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“It is a land which Hashem your God looks after, on which Hashem your God always keeps His eye, from year’s beginning to year’s end.”
(Deuteronomy 11:12)
Our Story
After befriending a pastor in Columbus, Ohio, Tuly Weisz, an Orthodox rabbi, chose to dedicate his life to building bridges between Jews and Christians in support of Israel.
After making Aliyah to Israel, Rabbi Weisz founded Israel365 on January 1, 2012 to help Jews and Christians all over the world connect to and support the land and people of Israel, each and every day of the year.
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Israel365 strengthens Israel by building bridges between Jews, Christians and all who share our faith-based values.

Strengthening Israel Through the Following Initiatives
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Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

for I give all the land that you see to you and your offspring forever.
כִּי אֶת־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּה רֹאֶה לְךָ אֶתְּנֶנָּה וּלְזַרְעֲךָ עַד־עוֹלָם
Genesis 13:15 (The Israel Bible)
ki et-KOL ha-A-retz a-SHER a-TAH ro-EH le-KHA et-TE-ne-Na, u-le-za-r'-a-KHA ad-o-LAM
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Forever Means Forever
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
The Lord said to Abram after Lot parted from him, "Raise now your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward, southward, eastward, and westward.

For all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. I will render your descendants like the dust of the earth, if a man could count the dust of the earth, so your descendants shall be counted.

Arise, walk in the land to its length and to its breadth, as to you I will give it" (Genesis 13:14-17)

These words were spoken by God to Abram in the wake of his split with his nephew Lot.

The reason for God relaying this exact message at this time is straightforward.

Because Lot was Abram’s nephew and had joined Abram and Sarah in their journey to the promised land, Abram may have thought that Lot was entitled to a portion of the land God had promised.

Furthermore, a few verses earlier, at the time of the break between Lot and Abram, we read,
[Abram said] "Isn’t the whole land before you? Please part from me.

If you go to the left, I will go to the right; and if you go to the right, I will go to the left"…. Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan. – (Genesis 13:9,11)

From the simple meaning of this passage, it appears that Abram was willing to cede a portion of the land God had promised him to his nephew Lot.

Abram may have believed that as a result, Lot and his own descendants would have a legitimate claim to a portion of the promised land.

So here in our verse, God stepped in and told Abram in no uncertain terms that this is not the case. "After Lot parted from him," God reiterated to Abram that the entire land is to be the eternal possession of Abram’s offspring alone.

A careful reading of our verses raises a number of questions.
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https://theisraelbible.com/food-for-the-soul/?
Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

Happy is he who is thoughtful of the wretched; in bad times may Hashem keep him from harm.
אַשְׁרֵי מַשְׂכִּיל אֶל־דָּל בְּיוֹם רָעָה יְמַלְּטֵהוּ יְהֹוָה
Psalms 41:2 (The Israel Bible)
a-SH'-ray mas-KIL el-DAL b'-YOM ra-AH y'-ma-l'-TE-hu a-do-NAI
Will Eating All of Your Peas Bring World Peace?
By Sara Lamm
“Danny, you must finish all the food on your plate. There are starving children in _____…” - and here’s where you insert the name of a country somewhere far, far away from the disgruntled six-year-old who desperately does not want to finish his peas.

But here’s the thing: guilting children into finishing their peas or other “undesirable” dinner items will not magically fill a belly somewhere far away. If only peas could solve that pesky poverty problem (why not throw in world peace, for that matter)!! And by the way, I’m with all of you who had to shovel spoonfuls of dinner into your stuffed mouths lest you waste even one bite.

Still, there’s value in remembering those who are hungry for dinner and who can’t buy whatever they need at the local Walmart. Feeding the hungry, after all, is a Biblical obligation.

What does the Bible say about feeding the needy? And how can you (and I) do our parts to ensure that people who need food get it?

TEMPLE

The Ongoing Revelation at Sinai
By: Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
MARCH 16, 2024

The final Torah portion of Exodus, Pekudei (Exodus 38:21-40:38), concludes with the assembly of the Tabernacle.

The Torah states:

וַיָּקֶם מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וַיִּתֵּן אֶת־אֲדָנָיו וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת־קְרָשָׁיו וַיִּתֵּן אֶת־בְּרִיחָיו וַיָּקֶם אֶת־עַמּוּדָיו׃

Moshe set up the Mishkan, placing its sockets, setting up its planks, inserting its bars, and erecting its posts.

Exodus 40:18
The fifteen verses that follow detail every aspect of the setup of the Tabernacle. What is striking about this lengthy description is the emphasis on Moses himself. The singular verbs clearly imply that this work was done entirely by Moses. For example:

Moses erected the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and erected its pillars. He spread out the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it from above, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He took the Testimony and put it into the ark, inserted the poles through the rings of the ark, and put the ark cover on top of the ark. – Exodus 40:18-20

On and on the text continues in this fashion, in the third person singular, for 15 verses. As if to emphasize that it was Moses alone who did all the work, the passage concludes with this verse:

וַיָּקֶם אֶת־הֶחָצֵר סָבִיב לַמִּשְׁכָּן וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיִּתֵּן אֶת־מָסַךְ שַׁעַר הֶחָצֵר וַיְכַל מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הַמְּלָאכָה׃

And he set up the enclosure around the Mishkan and the mizbayach, and put up the screen for the gate of the enclosure. When Moshe had finished the work,

Exodus 40:33
Whether Moses alone actually did all the work such as moving furniture and vessels, erecting the many large wooden beams, and building the courtyard, or he is being credited for the job because he was the leader, is a speculative question worth pondering. For our purposes as readers of the Bible, we must ask a more basic question. Why? Why does the Torah emphasize Moses as the sole constructor of the Tabernacle? What lesson can we derive from this?

To answer this question, let’s explore another, more fundamental question regarding the Tabernacle. What was its purpose? Why was it set up just the way it was?

The great commentator and rabbinic leader Rabbi Moses Nachmanides (13th century France), known by the acronym Ramban, maintains that the Tabernacle, and the Temple in Jerusalem after it, served as an extension of the revelatory experience at Mount Sinai.

As we read in Exodus 19, at Sinai, the Children of Israel surrounded the mountain. There were boundaries beyond which the people were forbidden to pass. There was an inner boundary into which only the priests were allowed and the point of contact with God was in the center. At that point of contact with God, the voice of God was heard and Moses was given the Law in the form of the two tablets of the covenant. Moreover, as the Bible tells us, there was smoke rising from the mountain.

The nation camped around the Tabernacle in a similar formation; there was an inner boundary for the Levites and priests. The people were not allowed into the inner part of the Tabernacle. At the innermost point of the Tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant, containing the two Tablets of the Law given at Sinai. Atop the Ark sat the Cherubs, the point of contact with God, the entry point of God’s prophetic word into the world. Finally, the burning of incense day and night produced a pillar of smoke that rose from the sanctuary, a few feet away from the Ark. Therefore, through the presence of the Tabernacle, the revelation at Sinai was experienced in perpetuity.

All of this can be equally applied to the Temple in Jerusalem, which is geographically located in the center of the land of Israel, with the tribes of Israel surrounding it.

It is clear from this arrangement that the epicenter of the Tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant. This was the only item in the innermost chamber, the Holy of Holies. Even the High Priest was allowed to enter only under very limited circumstances.

Once again, the Ark, situated in the Holy of Holies, contained the Tablets of the Law and was covered by the Cherubs, which the Bible tells us was the entry point for God’s prophetic word. What does this mean? Simply put, it means that the Covenant of the Law represented by the Tablets served as the basis for prophecy, the highest point of contact between God and man.

There is a powerful lesson here that we must understand. In the minds of many people of faith, the primary encounter with God is through prayer and worship. Prayer is certainly an essential component of our relationship with God. As Jews, we pray three times a day. When there was a Tabernacle or Temple, the primary form of worship was the sacrificial offerings. But notice the setup of the Tabernacle.

