Podcasts about Arab Christians

In “Dark Sayings,” I explore how internalized racism destroyed my mother's family. This psychological process, woven out of Hellenistic pluralism and anti-Scriptural platitudes about the so-called “Melting Pot,” reveals how systemic racism operates not only externally but within the immigrant's self-conception.Internalized racism is more insidious than the inferiority complex from which it stems. Eventually, the immigrant—the stranger in a foreign land—overcomes fear by adopting the personality of the oppressor.“You shouldn't give your children Arabic names, Marc.”“Stop listening to Arabic music, Marc.”“You need to assimilate into this culture, Marc.”“If you love the Middle East so much, Marc, why don't you live there?”The last one is my favorite. It reveals the speaker's true heart. They might as well say, “Go back to Africa, Marc.”My father is from Africa. Is Africa a punishment?Internalized racism explains why people from the West Bank see themselves as superior to people from Gaza. It's why Arab Christians often identify with white Western Christians against their Muslim brothers. It's why immigrants and minorities across backgrounds look up to those who marginalize them.This concept of “Stockholm Syndrome” reflects a fundamental truth about the human condition. The privileged and underprivileged who perpetuate internalized racism share something profoundly disturbing in common: both reject the God of Abraham, trusting not in him as King, but in themselves.Ironically, Pharaoh (or Caesar) is not their king, as they profess in John's Gospel, but merely their locum tenens — their temporary substitute. They view themselves as the true sovereigns. This explains their enthusiasm for elections; they delight in proclaiming their chosen figurehead by acclamation: creatus imperator.They “create” (creāre) him. They “make” him. They “elect” him. They “bring him into being” and then they control him—but they can't control the God who speaks out of the whirlwind.Providence, habibi, is rougher than a corncob. She'll slap you sideways even if you're careful.Though “internalized racism” isn't a Scriptural term, it's rooted in biblical notions of cowardice; in the absolute fear of the power of death and deep anxiety about what might happen if Jesus alienates the “wrong people” in Decapolis. God forbid he offend those “nice white people.” Very bad for business.Consider the disciples.What a bunch of cowardly, misguided fools. One almost wonders why Jesus didn't let his Father finish what he began with the storm at sea.Oops! I am starting to sound like Jonah. See, there are no good guys!This week, I discuss Luke 8:25.Show Notesβουλή (boulē) / מ-כ-ר (meem-kaf-resh) / م-ك-ر (mīm-kāf-rāʾ)Purposeful plan, will, counsel. يَمْكُرُ (yamkurū) to plan, scheme, plot. מכר (makar) to sell. For example, Joseph being sold by his brothers (מָכְרוּ māḵərū Genesis 37:28).“But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's plan (τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ θεοῦ tēn boulēn tou theou) for themselves, not having been baptized by John.” (Luke 7:30)“For thus says the Lord: ‘You have sold yourselves (נִמְכַּרְתֶּם nimkartem) for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.'” (Isaiah 52:3)“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord, “Who execute a plan, but not mine, and make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, in order to add sin to sin.” (Isaiah 30:1)“And [remember] when those who did not believe made plans (يَمْكُرُ yamkuru) against you to restrain you, or kill you, or expel you. And they make plans (ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ wa yamkuruna), but God makes plans (وَيَمْكُرُ wa yamkuru) — and God is the best of planners (الْمَاكِرِينَ al-makirin).” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:30)πίστις (pistis) / אֱמֶת (ʾemet), from the root א-מ-ן (aleph-mem-nun), אָמֵן (ʾāmēn), and أمين (amīn)The root א-מ-ן (aleph-mem-nun) is functional with إيمان (īmān, “faith”) and آمن (āmana, “he trusted”), reflecting the biblical Hebrew concepts of trust, faithfulness, and reliability.Under the influence of Hellenism (Judaeo-Christianism), אֱמֶת (ʾemet) is misinterpreted by neoplatonists as “truth,” as if it were a philosophical abstraction. Here, the wisdom of George Carlin comes to mind:“I leave symbols to the symbol-minded.”The God of Abraham is not a “symbol,” let alone a pagan effigy—he is our trustworthy Master. Saying “amin” does not indicate agreement with an idea; it reflects placement of trust in the trustworthy Master.φοβέω (phobeō) / י-ר-א (yod-resh-aleph) / و-ر-ي (wāw–rāʼ–yāʼ)Fear, fearful, or feared. وَأَرَى (waʾara) — “to frighten someone.”“Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God ( יְרֵ֤א אֱלֹהִים֙ yerēʾʹ ʾělō·hîmʹ ), since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.”” (Genesis 22:10–14)In the Qur'an, وَأَرَى (waʾara) is linked to divine signs intended to cause fear. Concerning the Lukan reference, Abraham is shown (أَرَى arā) a terrifying thing:“And when he reached the age of striving with him, [Abraham] said: ‘O my son, indeed I see (أَرَى arā) in a dream that I am sacrificing you.” (Qur'an 37:102)In Genesis 22, Abraham also sees (וַיַּרְא wayyárʾ) the ram caught in the thicket, and “fears God” (ירא אלהים yirē ʾelohim) through his obedience.θαυμάζω (thaumazō) / ת-מ-ה (taw-meem-he)The disciples encountered God on Mount Zion, were filled with terror, panicked, and fled:“They saw it, then they were amazed (תָּמָ֑הוּ tā·māʹ·hû); They were terrified, they fled in alarm.” (Psalm 48:5)In Ecclesiastes, after a reminder to “fear God,” a warning: don't be shocked by institutional oppression. Corruption and injustice are standard and forever entrenched — officials monitor one another, but the system will always fail. “Reform” is a word found only on the lips of the self-righteous:“Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to hear rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil….For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fea...

