Israel 365 News

Binyamin Airley: A Deeply Painful Loss

The heroic and tragic death of Binyamin Airley HY"D in Gaza over Shabbat has deeply affected the Israel365 community.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/379275/binyamin-airley-a-deeply-painful-loss/?


The PA Cancels Christmas in Bethlehem to Show Solidarity With Hamas
The main churches in Bethlehem have agreed to cancel all Christmas celebrations to show solidarity with Hamas in its war against Israel. The Palestinian Authority will permit only religious ceremonies to take place. No public displays of Christmas trees or decorations will be permitted.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/379232/the-pa-cancels-christmas-in-bethlehem-to-show-solidarity-with-hamas/?
Congressional Israel Allies Caucus Calls for Weekend of Prayer for Israel

Congressional Israel Allies Caucus Calls for Weekend of Prayer for Israel
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/379208/congressional-israel-allies-caucus-calls-for-weekend-of-prayer-for-israel/?


Oct. 7 Music Festival Massacre Death Toll Rises to 350
The death toll from Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im has been raised from 260 to 350, with officials stressing the number could rise as new information surfaces.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/379257/oct-7-music-festival-massacre-death-toll-rises-to-350/?


Timeless Courage: David and Ein Habesor
Ein Habesor, meaning ‘the Brook of Besor,’ is a community in southern Israel that demonstrated remarkable bravery and heroism on October 7.
READ MORE » https://theisraelbible.com/timeless-courage-david-and-ein-habesor/?


[WATCH] Her Daughter was Murdered in Her Own Bed - Rina Ariel

In June 108, 13-year-old Hallel Ariel was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist as she lay sleeping at home in Kiryat Arba. Her mother, Rina, was devastated by the death of her first child but chose to persevere, working to bring Israel closer to the Final Redemption.
WATCH » https://www.israel365news.com/video/her-daughter-was-murdered-in-her-own-bed-rina-ariel/?

https://www.israel365news.com/379170/idf-finds-hostage-photos-on-laptops-at-shifa-hospital/?
IDF finds hostage photos on laptops at Shifa Hospital
Hashem, the Warrior—Hashem is His name!
EXODUS
15:3(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
JNS
GAZA WAR
NOVEMBER 17, 2023
2 MIN READ
Home » IDF finds hostage photos on laptops at Shifa Hospital
Israeli forces found photos of hostages captured by Hamas on Oct. 7 during its ongoing operation in Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday.


One laptop found at the hospital had as a wallpaper a publicly available image of Pvt. Ori Megidish from before she was taken to the Gaza Strip.

Megidish was among as many as 240 people taken hostage by Hamas during the terrorist group’s cross-border invasion, which left at least 1,200 people dead and thousands wounded.

The soldier was freed by IDF special forces late last month. Though other members of her unit were also taken hostage, Megidish is believed to have been held alone.


The IDF added that its latest discovery proves a connection between Hamas activity in Shifa Hospital and the hostages, as well as “new findings” pointing towards a network of terror tunnels under the medical complex.

It says it is investigating computers and other devices that were found in the Hamas base.

Earlier on Thursday, IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus mistakenly told a BBC reporting team accompanying soldiers during their targeted raids inside the medical complex that photos and videos taken of some of the hostages after they were taken to Gaza were found on laptop computers.

“We uncovered a lot of equipment that can shed light on the current situation, hopefully also regarding the hostages,” said Conricus.

Dr. Muhammad Abu-Salamiyyah, director of Shifa, told Al Jazeera that “the IDF forces collected bodies from the hospital.”

The IDF said on Thursday that the air force’s elite Shaldag commando unit and soldiers from the 36th Armored Division continue to operate in the Shifa Hospital complex, and that the operations are “focused” as special forces carefully move from building to building, scanning each floor.


Patients and staff are still in the hospital as the soldiers operate with “discretion, patience and thoroughness,” said the IDF. “We operate with the understanding that there is much more terror infrastructure in the area of the complex that is well hidden.”

No hospital staff or soldiers have been injured during the operation, according to the military.

Troops entered Shifa overnight on Tuesday to conduct what the military said was a precision operation against Hamas, which is headquartered in a vast tunnel system underneath the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital.

IDF troops have found weapons, military technology and intelligence information in the compound.

An operational command center, weapons and technological assets were found in the hospital’s MRI building and the material is undergoing Israeli intelligence analysis, according to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the IDF spokesman.
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https://www.israel365news.com/379042/700-christian-students-join-dc-rally-to-stand-with-israel-and-confront-evil/?
Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Israel365 would like to express our deep appreciation to all of Christian friends who are standing with the Jewish people and visiting Israel at this difficult time.
A song for ascents. I turn my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come?
שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶזְרִי
Psalms 121:1 (The Israel Bible, p. 1625)
SHEER la-ma-a-LOT e-SA ay-NAI el he-ha-REEM may-A-yin ya-VO ez-REE
A Song of David at the National Mall
By Rabbi Elie Mischel
Electrifying. It’s the only word I can think of to describe the 290,000 Jews and Christians who rallied together at the National Mall in Washington DC on Tuesday, the largest pro-Israel gathering in history. The Jewish people have awakened, and millions of good Christians stand together with God’s people.

The speeches themselves were a mixed bag. A few speakers spoke powerfully, including Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was badly wounded and kidnapped by Hamas on October 7. But many of the other speeches were stiff and tepid, a poor reflection of the crowd’s intense emotion. But the music - oh, the music! Ishai Ribo, the most beloved singer in Israel today - and a religious Jew - brought the rally to life with his rousing Biblical songs. The contrast between the speeches and songs was stark.

https://theisraelbible.com/a-song-of-david-at-the-national-mall/?

Why did the speakers almost uniformly fail to inspire? And how did the musicians succeed where the speakers failed? The answer, as always, is found in the Bible.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE


"Rabbis" Call for Cease Fire
Rabbi Pesach Wolicki explains what is wrong with a ceasefire
WATCH

700 Christian Students Join DC Rally to Stand With Israel and Confront Evil
700 Christian students from across the U.S. joined the rally in Washington DC on Tuesday afternoon in support of Israel, calling for the release of the hostages and against Antisemitism.
READ MORE https://www.israel365news.com/379042/700-christian-students-join-dc-rally-to-stand-with-israel-and-confront-evil/?

https://www.israel365news.com/379042/700-christian-students-join-dc-rally-to-stand-with-israel-and-confront-evil/?
700 Christian Students Join DC Rally to Stand With Israel and Confront Evil
vil
Pray for the well-being of Yerushalayim; “May those who love you be at peace.
PSALMS122:6(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Staff Writer
CHRISTIAN ZIONISM
NOVEMBER 15, 2023
Home » 700 Christian students join DC rally to stand with Israel and confront evil
700 Christian students from across the U.S. joined the rally in Washington DC on Tuesday afternoon in support of Israel, calling for the release of the hostages and against Antisemitism. They were brought by Passages, a Christian organization that brings students to Israel to experience the roots of their faith and to build bridges of allyship and friendship with the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
“This day, evil is revealed, emanating from Gaza and provoking Israel into defending herself,” said Paul Weber, Chief Advancement Officer for Passages, during an address to the students before joining the rally. “Evil is also revealed here at home, provoking its adherents against our Jewish family and threatening God’s entire family.”

“We’re called as Christians to stand for Israel and her people worldwide, beginning, not ending, right here in our capital, Washington, D.C. And from Washington, D.C. to New York and New York to LA, from UCLA to Georgetown and Georgetown to Harvard and to the University of Illinois, and to Arizona State, to Louisiana State and to every campus in the United States of America.”

Scott Phillips, Chief Executive Officer for Passages, spoke about how he was compelled to visit and show solidarity with Israel immediately after the October 7th massacre.

“I had the opportunity to go to Israel just two weeks after Oct. 7, on a solidarity mission with Jewish friends and leaders who support the Jewish community in North America,” Phillips said. “I was so honored to represent the Christian community in the US and show my love and support for the people there. There’s so much trauma. I heard stories from people who had lost friends, neighbors. We talked to moms, dads, sisters, and brothers whose loved ones have been killed or who are awaiting word about their family members taken hostage by Hamas.”

“While there, I experienced a siren for the first time—and that includes my time living in Israel and traveling there over 50 times. In a way, I was honored to share that experience with Israelis. You don’t know what it’s like until you experience it yourself, and it gives you so much more empathy for the reality of living under those conditions. It was an awakening experience. As we gather today, my prayer for you is that you all have an awakening experience too—that stirs your heart for Israel and the Jewish people like never before.”

In the weeks leading up to the rally, the Passages team has worked to mobilize their alumni across the United States. Hundreds of alumni have attended solidarity events, delivered white roses and messages of solidarity to Jewish synagogues in their hometowns, hosted prayer vigils for the hostages on college campuses, and posted on social media to combat the rampant misinformation propaganda perpetuated by Hamas and their supporters.

“This is what I believe Passages was created for, to stand by the Jewish community and the State of Israel during such moments,” said Rivka Kidron, Co-Founder and Board Member of Passages. “The Jewish People do not feel alone, because we have dedicated and deeply committed Christian students who will stand shoulder to shoulder with us and join our cries of ‘Never Again’, ‘Bring Them Home’ and ‘Am Yisrael Chai’.”

Passages has also written an open letter signed by a coalition of administrators, professors, campus partners, and students on campuses across the United States standing united against the egregious attack on Israel and the Antisemitism that has followed, and calling for the immediate release of all those abducted on October 7th.

Luke Moon of the Philos Project said of the gathering, “Standing in friendship and solidarity with Jews, both here and in Israel is the duty of all Christians. It’s exciting to see so many come out and be part of this historic day.”

