Paul and Laurie Andrews and their Freedom Church tour group

GROWING ROOTS IN THE LAND OF THEIR FATHERS

BY YUDIT SETZ, ICEJ DEPUTY AID DIRECTOR

The ICEJ’s Home for Holocaust Survivors in Haifa has 17 new residents from Ukraine who recently arrived in Israel. Most did not voluntarily choose Aliyah but were forced to flee their homes, leaving behind friends and everything they had known to come to Israel with a lone suitcase of belongings. Besides needing a place to live, clothing, and other basics, their greatest need is to connect to other people—even find a community where they can put down roots in the Land of their forefathers.

Learning Hebrew

Many of these new residents only speak Ukrainian and Russian, while a few know a little English. Sometimes they feel helpless because they can’t communicate with others, read street names, or write their names for local Israelis.

We decided to meet this challenge by offering them Hebrew lessons at the Haifa Home. Our newest ICEJ staff member, Maria, is a teacher, and she began teaching Hebrew to these precious Survivors.

Another new resident from Ukraine thanked our team for the work we are doing, saying: “Learning Hebrew is very important, but it doesn’t really matter if the student learns it fluently or not. The most important thing is that we communicate with each other, come together, and create a community. By doing this, you are making our lives longer.”

Yet another student was eager to share her excitement about the Hebrew lessons: “When the maintenance man came by to fix something in my home, I had offered him some cakes, which he didn’t want. However, he told me he would like some mayim (water), and I understood what he wanted for the first time! And I gave him a glass of water.”

After mastering the Hebrew alphabet, they slowly begin learning words and are given homework to do—and they love it!

One elderly “student” commented: “We are so blessed to have our lessons here. Many people spend so much time going somewhere for language lessons, but we can study it almost from our home. Our teacher really wants us to be successful and to learn Hebrew. It is so nice!”

Hebrew class at the Haifa Home

ICEJ staff member Maria teaching Hebrew at the Haifa Home

Lena in Hebrew class

Ella Shares Her Experience

Ella joined the ICEJ team at the Haifa Home last year as an assistant nurse and is already making an impact on the residents. She knew that she wanted to put her command of languages to good use serving the people in the Land of Israel—in addition to English, Hebrew, and Arabic, Ella also speaks Russian and Romanian.

Language is indeed the door to people’s hearts. Ella can see how she can connect in a deeper way with residents by speaking their language and explained how Rivka, a new resident who came to Israel from Romania, specifically asks her to speak in her mother tongue, even though she speaks Hebrew perfectly. “Ella, please speak Romanian to me,” insists Rivka. This connection is precious!

“My heart is for people, and I connect easily with them. In turn they open their heart to me,” shared Ella with a smile. “Every day I feel that I am in the right place, and I am very happy to be here and serve our residents.”

“After the eviction, we had to rent apartments and moved several streets during that time. In the winter of 1941, my father was sent to forced labor in the city of Alba Iulia. My mother was left to fend for herself and her three children. When my father came back, he was very sick. He had lost half his weight and was a broken man. He also returned with asthma, which affected him for the remainder of his life.

“After the war, we were not permitted to leave for Israel. Some people, like my brother, made their way to Israel anyway, then called ‘Palestine.’ They passed through several other countries but were denied entry into Israel by the British and sent to Cyprus.

“Meanwhile, my family and I stayed in Romania, in Bucharest. As we waited, the times were not easy, as there was hardly any food. In 1950 we finally received passports and could leave. We sailed to Israel and arrived three days later. I was 12 years old. Upon our arrival, we were sprayed for lice and then sent to Atlit, where we were housed in a residence formerly belonging to the English army. Each family received a blanket. I recall my father brought two empty orange crates, and my mother placed a tablecloth over them, and that was our dining table. Regardless, my father said, “It’s so wonderful to be in Israel!”

“We lived in Atlit for eight months, then moved to Tirat HaCarmel, where we stayed in a tent. Afterward, we lived in a shed for two years until we were finally permanently housed. Later, I met my husband, Eliezer, a Holocaust Survivor who was also from Romania. We lived in Tirat HaCarmel and had two children, from which we have four grandchildren.

every birthday is special and a victory of life! For the residents, whose ages vary from 80s to 90s—and even near or past 100 years old— many no longer look forward to aging, but their birthday is celebrated nonetheless!”