Welcome to the Jew and Gentile Podcast.   Text the Jew and Gentile your comments, questions, concerns (OY!), and news at: 424-444-1948   Donate today:    MUG-ON-A-MUG With your gift of $10 or more to FOI Equip, you to can have your very own Mug-on-a-Mug. Your generous donation helps to expand the important work of teaching the Bible from a Jewish perspective while raising up new FOI volunteers and representatives serving Jewish communities all around the world.   Visit gofoi.org/mug to make your gift today and receive your own Jew and Gentile Podcast Mug-on-a-Mug.   Oy, look at Steve's punim! FROM THE SCRIPTURES Unleavened Bread Lev 23   Israeli Arab Christian buys Israel's Unleavened Bread https://www.timesofisrael.com/meet-the-arab-israeli-who-buys-all-of-israels-hametz/    FOI Equip Classes:   A Guide to the End of the World THOMAS ICE MAY 8, 15, 22   Did you know God has provided a guide to understanding the end of the world? For many, thinking of the world's end brings fear and anxiety, but it doesn't have to be that way. In this month's FOI Equip class, Dr. Thomas Ice will explore the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and 25, revealing how its message offers clarity, joy, and peace. Discover how God's prophetic roadmap points to Jesus' return and learn practical applications from this teaching. Join Dr. Ice as he unpacks biblical prophecy and its relevance for our lives today!   Register: foiequip.org   FOI Resources  Get a free one-year trial subscription to Israel My Glory https://israelmyglory.org/subscribe/ Get Involved with Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry https://www.foi.org/outreach   Chris Katulka's book: Israel Always foi.org/israelalways   Steve Herzig's book: Jewish Culture & Customs foi.org/jcc   Christmas is Jewish Finding Messiah in Passover messiahinpassover.org   Harbingers Daily https://harbingersdaily.com/ In the News:   Little girl discovers 3,800-year-old amulet with ties to Biblical people during family trip https://www.foxnews.com/travel/little-girl-discovers-3800-year-old-amulet-ties-biblical-people-during-family-trip Yiddish Word of the Day: Chiddush—innovation  

He was born in Syria in 1860, in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. In his childhood, his family took refuge in Lebanon after their parish priest, St Joseph of Damascus (July 10) was martyred; but they later returned to Damascus. In 1879 he was tonsured a monk and entered into the service of Patriarch Hierotheos of Antioch. The Balamand Seminary had been closed since 1840, but the young monk was offered a scholarship at the Constantinople Patriarchate's seminary at Halki. Returning to Syria with a theological degree, St Raphael became assistant to Gerasimos, the new Patriarch of Antioch, traveling and preaching on his behalf. After further studies in Kiev, he transferred to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow and for a time was professer of Arabic studies at the Theological Academy in Kazan. (At that time the downtrodden Orthodox of the Middle East received considerable aid and theological training from the Tsar and from the Church in Russia).   In 1895 he was sent to the United States to shepherd the Arab Orthodox Community in New York, which was without a church or a priest. He quickly consecrated a chapel and with great energy set about the work of shepherding his flock there; but he was concerned not only for them but for the Arab Christian immigrants scattered through North America, most of whom were without a pastor and in danger of falling into heterodoxy or abandoning religious life. He traveled widely throughout the continent, visiting, counseling and serving Arab Christians, preaching, celebrating marriages and baptisms, receiving confessions and celebrating the Divine Liturgy, usually in private houses. In 1898 he published the first Orthodox prayer book in Arabic to appear in the New World. In 1899, he made a seven-month journey through forty-three American cities, seeking out the "scattered sheep" of the Church in America. His services were attended not only by Arabs but by Russians and Greeks, all of whom at that time depended on the Russian mission to North America. During this entire period, he held the official rank of Archimandrite, though his work and duties exceeded those of most bishops.   In 1901, Patriarch Meletios was elected to the see of Antioch, the first Arab to occupy the patriarchal throne for 168 years. Several proposals were made to elect Archimandrite Raphael to a see in Syria; but he refused all such offers, pointing out the Orthodox people's great and little-met needs in North America. In 1904, the Moscow Patriarchate made him Bishop of Brooklyn, the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on American soil. He redoubled his already impressive pastoral work, ordaining priests to the many new parishes that he had founded, and assisting Saint Tikhon (then Bishop of North America) in the care of his huge diocese. In 1905 he laid the foundation of the Monastery of St Tikhon in Pennsylvania.   The bishop saw the importance of integrating the faithful into the life of their new homeland, and was an early advocate of the use of English in American Church services. When Isabel Hapgood's Service Book — the first useful English translation of the Church's services — was published in 1906, he advocated its use in all his parishes.   In 1912, St Raphael was found to be suffering from heart disease, but continued his exhausting pastoral work for two more years. In 1915 he was finally unable to continue, and reposed after two months' illness.   When his relics were transported in 1998 from Brooklyn to Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA, they were found to be incorrupt, and in 2000 he became the most recently glorified Saint of North America.   In North America St Raphael is commemorated on the anniversary of his repose: February 27 on the Civil/New Calendar, February 14 on the Julian Calendar. He is also commemorated with the Synaxis of Saints of North America on the Second Sunday after Pentecost. The Patriarchate of Antioch also commemorates him, but on Saturday before the Synaxis of the Archangels (November 8).

