Shalom friends,

As this newsletter comes out only three or four times a year, it is very hard for me to report on the current issues surrounding Israel which tend to change so quickly today. What I try to concentrate on in this newsletter is some of the background information so that you can better understand why Israel is so often under global attack. To keep up with current issues, if you have not already done so, please sign up for Intercessors for Israel's Friday Prayer Alerts where we share Israel's prayer needs both now and for the foreseeable future.

Do you "listen to Moses"?

Is it possible for someone to genuinely trust in and know that Yeshua is the One who saves and sanctifies and guards and leads if they do not really believe in Moses and the prophets of the Tanach [Old Testament]? I ask this based on various statements and questions from Messiah Yeshua Himself.

If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, even though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:31); Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures, which when He said this, was just the Tanach, the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:27); [Yeshua] said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. (Luke 24:44); For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how can you believe My words? (John 5:46-47)

While we definitely can be saved without knowing most of the Tanach or the New Testament teachings, as salvation is a total work of God's grace impacting our lives which then influences us to repent and read and learn the Bible, yet to grow in the Lord and come to an understanding of who Messiah truly is and why He had to be – and still is – Jewish (Gen. 12:3b, cp. Gal. 3:8; Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Rev. 5:5; 22:16), and why He was circumcised (Gen. 17:7-14; Luke 2:21), or why He had to shed His blood in order to atone for our sins (Lev. 17:11; Matt. 20:28; 26:28; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22; Rev. 1:5), and how He is destined to sit on David's throne (2 Sam. 7:12-13; Isa. 9:7; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 2:30; Heb. 1:8). All of this foundational theology, and so much more, requires a believer to believe and trust in the Tanach.

Beware of being just a "New Testament believer" as neither Yeshua nor His disciples or any of the writers of the New Testament were that. Be a Bible believer who can bring much glory to our great God and Savior.

End-time prophecies seem to be lining up

I write this knowing that the time of His return, or where we are on God's end-time calendar, is something that neither I nor anyone else knows precisely. Yet while we do not know the day or the hour (Matt. 24:36; 25:13), we are supposed to know the times and the seasons (1 Thess. 5:1). So here are a few prophecies that seem to be coming into focus and, as should be apparent to those who know their Bible, most of them center on Israel.

The nations are increasingly coming against Jerusalem as its government and people desire to walk in a way that is closer to God's revealed will than it is to the humanistic spirit of the rest of the world. Yet we need to pay attention to the revelation that it is God Himself who is making Jerusalem a cup of trembling to the rest of the nations (Zech. 12:1-3).

The nation of Israel has already been raised up from the graves of the Holocaust (Ezek. 37:1-9), in which most Jews thought their hope was lost and as a nation, they were dead (Ezek. 37:11). Today, out from those graves, God has created the IDF which is truly an exceedingly great army (Ezek. 37:10).

Most Western nations have lost all sense of their national identity and the focus of major end-time events has moved slowly but surely to the Middle East. For example, there has been the recent renewal of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia which was orchestrated by China. Also, as America withdraws its influence from the Middle East, more of the Sunni Arab nations are trying to make peace with Iran and are looking to both Russia and China as allies. All of this might be a set-up for at least a partial fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39, Gog and Magog, coming against Israel.

We are also seeing wars, famines, massive floods and huge earthquakes in increasing numbers and intensities throughout the world (Matt. 24:6-7), and because of the internet we are aware of them faster and in more detail than at any other time in history. All this could contribute to a rise in heart attacks because of fear (Luke 21:26).

There is also an increase of deceptions both inside and outside of the Body of Messiah, and a severe lack of love among many in today's world who despise those who hold opposing views (Matt. 24:4-5, 11-12; 23-24)

Persecution against believers has also increased throughout the world, including in the West, although in places like Africa, China, and Iran, that persecution often leads to death (Matt. 24:9). Yet in those nations, the Church is growing tremendously (Ex. 1:12; Acts 12:24; 19:20).

Anti-Semitism has also increased greatly, in particular in the West (Psa. 25:199; 109:3, 5). Along with this is an increase of a visceral hatred of Israel, the Jewish State (Ezek. 25:15; 35:5, 11; Isaiah 60:12; Zech. 12:9).

