I wanted to start teaching about the holocaust this week. How do I start? How can I speak about atrocities that students can’t grasp in their minds, when only two weeks ago, a second holocaust happened that included horrors which even the first one did not contain?

Two short weeks that were two long weeks. It seems like these days went by slowly and quickly at the same time. It’s hard to believe that two weeks ago, early on a Shabbat morning, Israel was viciously attacked, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis and foreign citizens at the hands of brutal, totally immoral beasts that call themselves “freedom fighters” – an attack that also left over 4,000 people wounded here and brought about a national trauma resulting from the shock of the attack, from which Israel is still trying to recover. That day has now become known as “Black Saturday”.

Interestingly, as a History teacher I taught last week about a previous black Saturday. One that occured during the time of the British mandate, when British soldiers aimed to destroy the military capability of the Jewish settlements and arrested hundreds of its leaders. When I said what that day was later called, a student of mine said – “just like what we had nearly two weeks ago.”

The news media is filled with stories about the dead and fallen, about survivors, about military strategies, about terrorists and the implications of this war and so forth, every day, all day. There do not appear to be enough words to even describe the horrors of what happened that day, as Jews were tortured, killed and butchered. Women were raped, pregnant women torn open, babies beheaded. Many I know have shared how they wept every day because of these atrocities. For some, it is all beginning to sink in only now. A friend shared on social media during the first few days how she was having difficulty praying, because she couldn’t find the words to express how she felt with all that was going on. So she read the Psalms and prayed out loud the words that she read. At some point, I realized I am no longer able to listen to the news on television or read any of the stories in the news or social media. It is just too much. It is not that hearing the news or the stories is not important. It is. But right now, it is like a flood of information, with a lot of noise.

I felt that I needed encouragement these days as well. With both of my brothers and many friends and family members in uniform, I had to be reminded again how God is holding Israel, the nation, my family and me, in His hands. These days, as everyone has an opinion about what is going on and what should be done, it is hard to get away from all of it and just take some time to focus on that still small voice, that often speaks through the storm. A friend from Italy sent me a song a week ago after there was another siren in Jerusalem. It turned out to be a song written by someone in my congregation and then coincidentally (or not :)), we sang it on Saturday. The song spoke about asking the Lord Yeshua to speak to our hearts through the storm and remove all fear, to shape us to His likeness even while the storm is raging around us and we are going through it. That greatly encouraged me.

There is a lot of uncertainty about the days ahead, yet the nation is making efforts to return to some sort of routine. Amidst all this storm, it is important to listen to what God has to say in His Word and allow Him to calm our hearts. The nation of Israel is in a war and while these are difficult days, we can remember that when we keep our eyes on Yeshua, we can walk through the storm, confidently trusting Him to bring us through.

Many friends, particularly those who live abroad, ask me what they should be praying for. Pray for wisdom, strength, courage and safety for the soldiers, peace for them and the families who await their return. Pray for those whose loved ones were killed during the massacre that took place on Black Saturday. Pray for the wounded, not only physically, because the traumas they experienced are impossible to grasp. Even the people working in the organization responsible for picking up bodies and remains from terror scenes, have never seen anything like what they saw that day. Not even after attacks by suicide bombers. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the government and its leaders. Pray that Israel would turn to God and trust Him to bring us victory, and not seek to be victorious simply on our own strength. Pray for wisdom how to encourage your Jewish friends, as well as what to say to those who condemn Israel and the Jewish people at every opportunity. We are still processing the pain of “the destruction of the daughter of my people” (Lam. 2:11). Take a stand for Israel. Sadly, some people on social media who are very eager to stand on the truth and advocate against abortions and other injustices, have not said a word about these horrors. If you are a true believer in Yeshua and you read about the land and nation of Israel in the Bible, don’t look at it just as stories of old in a land far, far away. The land is real, the people are real, the war is real. God is the greatest reality of all!

Shortly after this war began and the atrocities started to become known, my thoughts focused on the passage from 2 Kings 8:11-13.