T he ICEJ team of workers and volunteers take it upon themselves to celebrate each and every birthday and visit the celebrant with a song, balloons, and a personalized card just for them.

Meet Rivka

Rivka, one of our newest residents at the Haifa Home, is 85 years old. Below is her story of surviving the Holocaust.

“I was born in Romania, in the city of Iasi, which suffered the worst of Romania’s pogroms. Ten thousand Jewish people died there in 1941. Before the war started, we lived in a nice, big house with a lovely garden that my grandmother bought with gold. My father worked tirelessly as a wood etcher and was a wealthy man. We were thrown out of our home when the Germans came and left with nothing. People from rural areas were moved into our homes.

“Two years ago, my husband got a severe case of dementia and had to be moved to a nursing home. Living alone was difficult for me, so I finally decided to move to the Haifa Home. I heard about it from my cousin, who has been living here for 10 years.

“I have no words. I was welcomed so beautifully. I already have a group of friends, and I sit with them every day after dinner to talk about all kinds of subjects that are important to us. If I had known earlier what this place was like, I would have moved here years ago!”

Celebrating Birthdays

In the Haifa Home for Holocaust Survivors,

Emma’s birthday celebration

“It’s amazing that you all came to surprise me like this,” said resident Emma Kleiner on her birthday. “It makes a person feel not so all alone.”

It is important to our team that our residents feel seen, cared for, and uplifted.

“It’s not about presents or cake,” said Chaya, who just turned 90 years old. “It’s the personal attention that matters to us.”

Consider partnering with us to care for these precious Holocaust Survivors.

Haifa Home resident congratulating Chaya

Ella with new resident Rivka

IMMIGRATION SEMINAR FOR UKRAINIAN JEWS

ON ANNIVERSARY OF RUSSIAN INVASION

BY HOWARD FLOWER, ICEJ ALIYAH DIRECTOR

One year after the start of the war in Ukraine, the Jewish Agency held a special immigration preparation seminar for Ukrainian Jews in the western Ukrainian mountains, away from the ongoing Russian offensive in the East. (In actuality, the “war” has been dragging on since February 2014, when Russia and Ukraine first clashed.) More than 100 Ukrainian Jews attended this intensive fast-track program for immigration to Israel, led by senior Jewish Agency leaders such as Max Lurye, born in Dnipro, Ukraine, who has helped rescue thousands of immigrants in the nine long years since the war began.

Since last spring, fighting has continued almost nonstop, and innocent civilians have found themselves trapped in the chaos, their lives forever altered by the violence surrounding them. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) was pleased to help by sponsoring the seminar.

T he attacks from the East have intensified in scale and

scope, mercilessly targeting innocent civilians and critical energy infrastructure across Ukraine. For Ukraine’s Jewish community, the situation has been particularly dire. Jewish families have faced tremendous challenges, from the destruction of their homes and communities to the constant threat of violence and persecution. Sometimes the only light piercing the darkness on Shabbat comes from the candles.

Despite the challenges, Ukrainian Jews have continued to immigrate to Israel at a steady pace of around 100 people per week. Through advocacy, aid, and action, the work of ICEJ and the Jewish Agency has had far-reaching impacts, facilitating the safe passage of Ukrainian Jews to Israel and offering support for their successful integration into new communities. Though immense challenges remain, these organizations continue working tirelessly to assist those in need, offering a guiding light amid darkness and a path to safety amid peril. Moreover, their efforts represent a lifeline of hope for the future, providing comfort and solace for those impacted by violence and war.

DONATE AT: www.icejusa.org/aliyah

Marina from the Jewish Agency giving a lecture about housing in Israel

STANDING WITH ISRAEL IN TIMES OF CRISIS

BY LAURINA DRIESSE, ICEJ MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR

Gaza border, families have a mere 15 seconds to seek shelter before the rockets land, and the Iron Dome system cannot shoot down such short-range projectiles.