The sacrifices were offered in the outer area, not in the Holy or Holy of Holies. In other words, the purpose of prayer and worship is to draw us closer to God. In fact, the Hebrew word for “sacrifice” korban, literally means, “that which draws close.” But our primary purpose and mission as servants of God is not prayer or the offering of sacrifices. Prayer and sacrifices, worship, is a means to an end. The most important way that we serve God is by carrying out His will on this earth.

Let me put this another way. When we pray to God, we are trying to get Him to do our will. When we study His word and obediently carry out His commands, we align our will with His. The purpose of sacrifices and worship is to draw us closer to Him so that we will ultimately embrace our mission, to serve Him by doing His work in the world. That mission is contained in the Torah and in the prophetic word of God, represented by the Ark of the Covenant.

Moses was not the High Priest. It might have made more sense that if anyone should be putting the Tabernacle together all by himself, it should be Aaron, not Moses. But Moses was the greatest prophet and, more importantly, Moses was the one who relayed the Torah, God’s law and mission, to the Children of Israel.

In many religious systems, the primary experience of a relationship with God is prayer. In Judaism, it is Torah. Torah study brings a person to an understanding of the will of God. When one understands a particular verse or Torah idea, one is communing with God on the most intimate level. One is blending his thoughts with God’s thoughts, so to speak. In this experience, the will of God and our will become synonymous. It is a blending of our very identities with the Divine.

In prayer, I stand before God. In Torah study, I am with Him. More importantly, in fulfillment of the Torah, I become God’s agent, carrying out His will in the world.

To emphasize the primacy of Torah wisdom and practice as the most intimate connection to God, the Tabernacle – with the Torah at its center – was fully erected by Moses, the giver of the Torah.

As the Ramban compared the setup of the Tabernacle in the camp to the revelation at Sinai, so too, this idea can be seen in the setup of the Jewish People in the land of Israel. Jerusalem, the epicenter of our encounter with God, sits in the middle of the country, while Jerusalem itself is surrounded by the camp of Israel.

Even as we turn towards Jerusalem in prayer, we must also open our minds and hearts to hear the message coming from Jerusalem. Ultimately, the surest way for God to dwell within our midst is through the study and practice of Torah.

“For from Tzion shall go forth Torah and the word of Hashem from Jerusalem.” – Isaiah 2:3

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https://theisraelbible.com/vayakhel-pekudei-the-ongoing-revelation-at-sinai/?

Netanyahu hits back at Biden: ‘I’ve got my own red line’
They collapse and lie fallen, but we rally and gather strength.
PSALMS 20:9THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
GAZA WAR
MARCH 12, 2024
4 MIN READ
Home » Netanyahu hits back at Biden: ‘I’ve got my own red line’
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU GAZA HAMAS IDF - ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCE ISRAEL PALESTINIANS TERRORISM UNITED STATES (AMERICA)
The PM defended himself against remarks by the U.S. president, saying the “vast majority” of Israelis support his policies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responding to recent remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden, said on Sunday that he, too, has a red line: “You know what the red line is? That October 7 doesn’t happen again.”

Netanyahu made his comments to Paul Ronzheimer, deputy editor-in-chief of German newspaper BILD, who was reporting for Axel Springer, the parent company of Politico.

The prime minister referred to comments by Biden on March 10, in which he was asked by MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart: “Do you have a red line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? … For instance, the invasion of Rafah, which you have urged him not to do—would that be a red line?”

Biden did not refer specifically to Rafah, saying only, “You cannot have another 30,000 dead as a consequence [of pursuing Hamas],” citing a figure presented by Hamas for casualties in Gaza.
MORE https://israel365news.com/387687/netanyahu-hits-back-at-biden-ive-got-my-own-red-line/?

[OP-ED] Can American Colleges Be Rescued From Woke Antisemitism?

by Jonathan S. Tobin
Harvard University’s shambolic attempt to investigate its own Jew-hatred is symptomatic of the grip that toxic leftist ideas have on higher education that must be challenged.
READ MORE »https://israel365news.com/387185/can-american-colleges-be-rescued-from-woke-antisemitism/?

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

Now, if you obey your God, the Lord, to observe faithfully all the divine commandments which I enjoin upon you this day, your God יהוה will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
וְהָיָה אִם־שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־כׇּל־מִצְוֺתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם וּנְתָנְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ עֶלְיוֹן עַל כׇּל־גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ
Deuteronomy 28:1 (The Israel Bible)
v'-ha-YAH im sha-MO-a tish-MA b'-KOL a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha lish-MOR la-a-SOT et-KOL mitz-vo-TAV a-SHER a-no-KHEE m'-tza-v'-KHA ha-YOM u-ne-ta-n'-KHA a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha e-lyon AL kol go-YAY ha-A-retz
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Heeding God’s Voice
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
This verse introduces the promise of blessings and rewards to the nation of Israel should they follow God’s covenant of law.

We have mentioned many times that the Bible contains no extra words. Every phrase, every word, matters. A good rule of thumb for reading the Bible carefully is this: If you could omit a word or phrase from the text without losing any of the apparent meaning of the verse, the words that seem to be extra must be carefully studied. This makes sense. If every word in the Bible is necessary, it follows that those words or phrases that seem at first glance to be unnecessary must be studied. The fact that a word appears to add nothing significant to the text must make us question why it was included.

The verse above is a prime example of this phenomenon. The intent of the verse is simple enough to understand. If we are obedient to God and perform all the commandments, God will bless us with great status among the nations. The problem with this understanding of the verse is that it leaves us with words that appear unnecessary. The verse could just as easily have been written as follows:

It shall be if you shall take care to perform all the commandments the Lord your God has commanded you, He will place you uppermost above all the nations of the earth.

So why does the actual verse include seemingly superfluous phrases? What does it mean to "heed the voice of the Lord your God,"? How is this any different from the obedience demonstrated by taking care to perform all God’s commandments? Furthermore, what is added to the message of this verse by the words, "that I am commanding you today"? Does this verse refer only to commandments given on that specific day?
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Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.

And He said to me, "O mortal, these bones are the whole House of Yisrael. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone; we are doomed.'
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי בֶּן־אָדָם הָעֲצָמוֹת הָאֵלֶּה כָּל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵמָּה הִנֵּה אֹמְרִים יָבְשׁוּ עַצְמוֹתֵינוּ וְאָבְדָה תִקְוָתֵנוּ נִגְזַרְנוּ לָנוּ׃
Ezekiel 37:11 (The Israel Bible)
va-YO-mer ay-LAI ben a-DAM ha-a-tza-MOT ha-AY-leh kol BAYT yis-ra-AYL HAY-mah hi-NAY o-m'-REEM ya-V'-SHU atz-mo-TAY-nu v'-a-v-DAH tik-va-TAY-nu nig-ZAR-nu LA-nu
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Back From the Dead
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
In one of the most memorable and powerful prophecies of the revival of the nation of Israel, God shows Ezekiel a vision of dried bones. Not only are these bones dead, but they are also dried. In other words, they lack all moisture and vitality. All hope for renewal is lost.

Because we are fortunate enough to live in a time when the nation of Israel has been reborn, it is easy to lose perspective regarding the length and extent of the exile to which the Jewish people were subjected. But the vision of the dry bones reminds us that the chances of the Jewish people returning to our homeland and becoming "more numerous and more prosperous than our ancestors," (Deuteronomy 30:4) were minuscule to the point of absurdity.

