Israel Celebrates its 64th Independence Day

The modern State of Israel recently celebrated the 64th anniversary of its establishment. In 1948, the U.N. voted to partition the Holy Land into a Jewish and an Arab state with Jerusalem as the shared international capital. Old newsreels show dancing in the streets and joyous celebrations by the young Jewish people who came to Israel to start new lives in peace and freedom. The celebration of the Jewish State's existence is much the same today!

The day before Israel Independence Day is a day of remembrance for Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. Sirens mark a moment of silence as ceremonies take place around the country, in places such as Tel Aviv's Rabin Square, named after the assassinated Israeli Prime Minister. At sunset, Independence Day begins with fireworks and the following day, all the parks are filled with families celebrating with picnics and barbecues. Israelis mourn the loss of Israel's soldiers and civilians due to war and terrorism, then celebrate the birth of their country with joy, thanksgiving, and hope for a bright Israeli future.

Please pray for safety during this time as thousands of people are out in the streets celebrating.

Activists in Pro-Palestinian "Fly-Tilla" Denied Entry to Israel

The days after Passover were some of the busiest travel days of the year, as people returned from their holidays. During this time, Israeli authorities quietly prevented hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from entering the country. The activists were part of a "fly-tilla" (a play on words originating from the flotilla from Turkey two years ago) and were attempting to enter the country to join potentially violent demonstrations in Jerusalem. However, their names had been compiled months in advance and sent to foreign airlines, that either canceled the flights or did not allow them to board. (Jpost)

Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Two Terrorists from Shalit Prisoner Swap Arrested

In October 2011, Israel released over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in a deal with Hamas, bringing home captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit after five years' captivity in the Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian terrorists who were released in the prisoner swap for Shalit have been arrested as they attempted once again to engage in anti-Israel terrorist activity. Both are Hamas operatives and have been working to recruit Palestinians from the West Bank to join the Hamas ranks, as well as coordinating plans to kidnap Israeli soldiers, illegally obtain weapons and establish more terror cells. (Jpost)

Please pray for Israel's safety, and that the other prisoners released in the deal would not return to terrorist activities.

Chosen People Ministries Prepares to Receive Summer Outreach Teams

Several groups of volunteers will soon be arriving in Israel to participate in Chosen People Ministries' various outreach activities in the Holy Land. Some of their days will be spent helping to accomplish work projects for struggling single moms. These women face the challenge of raising their children alone, paying the bills, and keeping the house in order, while dealing with a number of other difficult issues. Chosen People Ministries has a thriving ministry to single mothers, which includes both practical and spiritual help.

Pray for the Lord to bless our short-term teams with fruitful outreach throughout Israel this summer.

Three Names Added to List of Nazi War Criminals

The Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, which registers Nazi war criminals and tracks antisemitism, announced three new names on its list of most-wanted Nazis. All three fled to Canada after the War and have had their citizenship either revoked or suspended. Over the past eleven years, about ninety Nazi war criminals have been convicted of their wartime deeds by courts around the world. In addition, eighty new indictments have been filed against those suspected of war crimes. (Haaretz)

Please pray for those who committed horrible war crimes to be brought to justice.

Netanyahu one of TIME Magazine's Most Influential People

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the TIME Magazine list of 100 most influential people. He is praised for being a strong, iconic, determined leader. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor wrote the column for TIME, saying, "Netanyahu is one of these iconic Israelis, a strong leader who has excelled during a lifetime of service to the state of Israel. He deserves credit for drawing attention to the threat Iran poses to Israel, to America, to the region and to the free world. He is the right leader for Israel and the right partner for America." (Haaretz)

Please pray for Netanyahu's continued leadership of the State of Israel.

Little Time Left to Reach Holocaust Survivors

Findings from a special report on Holocaust survivors highlight the needs of this ageing population. Over the past year, 12,000 survivors passed away. Currently, there are about 198,000 Holocaust survivors in Israel; 88% of them are over the age of 75 and nearly 20,000 require special home visits and rely on others for help with their day-to-day needs. (JPost)

Please pray for the Lord to provide for the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of these survivors. Pray especially that they will hear the Gospel and put their trust in Messiah.

