LLX News

By: Michael Brown – The Christian Post; ChristianPost.com

Around the nation, in response to the life-threatening injury to Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin, people prayed. Hamlin’s teammates and coaches prayed. Millions of fans joined in prayer, tweeting their support. Even on live TV, sports commentators stopped in the middle of their broadcast to pray.

But this is only natural. During times of crisis, especially life and death crisis, people turn to God.

We know the situation is grave, we know we cannot change things ourselves, and we know that only God — an all-powerful being who cares — can turn the tide.

That’s why, at such times, people do not turn to atheism. They turn to God.

cont’d…

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/damar-hamlin-reminds-us-that-americans-pray-in-times-of-crisis.html

‘The Pool of Siloam and the Pilgrimage Road are among the most inspiring archeological affirmations of the Bible’

By: Benjamin Weinthal – Fox News; foxnews.com

JERUSALEM — The Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel National Parks Authority and the City of David Foundation announced days before the new year that the Pool of Siloam, a biblical site cherished by Christians and Jews, will be open to the public for the first time in 2,000 years in the near future.

“The Pool of Siloam’s excavation is highly significant to Christians around the world,” American Pastor John Hagee, the founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, told Fox News Digital. “It was at this site that Jesus healed the blind man (John:9), and it is at this site that, 2,000 years ago, Jewish pilgrims cleansed themselves prior to entering the Second Temple. 

“The Pool of Siloam and the Pilgrimage Road, both located within the City of David, are among the most inspiring archeological affirmations of the Bible. 

cont’d…

https://www.foxnews.com/world/biblical-site-where-jesus-healed-blind-man-excavated-public-view-affirms-scripture

By: Julie Stahl – CBN News; cbn.com

JERUSALEM, Israel – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has begun his sixth term in office. Israel’s 37th government was sworn in Thursday morning in Jerusalem, amid raucous protests from opposition Knesset members and hundreds of demonstrators outside.

After he spoke about his government’s priorities, which included preventing a nuclear Iran’s threat to Israel, Netanyahu was shouted down. 

“Knesset members, I don’t have to hear your shouts to know we have some disagreements,” he responded, “but some things we agree upon.”

At the top of the new coalition’s platform is a controversial goal to expand the Jewish presence throughout the country, including the biblical lands of Judea and Samaria, known to the world as the West Bank, which is considered “occupied” territory by many nations.

The prime minister finalized agreements this week with religious party leaders in his government, then his Likud Party issued a policy statement Wednesday, saying the new coalition would “advance and develop settlement in all parts of the land of Israel – in the Galilee, Negev, Golan Heights, and Judea and Samaria.”

cont’d…

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2022/december/new-israeli-government-swearing-in-begins-netanyahus-6th-term-as-prime-minister

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/