I am reminded of a fascinating quote from Martin Luther, who initiated and led the Protestant Reformation, the mass movement of Christians away from the Catholic church in the early 16th century.
MORE https://theisraelbible.com/back-from-the-dead/?

https://theisraelbible.com/back-from-the-dead/?

https://israel365news.com/?
Can Scientists Predict the Pre-Gog and Magog Earthquake?
Five scholars from Israeli universities recently completed a study in which they suggested a new method of accurately predicting earthquakes.
READ MORE » https://israel365news.com/?

Judea and Samaria: A Primer on Israel’s Biblical Heartland
The terms Judea and Samaria date back to biblical times and appear numerous times in the Jewish Bible and the New Testament.
The recent National Religious Broadcasters convention literally rewrote the dialogue surrounding the conflict in the Middle East when they passed their "Biblical Heartland Resolution".
READ MORE »https://israel365news.com/387035/judea-and-samaria-is-its-only-name/?


Judea and Samaria is Its Only Name
The recent National Religious Broadcasters convention literally rewrote the dialogue surrounding the conflict in the Middle East when they passed their "Biblical Heartland Resolution".
READ MORE » https://israel365news.com/387035/judea-and-samaria-is-its-only-name/?


Netanyahu Counters Biden: Most Americans Support Israel
Biden said that the Jewish state's "incredibly conservative government" risked losing it international support.
READ MORE » https://israel365news.com/387009/netanyahu-counters-biden-most-americans-support-israel/?

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

You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly.
וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה  אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית לַמָּאוֹר לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר תָּמִיד
Exodus 27:20 (The Israel Bible)
v'-a-TAH t'-tza-VEH et b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL v'-yik-KHU ay-LE-kha SHE-men ZA-yit ZAKH ka-TEET la-ma-OR l'-ha-a-LOT NAYR ta-MEED
Revealing God in Those Who Serve Him
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
The Torah portion of Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10) contains the second half of the instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle. From a narrative perspective, the Torah portions of Terumah and Tetzaveh constitute one continuous prophecy to Moses. Terumah begins with the words, “And the Lord spoke to Moses saying” (Ex. 25:1). From that point until the end of Tetzavah, more than 4 chapters, concluding with Exodus 30:10, we find no interruption in God’s words to Moses. Only when we reach the opening verse of the following Torah portion, Ki Tisa, which begins in Exodus 30:11, do we again see the words, “And the Lord spoke to Moses saying,” indicating a new unit of prophecy.

This leads to the question: what accounts for the division of the Torah portions of Terumah and Tetzaveh? Were they divided simply to break up a long section into two parts because we don’t want the portions to be too long? Is there any thematic rationale behind the specific point at which they were divided?

READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/tetzaveh-revealing-god-in-those-who-serve-him/?

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

Yet say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the Land of Israel.
לָכֵן אֱמֹר כֹּה־אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יֱהֹוִה וְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָעַמִּים וְאָסַפְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר נְפֹצוֹתֶם בָּהֶם וְנָתַתִּי לָכֶם אֶת־אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל
Ezekiel 11:17 (The Israel Bible)
la-KHAYN e-MOR koh a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM v'-ki-batz-TEE et-KHEM min ha-a-MEEM v'-a-saf-TEE et-KHEM min ha-a-ra-TZOT a-SHER n'-fo-tzo-TEM ba-HEM v'-na-ta-TEE la-KHEM et ad-MAT yis-ra-AYL
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Taking the Exile Out of the Jews
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
At first glance, this verse is similar to the many others that foretell the ingathering of the nation of Israel from their exile, after they have been scattered across the world. For example, we first see this prophecy in Deuteronomy 30:

The Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. – Deuteronomy 30:3-5

Another example is also from Ezekiel:

Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; – Ezekiel 37:21

But a more careful reading of this verse reveals that there is a unique lesson here, beyond a simple restatement of the prophecy of the ingathering of Israel.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/taking-the-exile-out-of-the-jews/?

https://israel365news.com/386724/hamass-sadistic-sex-crimes-on-oct-7-set-forth-in-new-report/?
Hamas’s ‘Sadistic Sex Crimes’ on Oct. 7 Set Forth in New Report
The systematic nature of the "sadistic sex crimes" committed during the Hamas-led invasion of the northwestern Negev on Oct. 7 has been revealed for the first time, in a report published by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel. The document was sent to United Nations decision-makers.

The systematic nature of the “sadistic sex crimes” committed during the Hamas-led invasion of the northwestern Negev on Oct. 7 has been revealed for the first time, in a report published by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel.

Furthermore, the document has been translated into English and sent to decision-makers in the United Nations to leave “no room for denial or disregard.”
The report, authored by Dr. Carmit Keller-Halamish and Nega Berger, analyzes public and confidential testimonies about the sexual violence, eyewitness accounts and interviews with victims and first responders.

“The terrorist organization Hamas has chosen to injure the State of Israel with two clear strategies—taking civilians captive, and sadistic sex crimes,” said Orit Soliciano, CEO of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers.

“It is no longer possible to remain silent—we expect the international organizations to take a clear position, it is impossible to stand on the sidelines. Standing on the other side will be remembered as a historic stain on all those who chose to remain silent and deny the sexual crimes committed by Hamas,” Soliciano added.

The first official report on the sexual element of the atrocities highlights the systematic and deliberate manner in which the sexual violence took place. Over a thousand people were murdered, thousands more wounded and 253 kidnapped during the Hamas-led attack.
A woman whose son was murdered at the Supernova music festival attends a committee for public inquiries meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, Feb. 14, 2024. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90. (source: JNS)
According to the report, the sexual violence took place everywhere the terrorists invaded, including at the Supernova music festival, kibbutzim, cities, towns and IDF bases. The hostages in Gaza continue to be victimized.

Examples of the sexual crimes committed include violent acts of rape, with weapons pointed at the victims, in some cases aimed at wounded women. Many mass rapes occurred. Often, the rapes were intentionally committed in front of husbands, partners and family members to maximize the pain and helplessness felt and increase the terror.

Hamas terrorists carried out a hunting expedition to catch young men and women who attempted to escape the carnage at the music festival, dragging them by the hair screaming. The sexual violence targeted men, women and girls and included binding their bodies, mutilating genitals and the bodies of both males and females with knives and in some cases inserting weapons inside the genitals.

In most cases, the victims were executed either during the rape or after.
https://israel365news.com/386724/hamass-sadistic-sex-crimes-on-oct-7-set-forth-in-new-report/?

https://www.israel365.com/?
Shalom Zahara, Please enjoy today's Daily Inspiration from Israel.
He will hold up a signal to the nations and assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.
וְנָשָׂא נֵס לַגּוֹיִם וְאָסַף נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּנְפֻצוֹת יְהוּדָה יְקַבֵּץ מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ
Isaiah 11:12 (The Israel Bible)
v'-na-SA NAYS la-go-YIM v'-a-SAF ni-d'-KHAY yis-ra-AYL un-fu-TZOT y'-hu-DAH y'-ka-BAYTZ may-ar-BA kan-FOT ha-A-retz
The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
A Banner for the Nations
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
He will raise a banner for the nations, and He will gather the outcasts of Israel; He will assemble the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:12)

The verse just before this one described the ingathering of the dispersed exiles of Israel to their homeland. This verse continues that theme. However, the opening phrase of this verse is unclear. Let’s look at the two verses together.

It shall be on that day that the Lord will continue, setting his hand a second time to acquire the remnant of His people that will remain from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Kush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean. He will raise a banner for the nations, and He will gather the outcasts of Israel; He will assemble the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

"He will raise a banner"?

Every word of these two verses, both before and after the phrase "He will raise a banner for the nations," describes the ingathering of the exiles of Israel and Judah. What is the meaning of this phrase? Here is a phrase-by-phrase summary of the verses to illustrate the point.

