Iran Ambassador attends Holocaust event

The Iranian ambassador to Hungary attended an event honoring the 100th birthday of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who granted Swedish diplomatic papers to 20,000 Jews so that they could escape the fate of the 600,000 Jews that were murdered in Hungary during the Holocaust. This is especially significant in light of the Holocaust denying statements made by Iranian President Ahmadinejad. Wallenberg was taken into custody by the Soviets at the end of the war and never heard from again. He was 32. (JPost)

Pray for the salvation of those Jewish people and their descendants who were saved from death by this Righteous Gentile.

Saving the Dead Sea

A group of environmental activists has banded together with the aim of saving the Dead Sea, which is at risk of disappearing. Various companies harvest the Dead Sea's minerals and salt so aggressively that the ecosystems and water levels have suffered damage. In 50 years, it could cease to be a water source. The environmental group aims to preserve the Dead Sea's natural resources, stop the plunging water levels in the northern basin, and arrange a new management system for mineral extraction. The environmentalists would also like to require companies to repair all damages they have caused to the region's natural resources, or else risk losing their contracts. (JPost)

Please pray for the preservation of God’s creation.

15,000 Israeli Credit Cards Exposed

A Saudi hacker has exposed the details of almost 15,000 Israeli credit card numbers, and has threatened to release the details of over a million additional cards. The credit card companies are busy canceling the cards before these numbers are used illegally. Israel vows to bring the offender to justice, as cyber attacks are a breach of sovereignty comparable to a terrorist operation. So far, it seems that the financial damage has been minimal and credit card companies have promised to pay back those whose credit cards were used. (Haaretz)

Pray for the security of Israel's electronic, computer, and financial systems.

Media Focuses on Social Issues

In 2011, Israel's media published fewer stories on entertainment and defense and more stories on social and public welfare issues. This awareness of social issues was driven by grassroots movements protesting the rising costs of rent and food prices, and aiming to make these issues big enough for the government to notice and take action. (Haaretz)

Please pray for those who struggle financially and have a hard time making ends meet in the Promised Land.

United Nations to Visit West Bank

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is preparing to visit Palestinian government leaders in the West Bank city of Ramallah, although the exact date has yet to be set. The Palestinians have been pursuing creative measures to try to secure statehood, like joining the UN agency UNESCO or trying to go before the UN's 192-member General Assembly where the United States does not have veto power. The United States and Israel object to UN recognition of Palestinian statehood, insisting that a negotiated peace agreement must be reached first. Face to face talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders will resume in Amman, Jordan next week. (Haaretz)

Please pray for wisdom in dealing with the sensitive matter of Palestinian statehood, and pray for fruitful peace negotiations.

700 Rockets Fired on Southern Israel in 2011

According to the Israeli military, nearly 700 rockets, mortars, and long-range missiles were fired on southern Israel in 2011. Thankfully, most of these rockets fell in the desert and did not make direct hits on buildings. The Israeli Home Front Command is working on implementing rocket warning systems using mobile phones, the Internet and television. (JTA)

Please pray for the protection of the civilian population centers that lie within the range of these rockets.

Doors Open for Ministry to Israeli Children

Chosen People Ministries worker Maxim K. is thankful for a new ministry opportunity in a children's orphanage in Jerusalem. The orphanage is home to fifty children ages 6-16 whose parents have been denied parental rights by a court of law. During the Hanukkah holidays, Maxim organized a trip for these children to the place where David defeated Goliath. The group also visited our Messianic Center in Tel Aviv, ate pizza together, played, sang, and fellowshipped. Maxim writes, "All the kids returned home with big smiles on their faces!"

Pray for further opportunities to brighten these children’s lives with the love of Messiah.

Israeli Diplomats Meet in Jerusalem

Over 100 Israeli diplomats gathered in Jerusalem to share stories from their work around the globe. In light of the world’s gradual turning against Israel, many diplomats have been working long hours to prepare explanations to foreign ministries and media outlets. The Israeli ambassadors from North America and Europe talked about becoming increasingly hated and unwanted, while ambassadors from Asia and Africa talked more optimistically about new opportunities. (Haaretz)

Please pray for the Israeli diplomats as they serve in as Israel’s representatives in other countries.

