The Forgotten Impoverished Jews

The Forgotten Impoverished Jews

Written by: Jonathan Israel

Recently a well known Christian pastor and television evangelist in Branson, Missouri, began his church service with his congregation affirming Jesus provides each member with a bigger house and a new automobile.  The congregation further professed they are wealthy, they have no lack of money, they eat the best of foods, wear the finest apparel, etc.

It’s true that America is the most prosperous nation in the world.  While we have our share of indigent and homelessness, most Americans have preeminent cars, comfortable homes, and supermarkets to buy most anything they desire.  There are restaurants on every street corner.  In most major cities charitable organizations provide the homeless three hot meals a day.  This is truly a blessed nation.  Unfortunately, the more wealth Americans accumulate, the more they lust after.  Even our most respected churches are embedded with an outrageous spirit of greed.

As American press in for more wealth, and luxurious houses, we have forgotten the most vulnerable people in this nation and around the world: the impoverished Jews.  For example, America has nearly seventeen million impoverished children that, each and every night, go to bed hungry.  Their tiny bellies are famished and wanting for something as simple as a piece of fruit.  This should not be so.  Not in America.

Famine is not just restricted to impoverished American children, it rages throughout the world.  Impoverished Jews in Siberia are literally starving to death.  They live in shanty shacks; have no fuel for heat, no medical assistance, and no money to survive on.  They are in desperate need of our financial support.  They are the forgotten impoverished Jews.  America cannot sit idly by as our beloved Jewish brothers and sisters encounter their greatest suffering of hunger and starvation since WW11.   We must act now, without our immediate intervention the Jewish elderly, children, and families will die. 

You and I are the key to their deliverance.  We are their only hope for survival.  Here are few Jewish charities that provide some relief to impoverished Jews throughout the world.  http://www.jnf.org  http://www.wjr.org.uk   http://www.chaicancercare.org (for medical assistance)  www.ifcj.org   http://www.yadeliezer.org (Helps impoverished Jews in Israel)

The above list is just a small account of Jewish charities.  There are many more that are provided through a google search in your area.  Your intervention to rescue a Jewish man, woman, child from starvation is urgently requested.  Act now by contacting one of the reputable Jewish charities listed above.  The scripture says, “I will bless those that bless you…” 

Shalom

Jonathan Israel

This Simply Should Not Be - By Rabbi Eckstein

The following article by Rabbi Eckstein is a reprint from International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.  www.ifcj.org  Please read its entirety.

Thomas Cain

This op-ed from Rabbi Eckstein appeared in the Christian Post on April 19, 2012

On January 27, 1945, when the Russian army marched into the notorious Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, even the battle-hardened soldiers were appalled at what they saw. Surviving prisoners so emaciated that they resembled walking skeletons came toward the troops weeping with gratitude. Years later, one solider described the scene: "When I saw the people, it was skin and bones. They had no shoes, and it was freezing. They couldn't even turn their heads, they stood like dead people … I was shocked, devastated."

It was the beginning of the end of one of the darkest chapters in human history, the Holocaust, during which more than ten million people died, including six million Jews. While Jews had endured pogroms (organized massacres) and oppression before, the Nazi’s attempt to exterminate the Jewish people was unparalleled in scale and brutality. In some countries, including Poland, Greece, and Lithuania, the Jewish community was virtually wiped out. The effects of this cruel, systematic attempt to destroy European Jewry linger to this day, and will for generations to come, in the collective memory of the Jewish people.

Beginning this Wednesday at Sundown, Israel and Jewish communities worldwide remember the Holocaust on Yom Ha’Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. For two minutes throughout Israel, sirens sound, and the entire country comes to a standstill – all work comes to a halt, people walking down the street stop in their tracks, and cars stop in the road, their drivers exiting to stand in silent remembrance. It is a powerful display of national unity that not only honors the memory of those murdered in the Holocaust, but reaffirms Israel's identity as a strong and proud Jewish nation, one committed to ensuring that the horrors of the Holocaust are never repeated.

While the United Nations chose the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz for its annual Holocaust remembrance, it is fitting that Israel’s Yom Ha’Shoah was meant to coincide with the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, when Jews banded against the Nazis in the occupied Polish capital in a noble, though futile, attempt to drive out their oppressors. Thus, on Yom Ha’Shoah, we commemorate both the tragedy of the Holocaust and the proud spirit of Jewish self-determination that grew out of its horrors a spirit that found its ultimate expression in the formation of the state of Israel in 1948.

The Jewish state provided a refuge for many who managed to escape Nazism. Today, there remain nearly 200,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel. Incredibly, sixty thousand of these individuals live under the poverty line. This simply should not be. There are many organizations, including my organization, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, working to alleviate the plight of these people who, having survived the scourge of Nazism, now live with the scourge of poverty. We honor those who died in the Holocaust not just by remembering them and telling their stories to new generations, but by honoring those who survived – by feeding them, clothing them, and letting them remember they are not alone.

By our modern standards, the Holocaust sometimes feels like ancient history. We like to think we have progressed, and that the threat of another Holocaust is remote. But we are continually reminded that the hatred of Jews simply because they are Jews – what Catholic scholar Edward Flannery once called the “longest and deepest hatred of human history” – persists. We see it in Toulouse, France, where a terrorist recently murdered four people, including three children, at a Jewish school. We see it in Ukraine, where a 25-year-old Jewish student was severely beaten during Passover. And we see it on a global scale in the words and actions of the radical Islamist government in Iran, which vows to wipe the “Zionist regime” – the Jewish state of Israel – off the map, and is pursuing nuclear capabilities to make its dream a reality.

In 1986, Jewish author Elie Wiesel, himself a Holocaust survivor, told of his resolve after the Holocaust: "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation," he said. “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." Let us never be silent about what happened during the Holocaust, and let us be ever vigilant against its recurrence. And, let us remember those who endured, and survived, horrible suffering during the Holocaust. May we commit to helping them live out their lives with a measure of peace and dignity; after what they have endured, they deserve no less.

With prayers for shalom, peace,


Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

April 18 Begins Yom Hashoah

April 18, begins Yom Hashoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day.  The Nazis murdered six million Jews for no other reason than they were Jews.  Jews and non-Jews must never forget this terrible atrocity against the Lord’s chosen people.  On April 18^th the tradition is to light a candle in remembrance of the Holocaust.  It also a day that reminds us that we shall “never forget” as well as taking a stand that “never again” shall we allow such atrocities to take place against the Jews. 

Worldwide, anti-Semitism is on the rise.  Anti-Semitism is hatred toward the Creator and His chosen people.  The Creator told His people, “I will bless those that bless you; I will curse those that curse you.”  Are you looking to be blessed?  If so, reach out to an impoverished Jewish family, and support them within your means to do so.  By performing this act of benevolence, the Lord said, “You will find favor with God; you will find favor with man.”