The Lord will continue to acquire His people
From Assyria, Egypt, Kush, etc.
He will raise a banner for the nations
He will gather the outcasts of Israel
He will assemble the scattered of Judah

What does "He will raise a banner for the nations" mean? What role does this play in the ingathering of Israel? What is the purpose of this "banner"?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/a-banner-for-the-nations/?

The land of Israel in (Biblical) focus
Bishop Jerry L. Bowers
OPINION
FEBRUARY 14, 2024
12 MIN READ
Home » The land of Israel in (Biblical) focus

BIBLE GAZA HAMAS ISRAEL PALESTINIANS TERRORISM TWO STATE SOLUTION
“The Covenant Land”

From the heavens, one can clearly see planet earth and its major land mass. For instance, from the view of a spaceship, one can easily see the shape of America, Africa, and Asia. To view smaller nations, one must zoom in for enlarged views with a viewfinder. One of the smallest nations on earth is that of the land of Israel. In land mass, it is only the size of the state of New Jersey in America. It is 290 miles from north to south and only eighty-five miles east to west, at its widest point. But when one enlarges the view from “God’s viewfinder” in the Bible, Israel stands as the most important land mass on earth. The Psalmist declares, “For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling.” (Psalms 132:13). Hashem declares He reigns from Mount Zion and in Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:7). This makes Jerusalem the designated place of God’s throne which is why this small piece of land is contended for and fought over by many religions.

Here is the question of the hour, “What does God see when He looks down from the heavens and sees the tiny nation of Israel?” He sees “The Promised Land” of Cannan that He gave in covenant to Abraham and His descendants. Here is what Hashem sees:

The word “Covenant” is written across this land we call Israel.

We tend to see various stages of awareness regarding God’s covenants with Israel among Christians. There are those who think the Christian Church has replaced Israel. There are those who acknowledge that Israel has historical significance, but do not understand God’s covenant with Israel. There are more who are beginning to understand that the Jewish people are God’s chosen people and the land promised to them has no expiration date.


A view of the Sea of Galilee from Mount Arbel in Israel’s north. (Shutterstock)
Covenant Altars in Israel

The promise of Israel’s return from the nations to “The Promised Land,” given to her forefathers, is based on God’s covenants made with the Sons of Jacob when they entered Canaan. These covenants were established when covenant altars were put into place, and when sacrifices were made as an act of worship to God Almighty known as Elohim (Hashem). All these covenant altars are based on the original promise God made to Abraham.

“And I will make of you (Abraham) a great nation, and I will bless you and make you a blessing in the earth. And I will bless them who bless you and curse them who curse you. And in you all the families (nations) of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3.

This covenant God (Hashem) made with Abraham was made in about 2100 BC or 4,000 years ago. God would later make a covenant for the land given to Abraham and his descendants in Genesis Chapter 15. He told Abraham, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” (Gen. 15:7). After making a covenant by sacrifice, God made this promise to Abraham and his descendants:

“On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: to your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.” (Genesis 15:18-21).

The covenant or treaty God made with Abraham is later enacted by the Sons of Jacob (12-tribes) when they enter Canaan by making covenant altars. These altars established their “God given right” to be in the land and to claim the land.

God establishes blessings and curses regarding His promise to Abraham. Those who bless the promises made to Abraham and his descendants will be blessed, and those who curse or break the promises made to Abraham will be cursed (Gen. 12:3). Many of these covenant altars are in what is now called the West Bank. When America participated in what was known as “Land for Peace” initiatives to establish peace with the Palestinian people or Arabs, the result was judgments on America. Ninety percent of all Christians are not familiar with the concept that specific covenants were made by God, with the 12 tribes of Israel, concerning the land of Israel.


The demolition of Ganey Tal settlement in Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip during Israel’s disengagemen from the area in “exchange for peace”Aug. 22, 2005. Photo by Yossi Zamir/Flash90. (source: JNS)
There are four key covenant altars in Israel. God’s people specifically need to honor and contend for these covenant altars in Israel that are a part of the land given to Israel in a covenant. These altars represent the whole land of Israel. They provide “God’s Viewfinder” to help us see what He sees in the land of Israel. They are the Shechem Altar, the Beth El Altar, the Hebron Altar, and the Mt. Moriah (Jerusalem) Altar. The enemies of Israel would like to remove all of these altars.

Altar of Shechem – in Focus. The First Altar is in Biblical Shechem (Nablus).

This altar is in the so-called “West Bank” in the biblical Samaritan town of Shechem. It is now called by the name of Nablus. Here is where the Lord appeared to Abraham and declared, “To your offspring I will give this land.” (Gen. 12:7). Abraham built in Shechem his first Altar to the Lord for this land. The Lord reaffirmed this land to Jacob in Gen. 33:18. It was in Shechem that Joshua summoned all the elders, leaders, judges, and officials of Israel before the Lord. He then issued this challenge, “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods of your forefathers worshiped in Egypt.” (Joshua 24:1-27).

Bible-believing Jews, Arabs, and Christians need to rise in faith and contend for this covenant land. This contending begins with repentance and prayers claiming the promises of God made with the Jewish forefathers. The command God gave to Joshua, following the death of Moses, is now being given to those who will stand with Israel:

“Be strong and very courageous. Do not let the Book of the Law (promises made on this land) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night. Then you will be prosperous. The Lord will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-11).


Palestinian police stand next to an Israeli sharing car driven by German tourists, attacked by Palestinian youth in Shechem (Nablus) in northern Samaria on March 18, 2023. Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90.
Altar of Beth El – in Focus. The Second Altar

This is the altar where God told Abraham to lift his eyes and see the land that would be given to him and his descendants. (Gen. 13:14-17). God was applying His viewfinder to help Abraham and His descendants see this land through His eyes. The meaning of the name Beth El is “House of God.” This is the second altar established by Abraham. This promised land was later ratified by Jacob and his offspring. (Gen. 13:14-17). Later, Jacob would stop in Beth El to sleep and pray. Here, Jacob got to look through Hashem’s viewfinder. He had a dream of a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and angels of God ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood at the head of the stairway and said to Jacob,

“I will give to you and your descendants the land on which you are laying.”

(Gen. 28:10-17).

It is here at Beth El that God changed Jacob’s name to “Israel” making this site the birthplace of Israel. (Gen. 35:10-12). Beth El is like an ancient viewfinder that helps us see that God (Hashem) is establishing His House in the land of Israel such as mentioned by the prophet Isaiah:

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon my altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.

The Lord God, which gathers the outcasts of Israel says, ‘Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.” (Isaiah 56:7-8).

It is not an accident that the Palestinian leaders have chosen this city of Beth El as their headquarters, renamed it Ramallah, and made it the current capital of their Palestinian state. They are contending to take away the covenant Hashem made with Israel. Today, the Palestinians are trying to rebuild the altar of Baal in Ramallah (Beth El). They even have a souvenir sheet of stamps from 1998 with Baal put on the postage stamp! To trade this land for peace is to break the covenant God made with Israel. If we agree with the land for peace initiatives or support them, we are guilty of cursing Israel. But if we are indifferent to these actions, and we do not repent, pray, and stand on these covenants, are we not complicit to these actions and deserving of judgments?


Hamas supporters wave the terror group’s flag during a rally at Birzeit University near Ramallah on May 19, 2022. Credit: Flash90. (source: JNS)
This land and city location in Israel was traded away for peace agreements based on the Camp David Accords in 1978, and the Oslo Accords in 1993. These accords led by U.S. Leadership agreed to the Palestinian government to have self-rule in the West Bank (Judea/Sameria), and the Gaza Strip which is a part of Israel. In these agreements, they agreed to transfer many cities and areas in Israel to the Palestinians to make peace.