Israel Remembers its Fallen Soldiers

On Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day – April 24, 2012) Israel remembered its fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, which now number 22,993. In 2011, 126 names were added to the list. The records of fallen soldiers and civilian casualties of terrorism have been kept since the 1948 War of Independence. (Ynet)

Please pray for the families of those who have been killed in war or because of terrorism.

Israeli Water Technology to Clean the Ganges in India

Indian engineers are considering using Israeli water technologies in a national initiative to clean up the Ganges River. The river is an important fresh water source as well as a ritual Hindu holy site – but it is currently a source of infection and disease as well. The Indian delegation will meet with several Israeli companies that work with sewage purification, solid waste treatment and desalination. Israel is considered a world leader in water technologies. (Ynet)

Israeli Defense Forces Stop Sinai Terror Plots

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have thwarted ten different terrorist plots to attack Israel from the Sinai Peninsula in the past two months. Major General Aviv Kochavi, head of Military Intelligence, said that the Katyusha rocket recently fired into Eilat from the Sinai demonstrates the changes that are sweeping through the Middle East. "Terrorist groups are working to establish a stronger presence in the Sinai As a result, we will need to prepare for new challenges and fronts, for an increase in the threats and for more instability throughout the region in the coming years." (JPost)

Please pray for peace along Israel’s southern borders.

Holocaust Remembrance Day

On Holocaust Remembrance Day (April 19), sirens sound all over Israel for two minutes, and everyone stops to remember the six million Jewish people who were killed. These sirens are the same ones used to alert the population for an impending aerial missile attack. People take this moment so seriously, that even highway traffic and public transportation comes to a halt as people stand in silence in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. It is sad to know that more than half a century after such a terrible tragedy, Israel and the Jewish people are still under attack.

Please pray for our ongoing ministry among Holocaust survivors.

Passover Seder Outreach to Holocaust Survivors Held in Sderot

This past Passover season, Chosen People Ministries in Israel held a unique seder in Sderot for over 270 Holocaust survivors, most of whom are not yet believers in Jesus. The participants had a great time talking about Moses and the Israelites leaving Egypt and travelling through the desert on their way to the Promised Land – and of course, they also enjoyed the food and singing. What made this Passover Seder special was that it included a clear and understandable message about Jesus, the Passover Lamb who was sacrificed for our sins.

Please pray that those who attended would take this life-giving message to heart!

Christians Flock to Jerusalem for Easter

Thousands of local believers and international visitors flocked to Jerusalem's Old City on Good Friday to retrace the steps Jesus took before His crucifixion. Along the "Way of the Suffering," the Via Dolorosa, pilgrims lined up to pray and participate in the sacred festivities. On Easter Sunday, Jerusalem's churches held sunrise services to celebrate the Risen Lord. (Haaretz)

Please pray for the Gospel of the Risen Messiah to go forth throughout Israel.

Israeli Therapists Travel to Toulouse, France

A delegation of Israeli therapists set up a trauma treatment center in the French city of Toulouse to serve members of the Jewish community affected by the recent terror attack on their school. These therapists were selected for their vast experience with extremely traumatic events, and have treated those affected by the Asian Tsunami, 9/11, and the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan. The leader of the team said, "Unfortunately with everything that’s happened in Israel, our teams have acquired a great deal of experience and the goal is to share that experience in places where it's needed." (Haaretz)

Please pray for the healing of the Jewish community in Toulouse, and for those who are mourning the loss of loved ones.