In this special episode, Daniel has a conversation with Najib George Awad, a Syrian theologian and historian, about the sudden fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the various challenges facing the Syrian people after this “incomplete revolution”. For our Patreon supporters, Najib and Daniel discuss Kalam (Muslim theology) and the rich history of Muslim-Christian debate in the Middle Ages. To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠. Najib George Awad is a Syrian-American theologian and historian. He is an associate researcher at the Center for Comparative Theology and Social issues (CTSI) at Bonn University, Germany, and also at the protestant theological faculty at Charles University in the Czech Republic. His publications God without Face? On the Personal Individuation of the Holy Spirit, And Freedom Became a Public-Square: Political, Sociological and Religious Overviews on the Arab Christians and the Arabic Spring, Orthodoxy in Arabic Terms: A Study of Theodore Abū Qurrah's Trinitarian and Christological Doctrines in an Islamic Context; Umayyad Christianity: John of Damascus as a Contextual Example of Identity-Formation in Early Islam; and After-Mission, Beyond Evangelicalism: The Indigenous ‘Injīliyyūn' in the Arab-Muslim Context of Syria-Lebanon; and Contemporary Arabic Christian Theology (Regnum, 2024). If you enjoy our podcast, please consider becoming a Patreon monthly supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Show Notes: Article by Najib Awad about the three challenges facing Syrians today: The Three Challenges for 'Liberated' Syria

Does God sometimes nudge us to protect us?  John Kheir would answer with a resounding YES.  Listen in to hear his story how the Lord brought him to safety in a scary situation.Reach Out to Me:Website: www.dontignorethenudge.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/dontignorethenudgeIG: @dontignorethenudgepodcastPrivate FB group to WATCH interviews: www.dontignorethenudge.com/facebook__________________________________________________________________________________________Business/Personal Coaching with Cori:www.corifreeman.com(951) 923-2674Reach out to John Kheir:Website: https://hkconstruction.info/Email:bearcanfixit@gmail.com

Welcome back to "Inside The Epicenter," hosted by Joel Rosenberg. Today, we have an extraordinary story of transformation and reconciliation as we sit down with Salim Shalash, an Arab evangelical pastor from Nazareth. Once harboring deep-seated animosity towards Israel, Salim now dedicates his life to bridging divides and offering humanitarian aid to both Jews and Arabs in need. From overcoming profound prejudice to spearheading community support initiatives in conflict zones, his journey is a testament to the power of faith and unity. We'll explore Salim's remarkable evolution, the vital work of The Joshua Fund, and how you can support these efforts. Join us as we dive into themes of love, service, and reconciliation amidst the turbulent backdrop of the Middle East. You'll hear about real-life challenges, inspiring stories of hope, and the impactful role you can play. Don't forget to rate, subscribe, and share this episode on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, and let us know your thoughts at podcast@joshuafund.net (00:02) Can God change an Arab Christian's heart?(03:51) Arab pastor's journey towards peace with Israel.(07:42) Called for reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis.(12:29) All are equal in Christ, transcending differences.(13:57) Pray for peace, frontline workers, and understanding.(19:43) Humanitarian aid center supports diverse religious holidays.(22:10) Shuk Talpiot project: distributing ready-to-eat food.(26:12) Outspoken Israeli Arab Christian pastor supports Israel.(27:31) "It's an honor to serve God, not duty."(31:27) Please support us financially and visit joshuafund.com Learn more about The Joshua Fund: JoshuaFund.comMake a tax-deductible donation: Donate | The Joshua FundStock Media provided by DimmySad / Pond5 Verse of the Day: Galatians chapter 3: 28 -There is neither Jew nor gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. PrayerPray for them that God would use them to continue providing for needy Israelis, again, for both needy Israeli Jews and needy Israeli Arabs and those also who need help and the the ministries of mercy, the ministries of humanitarian relief among the Palestinians and others in the region. Please pray that these ministries, Salim and others, can do that work and Joshua Fund comes alongside them.Pray for peace and stability for Israel and the surrounding countries. Pray that there can be an end to this terrible war that's gone on for more than a year. Related Episodes:Response Fund Impact and Volunteer Efforts #219A Pastor's Tale of Faith and Service #207How to Show Love and Support for Israel and Her Neighbors #182Christians Blessing Israel: How and Why? #170 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Joel and Lynn Rosenberg delve into critical issues impacting Israel and its neighbors. In this episode, we reflect on the recent Epicenter Gathering, featuring personal accounts from those on the Gaza border and the compassionate efforts of The Joshua Fund. We also welcome former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who offers his strategic insights on the Iranian threat and the need for Israeli unity during times of conflict. With an emphasis on bridging Israeli and Arab Christian perspectives, join us for a compelling blend of personal stories, expert analysis, and a call to action for our global listeners. Stay tuned! (00:02) Joshua Fund organizes educational tours and conferences.(06:23) Joshua Fund team excelled at conference preparation.(07:55) Compassionate advocacy from pastors on difficult issues.(11:27) Elderly value home stability over evacuation risk.(15:14) Amplify and advocate for those in pain.(18:43) Sharing prophetic insights, donations, and military service.(20:49) Solomon dedicates the temple; people rejoice and pray.(27:20) Israel faces resilience, spiritual struggle, and ideological attacks.(31:04) Israel-Hezbollah conflict: Nasrallah was killed, and Iran retaliated.(33:36) Toppling Iran's regime: focus our strategy.(35:31) Israel targets the head, not tentacles, of threats.