11 And he stared steadily at him until Hazael was embarrassed, and then the
man of God wept.
12 And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” And he answered,
“Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel: you will set
their fortified cities on fire, you will kill their young men with the sword,
their little ones you will smash to pieces, and you will rip up their
pregnant women.”
13 Then Hazael said, “But what is your servant—a lowly dog—that he could
do this great thing?” And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that
you will be king over Aram.”

When I read this long before this war, it was difficult for me to imagine these horrific actions that took place and what the nation went through. Yet, as more reports are made of the atrocities that were committed by Hamas, including the brutal murder of babies and children in the Jewish communities in the south, as well as men, women, elderly, soldiers, and as the numbers of those who were killed and wounded increased, the historical record in 2 Kings took on a different light and began to look all too familiar.

This present evil happened before, and the pain that Elisha felt, is similar to the pain felt today. The tears he shed, are shed by many in Israel today. Yesterday, when I heard some of the horrific reports about so many babies and children brutally murdered and the abuse they went through, it was too much for me to bear and I broke down in tears. I was in mourning for my people, my nation, for those whose only “guilt” was being Jewish. Indeed, as many have already said, this is another Holocaust. Many around the world are praying for Israel, agonizing with her over this great evil. Yet, many also blame Israel for what happened, siding with her enemies and even trying to justify these atrocities. How can this be if not for pure blind hatred towards Israel? Indeed, the eyes of many have been blinded by evil, and sadly, even some who claim to know the Lord Yeshua, are afraid or reluctant to take a stand with Israel. They seem to forget that the Messiah they profess to believe in, is a Jew. They seem to forget it is the Jewish people who need to call Him to return, not the church. They seem to forget that He won’t return to America or Europe, but will return to the land of Israel, to the remnant of Israel at the end of the time of testing and tribulation to gather them, after fighting and destroying Israel’s enemies. The words of the psalmist are truer than ever these days:

For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
They make shrewd plans against Your people,
And conspire together against Your treasured ones (Psalm 83:2-4)

This war against Israel is a spiritual one as well as a physical one. It is waged by those who hate God and His people. If we fail to see this is a spiritual war as well, we miss the big picture.

The numbers of wounded, missing and fallen soldiers and civilians is difficult to grasp, and it continues to grow every day. It is hard to understand why God allowed this to happen, but we need to remember it didn’t surprise Him as it did us a week ago. Even what Hazael was about to do to the people of Israel was known to God long before.

As we look at the history of Israel, we see how God worked through difficulties and crises. Let us pray that the nation of Israel will turn to God in repentance and call upon Him as our shield and protection. Let us pray that the nation of Israel will not boast in its military strength, but in God who longs to cover us with His wings – wings that are a shield and protection like an iron dome on the outside, yet warm and comforting like a mother hen’s wings. There is a reason for all that happened and though we do not know what it is, we know God does not forsake His people and He will take revenge on His enemies. Just as He punished Hazael and the nations who harmed Israel (Amos 1) for the atrocities they have committed, so He will punish Israel’s enemies. Psalm 83 expresses this desire for revenge, but the reason should not be missed (verses 16-18):

So that they will seek Your name, Lord.
May they be ashamed and dismayed forever,
And may they be humiliated and perish,
So that they will know that You alone, whose name is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.

These are difficult days. Though God’s enemies made a covenant against Him (Psalm 83:5), we can rest assured that He remains faithful to His covenants He made with us and He will carry us through to victory for His glory.

“For the Lord of armies says this: “After glory He has sent me against the nations that plunder you, for the one who touches you, touches the apple of His eye” Zecharaiah 2:8

As the atrocities of the past few days begin to unfold, and the stories are told, it is impossible to describe in words what happened and how we feel. “My eyes run down with streams of water because of the destruction of the daughter of my people…I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the lowest pit. You have heard my voice, do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief, from my cry for help. You drew near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not fear!” (Lam. 3:46-50, 55-57).

The enemies of Israel have attacked her, and she is crying and hurting. They made a fatal mistake and touched the apple of God’s eye – the same God who calls Israel His own, His beloved, His daughter and who has issued a warning from ages past agaisnt those who touch Israel. The Lord of heavenly armies will avenge Israel and fight for her.