As we being Yom Hashoah, let us take precious time to pray for the thousands of elderly survivors of the holocaust.  The tragedy they experienced must never be repeated, nor shall we allow such misanthropy to reign over His chosen people again.  Rescue My Chosen People has vowed a helping hand to impoverished Jews, wherever they are, by providing much needed information on reputable Jewish charities that cope with their particular concerns.  For your convenience you will find numerous Jewish charities on RMCP’s blog.  As you search out the charity that is worthy of your donation, please be generous.

Thomas Cain

Happy Easter to Our Christian Friends

Happy Easter to our Christian Friends, especially to those who have supported impoverished Jewish families around the world.  To you, Rescue My Chosen People, we are grateful for your benevolence to our Jewish brothers and sisters.  I pray this sacred celebration will be a blessed one for you and your families.

Happy Easter

Thomas Cain

Last Chance Before Passover

The below message comes from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein of the International Fellowship of Christian and Jews.  www.ifcj.org  Time is running out to help impoverished Jews before Passover.  There are only a few days left.  Please read Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein’s message.

Thomas Cain

Message from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein:

Passover is now only days away and there are still desperately needy people in both Israel and the former Soviet Union looking for your help.

People like Veronika — a precious little eight-year-old girl whose young life has been filled with misery and unending hardship.

Veronika is not only growing up in appalling poverty, but she also suffers from diabetes that requires costly daily medication. Her mother earns only $137 a month, and the family is facing eviction from their dilapidated apartment in Kiev, Ukraine.

To keep food on the table, Veronika’s mother depends on food packages from The Fellowship, especially during this holy time of year when she so desperately wants to give Veronika a chance to experience Passover with dignity.

My friend, there are so many Jewish people, like Veronika and her family, who are living in shocking poverty right now. They cannot even afford life’s basic necessities, much less the special foods, such as matzah, that are needed to celebrate the Passover Seder.

Your gift to our Fill the Pantry Passover food campaign will be a tremendous blessing. With your help we can reach out to thousands of orphaned and abandoned Jewish children who need to know that there is someone who cares, to elderly women and men — including Holocaust survivors — who are isolated and alone, and to impoverished Jewish families who otherwise will be unable to observe the holy Passover Seder.

Please give to our Fill the Pantry Passover food campaign today and bring comfort to these suffering souls. The bible tells us “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord — a lasting ordinance” (Exodus 12:14).

If you’ve already made a gift, then please accept my heartfelt gratitude. But, if you haven’t yet donated, or can make an additional gift to help these desperately needy people, then please make a generous contribution today.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

PS
   
With Passover now only three days away, there is very little time left to fill these much needed Passover Food Boxes and distribute them to the most needy including families, orphans and the elderly. Please help us reach out to them by making a special Passover gift to The Fellowship today.

List of Jewish Charities Published by Jewish Magazine

The following article comes for Jewish Magazine www.jewishmag.com.  It is a compilation of Jewish charities that list Jewish nonprofit organizations with their specialties in providing for impoverished Jews, worldwide.  It also describes what to look for in checking on said charities.  This article was published on their website in 2004.  Rescue My Chosen People believe this list will be a benefit in deciding which charity is appropriate for your particular needs.

Thomas Cain

From Jewish Magazine www.jewishmag.com 2004

"When in a settlement in the land that G-d your Lord is giving you, any of your brothers is poor, do not harden your heart of shut your hand against your needy brother. Open your hand generously…make every effort to give him, and do not feel bad about giving it, since G-d your Lord will then bless you in all your endeavors, no matter what you do. The poor will never cease to exist in the land, so I am commanding you to open your hand generously to your poor and destitute brother in your land." Dvarim (Deuteronomy 15:7-11)

We spoke with Suzanne Coffman, Director of Communications at Guide Star, the National Database of Nonprofit Organizations, which maintains an online database on thousands of non-profit organizations based on their IRS filings.

"If you find a charity on Guide Star, at the very least, it is a legitimate organization," says Coffman. However, she cautions this newspaper that you cannot infer that an organization is fraudulent simply because it is not included in their database. "For instance," she tells us, "faith-based organizations are not required to register with the IRS, so they wouldn't be on our website." She advises people considering donating to a synagogue or a Jewish educational center to ask to see their IRS Letter of Determination, a form excluding them from filing certain forms those other charities must file annually.

"One of the ways we recommend to see if an organization is on the up-and-up," adds Coffman, "is to look at their mission statement and the specificity of their programs and ask yourself how verifiable it is. Look out for organizations that are vague in the way they describe their programs and purposes, and how they will accomplish them."

If you are approached by an unfamiliar charity, check it out. Most states require charities to register with them and file annual reports showing how they use donations. Also, beware of sound-alikes. Some crooks try to fool people by using names that are very similar to those of legitimate, well-known charities. The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, which reports on charities and other soliciting organizations, offers free "Charity Reports" on their website, www.give.org.

Like Guide Star, the list of charities evaluated are not exhaustive, especially those whose primary operations are in Israel. If you seek to verify the authenticity of a local charity that solicits regionally, contact the local Better Business Bureau. Often, the Better Business Bureau points out, the best source of information is from the charity itself. You can contact the organization directly and request a copy of its most recent annual report and IRS Form 990. There, you can find out how much of the money it receives goes toward its stated mission and how much goes toward executive salaries, fundraising and administrative costs.

Or, if an appeal for funds from an unfamiliar charity makes its way into your mailbox, you can also contact the government office responsible for registering charities in your state. Most State Attorney General's Offices have a local charity registration division. "Beware of appeals that bring tears to your eyes, but tell you nothing of the charity or what it is doing about the problem it describes so well," offers the Better Business Bureau in its tip sheet for avoiding charity scams.  Who says there is no business like the fundraising business?

Did you know that Presidents and Executive Vice Presidents of Local Jewish Federations earn, on average, $300,000 a year, not including benefits or bonuses. According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, dubbed The Newspaper of the Nonprofit World, this is public information. It's not just the executives at the Jewish Federations that are cashing in on the big bucks donated to their respective charity.

According to The Chronicle, the Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in California reportedly earns over $400,000 a year, an unusually high ratio of salary to income. And, the Simon Wiesenthal Center pays the Associate Dean another $312,000 a year. Hadassah, by contrast, pays their Executive Director just over $150,000, which is a low ratio to the organization's overall budget. Hadassah also boasts a very low percentage of funds going toward administrative costs.

