March 2024 Personal Letter

FROM SARAH, OUR SABRA
ON THE GROUND IN ISRAEL

Dear Friend,

Greetings from Israel. Several months ago, while the atrocities of the October 7 massacre were fresh in everyone’s minds, our 17-year-old son received his first pre-service call-up for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). All youth are screened before enlisting for the mandatory two-to-three-year military service at age 18. Each person receives scores related to medical condition, socioeconomic status, intelligence, ability to follow orders, and skills that interest the IDF. The initial testing occurs over two long days. Higher scores result in additional screening for more (and better) roles, including the air force pilot program, military intelligence, and special forces.

Preparing to Serve

Our son had prepared diligently for his tests and was fairly confident when he arrived. After medical exams, he went through extensive math tests and intelligence evaluations. When he returned home that night, he wasn’t sure how he had done. The next morning, however, he received his scores. Because they were excellent, he was identified as potential officer material.

Typically, five or six months pass before the second day of testing, but our son received another call-up after only four weeks. That day included more intelligence challenges, information-processing evaluations, and tests to evaluate social skills, teamwork, confidence, and empathy.

He received his scores after less than a week. Once again, they were high. We congratulated him since he had worked hard to prepare for screening while maintaining excellent grades in the most intensive year of high school. “I’m proud of you,” I told him. “That’s it until next year. Now, you can focus on school and maybe have time to relax a bit.”

Excellent Opportunities

Yet within weeks, he got a call from the air force pilot program. This extended testing occurs over several months. If recruits continue to succeed, they aren’t screened for any other roles. The IDF believes that finding the best pilot candidates takes priority over all other military positions.

Recruits endure more math, physics, and intelligence challenges, along with psychological evaluations. In each step, candidates must pass a flight simulator test, which increases in difficulty with each new level. Those who don’t pass any test are immediately dismissed from the program.

Of the 10,000 who begin this screening, only 800 complete the initial testing. These individuals are invited to a five-day trial at an air force base, which involves endurance challenges and more rigorous flight simulators. Only 240 candidates pass this trial and then begin the three-year flight school program — of which no more than 40 will complete and finally become military pilots.

All highly prized units in the IDF involve a similar, intensive selection process. Those who do not pass the testing for a specific role have new options open to them. For our son, this could mean military intelligence and commando (special forces) screening. Since a good position in the military can benefit future career and earning possibilities, families have a great interest in helping their child succeed.

The Realities of Serving

Military service is not just about great opportunities. It can be dangerous. Though the October 7 atrocities were horrible enough, the massacre also started a war. Here in Israel, we wake up daily to photos of newly fallen soldiers. Seeing pictures of young men who gave their lives for our protection has become a heartbreaking routine. Some days are more difficult — like January 22, when 21 IDF soldiers died in Gaza and many others were seriously injured in an explosion. December 15 was another challenging day, when three Israeli hostages who escaped their Hamas captors were mistakenly shot and killed by IDF soldiers. The days when some hostages returned home brought momentary relief until we learned what they had endured — then we became more concerned about those who remain in captivity.

When our son’s call-up came, my thoughts immediately turned to how “personal” this war could become. As his mother, I considered it a wake-up call for my heart as the reality of his service (and soon that of our other two children) was fast approaching. Our son, however, didn’t succumb to the grief that seems to echo throughout the country. He wanted to fight in the war, to serve and protect our country.

The vast majority of younger Israelis also have this attitude. Beginning on October 7, we witnessed an extraordinary shift in Israeli society. This country had endured extended political unrest, including five rounds of elections within less than 3 years, followed by almost a year of mass demonstrations related to proposed judicial reform. This turmoil severely damaged our country’s unity. Some in the military tried to warn government leaders that our enemies perceived this as an opportune time to attack, but their words were disregarded.

The massacre changed everything, at least for a while. By noon on October 7, over 100,000 reserve duty soldiers — including my brother — received emergency call-ups. That number rose to 300,000 within 48 hours. Young Israelis have a tradition called “the journey after the army” — a long trip of up to a year, to distant places that are vastly different from Israel — like India, Nepal, and New Zealand. Though many reservists were traveling, they began their journey home when they were called.

Prepared to Sacrifice

Because most airlines suspended flights to Israel by the evening of October 8, many young adults struggled to get to Israel. On airline flights that were still operating, many families and business travelers who had tickets voluntarily gave up their seats so that reserve soldiers could return. El Al, Israel’s national airline, flew special aircraft to several key cities such as Hong Kong and New York and then returned to Israel with reservists. The mood on those flights was somber, as men and women understood that they were returning to fight and possibly sacrifice their lives on behalf of the country.

Many other Israelis began setting up food trucks and makeshift pit stops, stockpiling supplies along the southern border where soldiers prepared for battle. For months, volunteers have prepared food for soldiers and displaced citizens who fled the border towns in both the southern and northern parts of the country. Celebrities visited with and performed for soldiers and the over-100,000 displaced men, women, and children. Israeli solidarity has been at its highest.