“This day, evil is revealed, emanating from Gaza and provoking Israel into defending herself,” said Paul Weber of Passages. “Evil is also revealed here at home, provoking its adherents against our Jewish family and threatening God’s entire family.”

https://www.israel365news.com/378908/gods-promises-to-israel-in-battle/?
God’s Promises to Israel in Battle
He accords great victories to His king, keeps faith with His anointed, with David and his offspring forever.
PSALMS18:51
(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Bishop Jerry L. Bowers
BISHOP JERRY L. BOWERS
OPINION
NOVEMBER 13, 2023
Home » God’s Promises to Israel in Battle
HAMAS IDF - ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCE IRAN ISRAEL PALESTINIANS PRAYER TERRORISM UNITED STATES (AMERICA)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are some of the best trained and motivated soldiers in the world, but they still need our prayers and support while engaged in this war.

I can remember as a young man going through basic training to become a U.S. Marine.
Training to be a marine is some of the hardest training in the U.S. military branches. I learned the basics such as using a rifle, learning to march with others and to work in unison. We learned battle preparation, so crucial to prevailing over an enemy, such as following orders and moving together with a mission in view. While serving on deployment aboard a ship in a foreign land, I learned the value of knowing I was supported by the home front.

“Remember when in battle looking to Hashem – Who you are fighting for.
and Who has your back.”
One of the greatest things we learned in our training is that we had support. As soldiers, we were backed up by Naval forces, Air forces, and other ground units. We learned we could count on our nation to back us up wherever we were sent to fight for freedom.

Our God (Hashem) has given special promises to defend His soldiers in Battle in the Bible. As people of faith, it is important that we look to our God (Hashem) in this hour and stand with Israel through prayer. It is by His Word that we take heart in the face of war knowing that our God will respond to the cry of prayer on behalf of His people.

Please join me in praying for Israel as Israel is fighting a ground war in Gaza. This next phase of the war is more dangerous as it involves urban warfare, fighting from street to street, building to building and even in tunnels. In addition, Israel is defending itself on three fronts. The nations and territories officially declaring war on Israel now include Gaza (Hamas), Lebanon (Hezballah) and Yemen (Houthis). Terrorists in Syria and Iraq are joining in the attacks. Terrorist camps in the so-called “West Bank” which is Judea-Samaria are attacking Israeli soldiers.

Damage at the Tze’elim Elementary School in Eilat following a drone explosion, Nov. 9, 2023. Credit: Israel Police Spokesperson’s Unit.
Hashem’s (God’s) Promises to His Soldiers.

In Psalms 18 Hashem (God) promises to protect His soldiers in battle. I am sure many are praying for the Israeli soldiers who are fighting day and night to protect and preserve their nation against evil plots to destroy it. One official speech on behalf of Hamas and the nations supporting the terrorists said that their goal is to keep fighting Israel continuously until Israel is no more. Here is what those making such plots do not understand. The Scriptures tells us that God Himself is entering the battle with His army.

How Hashem protects and empowers His soldiers Based on Psalms 18
Hashem keeps their lamps burning and He turns darkness into light which exposes their enemies who are in hiding. (Ps. 18:29).
God’s soldiers can advance against many enemy armies and scale or climb over every obstacle. In this advancement, Hashem is a shield to those soldiers who take refuge in Him. (v 30-32).
Hashem arms His soldiers with strength and keeps their way secure even against their enemy’s traps. (v 33).
Hashem takes responsibility to equip His soldiers for the battle and sustains them. (v 35,36).
Hashem promises His army that they will overtake the enemy until they are destroyed. His army will crush their enemies until they cannot rise (v 38-39).
Hashem declares He will cause your enemies to turn their backs in flight as you advance against them (v 41).
His army will defeat enemy soldiers in the streets (and below them). God will cause His army to walk over them as dust. (v 43).
Hashem promises to cause Israel to be saved from the attacks of peoples who hate or oppose them making Israel the head of nations. Even foreigners will humble themselves to help serve Israel. (v 44-45)
The End of the War is in sight (Psalm 18)

From God’s perspective, the end of the war is already seen as a great victory assured by His right arm. Here is what God says about the coming victory.

Soon the enemy will lose heart and come trembling from out of their hiding places. (v 46).
Hashem will avenge the October 7th massacre. He will subdue those who war against Israel and put them under their feet. (v 48).
Hashem will save Israel from their enemies and exalt them over violent (Hamas) men. (v 49).
Hashem gives His rulers in Israel great victories as He did King David and shows His great love to all of David’s descendants (v 51).

A Call to the Watchmen of All nations.

It is time for watchmen all over the world to lift their prayers for a speedy end to the war, and for security to be established in Israel. In this regard, we must keep praying for the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers. When possible, let them know that we are standing with them and praying for them. One of the outcomes of this war is that we are seeing who the friends of Israel are, and who are their enemies who oppose them. He who watches over Israel has said of Abraham’s descendants:

“Those who bless you will be blessed and those who curse you will be cursed. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3).

God is watching who stands with Israel and supports Israel in this time of war, and He is watching those who oppose her. I also see that God is bringing into focus Israel’s covenant biblical claims to the land of Israel, and her right to this land. May it ever be that we do not forget the promises of God made to Israel through Abraham.

On that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the great river of Egypt, and to the river Euphrates (Genesis 15:18).

Munich, Germany – October 29: Participants in a peace demonstration – pro-Israel in Munich on October 29, 2023
When the soldiers are in battle, and intercessors are praying for those in battle, we look to Hashem, “Remembering Who you are fighting for.

and Who has your back.”

PSALM 18 PRAYER FOR THE SOLDIERS IN BATTLE FOR GAZA

Application of the Scriptures

“Lord God (Hashem) in heaven, we lift our eyes unto the mountains from where our help comes from. Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:1-6).

Lord God, (Hashem) we declare with King David that you are the creator of heaven and earth and that you rule over the whole earth. We remember who we are fighting for in Gaza and who has our backs.

According to Your Word, we pray for the soldiers and those standing with Israel, who are at war on multiple fronts in Israel and on her borders. Your promises we present before the throne of grace this day, to ask for your supernatural intervention in this war.

Keep our lamps burning. Turn darkness into light as you expose the enemies who are hiding in dark places (v 29). Cause the Israeli soldiers to overcome and climb over every obstacle the enemy places before them (v 30-31). Keep their way secure even against enemy traps that have been set for them. (v 33). According to Your word, Hashem, cause Israel’s army to crush their foes so they cannot rise. (v 38-39). Cause the enemies of Israel in this war to turn their backs in flight as they flee before you. (v 41). We declare by the Word of Hashem that Israeli soldiers shall walk in victory over their enemy on the streets, and below the streets, as dust on the ground. (v 43).

Save your heritage, Israel, from the attacks of the people who hate and oppose Israel. Make them the head of the nations. Send forth foreigners who will humble themselves to help serve Israel in this hour (v 45). We agree with the Word of Hashem, “Soon the enemy will lose heart and come trembling from out of their hiding places” (v 45).


Israeli airstrike as seen from Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 25, 2023. Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90.
Hasham will avenge the October 7th massacre. He will subdue those who war against Israel and put them under Israel’s feet (v 48). Hashem will save Israel from her enemies and exalt her over violent (Hamas) men (v 49). We affirm that Hashem will give His rulers in Israel great victories, as He did King David, and show forth His great love to all of David’s descendants (v 51).

We remember “who we are fighting for in this hour and who has our backs.” It is to the Creator of heaven and earth to whom we look for our victories. And it is in Hashem’s mighty promises that we trust. Amen!

halom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

And there is hope for your future —declares Hashem: Your children shall return to their country.
וְיֵשׁ־תִּקְוָה לְאַחֲרִיתֵךְ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם
Jeremiah 31:16 (The Israel Bible)
v'-yaysh tik-VAH l'-a-kha-ree-TAYKH n'-um a-do-NAI v'-SHA-vu va-NEEM lig-vu-LAM
Do You Know What Holiday is Being Celebrated Today?
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
Today, the 29th day of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, is Sigd, a holiday unique to Beta Israel Ethiopian Jews. Celebrated 50 days after Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sigd is a Ge'ez/Amharic word meaning “prostration” or “worship”.

What exactly does this holiday commemorate and how is it celebrated?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/do-you-know-what-holiday-is-being-celebrated-today/?

Media Watchdog: Photojournalists were embedded with Oct 7 Hamas terrorists; may have had prior knowledge
nowledge
Happy is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked, or taken the path of sinners, or joined the company of the insolent;
PSALMS
1:1(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
ADAM ELIYAHU BERKOWITZ
GAZA WAR
NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Home » Media watchdog: Photojournalists were embedded with Oct 7 Hamas terrorists; may have had prior knowledge
Ethical questions are now being raised about  Gaza-based freelance photojournalists from major media who were embedded with the Hamas terrorists on October 7, documenting their horrific deeds. One media watchdog asked whether the photojournalists and their employers had foreknowledge of the attacks.
READ MORE »

Honest Reporting, a media watchdog, reported that many of the photos and reporting by major media outlets were provided by “reporters”  who were embedded with Hamas and appeared to have prior
knowledge of  the October 7 attacks.
Honest Reporting reviewed the images of the attack published by AP, CNN, The New York Times and Reuters and raised questions about at least four Gaza-based journalists credited: Hassan Eslaiah, Yousef Masoud, Ali Mahmud, and Hatem Ali.

Eslaiah, a freelancer who also works for CNN, crossed into Israel, took photos of a burning Israeli tank, and then captured infiltrators entering Kibbutz Kfar Azza. HonestReporting published screenshots of Eslaiah’s now-removed tweets standing in front of an Israeli tank that was destroyed by Hamas terrorists and its crew murdered. Eslaiah was not wearing a press vest or a helmet, and the Arabic caption of his tweet read: “Live from inside the Gaza Strip settlements.”


