In Amsterdam on December 17, 2025, two thousand Dutch Christians and Jews proclaimed publicly that they stand with Israel.
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A miracle took place on October 8, 2023.
A nation came together in unity and thwarted the plans of a savage enemy. All the blather about Israeli divisiveness–the Left vs the Right, religious Jews vs. secular Jews, Ashkenazi (European) Jews vs. Sephardi (Oriental) Jews–was rendered void.
When the army called up 300,000 reserves, 325,000 showed up. Israelis around the world raced home to their units. Pensioners showed up to assist. Over 3,000 ultra-Orthodox Hareidi Jews even enlisted voluntarily.
Civilians organized massive soup kitchens for refugees from the Gaza-border communities that had been attacked, and for the soldiers. Hotels provided housing. Jews and Christians worldwide sponsored aid distribution programs generously.
The world was made to witness as the saber-rattling enemies of Israel–Hamas, Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad the Houthis and Iran–experienced humiliating defeats. The Prophet Ezekiel foresaw it precisely: “Therefore, thus says the Lord God; I have lifted up My hand. Surely the nations that surround you, they shall bear their shame” (Ezek. 36:7).
Omer Shem Tov, 23, was kept in isolation in a pitch-black tunnel in Gaza for 505 days. His usual daily ration was a biscuit and salty water.
Though not religious, at some point he received a card with Hebrew writing. It was Psalm 20. He was touched by verse 7 [8]: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.” He says: “I didn’t know it then, but while I was whispering those words in Gaza, my mother was reciting the same Psalm in my bedroom in Israel, praying for my return. The Psalm continues, ‘Lord…answer us when we call’ (v. 9 [10]). God answered us. In those tunnels, I found God and He saved me.”
Similar stories of secular Jews beginning to pray and attend synagogue abound across Israel. There is faith in the future too: The birth rate has increased, three to four children per family, even among the secular population.
Matan Zangauker, 26, was imprisoned in Gaza for 738 days. Ilana Gritzewsky, 31, was held for 55 days. They were abused, tortured and starved. Neither knew if the other was alive. After their release, they were reunited. On December 28, 2025, they were engaged.
Israel continues to stand watch on its own borders but protects others also. The Druze community in Sweida, Syria, was attacked in July 2025 by Sunni Bedouins and subsequently by Syrian government troops. Hundreds of Druze were executed, 33 villages were burned, and 180,000 civilians became refugees. Ultimately, Israel intervened.
Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, spiritual leader of the community, said: “Israel was the only country in the world that intervened militarily and saved us from genocide as it was happening. That was done through airstrikes that truly stopped the massacre.”
More good news: Though in a state of war, a thousand doctors have immigrated to Israel in the last two years.
Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva and three universities were damaged by missiles during the war. Decades of cancer research were lost, but medical and other scientific research have continued despite the physical setbacks.
In other good news:
Christians have a voice that should be raised against the antisemitic throngs. In Amsterdam, two thousand Dutch Christians and Jews raised theirs on December 17, 2025, to proclaim publicly that they stand with Israel.