This increase in Jew-hatred has contributed to an increase of Jews coming home. And while we see the hand of God behind this (Jer. 16:16; 31:10), that will in no way mitigate the curses that He has promised to bring on all those who curse both the Jews (Gen. 12:3a) and the Jewish nation (Num. 24:9b).

Also, as expected, the closer we get to the Lord Yeshua's return, the more people will come into the Kingdom of His Son (Col. 1:13), and we are hearing of a definite increase of both Jews and Muslims coming to salvation, including in the Middle East, today (Matt. 24:14).

UN = UN-able to stand against terror; UN-redeemably anti-Israel

There is no doubt that at some point soon Israel will either quit being part of the UN or will be forced out. This will fulfill Balaam's prophecy of Israel being a nation that dwells apart, separated from all other nations (Num. 23:9b; cp. Ex. 33:16; Ezek. 20:32). Recent events targeting Israel at the UN all hasten this to become a reality.

The Jerusalem Post reported in late February that the UN Security Council [SC], with America's approval, "issued an uncommon consensus statement of 'dismay' and 'concern' over Israeli settlement activity…" Gilad Erdan, Israel's wonderful and courageous UN ambassador, severely criticized the statement. He also shared with the SC "stories of the 11 Israelis murdered in recent terror attacks, including two young brothers, aged six and eight, who were murdered in a car-ramming attack in Jerusalem."

During his "heated remarks," Erdan showed a picture of brothers and then dedicated "a moment of silence" in memory of the 11 victims, stating that they were all "murdered just for being Jews… Today's meeting should have been convened to condemn the price paid by innocent Israelis for the PA's incitement and hate. I will not let the victims be forgotten…I pray that you think of them in the future when discussing the true obstacles to peace in our region."

The UNSC's statement "condemned a series of recent Israeli settlement expansion announcements," all of which are in line with God's revealed will. The US convinced the other SC members to tone down the final resolution, and then shamefully agreed with what was issued: "The Security Council expresses deep concern and dismay with Israel's announcement on February 12, 2023, announcing further construction and expansion of settlements and the 'legalization' of settlement outposts," referring to the Israeli cabinet's decision to legalize nine outposts, and its approval of building of around 10,000 homes throughout Judea and Samaria.

The UNSC also criticized Israel for the demolition of Palestinians' homes even though they were illegally built and illegally paid for by the EU. "The United Arab Emirates, which normalized ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, submitted the statement on behalf of the Palestinian Authority [PA]." This is another sign that Israel will eventually be forced to stand totally alone in the midst of all the other nations in the world.

While responding, Erdan blasted the SC members for harshly judging Israel as it tries to "protect its citizens" from terrorism yet for not saying a word against "the Palestinian acts of terror" that end Jewish lives. "This meeting was once again initiated to condemn Israel, this time, for issuing building permits in already-existing communities. Building permits in our homeland sparks international uproar, while dead Jewish children illicit nothing. This is an utter disgrace."

He told the SC that PA President Abbas did not condemn the murderous attacks, "and while Palestinians were handing out candies to crowds celebrating the murder of innocent civilians [see next section below]," Abbas' PLO Fatah group's officials called the attack on a Jerusalem synagogue "an act of heroism." The SC's silence on these actions by the PA is also a "disgrace". He finished by speaking the harsh non-politically correct truth, telling the UNSC that the goal of the Palestinians' was – and is – "to prevent the existence of a Jewish State." ("Israeli Ambassador Erdan shows photos of murdered Israeli kids at UNSC," JP, 21 Feb. 2023)

Prime Minister [PM] Bibi Netanyahu also condemned the UNSC statement, saying it was "one-sided… denies the rights of Jews to live in our historic homeland, fails to mention the Palestinian terror attacks in Jerusalem… ignores the PA's grotesque pay-for-slay policy…and belittles the evil of antisemitism, which has resulted in the slaughter of millions." He added, "The statement should never have been made and the US should never have joined it." ("PM blasts US over anti-Israel Security Council statement," Israel Hayom, 21 Feb. 2023)

Palestinians rejoice over murdered Jews

Bassam Tawil, an Arab from the ME, exposed an ugly side of Palestinian society that we in Israel are aware of, yet most Westerners refuse to consider as they pressure Israel to make peace with a mostly Jew-hating people. He wrote that after the early 2023 "wave of terror attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank," Palestinians once again openly celebrated the murder of Jews in their streets, dancing, chanting slogans supportive of the terrorists and passing out sweets to passersby.