Honest Reporting also discovered an earlier photo of Eslaiah with Hamas leader and mastermind of the October 7 massacre, Yahya Sinwar.

CNN said in response that it “decided to suspend all ties with Hassan Eslaiah”. “We are aware of the article and photo concerning Hassan Eslaiah, a freelance photojournalist who has worked with a number of international and Israeli outlets. While we have not at this time found reason to doubt the journalistic accuracy of the work he has done for us, we have decided to suspend all ties with him.”

Honest Reporting cited several photos taken during some of the more horrific moments of the attack on Israel.

“Interestingly, the names of the photographers, which appear on other sources, have been removed from some of the photos on AP’s database,” Honest reporting noted. “Perhaps someone at the agency realized it posed serious questions regarding their journalistic ethics.”

“It is now obvious that Hamas had planned its October 7 attack on Israel for a very long time: its scale, its brutal aims and its massive documentation have been prepared for months, if not years. Everything was taken into account — the deployments, the timing, as well as the use of body cams and mobile phone videos for sharing the atrocities.

“Is it conceivable to assume that “journalists” just happened to appear early in the morning at the border without prior coordination with the terrorists? Or were they part of the plan?

“Even if they didn’t know the exact details of what was going to happen, once it unfolded did they not realize they were breaching a border? And if so, did they notify the news agencies? Some sort of communication was undoubtedly necessary — before, after or during the attack — in order to get the photos published.”

After Honest Reporting’s shocking article, a spokeswoman for the Associated Press quoted by the Daily Wire denied any advance knowledge of the attack.

“The Associated Press had no knowledge of the Oct. 7 attacks before they happened,” said Nicole Meir. “The role of the AP is to gather information on breaking news events around the world, wherever they happen, even when those events are horrific and cause mass casualties. AP uses images taken by freelancers around the world, including in Gaza.”

Honest Reporting noted that it did not make such accusations.

The New York Times made a similar denial.

“The accusation that anyone at The New York Times had advanced knowledge of the Hamas attacks or accompanied Hamas terrorists during the attacks is untrue and outrageous,” they stated. “It is reckless to make such allegations, putting our journalists on the ground in Israel and Gaza at risk. The Times has extensively covered the Oct. 7 attacks and the war with fairness, impartiality, and an abiding understanding of the complexities of the conflict.

“The advocacy group Honest Reporting has made vague allegations about several freelance photojournalists working in Gaza, including Yousef Masoud. Though Yousef was not working for The Times on the day of the attack, he has since done important work for us. There is no evidence for Honest Reporting’s insinuations. Our review of his work shows that he was doing what photojournalists always do during major news events, documenting the tragedy as it unfolded.”

The Israeli government took the Honest Reporting revelations seriously. A statement by the Prime Minister’s office read:

“Gaza-based photojournalists employed by the world’s leading news agencies who captured images of the Hamas massacre on October 7 in Gaza-border communities, and who appear to have had foreknowledge of the planned attack were accomplices in crimes against humanity; their actions were contrary to professional ethics.”

Government minister Benny Gantz, a member of the cabinet and chairman of the National Unity party, came out strongly against the journalists.

“Journalists found to have known about the massacre, and still chose to stand as idle bystanders while children were slaughtered – are no different than terrorists and should be treated as such,” Gantz tweeted

Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi sent a letter to the four news outlets calling for an investigation into the photographers’ possible “collusion with the terrorist organization Hamas-ISIS.”

“I write to you with deep concern regarding recent reports about your employees’ alleged involvement in the tragic events in southern Israel,” Karhi wrote. “It has come to our attention that certain individuals within your organization, including photographers and others, had prior knowledge of these horrific actions and may have maintained a troubling connection with the perpetrators.”

“I urgently request a thorough investigation into this matter,” Karhi wrote. “The gravity of the situation demands a swift and thorough response.”

Following the release of the report, HonestReporting’s website became the focus of a cyberattack that took it offline for several hours.

It is interesting to note that CNN and NYT, along with other major media outlets, reported that an Israeli military strike hit the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, killing 500 people. Soon after these reports were published, Israeli intelligence produced video and audio proof showing that the explosion was caused by an errant Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket fired from inside Gaza. Later images showed that the hospital Israel had reportedly destroyed was still standing. The IDF reports that up to one-third of the rockets fired from inside Gaza fall short and land inside Gazan territory.

It should be emphasized that the only source of information about the number of casualties inside Gaza is the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Despite evidence that the casualties at the hospital were caused by a PIJ rocket, no Gazan casualties have been attributed to Hamas or the PIJ by any media.

Ethical questions are being raised about Gaza-based photojournalists from major media who were embedded with the Hamas terrorists, documenting their horrific deeds. One media watchdog asked whether the photojournalists and their employers had foreknowledge of the attacks.

‘My Family is in Gaza’

Avihai Brodutch's wife Hagar and three young children, Ofri, Yuval and Uriah were taken by Hamas terrorists from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and he has had no word from them since.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/378699/my-family-is-in-gaza/?


Israel365 Holds Day of Prayer
It has been 30 days since Hamas terrorists brutally attacked Israel. This tragic milestone was recognized as Day of Prayer on Monday, November 6.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/378759/israel365-holds-day-of-prayer/?


Israel Takes Center Stage at Third Republican Debate

Questions about Israel’s war against Hamas and threats to the U.S. Jewish community dominated the first half of the third Republican presidential primary debate on Wednesday in Miami.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/378710/israel-takes-center-stage-at-third-republican-debate/?


Be Like Hannah
Most Americans, thank God, are good people. Polls show that the significant majority of Americans support Israel’s righteous war against the evil terrorist group Hamas.
READ MORE » https://theisraelbible.com/be-like-hannah/?

[WATCH] 3 Lessons We Must Learn From Kristallnacht

Founder of Israel365 Rabbi Tuly Weisz tells us the important lessons we must learn from Kristallnacht.
WATCH »
[WATCH] Hamas Leader Claims NO Civilians Were Killed On October 7th
https://www.israel365news.com/video/3-lessons-we-must-learn-from-kristallnacht/?
In an interview with the BBC, a senior Hamas leader claimed that no civilians were killed in the October 7th massacre.

WATCH » https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxOxHb9V2xg&t=3s


Bibles for Congress
Israel365 will distribute the Israel Bible to all members of congress and the senate, ensuring that all of America’s leaders have access to the word of God.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/378767/bibles-for-congress/?

Netanyahu Vows to ‘Step up’ Counterterror Ops in Judea and Samaria
The premier laid out three main goals in the area: Increasing counterterror activities, preventing the formation of a second front and cracking down on Jewish extremists.
READ MORE »https://www.israel365news.com/378715/netanyahu-vows-to-step-up-counterterror-ops-in-judea-and-samaria/?

‘Moral Cowardice’ at Columbia, Billionaire Says, Quitting Board of Business School
Jewish billionaire Henry Swieca quit the board of Columbia Business School.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/378720/moral-cowardice-at-columbia-billionaire-says-quitting-board-of-business-school/?


A Defining Moment for Christians
by Corné J. Bekker
Our potential failure as Christians to speak with moral clarity on the ancient scourge of anti-semitism, and our possible lack of courage to stand united against evil, will define our future in no lesser way.
READ MORE »https://www.israel365news.com/378728/a-defining-moment-for-christians/?

Knock Knock
by Jonathan Feldstein
thing Israel’s military does when targeting and taking out a terrorist, there’s a policy of what’s called “a knock on the roof,” where a non-lethal bomb is dropped on the roof of a building in which there is terrorist target. It may be the residence of a terrorist leader’s apartment building, or the headquarters of a terrorist military or communications network. More often than not, these people and targets are deliberately located in apartment buildings and highly populated areas, surrounded by other people who are not directly combatants, because of the terrorist policy to use their own civilians as human shields.
The purpose of the knock on the roof is to give people the opportunity to evacuate the building before it is targeted. The good part of that is that it saves lives of civilians.
https://www.israel365news.com/378734/knock-knock/?


Sanctioning Jew-Hatred Doesn’t Conflict With the First Amendment
by JNS
Nobody is repealing anyone’s First Amendment right to freedom of expression, no matter how hateful. But the right to say whatever you want—as long as it’s not a direct incitement to violence—doesn’t mean that the rest of society is obliged to treat those engaging in open antisemitism as respectable members of society. We have every right to censure or call them out for doing so. And in the wake of Oct. 7, as expressions of hatred for Jews and Jewish safety are becoming so widespread, it is more important than ever that those who are behaving in this fashion are treated in the same way society disdains neo-Nazis or avowed racists like members of the Ku Klux Klan.
https://www.israel365news.com/378704/sanctioning-jew-hatred-doesnt-conflict-with-the-first-amendment/?

[ICYMI] Israel: Almost 10,000 Rockets Fired From Gaza Since Oct. 7
Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip have fired more than 9,500 rockets at Israeli territory since Hamas launched its multi-pronged attack on the Jewish state one month ago, according to data published by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
READ MORE » [ICYMI] Israel: Almost 10,000 Rockets Fired From Gaza Since Oct. 7
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-fires-rockets-deep-into-israel-setting-off-sirens-tel-aviv-2023-11-10/#:~:text=The%20military%20said%20some%209%2C500,land%20harmlessly%20in%20open%20areas.