Giving Tzedaka

According to Maimonides' treatise on tzedaka, translated not as "charity" but rather, "doing justice," the highest level of charity is to help prevent a person from becoming poor. For example, finding someone a job or teaching a person a trade. The next highest level occurs when a person contributes anonymously to a tzedaka fund which is then distributed to the poor. Jewish law commands that a person contribute between 10 and 20 percent of their net income to tzedaka.

It is wonderful to encourage and facilitate charitable giving on the part of our children. The B'nai Mitzvah is an important spiritual passage that is often reduced in our culture to an elaborate party and gift-giving bonanza. As parents, we can imbue spiritual and profound meaning to these celebrations by designating a portion of these gifts to go toward a tzedaka of the child's choosing.

Statistically speaking, most Americans contribute to their synagogue or the well-known United Jewish Appeals-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies or the United Jewish Communities. This is certainly commendable, but there are many smaller, specific organizations that also need our help. A look at a few…

First, we searched Guide Star to evaluate several randomly-selected well-known Jewish charities, all of which proved legitimate and contributions are tax deductible (to extent allowed by law.) This, of course, could be the reason that they are all well known. We then researched their missions and programs to educate the Jewish public on their important work.

Committee for the Rescue of Israel's Babies- - C.R.I.B- EFRAT

Most people are unaware that each year in Israel, tens of thousands of babies are not born as a result of their mother's decision to end their lives because of financial distress. C.R.I.B.-EFRAT, based in Israel with an affiliate office in Brooklyn, New York, has developed a unique approach to saving those babies' lives. They provide informational videos showing that development of the fetus to discourage abortion, and they also commit to providing monthly financial assistance.

In addition, C.R.I.B.-EFRAT gives the new mother a bassinet, crib, stroller and baby bath. The organization, endorsed by rabbinical leaders such as both Chief Rabbis of Israel, relies on private donations since it does not receive government funding. Their future goals include expanding medical and emotional advice to pregnant women, raising more money for financial assistance for unmarried pregnant women, and expanding outreach programs.

Chabad's Children of Chernobyl

Operating under the auspices of The Lubavich Youth Organization, the goal here is to raise money for the rescue and treatment of children affected by radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. As a result of the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, tens of thousands of children are now being born with thyroid cancer, bone cancer and leukemia. This organization's stated mission is to rescue 3000 Jewish children from this dangerous environment in the Ukraine and Belarus. Nearly 2300 children have already been rescued and relocated to a Chabad village in Israel.

Chai Lifeline/Camp Simcha

Under the aegis of Chai Lifeline, which offers broader support services to the entire family, Camp Simcha is a free kosher sleep-away camp for cancer-stricken children, or children with a life-threatening disease. Beyond the mental and physical respite it offers exhausted parents, the camp aims to give seriously ill youngsters a few weeks "off" from the relentless round of doctor visits and hospital stays. Chai Lifeline's founders believed that in a traditional camp setting, sick children would garner the resolve to fight their illness. Today, Camp Simcha, a world-renowned "cancer camp" serves children throughout North America, Europe, and Israel in two 3-week sessions. While it remains Chai Lifeline's premier project, Camp Simcha is only a single facet of a network of support services. In Israel, the organization is called Kav L'Chaim.

Friends of Israel Defense Forces

This organization helps support social, educational and recreational programs and facilities for the young men and women soldiers of Israel who defend the Jewish homeland. They also provide services to the widows and children of soldiers who have fallen in defense of Israel. Contributions could be earmarked to the Widows and Orphans Fund if you do not wish to contribute to recreational facilities.

One Family-The Israel Emergency Solidarity Fund

When a terrorist attack occurs, amid the carnage and confusion, One Family springs into action. Through its relationships with all of Israel's emergency rooms and trauma centers, they launch an ongoing support system to help survivors. The organization provides transportation, food, grants and checks to cover bills, rent, food and tuition costs, and offers grief counseling and other support, such as vocational training to foster financial independence.

American Red Magen David for Israel

Buys ambulances and supplies and sends it to Israel to help the Magen David Adom.

Yad Eliezer

This organization was founded in 1978 to provide food and financial assistance to over 50,000 people in 17 cities across Israel. They prepare monthly food baskets for delivery to over 6000 families who could not feed their children. The cost of providing food to an individual family, bought in bulk, is approximately $100 a month, according to their website. They also offer programs whereby you can sponsor a wedding for a poor bride, purchase baby formula for mothers who would otherwise dilute formula to dangerous proportions or support a meals-on-wheels program for the elderly and disabled. Donations may be earmarked for particular projects of this charity.

Hebrew Free Burial Association

The HFBA still has the sad duty of burying 400-500 poor Jews a year, 50 percent of whom are immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Other burials are of the elderly who have outlived family and friends, the homeless, AIDS victims and suicides. Families that can't afford private funerals - which average over $4,000 in the New York area - turn to the HFBA so that their loved ones won't be cremated or buried in a potter's field. Rabbi Shmuel Plafker is the full-time rabbi of the HFBA. He officiates at funerals and counsels families. An Orthodox rabbi, Plafker says that the saddest burials are those where there are "unaccompanied burials". These account for 40 percent of the HFBA's work. "That's the most terrible thing to me," says the rabbi. "Imagine people without anyone to mourn for them. Terrible."

....and don't forget the Jewish Magazine!

from the August 2004 Edition of the Jewish Magazine

Passover is April 6th - Donate to International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

This message comes from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, president of International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.  www.ifcj.org.  Passover is quickly arriving.  They need donations to provide 40,000 Passover Food Boxes to impoverished Jews in Russia and Israel.  Please read this Message from Rabbi Eckstein, then visit their website to see how you may be a blessing to impoverished Jews this Passover.

Thomas Cain

It is especially heartbreaking that so many Holocaust survivors are unable to afford basic foods, much less the special items like matzah needed to observe the holy Passover Seder with dignity.

My friend, I am asking you to join our Fill the Pantry Passover food campaign and help The Fellowship deliver 40,000 Passover Food Boxes both in Israel and the former Soviet Union.

With Passover now only days away, I urge you to please make your gift today on behalf of thousands of needy Holocaust survivors like Alexander.  Alexander is an 86-year-old widower who witnessed the murder of his entire family and endured four horrific years in a Nazi work camp. Yet today, Alexander lives all alone in heartbreaking poverty.

When Yael, my daughter, arrived at his tiny apartment to deliver one of our Passover Food Boxes, Alexander broke into tears. “This food package reminds me that I’m not alone, and will truly help me be joyous when I look at the beautiful meal on my table that The Fellowship provided,” he said.  “Thank you for caring about me in my old age. And thank God that there are people and places like The Fellowship. You’re the only ones that care about me anymore.”

By making a gift to our Fill the Pantry Passover food campaign, you can help bring comfort to destitute Holocaust survivors like Alexander.