"Whether intentionally or not, the world media" refuses to cover these "celebrations," yet they did report on the Palestinians rejoicing over the murder of 1,000s of Americans after 9/11. Americans and others around the world were incensed as footage of these celebrations was broadcast. Yet for Israelis, "this revelry in response to terror has been a nightmare that they have contended with for decades."

At times, "senior officials from the ruling Fatah faction, headed by PA President Abbas," have participated in these festivities over the shedding of the blood of Jews. In late January, Abu Rumaileh, head of Fatah in Jenin, a city in Samaria, "attended a march celebrating two terror attacks in Jerusalem… He praised the 'righteous martyrs' who carried out the attacks and called for more terrorism against Israel," saying that weapons and bloodshed should be the only way Palestinians deal with Israel. Concerning the recent terror attacks, he stated, "May these attacks send [the Jews'] corpses to hell. Today, we are handing out sweets… in congratulation of our heroic martyrs." Recall, Abu Rumaileh represents Abbas' Fatah faction which is "often described by Westerners as the 'moderate' party."

In mid-February, Abbas himself "received a phone call from US Secretary of State Blinken, who reportedly promised to put pressure on Israel to halt its 'unilateral measures'. Needless to say, Blinken did not complain to Abbas about Fatah's incitement or the celebration of terror attacks by many Palestinians."

Jamal Al-Huwail, another senior Fatah member, also praised the deaths of Jews when he said several months ago that the terrorist who murdered five Israelis in the city of Bnei Brak "brought light into the hearts of the Palestinians," and he "restored the glory of Fatah, Hamas, PFLP and Islamic Jihad." That terror attack also "produced gleeful mobs of dancing Palestinians in Jenin and elsewhere," with the crowds chanting, "Millions of martyrs are marching to Jerusalem!" while hailing the terrorist as a "heroic martyr leader."

Tawil: "There are some Palestinians who simply wish to live in peace and have actively helped Israeli Jews in dangerous situations, but their voices and stories are often not heard. One such Palestinian man was 'forced to flee [the] West Bank after death threats for rescuing the children of the murdered Rabbi Miki Mark'."

Yet a majority publically dances and rejoices "over killing of innocents. What makes a human being say intentionally crushing an infant beneath the wheels of a car makes the perpetrator a 'hero'? What makes them call the car-ramming murder of 8- and 6-year-old brothers a 'heroic commando operation'? This is the result of decades of anti-Israel incitement and brainwashing by Palestinian leaders," while their financial supporters, especially Western nations who should know better, never rebuke them for this grotesque behavior.

At times Abbas "condemns an attack that has attracted sufficient international outrage to hurt the PA's image," yet his actions speak louder than his words. "In what has come to be known as 'Pay for Slay,' Abbas has been adamant about continuing to pay large benefits to the families of terrorists."

Tawil ends with an obvious conclusion: "Considering the undisguised vitriol of Fatah and the PA in support of terrorism – with both words and money – how could Israel seriously be expected to engage in any fruitful peace talks with the Palestinians?" ("Killing Jews brings light into the hearts of Palestinians," B. Tawil, Gatestone Institute, 21 Feb. 2023)

Moral idiocy in today's world

History Professor Gil Troy, writing on the "moral idiocy" running through today's world, says, "Imagine the hate required to overrun fellow humans at a bus stop. Imagine the super-sized evil required to keep accelerating when you notice six- and eight-year-old brothers standing there, innocently chatting with their dad. And imagine the perversity involved in celebrating such murders." This terrorist attack in Israel in mid-February proved once again "how deep anti-Jewish demonization has been drilled into too many Palestinian hearts, deforming their souls. Until the world acknowledges this wickedness… more such murderers will be mass-produced – with Western dollars, progressive encouragement, and, in modern Jewry's sickest trend, some Jews' validation too."

People addicted to blame Israel for every Palestinian abomination, "theorize that only desperate individuals driven by evil 'occupiers' would act so viciously." This is not new as "Jews have often been blamed for their enemies' enmity." But this Palestinian obsession with violence "reveals more about the killers than those killed." Although the world harps on a "cycle of violence," placing equal blame on both parties, in reality this is plainly "Palestinian rejectionism and anti-Semitism fueling terrorism," and it is the main stumbling block to any type of peace. Now contrast "Israel's army, which will abort legitimate missions to minimize civilian casualties, with the Palestinians' death cult, which targets kids and often blackmails the most vulnerable Palestinians into terror."