(39:27) Grateful for God's guidance and peace. Amen. Learn more about The Joshua Fund. Make a tax-deductible donation. The Joshua Fund Stock provided by DimmySad/Pond5 Verse of the Day: 2 Chronicles 7:8-10 - So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day, they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the Lord had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel. PrayerPray for the leaders of Israel's churches that they will be refreshed in this time and be able to serve out of the strength of the Lord. Related Episodes:Special - Yahya Sinwar Elimination, A Turning Point in the Israel-Hamas Conflict #225Inside the Attack: A Journalist's Harrowing Account #223Special Episode - Iran's Aggression and Israel's Resolve #220Special Episode - The Impact of Nasrallah's Death on Israel and Middle East Stability #218 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How is the Joshua Fund's Rapid Response Fund helping with the crises in Israel? Welcome to Inside the Epicenter. In this episode, host Joel Rosenberg and co-host Lynn explore the pivotal role of local volunteers and the transformative impact of the Joshua Fund's Rapid Response Fund amid crises in Israel. Lynn shares her daily experiences coordinating humanitarian efforts within messianic and Arab Christian communities, emphasizing the unity and readiness among local participants. Joel delves into the strategic allocation of over $2.6 million in emergency aid, detailing how resources like satellite phones, medical kits, and bomb shelter repairs have been critical. We'll also learn about the Joshua Fund's unique approach to hiring local Israeli staff and partnering with ministries to maximize impact. Join us as we discuss the evolution of humanitarian aid, the innovative adaptations of discipleship ministries, and the unwavering global support that powers these efforts. Tune in to understand how every donation contributes to blessing Israel and its neighbors, fulfilling the Joshua Fund's mission. (00:02) Mobilizes Christians to bless Israel and its neighbors.(06:35) Non-coercive fundraising emphasizing voluntary, cheerful giving.(09:53) Immediate unity and communication among local congregations.(10:53) Joined in prayer, mobilized aid, served the community.(16:39) Humanitarian aid ministry strengthens churches and communities.(19:52) Families moved into bomb shelters required supplies.(21:23) Volunteers helped with supplies, and strong relationships aided effort.(27:03) First prayer request: Bless supporters of Joshua Fund.(29:25) Faith and perseverance ensure needs are continually met.(35:50) Evacuations and housing support for displaced Israelis.(39:53) Government created temporary schools and provided counseling support.   Learn more about The Joshua Fund. Make a tax-deductible donation. The Joshua Fund Stock provided by DimmySad/Pond5   Verse of the Day: Genesis 12:3 - I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed Prayer RequestPray that people would continue to give.Pray for the hostages, for their families, for their rescue by praying Isaiah 61 that the captive be set free. Related Episodes:Christians Blessing Israel: How and Why? #170Why We Support, Serve, and Love The Joshua Fund: Larry & Autumn Ross #105American Christianity & How You Can Bless Israel #99What Are Practical Ways to Support and Bless Israel? #70 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Summary How do you reconcile being both Arab and Israeli in a land of deep divisions? For Robert "Ruby" Bishai, this tension is not only part of his personal journey but also the heartbeat of his ministry. Ruby, an Arab Israeli believer in Yeshua, has found a profound calling to serve both the Jewish and Arab people of Israel. Growing up in a Jewish town as an Arab Christian gave him a unique perspective on the challenges and beauty of these two cultures colliding. Today, Ruby is a bridge between these worlds, striving to foster unity and bring the hope of Messiah to those who seem divided by history. Through Fields of Wheat, the ministry Ruby serves with, he mentors young believers and supports soldiers during times of war - often being a living testimony of love across cultural boundaries. His passion stems from a deep sense of destiny, recognizing that God has called him to stand in the gap between Arabs and Jews, seeing the promise of Isaiah 19:24,25 come to life. Ruby's story is one of identity, reconciliation, and the unshakable hope that peace and salvation will come to both Arab and Jewish people. Takeaways Living as an Arab Israeli in Israel comes with its challenges, but Ruby Beshai embraces his unique identity and serves both the Arab and Jewish communities. Fields of Wheat is a ministry in Israel that focuses on developing the youth and young adult believers and fostering unity between Jewish and Arab believers. Ruby Beshai has had the opportunity to supply soldiers with equipment during times of war and has also shared the gospel with them, seeing an openness among the Jewish people. Despite the conflicts and tensions in the Middle East, there is hope for peace and the salvation of both the Jewish and Arab people. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Setting 01:24 - Ruby's Background and Identity 03:20 - Growing Up in a Jewish Community 04:17 - Embracing a Unique Identity 06:16 - Fields of Wheat Ministry 07:13 - Ministry During Times of War 09:10 - The Impact of the War on the Next Generation 10:39 - Identity and Perception 13:07 - Perception by Jewish People and Arab Brothers and Sisters 14:03 - Arab Israelis and Palestinians 16:00 - Struggles with Identity and Faith 19:21 - Hope in Fulfilling the Potential of the Jewish People 21:16 - Hope for Peace in the Middle East 22:12 - Perceptions of Israel and the Conflict 25:06 - Unity Among Arab Israelis 29:50 - Freedom and Hope in Israel 31:43 - Hope for Peace and Salvation 35:41 - Bringing Good News to the Jewish People 36:08 - Sharing Perspectives and Bringing Understanding

October 7th, 2023 is one of those dates that will always be remembered. On that terrible morning, Ben Barrett was working for VOM with persecuted Christians in the Middle East and leading the ministry's work in Israel, including Gaza and the West Bank. His phone began to light up with messages from both Messianic Jewish believers and Arab Christians—even before the terrible attacks were announced in international news. The messages had a consistent request: “Please pray for us!” Families and individuals like Pauline Ayyad, , asked for prayer as contact with relatives in Gaza was cut off. A messianic Rabbi asked prayers for his daughter who was ordered back to her military base, not knowing when she might return home. Video footage from a pastor in Sderot, the closest settlement to the Gaza Strip, showed him barricaded and lying flat on the floor as trucks full of terrorists shouting “Allahu Akbar!” passed by his home. Listen as Ben shares about his last trip to the Middle East, where he met with pastors from both Jewish and Muslim backgrounds who are taking the gospel to radical areas despite the risk. He'll also tell the stories of Jewish-background believers in Orthodox or Ethiopian communities who face Christian persecution through shame, excommunication, and job loss. Pray for unity amongst believers in the Middle East. Pray for boldness in the spread of the gospel in spite of the risks. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! . Or listen each week—and receive daily reminders and specific ways to pray for persecuted Christians—in the for your smartphone or tablet.