These dear people have nowhere else to turn to for help, other than to you and me. Please be as generous as you can and thank you for caring.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

   

PS	Many Holocaust survivors who need our help live in hard-to-reach villages, so please donate today and we will make certain their Passover Food Box reaches them in time to observe the Seder at sundown on April 6th.

Emailing Rescue My Chosen People

All the month of March until Passover, Grace, Faith, Justified Ministry is focusing its attention on Jewish charities that help impoverished Jewish families, worldwide.  The following is a message from Rescue My Chosen People.

Emailing Rescue My Chosen People

Starting in April, 2012, Rescue My Chosen People will be accepting emails from impoverished Jews, worldwide, that need to get in contact with Jewish charities that provide, food, clothing, medicine, shelter, and in some instances, transportation cost to Israel.  If you are an impoverished Jewish family, or person, you may email rescuemychosenpeople@gmail.com.  Your email will be forwarded to the appropriate Jewish charity.  Please state your name, with your needs, and a contact address, such as your email address.  This will help us determine which Jewish charity is most apt to address your needs.

Please note:  All information provided to Rescue My Chosen People will be held in the strictest confidence.  Also, Rescue My Chosen People does not provide or sale your email address to any organization, company, individual, or entities.  However, your email will be forwarded to the Jewish charity most appropriate to address your needs.

Thomas Cain

Impoverished Jews in Former Soviet Union and Israel Need Your Help

This message comes from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, President of International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.  www.ifcj.org.  They need your help now to fill Passover food boxes to impoverished Jews in the former Soviet Union and Israel.  Please visit their website to see how you may be a blessing to impoverished Jews.

 

Message from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein:

For the thousands of Jewish families and elderly who will be receiving Passover Food Boxes from dedicated friends like you, our Fill the Pantry Passover food campaign is already a success.

But Passover is now only a few weeks away and there are still desperately hungry people in both Israel and the former Soviet Union who are looking for our help.

I would like to share one moving story of why each Passover Food Box we provide during our Fill the Pantry Passover campaign is so important.

Her name is Irina and she lives in Krivoy Rog, Ukraine with her daughter Nastya.

Right now their “home” is a dilapidated former army barracks where there is no indoor plumbing and the leaky roof makes it terribly cold and damp. They have nowhere else to go. Ever since Irina was laid off from her job, she struggles to provide her daughter with life’s basic necessities.

It broke Irina’s heart to know that because of their extreme poverty, she would not be able to give Nastya a proper Passover celebration. So you can imagine her relief when she learned that The Fellowship was distributing Passover Food Boxes to hungry Jewish families.

“I have no words that can adequately express my gratitude to The Fellowship. Without you, we would not have simple foods to fill our stomachs or the special foods needed to celebrate the Passover Seder,” explained Irina.

Passover begins at sundown on April 6th — that’s less than three weeks away. My friend I am asking you on behalf of hungry families like Irina’s to join us during our Fill the Pantry Passover food campaign to bring joy to their lives and this special holiday celebration.


With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

Homelessness in the Holy City

Grace, Faith, Justified, Ministry is focusing on Jewish charities for the next few weeks, especially up to Passover.  This article written by Yael Eckstein will touch the heart of every person that reads it. It is not only timely, considering the rising tide against Jews, but the significant importance that Jews, even in the Jerusalem, need your immediate help.  Please read Yael's message and respond to International Fellows of Christians and Jews www.ifcj.org with a generous donation.

Homelessness in the Holy City
by Yael Eckstein

March 22, 2012

Shalom,

The holy city of Jerusalem is known for many different things. The Old City is renowned as the site of the two Jewish temples in ancient times. The ruins that cover this city hold innumerable biblical secrets. Israel’s parliamentary building is based in Jerusalem – and so much more. But one thing that rarely comes to mind when people think about Jerusalem is homelessness, which, unfortunately, is now a bigger problem than ever.

It was shocking for me to learn that in the relatively small city of Jerusalem there are hundreds of homeless people, mainly immigrants, with nowhere to go for much-needed shelter. This winter, the people who run the only homeless shelter in Jerusalem came to The Fellowship desperately begging for help before closes down due to lack of funding.

When I met with Jerusalem municipality leaders recently and asked them what the biggest problem currently facing the city is, I expected to hear about the unstable political situation and fear for terror attacks. Instead, they told me that homelessness is on the rise, and that the government has no way to meet the needs of the homeless given the city’s ever-tightening budget.

With embarrassment and sorrow, these city workers officials told me that the only homeless shelter in Jerusalem is going to have to close within the next month unless The Fellowship can raise the funds to keep it open. “This has been the rainiest winter in 10 years,” one said. “If we don’t keep the shelter open, we will see more situations like what happened to Yohanes Berko in Tel Aviv this past January.” When she said this, my heart sank. Berko was a homeless man in Tel Aviv who froze to death while sleeping on a park bench during a spell of extreme cold. It gets considerable colder in Jerusalem than in Tel Aviv, which leaves homeless people there even more vulnerable. This situation is truly what the Bible refers to as “sakanat nefashot” – life-threatening.

After hearing about this growing problem of homelessness in Jerusalem and the desperate need for shelter, these words from Leviticus 25: 35-36 began to repeat in my mind:

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.”

It was then that I knew The Fellowship needs to step in to help. It is clear to me that God wants us to act now to save the lives of Jerusalem’s homeless.

My friends, open up your hearts and pray to God for the homeless people of Jerusalem who have nowhere to go for warmth and shelter. Give to our Guardians of Israel program which supports shelters and countless other initiatives that ease the suffering of homeless Israelis. Meditate on God’s holy words in the Bible that instruct us how to respond in situations like these. There are hundreds of homeless people living on the streets of Jerusalem who are begging for our help. How will you answer them?

With blessings from the Holy Land,

Impoverished Jews need your help!

This article comes from Rescue My Chosen People at www.rescuemychosenpeople.blogspot.com.

Impoverished Jews need your help!

We all have heard of the recent attack on a Jewish school in France that left a Rabbi and three children dead. They were senselessly murdered in cold blood by an assassin in wait. This despicable cowardly act must not go unpunished. Jews must not cow-tow to this horrific terror.

We that believe in justice must act swiftly against violent crimes against Jewish people. This perpetrator will be brought to justice, as will any person(s) that commits an overt act against G-d’s chosen people.

This is why Rescue My Chosen People is appealing to your generous benevolence to help impoverished Jews this Passover. Charities such as International Fellowship of Christian and Jews www.ifcj.org are reaching out to Impoverished Jews in Russia with Passover food boxes. Without your donations thousands of impoverished Jews will not be able to observe their most sacred religious celebration: Passover.

