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Shalom from Jerusalem. It is so good to be in Israel!

The Fall tour group has gone—as has Berg Production—leaving me to discover Israel on my own again. It is quiet and I am enjoying a few hours of getting into the hum of daily life.

The 60 or so pilgrims who made their way to Israel with us were rewarded with a new insight on the Bible and their faith. It was wonderful to watch as they came to understand the power of this land and the God they serve. Our head guide, Zvi, had us up and going at 6:30 am each day, finishing about 5 pm. I can honestly say that we saw Israel from Dan to Beersheba.

The weather had been exceptional, except for one day of rain when we were headed to the Old City. It was one of the few times I could actually get up to the Western Wall without having to push my way through all the other women. The rain had kept most away. Still it was a special time to see the Wall and to pray.

I like to ask the pilgrims what their favorite site is and hear what they have to say. Most agreed that the Yeshua (Jesus) boat ride on the Sea of Galilee was their favorite. I must confess that it is one of my favorite sites also. The boat has music playing as we leave the dock and head out to the middle of the Galilee. It is really a time of praise and worship.

Once we are in the middle of the lake, the seamen raise the American flag and play our national anthem. While sitting there on the Galilee and hearing the words, “home of the brave and land of the free” really takes on new meaning.

Then HaTikva, the Israel national anthem, is played. It too, really makes my heart swell. Both countries have made so many sacrifices for freedom. Hearing Amazing Grace sung in Hebrew takes on a whole new meaning also.

Really, a good group of people. I am looking forward to the Spring tour already!

Berg Productions was here to do filming for Zola Levitt Presents. Jeff did filming on the new series about Daniel. We also filmed two year-end programs in Jerusalem overlooking the city. The weathermen had predicted rain, but the day turned out beautiful. Looking back over the past year was hard for me. We both did some interviews which I think everyone will find very timely and interesting.

I am staying at the same Bed and Breakfast I have stayed at in the past. When I walked in to the reception area, I was greeted with a “welcome home.” They had even made sure I had hot water for a shower. I really was touched by their kindness. Breakfast the next morning was just as it was when I was here in July. Boiled eggs, tomatoes, red peppers, cucumbers, lots of fresh bread, and for me, lots of coffee. I went for my morning paper to the same little store. Routine—I love it. I reached down and got my bottle of water and had to laugh that nothing had changed and the water was where I had left it.

Yes, I made my trek to the laundry. Believe or not, they remembered that I was Will’s ema (mother). They just laughed at my small amount of laundry. Later that afternoon, I picked it up and was told that I had gotten a discount because he knew I would be back.

I am resting and getting caught up on emails and such. But, it is good to be here in the land I love so much.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem,
Blessings,
Sandra

Rosh Hashanna is the New Year on the Jewish calendar. God commands in Exodus 12:2 that the month of Nissan shall be the beginning of the year. Nissan, which is in the spring, is indeed the first month of the Jewish calendar, and the same month as Passover. So why then is the New Year celebrated at the beginning of the 7th month?

In Leviticus chapter 23, where the feasts of the Lord are outlined, there’s no mention of a New Year celebration. Verse 23-25 outline what we have come to call the Feast of Trumpets. It says:

23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.’ ” (NKJV)

The text is vague as to what this feast is and what is required, other than the blowing of shofars and refraining from work. In the modern Jewish tradition, this holiday has come to be the New Year’s celebration. Rosh Hashanna, which means head of the year, is the beginning of the Jewish civil year, while the beginning of the calendar in the month of Nissan is considered the New Year for the holiday cycle.

Unlike in most nations throughout the world the New Year isn’t a time for wild partying, in Israel and in Jewish culture the New Year is a time primarily for being with family and friends. The celebration lasts for two days, during which almost everything is closed. In the days ahead of Rosh Hashanna, people are busy scurrying about to make their last minute purchases and preparations for the feast. When the feast arrives, it’s very quiet, very intimate, and no fireworks.

A traditional greeting given is: shanna tova u’metuka, which means have a happy and sweet New Year. Sweets are also used throughout other Jewish holidays and are meant to serve as a reminder that God’s word and its study is something sweet that we should long after. In addition to pomegranates, whose 613 seeds inside traditionally represent each of the commandments in the Torah, honey and apples will be served. And because Rosh Hashanna is the head of the year, round bread and even fish heads can be found on many dining tables.

So whether it’s now, in the spring, or on January 1st — happy New Year to everyone.