In August 2022 Ofir Libshtein, mayor of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council in Southern Israel, told the ICEJ that the 10 towns in his region were targeted with over 300 rockets during a three-day intense barrage from Gaza, which meant residents heard the red alert sirens hundreds of times and had to run for their safe rooms each time.

“The Iron Dome is an amazing miracle,” said Mayor Libshtein. “We have found a solution to deal with 96 percent of the rockets. But because we are so close to the border, rockets hit before the alarm even sounds sometimes.”

Meanwhile, the northern region of Israel is densely populated, and the Lebanese border is volatile. Many older homes do not have special safe rooms, forcing vulnerable families to run to nearby shelters in the event of a missile attack.

Israel is often forced to deal with sudden crises when war or natural disaster strikes. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) steps in to help vulnerable Israeli communities in these times of turmoil. When such emergencies arise, it is a tremendous testimony when Christians are the first to arrive with help.

From north to south, Israel is surrounded by Islamic terror militias with large rocket arsenals and the intent to destroy her. However, the ICEJ stands firm with Israel by providing much-needed bomb shelters to shield them against the constant threat of rocket attacks.

Thanks to our generous donors from around the world, scores of Israelis can sleep soundly, and their children can play happily at kindergartens knowing a shelter is nearby.

In 2022 the ICEJ donated another 17 new bomb shelters to protect vulnerable Israeli communities. Some were smaller, portable, bell-shaped shelters; others were medium cube-shaped mobile ones, and two were larger underground shelters that needed extensive renovations for use in important public buildings.

Ten shelters were placed last year in the Gaza border region, and seven were positioned on the northern border to protect against the rocket threat posed by the Hezbollah terror militia in Lebanon. Altogether, the ICEJ has donated 182 bomb shelters to protect Israeli communities since 2007! Each shelter displays an ICEJ dedication plaque assuring Israelis that Christian friends from around the world care about them.

Israel has the proven “Iron Dome” anti-missile batteries used to intercept medium-range rockets. But for communities within 6 to 9 miles of the

Most shelters we donated were placed near community and sports centers, clinics, bus stops close to community entrances, schools and kindergartens, and other public places, bringing a sense of security to the people.

“It is always so encouraging when Israelis living under this constant rocket threat tell us that our bomb shelters are indeed saving lives and giving their families the peace of mind they need to continue their daily lives in these vulnerable areas,” said ICEJ President Dr. Juergen Buehler.

Many more communities located along Israel’s borders remain defenseless, lacking sufficient shelters to protect them against an onslaught of rocket fire. Please consider donating toward a life-saving bomb shelter to protect more Israeli lives.

DONATE AT: www.icejusa.org/bomb-shelter

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:7)

Bomb shelter being lowered into place

Every Generation’s Story: 75 Years of American Christian Engagement with Israel follows the unique experiences of 18 American Christians representing 5 generations who responded to God’s call to go to Israel–and whose lives were changed forever because of it.

—Dr. Marvin Wilson, author of Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith

—Sarah Weiskopf, student at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ

ANOINTING OILS’

Cassia Cinnamon

Frankincense

Henna

Holy Anointing Oil

Prince of Peace

Rose of Sharon Spikenard

$9.99*

NAHARA DEAD SEA PRODUCTS

1. Body Lotion (8.5 oz)• $13.00*

2. Body Scrub (8.5 oz) • $15.00*

3. Hand Cream (2.9 oz) • $9.00*

4. Hand Wash (11.8 oz) • $12.00*

5. Hand and Body Gift Set • $30.00*

6. Shower Gel (8.5 oz) • $11.00*

7. Body Mist (8.5 oz) • $15.00*

NAHARA

PASSOVER MEAL SET

Passover Seder Booklet

Seder Plate

Candle Sticks

Candles (2)

Cup and Saucer

Matzah and Afikomen Cover Set

$99.00*

MEZUZAH

Silver-colored with a grafted-in symbol in a gold color

4” long

Includes the Deuteronomy blessing

$9.99*

I AM ISRAEL

DVD

The video will take you on a soaring journey through the land of the Bible and introduce you to Jewish men and women whose very lives are a testimony to the promises of God. Experience the beauty of the promised land. Witness the biblical prophecies coming to pass in our lifetime. And share your passion for Israel with your friends and family!