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Thus will I manifest My greatness and My holiness, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations. And they shall know that I am GOD.
וְהִתְגַּדִּלְתִּי וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתִּי וְנוֹדַעְתִּי לְעֵינֵי גּוֹיִם רַבִּים וְיָדְעוּ כִּי־אֲנִי יְהֹוָה
Ezekiel 38:23 (The Israel Bible, p. 1301)
v'-hit-ga-dil-TEE v'-hit-ka-dish-TEE v'-no-da-TEE l'-ay-NAY go-YIM ra-BEEM va-ya-d'-U kee a-NEE a-do-NAI
Are We Fighting the War of Gog and Magog?
By Shira Schechter
We are living in prophetic times. For close to 2,000 years, prophecies predicting the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel were but a dream. But in 1948, the Jewish homeland in the land of Israel was re-established. Israel has a thriving economy, and Jews from all four corners of the earth have returned to the land, fulfilling biblical prophecies of the return of the exiles.

The prophetic war of Gog and Magog, described in Ezekiel 38-39, has captivated the imaginations of many over the centuries. This biblically foretold battle envisions Gog from the land of Magog, and a coalition of nations, rising against Israel at a time when the Jewish people have returned from exile and are living in their land in peace and security. It predicts an immense battle that will culminate in God’s victory over the forces of Gog, followed by a worldwide acceptance of God’s supreme authority. It ends with a divine promise that God will never again hide His face from Israel and, instead, will pour His holy spirit upon His chosen nation.

The war of Gog and Magog has come to be understood as essential to the Jewish vision of the end of days, a final battle between good and evil that will usher in a period of eternal peace. As Maimonides writes, “The simple interpretation of the prophets’ words appear to imply that the war of Gog and Magog will take place at the beginning of the Messianic age.”

Is the current war between Israel and Hamas a fulfillment of biblical prophecy as well? Is it the biblically predicted war of God and Magog?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/are-we-fighting-the-war-of-gog-and-magog/?

https://www.israel365news.com/378529/a-prophecy-for-our-time-zechariah-9-and-the-gaza-war/?


Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Ashkelon shall see it and be frightened, Gaza shall tremble violently, and Ekron, at the collapse of her hopes. Kingship shall vanish from Gaza, Ashkelon shall be without inhabitants,
תֵּרֶא אַשְׁקְלוֹן וְתִירָא וְעַזָּה וְתָחִיל מְאֹד וְעֶקְרוֹן כִּי־הֹבִישׁ מֶבָּטָהּ וְאָבַד מֶלֶךְ מֵעַזָּה וְאַשְׁקְלוֹן לֹא תֵשֵׁב
Zechariah 9:5 (The Israel Bible, p. 1452)
TAY-re ASH-k'-LON v'-tee-RA v'-a-ZAH v'-ta-KHEEL me-OD v'-e-KRON kee ho-VEESH me-ba-TAH v'-a-VAD ME-lekh may-a-ZAH v'-ash-k'-LON lo tay-SHAYV
A Prophecy for Our Time: Zechariah 9 and the Gaza War
By Rabbi Elie Mischel
When seeking signs of current events in the Bible, it’s important to do so with care and humility. History is littered with exciting yet false interpretations of scripture. Nevertheless, the Bible is not a book of history, but rather an eternal book that speaks to every generation. And so we must, despite the dangers, seek to understand the tumultuous times we are living in through the lens of the Bible.

With this in mind, I believe that the 9th chapter of the Book of Zechariah was written for our generation, and specifically for this painful time.

On October 7, Hamas terrorists brutalized, raped and murdered over 1,400 Jews, the worst and most sickening massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Hamas also abducted 242 hostages, including babies, children, and elderly Holocaust survivors. Hezbollah, another radical terrorist group sponsored by Iran and based in Lebanon on Israel’s northern border, soon joined Hamas in attacking Israel. In response, Israel has launched a full scale war against Hamas in Gaza, while simultaneously engaging with Hezbollah in the north. Last week, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen joined the attack on Israel, launching missile and drone attacks at Eilat, Israel’s southernmost city.

A close study of the 9th chapter of Zechariah makes clear that this war was prophesied by Zechariah. Most significantly, studying Zechariah’s words can give us great strength during this deeply painful time.

US tells Israel: “Use smaller bombs against Hamas”
Blessed is Hashem, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for warfare;
PSALMS144:
1(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
US officials have quietly suggested ways Israel could reduce civilian casualties in its campaign to eradicate Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including using smaller munitions.

During his second Middle East visit in less than a month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday about “concrete steps that can and should be taken” to minimize civilian deaths.

Blinken didn’t go into detail about what those steps would be. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller also wouldn’t elaborate.

U.S. officials, however, speaking anonymously to The New York Times, said the methods included improving how Israel targets Hamas leadership, gathering more intelligence before launching strikes and deploying ground forces to separate civilian population centers from the terrorists.


The United States also proposed using smaller bombs to destroy Hamas’s tunnels.

About 90% of the bombs Israel dropped in the first two weeks of the war were in the 1,000 to 2,000 pound range, the Times reported, citing a senior U.S. military official. The remainder were 250-pound bombs.

Smaller bombs are better suited to Gaza’s urban environment, U.S. military officials said, according to the paper. Israel’s arsenal includes a large stockpile of the bigger bombs, which it had intended for use against heavily fortified Hezbollah positions, the Times reported.

The United States is now trying to send more of the smaller bombs to Israel in the hope that Israel will adopt them. Blinken insisted that Israel could still achieve its objectives of finishing off Hamas while accepting America’s recommendations, the Times said.

Although White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Oct. 15, just over a week after Hamas’s horrific attack on southern Israel, that the United States was not “making requests or demands of Israel with respect to its military operations,” the Biden administration has gradually increased its appeals to Israel for more humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians.

Israel initially said it would agree to let food, water and medicine into the Gaza Strip. Last week, Miller said the White House was pushing for fuel to be added to the mix, something Israel has explicitly said it would not allow, as any fuel allowed into Gaza would go to Hamas’s war machine.

The United States is also pushing Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. “We’ve gone from zero to now over 100 trucks going into Gaza through the Rafah Crossing every day,” Blinken said on Nov. 3 in Tel Aviv. “But this is still not enough.”

Blinken also urged Israel to agree to a “humanitarian pause” to allow for aid to flow and to improve the chances of recovering hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Blinken’s request. “The Prime Minister has also said clearly there will be no ceasefire, no matter how temporary, without a return of our hostages,” Eylon Levy, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, told the press on Monday.

Israel has stated its military objectives are the destruction of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as military and political entities. Terror groups can never again be allowed to control the Gaza Strip, it said.

Queried by JNS about what Netanyahu believes would be the result if the campaign fell short of its goals, Levy said the country has no choice but “to destroy Hamas’s military and civilian machine.”

“We will not go back to 6:00 a.m. on Oct. 7. We will not go back to a world in which Hamas death squads can invade our land and butcher our people at will,” Levy said, adding that Israel and the United States are in “complete lockstep” on the war’s aims.

Israel has been gaining valuable knowledge from U.S. military leaders, who led the campaign against Islamic State, he said. “Our officers have been learning from their generals about ‘Operation Inherent Resolve,’ about how the U.S. improved its own M.O. [modus operandi] between [the 2004 Battle of] Fallujah and [the 2016 Battle of] Mosul to root out ISIS terrorists,” said Levy.

While Israel opposes pausing its campaign and wants to keep up the pressure on Hamas, it isn’t opposed to humanitarian aid per se.

“We see no contradiction between increasing the flow of humanitarian aid in the south and continuing to thump Hamas in the north,” said Levy.

Israel has been urging Gaza’s civilians to move to the south of the Gaza Strip, where it has set up safe zones while it concentrates its firepower on Gaza City in the north, the seat of Hamas’s power.

The Biden administration has pushed Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip since the start of the war, which began after Hamas terrorists carried out a surprise attack on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, including women, children and the elderly, wounding about 5,300 and kidnapping some 240 more back to the Strip, where they are still held.

https://www.israel365.com/

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Because they did not meet you with food and water on your journey after you left Egypt, and because they hired Balaam son of Beor, from Pethor of Aram-Naharaim, to curse you.
עַל־דְּבַר אֲשֶׁר לֹא־קִדְּמוּ אֶתְכֶם בַּלֶּחֶם וּבַמַּיִם בַּדֶּרֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם וַאֲשֶׁר שָׂכַר עָלֶיךָ אֶת־בִּלְעָם בֶּן־בְּעוֹר מִפְּתוֹר אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם לְקַלְלֶךָּ
Deuteronomy 23:5 (The Israel Bible, p. 494)
al d'-VAR a-SHER lo ki-d'-MU et-KHEM ba-LE-khem u-va-MA-yim ba-DE-rekh b'-tzay-t'-KHEM mi-mitz-RA-yim va-a-SHER sa-KHAR a-LE-kha et bil-AM ben b'-OR mi-p'-TOR a-RAM na-ha-RA-yim l'-ka-l'-LE-kha
Cowboys for Israel?
By Rabbi Elie Mischel
This week, a photo of Americans in cowboy hats flying to volunteer in Israel went viral. Jews all over the world responded by the thousands with comments like “This means so much - we’re not alone!” and “God bless these incredible Christians!”

The cowboys flew to Israel to volunteer with HaYovel, an extraordinary Christian group based in the settlement of Har Bracha that brings Christians to Israel to volunteer and help Israeli farmers in Judea and Samaria. With so many Israeli workers currently called up to serve as reservists in the Israel Defense Forces, these Christian volunteers are needed now more than ever.

Some of you may be thinking: “I’m also pro-Israel, and I pray that Israel will soon defeat Hamas. But why would Christians from Arkansas and Texas fly to a war zone to volunteer? Isn’t it going a bit too far? Why are they doing this?”

The answer to this question is found in the Bible - and is more important than you might think.