As the money is available International Fellowship of Christian and Jews assist impoverished Jews with airfare or other means of transportation to migrate to their “Promise Land” Israel. With your help, you can make it possible for impoverished Jews in Russia that desire to travel to Israel a reality.

Please visit www.ifcj.org to see first hand impoverished Jews being snatched from the gutter of hunger and starvation. The Lord has said the Jews (His Chosen People) are the apple-of-His-eye. By your generous donations, you too are the apple-of-His-eye. My heart and spirit goes out to the Jews that are in need of rescuing. So will yours when you visit www.ifcj.org.

Thank you,
Thomas Cain

Rescue My Chosen People is not a part of International Fellowship of Christian and Jews, nor do we directly or indirectly receive any financial compensation from any non-profit organization listed on our blog. Rescue My Chosen People provides information on Jewish charities, so that you, our reader may be able to make a qualified decision on which charity you may wish to support.

Operation Smile

It is not to often that I find myself so impressed with a charitable organization such as this one: Operation Smile. Operation Smile www.operationsmile.org is a group of doctors that go throughout the world performing plastic surgery on children that are born without clefts. Or is some cases they perform plastic surgery on children in war torn countries that have been disfigured. This of course is at no cost to the child’s family.

These marvelous surgeons donate their medical skills and practice absolutely free to indigent or impoverished children around the world. The parents of disfigured children call these “miracle workers” God’s Angels. Truly they are miracle workers. Operation Smile’s surgeons are not only God’s Angels, they are the best plastic surgeons in the world. They come from all nations, backgrounds, culture, and faith.

Without these marvelous surgeons, these disfigured children and their families would be without hope of any kind. Some will even die. You can be a part of this great gift of God by going to www.operationsmile.org and generously donate to this worthy cause. Without you and your generous support, there would be no “miracle workers”, without the surgeons, there would be no Operation Smile, and without you impoverished children around the world requiring this much needed surgery, would be doomed forever. Please become a part of this God-Sent medical team.

Thomas Cain
President – Rescue My Chosen People

Israel Under Attack

This news article come to us from Rabbi Eckstein at www.ifcj.org. Please visit their webstie to see how you may help impoverished Jews in Israel during this crisis.

Thomas Cain

March 15, 2012

Dear Friend of Israel,

To look at southern Israel today, you wouldn’t know that just a few days ago it was a war zone. Between Friday and Monday, terrorists operating out of the Gaza Strip launched more than 200 rockets at the region. Since a ceasefire was called several days ago, relative quiet has settled in most of the area, and the number of rockets has dropped sharply (though not ceased entirely). Some schools have reopened, and some people have gone back to their daily routines. While scores of Israelis were injured in the attacks, thankfully – perhaps providentially – none were killed.

Yet it was difficult to find reports on these recent events in the U.S. media; it seems that, for many outlets, the firing of terrorist rockets at Israeli civilians simply isn’t a story. As usual, where stories did appear they positioned Israel’s defensive efforts as aggression. Reports trumpeted the fact that, by some accounts, more than 20 Palestinian terrorists were killed during IDF strikes in Gaza, while Israelis were “merely” injured.

Of course, it is Palestinian terrorists who disregard all rules of war and common decency by launching unprovoked attacks on innocent Israeli civilians. Under such circumstances, it is Israel’s right – indeed, her solemn obligation – to protect her citizens. Certainly, the world should be able to understand that. And yet, many do not.

The low number of Israeli casualties reflects the great efforts Israel makes to protect her people. During the recent round of attacks, the newly deployed Iron Dome missile defense system shot down about 90 percent of the rockets it targeted. The extensive network of bomb shelters the Israeli government has created (many funded by The Fellowship), has saved countless Israeli lives. This is in stark contrast to Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, who cynically manipulate the media by putting their own people in harm’s way.

It is a bitter irony that the world places blame for the Palestinians’ plight on Israel, the one country in the Middle East that has consistently shown it values life and is committed to protecting the innocent and attending to the wounds of all casualties – both Israeli and Palestinian. The conflict this past weekend is but one skirmish in a greater war. But it reveals the profound difference between Israel and the Palestinian terrorists, between a nation that nurtures a culture of life, and a group that revels in death. Recognizing the true nature of Israel’s foes, you can understand why Israel must defend herself — and why she depends on friends like you to stand with her.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

Urgent Need For Passover Boxes

Grace, Faith, Justified Ministry received an urgent request to post a message from Rescue My Chosen People by Thomas Cain.

Dear Friends there is an urgent need for Passover Food Boxes. Please read Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein's message below. International Fellowship of Christian and Jews are in desperate need of donations to fill 40,000 Passover Food Boxes before the Passover deadline of April 6, 20012. Rescue My Chosen People urge you to do what you are able to help in this crisis. By clicking on Fill the Pantry Passover food campaign below it will take you to their website.

Thomas Cain

Message by Rabbi Eckstein:

With Passover fast approaching, we urgently need your support for our Fill the Pantry Passover food campaign.

Our goal is to provide 40,000 Food Boxes to destitute Jewish children, families and the elderly — including Holocaust survivors, both in Israel and the former Soviet Union — who struggle daily to obtain life's basic necessities, much less the special foods needed to celebrate the Passover Seder meal.

Please take a moment and watch this important video message — then help The Fellowship make a meaningful difference in the lives of these suffering people this Passover season by sending a generous gift to help Fill the Pantry.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

President

Rescue Me! Where's The Food!

Written By Jonathan Israel
jonathan@cityroompress.com

Every city across America is faced with a severe homeless population. In the last five years, America’s homelessness has escalated thirty percent higher in every central city. Homelessness is no longer confined to major metropolises. Urban towns, small farming villages, country townships, and mountain rural communities have their share of homeless troubles.

Homeless people rely upon charitable organizations, such as Catholic Charities, churches, and private non-profit organizations, for a hot meal, a shower, and toiletries. Food and Care Coalition in Provo, Utah serve three meals a day, plus a sack lunch to Provo’s growing homeless population. Two years ago they averaged 700 meals a day. That figure has now risen to over 1000 hot meals, plus they provide dental, optical, and medical care.

They’re not alone. Catholic Charities states there is a vaunting increase in homeless people in America. For example, in Colorado Springs, Catholic Charities feed 700 to 800 people a day; compared to six months ago they averaged 400 to 500 homeless people. Charitable organizations that care for the homeless are faced with a mammoth financial dilemma. They are simply running out of money and food. Non-profit organizations rely on the generosity of private citizens, churches, private corporations, and the federal government.

