maozisrael's Blog

Whew! The holidays are finally over! We had 4 holidays clumped together in a month's span of time. All with different purposes and meanings, and I hope you have enjoyed our "shots from Israel" on how we celebrate our festivities. There is just one more video for you to enjoy: Sukkot -- It is one of the feasts of the Lord and one of the most important of the Jewish Holidays. Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Booths, this appointed Festival is a time to remember when the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, and living temporary dwellings after they left Egypt. In commemoration of this event, people, religious or not, gather with family and friends to enjoy the many exciting aspects of the holiday. enjoy! nili http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cok_4N1ZbqY

Just imagine in your country that God calls a fast, and because of this, the whole country stops No cars are allowed to drive Nothing is allowed to play on the TV or radio stations All the stores are closed And everybody comes out that night on the streets after prayers in the Synagogue and enjoys a huge block party with kid's riding bikes, skateboards, or inline skating. This is Israel and the Holiday is Yom Kippur. Thousands of years ago, God created a commandment that we as a nation observe a day of fasting for the atonement of our sins. To this day, Jews around the world observe this commandment. But to see how it is done in Israel is amazing. Because there were no cars allowed, I had to walk from Hod Hasharon to Kfar Saba, 15 min by car, or 1 hour by foot. Not once did I walk on the side walk, only on the street with thousands of other residents who enjoyed the peace and quiet of no horns honking or car fumes. Instead, kids enjoyed their newly acquired bikes, and battery operated mini-cars. I was amazed as I walked on main street Kfar Saba and saw what appeared as all the inhabitants of that booming city out on the street by the thousands. It looked exactly like Times Square in anticipation of the dropping of the ball on New Year's Eve! I marveled standing in the middle of what usually is the busiest intersection in the city and seeing the sea of people on every side. The stoplights ignored, and the voices enjoying the ever so quiet moment. I used to live in the vast expanses of Tucson, Arizona. Where the country promised quiet with an occasional bird singing. But Tucson's quietness paled in comparison to this night, and the next day. It was as if a day of reverence was even honored in the voices along the street. No cell phones ring, no bars open, no one shopping to get the "Yom Kippur Sales", for the stores are all closed. What a change of pace to holidays spent in the states. I guess you can call it one of those "on location" things. For you really have to be here to see it!

The Future of Jerusalem-United or Divided? Hi Friends, As an American, and as an Israeli who is a Messianic Jewish Believer, I wanted to see exactly what was "at stake" with the "settlements" and the "peace process". So with my colleague, we went to the places themselves, and took a video to show the cities that are on the "chopping block". The day that we were filming, there was a convention happening in Bethlehem of Fatah, I have included in the film their "statement of faith" that they concluded with at the end of the convention. (this past Saturday). Please take 5 min and watch this video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAQwB7K0Sh8 In His care, nili

It amazes me that the "leader of the free world" is "intensively engaged" in stopping the building of Jewish settlements as his number one goal, yet, with respect to the riots and uprisings in Iran, he "respects the sovereignty of Iran and is not interfering with Iran's affairs. It is enough that Israel is doing everything it can to defend itself against the threats of its neighbors. But to add insult to injury, now it has to defend itself against its closest ally. You would think that friends would stick up for one another. As Prime Minister Netanyahu pointed out in his speech to the world, the natural growth of the "settlements" in Judea and Samaria (aka settlements) is something that not only cannot be stopped or prevented, but it is not the issue. It will NOT bring "peace in the Middle East". Before a modern Israeli soldier ever stepped foot in Judea or Samaria, even before Israel became a nation; the Arab nations made their intent known: To destroy or annihilate the Jewish Nation. "To drive them into the sea". Five times, since the statehood of Israel, they tried, and five times God and the nation of Israel prevailed. Instead, Israel, (like" Horton hears a Who") has said to the world that Iran is tragically close to completing an atomic bomb. And nobody listens nobody pays attention to the gravity of this issue. Their "democratically elected" President has stated over and over again his intent to completely annihilate Israel. President Obama, in his hopes to "make friends" with a sworn enemy of both Israel and the United States is more concerned with how he (the leader of the free world) looks to Iran, than to his "close friend" Israel. It appears that Obama is more concerned and making every effort to stop houses being built in a small, yet strategically significant country (and closest friend) than he is to the viable threats of a politically unstable country that is funding Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel's sworn enemies. In spite of all this, God is in control! Even though nobody ever mentions it, it was God who caused Israel to prevail on EVERY battle raged against its people these last 61 years. Our state was not created because of the Holocaust. It was not founded because our ancestors came here thousands of years ago, and simply because, as was written in the song, "Exodus", God gave us this land. No President, no country, no regime will change God and His plans and purposes here on earth. For more information, sign up for our newsletter; http://www.maozisrael.org/site/News2?abbr=maoz_&page=NewsArticle&id=7257#1

Dear fellow group members and friends, I wanted to show you first, my new video that has so much relevance to today and what is currently going on. Every day, here in Israel, we are constantly bombarded with inaccurate news of what the world thinks about us. We see how, what appear to us, the rest of the world views us as war loving radicals who have no regard for our cousins who surround us by the millions, and we know that it is not true. We wonder how we are held to treaties forced upon us for the past 60 years, and yet, no other country surrounding us or "caring for us" are held to their "promises". We are a kind, loving people who want peace, pray for peace, and seek peace sometimes at all costs. We, at Maoz, believe with all our heart that there is no other "roadmap to peace" except through the love of the Savior, God's Son, Jesus Christ (Yeshua). This video proves that it is possible, already happening, and can only continue to happen with your help and prayers. When Abraham was sent to this land, God told him: "And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you, I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (Genesis 12:2-3). We believe that God's word is as true today as it was thousands of years ago when He first spoke it to Abraham. Please, take a moment to watch this video, send it to your friends, if you are not already a friend of mine, then, let's be friends. Visit our website and become involved. www.maozisrael.org Here is to the true peace, Nili