Jewish Man Dead After ‘Altercation’ With Anti-Israel Protester in LA Area

"The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and has not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime."
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/378633/jewish-man-dead-after-altercation-with-anti-israel-protester-in-la-area/?

Gaza.



https://www.israel365.com/

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Because they did not meet you with food and water on your journey after you left Egypt, and because they hired Balaam son of Beor, from Pethor of Aram-Naharaim, to curse you.
עַל־דְּבַר אֲשֶׁר לֹא־קִדְּמוּ אֶתְכֶם בַּלֶּחֶם וּבַמַּיִם בַּדֶּרֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם וַאֲשֶׁר שָׂכַר עָלֶיךָ אֶת־בִּלְעָם בֶּן־בְּעוֹר מִפְּתוֹר אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם לְקַלְלֶךָּ
Deuteronomy 23:5 (The Israel Bible, p. 494)
al d'-VAR a-SHER lo ki-d'-MU et-KHEM ba-LE-khem u-va-MA-yim ba-DE-rekh b'-tzay-t'-KHEM mi-mitz-RA-yim va-a-SHER sa-KHAR a-LE-kha et bil-AM ben b'-OR mi-p'-TOR a-RAM na-ha-RA-yim l'-ka-l'-LE-kha
Cowboys for Israel?
By Rabbi Elie Mischel
This week, a photo of Americans in cowboy hats flying to volunteer in Israel went viral. Jews all over the world responded by the thousands with comments like “This means so much - we’re not alone!” and “God bless these incredible Christians!”

The cowboys flew to Israel to volunteer with HaYovel, an extraordinary Christian group based in the settlement of Har Bracha that brings Christians to Israel to volunteer and help Israeli farmers in Judea and Samaria. With so many Israeli workers currently called up to serve as reservists in the Israel Defense Forces, these Christian volunteers are needed now more than ever.

Some of you may be thinking: “I’m also pro-Israel, and I pray that Israel will soon defeat Hamas. But why would Christians from Arkansas and Texas fly to a war zone to volunteer? Isn’t it going a bit too far? Why are they doing this?”

The answer to this question is found in the Bible - and is more important than you might think.


Jewish Man Dead After ‘Altercation’ With Anti-Israel Protester in LA Area

"The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and has not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime."
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/378633/jewish-man-dead-after-altercation-with-anti-israel-protester-in-la-area/?


US tells Israel: “Use smaller bombs against Hamas”
Blessed is Hashem, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for warfare;
PSALMS144:
1(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
US officials have quietly suggested ways Israel could reduce civilian casualties in its campaign to eradicate Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including using smaller munitions.

During his second Middle East visit in less than a month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday about “concrete steps that can and should be taken” to minimize civilian deaths.

Blinken didn’t go into detail about what those steps would be. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller also wouldn’t elaborate.

U.S. officials, however, speaking anonymously to The New York Times, said the methods included improving how Israel targets Hamas leadership, gathering more intelligence before launching strikes and deploying ground forces to separate civilian population centers from the terrorists.


The United States also proposed using smaller bombs to destroy Hamas’s tunnels.

About 90% of the bombs Israel dropped in the first two weeks of the war were in the 1,000 to 2,000 pound range, the Times reported, citing a senior U.S. military official. The remainder were 250-pound bombs.

Smaller bombs are better suited to Gaza’s urban environment, U.S. military officials said, according to the paper. Israel’s arsenal includes a large stockpile of the bigger bombs, which it had intended for use against heavily fortified Hezbollah positions, the Times reported.

The United States is now trying to send more of the smaller bombs to Israel in the hope that Israel will adopt them. Blinken insisted that Israel could still achieve its objectives of finishing off Hamas while accepting America’s recommendations, the Times said.

Although White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Oct. 15, just over a week after Hamas’s horrific attack on southern Israel, that the United States was not “making requests or demands of Israel with respect to its military operations,” the Biden administration has gradually increased its appeals to Israel for more humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians.

Israel initially said it would agree to let food, water and medicine into the Gaza Strip. Last week, Miller said the White House was pushing for fuel to be added to the mix, something Israel has explicitly said it would not allow, as any fuel allowed into Gaza would go to Hamas’s war machine.

The United States is also pushing Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. “We’ve gone from zero to now over 100 trucks going into Gaza through the Rafah Crossing every day,” Blinken said on Nov. 3 in Tel Aviv. “But this is still not enough.”

Blinken also urged Israel to agree to a “humanitarian pause” to allow for aid to flow and to improve the chances of recovering hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Blinken’s request. “The Prime Minister has also said clearly there will be no ceasefire, no matter how temporary, without a return of our hostages,” Eylon Levy, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, told the press on Monday.

Israel has stated its military objectives are the destruction of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as military and political entities. Terror groups can never again be allowed to control the Gaza Strip, it said.

Queried by JNS about what Netanyahu believes would be the result if the campaign fell short of its goals, Levy said the country has no choice but “to destroy Hamas’s military and civilian machine.”

“We will not go back to 6:00 a.m. on Oct. 7. We will not go back to a world in which Hamas death squads can invade our land and butcher our people at will,” Levy said, adding that Israel and the United States are in “complete lockstep” on the war’s aims.

Israel has been gaining valuable knowledge from U.S. military leaders, who led the campaign against Islamic State, he said. “Our officers have been learning from their generals about ‘Operation Inherent Resolve,’ about how the U.S. improved its own M.O. [modus operandi] between [the 2004 Battle of] Fallujah and [the 2016 Battle of] Mosul to root out ISIS terrorists,” said Levy.

While Israel opposes pausing its campaign and wants to keep up the pressure on Hamas, it isn’t opposed to humanitarian aid per se.

“We see no contradiction between increasing the flow of humanitarian aid in the south and continuing to thump Hamas in the north,” said Levy.

Israel has been urging Gaza’s civilians to move to the south of the Gaza Strip, where it has set up safe zones while it concentrates its firepower on Gaza City in the north, the seat of Hamas’s power.

The Biden administration has pushed Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip since the start of the war, which began after Hamas terrorists carried out a surprise attack on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, including women, children and the elderly, wounding about 5,300 and kidnapping some 240 more back to the Strip, where they are still held.

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed over the boy or your slave; whatever Sarah tells you, do as she says, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be continued for you.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל־אַבְרָהָם אַל־יֵרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ עַל־הַנַּעַר וְעַל־אֲמָתֶךָ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר אֵלֶיךָ שָׂרָה שְׁמַע בְּקֹלָהּ כִּי בְיִצְחָק יִקָּרֵא לְךָ זָרַע
Genesis 21:12 (The Israel Bible, p. 49)
va-YO-mer e-lo-HEEM el av-ra-HAM, al yay-RAY b'-ay-NE-kha al ha-NA-ar v'-al a-ma-TE-kha, KOL a-SHER to-MAR ay-LE-kha sa-RAH, sh'-MA b'-ko-LAH, KEE v'-yitz-KHAK yi-ka-REH l'-KHA ZA-ra
Please, Listen to Sarah!
By Rabbi Elie Mischel
The Bible is not a book of history. It is a living and breathing book that speaks to us now, in this moment, just as it has spoken to us in every generation before us. It is God’s way of guiding us through these dark times.

Every Shabbat, Jews across the world read a portion of the Five Books of Moses. This past Shabbat, we read of a painful argument between Abraham and Sarah:

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, ‘making merry.’ And Sarah said to Abraham, "Drive out this handmaid and her son, for the son of this handmaid shall not inherit with my son, with Isaac." But the matter was very evil in the eyes of Abraham, concerning his son. And God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased concerning the boy and concerning your handmaid; whatever Sarah tells you, hearken to her voice, for in Isaac will be called your seed” (Genesis 21:9-12).

The commentators make clear that Ishmael, Hagar’s son, was not merely having some innocent fun. “Making merry” is a euphemism for murder - a “sport” that Muslim Arabs, the spiritual descendants of Ishmael, have perfected in the millennia since Abraham and Sarah’s time.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/please-listen-to-sarah/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Therefore, when Hashem your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that Hashem your God is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ לְ֠ךָ֠ מִכׇּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהֹוָה־אֱ֠לֹהֶ֠יךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח בְּהָנִ֣יחַ
Deuteronomy 25:19 (The Israel Bible, p. 500)
v'-ha-YAH b'-ha-NEE-akh a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha l'-KHA mi-kol O-y'-VE-kha mi-sa-VEEV ba-A-retz a-sher a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN l'-KHA na-kha-LAH l'-rish-TAH tim-KHEH et ZAY-kher a-ma-LAYK mi-TA-khat ha-sh-MA-yim LO tish-KAKH


Destroying Amalek: Timing is Everything



The ruthless assault by Hamas on October 7th exposed their true intentions to the global community. This attack stands out as the most heinous attack against Jews since the Holocaust. Such an act demonstrates that Hamas's motivations extend beyond mere territorial disputes and claims to freedom; their objective is the eradication of the Jewish people.

Drawing on insights from Maimonides, Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik, a distinguished Jewish philosopher of the 20th century, asserted that any entity expressing profound enmity towards the Jewish people, or plotting their genocide, aligns with the biblical concept of Amalek. Any nation that declares: “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation: that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (Psalms 83:5) is Amalek. Given this definition and their demonstrated animosity towards Israel, Hamas and Amalek are one.

