SEED OF ABRAHAM MINISTRIES, INC. SPECIAL EDITION 70 YEARS OF. Shalom from Jerusalem!

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1 HOPE FOR ISRAEL SEED OF ABRAHAM MINISTRIES, INC. O Israel put your hope in the LORD... - Psalm 130:7 SPECIAL EDITION 70 YEARS OF Independence W O R D F R O M M O R A N Shalom from Jerusalem! May the grace of our God strengthen you and give you peace in Messiah Yeshua until the day of His return. I start almost every newsletter with the words, Shalom from Jerusalem. As I reflect upon these special words, I realize the excitement of being able to write them never fades. This past year was a very special year for us in Israel, as we commemorated 50 years since Jerusalem once again became the united capital of Israel and its people! This year, we celebrate Israel s 70th year since its independence. What an honor it is for me to live in the Land that is the fulfillment of amazing prophecies, Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? Isaiah 66:8a. Indeed on May the 14th, 1948 (5th of Iyar 5708 according to the Hebrew calendar) at exactly 16:00 (4:00 PM), David Ben Gurion declared the establishment of a Jewish State in the Land of Israel, the Jewish people s historic home. This ceremony took exactly 32 minutes, from start to end, which is the fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah s words! continued on page 4 HOPE FOR ISRAEL 925 Courtenay Parkway Merritt Island, FL Visit our website at 1

2 The Miracle of ISRAEL By Mali Rozen May 14,1948 2

3 Celebrating 70 Years as a Nation Reborn The phrase, Israel is a miracle is spoken so often that it s almost easy to become desensitized to it. But it truly is a miracle, and not just by our human estimation, but also something that was foretold by the ancient Hebrew prophets. This year marks the 70th year of Israel s rebirth as a nation, where the ancient homeland of the Jewish people became an internationally recognized State after a twothousand-year exile. This year, we want to highlight the Israel you don t know - the Israel that s beyond the headlines. Just saying the word Israel can generate a whole slew of emotions, from positive to negative, euphoric to downright angry. There are, of course, many reasons for this, but we feel it s important that people get a glimpse of the real Israel, which is actually a place of tremendous diversity, innovation, and progress. From new inventions such as exterior paint that changes the sun s rays into air conditioning for houses, to advanced agricultural methods such as drip irrigation that is literally making deserts bloom, to the Iron Dome, which is the greatest military protective tool to be invented in the last decade, Israel is leading the way in bettering the lives of people throughout the world! And these are just a few examples of the blessing that pours forth from Israel. Israel is not a myth; Israel is a reality. Just like every other country, Israel faces incredible challenges and problems that are not easily solved. We must remember this as we celebrate the miracle of Israel s rebirth! Let s also keep in mind that Israel is a very young country - only 70 years old; Israel has made mind-boggling advances in so many areas, and has become a world-leader in many arenas. However, it is also true that Israel s government is laden with problems, corruption, and cronyism that at times threaten to overshadow the miraculous nature of this tiny nation. Racism and discrimination do exist - just like in every other nation on this earth - and we have a long way to go in this area. This does not diminish Israel s greatness, however! As followers of Messiah, we must understand why and how Israel matters to us all - Jew and Gentile alike. Modern Israel is without a doubt the fulfillment of prophecy, namely Isaiah 66. In fact, Israel is compelling proof that God keeps His word! The real Israel of today is a thriving, growing, and yes, often stressful, place to live, work, and raise a family. We are blessed to be a part of this incredible land, and wait in expectation for what God will do next! 3

4 WORD continued from page 1 FROM MORAN I am including David Ben Gurion s speech here; it s not too long and I would encourage you to take a few minutes to read these incredibly significant words: Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? Isaiah 66:8a ACCORDINGLY WE, MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE S COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ERETZ-ISRAEL AND OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT, ARE HERE ASSEMBLED ON THE DAY OF THE TERMINATION OF THE BRITISH MANDATE OVER ERETZ-ISRAEL AND, BY VIRTUE OF OUR NATURAL David Ben Gurion AND HISTORIC RIGHT AND ON THE STRENGTH OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HEREBY DECLARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE IN ERETZ-ISRAEL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE OF ISRAEL. WE DECLARE that, with effect from the moment of the termination of the Mandate being tonight, the eve of Sabbath, the 6th Iyar, 5708 (15th May, 1948), until the establishment of the elected, regular authorities of the State in accordance with the Constitution which shall be adopted by the Elected Constituent Assembly not later than the 1st October 1948, the People s Council shall act as a Provisional Council of State, and its executive organ, the People s Administration, shall be the Provisional Government of the Jewish State, to be called Israel. THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. THE STATE OF ISRAEL is prepared to cooperate with the agencies and representatives of the United Nations in implementing the resolution of the General Assembly of the 29th November 1947, and will take steps to bring about the economic union of the whole of Eretz-Israel. WE APPEAL to the United Nations to assist the Jewish people in the building-up of its State and to receive the State of Israel into the comity of nations. WE APPEAL - in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months - to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the building up of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions. WE EXTEND our hand to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to continued on page 5 4