October 7th, 2023 is one of those dates that will always be remembered. On that terrible morning, Ben Barrett was working for VOM with persecuted Christians in the Middle East and leading the ministry's work in Israel, including Gaza and the West Bank. His phone began to light up with messages from both Messianic Jewish believers and Arab Christians—even before the terrible attacks were announced in international news. The messages had a consistent request: “Please pray for us!” Families and individuals like Pauline Ayyad, a previous guest on VOM Radio, asked for prayer as contact with relatives in Gaza was cut off. A messianic Rabbi asked prayers for his daughter who was ordered back to her military base, not knowing when she might return home. Video footage from a pastor in Sderot, the closest settlement to the Gaza Strip, showed him barricaded and lying flat on the floor as trucks full of terrorists shouting “Allahu Akbar!” passed by his home. Listen as Ben shares about his last trip to the Middle East, where he met with pastors from both Jewish and Muslim backgrounds who are taking the gospel to radical areas despite the risk. He'll also tell the stories of Jewish-background believers in Orthodox or Ethiopian communities who face Christian persecution through shame, excommunication, and job loss. Pray for unity amongst believers in the Middle East. Pray for boldness in the spread of the gospel in spite of the risks. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast. Or listen each week—and receive daily reminders and specific ways to pray for persecuted Christians—in the VOM App for your smartphone or tablet.

Quote of The Day: " Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ~ Jesus Christ Hosts: TOLA Omoniyi, Kanyinsola Omojola

>> TRIGGER WARNING! Summmary was AI Generated!: A speaker discusses a situation where a person they were speaking to initially rejected Islam and claimed to have a better life than the person they initially recognized. The speaker suggests that accepting Islam would encourage them to pursue their dream of becoming the next king. The speaker also warns that accepting Islam would result in them losing their position in the world and potentially losing their chance of getting into a new country.

Show Notes and Transcript Morton Klein, President of the Zionist Organization of America joins Hearts of Oak to emphasize the significance of Zionism and what the term really means.  He delivers the case for the Jewish people's right to their ancestral homeland, discussing historical, legal, and biblical support for Israel, dispelling misconceptions about the region, and addresses ongoing struggles faced by them. The discussion covers ZOA's role in promoting U.S-Israel relations, combating anti-Semitism, and supporting security through education and advocacy efforts. Morton delves into the religious and political aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, critiquing media bias and highlighting support for Israel. He criticizes the current U.S. administration's stance on Israel and emphasizes Israel's efforts to minimize civilian casualties during conflicts. The conversation concludes with reflections on Israel's challenges in international relations and combating terrorism, acknowledging the importance of advocating for truth amid anti-Israel narratives. Morton A. Klein is National President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), the oldest pro-Israel group in the U.S., founded in 1897. He is a member of the National Council of AIPAC. Mr. Klein is widely regarded as one of the leading Jewish activists in the United States.  The US Department of State has awarded Klein a “Certificate of Appreciation” “in recognition of outstanding contributions to national and international affairs,” after he delivered a major address there. He is a member of the International Board of Governors of the College of Judea and Samaria in Ariel, Israel. He is an economist who served in the Nixon, Ford, and Carter Administrations. He has served as a biostatistician at UCLA School of Public Health and the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in Palo Alto, California. He has been a lecturer in mathematics and statistics at Temple University. His successful campaigns against anti-Israel bias in leading textbooks, travel guides, universities, churches, and the media, as well as his work on Capitol Hill, were the subject of 30 feature stories both here and in Israel. His scientific research on nutrition and heart disease was cited by Discover Magazine as one of the Top 50 Scientific Studies of 1992. He has been invited to testify before the US Congress, Including the US House International Relations Committee, and the Israeli Knesset. He travelled to Germany and persuaded the publishers of Baedeker's, the world's leading travel guide, to correct the many anti-Israel errors in its guides to Israel and Jerusalem. He launched a campaign to correct dozens of anti-Israel errors in D.C. Heath's “The Enduring Vision,” the most widely used American high school and college history textbook.  More than 300 of his articles and letters have been published in newspapers, magazines, and scientific journals around the world. Klein has appeared on TV and radio. Lines from his speeches appear in the respected volume entitled “Great Jewish Quotations,” He is on the speaker's bureau of UJC, and Israel Bonds. Connect with Morton and ZOA... X                         x.com/MortonAKlein7                            x.com/ZOA_National WEBSITE             zoa.org  Interview recorded 11.4.24 Connect with Hearts of Oak... WEBSITE              heartsofoak.org/ PODCASTS          heartsofoak.podbean.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA    heartsofoak.org/connect/ SHOP                   heartsofoak.org/shop/ *Special thanks to Bosch Fawstin for recording our intro/outro on this podcast. Check out his art https://theboschfawstinstore.blogspot.com/ and follow him on X twitter.com/TheBoschFawstin  TRANSCRIPT (Hearts of Oak) And it is wonderful to have Morton Klein with us from the Zionist Organization of America. Morton, thank you so much for your time today. (Morton Klein) It's great to be here during these very extraordinary and important times. They are, and that's probably what makes this conversation even more interesting with what is happening currently over in Israel. People can obviously follow you @MortonAKlein7. That is your Twitter handle. And ZOA, not Z-O-A, like the Americans like to say, ZOA.org, ZionistOrganisationOfAmerica.org. I'd encourage our viewers and listeners to use both of those resources and understand what is happening in the Middle East at the moment. Now, there's lots to talk