Israeli Linguists Compiling Ultimate Hebrew Dictionary

A team of linguists aiming to map the Hebrew language has compiled more than 20,000 entries. This project has been in progress for the past 58 years and is quite labor intensive, as it requires many hours of research to define each word and break down its roots. "This way, you can take any word, know how old it is, how it has been transformed over the years, and what meanings it takes on," says the director of the project. "There is no new Hebrew without ancient Hebrew. Our Hebrew is in fact founded on ancient Hebrew." The team has also researched words from other languages – especially Arabic and French – that have been absorbed into modern Hebrew. (Haaretz)

Four Killed in Toulouse Shooting

A gunman opened fire as children were arriving at a Jewish school in Toulouse, France, killing the rabbi, two of his children, and the headmaster's daughter. The killer fled on his motor scooter and hid out in a house for 30 hours before being killed in a shootout with police. The victims' bodies were flown to Israel for burial, and French schools observed a moment of silence. (Ynet)

Please pray for the families of these victims, especially the rabbi's widow, who lost her husband and two of her children.

Toulouse Not Safe for Jews

Some in the Jewish community in Toulouse, numbering about 25,000, have felt uncomfortable wearing the kippah (yarmulke) or speaking openly about politics or Israel. The influx of Arab and Muslim immigrants to France has heightened these fears. In the past, Jewish schools used to recruit students, but now parents are actively enrolling their kids there because they do not feel safe studying in the public schools. (Jerusalem Post)

Please pray for protection for the Jewish communities in Toulouse and in France as a whole.

IDF Prepares For Future War

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command plans to finalize the establishment of two new search and rescue battalions by the end of next year in order to provide rapid response capability in the event of a war. These units would dramatically improve the IDF's ability to assist the civilian population. (Jerusalem Post)

Please pray for the IDF's capabilities to protect Israel's borders and civilians.

Bill Bans Use of Underweight Models in Advertising

The Knesset (Israeli government) recently passed a law banning the use of underweight models in advertising. The "Photoshop Law" also requires that any ad agency that digitally alters photos to make models look thinner must announce this fact on the advertisement. This bill is part of an effort to change the idealized perceptions of beauty that contribute to the development of eating disorders. Over 1,500 children and teenagers are diagnosed with eating disorders every year in Israel. (Haaretz)

Please pray for these children and teenagers who struggle with their self-image and with eating disorders.

Iran, Israel Loves You

Two graphic designers in Tel Aviv have started a social networking campaign by sending the people of Iran a simple message, "Iranians, we love you. We will never bomb your country." In reply, the Al-Jazeera media network put aside its notorious criticism of the Jewish state and published a piece about the campaign, under the headline "Israel hearts Iran." Iranian media outlets, which are closely monitored and possibly regulated by the country's regime, did not mention the campaign. Iranian expatriates welcomed the initiative with open arms. One said, "We love you, Israeli people. The Iranian people do not like any war with any country." (Ynet)

Please pray for peace between these two countries.

IDF Readies Itself for Global March to Jerusalem

The Israeli Defense Forces are preparing for a possible storming of the country's borders as protestors from Arab states and Palestinian territories plan to march towards Jerusalem. Israeli troops aim to prevent violation of the country’s sovereignty with minimum harm to the protesters. Last year, a similar march took Israel by surprise as quite a few protestors crossed Israel's border and were met with resistance from the IDF. (Ynet)

Please pray for this march to be peaceful and without incident.

Passover is Right Around the Corner

Passover is a much-loved religious and national holiday commemorating the Lord's redemption of the Israelites as they left Egypt after 400 years of slavery to come to the Promised Land. This year, the first of the eight nights of Passover falls on Friday, April 6. Israelis are currently preparing their homes for the season with a through spring cleaning, and the markets are full of shoppers buying food for their big family seders.

Jewish believers in Jesus view Passover as the foreshadowing of the Lamb of God, who willingly sacrificed His life for ours, giving us eternal redemption. All over Israel, kosher for Passover products appear (like the week's supply of matzo) and products that are not kosher for Passover are hidden – in stores, covers are draped over the cookie, bread and cake aisles!

Passover is a wonderful time to share about the Messiah Jesus and His redemption. Please pray for opportunities to share the Good News.

Chosen People Ministries Staff Prepares for Passover

Throughout Israel, Chosen People Ministries workers are leading and participating in Passover seders. Some will lead outreach seders that are open to the public, and others will attend more intimate gatherings with family and friends. Passover is a special time of the year to gather around the table and talk about the redemption in Egypt and the sacrifice that was provided. It speaks so poignantly of Jesus!