Meanwhile, most Palestinians continue to deceive "themselves that terrorism works, emboldened by ever-accumulating stacks of UN resolutions, academic treatises, 'human rights' proclamations, and student petitions – amplified by retweets and likes."

Many sane people have noted that "only intellectuals could figure out how to call themselves 'progressive' while supporting sexist, homophobic, Jew-hating, murderers. Today, 'woke' parents training their kids in self-abasement and cravenness to dodge confrontations, even in self-defense, nevertheless cheer Palestinians' killing cult. And self-proclaimed 'Social Justice Warriors' justify this most unjust movement, forgiving the Palestinian Authority and Hamas autocracies." Towards the end of his long article, Troy concludes that moral idiocy is contagious. ("Moral idiocy: Academics fuel Palestinian terror against Israel," G. Troy, JP Op-ed, 15 Feb. 2023)

There never were an Arab Palestinian people

In March, Israeli Finance Minister Bezaleel Smotrich dared to speak the truth in public and declared that the Palestinians are a fabricated people created in order to destroy the Jewish State. The response was expected: ridicule, condemnation, and labeling him a racist. Yet Rabbi Prof. Dov Fischer wrote, "Smotrich is correct… there are no Arab 'Palestinian' people and never was an Arab 'Palestine'. It all is a fraud…The dizzying repetition of that Big Lie for so many decades causes people who should know better to speak of a 'Two-State Solution'. But that very notion is illogical, absurd, and nonsensical."

What do people mean when they parrot "The Two-State Solution"? Considering America's "nightmares in purgatory-holes like Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, and Lebanon," will it in any way further US' interests to create another international terror state in the ME? "Does America really benefit by giving Hamas and Fatah terrorists' new countries of their own based on falsified history?"

If one looks at a map of the proposed state, the danger is obvious. "Gaza is on one side, and Judea-Samaria (the 'West Bank') is utterly separate. Those two regions are not one entity… Gaza is ruled by Hamas terrorists and the 'PA' is run by…Abbas and Fatah terrorists." They hate and murder each other religiously, so a "Two-State Solution" would end up being a "Three Country Quagmire."

Also, since the Palestinians have already said that their state will forbid Jews from living in it, "how exactly are 500,000 Jews going to be uprooted from their homes in Judea and Samaria," and another 325,000 more from neighborhoods in Jerusalem that the world refuses to accept as part of Israel's capital? What are the EU's plans to forcibly transfer all of these Jews from their biblical homeland? What are America's plans, or the UN's? "None of this 'Two State Solution' makes any sense once one actually thinks beyond a slogan…

"The entire 'Palestine' myth is built on one Big Lie after another. The NY Times even published an op-ed asserting that Jesus was a 'Palestinian Arab'." Yet nowhere in the Bible does one find a single Arab Muslim. "Indeed, there was no Islam until Mohammed half a millennium" after Jesus, in the Seventh Century.

The Romans renamed Israel 2,000 years ago, calling it "Palestina", and since then the term "the Land of Palestine" has been identical to the Land of Israel. Before the creation of the State of Israel, it was the Jews who lived there who "were recognized as the 'Palestinians'. There never were a 'Palestinian Arab nation; no Arabs denominated themselves 'The Palestinians'…There never was an Arab political entity called 'Palestine'."

Rabbi Fischer then issued a challenge to all who still do not understand this. "Open an Encyclopedia pre-dating '64, and look up 'Palestine'. Identify the name of any Arab Muslim whoever was the 'King of Palestine', the 'Sheikh of Palestine'," the Emperor or prime minister or President. "There never was an Arab anything called 'Palestine', no coinage, no currency, and never an Arab people by such name. Any statement otherwise is a lie and a fraud on a society that easily can be fooled when mass media decide to partner in a Big Lie."

He then dealt with the Palestinian claim that "there never was a Jewish Holy Temple on Mount Zion. Open your Jewish Bible. I Kings 6-7. Look in the Christian Bible: Matthew 21. Luke 2. John 2. Yet today's Grand Mufti of Jerusalem preaches that there never was a Jewish temple in Jerusalem," and the Holocaust-denying Abbas "likewise denies all such history. That Big Lie not only negates Judaism but also Christianity's core narrative of the life of Jesus." Yet how many Christians have bought into this Islamic lie?