about. You're obviously president of the Zionist Organization of America. You've got a number of other accolades into your name, but it is this specifically which I'm intrigued and want to have a conversation about. And actually, I saw your name on the back of Robert Spencer's book. We had him on a few weeks ago on the Palestinian delusion. And you were there as an individual promoting the book and endorsing it. So I thought, I need to reach out to Morton. So it's great to have you on. Lots to discuss. And I think probably if we can step back and ask about the term Zionism before we jump into what is happening in the current day Israel. And I certainly call myself a Christian Zionist. And that's from a biblical understanding 3,000 years since Jerusalem was founded as a capital of Israel under King David. And then much further back, the promise given to Abraham. But maybe that's a spiritual understanding of the term, and the term Zionism is not necessarily a spiritual concept. Maybe you can unpack a little bit the term Zionism before we delve into some of the other issues. It's really a very simple term. All it means is that the Jews have a right to their ancient homeland that was given to them, for those who believe in the Bible, and a couple of billion people do, by God. In fact, he gave the Jews the land that Israel controls now, and much more. So this is a fraction of what the Jewish homeland consists of, according to the Bible and what God has promised in the Bible. It is called the promised land because God promised it to the Jewish people. We are the people who God promised the land to. That's why it's called the promised land. But it's not only a biblical right to have a Jewish state, but numerous international legal resolutions also give that right. The League of Nations Covenant, Article 22, the British Mandate for Palestine, the UN Charter, Article 80, the San Remo Resolution, the Lodge-Fist Resolution, the Anglo-American Resolution, and more. Legally, under international law, gave this land to the Jews when it was essentially a wasteland, just a desert. When the Balfour Declaration said this land is going to be given as a mandate in trust for the Jewish people in 1917. And historically, the Jews have lived in this land for thousands of years. This has been the place where Jewish people lived and occupied and lived in for all this time. And so all Zionism means is the Jews have a right to a country, just like the French have a country, the Italians have a country, even the Irish have a country, and the British have a country, and the Jews. There are 56 Muslim countries in the world, 56 or 57, why can't there be one small, little, tiny Jewish country, which is one-eighth of 1% of the landmass of the Middle East? There are 22 Arab countries in the Middle East. Israel is one-eighth of 1% of that land. So Zionism is not a complicated term. It simply means the Jews have a right to a homeland, just like so many other people have it. And this is a homeland, unlike most other countries in the world, where the Jews have lived in for thousands and thousands of years. That's what Zionism means. Nothing more, nothing less. Over the weekend, I actually went to the Churchill war rooms in London. And part of the story on Churchill, obviously, is involvement in the Belfort Declaration. And you see those maps and the discussion of British politicians and their relationship with Israel and whether they were pro-Israel or not. And you realize Israel is tiny. And you expand it out. Now, the Middle East is large and Israel is tiny. And it makes you realize that most people, I think, have forgotten the size of Israel in comparison to the Middle East. And it is really quite small. The Arab countries are 800 times the size of Israel. As I said, it's one-eighth of 1% of the land mass of the Middle East. It is smaller than New Jersey. It is smaller than Rhode Island. It is a tiny, tiny land. With 7 million Jews and 2 million Arabs. It's remarkable. The Arabs have a right to live in Israel, the Muslim Arabs and the Arab Christians as well. They have a right to vote. They're in the parliament, Israel's parliament. They're in the Supreme Court. They're in judges and courts throughout Israel. Their doctors, almost half of the doctors in Hadassah, Israel's major hospital, are Arabs. And yet the world, the Arab world, says the Jews have no right to be there. And it's really a racist, anti-Semitic, hateful disgrace to say that the Jews can't have this little tiny homeland. We talked about the term Zionism, but I want to ask you about the Zionist Organization of America, their role, why it's needed. You've headed up the ZOA away for, what, 28 years now, I think? 31. 31, sorry. I've got my three years. I blame COVID for that. So that three years have disappeared. Do you want to just let us know why it exists and why it's needed? The Zionist Organization of America is the oldest and one of the largest pro-Israel groups in the United States, founded in 1897 for a sole purpose, to reestablish the Jewish state of Israel. That's why it was re-established. Past presidents include Louis Brandeis, a famous Supreme Court justice, Abahel Silver, Stephen Wise. These are famous Jewish leaders. And that's its original purpose. Once Israel was re-established in 1948, ZOA's role has been to fight for strong U.S.-Israel relations and for the safety and security and prosperity of the Jewish state of Israel. And also, by the way, in recent years, fight against the scourge, the ugly scourge of irrational, mindless, anti-Semitism, Jew hatred and Israel bashing. So that's really been our purpose. We have a legal division. We have people on Capitol Hill who are educating members of Congress about these issues. We take young kids to Israel twice a year. We take adults to Israel. We have a trip coming up in June for adults where we go all over Israel, including Judea and Samaria, Hebron, Afrat, Ariel, Maladumim, Eli, those smaller areas in Israel. And we also have a campus department. We're on 80 different campuses bringing in speakers, disseminating literature, telling the truth of the Arab-Islamic war against Israel and the West because that's what it is. It is an Arab-Islamic war against Israel and the West. We now see it in all the rallies on campuses and around the world. They say from the river to the sea, meaning Israel should not exist. They don't say there should be a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria, the West Bank and Gaza and half of Jerusalem. They say no Israel. So these are despicable, vicious, ugly human beings that want to destroy this tiny little Jewish state of Israel within any borders. They're not looking for a Palestinian state solution. They're