What does the Bible have to say about Amalek?
https://theisraelbible.com/destroying-amalek-timing-is-everything/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Destroying+Amalek%3A+Timing+is+Everything&utm_campaign=I365+-+Daily+-+November+02%2C+2023

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Thus it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain and annihilated the cities where Lot dwelt, God was mindful of Abraham and removed Lot from the midst of the upheaval.
וַיְהִי בְּשַׁחֵת אֱלֹהִים אֶת־עָרֵי הַכִּכָּר וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת־אַבְרָהָם וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת־לוֹט מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה בַּהֲפֹךְ אֶת־הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר־יָשַׁב בָּהֵן לוֹט
Genesis 19:29 (The Israel Bible, p. 46)
vai-HEE b'-sha-KHAYT e-lo-HEEM et a-RAY ha-ki-KAR va-yiz-KOR e-lo-HEEM et a-vra-HAM vai-sha-LAKH et LOT mi-TOKH ha-ha-fay-KHAH ba-ha-FOKH et he-a-REEM a-SHER ya-SHAV ba-HAYN LOT
The Prayer That Saved the World
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
In last week’s column, we saw how one feature of Abraham’s life was his confusion about God’s plan. In this week’s Torah portion, Vayeira (Genesis 18:1-22:24) we encounter numerous examples of this phenomenon. One such episode is the narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah.

God told Abraham that he planned to destroy these wicked cities, which led to the longest sustained prayer in the Torah. Abraham pleaded and argued with God, trying to reverse the decree. When all was said and done, the answer to Abraham’s prayers was a resounding "No." Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.

All this begs the question. Why did God tell Abraham that He planned to destroy these cities? God knew that no prayer from Abraham was going to change His mind. What was the point of telling Abraham and causing him to pray, only to ignore his prayers?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/the-prayer-that-saved-the-world/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

There was a man from Ramathaim of the Zuphites,-a in the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
וַיְהִי אִישׁ אֶחָד מִן־הָרָמָתַיִם צוֹפִים מֵהַר אֶפְרָיִם וּשְׁמוֹ אֶלְקָנָה בֶּן־יְרֹחָם בֶּן־אֱלִיהוּא בֶּן־תֹּחוּ בֶן־צוּף אֶפְרָתִי
I Samuel 1:1 (The Israel Bible, p. 659)
vai-HEE, EESH e-KHAD min ha-ra-ma-TA-yim tzo-FEEM may-HAR ef-RA-yim, ush-MO el-ka-NAH ben y'-ro-KHAM ben e-lee-HU ben TO-khu ven TZUF ef-ra-TEE
The Lonely Man of Truth
By Rabbi Elie Mischel
As I write this essay, the people of Israel are fighting two wars. The first war is against Hamas, and the significant majority of Palestinians who support their genocidal aims. The second war is against the cloud of falsehood and moral relativism that has overtaken so much of the world. Unbelievably, pro-Hamas propagandists across the world are successfully convincing millions of people to support a terror group that committed horrific war crimes against the people of Israel – only a few weeks after they committed some of the worst atrocities in human history!

António Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, asserts that Hamas’ attacks did not happen vacuum – as if Israel is somehow responsible for Hamas’ brutal torture, rape and murder of over 1,400 men, women and children. Guterres continues to call for an immediate ceasefire to end “epic suffering” in the Gaza Strip – an appalling demand, given what Hamas perpetrated against the people of Israel. As Prime Minister Netanyahu responded, “just as the United States would not agree to a ceasefire after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, or after the terrorist attack of 9/11, Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas.”

Israel is a beacon of Godliness, truth and morality – but we are a drop in the bucket, a tiny nation surrounded by an ocean of evil. There are so many millions of antisemites across the world screaming hatred and falsehood. And there are so few of us who will stand up for truth and God’s word.

How can we possibly hope to open the world’s eyes?
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https://theisraelbible.com/the-lonely-man-of-truth/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The+Lonely+Man+of+Truth

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh: the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh with the word of the LORD
וַיֹּסֶף יְהֹוָה לְהֵרָאֹה בְשִׁלֹה כִּי־נִגְלָה יְהֹוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל בְּשִׁלוֹ בִּדְבַר יְהֹוָה
I Samuel 3:21 (The Israel Bible)
va-YO-sef a-do-NAI l'-hay-ra-OT v'-shi-LOH, kee nig-LAH a-do-NAI el sh'-mu-AYL b'-shi-LOH bid-VAR a-do-NAI
The Blind Have Learned to See
By Rabbi Elie Mischel
In a heartbeat, everything changed.

Before October 7th, Israelis could not agree on anything. Judicial reform, the possibility of peace with the Palestinians, the role of religion in Israel’s public square – everything was hotly debated.

But ever since Hamas launched its sickening and brutal attack on October 7th, slaughtering over 1,400 Jews and taking over 230 hostages, everything has changed. There is a clarity of vision in Israel, shared among every sector of the population, that I have never seen before. Though the Western world has lacked the moral vision to universally condemn Hamas and support Israel, the people of Israel themselves have awoken from their stupor. Our people finally understand the truly evil enemies who seek our destruction – and we are acting as one to destroy them.

“And on that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and out of the obscurity and out of darkness shall the eyes of the blind see” (Isaiah 29:18).

This is not the first time the people of Israel have learned to see. Like so many of the extraordinary events of our time, this has happened before: in the Book of Samuel.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/the-blind-have-learned-to-see/?

11 IDF Soldiers KIA in Gaza, Bringing Toll in Strip to 13
The Israel Defense Forces announced early Wednesday morning the deaths of nine additional soldiers in the Gaza Strip, bringing to 13 the number of troops killed in action after the losses the previous day.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/378264/11-idf-soldiers-kia-in-gaza-bringing-toll-in-strip-to-13/?


Israel Deploys Missile Boats to Red Sea After Houthi Attacks
The move follows repeated missile and drone attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. US navy is operating nearby and shot down a Houthi drone last week that was aimed at Israel.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/378242/israel-deploys-missile-boats-to-red-sea-after-houthi-attacks/?


Palestinian “Goldilocks” warns Jews: “We will drink your blood and eat your skull
My enemies speak evilly of me, “When will he die and his name perish?”
PSALMS41:6(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
GAZA WARNOVEMBER 1, 2023
2 MIN READ
Home » Palestinian “Goldilocks” warns Jews: “We will drink your blood and eat your skull
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU GAZA HAMAS IDF - ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCE ISRAEL TERRORISM
After issuing the threat, Tamimi’s Instagram account, which had almost 100,000 followers, disappeared.
Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi said this week that Palestinians will “slaughter” the Jews of Judea and Samaria, from Hebron to Jenin.
“Our message to the flocks of settlers, we are waiting for you in all the cities of the West Bank. From Hebron to Jenin, we will slaughter you, and you will say that what Hitler did to you is a joke,” said Tamimi in an instagram post on Sunday.
“We will drink your blood and eat your skull. Come on, we’re waiting for you,” she continued.
Tamimi’s account, which had almost 100,000 followers, subsequently disappeared from Instagram. It was not clear whether the account was deactivated or suspended.
Tamimi’s threat came only weeks after Hamas death squads invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people, wounding thousands more and taking more than 230 people back to the Gaza Strip as hostages.
MORE https://www.israel365news.com/378249/palestinian-goldilocks-warns-jews-we-will-drink-your-blood-and-eat-your-skull/?

Rabbi: We are in the age of Ahab before Redemption
And Hashem shall be king over all the earth; in that day there shall be one Hashem with one name.
ZECHARIAH14:9(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
GAZA WAR
OCTOBER 31, 2023
3 MIN READ
Home » Rabbi: We are in the age of Ahab before Redemption
Rabbi Yitzchok Grossman, the Chief Rabbi of Migdal HaEmek, founder and dean of Migdal Ohr educational institutions, and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel, was interviewed by Hebrew-language Channel 14 News about the war.
The newscaster opened by asking Rabbi Grossman about the strong wave of unity that has taken hold of Israel since the horrific Palestinian Hamas terrorist attack on October 7.
Rabbi Grossman responded that he had been speaking out about the division over judicial reforms that had torn Israel apart for several months prior to the war. That division has entirely disappeared in the two weeks since the Hamas attack.
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https://www.israel365news.com/378161/rabbi-we-are-in-the-age-of-ahab-before-redemption/?

Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Ashkelon shall see it and be frightened, Gaza shall tremble violently, and Ekron, at the collapse of her hopes. Kingship shall vanish from Gaza, Ashkelon shall be without inhabitants,
תֵּרֶא אַשְׁקְלוֹן וְתִירָא וְעַזָּה וְתָחִיל מְאֹד וְעֶקְרוֹן כִּי־הֹבִישׁ מֶבָּטָהּ וְאָבַד מֶלֶךְ מֵעַזָּה וְאַשְׁקְלוֹן לֹא תֵשֵׁב
Zechariah 9:5 (The Israel Bible, p. 1452)
TAY-re ASH-k'-LON v'-tee-RA v'-a-ZAH v'-ta-KHEEL me-OD v'-e-KRON kee ho-VEESH me-ba-TAH v'-a-VAD ME-lekh may-a-ZAH v'-ash-k'-LON lo tay-SHAYV
Hope Within the Darkness: Zechariah's Prophecy and its Contemporary Resonance
By Shira Schechter
The loss of 1,400 innocent lives and the abduction of at least 239 others by Hamas terrorists on October 7th has left a profound mark on our collective consciousness. It is, indeed, one of the darkest days for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Our hearts are heavy, and the pain runs deep.

In these moments of overwhelming sorrow and confusion, we often turn to ancient scriptures in order to find strength and direction. For many, the Book of Zechariah, particularly Chapter 9, offers not just comfort but perhaps an eerily prophetic insight into our contemporary situation.