Historically, "Palestine" always meant "Israel." For example, today's Jerusalem Post was called the "Palestine Post," before the Jewish State was established in 1948. "The United Jewish Appeal before 1948 was the United Palestine Appeal…Encyclopedia Britannica's entry on Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of Israel, titles him the 'Chief Rabbi of Palestine'.

"Until 1964, Arabs never undertook to establish their own 'Palestine' in either Judea-Samaria (the 'West Bank') or in Gaza," although they controlled both areas from 1948-67, when Jordan illegally occupied Judea-Samaria and Egypt illegally held Gaza. The Palestine Liberation Organization, created in 1964, aimed to "liberate" the entire area of the 16 year old Jewish State. They were not interested in the "West Bank" or "Gaza" as Arabs ruled those regions. "Rather, they defined 'Palestine' as the map of pre-1967 Israel…"

All PLO terror attacks from 1964 "until June 1967 were aimed exclusively at sites within Israeli cities. Only after Egypt, Syria, and Jordan allied for war in '67 to drive the Jews into the Mediterranean Sea and lost Judea-Samaria and Gaza" did they invent the "Palestine Myth" and only then did they want to liberate Judea, Samaria and Gaza. "Suddenly, that was 'Palestine'."

In fact the reason why the Arabs call Judea and Samaria the "West Bank" is because throughout their history, "Arabs never had any name for the region because it was not theirs. They had names for Egypt, Lebanon, but no name for Judea and Samaria…

"In the New Testament Jesus is in Samaria (Luke 17:11) and John 4:1-4 has Him going from Judea to the Galilee through Samaria." Nowhere in either the Tanach or the New Testament is this region, the "heartland of Israel," called "West Bank." Yet the Arabs call it that although all the rest of this "region is known by Biblical names: Lebanon, Tyre, Sidon, Damascus, Hebron, Bethlehem, Galilee, Beersheba, Jerusalem."

Today, "Jews, Catholics, and Protestants all have access to Biblical narratives that tell a profound truth:" that there never was an Arab nation called "Palestine," nor was there ever an Arab people called by that name until 1964. "Smotrich is correct." Even Labor Socialist Golda Meir wrote in the NY Times, "There are no Palestinian people."

Fischer goes on, "In foreseeable time, the Israeli Government will finally extend sovereignty over Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, just as it did in uniting Jerusalem and in annexing the Golan Heights. No one is going to uproot and displace nearly a million Jews from their homes in cities throughout Judea and Samaria. To remove Jews from Hebron, where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, and Leah repose? From the region where Rachel's Tomb stands? To ethnically cleanse Jews out of the regions where Isaiah, Amos, Jeremiah, Ezekiel prophesied?"

The opinions of the nations or of organizations like the UN do not matter. "That is the beauty of Israel having been the target of their one-sided, viciously unfair and biased attacks for more than 70 years: Israelis and those who support Israel throughout the world learned decades ago to tune out their endless condemnations…" And this goes for America's opinion as well. ("Of course there are no Arab 'Palestinian' people and there never was an Arab 'Palestine'." Rabbi Prof. D. Fischer, Arutz 7 Op-ed, 22 Mar.2023)

The only opinion that counts is God's and He states repeatedly that the land is His (Lev. 25:23; Ezek. 36:5; Joel 3:1-2) and He has given it to Israel for His holy name's sake (Ezek. 36:21-24, 36).

Nadav Shragai, writing in Israel Hayom about the above topic, notes that even Arab and Palestinian leaders have admitted that the Palestinians are a made-up people. Zuheir Mohsen, leader of a PLO faction, explained to the Dutch newspaper Trouw in 1977, "The Palestinian people do not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the State of Israel for our Arab unity… Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people…"

So Smotrich was absolutely right when he said. "The Palestinian People is an invention less than 100 years old," adding that if anybody is truly entitled to be called a Palestinian, it "would be his grandfather, a 13th generation resident of Jerusalem," as well as many other grandfathers and grandmothers who have lived in the land for centuries. Today's Palestinians migrated to Israel "en masse in the late 19th century and throughout the years of the British Mandate," and refused to be called Palestinians as they saw the land as part of Greater Syria.