I went to the north again yesterday to view the damage done to the forests and agricultural fields by fire. Quite a large amount of land was consumed by fires from Hizbullah rockets that missed the populated areas, but still caused damage. A spokesman for the Jewish National Fund recently wrote in an article that the damage to the forests and fields is estimated at several million dollars and will take between five and six years to recover.

I began with a tour of the Naftali hills, which rise above Kiryat Shemona. These hills separate Israel and Lebanon, and many rockets that landed short of Kiryat Shemona sparked fires on these hills. The smoke and ash would pour down the hills, covering the town and valley below. Now that the guns have silenced and the fires all been put out, the full extent of the damage became visible. Much of the hillside is now black and grey. If the trees haven’t been totally destroyed, then they are brownish in color, as if it were autumn.

Down below in the Hula Valley, much of the same. On one side of a road just south of Kiryat Shemona, the trees are all still green, untouched by the fires. On the other side, a Katusha rocket had landed and sparked a fire, burning everything in its path up until the road. Everywhere the smell of fire still remained in the air. In some places the ground was covered with a soft layer of ash that would circulate about as I walked through the area.

I talked with two firemen at the Kiryat Shemona station, who lamented the damage to the forests, as well as to property and lives. They said that every day during the war they were responding to something like 60 calls. They worked at a feverish pace and were even supplemented by fire crews from around the country, but still the task of extinguishing all of the blazes was too much. Only after the fighting had stopped were the firefighters able to extinguish all of the fires.

The Hizbullah intentionally targeted Israeli civilian populations, and whenever they missed often had the added “advantage” of burning forests and fields of crops. It is doubtful that any of this was seen on the news programs. Instead, they chose to focus on the suffering of the poor Lebanese people from the “war crimes” committed by the cruel Israelis. It is amazing that how no matter what the situation or the circumstances, the world media and the UN can find a way to blame Israel for it.

I traveled to the north again today as part of a Bridges for Peace mission to deliver food and supplies to needy families there. Passing us on our way north were several tanks on flatbed trucks heading south. Our first stop was to Kiryat Shemona, where some 800 rockets fell over the course of the fighting with the Hezbollah. Several homes have minor damage, such as windows shattered and shutters blown apart, from where the rockets had missed the buildings but still caused damage from the shock of the impact. Again, when weighed against the number of rockets fired at the city, there were thankfully very few direct hits against homes. However, we examined an apartment building that had sustained a direct hit on Saturday, just before the cease-fire went in to effect.

We went to our target neighborhood where students and several poor families were living. Less than 10 minutes after we opened the doors to the truck almost all the food and supplies were gone. One neighbor would tell their neighbor, they knew best who around them was in the most need. I talked with a 14 year old girl who came to get some food from us. She and her mother stayed in their apartment throughout the war, suffering the impact of Katusha rockets around them, the constant boom of Israeli artillery firing into Lebanon, and the smoke and ash that filled the air. All the residents were so very grateful to receive this food, and thanked us many time over, even after we told them that it came from Christians.

While in the neighborhood we toured their communal bomb shelter. It was located between several apartment buildings, and a Katusha had landed only 3 meters away from it! The steep stairs led down about two stories underground to a set of heavy steel doors. Inside the room were bunk beds, a modest shower and bathroom, and not much else. It was very hot a stuffy inside, and could only be worse when filled with people. The children had drawn several pictures and placed them on the walls, as well as painting several designs directly on to the walls. Their efforts brightened the place had helped somewhat, but it was still very sad that children had to spend so much time in such a place as that.

In the city itself things were beginning to return to normal. The street lights were working again and there were several cars on the streets, including a student driver getting a lesson. The city buses were operating, shops were open, and people were seen walking out and about for the first time in a month. A man drove in a van advertising by loudspeaker the watermelons that he was selling. The only thing that betrayed the sense of normalcy was seeing many of the residents acting like tourists, moving from place to place around the city with camera in hand, photographing and talking with their neighbors about each of the Katusha strikes and damage.

The road north to Metulla was also busy with traffic. The gate to the town was open, and for the most part the army was gone. Some engineer and other units remained behind, but the tanks were gone. All was quiet, except for the buzzing of Israeli spy drones overhead.

We later saw where the tanks had moved to after they left from Lebanon. They were staged in an open area, close enough to the border to respond quickly enough if called upon.

