Shalom all,

The total IDF deaths since the beginning of the ground offensive is now up to 156.

Today, much of the world celebrates Christmas. But, in Israel today, the celebrations are few and far between. As long as I can remember, right after Thanksgiving, many communities in Israel began preparations for Hanukkah and Christmas. In Haifa, where we are, certain main roads would be adorned with lights and decorations. Downtown Haifa would celebrate what has come to be designated as “the Festival of Festivals” – a multi-cultural time where the three major faiths would celebrate different religious festivals, drawing crowds to Haifa from all over Israel. But, not this year. Holiday lights and decorations that usually adorn restaurants and different types of businesses in the areas that usually have lots of visitors are not present this year. The festivities of December are absent. The crowds that swarm the attractions of Haifa didn’t come this year. Lots of businesses are suffering from the fallout of the war. And everyone here is affected by it in one way or another. Certain non-profit organizations tried to lighten up the day, particularly for younger children in communities where there is a large concentration of Arab Christians. On the whole, however, this is not the “season to be jolly”.

The “Palestinian” Authority, the semi-political structure that was birthed following the disaster of the Oslo Accords, is failing in its responsibilities of governing Islamic communities in Judea and Samaria. Yet, many governments would urge that the leadership of the “Palestinian” Authority also take responsibility for the governance of the Gaza Strip when the present war is over. The utter folly of such a move would be obvious to anyone who would bother to take to time to take a good look at what is being proposed. That will be discussed another time. 

As usual and as expected, the leadership of the “Palestinian” Authority blames Israel for destroying Christmas. The absurdity of it all is lost on many who fail to understand that Islam has no lost love for Christians – whatever type of Christian one may claim to be. Islam’s primary goal is to get rid of the Sabbath worshippers – the Jews, and then to get rid of the Sunday worshippers – the Christians. And, of course, there is the yearly claim that Yeshua (Jesus) was a “Palestinian”, a title that they try to place on Him decades before the term “Palestinian” (from “Palestina Capitolina” – the designation given by the Romans to the area now known as Israel, after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.) was ever used. So, when we hear pious statements from any Islamic leader that laments the absence of Christmas celebrations, we should rejected them without giving them a second thought. 

Okay, those are followers of Islam. But, what about those who call themselves “Christian”, who celebrate all of the worldly aspects of Christmas, but hate the Jews? Russell Moore, in his article appearing in The Washington Post of October 31, 2018, stated it clearly: “If you hate Jews, you hate Jesus, too.” . If one really wants to celebrate Christmas, it needs to be remembered that Christ = Messiah, is and always will be – not was – Jewish. If you are looking forward to the return of The Prince of Peace, pray for the Jewish people. He will return to Jerusalem, not to the United States, not to Europe, not to Asia or to anywhere else. 

And yet, many who celebrate Christmas around the world, whatever religious affiliation they claim, also take aim against Israel and the Jewish people because of what is happening in the Gaza War. When will the world ever learn? Golda Meir, addressing the Israeli Knesset shortly following the Munich massacre of Israeli athletes in 1972, stated: “From the blood-drenched history of the Jewish nation, we learn that violence which begins with the murder of Jews, ends with the spread of violence and danger to all people, in all nations. We have no choice but to strike at terrorist organizations wherever we can reach them. That is our obligation to ourselves and to peace.” (my emphasis)

For those who celebrate this day, please remember to pray for the people to whom He came and whom He sought. One day, nations and individuals will be judged on the basis of how they relate to and treat the Jewish people: “When you do this for the least of these, My brethren (i.e., the Jewish people), you do it for Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Pray also for those in countries throughout the world, who celebrate Christmas with little or no concern that the day commemorates what is traditionally considered to be the birth of a little child, a Jewish little child, who will grow up to become the “King of the Jews”, upon Whom the sins of the world was placed, so that sinners, even the worst of sinners, can be forgiven and reconciled to an all-holy God. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) This is the day which the Lord has made; Let’s rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Bless, because He blessed YOU to be a blessing.

Marvin