"Anthony Smith, the renowned sociologist and Professor of Nationalism and Ethnicity at the London School of Economics, once distinguished between two types of national identity. The first type includes nations with a core identity based on culture and history, and the second – nations without any such nucleus that are required to invent everything from nothing." The Jews belong to the 1st type; the Palestinians to the 2nd.

The 19th century British statesman and social reformer, Lord Shaftesbury, referring to Jews who were already returning to the land in the middle of that century, described them as "people without a land [returning] to a land without a people." ("Palestinian nationhood? What does that mean?" N. Shragai, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 28 Mar. 2023)

Good news from Iran

These excerpts from an article by Karmel Melamed, writing for the Jewish News Syndicate, shines a light on the hope of an excellent future of Iranian-Israeli relations. "Some 30 years ago, Homayoun and his classmates at his Tehran school stood daily before class and, following directions from teachers, chanted loudly, 'Death to America!' and 'Death to Israel!'" At that time, Homayoun – an alias to protect his identity – did not even know where to find "either county on a map," and he had no clue as to why he was being taught "to hate them." He still lives and works in Tehran today and is one of several Persian-speakers who communicated with JNS anonymously since Iran forbids its citizens from having any contact with foreign news outlets.

Melamed continued, "Not only does he not hate Israel, but he is in near daily contact on social media with many Israelis he calls friends." He is not alone as in recent years many young Iranians maintain secret contact with Israelis via social media.

J. Brodsky, policy director of the nonprofit United against Nuclear Iran, told JNS, "There was a long history of warm relations between both peoples before the [1979] Islamic Revolution… What we see now are both Israelis and Iranians reaching out to develop common understandings to bypass the Iranian system's dangerously warped ideology."

A. Batebi, an Iranian American activist and journalist, told JNS that these type of contacts between Iranians in Iran and Israelis began between 10 and 12 years ago "when social-media platforms first became popular in Iran. Curiosity and a desire for accurate information have driven many Iranians to connect with Israelis…When social media came along," negative Iranian government propaganda about Israel "came crumbling down for millions of Iranians, who could see for themselves how terrorists like Hamas attacked innocent Israelis for no reason…" Also, many Iranians directly communicated with Israelis and received friendly feedback.

R. Parchizadeh, another Iranian American activist and editor at Al Arabiya, added, "A younger generation is leading a revolution that defies Islamist and nationalist authority." They have "been raised on Western music, computer games and movies," and connect with each other and the rest of the world through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram." They no longer view "the world through the morbid mindset of the mullahs and belligerent attitude" of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the brutal branch of the Iran Armed Forces whose loyalty is to the ruling Shi'ite Ayatollahs and not to the nation.

"Iran experts said widespread protests in Iran in recent years, and the full-blown revolution that erupted there six months ago, has increased social-media conversation between young people in Iran and Israelis, as the latter has been voicing strong support of freedom for Iranians."

According to Homayoun, "Discussions about Israel are everywhere, especially on social media. People also talk in person whenever the issue arises among friends that they know…We are careful because being in contact with anyone from Israel is still dangerous." The regime often accuses people it doesn't like of working for Israel's spy-agency Mossad, so Iranians must be very careful when it comes to talking with others.

Ali, a young man in Tehran, said that "Israelis' overwhelming support for Iranians protesting for freedom has intensified Iranians' desire to express their friendship with Israelis on social media." He noted that many Iranians now understand "that they do not have better friends and allies than the people of Israel in the region," and despite the dangers, they send out "messages of peace and friendship to the people of Israel."

Hasan, another young Tehran resident, said, "Average Iranians know the regime has its cyber-police who may be monitoring their online activity, but it has gotten to the point where we don't give a damn anymore because our lives are already miserable with the lack of food, lack of economic opportunities and lack of freedoms. So we communicate with Israelis. Big deal! They're the only ones in the world supporting us right now in our struggle against this brutal regime, not the Americans, not the French, not the Palestinians… We will take the Israeli friendship and never forget it."

Emily Schrader, a prominent Israeli activist who has regular contacts "with Iranians on social media" in both English and Persian, told JNS, "It's heartwarming to see there are millions of people who understand the very real threat of Iran-backed terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, which threaten us in Israel on a daily basis. It's something that's difficult to explain to the West, but sadly, the people of Iran understand exactly what's happening because the Islamic regime is responsible."