Next we headed west along the road known as the Northern Highway. This highway runs generally straight from just south of Kiryat Shemona to Rosh Hanikra on the coast, many times right along the border with Lebanon. It was from there where I finally entered into an area where the artillery was set-up and was allowed to film. The guns had now fallen silent, and the commander had no problem letting us take pictures and talk with his soldiers. They were tired, having worked very hard around the clock during the fighting.

After the artillery we turned back south and headed towards Jerusalem. We stopped in Tiberias for dinner, where that city really had returned to normal. Stores were open, cars and people were everywhere, including in the pedestrian shopping area in downtown. The restaurant we went to had been open for two days, since the day after the cease-fire. Our waitress was glad to see customers again, and glad to see the sunlight again after so much time in the bomb shelters.

On my way back up to the north yesterday, I passed through Tiberias again. It was about 11:30, and this time there were people everywhere. While some shops remained closed, a great many more were open again. There were people in the streets, shopping, eating, and going about their daily life again. I had a shawarma. It has been several days since a rocket has hit Tiberias, so people felt a little more comfortable emerging from their homes and shelters. However, when I came back through the city on my way home to Jerusalem, everything was closed again, and it was only 5:30 in the evening.

When I arrived in Kiryat Shemona, I hadn’t been there two minutes before the siren went off. Normally I just get my camera ready and position myself where there’s a view, but this time was different. I saw two policemen, wearing helmets and flak vests, running for the nearest shelter. I decided to follow them.

I ended up at the main municipality shelter, where the mayor and his staff had their underground offices. They said that I had arrived on a particularly heavy day of rockets, and I listened as they took the reports of where each rocket landed. After the “all clear” was given, I rush over to where one of them had just hit, but a cameraman from Fox News beat me there.

A Katusha had hit and collapsed the front part of a home, and pieces of the rocket were everywhere. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. As I take pictures another alarm sends the crowd of reporters, police, and locals that had gathered there scrambling for cover. Afterward, I talk with one resident there who says that he has a brother in Dallas.

The sound of the Israeli artillery firing back into Lebanon booms throughout the city, and I decide to go find them. After some driving I do find their location, but again I’m told no photos. I decide to move on to Metula and see what’s going on there.

On the way there I encounter a mortar platoon setting up and preparing to fire. I get out and take several pictures of the troops in action. This is what I had been waiting for. I’m close enough to hear the commander giving out orders: their target in one strike was a gas station.

After the mortars, I climb the hill above Kiryat Shemona, right on the border, near to where I had been with my mom in a previous adventure at kibbutz Misgav Am. There’s an amazing view into Lebanon, and I can see smoke coming from several villages in the distance, probably from the Israeli artillery and mortars. As I drive a little further I see the Fox News van, so I stop. It’s their correspondent Mike Tobin and crew. I watch them for just a little bit, and between their live broadcasts make sure to tell them what a good job they are doing with their coverage of everything. He tells me that he has a house in Dallas, but that he hasn’t ever been there—always away on assignment.

Back to the bunker in Kiryat Shemona, and the mayor is meeting with former defense minister Shaul Mofaz. In the city there is one convenience store open. Only 15 meters away is a hole in the road from where a Katusha had landed some days ago. I make sure to buy a drink from them for the road, and wish them the best of luck.

Greetings from Dallas. I made it back all safe and sound. Not much to report. I spent Thursday night in Zurich and got the Zurich-to-Dallas flight the next morning.

I will say that it was hard to listen to French/German on my short stay over in Zurich. I had been concentrating so hard on Hebrew and then a new language came my way. I had taken French in High School, so I thought in French with Hebrew responses to questions. I ordered soup at the hotel and actually said “todah” (thank you) to the server.

I am doing my usual early morning getting up, with naps during the day. It is harder for me coming back to the States with the jet lag. This too shall pass. I get lots of reading and other work done.

Will is fine. In fact, he went Saturday up to Northern Israel to check things out. I think I may have slowed him down a bit while I was in Israel. He is sending a report for the blog. It is good to have someone on the ground in Israel to report what is really happening. I get so tired of watching the “Israel bashing” from the liberal media.

Again, thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. It was a wonderful experience to be in Israel and to see first-hand what God is doing.

I am convinced that we are in the Last Days spoken of in Matthew 24. The signs are all around us. We need to be praying and helping others to see our Messiah.

The Fall tour is still on and we have about 70 people signed up to go to Greece, Israel and Petra. Jeff and I will be going. I will “blog” again then.