Most of the Covenant Altars, where God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants, are in this West Bank (Judea/Samaria) territory. When Israel agrees to give up these cities and territories, they are breaking covenants made with God and canceling their God-given right to be in this land. When America encourages this covenant-breaking, America is judged, as seen with Katrina hitting New Orleans following the giving up of the Gaza Strip. When we accept the efforts for establishing peace based on dividing God’s land, or when we are complicit by remaining silent, we are standing in line to receive judgments, like Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans on August 29, 2005, after the last Jews left Gaza.

We remember the warning of God, “Those who bless Abraham and the promised land given him will be blessed, those who break or oppose this covenant will be cursed.” (Gen. 15:3).

Altar of Hebron in Focus. The Third Altar

Abraham established this site as the burial place for his wife and descendants. (Gen. 23:17-20). This covenant treaty altar represents fatherhood and friendship that produce “Inheritance.” This is the home of the fathers of Israel whom God made covenants with to be a blessing to all nations. It is the place where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived and were buried. Jewish tradition says that even Adam and Eve were buried in Hebron. (Isaiah 51:1-3). God’s viewfinder helps us to see that “This is the place of the revelation of God’s heart to man.” It was here that the Lord extended friendship with Abraham by visiting his tent to proclaim the birth of Isaac. (Gen. 18:1,2). Hebron was given to Caleb because of his faithfulness in giving a good report about the land of Canaan and God’s ability to fulfill his promises to give this promised land to the Jews. (Numbers 13:26, 30-32; 14:7-9). Hebron was the city where King David was anointed as king of Judea and later, king of united Israel. Today, this land is claimed by the future Palestinian State where over 250,000 Arabs live and are hostile to any Jews living in this city. It has been included in the West Bank Accords. God bids us to look through His viewfinder of the Bible and see His purposes for this land.


Judea and Samaria landscape, Israel – maybe Hebron (source: Shutterstock)
Altar of Jerusalem (Mt. Moriah) – in Focus. The Fourth Altar

God’s viewfinders show us that the blessing of Shalom Peace and salvation is declared from this mountain. It was at Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem that God told Abraham to take his son Isaac and offer him on the altar as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed and put his beloved son on the altar prepared to sacrifice him. At the last moment, God provided a ram to be a sacrifice, and his son’s life was spared. (Gen. 22:2-14). Abraham called the place, “The Lord will provide.” King David also established an altar on this mountain that turned back judgments in the land. It is at Mount Moriah that later the Jewish Temple would be established, and the presence of God would rest. (2 Sam. 24:16-23; 2 Chron. 22:1; 3:1). The Palestinian leaders want to divide Jerusalem and claim it as its future capital to the Palestinian state. God declares in His Word His priority for Jerusalem, “The Lord has chosen Jerusalem and will dwell there forever.” Psalm 132: 13-14). He has no plan to trade it for peace. He expressly calls upon God’s people to never forget Jerusalem and to “exalt it above their chief joy.” (Psalms 137:5-6). In fact, God calls for watchmen to be established on the walls of Jerusalem who will cry out day and night for His promises given over this city to be fulfilled until it is a praise in the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6-7).

God’s final judgment to the nations is based on scattering the Jewish people from their land and dividing their land. Listen to the prophet Joel as he describes a coming worldwide judgment:

“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.[b]
There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.”

(Joel 3:1-3).

I do not want to be standing in line for this coming judgment. I want to be among those who cry out for the return of the tribes for their inheritance. Notice here in this passage God calls Israel “His inheritance.”

Join with others who are following the biblical command God says we are to pray:

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. Because the House of the Lord our God I will seek your good.” (Psalms 122:6)

Two-State Solution (Land for Peace Arguments) A Distorted Focus

This effort presumes that the Palestinian leadership wants peace with Israel. This has been demonstrated not to be the case. They want the land of Israel and the removal of the Jewish people. There is no true partner for peace. Within the borders of Israel, the Arabs are citizens and have rights like others. They live at a higher standard than those who live in Gaza and other Arab towns. The experience of Gaza tells us a lot about what would happen if the efforts were realized to have a Palestinian state side by side with Israel.

First, Palestinian leaders are made up of terrorists. Arial Sharon, who was the Prime Minister at the time Gaza was given back to the Palestinians, thought that this would be the beginning of a lasting peace. Soon after the transfer of this land, Hamas begin to train troops to raise an army known as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. They have fired thousands of rockets at Israel and kidnapped Israeli citizens. Prime Minister Sharon did not live long enough to see the consequences of this land for peace effort. He had a stroke and lived in a coma for eight years before dying.


Soldiers forcibly remove residents from the Israeli Gush Katif community Kfar Darom. (Photo: IDF)
Secondly, Gaza illustrates that wherever the Palestinians might set up a state, no Jews would be welcome in that land, and it would be used to further attacks on Israel.

It is a fallacy to believe that giving away Israel’s covenant land given to them by God would result in a peaceful coexistence between Israel and a Palestinian State. The control over the Temple Mount was given to the Arabs thinking this would make peace and everyone would have equal access to it. This is not the case. Jews and Christians are discouraged from praying on the Temple Mount, and visits by Jews are greatly restricted. The proposed peace plan has parts of Jerusalem given to the Palestinian State so that most of the Biblical sites would be under their control. Imagine being told you cannot pray at these sites. In the final analysis, Land for Peace Treaties do not work and do not lead to peace. God bids us to look through His viewfinder of the Bible to see up close His purposes for the Land of Israel and then stand in agreement for His divine purposes so that “All families of the earth can be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3). Arab leaders want Israel to return to the pre-1967 borders. A return to these borders would not bring peace. Geographically, within the 1967 lines, Israel would be diminished to only nine miles at its narrowest point and every major city would fall within short missile range. This is not defensible.

God’s Viewfinder – Israel in Focus.

Years ago, as a United States Marine, I learned to use a pair of binoculars. They had an adjustment lever so the person using them could look at objects at a long distance from the viewer and the object would be brought closer. The adjustment lever allowed the image to become clear to the viewer. A person would be able to see things through this viewfinder that they could not easily see with the naked eye. One could more clearly observe the land or even the movements of the enemy. God has a viewfinder we can use to observe the land of Israel and the enemies of God. The viewfinder of God’s Word tells us God’s purposes for the land of Israel and can also show us what the enemy may be doing to change God’s purposes.

We need a “clear focus” when we look at the land of Israel. This focus is not found by looking through lenses man creates at the United Nations or the news channels. The correct focus is found by looking at the promises of God that He made concerning this land.

[OP-ED] Media Worries About Terrorists Who Died in Israeli Hostage Rescue
https://www.israel365news.com/386294/media-worries-about-terrorists-who-died-in-israeli-hostage-rescue/?
DANIEL GREENFIELD
Of 136 hostages being held, the two rescued were born in Argentina. With Argentinian President, President Milei, having just visited Israel to show Argentinia is standing in solidarity with Israel, is this a coincidence, or a divine wink that the tide is turning in the right direction, that the blessing is beginning?
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/386294/media-worries-about-terrorists-who-died-in-israeli-hostage-rescue/?

https://www.israel365news.com/386147/white-rainbow-spotted-in-north-israel-sign-of-the-messiah/?#
White Rainbow Spotted in North Israel: Sign of the Messiah?
I have set My bow in the clouds, and it shall serve as a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.
GENESIS9:13(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
BIBLICAL NEWS
FEBRUARY 11, 2024
2 MIN READ
Home » White Rainbow Spotted in North Israel: Sign of the Messiah?


Awhite rainbow composed of mist was spotted in northern Israel on Friday by Nadav Yisraeli, an ornithologist at the Society for the Protection of Nature,



As the name suggests, this is phenomenon is very similar to the colorful rainbow we normally see but is formed in fog rather than rain. Because of the very small size of the water droplets in the fog – less than 0.05 millimeters – the colors in such a rainbow are very weak and you can see mainly the color white, with a little red on the outside and a little blue on the inside.