Across America the current recession has largely affected freewill contributions. In most cases, donations are down fifty percent or more. With the rising cost of food, some grocery stores, such as, Safeway and KingSooper (United Grocers) have ceased disseminating meat products, milk, and juice to charitable organizations, except for expired bread and pastries. The reason: The federal government allows for grocery stores a much higher tax write-off if expired food is discarded rather than given to charities. Catholic Charities, Food and Care Coalition, Manna, and other homeless charities primarily rely on food donations from grocery stores.

The Obama Administration has significantly cut back funding to all charities, putting charitable institutions in a most difficult position to care for the homeless. All along, America’s “moneybags” live in marble palaces, and dine at recherché restaurants eating caviar and sipping Pertimali di Livo Sassetti. Year after year, these self-praising “economic whores” rob the middle-class out of what little money they earn. They’ve set themselves as kings over America’s middle-class and wretched misfortunate ones. How long will the poor allow America’s aristocrats to rule over them? A fresh wind is blowing across America: It is a revolutionary call to unity for economical equality for all peoples.

18,000,000 People Starve To Death Daily

Written by Jonathan Israel
johnnyisrael@email.com

The World Heath Organization recently stated that 18 million people worldwide die of starvation daily. That’s 18 million people! The Counsel for the Center of Disease Control (CDC) has stated that over 11 million children in America go to bed hungry every night. The only meals they receive are school lunch vouchers. On the weekends, most do not have anything to eat. Americans as a whole have been blessed with the good life. We live in comfortable homes with manicured lawns, possess big screen televisions, eat the best of foods, wear fine apparel, we drive the best of automobiles, we own boats, luxury toys, and the more we acquire, the more we crave.

A very rich man had a big house with many servants. The rich man enjoyed life’s greatest paramount. He was the “big fish” in his community. There was a very poor man named Lazarus that sat daily under the rich man’s table expecting to eat the morsel of crumbs that fell to the floor. Lazarus was very sick; his body was covered with bleeding blisters. The rich man figured that by allowing poor Lazarus to scrounge for the measly crumbs that fell from his table that he was performing an act of kindeness.

Lazarus eventually died and so did the rich man. As the story goes, the rich man looked up from the flames of hell and saw Lazarus being comforted in the arms of his Heavenly Father. The rich man apparently was dismayed at this turn of events. After all, he believed he was being kind and generous by allowing Lazarus to eat the crumbs that fell from his table. The Lord saw it differently and told the rich man so. He reminded the rich man that while he had the opportunity to bless Lazarus, he squandered his blessings on his own selfishness.

The Iraqi and Afghanistan war has cost America over a trillion dollars. We pump billions into useless projects that benefit only a few. Greed and more greed has become our model of standards. Our churches throw a few pennies in the poor bucket believing, just as the rich man, that we have fulfilled God’s service to humanity. Our self-centeredness separates us from the very blessings we seek from our Heavenly Father. How true the old adage loudly rings, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Come Judgment Day, the Lord of Righteous Judgment will not adjudicate us for the wealth we enjoyed, but rather, how we administered our wealth to the poor. How dare we call ourselves Children of the Lord and close our eyes and ears to the cries of the hungry and poor. Shame on all of us! If America and the free nations desire to prove themselves as a benevolent, generous, kinder, loving nation, than each and every nation must rise up with financial aid to rid the world of hunger and starvation. Tell your pastor, rabbi, minister, Congressman, and those in charge to act immediately to rid the world of hunger. 18 million people a day are counting on it. If we fail God will judge us accordingly.

Looking Unto Jesus

Written by Jonathan Israel
Email: jonathanisrael@email.com

God’s Word directs us at all times to keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus. In these troubling times Christians are paying special attention to terrorism, abortion, recession, money, material things, family issues, politics, candidates, judges, moral decay, and a host of other everyday problems. We’ve become so transfixed on national and world events rather than the “Good News” that we lost sight of the Cross.

Jesus told his disciples to “preach the Good News.” Preachers today have a new message, that is, they preach “how to get rich schemes” to what candidates to vote for. Jesus willfully went to the Cross to save the world from the condemnation of sin. The shedding of His blood was to cleanse us from unrighteousness; and to bring us into a perfect relationship with our Heavenly Father. Through Christ we have complete access to our Heavenly Father. Christ taught his disciples to pray for one another. He directed them to preach the “Good News” and to minister to the more unfortunate ones.

Yet, Christian’s are praying for money, power, and a myriad of selfish greed. The Lord has turned a deaf ear to our covetous prayers. We are in awe over the fact that His anointed presence has left the Church. And yet, we believers continue marching down “Selfish Lane” without giving a second thought as to God’s purpose for our lives. We’ve educated ourselves to know more about Him rather than developing an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.

The quandaries of today are not new ones. The Devil would have us believe that He, not Christ is in control of the world events. Yet, he has deceived the Church into believing that material things, money, wealth, avarice, lust, power, fame, and having a “righteous cause” to fight for are the keys for survival. He has swindled the Church out of her righteous inheritance of faith and trust. By focusing on world events, social issues, and the current political spectrum, our faith has soured into self-seeking fulfillment.

True faith desires to please Christ. Today’s Church adheres more to preaching the current political spectrum than the joys of entering into his anointed chamber room. I have often contemplated if the Lord has the audacity to equate today’s Church as His beautiful bride to be? The Church podium has cultivated into a political platform. She has danced to the voice of crime and punishment, moral laws, politics, and governmental regulations. Her weary face bears the marks of an angry, harden-bitter woman.

The Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who was caught in adultery. They demanded that Christ sentence to woman to death, according to the Law of Moses. Christ responded, “You without sin, let him cast the first stone.” The law makers departed having been put to shame by their harden hearts. Christ then asks the woman, “Where are those that condemned you?” She admitted there was no one. He said, “Neither do I condemn you.” The religious political spectrum of the day demanded the death sentence. Christ offered the adulteress woman forgiveness. It is time for the Church to take her eyes off today’s religious political continuum; and fasten them on the Lord of mercy and forgiveness.

The Passover Meal by Jeannie Cole

The following of the Passover Meal was written by Jeannie Cole of West-Ark Church of Christ. Ms. Cole explains the Passover Meal and its significance in terms that are easily understood. Passover (Seder) will be upon us in the next few weeks, Ms. Cole's message is timely and enlightening in helping non-Jews understand the true meaning of Passover.

Jonathan Israel
City Room Press

EXODUS 11-12
The Passover Meal

The Passover meal that the Israelites held in Egypt was unique from all the Passover meals held since. Before the first one, they were to sprinkle the blood of the lamb on their doorposts and lintel, and they were to eat it in haste. It has since evolved, maintaining many of the same customs, as well as adding a few. You are familiar with the one in Exodus 11-12. Let's look at how it is usually done today.

