This past summer, waiting in a check-in line before a flight home to Israel from Los Angeles, a gentleman behind me began a conversation with me.
A fireman from the state of Utah, he was heading back to northern Israel as a volunteer to fight forest and building fires caused by the constant shelling from Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon. He had been to Israel multiple times since October 7, 2023, sacrificing his own career and family life in order to help.
He was a committed Christian with a great love for Israel. I was moved by his visible testimony of action. Bible-believing Christians have been among the most supportive friends of the Jewish people in the past year.
Demonstrating peacefully: Stand with Israel!
Many Christians have written us asking how they can help Israel. Some practical ideas:
1. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for the safety of the residents of Israel. Your prayers help. There are many stories of miracles of survival while rockets fell.
2. Give to help those in need. Your gifts are lifesavers. Military victories obscure the material needs of the tens of thousands of Israelis who have become refugees, who fled their villages, losing their homes, farms and businesses, and are living in temporary shelters until it is safe to return to whatever remains.
3. Share about Israel with family and friends, neighbors and colleagues. Our reports are replete with facts not being published by the news media.
4. Advocate in Israel’s defense by demanding balanced reporting by the influential news media. The enemies of Israel are extremely well-organized in campaigning for reporting that condemns Israel. If the news media do not hear from pro-Israel viewers, readers and listeners, they will be disinclined to report fairly about Israel.
5. Inform politicians and government agencies that you stand with Israel and expect elected and unelected officials to oppose funding terrorism against Israel’s civilian population, and to prevent racist anti-Semitic protests at home.
6. Participate in demonstrations for Israel. Be a peaceful witness on Israel’s side. There were many in 2023, but there are far fewer as the war wears on. Meanwhile, violent anti-Jewish protests continue worldwide weekly.
7. Encourage Jews and Israelis you have contact with. Words of comfort and support are a salve to a nation and people that often feels alone, surrounded by enemies across the Middle East and at the United Nations, and condemned by international protests, vicious and misleading media reports, and political vilification.
8. Volunteer to help in person. (Inquire via a local Israeli embassy or consulate.) Until October 7, 2023, tens of thousands of Palestinian-Arabs from Gaza and Judea-Samaria (the West Bank) worked on Israeli farms and kibbutzim cultivating and harvesting grain crops, fruits and vegetables. They also worked on construction sites and in numerous trades jobs. That’s over now. Crops still need to be maintained, but the number of volunteers is still few.
You can be a great blessing to Israel, your elder brother, and will yourself be blessed. Love God’s Word, but love His people, too.
Someone may react, “I’m afraid to speak up.” That is an understandable fear. I must ask, however, what is the price of remaining silent?
I received an answer on November 11 last year from a family friend in Zurich. She sent a number of WhatsApp messages to my phone:
“I’m on the way home. The tram was stopped. We’re stuck in a huge [anti-Israel] demonstration.”
Eighteen minutes later, “God help us, now they’re shaking the tram car.”
Three minutes pass: “The conductor said it’s not over yet. The police came with water cannons near the Paradeplatz on Bahnhofstrasse. I’m terrified from all this.”
And 25 minutes later: “I’m in a taxi going home. What a scare.”
This is a foretaste of what is to come. The streets are teeming with enraged masses. The police are afraid to engage. It starts with: “Death to the Jews” and “Death to the hostages.” Doing nothing has a price. There is a Muslim saying, “After Saturday comes Sunday.” Some of us may be too old to raise a sign saying, “I stand with Israel,” but think of the world we will leave for our children and grandchildren.
With your generous help, we continue to support soup kitchens and relief centers in Jerusalem, Rishon LeZion and Haifa, and many individual cases where food, medical or shelter needs exist.
When a dinner guest told me recently that 12 of his grandchildren were fighting in the Israeli army, it was heartbreaking. The daily dangers are enormous. Most Israeli families are affected. My own daughter begins her service in a few months. Two sons have completed theirs. A nephew will be recruited next year. In Jerusalem we have been spared the fighting, but we hear the fighter jets constantly.
None of this compares with what the hundred hostages have endured for well over a year. How many are even alive? Meanwhile, Israel is fighting for its survival on eight fronts.
Tens of thousands of Israelis have had their homes and livelihoods devastated. We have been involved in helping with verified cases. If you are able to help us to help others, we will be deeply grateful. All the more so at this gift-giving season. We wish our Christian readers a very joyous Christmas and our Jewish readers a happy Chanukkah. May all be blessed.