There is evidence of a spirit of contrition among many Gentile Christians, whose eyes are being opened to the place of Israel in God’s purposes.

By: Charles Gardner – Israel Today; israeltoday.co.il

The blindness that once afflicted Israel over their Messiah (Romans 11:8) in due time affected Christians who themselves became blinded to the key role of those who continue to be the “apple of God’s eye” (Zechariah 2:8).

But now the scales are falling off the eyes of both Jew and Gentile. In Israel, there is growing recognition of the significance of Jesus, and indeed of the great wealth of support from the evangelical constituency, especially in America. Alongside this is the growing movement of Messianic Jews, both in Israel and abroad. And these Jewish followers of Jesus are making an increasing impact in Israel. Their stand may not be ‘kosher’ among Orthodox Jews, but many practicing and secular Jews have been taking note.

This no doubt includes the likes of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who sees the state of Israel as the fulfilment of Ezekiel’s prophecy of dry bones coming to life. All of which suggests that the day long foretold when a great number of Jews will recognise “the one they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:26) is rapidly approaching.

cont’d…

By: David Swindle – Jewish News Syndicate; jns.org

“It is a total mystery to me why [President Joe] Biden and [Secretary of State Antony] Blinken are violating a federal law, the Taylor Force Act,” said Stuart Force, Taylor’s father.

In 2018, the Trump administration signed into law the Taylor Force Act to prevent the U.S. government from sending funds to the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) as long as it continues to fund terrorism. Now, a new lawsuit supported by victims of terror is seeking to compel the Biden administration to follow suit.

Filed by America First Legal, a new firm founded and led by former Trump presidential senior advisor Stephen Miller, the lawsuit identifies the Biden administration funding the P.A. with more than $1 billion in taxpayer dollars as a violation of the Taylor Force Act, named after a Vanderbilt University student and former army officer stabbed to death in Tel Aviv in 2016.

“Joe Biden is breaking the law by allowing our tax dollars to fund terrorism in Israel, and he must be stopped. I have deep respect for my fellow plaintiffs who have been tragically and directly impacted by Pay to Slay, and I am proud to be on the same team as we hold this failed administration accountable,” U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) said, referring to the P.A. terror-funding policy’s nickname.

https://www.jns.org/new-lawsuit-challenges-biden-administration-to-stop-funding-palestinian-terrorism/

By: Israel National News; israelnationalnews.com

Likud MK May Golan, Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz join Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion for candle lighting ceremony at the Western Wall.

Candle lighting for the first night of Hanukkah took place Sunday evening in the presence of the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz; the mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Moshe Lion, MK May Golan (Likud), Director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation Mordechai (Suli) Eliav and the general public.

Rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz said at Sunday evening’s ceremony: “Whoever makes their way to the modest plaza at the foot of the ancient stones and joins the tens of thousands who come to the Western Wall every day, sees that the Western Wall continues to be a place of connection and unity.”

“They see a place where prayers of every kind are recited alongside each other. They see traditional prayers and those that spontaneously erupt from the heart. Everyone is attracted to the Western Wall and to the light that shines from it onto the nation and out to the entire world. This year again, we will light the menorah at the Western Wall Plaza every night of Hanukkah.”

cont’d…

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/364594

By: Ian M. Giatti – The Christian Post; christianpost.com

Owner claims restaurant prides itself on being ‘an inclusive environment’

The head of a Christian pro-family group in Virginia says a local restaurant refused service to the organization last week over its views on marriage and abortion.

Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation, said the staff at Metzger Bar and Butchery in Richmond refused to service the group’s pre-reserved event last Wednesday, where they had planned to gather supporters for fellowship and updates on their work.

Cobb told The Christian Post that one of Metzger’s owners contacted her team about 90 minutes before the event and said they needed to cancel.

At first, Cobb said that a team member was told that the wait staff had looked up our organization and refused to serve the group.

But a short time later, the restaurant issued a statement “citing our views on traditional marriage and valuing unborn human life,” she said.

That statement — which was posted on Metzger’s social media pages — said the owners decided after they learned the group had donated to a “political organization that seeks to deprive women and LGTBTQ+ persons of their basic human rights in Virginia.”

cont’d…

https://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-group-denied-service-at-virginia-restaurant.html

By: Michael Gryboski – The Christian Post; christianpost.com

More than 50 public libraries have not accepted an offer for a Kirk Cameron story hour featuring his new children’s book, even though they allow drag queen story hours, according to his publisher.

In an interview with Fox News, Brave Books said over 50 public libraries have either not responded to their request for a Cameron story hour or declined.

The publisher cited the example of Rochambeau Public Library of Providence, Rhode Island, which declined the story hour offer. The library described itself as a “very queer-friendly library.”

“You can fill out the form to reserve space, to run the program in our space — but we won’t run your program,” said a representative of the library, according to Brave Books. “Our messaging does not align.”

Rochambeau offers a “Queer Umbrella” program for youth, according to Fox News, which describes itself as a “club and safe space where teens can learn, discuss and connect over queer history, art, community resources, and more.”