The chapter contains a prophecy against several lands, including Hadrak, Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, Sidon, and crucially for our context, Gaza. Zechariah prophesies about the ultimate downfall of these territories. These verses offer a ray of hope. They foresee an end to tyranny, a promise of liberation for those unjustly imprisoned, and an assurance of divine watchfulness and intervention. Could it be that Zechariah was forecasting the scenario which is unfolding in our present day?
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https://theisraelbible.com/hope-within-the-darkness-zechariahs-prophecy-and-its-contemporary-resonance/?


FOX News Reports: Rabbi Tuly Weisz bringing together Jews and Christians to pray for Israel
FOX News published a report on Saturday focusing on the efforts of Israel365’s founder, Rabbi Tuly Weisz, describing his efforts as “waging a spiritual battle against the evil of Hamas’ terror”.
READ MORE https://www.israel365news.com/378101/fox-news-reports-rabbi-tuly-weisz-bringing-together-jews-and-christians-to-pray-for-israel/?

Israeli Forces in Gaza Free Captive IDF Soldier
Israeli ground forces freed a female Israeli soldier on Monday night held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces said.
READ MORE
https://www.israel365news.com/378118/israeli-forces-in-gaza-free-captive-idf-soldier/?

Bright Crayons in Dark Times
I pray with tears in my eyes for the final redemption, for the days when we will know no more sorrow, for the return of the souls we’ve lost during this war and all the others.
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https://www.israel365news.com/378111/bright-crayons-in-dark-times/?

IDF strikes Lebanon as rockets pummel central Israel
A time for loving and a time for hating; A time for war and a time for peace.
ECCLESIASTES3:8(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
GAZA WAR
OCTOBER 30, 2023
2 MIN READ
Home » IDF strikes Lebanon as rockets pummel central Israel
Terrorists in Lebanon fired a salvo of rockets at northern Israel on Thursday evening, setting off air raid sirens in Kiryat Shmona and the Upper Galilee region.
“Following the initial report of alerts in the northern region, about ten launches were identified that crossed from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory,” the Israel Defense Forces said.
“The IDF is attacking in Lebanese territory in response to the shooting,” added the statement.
The incident came an hour after three rockets from Lebanon hit the city of Kiryat Shmona, which has largely been evacuated due to the incessant threat from Lebanon.
One rocket hit an abandoned apartment building, causing a fire, Army Radio reported.
The Al-Fajr Forces, an affiliate of the Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, took responsibility for the attack, Hebrew media reported. In addition, Hamas in Lebanon took responsibility for firing rockets towards the area of Nahariya.
Shortly before the attack on Kiryat Shmona, Lebanese terrorists fired three rockets at the Upper Galilee.
Two of the projectiles were intercepted while the third hit in an open area, causing no damage, the IDF said.
The IDF said it responded with artillery shelling against the sources of the rocket fire.
Earlier on Thursday, Israeli forces struck a terrorist cell attempting to fire anti-tank missiles from Lebanon at the area of Moshav Avivim in the Upper Galilee.
READ more https://www.israel365news.com/378079/idf-strikes-lebanon-as-rockets-pummel-central-israel/?

https://www.israel365news.com/378101/fox-news-reports-rabbi-tuly-weisz-bringing-together-jews-and-christians-to-pray-for-israel/?
FOX News Reports: Rabbi Tuly Weisz bringing together Jews and Christians to pray for Israel
FOX News published a report on Saturday focusing on the efforts of Israel365’s founder, Rabbi Tuly Weisz, describing his efforts as “waging a spiritual battle against the evil of Hamas' terror”.
Rabbi Weisz’s efforts to help Israel in its time of dire need began with bringing together Jews and Christians in prayer events that included major Christian faith leaders like Michelle Bachmann, Rev. Paula White, Pastor Terri Copeland, and Rev. Peter Fast.

His inspiration came from Pslams:

Pray for the well-being of Yerushalayim; “May those who love you be at peace. Psalms 122:6

The Christians were also motivated by a well-known verse in Genesis:

I will bless those who bless you And curse him that curses you; And all the families of the earth Shall bless themselves by you.” Genesis 12:3

Rabbi Weisz told FOX News, “The world is looking for political solutions, and we’re looking for spiritual solutions … [We’re] bridging the two communities and having rabbis and pastors together praying to the same God.”

These efforts continued and grew, attracting public attention when Rabbi Weisz led a coalition of over 50 influential American and Israeli Jewish and Christian leaders in publishing a full-page letter on page 2 of the Jerusalem Post, coinciding with President Biden’s arrival in Israel. The coalition called on the US president to refrain from forcing Israel to call a cease fire before it eradicated the threat posed by Hamas.

Rabbi Weisz sees the Bible as a common factor bringing Jews and Christians together, especially in the United States.

“There’s a lot of history between Jews and Christians,” Rabbi Weisz told FOX News. “There are a lot of reasons why Jews and Christians don’t ordinarily get together. However, since I started the organization, I felt that the relationship was crucial — and crucial in so many ways for the security of Israel, as we’re seeing today, but also for really the stability of the United States as a Judeo-Christian country.”
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https://www.israel365news.com/378049/netanyahu-quotes-isaiah-some-christians-and-muslims-misunderstand/?
Netanyahu quotes Isaiah: Some Christians and Muslims misunderstand
The cry “Violence!” Shall no more be heard in your land, Nor “Wrack and ruin!” Within your borders. And you shall name your walls “Victory” And your gates “Renown.”
ISAIAH 60:18(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
GAZA WAR
OCTOBER 29, 2023
2 MIN READ
Home » Netanyahu quotes Isaiah: Some Christians and Muslims misunderstand


BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAMAS IDF - ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCE IRAN ISRAEL PALESTINIANS TERRORISM
The cry “Violence!” Shall no more be heard in your land, Nor “Wrack and ruin!” Within your borders. And you shall name your walls “Victory” And your gates “Renown.” Isaiah 60:18

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation on Wednesday night on live television, discussing the failures that led to the massacre of over 1,400 and the taking of over 200 hostages on October 7, while outlining the steps that will be taken to eliminate the Hamas terrorist organization.

“We are in the midst of a campaign for our existence,” Netanyahu began. “We have set two goals for this war: To eliminate Hamas by destroying its military and governing abilities, and to do everything possible to bring our captives home. All Hamas terrorists are dead men walking – above ground, below ground, outside Gaza.”

The Prime Minister used harsh terms when describing the military action being implemented against Hamas.

“We are raining down hellfire on Hamas. We have already eliminated thousands of terrorists – and this is only the beginning. At the same time, we are preparing for a ground incursion. I will not detail when, how or how many, or the overall considerations that we are taking into account, most of which are unknown to the public, and this is how it needs to be, in order to better safeguard the lives of our soldiers.”

Netanyahu finish his speech with a quote from the Prophet Isaiah:

” Violence shall no more be heard in your land, desolation nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.‘ Isaiah 60:18

The statement had a dual meaning for Hebrew-speakers. The word translated as ‘violence’ is Hamas in Hebrew (חָמָס֙). In Hebrew, this verse could be understood to mean that the terrorist group will no longer exist in the land of Israel.

Many media, secular and religious, noted the PM’s reference to prophecy. Christian Headlines reported on the speech under the headline, “Netanyahu Vows: Israel Will ‘Realize the Prophecy of Isaiah,’ Defeat Hamas”.

Christian Post wrote about Netanyahu’s address under a similar prophetic headline. While the article noted Netanyahu’s Isaiah reference, it did not make the connection to the Hebrew word, “Hamas”. The article noted incongruously that the verse that appears two verses prior to the one cited by Netanyahu is interpreted by Christianity as a reference to Jesus.

The article in Christian Post also noted that Netanyahu stated, “Light will defeat darkness”, suggesting that the Jewish prime minister was referencing the Book of Luke (16:18) in the New Testament.

https://theisraelbible.com/a-prayer-for-the-world/?
A Prayer for the World
Oct 29, 2023

An Israeli soldier prays at the Western Wall (Shutterstock.com)

תִּכּ֤וֹן תְּפִלָּתִ֣י קְטֹ֣רֶת לְפָנֶ֑יךָ מַֽשְׂאַ֥ת כַּ֝פַּ֗י מִנְחַת־עָֽרֶב׃

Take my prayer as an offering of incense, my upraised hands as an evening sacrifice.

ti-KON t'-fi-la-TEE k'-TO-ret l'-fa-NE-kha mas-AT ka-PAI min-khat A-rev

Psalms 141:2
By Rabbi David Debow

The October 7th massacre showed the world a face of evil from which it must not look away. It was terrifying, revolting and heinous, and withal enlightening. The black light of that day birthed the clarity of this prayer. Many people I know, and still others I see online, are conflicted about what should be done next. In this hesitation, in this ambivalence, evil gets stronger. I think prayer is the most important weapon we have for the task ahead. Not as a substitute for resolute action but as that which makes it possible.
Prayer and Its Function
Prayer is a method of untying our tongues, which might free our hearts and move our hands and feet to righteous action. In the words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, “The world we build tomorrow is born in the prayers we say today.”

We are facing a spiritual challenge. Prayer is a way to unite hearts and minds, channeling the combined strength of good-hearted people worldwide. With such collective power, we can achieve great things if we direct this force toward noble and just causes. When the Arab-Israeli conflict was about territory and its control, we fought, found an equilibrium and signed treaties. Because when people genuinely want a safe secure home for their children, there is a common language and an appreciation that more is gained by preserving the soccer field than bombing the enemy in a bid to win once and for all. But when the fight devolves into ideological battle lines – when Hamas reframes the fight as between good and evil, between light and darkness, as an eternal struggle for which there can never be any compromise, then you need to know how to alter your tactics. In the battlefield of territory, tanks are the primary instrument. In the battlefield of ideology, prayer and meditation are the primary weapons.