God bless you, God bless Israel, and God bless America.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,

Sandra

I went on Saturday up to the north again, not looking for a particular story, just the overall feel of what is happening there. I stopped first in Tiberias and the streets were almost totally empty, except for the 5 or 6 ambulances staged at a building in the city center. Most of the businesses were closed, both because of the war and because of Shabbat, but there was one mini-market open and I talked with the owner, David.

He told me that he was born and raised in Tiberias and that although this is by far the most difficult situation he has faced there, he and his family weren’t leaving. David also said that the IDF needs to do more—attack further into Lebanon in order to end the Hizbullah threat once and for all. Another man there thanked me for being an American and being there in Israel. He was so proud and thankful for America’s support.

After a worship service at a small Messianic congregation and lunch with friends in Poriyya Illit, I headed north to Kiryat Shemona. It is the largest city in the upper Galilee, with about 35,000 residents. However, some estimate that more than half have fled south to safety, and the ones who remain are rarely seen outside of their bomb shelters. Just the day before I was there over 100 Katusha rockets fell on the city, and only the day after another rocket killed 11 reserve soldiers very close to there. I met a friend in Kiryat Shemona and we traveled together to Metulla, right on the border with Lebanon.

I had been to Metulla before with my mom during her visit here and we filmed overlooking into Lebanon. This time, I set up the cameras at an observation point overlooking the entire Hula Valley. The warning siren was sounding across Metulla about every 5 or 10 minutes, but all the rockets were landing in Kiryat Shemona only 8 kilometers away. I did see one rocket impact on the western slopes of Mt. Hermon, and heard reports later that day that several Hizbullah rockets flew over the Golan Heights and landed in Syria.

We kept our attention and cameras focused in the direction of Kiryat Shemona, and in about 20 minutes witnessed 2 rocket barrages against the city. There were also other rockets that missed and landed in open areas in the valley, causing no damage. There were also many rockets that landed short of the city, sparking fires along the hills above Kiryat Shemona. After the second round of rockets we left Metulla for Kiryat Shemona to see what damage had been caused.

In the town my friend took me to a spot where a rocket had fallen just the day before. Only 30 meters from an apartment building a Katusha had landed on a basketball court just under a goal, nearly scoring 2 points. Several cars parked nearby had been damaged, one overturned completely, from the force of the impact. As I take pictures some residents inform us about another rocket that had landed nearby only 15 minutes before.

We arrive there and find a familiar sight in Kiryat Shemona: the rocket had again landed near an apartment building, but not on it. Windows were shattered and some shrapnel thrown into the side of the building, but nobody hurt. I saw this repeatedly while driving around the city, holes in the roads or courtyards of apartment buildings, but the buildings and residents themselves had been spared. Just a couple of days ago they said on the radio that out of the more than 3,000 rockets that the Hizbullah has fired, only 5% have been direct hits on homes or other buildings—God’s hand protecting His people.

That’s not to say that there’s no damage caused by the misses. Kiryat Shemona was largely abandoned, with evidence of Katusha strikes everywhere: glass on the streets, unfilled holes from the impacts, smoke from the fires burning on the hills, and ash falling like snow. The smoke was at times so thick that it was like twilight at mid-afternoon.

Bottom line, it’s not a pretty picture in the north right now, but it’s also not as grim as it’s made to appear on the news. Strengthen the people there with your prayers, and pray for the soldiers and leaders as well. The Israeli Army is strong, but it is only through Him that we all can achieve the final victory.

This is my last day in Israel. I am sad, but I know I will be back again. I pray that Will and I have given clear and accurate information on what is going on in Israel. It has been such a blessing to be here. Everyone is so grateful that an American is here and standing with them during this time. Thank you for your prayers.

The word for the day is “spin.” Have we become so accustom to how the media and how the government “talks” about the events that are happening? “And” just doesn’t mean “and” anymore. How can anyone equate the deaths from deliberate homicide bombers targeting innocent men, women and children with Hezbollah is beyond me.

Israel is fighting such a careful war to make sure someone—anyone—will say something nice about them. All they get back is nothing, and are asked to give away more land. Because that works? Has giving the Arabs land produced any peace for Israel? Is any resolution that the UN makes working? I am still waiting for the UN to tell me what the “observers” were observing and what they were waiting for in Lebanon. And why, if it was so dangerous, were they not told to leave the region? I am also still waiting for the UN to tell me why 1559 is not working. That’s the resolution that states that any and all terrorist groups like Hizbollah will be disarmed in Lebanon.

Please no more! Let Israel do her job and finish the “battle” this time, once and for all. Of course, we all know that the real victory belongs to God and when Yeshua comes back, all Israel will be saved. Amen.