Israeli Population Rises 1.8%

Israel’s population currently stands at 7.8 million people, having risen 1.8% in the past year, a rate comparable to other years. Last year 166,800 new babies were born and 17,500 new immigrants arrived. Of the total population, 5.9 million are Jewish Israelis and 1.6 million are Arab citizens of Israel. (Haaretz)

Please pray for all the people of Israel – the new babies, the elderly, the Arabs, the Jews, and everyone else in the Land – to come to know Messiah!

A Change in Hamas?

Could it be that Hamas’ focus has changed? In 2008 and at the height of Operation Cast Lead, Hamas sent dozens of missiles into Israel’s civilian population centers. Today, missiles are still being launched, but not as many. Instead, Hamas and Fatah have been focused on mobilizing people in mass demonstrations for the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital. (Haaretz)

Please pray for members of Hamas and Fatah to cease their violent attacks on Israel completely. Pray also for a peaceful and just solution to the issue of a Palestinian state.

Chosen People Ministries Worker Starts Bible Study While in Hospital

A few months ago, staff worker Neriyah A. was hospitalized with a very serious kidney complication. While recovering, he talked to doctors, nurses, and other patients about spiritual matters – and even started a daily Bible study which has continued after his release from the hospital!

Praise the Lord for the witnessing opportunities Neriyah had through his illness, and pray that the folks attending the Bible study will grow spiritually.

Israel Faces Water Shortage

The Sea of Galilee is still 70 centimeters below the danger line and 4.9 meters below its maximum capacity – this means that Israel is short about 2 billion cubic meters of water. Although November’s rain was more than adequate, forecasters expect this winter’s rainfall to be lower than average. Israel is planning to build an additional desalination plant, which would help meet its own water needs as well as enable the exportation of water to its neighbors. (Ynet)

Please pray for abundant rains to fall in Israel during the winter months.

Hit and Run Driver Fined in France

In September, a French citizen driving in Tel Aviv hit a 25-year-old woman and left her for dead. The penalty for a hit-and-run accident in Israel is 10 years in prison. He immediately drove to the airport and returned to France before he could be arrested by Israeli police. Recently, he was arrested in France for driving 156 km/h, but was freed after paying a fine. It is a challenging situation, as there are already diplomatic tensions between Israel and France over the Middle East process. (JPost)

Please pray that proper justice would be served, and for the Lord to comfort the family of the woman who was killed.

Every child in Israel eagerly awaits Hanukkah—and so do adults! How can anyone pass up a sufganiah—a soft, warm, jelly-filled donut? These donuts, traditional Hanukkah treats, are fried in oil in remembrance of how the Lord provided enough consecrated oil to keep the light shining in the Temple after it was recaptured from our enemies.

If you stroll down the streets in Israel during the Hanukkah season, you’ll see a hanukkiah—a nine-branched candelabra—in the window of virtually every house. These sparks of light, shining during the darkest time of the year, remind everyone of the miracle that took place in the Temple.

Although the Temple is no longer standing, Israelis (and Jews around the world) light the hanukkiah to remember its importance. The glowing candles are a symbol of freedom and protection from the foes that threatened the Jewish people. Nowadays, beset by physical threats from neighboring countries and biased attacks from the global media, Israelis sense a special kinship with the freedom fighters of old.

Shalom from beautiful, sparkling, New York City! I don’t know about you, but the Hanukkah-Christmas season is my favorite time of year. For these few weeks, even the most Orthodox Jewish New Yorker or the most secular non-believer of any background cannot help but notice Jesus. You cannot walk down the street or shop at a department store without hearing Christmas carols. In fact, the Hanukkah-Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year to intensify our evangelistic efforts to help refocus peoples’ eyes and hearts on the One who is undoubtedly God’s greatest and most generous gift to mankind.

For years, I’ve tried to persuade my Jewish family and friends that Christmas is a Jewish holiday at its very core. After all, this holiday was created to celebrate the birthday of the Jewish Messiah. By the same token, I’ve also tried to help my Christian friends understand how Hanukkah, a wonderful holiday in its own right, is “joined at the hip” with Christmas!