looking for an end of Israel solution. And we're fighting against this with all of our heart and soul. Tell us about, because you mentioned it's the political fight, it's the media fight, you mentioned about on campuses with students. I mean, kind of break those down, because it is about winning hearts and souls and minds over to the position that Israel do have a right to exist like any other nation. And yet there seems to be a lot of pushback, certainly in our media and massively in our universities and educational establishments. It's incredible. After 80 years of re-establishing the state of Israel, remember 2,000 years ago, there was a Jewish state that was destroyed really by the Romans 2,000 years ago. This was the first Holocaust. The Romans murdered 600,000 Jews. And then they renamed this area Judea and Samaria, the Jewish state, Philistinia, translated to Palestine. So this is a Roman word. If this really was an Arab country, which it never was, why would they use a Roman name to name it? Palestine is a Roman name. Moreover, Arabs can't pronounce the letter P. They say Palestine with a B. They can't pronounce it. Would they name their own country with a letter that they can't even pronounce? There was never a Palestine. There were never any Palestinian kings and queens. The only state that ever existed in this area has been a Jewish state. In fact, 99% of the Palestinian Arabs live under their own control. Israel has given away Gaza and 40% of Judea and Samaria, the West Bank. 99% of the Arabs live in those areas under Abbas's rule, the dictator, terrorist, Abbas's rule. They have their own parliament, their own schools, their own textbooks, their own newspapers, their own radio and TV businesses, police force. They run their own lives totally in Gaza under Hamas, the Nazi-like dictatorship, and in Judea and Samaria under Abbas, another terrorist dictator. By the way, I don't know how many of your listeners know this, an ugly fact. Mahmoud Abbas pays Arabs a lifetime pension to murder Jews. If an Arab kills a Jew, They get a lifetime pension at five times the average rate of a salary of a Palestinian. It is very lucrative to murder Jews. They spend $400 million a year to murder Jews. How many people know this? Why would our college kids are defending a regime that pays people to murder Jews? By the way, and Americans, they've murdered Americans in Israel. And the Arab who murders Americans also gets a lifetime pension. And if the Arab was killed murdering a Jew or an American, his or her family gets the lifetime pension. So this is the most heinous regime on the face of the earth. And it is just mind-boggling that people around the world are supporting this regime and supporting Hamas in Israel's existential war. Hamas, Article 7 of their charter calls for the murder of every Jew on earth, every Jew on earth. Article 13 calls for the destruction of Israel. They massacred 1,200 innocent Jews, raped them, mutilated them, tortured them, and then kidnapped 250 mostly Jews. Six Americans, I might add, are left. And now they're saying that out of the 140 left, that they released 100, out of the 140 left, they're saying they don't think they have 40 Jews there. In other words, it's likely that these Hamas monsters have murdered all of the Jewish hostages, murdered them all. The world should wake up and understand this is an Islamic, radical Islamic war against the West and against the Jews. Mahmoud al-Zahar, the co-founder of Hamas, two months ago on the Internet, said, I want the world to understand this. This is the co-founder of Hamas. First, we're going to kill all the Jews, but we're not done after that. Next, we're going to kill all the despicable Christians. And then all the non-Muslims establish a caliphate where Islam rules the world. He said it two months ago. And so you have these non-Muslims supporting Hamas, who wants to kill every one of them. Not to mention, they immediately say every gay person will hang and kill immediately. The gay people, the transgender, they're dead immediately. So how are these left-wing students and left-wing people around the world supporting the most despicable ideology on the face of the earth, the ideology of the Hamas and Abbas regimes. I want to pick up on a few of those, and I would love for the Western liberals to have a pride rally through Gaza or West Bank and see how long that lasts. But that's a whole other issue. Modern-day Israel has been for 75 years, give or take a year, since 1948. And re-establishing that entity, that territory that had been Israel before the Romans removed, basically removed it from the face of the map. But tell us about that, because you obviously look closely at, since 1948, at the establishment, Israel has had to fight for its survival on a nearly daily basis. Israel's military spending is huge compared to other countries, and it must do that because it has to defend itself. I mean, tell us about that, because that 75 years, I see it as a Christian that Israel have the right to exist, have the right to take the land that is theirs, and seem to be a natural, progression from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to actually Israel re-establishing that in that vacuum. And yet many critique and mock and attack Israel simply for the right of existing in their land, which should be a given, really. Those who oppose the Jewish state's right to exist are mocking God Almighty from the Christian and Jewish Bibles, are mocking the United Nations resolutions and England's resolutions who controlled this legally, this land legally, since 1917. And it's nothing less than overt Jew hatred that's all it is. It's pure Jew hatred and Israel has offered a Palestinian state to the Arabs four times in the last 20 years, four times. Ehud Olmert was the most recent one, where Ehud Olmert, the prime minister, offered 97% of Judea and Samaria, the West Bank, 3% of Israel proper to make up for the 3% he couldn't give away because there's a half a million Jews living there. So Olmert offered virtually all of the West Bank, half of Jerusalem, billions of dollars in aid, and Mahmoud Abbas said, said, no. I called up the prime minister. How could he not turn down? This is not a compromise. You've given them every single part of the disputed territories and half of Jerusalem. And Olmert said to me, Abbas said to me, you must eliminate three clauses in the agreement. One, you must eliminate the clause that says we accept Israel as a Jewish state. Abbas said, I'll never accept Israel as a Jewish state. Two, you must eliminate the clause that says you must limit the number of Arabs we bring into Israel proper to 150,000. I want to bring in millions if I went into Israel. I will