Jerusalem is on the highest alert for terrorists. The thinking is that since there is action in the North and South, Jerusalem needs a little also. No city is safe from these terrorists. The police have stopped many trying to get into Jerusalem. I see more policemen and more bomb searching vehicles everywhere. But, people are still out and about and living their lives. I get on the bus and see that when an older person gets on, a younger person immediately gets up and gives them their seat. These are the same Israeli’s who target innocent people? I don’t think so. The world is so blind. As I get off the bus, it backfires and I jump. I am not the only one, but it’s only a backfire and I am grateful.

I do a little more shopping on Ben Yehuda. Just trying to help their economy before I leave. 🙂 I notice all the Crocs (shoes). Israel is a country that requires comfortable walking shoes. I leave the heels at home when I am here. The Crocs are just so fashionable in Israel. It is tempting to buy a pair, but I resist. They are just too ugly for me—comfortable, but ugly. I have several friends that have them and just love them.

I notice that Ben Yehuda is not as crowded as it was on Sunday. I am in a couple of shops and ask them how the sales have been. The first shop said I was the first customer in two hours. This is usually a busy shop and I am sad for them. At the next shop, the sweet lady shows me a sign that usually hangs in the window saying “please wait until a customer leaves before entering.” This shop usually has so many customers that people wait in lines outside the door. I get a lemonade and walk some more.

Will and I meet for lunch at one of the swarma/falafel places. I have not had a falafel the whole time I have been in Israel. We visit some more and Will goes to Bridges for Peace and I head for the grocery store, one last time.

As I head into the store, I hear a crash and see a young man go flying on the ground. He was on a motorcycle and had run into a car. It was awful. The men in the grocery store all ran out to check on the rider. He got up, but they made him lay down on the ground and then an ambulance was called. I mean, these guys in the store were out of the store in less than 15 seconds. They did not even know this young man, but knew that he needed help. This is how it is in Israel. There is a fruit here called Sabra. It describes the Israelis perfectly. It is prickly on the outside and sweet on the inside. Just when you think the Israelis cannot be any ruder, they go and do something nice for you.

Tuesday night we caught up with Joni and Stu. Our friends from Anatot. Joni is our second guide and Stu is an English teacher. Stu is the person who describes the peace process as “peace by piece,” meaning the idea that peace will come by giving a piece of land, but the Arabs only want the piece not the peace. Israel cannot give away any more land. Again, the Arabs do not want peace; they want 5 million dead Jews.

I see that Psalm 86 is being read in the Synagogues. It is written by David asking God for help from his enemies. Ps 86:14: “God, arrogant men are rising against me, a gang of brutes is seeking my life, and to you they pay no attention. But you, Adonai, are a merciful, compassionate God, slow to anger and rich in grace and truth. Turn to me, and show me your favor.” I have to remind myself each day that God is in control of everything. There is a real peace in knowing Him.

It is Tuesday morning and I am already counting down to when I leave Israel. I leave on Thursday, also known as the 9th of Av and for me it will be so sad. On the 9th of Av, Jews all over the world will be fasting, reading Lamentations, and weeping because of the destruction of the 1st Temple in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians and the 2nd Temple in A.D. 70 by the Romans—both on this day of the year. Even during happy times like a wedding, we always remember the destruction of the Temple. In the wedding, the breaking of the wine glass reminds us of that destruction. We must never forget.

I am a person of routine. Each day, I get up in the morning, get dressed, walk to get the morning paper, then I come back to the B&B and have my breakfast and read what is going on in the world. I will miss the small grocery store where I get my paper and where we chat—some in Hebrew, mostly in English. As I walk back from getting my paper, I wave and say boker tov (good morning) to the sweet lady who manages the charity store on the street. She opens this store at 7am. I am amazed that a retail store is open this early, but the charity is for an elderly home next door and people really do stop and shop that early.

The Israeli people are all pitching in and helping each other out during this “battle.” Food is going North and South, and people are going to help rebuild. Already, the Israeli’s are rebuilding. The attitude here is one of resolve. They now realize that the war must be fought now, not later. There will always be the liberals who think that talking and giving away land will produce peace, but really, even they are not that confident of that anymore. It is good to see the people coming together. I am praying that all our leaders see that Israel needs to finish this.