Every year before the Passover, an Orthodox Jewish family will eat up as much as possible all the foods in their house not processed or packaged for the Passover. This is to remove all the leaven from the house - any fermented grain product, starter dough, breads, cakes, cookies, yeast, (baking soda and baking powder). What cannot be eaten is sold to a non-Jew. Not only can a Jew not eat any leaven during Passover week, he can't have it in his house or even own any leaven. They do usually go and buy back their products after the festival. Leaven is an emblem of sin, corruption. Paul refers to it as that in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

The final search for leaven is made the night before the Passover (PESAH). Traditionally a candle, feather and bag are used for this final search. Every member of the family is to participate in this search. Every nook and cranny of every floor, shelf, cupboard is inspected for the minutest grain of bread crumbs or leavening. Any dust found is swept up with the feather (like a broom) into the bag for fear it might contain a grain of leavening. Traditionally, 10 pieces of leavened bread are hidden throughout the house and the ritual is not complete until the family has found the 10 pieces. All that was found is burnt the next morning before the Passover begins.

Cooking for the Passover meal is an extremely complicated procedure. Everything used during the preparation - refrigerator, stove, counter, sink, etc., is thoroughly scoured before beginning. Because some minute speck of leaven might be left unnoticed on some utensil, some Jews find the easiest way to prepare their meal is to have a special set of dishes, silverware and cooking utensils reserved only for use during the Passover. Some cover their burners so that no Passover pot touches the parts of the stove used every other day.

The SEDER (SADER) - the Passover meal - is the central celebration of the Passover. It's origin stems from our text today. The entire extended family is to come together. They go through the meal and the retelling of the story in first person as if they had been one of the slaves freed from Pharaoh's bondage.

This book, the HAGGADAH, is the text for the SEDER. Everyone present would have a copy of it. It contains all the blessings, order for eating, telling of the Exodus story from slavery through the plagues, crossing of the Red Sea, giving of the Law, and to the giving of the land of Canaan. There are also songs and psalms to be read, etc.

Seder Table

(Assemble around table -- don't eat yet.) All recline around the SEDER table, because reclining around the table was a sign of a free man. Everything on the table has a significance.

On the SEDER plate there is:

Hard boiled egg - symbol of the suffering and oppression in Egypt. Everything else in boiling water becomes soft or disintegrates. But an egg becomes hard, like the Israelites. The more it is boiled, the harder it becomes. An egg also symbolizes New Life.
Roasted shankbone of lamb - reminds them there had to be blood sacrificed to save their lives.

Bitter herbs - horseradish - reminds them they were servants to slavery.

Greens - parsley, celery - symbol of coming of Spring which brings hope.

Salt water - reminds them of the tears they cried in Egypt.

Haroset - nut, apple, cinnamon, wine mixture which has the appearance of straw in remembrance of the mortar used to build the Treasure Cities for Pharaoh. It is symbolic of the hope of freedom that enabled their ancestors to withstand the bitterness of slavery.

Matzah - the unleavened bread that reminds them of the haste with which they left Egypt.

After the drinking of wine and washing of the hands the greens are dipped into the salt water and eaten.

Then the bread on the SEDER plate is broken. Half remains on the plate, half is hidden for the dessert. This is to keep the interest of the children. Children are to find it and keep it till the end of the meal when the leader redeems it in exchange for the promise of gifts. Throughout the service many things are incorporated to keep the interest of the children. The most important thing is the telling of the story of the Exodus to the children.

The telling of the story of the Exodus includes everyone's favorite part - the 4 questions, asked by the youngest child present.

Why on this night do we eat only mazzah, which is unleavened bread?
Why on this night do we eat bitter herbs especially?
Why on this night do we dip the parsley in salt water and the bitter herbs in haroset?
Why on this night do we all recline at the table?

The leader replies to the child:

Indeed, this night is very different from all the other nights of the year, for on this night we celebrate one of the most important moments in the history of our people. On this night we celebrate their going forth in triumph from slavery into freedom.

I am glad you asked the questions you did, for the story of this night was just what I wanted you to know. Although the Haggadah we are reading tells this whole story, and if you listen carefully you will surely learn it, I should like to tell you here, in a few words, the answers to your questions.
~ Why do we eat only mazzah tonight?

When Pharaoh let our forefathers go from Egypt, they were forced to flee in great haste. Now, they had prepared dough for bread to take on their journey, but the Egyptians pressed them to hasten out of the land. So they snatched up their dough, and fled, and had no time to bake it. But the hot sun, beating down on the dough as they carried it along with them, baked it into a flat, unleavened bread which they called mazzah. That is why we eat only mazzah on Pesah.

Why do we eat bitter herbs on Pesah night?
Because our forefathers were slaves in Egypt, and their lives were made bitter. That is why we eat bitter herbs on Pesah night.

Why do we dip herbs twice tonight?

You have already heard that we dip the parsley in salt water because it reminds us of the green that comes to life again in the springtime. We dip the maror, or bitter herbs, in the sweet haroset as a sign of hope; our forefathers were able to withstand the bitterness of slavery, because it was sweetened by the hope of freedom.

Why do we recline at the table?
Because reclining at the table was a sign of a free man in olden times; and since our forefathers were freed on this night, we recline at the table.
After the symbolism is explained the story of the Exodus is told. It can be read straight from this book, but more than likely the leader will go around the room asking everyone to reconstruct a part of the story. [What do you remember about your leaving Egypt?] Each person will tell a part as if he had been a slave and as if he had actually witnessed the plagues and as if he had actually crossed the Red Sea on dry ground and then watched Pharaoh's army drown.

The hands are washed again, a double blessing is given on the matzah, and it is eaten. Then the horseradish is eaten straight or is dipped into the sweet haroset.

Or, a sandwich is made with matzah and horseradish and haroset, or perhaps a little bit of lamb is included with the sandwich.

[A Passover style meal is served and eaten at this point.]

Mrs. Needham and the Metro Jr. High girls made our matzah bread for us this morning. Listen while I read to you some of the restrictions on making this bread in order for it to be kosher for a real Jewish Passover.

The wheat is watched from the time of harvesting until the final baking to insure that no water, heat, or other natural processes cause it to begin fermentation. . . The utensils used for making it are washed every eighteen minutes. . . . The flour must be absolutely dry, and stored in a cool, dark place. . . . The water must be drawn from a spring and allowed to settle overnight in a cool, dark place. . . .
Then the matzah bread for dessert is redeemed from the children with presents and eaten.

The meal ends and Psalm 126 is read. [Read.] The ceremony goes on with more reading, singing and praising God.

[If time allows--] Let's relate this to us as Christians. Jesus initiated our Lord's Supper from this first Passover meal. Let's look at some similarities.