Prayer is a way to focus and to rank priorities. It helps clarify objectives which will lead to better, more effective action. It is a way to find consensus, to express aspirations and to link people together into both a mighty fist and an outstretched arm. By invoking God in prayer we succeed in assigning proper responsibility. There are things that only God can do and prayer delineates those realms of responsibility. But that which is not assigned to God becomes man’s responsibility, and prayer is a good exercise in rehearsing our responsibilities and making clear what we expect of others.

Here is my prayer:

A Prayer for Repentance
I pray that the evil leaders of Hamas repent of their ways. That they lay down their arms and purge their hearts of hatred. I pray they ask for true forgiveness with a contrite heart for the needless suffering they have brought to this world. And although I know that nothing of this world could ever atone for actions so heinous as theirs, I believe in a God so mighty, merciful and loving that nothing is beyond His power.

I pray that the many followers, friends and supporters of Hamas similarly repent. That they open their eyes to see that Hamas offers only false hope, death and destruction. That they examine their hearts, find the poisoned plant of hatred, wormwood and gall, and root it out. That these followers and friends and supporters take all their remaining goodwill and offer it to the people of Israel in apology. That they come to understand why Israel’s opposition to the demands and wishes of Hamas and its friends and supporters was and is correct and necessary. That they take their desire for constructive change and progress in this world and join it with the people of Israel’s ability and desire to do the same. That all those who saw hope and justice in Hamas recognize the error of their ways and do the difficult work of changing heart and embrace the true hope and possibility that Israel represents.

I pray that Muslims of the world speak up with one clear voice and say: This is not our religion, and these are not our followers. That churches everywhere condemn the action of Hamas with a clarity and force that leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind who is evil and who is not. That Gazans and Palestinians together take responsibility for the biggest obstacle to peace — the hatred that has infected the hearts and minds of so-called supporters of Palestine such that they justify a massacre of innocents, and that rape and butchery can be executed while crying “God is Great” and none among them sees that as the central problem. May God assist them in this momentous return. May He help them face the necessary and cleansing humiliation of error.

A Prayer for Victory
I pray to God, Master of All, that in the absence of such repentance and change of heart that Hamas and its supporters are rendered powerless. That they may no longer be able to manifest the vicious desires of their hearts. That they are rendered null and void. That they are scattered and dismayed, afraid and alone in a world that no longer gives them refuge. That the evil fire burning in their hearts consumes them entirely. That their words and wicked prayers no longer find any sympathy in a world that understands where such hatred inevitably leads.

I pray that the people of Israel, the army of Israel is successful in restoring peace and security to the land of Israel. That Israel remembers that its power and safety lies not in the number of tanks, nor in the iron dome, but in the God-given wisdom and prudence of those that deploy them. That no fence, no border, no Iron Dome is foolproof against a foe that has the liberty to watch and learn and try and fail and try again. I pray that the army of Israel teaches its enemies that to attack Israel is to lose absolutely. That nothing is gained and all is lost in seeking the harm of the people of Israel. I pray that Israel brings victory home without the need for heroes. That the strength of Israel is brought to bear with such overwhelming decisive power that no soldier is lost and that no doubt is left about whether there is profit in rousing the lion of Zion.

I pray the people of Gaza betray the leaders who have brought them nothing but ruin. That they rise up as one with bravery and righteousness and assist the downfall of the evil tyranny that has done nothing but cynically exploit them. That in so doing, they purge themselves of the consuming hatred that has brought such scourge upon their families. Like trees and rocks, they refuse cover to the members of Hamas, pointing the fiery sword of the IDF down their hellish trenches. That they say, “Come Israeli soldier, come, let me show you where Hamas is hiding.”

I am grateful to all the brave soldiers of the world who have been called to battle today and yesterday and will be called again tomorrow in the battle against hatred and nihilism. May God grant you all victory in your shared battle for democracy against its enemies.

A Prayer for Mercy
I pray to God, most merciful, that the people of the world give shelter and care to the humans who will be without a home. The fate of Gaza was sealed when Hamas’s irrational and self-destructive delusions were given voice in the massacre of October 7th. After 15 years of pulling punches, the illusion that some workable peace might emerge from the people of Gaza has been definitively shattered. It is clear to all who see clearly that Gaza, as currently constituted, will sprout Hamas fighters more quickly than Israel can cut them down. It is clear from years of trying that neither concession nor evacuation, not cement walls miles below the surface nor an Iron Dome stretching high into the sky will end this war. Gaza must be destroyed. But the Bible and World War II both teach that there are many ways to destroy a nation.

My most fervent hope and prayer, even as it is the most unlikely, is that Gaza repents. That it converts in a most sincere turnaround and miraculous change of heart and deed. That the nations of the world desist in feeding false hope, in propping up and supporting those very delusions. That the people of the world tell Gaza there is one hope, and one hope only, to escape the coming deluge – and that is to repent.

But I am doubtful about such miracles. It was Gaza that voted for Hamas and supported Hamas in polls and actions all through its reign of terror. Israel can afford no more delusions and the false dichotomy that separates Hamas from its native soil must be relinquished. What is required is the same thing that was required of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan – total and unconditional surrender.

Make no mistake, Hamas will hold its people captive no less than it does the hostages. There will be hunger and plague in the land of Gaza while there will be light and food waiting on the other side. Hamas will make it hard for citizens who care more about the lives of their children than Holy Jihad to escape. But that again is another responsibility that sits entirely on the head of Hamas. Our wish is that a human being who arrives naked and unthreatening, with his hands high in the air at the eye of the needle, will be allowed to pass through. We can make that commitment if and only if the nations of the world become our partners and welcome humans escaping Gaza with us. The area bordering southern Israel must be reconstituted. It is a project for the world entire. A project for those who truly and honestly care about the lives of the people who live here more than a vindication of their false ideology. Give them a safe place to restart their lives in a land that might teach them about tolerance, civility and the possibility of world peace.

A Prayer of Forgiveness
I pray to God for forgiveness. That Israel might forgive the ways in which we, the world, made its life harder. That the people of Israel and their leadership forgive each other for getting too wrapped up in issues that were beside the point. That we have learned the price of overly heated ideological debate and we return to a certain cold pragmatism in which we care more about improving life on the ground for all our children than about being right. I pray Israel might forgive its leaders for mistakes of commission and omission. I pray that forgiveness be thorough and true so that the essential trust between leadership and people, between commanders and the commanded, be quickly restored so that Israel is once again restored to a mighty force that works as one.

A Prayer for Wisdom
I pray to God, the source of all wisdom, all powerful and all good, for the hostages to come back safely. That Hamas admits the futility of this strategy and sends the hostages home. Barring that, I pray that Israeli commandos who have been the angels of God’s miracles in the past once again be granted the privilege to play such a role. But I am sadly aware that brilliant feats of subterfuge and bravery only work once. The card played in Uganda cannot be played again. Thus I am pessimistic about the possibility of again escaping the devil’s choice Hamas is putting to us. I pray that Israel has the fortitude and foresight, the integrity of its people and the wisdom of its Sages, clearly behind it when it refuses to negotiate with terrorists.

I pray that Israel has the strength to teach the world that democracies are stronger than terrorists. And that nations that are beholden to the love of a parent for a child are only made stronger by that love and not weaker. That the overwhelming love of every Jewish parent for all their children, the ones in uniform and the ones at home, the ones already killed and the ones unborn, is allowed to be heard alongside the heartrending cries of the parents of the hostages. I pray that Israel’s leaders are granted wisdom to make some of the most impossible calls that cannot possibly please everyone. I pray that they are granted respect and trust, along with forgiveness, knowing the impossibility of getting it right for everyone.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving
I am grateful to the State of Israel and the people of Israel who are a beacon of light in the darkness. Who, with an undiminished optimism, continue to teach the world what it means to believe in the truth of God’s promise. Who founded a country on the pillars of righteousness like an island in a sea of tyranny, and then, to make it flourish, teaches us all how freedom, a pioneering spirit, and a covenantal community based on duty and responsibility can triumph against incredible odds.

A Prayer for Jerusalem
I pray for you Jerusalem, city of peace, that has once again been made great as Israel’s capital. A city that is home to Muslims, Jews, and Christians. You have taught Israel how to face your enemies resolutely, but without hatred; how to try and try and again to beat a path toward peace, even after rejection after rejection. How to uphold the values of democracy even after your enemies try and exploit every self-imposed restraint. How to continue to discriminate between Arabs who are enemies and Arabs who are friends.

I am grateful to you, Israel, who with strength, intelligence and success has converted former enemies into allies and has taught the world that a rivalry need not be a war to the death. That success is respected, and ultimately peace comes from strength. I am astounded by Israel’s ability to be a victim of irrational hatred but never play the victim. To have every reason to give up on humanity but never do so. To embody a faith, a vision, a truth so strong that you can hold it alive for 2,000 years and then come home and plant it again. And do that entirely on your own. I am challenged by you, Israel, for you have every right to say it is my fault, but you don’t. And you just take responsibility for yourself. I thank you, Israel for being the front lines of democracy, for your brave soldiers who have been called to protect civilization for all of us.

A Prayer of Trust
I trust you Israel to do what is right. You have proven yourself worthy time and again of protecting your citizenry while also upholding the values upon which your society is based. In many cases, the dilemmas are near impossible and the stakes incredibly high. But you manage to face your situation with righteousness and not rage, with law and not passion, with the wisdom of the past and a view towards the future without getting lost in the bewildering whims of the present. I trust that your love of peace impels you towards war. That your love of your children helps you kill your enemies. That your hatred is well calibrated, just enough to go to war and not so much that you won’t stop when it is done. I trust you Israel.

I pray for you Israel, father of nations and source of blessing. May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed (Genesis 12:3).