5 P R O J E C T U P D A T E Israel Beyond the Headlines Did you know that Israel leads the world in technological innovations that positively impact the quality of life for millions across the globe? If not, you re not alone! Most people would never know how great an impact Israel has in the world today! So we decided to share it. Enter our new project, Israel Beyond the Headlines. In honor of Israel s 70th year of independence, we initiated a series of exciting videos highlighting Israel s incredible achievements that impact the world. We produce a new video each month, each focusing on a specific Israeli innovation that changes lives every day. Advocating for Israel is an important part of our heart for this nation, and these videos are a powerful way for us to share the good that flows from Israel! From Israel s unparalleled first-response in various crises (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, and other natural disasters), to installing drip irrigation in dry, arid farmlands, to using solar power to pump clean water in rural African villages, Israel is sharing powerful information to better the lives of people who need it the most. We are proud of the work of this tiny nation and are eager to proclaim it! Check out these videos on our website today! WORD continued from page 4 FROM MORAN do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East. WE APPEAL to the Jewish people throughout the Diaspora to rally round the Jews of Eretz-Israel in the tasks of immigration and building up, and to stand by them in the great struggle for the realization of the age-old dream - the redemption of Israel. PLACING OUR TRUST IN THE ROCK OF ISRAEL, WE AFFIX OUR SIGNATURES TO THIS PROCLAMATION AT THIS SESSION OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE, ON THE SOIL OF THE HOMELAND, IN THE CITY OF TEL-AVIV, ON THIS SABBATH EVE, THE 5TH DAY OF IYAR, 5708 (14TH MAY, 1948). (English translation taken from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I love the last part when he referred to, placing our trust in the Rock of Israel because it demonstrates an understanding that we are here because of God alone, and His eternal faithfulness to His promises. Please do not miss his appeal to both the Arab inhabitants of the Land for full and equal citizenship, and to Israel s neighboring Arab states for peace (something they rejected by choice). Many who immigrated to Israel over the past 70 years have lost everything, like the European Jews who lost their families, homes, and dignity in the Holocaust; the Sephardic Jews who were kicked out of their homes and countries in which they lived; and more recently, the Ethiopian Jews who had to walk long and difficult miles, with many losing their lives in order to get to the Land of Promise (and still suffer once they arrive due to discrimination). The fact is that the modern State of Israel is far from perfect and we have a long way to go before we can honestly say that, THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the 5 prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions... However, considering the fact that this nation is only a mere 70 years old, comprised of people from so many diverse backgrounds and cultures, this is definitely not an easy task. Israel is still very much defining its identity as a Jewish nation while at the same time, embracing the stranger in the Land. The reality is that despite constant war and terrorism, this tiny little nation has miraculously thrived. Israel is a leading world power in areas of technology, agriculture, disaster relief, and medical advancement. Our ability to love and care for all people - even our enemies - sets us apart from any other nation on earth. The people of Israel have turned a largely deserted wasteland, full of swamps and desert, into a lush, thriving, developed nation, with wonderful people, beautiful places to visit, advanced roads, thriving communities, and other advanced developments. I am amazed that I, a Jewish disciple of Yeshua the Messiah, can be here in the Land of Promise, and that I can raise my family here as a fulfillment of prophecy: Therefore behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when it will no longer be said, As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but, As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them. For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers. Jeremiah 16:14-15 My dear brothers and sisters, what an honor it is to be living in these times, where we can read the above verses and not just say Behold the Days are coming but rather behold, the days are here! In His service, Moran

6 Join one of Hope for Israel s Tours! A Light Unto the Nations ISRAEL-GREECE TOUR OCTOBER 2-13, 2018 I feel forever changed by this trip. It was much different for me than the other tours I ve joined! Ending the time in Israel at Caesarea Maritima from where Paul would have launched his boat, and then picking back up in Greece near Neopolis where he would have landed, was pretty great! - A.T Tour Participant PASTORS SOLIDARITY TOUR FEBRUARY 4-13, 2019 Before coming to Israel, reading the Bible was like watching TV in black and white. Afterwards, it was like watching HD color TV! - C.C. (Pastor) EXPERIENCE ISRAEL TOUR FEB 28-MAR 16, 2019 Moran, you and your team have definitely created (with God s guidance), a unique and powerful vehicle through which to convey the miracle of Israel, its people, its history and its relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. - C.M Tour Participant For more information on any of our tours, contact us at info@hope4israel.org or visit our website at hope4israel.org. See you in Israel! FINAL WORD In order to accomplish the great work the Lord has for us, we do need your prayer and financial support. Please prayerfully consider supporting the Hope for Israel ministry. Please make all checks payable to Hope for Israel. 6