Ben Sabti, a researcher on Iranian social networks at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, and a founder of the IDF's Persian spokesperson's office, expressed surprise at the boldness of young Iranians he often interacts with on social media, saying. "This did not exist when I was a teenager in Iran, and everyone was afraid of the regime and afraid to have contact with the West and Israel."

Iranian American activists are sure that "there will be strong business and social ties between Iranians and Israelis after the current Islamic regime loses power. Batebi said, "We Iranians have an ancient friendship with the Jewish people, and I have no doubt" that once the current regime is gone, "you will see an unbelievable alliance between Iran and Israel formed because both nations' people have formed their new friendships." (Young Iranians increasingly emboldened to talk with Israelis on social media," K. Melamed, Jewish News Syndicate, 11 Apr. 2023)

Messianic meditations on the New Testament [NT]

Here are a few insights the Lord has shown me concerning the Tanach foundations for the New Testament. The brackets contain other valid meanings of the original NT Greek.

Making the Word of God of none effect [+ invalidated, disannulled, deprived of force, of authority] through your tradition, which you have handed down, and many similar things that you do.Mark 7:13

Yeshua had problems with man's tradition only when it invalidated God's Word, specifically the Tanach, as that was the only Word of God He was referring to at that time. Of course, this begs the question of whether the church today has "traditions" – some of which have morphed into doctrines – that invalidate the Tanach. For example, replacement theology, denying Yeshua is Yahweh the Son, insisting that Jewish believers must celebrate "Christian" holidays and should not celebrate the feasts of the Lord, or rejecting that Israel's current restoration is that which was spoken of by the prophets.

[Yeshua answered the Sadducees], 'Do you not through this go astray [+ are deceived, seduced], because you do not know the Scriptures [in context, the Tanach], or the power of God?Mark 12:24

Today, we see many believers begging God for His power, yet without a foundation in the Tanach they can – and often do – go astray into deception. After all, 75% of God's revelation of Himself is found in that portion of the Word before Matthew that was treasured and studied by Yeshua and the early believers. Unless spiritual power – like signs and wonders – line up with His Word and His nature, they could be those lying signs and wonders of which we were warned would manifest themselves in these last days (2 Thess. 2:9).

No man has seen God at any time (Ex. 33:20; Deut. 4:12); the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared [+ revealed] Him.John 1:18

This verse reveals that every time we read of a theophany – an appearance of God in the Tanach – it must of necessity be the pre-incarnate God the Son revealing the Father. It was God the Son who walked with Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:8); who fellowshipped with Abraham near Hebron (Gen. 18:1-33), who talked with Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex. 32:7; Num. 12:7-8; plus many other verses), who was seen by Isaiah in the prophet's vision of the Lord on His heavenly throne (Isa. 6:1-5; cp. John 12:41), and every other time someone had a Divine encounter in the Tanach, it was, and in fact still is, God the Son, whom we now know as Yeshua, our Messiah and Lord (John 14:6; Eph. 2:18).

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.John 3:17

By my personal count Yeshua states 42 times in John's gospel that the Father sent Him. Now look up the following Tanach verses to see why He was so insistent on emphasizing this truth: Isaiah 48:16; 61:1; Ezekiel 2:3-4; Zechariah 2:8, 11; 4:9. Also, the Zechariah references make it very clear that Yeshua was proclaiming His deity as Yahweh of Hosts when He said this!

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe My words?John 5:45-47

While I covered this verse in the opening section of this newsletter, I want to say again that this saying by Yeshua confronts all who think, "I'm a New Testament believer. I don't need the Old Testament anymore," with a simple truth. If you do not believe all that Moses wrote is still valid, then how can you possibly believe what Yeshua says about Himself? God's Word is settled in heaven forever (Psa. 119:89), and of course, when Psalm 119 was written there was no New Testament.

Sanctify [+ purify; separate] them by Your truth: Your Word is truth.John 17:17

Once again, when Yeshua prayed this, there was no New Testament. So the Tanach is still needed to show us how to walk in truth, and by doing that it aids us to be holy, to be separated from the world and to be separated unto the Lord God of Israel.

The truth is so obscured in these times and the lie is so established,
that unless you love the truth you cannot recognize it. Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662

Chuck Cohen

Jerusalem, Israel