In a normal rainbow, the water drops “break” the light into its colors, and each color is perceived at a slightly different angle. In a rainbow that appears in the fog, the water drops are small and close to each other so that the colors “mix” again and are perceived as white. This is also what happens normally in clouds which is why they are perceived as white.

Many people, upon seeing the rare phenomenon, were reminded of a section in the Zohar (section 1, 72b) that differentiates between a dark-colored rainbow and a light-uncolored rainbow. The Zohar writes that a rainbow in dark colors reminds us that God made a covenant in the time of Noah promising not to bring a flood to the world. A colored rainbow should awaken us to repentance, that the gods of God’s covenant in the days of Noah we were bound by the law of the 16th century.

But, according to the Zohar, a rainbow of bright colors or entirely white marks the imminent arrival of the Messiah. It is a reminder of the covenant of the Biblical patriarchs and God’s promise to return the people of Israel to the Land of Israel. When God does so, he will adorn the people of Israel with all the decorations of a bride.

O Jerusalem, glorify the LORD; praise your God, O Zion!
שַׁבְּחִי יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם אֶת־יְהֹוָה הַלְלִי אֱלֹהַיִךְ צִיּוֹן
Psalm 147:12 (The Israel Bible)
sha-b'-KHEE y'-ru-sha-LA-yim et a-do-NAI ha-l'-LEE e-lo-HA-yikh tzi-YON
"The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Praising and Exalting
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
This verse, like many others in the book of Psalms, is a seemingly repetitive poetic couplet. The first half of the verse and the second half of the verse appear to be saying the same thing in slightly different words. Zion is another name for Jerusalem. Exalt and praise are basically synonyms. Upon closer examination we will find that, while it is true that both phrases are calling upon Jerusalem, or her inhabitants, to praise and exalt God, the subtle differences in syntax reveal a deeper meaning to the verse.

Let us first point out that God is referred to as "your God" in the second phrase. This possessive description of God could have been avoided. The verse could have said,

Exalt the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise God, O Zion.

Why the possessive "your God"?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/praising-and-exalting/?

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

And they saw the God of Israel: under His feet there was the likeness of a pavement of sapphire, like the very sky for purity.
וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְתַחַת רַגְלָיו כְּמַעֲשֵׂה לִבְנַת הַסַּפִּיר וּכְעֶצֶם הַשָּׁמַיִם לָטֹהַר
Exodus 24:10 (The Israel Bible)
va-yir-U AYT e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL v'-TA-khat rag-LAV k'-ma-a-SAY liv-NAT ha-sa-PEER ukh-E-tzem ha-sha-MA-yim l'-TO-har
Sapphire and the Kingdom of Heaven
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
After the revelation at Mount Sinai, when God spoke the Ten Commandments to the nation of Israel, the Torah portion of Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1–24:18) opens with two chapters of laws (Ex. 22-23) spoken by God to Moses at that time. Then, in chapter 24, the Bible tells us that Moses relayed these laws to the people (Ex. 24:3). Moses then wrote the words of the law, built an altar, offered sacrifices to God, and sprinkled some of the blood on the people as a sign of the covenant (v.4-8). And then we read the following:

Moses and Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. They saw the God of Israel; and under His feet was like a configuration of sapphire brick, and it was like the very heavens in purity. – Exodus 24:9-10

What exactly happened in this scene is unclear. Moses, Aaron, Aaron’s sons, and the elders of Israel experienced a prophetic vision. That much is clear. But how are we to understand the description of what they saw? Does God have feet? And what does "like a configuration of sapphire brick" mean? What is the meaning of this vision?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/mishpatim-sapphire-and-the-kingdom-of-heaven/?

https://theisraelbible.com/awareness-of-god-starts-from-the-top/?

https://www.israel365news.com/386028/netanyahu-israel-wont-accept-delusional-demands-victory-within-reach/?
Netanyahu: Israel won’t accept ‘delusional demands,’ victory ‘within reach’
All day long they cause me grief in my affairs, they plan only evil against me.
PSALMS56:6(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)
Bowing to Hamas will lead to another massacre and a “major disaster” that no Israeli citizen will tolerate, said the Israeli prime minister.

Israel will not agree to the “delusional demands” Hamas is making to release the 136 remaining hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on Wednesday night.8

Bowing to the terrorist organization’s demands will lead to another massacre and a “major disaster” that no Israeli citizen will accept, he emphasized, speaking from his office in Jerusalem.

“We are on our way to total victory,” he declared. “Total victory over Hamas will not take years. It will take months. Victory is within reach.

“The IDF is working miracles and working methodically to achieve all the goals that we set,” said Netanyahu.

Hamas has given an official response to a hostages-for-ceasefire framework proposed by mediators, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced at a press conference in Doha on Tuesday.

“I would like to inform the media that we have received a reply from Hamas with regards to the general framework of the agreement with regard to hostages,” said Sheikh Mohammed. “We are optimistic, and we have delivered the response to the Israeli party.”

owing to Hamas will lead to another massacre and a “major disaster” that no Israeli citizen will tolerate, said the Israeli prime minister.

Israel will not agree to the “delusional demands” Hamas is making to release the 136 remaining hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on Wednesday night.8

Bowing to the terrorist organization’s demands will lead to another massacre and a “major disaster” that no Israeli citizen will accept, he emphasized, speaking from his office in Jerusalem.

“We are on our way to total victory,” he declared. “Total victory over Hamas will not take years. It will take months. Victory is within reach.

“The IDF is working miracles and working methodically to achieve all the goals that we set,” said Netanyahu.

Hamas has given an official response to a hostages-for-ceasefire framework proposed by mediators, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced at a press conference in Doha on Tuesday.
VIDEO
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=926394492403717
“I would like to inform the media that we have received a reply from Hamas with regards to the general framework of the agreement with regard to hostages,” said Sheikh Mohammed. “We are optimistic, and we have delivered the response to the Israeli party.”
On Wednesday, Hamas presented a new counteroffer in response to Israeli objections to its demands for a permanent ceasefire and the release of many Palestinian terrorists from Israeli prisons.

The War Cabinet, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Israel Defense Forces operation in Gaza, is expected to meet on Thursday to discuss the ongoing negotiations.

Hamas’s latest proposal consists of a three-stage process spanning four and a half months. In the first phase, the terror group would release all of the remaining female hostages, as well as all those under the age of 19, the elderly and the sick. In exchange, Israel would release women and minor security prisoners.
The second stage would see the release of the remaining living male hostages, with bodies being released in the third stage, at the end of which an agreement would be reached to end the war. Negotiations towards ending the war would start in the first phase, according to Hamas’s proposal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tDapLsrQd4
‘Position will lead to the continuation of war’

In the draft text, the terror group expresses “hope” for the release of 1,500 terrorists, a third of them “heavy” prisoners with life sentences.

The terrorist group is also demanding a total withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the start of the Strip’s rehabilitation and an increase in aid.

Israeli officials previously said Hamas’s demand for a permanent end to the war makes the draft a “non-starter.” The release of 1,500 terrorists, including murderers, is likewise out of the question, they said.
“Hamas’s answer was formulated so that Israel would refuse it. Their position will lead to the continuation of the war and [will lead] our forces to other places in Gaza—soon,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken during a meeting earlier on Wednesday, Israeli officials said.

“From day one, Israel has had hope that every hostage be released. We’re looking forward to the release of 136 Israeli hostages who are being held contrary to all the laws of war and armed conflict,” said Avi Hyman, spokesman for the National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

“There’s a historic precedent for when we last received hostages back to Israel [in November]. Israel applied tremendous military pressure on Hamas, and that’s what led to an agreement. … The IDF is applying huge military pressure against Hamas, bringing them to their knees, and we hope that they will soon acquiesce and release all 136 hostages,” Hyman added.