I finish breakfast and am meeting a friend, Cindy, at the Quarter Cafe. It is one of my favorite places and it is convenient for both of us. I decide to walk today to smell the smells, see the flowers and to generally be with Israel. It takes me about 45 minutes to walk from Baka (where I’m staying) to the Old City, but that’s OK—I look at the shops. Israel has everything. I see the tailor, laundry, gift, fruit stands, cafes in every block, book shops, wine, grocery—just about everything anyone could want in a daily life. The flowers are lovely this time of year, even with the heat. Almost every apartment has some type of flower or greenery. Israel is not a dusty and backward country.

I met Cindy and we had some great fellowship. She is an American who has lived in Israel for the last four years. We laugh and talk about how much we love Israel. We share a potato latke—I can’t help it; they’re so good! Alon is there and we talk. He wants to know when I am coming back to Israel. I tell him in the Fall and that sounds so far off, but October is only eight weeks away.

On to meet Will at Zion Square and Ben Yehudah. We eat pizza, my favorite next to Taco Bell (don’t tell my mother). It takes me about 15 more minutes of walking, but I am enjoying being in the streets with the people and the flow of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built on a series of hills that form a Hebrew letter shin (ש), which is the first letter of one of the names for God, Shaddai. I was taught that it was God’s way of putting his handprint on His city, Jerusalem because the shin looks like a handprint. With that said, the axiom of “what goes up, must come down” means that if you walk downhill for a ways, you will walk uphill also. Believe me, I think there are more uphills than down, but I think of it as good exercise. I really never worry about what I eat here, because I know I will probably walk it off.

It is time for the infamous bus ride—yes, I have ridden the bus almost everyday. Is it dangerous and am I afraid? The way Will explained it to me is this way: “the terrorist would have to pick the one bus, at the one time, on the one day that I would be on it.” I don’t worry about it too much and believe me, with the way the buses are packed with people, not too many others do either. I hand the driver the correct change for the ride and he doesn’t give me any problems (whew).

Please read the Flame article on their web site today. Wonderful! Joseph Farah comments on the situation here. I just cannot call it a war. I see where the French foreign minister, Philippe douste-Blazy, has called Iran “a stabilizing force in the middle east.” Is he for real? Let’s thank the French for most of the problems we have in Lebanon today.

Talk about guts, an IDF soldier named Sergeant Or Bar-on lost his legs in the Maroun Al-Ras battle, but instead of being angry, he says “I will start my life anew because it has been given to me as a gift. I won’t take anything for granted.” Wow. What courage.

This is what is happening in Israel. Courage. Courage to go on, courage to stay the course, courage to help each other. Very inspiring.

The Jerusalem Post has a wonderful article by Charles Krauthammer in today’s paper. Really, the consensus is that Israel should stay the course and finish the job with Hizbollah.

Krauthammer says:

What other country sustains 1,500 indiscriminate rocket attacks into its cities—everyone designed to kill, maim and terrorize civilians—and is then vilified by the world when it tries to destroy the enemy’s infrastructure and strongholds with precision guided munitions that sometimes have the unintended but unavoidable consequence of collateral civilian death and suffering?

Had Israel wanted to destroy Lebanese civilian infrastructure, it would have turned out the lights in Beirut in the first hour of the war, destroying the billion-dollar power grid and setting Lebanon back 20 years. Israel’s response to Hizbullah has been use the most precise weaponry and targeting it can. It has no interest, no desire to kill Lebanese civilians. Israeli soldiers die so that Lebanese civilians will not, and who does the international community condemn for disregarding civilian life?

Go Charles! I want his whole article to go in the Levitt Letter. It is just wonderful. He really says what I want to say in a way that is just beautiful.

I cannot believe that the Lebanese Prime Minister has praised Hizbollah. This is our ally? The Bible is right. We live in an upside down world where good is evil and evil is good.

I see that other vultures from the States are here.  In my opinion, we must be careful where we give money. Rabbi Eckstein is another one to watch. Always ask where your donation is going and how much is administrative. I have heard that only 10% finds its way to Israel with some of these groups (90% administrative). Really! I don’t think God would be very happy with that.

I also had the blessing of visiting with our land agent today, Immanuel Tours. David Meyers and his family live in Nes Tsyona. Nes is the Hebrew word for flag, so the name of the town is “the flag of Zion.” During one of the Arab riots there in 1939, the flag of Israel was raised to let everyone know that the Jews were not leaving. He was in Lebanon all three years of his military service and knows of what he speaks. He wants Israel to finish the war and make sure that Israel can and will live in safety. I had a wonderful lunch with him and his mother. It is so good to be with believers.