$22.00*

Your Israel Answer

The Miracle of Modern Israel

By Dr. Susan Michael, ICEJ USA Director

One of Israel’s primary founders and first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, said: “In Israel, to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.” He had witnessed the state’s founding after almost 2,000 years of exile. He had also witnessed five Arab armies attack the newborn state—armies equipped with artillery, tanks, armored cars, and some with air forces. Yet they were defeated by the ill-trained and inadequately equipped Jewish forces. Israel’s story is indeed filled with miracles.

The story of the founding of Israel is a fascinating one. God had been at work for hundreds of years in the Christian world, in the Jewish people, and in the political arena to bring about the founding of the modern State of Israel. It could be described as the making of a perfect storm of global movements that only God could have planned and orchestrated.

Christian Restorationism

The translation of the Bible into the vernacular and its mass production via the printing press shook Christendom. For the first time in many centuries, everyday Christians could read their Bible. They began to discover that Jesus was not only Jewish, but Christianity was as well— and their Bible was full of promises that God had made to the Jewish people.

Their preachers began to teach from the Bible that the Jews would return to the land of Canaan one day. Evangelical Christians in Great Britain began to be called “Restorationists” because of their belief in the restoration of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland. This birthed centuries of Christians who not only preached about the return but prayed for it to happen, and some even got involved in the story.

The Zionist Movement

A similar shaking occurred in the Jewish world when a secular, assimilated Jewish journalist in Austria named Theodor Herzl was assigned to cover an antisemitic court case in France. As he listened to the trumped-up charges against Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, he concluded that there was no escaping antisemitism. The only hope for the Jewish people was to have their own state. He returned to his home in Vienna, Austria, and wrote his book The Jewish State, which helped birth the Zionist movement.

When Christian Restorationist Rev. William Hechler read Herzl’s book, he knew this was the man who would be like a modern-day Moses to lead his people home. Because Rev. Hechler was a British foreign service chaplain, he was able to help Herzl circulate this idea among political leaders.

The Breakup of the Ottoman Empire

While these developments were taking place among Jews and Christians, a rumbling began of a conflict that would change the entire political landscape of the world. World War I would result in the breakup the Ottoman Empire. After some 1,300 years of successive Islamic empires ruling lands from India to Spain, it was unbelievable to think these territories would be set free for self-rule—yet that is exactly what happened.

Thanks to the foresight of another Christian Restorationist, Lord Balfour, plans were put into place to establish a Jewish State in the area known as Palestine. Every other country in the Middle East has been created out of this same political process set in motion by the defeat of the Ottoman Empire. Israel’s founding is as legal as any other country’s founding in the region.

Only the Creator of the universe—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—could have orchestrated this coming together of major Christian, Jewish, and political movements. Truly He is the One who holds the hearts of kings in His hand and turns them however He wants (Proverbs 21:1).

The Miracle of Israel’s Achievements

While Israel’s birth was against all odds, and her military victories astounding, an even greater miracle is found in Israel’s achievements. The Jewish State did not just survive—she thrived!

Israel is a vibrant democracy made up of citizens from over 120 countries. The multiethnic makeup of the society, religious diversity of the people, and geographic contrasts in the landscape make it one of the most fascinating and inspiring places to visit.

Because of the adversity they had to overcome, the Israeli people have learned how to be innovative and cutting-edge. This is reflected in their reputation as the Start-Up Nation and their advances in medicine, science, technology, agriculture, and water conservation.

Found deep in Jewish DNA, as expressed in their prayers, is a commitment to Tikkun Olam (“repairing the world”). This helps explain why Israel is also leading the world in volunteerism. Israelis have shared their resources and innovations with hurting people in over 140 countries and are often the first on the scene after any disaster.

Israel’s story is made up of many miracles. But the fact that this tiny country the size of the state of New Jersey is leading and blessing the world with innovation and volunteerism is the greatest of them all.

September 26 — october 7, 2023

Tour Israel and Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles

Two days in the Dead Sea Region • Three Days in Galilee Five days in Jerusalem • Parade of Nations Communion at Garden Tomb

Jerusalem March Worship, Praise, & Prayer in Israel

“For

Psalm 47:7

Sing