The extreme external threat to Israel’s existence led to this rapid transformation. Israelis were stunned by the sudden rise of anti-Semitic demonstrations in many universities and major cities around the world. As some Israeli headlines stated, “Accusing the Victim; It Doesn’t Make Sense.”

Dealing with Difficulty

Israelis know that the Middle East operates under a unique set of rules from the West. We also realize that world leaders who pressure Israel against harming civilians don’t grasp the true nature of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. They hide soldiers, weapons, and military infrastructure among civilians. Terrorist leaders don’t care about their own people. In their twisted minds, civilian casualties are simply the price of jihad (holy war). By their continued actions, they hope to further damage Israel in the court of public opinion.

And such tactics seem to be working. You can imagine our distress when South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of war crimes, despite the extensive evidence of Hamas’s atrocities, military infrastructure, and terroristic plans. Still, our soldiers and leaders know that we are fighting a just and necessary war. Israelis tell anyone who will listen: “If we don’t win, you are next.”

All of us mortals face physical and emotional challenges that can be daunting. But no matter what we encounter — the rigors of parenting, living through war, economic hardship, facing false accusations, dealing with loss, or any other difficulty — we Believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah can respond like the Apostle Paul: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Cor. 4:8). We can experience the reality of Psalm 46:1–2, which asserts: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…. God has promised us His presence: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). As we walk with Him, He also gives us His wisdom (Isa. 33:6; James 1:5), His peace (John 14:27; Phil. 4:7), and His power (Eph. 3:20; 6:10).

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6–7).

Im tirdefu lada-at oto —
“Press on to know HIM!” (Hosea 6:3 NLT),

Sarah Liberman

P.S. Please remember ZLM with your financial contributions and prayers as we all work together to teach God’s Word and bless the Chosen People, particularly those living in the Holy Land. ✡

: One Day at a Time

While the IDF battles Hamas, the people of Israel wait — for all the remaining hostages to be returned alive and for their country to return to normal. This ministry must also wait until we can resume our Bible study pilgrimages to Israel. But waiting doesn’t mean we are idle. We pray daily for our beloved Israel — especially its soldiers, their families, and leadership on all levels.

We also continue to plan for this October, when Joshua and Caleb Colson will join David and Kirsten Hart and a group of pilgrims on a life-changing experience throughout the land of the Bible. Please contact our travel manager Sandra at 214-696-9760, travel@levitt.com, or levitt.com/tours. She can help you prepare for your journey of a lifetime!

Am Yisrael Chai (The people of Israel live!)

Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim! —
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!” (Psalm 122:6),

David and Kirsten Hart

P.S. Your ongoing financial support of ZLM also benefits many ministries within the State of Israel. In addition to helping us keep our Gospel teaching on the air each week in Israel and across the world, you are making a difference in the lives of Israeli citizens. For a list of ministries that we continue to support, see blog.levitt.com/israeli-support. ✡

Our Jewish Roots TV programs in March

We filmed Roadmap to Armageddon in Israel just prior to October 7. This series follows our tradition of taping our teaching segments in or near the Biblical locations where the Scriptures unfolded. Despite the ongoing war and rumors of wars (Matt. 24:6), our production crew plans to return to Israel on April 29 to film for upcoming Bible teaching. If they are delayed, Joshua and Caleb Colson are ready to do whatever it takes to continue providing you with Jewish-rooted Bible teaching to help you follow Yeshua (Jesus) in these uncertain days.

Continuing in our Roadmap to Armageddon series, the Bearded Bible Brothers address the Biblical order of prophetic events that precipitate Armageddon. While these programs are heavy in content, they address timely topics that every Believer should know and understand.

ROADMAP TO ARMAGEDDON

Babylon the Great — What is the nature of the Beast’s kingdom? Where is its headquarters? What is its connection to the False Prophet? Joshua and Caleb search for the remnants of King Herod’s lost temple to Caesar Augustus. The brothers also travel to Caesarea to reveal the identity of the future Babylon the Great and its perverse center of worship.

The Third Temple — On the next stop on the roadmap, Joshua and Caleb dissect the Beast’s grand peace treaty that begins the Tribulation and the construction of the Third Temple. How will the revived Mosaic worship differ from the one world religion? The brothers travel to Jerusalem to discover when all these events will unfold on the prophetic timetable.

Abomination — The Abomination of Desolation is a pinnacle moment in Scripture — that’s the horrific event that begins the Great Tribulation (the second half of the Tribulation). Joshua and Caleb ascend the Temple Mount to connect the prophetic puzzle pieces of the Beast’s death and resurrection through Satan’s indwelling. We look at God’s rescue plan for the Jewish people during the invasion of Jerusalem.

Jacob’s Trouble — In this solemn episode, Joshua and Caleb recall the history of persecution against the Jewish people, and how the time of Jacob’s Trouble ups the ante. The last three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation will be the most destructive period of all time, as God pours out His wrath on the wicked while Satan unleashes his hate against Israel.