The IDF killed around 40 Palestinian terrorists during close-quarters combat in the southern Gaza Hamas stronghold of Khan Yunis on Wednesday and arrested 50 gunmen.

A total of 105 hostages, mostly women and children, were released last year as part of a ceasefire deal that Hamas broke when it refused to hand over the last group of captives. The terrorist group had previously released four hostages, and Israeli forces freed one.

An Israeli soldier shares exchanges in an Israeli Air Force helicopter with Tal, 9, and Gal Goldstein, 11, of Kfar Aza (their mother, Chen Goldstein, 48, and sister, Agam Goldstein, 17, were also released), on their return to Israel from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, Nov. 26, 2023. Credit: Courtesy of the IDF Spokesperson.
According to official Israeli figures, 136 hostages remain in Gaza. However, at least 31 of them are confirmed to have died, and Jerusalem is assessing unconfirmed information indicating that another 20 additional captives have also been killed.

The names of the deceased have not been released, a representative of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum stressed on Wednesday, noting that “there is nothing new in the status of the Bibas family, also after yesterday’s press release from the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.”

Kfir Bibas, 1, has been held hostage since Oct. 7, when he was kidnapped along with his father, Yarden; his mother, Shiri; and his brother Ariel, 4. As of last month, Kfir has spent a quarter of his life in captivity.

Hamas and its terrorist allies abducted 253 people during their rampage across the northwestern Negev, murdering some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and wounding thousands more.

Some 50 % of Israelis are opposed to a hostage deal that would see an extended pause in fighting and the release of thousands of terrorists, according to a poll conducted by Channel 12 last week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLDZ5F9q-oU
EP41 For Zion's Sake Podcast - David Cameron's Palestinian State Mistake and UNRWA's Hate Exposed

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

Blessed is the LORD from Zion, He who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah.
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה מִצִּיּוֹן שֹׁכֵן יְרוּשָׁלָ ִם הַלְלוּ־יָהּ
Psalm 135:21 (The Israel Bible)
ba-RUKH a-do-NAI mi-tzi-YON sho-KHAYN y'-ru-sha-LA-im ha-l'-lu-YAH
"The following article is taken from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki's new book, Verses for Zion.
Verses for Zion offers a profound exploration of devotional Bible teachings, intricately woven around the land, people, and God of Israel. Each page is a journey through history and faith, illuminating biblical narratives with insightful interpretations and spiritual wisdom. Verses for Zion will give readers the strength they need to stand up for God, the Bible and the chosen people. Click here to order your copy of Verses for Zion now.
Awareness of God Starts From the Top
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
Psalm 135:21 begins, "Blessed is the LORD from Zion." The obvious question is, does God really need to be blessed by us? What are we actually doing when we bless God? I understand what it means to bless another person. It usually means either that I am bestowing gifts upon them or that I am offering a prayer for their success and well-being. When we speak of blessing someone, we mean that we have something to offer them that will benefit them. Colloquially, someone is blessed with wealth or with a particular talent.

When Isaac blessed his sons, Jacob and Esau, for example, he bestowed gifts upon them both in the realm of materialism as well as in the spiritual arena. In this context, the word blessing indicates material wealth, spiritual gifts, or loftiness of status and power.

The phrase "And He will bless your bread and your water" (Exodus 23:25) likewise refers to the granting of something beneficial by the blesser to the one being blessed.

So, what does it mean to bless God? Are we to understand that when we bless God, we are bestowing something upon Him? The implication that there is some good that we could give God makes no sense. God is complete and perfect in every way. To say that we could bestow anything upon Him implies that there is some way in which He could be improved. Furthermore, as God's creations, we cannot possibly possess anything to give God that does not come from Him to begin with. Obviously, when we talk about blessing God, we mean something other than the conventional use of the term.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE https://theisraelbible.com/awareness-of-god-starts-from-the-top/?

Tie a Blue Ribbon for the Hostages

"Blue Ribbons for Life" is the largest national ribbon effort and aims to maintain public awareness of the hostages for as long as possible, said David Goodtree, one of the campaign organizers.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/385992/tie-a-blue-ribbon-for-the-hostages/?


Sanhedrin: No deal for the hostages until Hamas is entirely eliminated
The nascent Sanhedrin released a decision based on Jewish law, calling on the leadership of Israel to eliminate Hamas and not to enter into any deal with them.
READ MORE »
https://www.israel365news.com/386005/sanhedrin-no-deal-for-the-hostages-until-hamas-is-entirely-eliminated/?
Hamas Officially Demands End to War for Hostages’ Release

"Israel will not stop the fighting. Hamas's response amounts to a negative answer," Israeli officials said.
READ MORE » https://www.israel365news.com/386005/sanhedrin-no-deal-for-the-hostages-until-hamas-is-entirely-eliminated/?

Newly-Elected UN Court President Wished Israel ‘Unhappy Birthday’ for ‘Years of Occupation’
Nawaf Salam, a judge and former Lebanese ambassador to the United Nations, has been a member of the International Court of Justice since 2018.
READ MORE »
https://www.israel365news.com/385979/newly-elected-un-court-president-wished-israel-unhappy-birthday-for-years-of-occupation/?

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

He designated some young men among the Israelites, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as offerings of well-being to the Lord.
וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת־נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלֹת וַיִּזְבְּחוּ זְבָחִים שְׁלָמִים לַיהֹוָה פָּרִים
Exodus 24:5 (The Israel Bible)
va-yish-LAKH et na-a-RAY b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL va-ya-a-LU o-LOT va-yiz-b'-KHU z'-va-KHEEM sh'-la-MEEM la-do-NAI pa-REEM
Engaging the Youth: Lessons from Sinai
By Shira Schechter
In the Torah portion of Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24-18), we encounter a profound moment in the journey of the Israelite people. Following the awe-inspiring revelation at Sinai, when the Ten Commandments were given, a list of detailed laws is presented. This sets the stage for a significant event: the covenant ceremony (Exodus 24:3-11). It's a moment where the Jewish people firmly commit to follow God's laws, marking a pivotal point in their spiritual journey.

The ceremony itself is rich with symbolism and meaning. It features offerings, the writing and reading of the Book of the Covenant, and the sprinkling of blood. I would like to focus on two features that stand out for thier deep significance: the altar made of twelve stones and the involvement of young boys, or youth, in bringing the offerings.

Moses then wrote down all the commands of the Lord. Early in the morning, he set up an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. He designated some young men among the Israelites, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as offerings of well-being to the Lord. (Exodus 24:4-5)

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch wonders why it was necessary to build an altar of twelve stones, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. If the tribes were already physically present at the ceremony, why the need for symbolic representation? Furthermore, who are these "young men" who were designated to bring offerings?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
https://theisraelbible.com/engaging-the-youth-lessons-from-sinai/?



It’s Biden Who’s Playing Politics With The Gaza War, Not Bibi
Whatever one may think of Netanyahu’s character or policies, or whether he should be forced out of office because of the catastrophe that occurred on his watch, the person who is playing politics with the security of Israel and the fate of its citizens is President Joe Biden.
READ MOREhttps://www.israel365news.com/385805/its-biden-whos-playing-politics-with-the-gaza-war-not-bibi/?

Netanyahu Lays Out Conditions for Ending War Against Hamas
https://www.israel365news.com/385872/netanyahu-lays-out-conditions-for-ending-war-against-hamas/?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday set out the country’s core demands for ending the war against Hamas in Gaza.

“The essential goal is, first of all, the elimination of Hamas. To achieve this goal, three things are needed,” Netanyahu told journalists ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.

“The first requirement is the collapse of Hamas’s battalions. To date, we have leveled 17 out of 24 battalions. Most of the remaining battalions are in the southern Gaza Strip and Rafah—we will also take care of those,” he said.