Please pray for open doors for Chosen People Ministries' workers in Israel to share about Messiah with Holocaust survivors, single mothers, children, soldiers, and friends.

Rare Snowfall in Jerusalem

Snow has fallen in Jerusalem for the first time in four years. The four-centimeter snowfall resulted in suspension of bus service and closure of most stores. The Sea of Galilee rose 20 centimeters with the winter storm, and much of the country experienced the coldest day of the year. (Haaretz)

Praise God for the abundant rain and snow that has fallen this winter!

Netanyahu Warns about Iran's Nuclear Program

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the annual conference of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, calling on the international community to acknowledge the fact that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. "Amazingly, some people refuse to acknowledge that Iran's goal is to develop nuclear weapons," he said. "A nuclear-armed Iran would dramatically increase terrorism by giving terrorists a nuclear umbrella, with groups like Hezbollah and Hamas becoming emboldened to attack even America…because they will be backed by a power with atomic weapons." He even said that the damage and casualties from a missile attack on Tel Aviv would be "small change" compared to the consequences of the Iranian government attaining nuclear capability. (Haaretz)

Please pray for Iran never to develop nuclear weapons.

Obama and Netanyahu Discuss the Book of Esther

At the end of their three-hour meeting, President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed the Book of Esther. Netanyahu draw parallels between the wicked Haman's plot to destroy the Jewish people in the Persian Empire and Iran's vow to annihilate Israel. Obama said he understood that Israel has the right to defend itself against its enemies, and Netanyahu stated that Israel will take its future and security into its own hands. (Arutz 7)

An attack on Iran from any country will cause the Middle East to erupt in conflict and bloodshed. Please pray for peace!

Iron Dome Intercepts Rockets from Gaza

Over 200 rockets were launched from Gaza towards southern Israel in the past week. The Iron Dome, which is a defense system designed to intercept missiles heading toward populated areas, has shot down several dozen of the rockets. Schools in the areas within range of the rockets have been closed, affecting 200,000 students in the region. The barrage began after Israel launched a strike that killed the leader of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), a terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, that was believed to be planning a large terror attack on Israel's southern border. (Haaretz)

Please pray for protection and peace of mind for residents of southern Israel.

Prayer for our work in Sderot and Ashdod

Chosen People Ministries' work continues despite the rockets raining down in the southern part of Israel. Although the Iron Dome protection system is helping, some rockets are still falling in cities and civilian neighborhoods. Please pray for our work in Sderot (located just a couple of kilometers from Gaza) and Ashdod (also within easy range of the rockets) and for our workers and families who live or travel there frequently. Also, please pray for our ministry to residents of these cities.

Pray that the Lord will be their protection and strong tower!

No Mail Delivery of New Testaments

Israeli mailmen have refused to deliver thousands of copies of the New Testament to residents, claiming that distribution of missionary material violates both civil and Jewish religious laws. One worker said that he would give up his job rather than deliver the New Testaments. However, the Israeli Postal Company is obligated to deliver any mail it receives, and cannot block distributions of material based on its content. (Ynet)

Please pray that the New Testaments that were delivered would be read and considered!

Bomb Scare for Ortiz Family

Four years ago, the Ortiz family, a family of believers living in the West Bank town of Ariel, received a Purim package (these are traditional gift packages usually filled with food and sweets) that was stuffed with a bomb instead. Their teenage son Ami opened the package and was seriously injured from the explosion and shrapnel.

This Purim, someone again left a large package on the Ortiz family's doorstep, causing them to flee to the farthest part of their apartment and call the police. The bomb squad evacuated the entire street and attempted to disarm the package. Fortunately, it was only a food package that had been delivered to the wrong address – but it was a stark reminder of what happened to the Ortiz family only a few years ago. After this latest incident, David Ortiz shared with the media how the Lord has helped them recover since the delivery of that deadly package that was meant to take their lives. (CBN News)

Please pray for the Ortiz family's witness in their community, and for the safety of our staff members Henry and Irina N., who also have an active ministry in Ariel.