Another example cited by Brave Books was City Heights/Weingart Branch Library of San Diego, California, which had a representative reportedly tell the publisher that given “how diverse our community is, I don’t know how many people you would get.”

For his part, Cameron told Fox News Digital that he believed the rejections were “proof that more than ever, we are getting destroyed in the battle for the hearts and minds of our children.”

cont’d…

https://www.christianpost.com/news/drag-queen-story-hour-ok-but-not-kirk-cameron-public-libraries-say.html

Jewish News Syndicate; jns.org

“I repeat clearly and unambiguously: Jerusalem is the capital of Israel,” says Conservative Party head Pierre Poilievre.

Canadian Opposition Leader and Conservative Party head Pierre Poilievre vowed on Tuesday to move the Canadian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem if he is elected prime minister.

“I announced my recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital [while campaigning] and now, as opposition leader and head of the Conservative Party, I repeat clearly and unambiguously: Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and when I am elected prime minister of Canada, I will ensure that our embassy is relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” said Poilievre.

He made the comments to fellow Canadian lawmakers and Israeli diplomats during a gathering on Parliament Hill in Ottawa organized by the Keep Jerusalem–Im Eshkachech group, which educates communities about the centrality of Jerusalem in Jewish life and the importance of maintaining the city united and secure under Israeli sovereignty.

cont’d…

https://www.jns.org/canadian-opposition-leader-vows-to-move-embassy-to-jerusalem-if-elected-prime-minister/

By: Howard Blas – Jewish News Syndicate; jns.org

American Judaica artist Jeanette Kuvin Oren is well-known for her work in many media. She designs unique Torah mantles, ark curtains, chuppah wedding canopies, ketubah marriage contracts, papercuts, stained glass and nearly any ritual object or decoration a synagogue, Jewish home or family would ever need.

On Oct. 20, Kuvin Oren added “designer of a U.S. Postal Service stamp” to her impressive résumé. The “Hanukkah Forever” postage stamp is based on one of Kuvin Oren’s works.

“Jeanette’s art came to my attention several years ago and I am very happy to be able to bring her work to a very wide audience,” Ethel Kessler of Kessler Design, who serves as art director for stamps at the USPS, says enthusiastically. “Her work has a glowing and joyful spirit and that’s what I wanted to add to our U.S. Hanukkah series.”

cont’d…

https://www.jns.org/us-postal-service-celebrates-hanukkah-with-forever-stamp/

By: John Waage – CBN News; cbn.com

JERUSALEM, Israel – Before the FIFA World Cup soccer championships began in Qatar 10 days ago, Israelis were optimistic that the event could break cultural barriers in sports and within the Muslim world at large. After all, the government in Doha allowed direct flights from Israel and was even setting up a Kosher kitchen to accommodate Jewish tourists.

Qatar is the first Muslim country to host the world cup, and although protests against the Gulf nation’s funding of terrorism and other issues were prevalent before the games. Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, built an entire studio to cover the matches in Doha despite the Israel team’s failure to qualify for the final 32 teams. In the afterglow of the Abraham Accords and given Israel’s passion for soccer, it seemed like a solid decision.

Since then, the talk of Kosher kitchens has given way to darker accounts. The Associated Press describes an incident before the matches began when an Israeli Kan journalist was wandering through the venue and found a Qatari man in a traditional headdress and white robe, and approached him for an interview:

cont’d…

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2022/november/israelis-in-qatar-jarred-by-hostile-reception-from-fans-residents

By: Daniel Copeland – CBN News; cbn.com

ANALYSIS

Barna Group isn’t new to generational research—and the discouragement that sometimes comes with it. In research of Christianity and the Church, in particular, the news of declining faith and engagement, especially among young people, can tend to overshadow any bright spots in the data.

In this piece, however, I want to share some of those rare bits of good news: Our most recent (and largest) study to date shows that, for Gen Z, there is much reason to be hopeful and optimistic.

I want to address just one area here: their perceptions of the Bible.

We surveyed nearly 25,000 teens ages 13 to 17 from 26 nations. Those surveyed came from all faith backgrounds, including teens of no faith. We discovered the Church may have a launching point from which to begin authentically discipling this next generation.

cont’d…

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2022/november/study-shows-much-of-gen-z-believes-the-bible-is-true-ndash-heres-the-good-and-the-bad-news

By: Jerusalem Post Staff; jpost.com

The West Bank “is not occupied territory, it is disputed territory,” DeSantis told the RJC. “I don’t care what the State Department says.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended Israel’s claim to the West Bank in his speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s (RJC) annual leadership meeting on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

According to the 2024 presidential hopeful, the West Bank “is not occupied territory, it is disputed territory,” he claimed. “I don’t care what the State Department says.”

The Floridian was one of a host of Republican leaders who spoke at the convention, including former US president Donald Trump and likely the next speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, who told Jewish Republicans he plans to remove outspoken anti-Israel Democrat Ilhan Omar from the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.

cont’d…

https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-722930