Now is the time to pray, now is the time to intercede before the heavenly throne that God would destroy the enemies of Israel who seek to destroy her. I am reminded these days of the story of Elisha who, along with his servant, awoke to find the marauding bands of Aram (Syria) surrounding them.

“Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, ‘This is hopeless, my master! What are we to do?’ ¹⁶ And he said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.’ ¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘Lord, please, open his eyes so that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ¹⁸ And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Please strike this people with blindness.’ So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the word of Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:15-18.

The servant expressed what many feel these days – hopelesness. What are we to do? Between hearing the sirens and running to safe rooms or shelters, stocking up on supplies, heeding warnings to remain indoors and listening to the news, the situation sometimes appears hopeless, it is easy to become consumed with worry, fear and anxiety. Yet, God has proven time and again He watches over Israel. The situation of Elisha’s servant is not just a nice story. It really happened. Just because we can’t see with our physical eyes the angels surrounding us, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. We ARE surrounded by the armies of the Lord. God IS protecting us and those who are with us, are greater than those who dared attack the apple of God’s eye.

This story greatly encourages me. Israel awoke early Saturday morning to a surprise attack from its enemies. Yet, as Elisha told his servant, “do not be afraid”. Humanly speaking, there is every reason to fear, spiritually, there is none. God will fight for us. It is natural and human to be worried, I know. But we can’t allow fear to control us.

Friends and family abroad have written to me a lot these last few days, praying and interceding non stop. I appreciate that greatly. Please, continue to pray. Now is the time to stand with Israel, now is the time to pray that the nation of Israel turn its eyes to the One who has called her to be a light to the nations. One Israeli news channel, broadcasts “With God, we will win!”. That is the first time I have ever seen any news media clearly broadcast on its screen anything about God. Yet, that is exactly the attitude we pray and hope the nation will have in these days. Pray that people will see that our victory is not by our strength, but from God alone.

“In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you. If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me. Whoever assails you will fall because of you. Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and brings out a weapon for its work; and I have created the destroyer to ruin. No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me, declares the LORD” (Isa. 54:14-17).

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,

And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet,

Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness,

And her salvation like a torch that is burning. Isaiah 62:1

The events of yesterday seem as if they were taken out of horror movie. Never, in any way, had I thought stories such as I heard yesterday would ever be possible, certainly not in Israel.

Early on Saturday morning, the eighth day (the “Great Day”) of the Feast of Succot, hundreds of terrorists infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip. Their attack was so widespread that they broke down the fence, went in with vehicles and motorcycles carrying heavy weapons. They went into Israeli cities, communities and military bases, murdering and wounding multitudes, confirming they are dead and abusing their bodies. They also took innocent men, women and children captive and removed them to Gaza (and, perhaps, other places). Hundreds of terrorists moved on into Israeli communities with the sole purpose of murdering as many Jews as they could.

All the while, thousands of rockets were fired to south and central Israel, sending tens of thousands of people to safe rooms and shelters.

Throughout the course of the day, I kept hearing of another person I know being called up to fight or to his or her reserve unit. It was surreal. How could this happen?

Between hearing the sirens, and feeling the booms from the rockets and hurrying to the safe room, we’d hear the news, people calling the news crying for help, for rescue, saying their mother, father, spouse or children were kidnapped to Gaza and they couldn’t do anything. People wrote to whoever they could, tried to hide from the terrorists and trying to remain as quiet as possible, so they wouldn’t be discovered, despite hearing weapons being fired and bullets hitting the walls of the buildings where they lived. As of now, hundreds are missing and their whereabouts and fate are unknown.

Israel is at war. This is not a cliche. The heart aches for the land which is bleeding. The heart aches for the mothers and fathers who heard and saw their children taken captive by enemies to enemy territory. Please pray now for Israel, for the soldiers, the civilians, the people kidnapped. God only knows what they are going through, and trying to imagine their suffering is more than one can bear. Pray for the many believers who have been called up to their units or are in active duty in the military. Pray for the leaders and decision makers to deal with this horrific tragedy quickly and efficiently. Pray for peace in the hearts and minds of the believing community here.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for Israel. He that never slumbers nor never sleeps was, is and always will be in control. It is hard to look up amidst the storm, but He is above the storm and can say to it, “Be still”.