God initiated this Passover meal before the events took place that it was to commemorate. Jesus initiated the Lord's Supper commemorating His death and looking forward to His resurrection before the events took place.

God told Moses for them to take a lamb four days before its slaughter. Christ entered Jerusalem on Sunday - four days before His crucifixion. Both took place on the 14th day of the month Abib.

Israelites were to sacrifice a male lamb one year old - in the prime of his life - when he was at his strongest. Jesus was about 33 years old - pinnacle of earthly strength and maturity.

Male lamb was to be without blemish. Jesus is our example of perfection and sinlessness - without blemish.

Lamb is patient, noiseless and submissive to death as was Christ.

Exodus 12:6 - whole assembly of the congregation of Israel were to kill their lambs. This was not done by a priest. Everyone was to witness and be responsible for the death of the lamb. Just as we are all responsible for the death of Christ on the cross. It was our sins that crucified Him.

The blood of the lamb was to be put on the two doorposts and lintel so that they might be passed over when death came to Egypt. It is the blood of Christ that keeps us from everlasting death.

Lamb was to be roasted whole - no broken bones. Christ was crucified and died with no broken bones - even though the soldiers were sent out to break His leg bones to hasten His death.

The meal was to be eaten with bitter herbs to remember the bitter slavery, suffering and hardships in Egypt. During the Lord's Supper we are to remember Christ's hardships and suffering.

Eaten with unleaven bread. Leavening is a form of corruption, sin, impurity. Paul gives us the spiritual application in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8. We are to be unleavened - clean out malice and evil from us. Jesus alludes to this in Matthew 16:6-12 when He says beware of the leaven of Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Israelites were to eat in haste with their shoes on, staff in their hand and ready to go, looking forward to their future as free men. We as Christians are to be ready to go - watching and waiting for Christ to come - looking forward to our future in heaven as men free from sin.

The Israelites put the blood on their doorposts several hours before midnight. The passing Egyptians must have thought that peculiar and ridiculous. It made them vulnerable to the spiteful Egyptians. But the blood of the lamb protected them from death.

We are to accept Christ as our Passover Lamb and let his blood protect us. We are perpetually being saved from the hand of the destroying angel when we have Christ's blood on our doorposts.

What does it mean to have Christ's blood on our doorposts?

It is the act of perpetually having a badge that can be seen, experienced, spit upon, and being made vulnerable like the Israelites were vulnerable with blood on their doorposts for the Egyptians to see and laugh, and revile.

It also means cleaning up our act, diligently searching for corruption and sin present in our lives - like the Jews meticulously cleaning their house of leaven with a candle and a feather.

It means doing everything that God commands us.
As we continue our study of Exodus, we shall observe many other things that are typical of Christ and the deliverance He has brought all men.

Jeannie Cole
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Ladies Bible Class, Fall 1989

LDS Church vs. Same Sex Marriage

Written by Johnny Israel

Last week the Californians voted against the California initiative to ban same-sex-marriage in California. The LDS Church pumped 25 million dollars into the fray to fight against the same sex marriage initiative. A majority of Californians overwhelmingly voted against the same-sex-marriage initiative. Nationwide the gays and homosexuals were outraged; the matter is now headed toward the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Sacramento, California.

The LDS Church was founded on traditional family values and morals. It is the fundamental philosophy of their faith. The Church leaders teach traditional family values as the core of Godliness; and view traditional marriage as a most important Biblical law. Same-sex-marriage violates the essence of God’s law, therefore the LDS Church and a vast of other faiths entered into the same-sex-marriage fray as a conduit to ensure conventional American family values and morals. In taking a righteous stand for Church values the Gay community has accused the Church of intolerance, racism, haters of gays, and bigotry. This is not the case.

The LDS Church is one of the most generous and benevolent ministries worldwide. They welcome people of all faiths to fellowship with them, no matter what their sexual preferences are. The Church spends millions of dollars every year reaching out to the poor (church members and non-church members) with housing assistance, food, clothing, medical bills, and a host of other charitable needs. They are involved with local and national politics, social events, aid organizations, and scholastic scholarships. They make available Biblical agendas for kids, teenagers, young adults, the elderly, singles, and families.

The Church is not anti-gay, but rather pro family values. If the Church had failed to take a stand against California’s same-sex-marriage initiative, they would in essence have violated the very principles of their faith. Moral principles, ethics, Biblical doctrine, family significance, love, kindness, and forgiveness are the characteristics the LDS Church. Jesus said that the Church would be persecuted for righteousness sake. While some radical gays sling bigotry accusations at the Church, the Church continues to extend a hand of kindness toward to the gay community. Christians everywhere are obligated by the Word of God to love every person, no matter what their sexual preference may be, without compromising their doctrine of faith.

Rock of Deliverance inTroubling Times

Written by
Johnny Israel
johnny@cityroompress.com

There is an old gospel song that refers to faith as "planted as a tree before the waters". In these troubling times, Christians are encountering difficult if not seemingly impossible obstacles, especially in economics and health issues. Never before has America faced uncertainties as she has in the last seven years. The whole world is under attack by religious extremists who are bent on destroying all things that are decent and moral, especially the God-given right of freedom that America and the free nations enjoy.

Yet as the world grows more restless, Christians are assured in God's Word that deliverance is just a prayer away. Our Heavenly Father has promised each and everyone of us that He will deliver us is the day of trouble. The Word teaches us to "look to the Author and Developer of our faith" as the source of our deliverance.

On a certain day the disciples were instructed by the Lord to get into a boat and cross to the other side of the sea. As Jesus slept in the lower part of the boat a storm arose, filling the boat with water. The disciples fearing they were about to drown woke Jesus up and said, "Master don't you care that we are about to drown? Jesus went to the bow of the boat and commanded for the winds and sea to calm. Immediately the storm ceased its violent rage. Jesus said to His disciples, " Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Jesus gave them the instructions to cross over to the other side, yet as the storm arose, they focused on the storm and not the dictates of Jesus. I often meet Christians, just like the disciples, whose eyes are on the world problems and not the Word of God. When troubles come, they are suddenly afraid for the worst to happen. God never promised us that we would not have troubles, nor would He shield us from life difficulties. He did promise us a way of escape through His Word.

As a believer, we must not kowtow to troubles, but face them with the Word of God. In the mouth of believers, the Word becomes a two-edged sword dividing and cutting away at our problems. The Holy Spirit is only moved by God's Word. The same Holy Spirit that resides in each believer, great and small. As the believer rises up in faith through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit moves in for our deliverance.

The difficulties we face are real. The world is in a chaos, yet as we remain in the Word, God builds a hedge around us. He is faithful and just to deliver us in these troubling times. Keep your focus on the Word of God, and God will deliver you from your troubles. That is His promise to you as a child of your Heavenly Father.