After the battalions are destroyed, the Israeli military will have to carry out clearance operations to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its terrorist army, “as our forces are doing with determination in very aggressive raids in the north and center of the Strip,” Netanyahu continued.

Finally, Netanyahu said, Israel will need to complete “the neutralization of the underground [tunnels], as our forces are systematically doing in Khan Yunis and in all parts of the Strip, and this requires more time.”

The Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from Gaza before it achieves the goals of eliminating Hamas, returning all 136 hostages and ensuring that the coastal enclave never again constitutes a threat to the Jewish state, Netanyahu reiterated.

Netanyahu also called to replace the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA with other aid organizations “not tainted by support for terrorism.”

In an interview published by The Wall Street Journal earlier on Sunday, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir leveled criticism at U.S. President Joe Biden, saying Donald Trump would have been better for Israel during the current war.

“Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel [to Gaza], which goes to Hamas,” charged Ben-Gvir. “If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.”

Ronen Bar, head of the Israeli Security Agency, or Shin Bet, has said Hamas diverts at least 60% of the aid entering the Strip for its own purposes, Channel 12 reported on Jan. 31. Nevertheless, Washington continues to pressure Israel to allow food, fuel and medicine into Gaza.

“I don’t need help navigating our relationship with the U.S. and the international community while standing firm on our national interests. Thank God, I’ve been doing this for several years,” Netanyahu said on Sunday, in an apparent swipe at his right-wing coalition partner.

“Israel is a sovereign state. We greatly appreciate the support we have received from the Biden administration since the outbreak of the war…. This does not mean that we do not have differences of opinion, but so far we have managed to overcome them with determined and weighed decisions,” he noted.

On Jan. 8, IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told The New York Times that Israel had shifted to a new and less intense phase of its war against Hamas, that would involve fewer ground troops and airstrikes.

The move followed repeated demands from Washington for Israel to lower the intensity of combat in the enclave.

Exactly one week later, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called a press conference to signal the impending end to heavy combat in Gaza. “The intensive maneuvering phase in the north of the Gaza Strip has ended, and in the south, it will also end soon,” stated Gallant.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday set out the country’s core demands for ending the war against Hamas in Gaza.

“The essential goal is, first of all, the elimination of Hamas. To achieve this goal, three things are needed,” Netanyahu told journalists ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.

“The first requirement is the collapse of Hamas’s battalions. To date, we have leveled 17 out of 24 battalions. Most of the remaining battalions are in the southern Gaza Strip and Rafah—we will also take care of those,” he said.

After the battalions are destroyed, the Israeli military will have to carry out clearance operations to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its terrorist army, “as our forces are doing with determination in very aggressive raids in the north and center of the Strip,” Netanyahu continued.

Finally, Netanyahu said, Israel will need to complete “the neutralization of the underground [tunnels], as our forces are systematically doing in Khan Yunis and in all parts of the Strip, and this requires more time.”

The Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from Gaza before it achieves the goals of eliminating Hamas, returning all 136 hostages and ensuring that the coastal enclave never again constitutes a threat to the Jewish state, Netanyahu reiterated.

Netanyahu also called to replace the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA with other aid organizations “not tainted by support for terrorism.”

In an interview published by The Wall Street Journal earlier on Sunday, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir leveled criticism at U.S. President Joe Biden, saying Donald Trump would have been better for Israel during the current war.

“Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel [to Gaza], which goes to Hamas,” charged Ben-Gvir. “If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.”

Ronen Bar, head of the Israeli Security Agency, or Shin Bet, has said Hamas diverts at least 60% of the aid entering the Strip for its own purposes, Channel 12 reported on Jan. 31. Nevertheless, Washington continues to pressure Israel to allow food, fuel and medicine into Gaza.

“I don’t need help navigating our relationship with the U.S. and the international community while standing firm on our national interests. Thank God, I’ve been doing this for several years,” Netanyahu said on Sunday, in an apparent swipe at his right-wing coalition partner.

“Israel is a sovereign state. We greatly appreciate the support we have received from the Biden administration since the outbreak of the war…. This does not mean that we do not have differences of opinion, but so far we have managed to overcome them with determined and weighed decisions,” he noted.

On Jan. 8, IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told The New York Times that Israel had shifted to a new and less intense phase of its war against Hamas, that would involve fewer ground troops and airstrikes.

The move followed repeated demands from Washington for Israel to lower the intensity of combat in the enclave.

Exactly one week later, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called a press conference to signal the impending end to heavy combat in Gaza. “The intensive maneuvering phase in the north of the Gaza Strip has ended, and in the south, it will also end soon,” stated Gallant.

https://www.israel365news.com/385822/sanhedrin-calls-on-israeli-government-to-reject-international-court-of-justice/?
Court of Justice
Then Hashem said to Moshe, “Gather for Me seventy of Yisrael's elders of whom you have experience as elders and officers of the people, and bring them to the Tent of Meeting and let them take their place there with you.
NUMBERS
11:
16
(THE ISRAEL BIBLE)

Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz
ADAM ELIYAHU BERKOWITZ
JERUSALEM
FEBRUARY 4, 2024
3 MIN READ
Home » Sanhedrin Calls on Israeli Government to Reject International Court of Justice
The nascent Sanhedrin issued a ruling about the case brought by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

In late December, Pretoria submitted an 84-page charge to the ICJ in which it formally accused Israel of genocide. The South African delegation also claimed that the very establishment of the State of Israel was tantamount to genocide.

The ICJ is an international legal body that operates under the auspices of the United Nations. It has the right to adjudicate cases between states either with the explicit permission of the defendant state or by prior agreement in the form of an international agreement or by formal notification to the court.

In this case, the basis for the trial is the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was established in 1948 in response to the crimes of the Holocaust and was signed both by Israel and South Africa. According to the convention, the crime of genocide requires the intentional destruction “in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”

Israel is the fifth country to face the charge of genocide in the ICJ.

The nascent Sanhedrin issued a ruling last week concerning the ICJ ruling.


“The Sanhedrin strongly urges the Israeli government to flee the court in The Hague as long for as long as it exists. The Sanhedrin asks the Israeli government to end the farcical testimony before the court in The Hague.

(a) Morality should be based in the Torah, as the people of Israel received from God at Mount Sinai, and not from the court in The Hague.

(b) Everyone knows who the judges are: countries that have violated many laws of honesty and justice towards their neighbors and their citizens. For example: China, Uganda, Somalia, Lebanon, and Russia. The judges themselves will be judged for their hypocrisy and for practicing discrimination.

(c) The whole issue of resistance to genocide is an issue that Israel, in most of its wisdom, presented to the world as our personal experience from World War II. Of course, this did not prevent other genocides from taking place. It is absurd that this claim has been made against the State of Israel.

(d) The war in Gaza is a response to October 7. How can it be that a court that claims to be justice discusses October 8 before October 7?

(e) The court has not yet called on Israel to stop the war. This would be a reward to the terrorist organization Hamas-ISIS. Now that Israel has presented all its evidence, the ‘show’ is over, and the truth must be told: we have no trust, no connection, and no regard for this tribunal, nor its deliberations, nor its decisions.

(f) If the tribunal has so much extra time that it can bring spurious claims against Israel, perhaps they can also deal with the Uyghurs in China, the Kurds in Turkey, the Yemenis among themselves, the Khuzestan province of Iran, and the chemical weapons used by Syria against its citizens. Insofar as the claims that Israel is carrying out genocide against the Arabs who live within its borders, our country is composed of 20% Muslims. Apparently, they are doing very well here.

“As much as this trial is justice, we can learn from the Israeli representative at the court, Aharon Barak, that all his rulings when he was president of the Supreme Court tied the army’s hands from defending and protecting the Israeli people, and ultimately brought upon us the October 7th massacre.”

“In conclusion: before the court unleashes all its anti-Semitism on us, the Israeli government must declare its non-recognition.”