not accept a limitation on the number of Arabs I bring into Israel proper. And three, you must eliminate the clause that says no further claims. And the Olmert says, but that's the deal. We're giving you everything, virtually everything. It ends all the claims. It's done. Peace. And Abbas said, I won't sign it until you get rid of those three clauses. So they've been offered a state four times, turned it down every time in the last 20 years. In the last 80 years, they've been offered a state eight times, starting with the Peel Commission in 1937, where they offered 95% of the rest of Palestine, 80% of original Palestine mandate went to Jordan. There's only 20% left of the original Palestine mandate. The Peel Commission offered 95% of the rest of Palestine to the Arabs, not 5% of the Jews, the Arabs said no. In other words, they say no. They don't want a state. They want Israel destroyed. They won't accept a Jewish state. That's the deal. Because from 1948 to 1967, the Arabs controlled all of the West Bank, all of Gaza, half of Jerusalem. They had it. Did they establish a state when they personally controlled it? No. Because the goal is not a Palestinian state. It's Israel's destruction. It's Israel's destruction. Let me show you a picture if you can see this. This is the Palestinian Authority's official emblem that they commissioned. This is their official emblem. You notice it's the shape of all of Israel with a keffiyeh over all of it, not just the West Bank and Gaza and Eastern Jerusalem, all of it. Arafat, the arch terrorist in the centre, and a Kalashnikov rifle. So their official emblem is all of Israel is ours. What more proof do you need that they have no interest in a Palestinian state solution? They have in an end of Israel solution. That's what they're interested in. And by the way, I can show you another thing. It's quite interesting. Every Arab that murders a Jew gets a poster. This is one of the Arabs who murdered a Jew. This is on all the high school walls, all the university walls, calling him a martyr and a hero. This is just one of hundreds of posters honouring Jews. And when a terrorist who killed Jews dies, they have a parade and they honour him. What a great man or woman he was. And they hand out candy and sweets to each other, praising murder. They glorify murder. They glorified massacres. They glorify rape. They glorify terrorism. This is a vicious, Nazi-like, despicable regime. And the world has to wake up because the radical Muslims are coming after everyone that's not Muslim, not just the Jews. People better start to understand this and start supporting Israel, who's fighting a war against Hamas, to protect the entire world from radical Islam, not just Israel. Is part of the problem that, I know on the Jewish side, you've got a weird mix of those who support Israel and Israel's right to exist from a biblical point of view, from a spiritual point of view, and those who support it from probably a social, historical, cultural point of view. So you've got that weird mix in Judaism, which always confuses me. But then on the other side, you've also got the world refusing to recognize that this is a clash between Islam and Judaism. And the West thinks that you can come up with a solution which is a land-based solution. And if you've got one side wanting to destroy the other, actually, you've got a problem. And the world doesn't seem to want to wake up to the reality that this is not simply a land issue, that the Islamic nations will not be happy until Israel doesn't exist. Am I correct in my assumption or am I completely off? The proof of what you just said is the fact they've been offered a state, the Palestinian Arabs, eight times in the last 80 years, four times in the last 20 years. They've said no. When they controlled all this land themselves for 19 years, 48 to 67, they didn't establish a state. They still were committing terrorist acts. This is a religious war. war. The radical Muslims believe that the Jews or the Christians have no right to any land in the Middle East that is all theirs. Lebanon was a Christian country. The radical Muslims destroyed Lebanon. It is now a Muslim country. They massacred hundreds of thousands of Christians until Hezbollah. Now Hezbollah has taken control of Lebanon. So this is a religious war, and that's why it has nothing to do with land. Land for peace is nonsense. It's been offered repeatedly. They say no. It's a religious war. The issue is they don't want Israel in their midst. They don't want a Christian country in their midst. They don't want non-Muslims in their midst. I've met with many Christians who live in various parts of the Arab world. They're scared to death for their lives. Their lives are made miserable and dangerous by their fellow Muslims. This is a reality, so yes land for peace has been offered repeatedly, turned down every single time, it's a religious war. The radical Arabs will not be satisfied until Israel doesn't exist, just like they weren't satisfied until Lebanon was no longer a Christian country. Tell us I'm curious the ZOA obviously exists in the US in America and America, I think was Truman was one of the first leaders to actually recognize the state of Israel uh back in, just after the creation of Israel in 48 and there is that close link between America and Israel. Do you want to just expand on that a little bit? Because geopolitically, that's a fascinating relationship. And maybe then we can get up later into where it now sits at the moment between that maybe being more fractured than it has been. But yeah, America and Israel have always been strong allies, starting with that Truman Declaration of Israel's right to exist in 1948. Harry Truman, as president of the United States in 1948, was the first country in the vote at the United Nations to recognize the state of Israel. Or maybe they cast the deciding vote, I'm not sure. But they certainly cast the vote to support Israel. But the polls at that time in America showed Americans supported Israel by 80% of Americans supported the right of the Jewish people to have a state. So this was overwhelming support in the United States. The chief of staff to White House counsel to Truman was begging Truman to recognize it. Quoting from the Bible, he repeatedly quoted the lines from the Bible saying, this land was given to the Jews, Mr. President, you must recognize it. And by the way, many presidents since then have publicly stated there should be an Israel before there was an Israel. John Adams, Franklin Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt, and many others have in their speeches, I've said, we hope and pray that a Jewish state is re-established. So there's been a love affair with the leaders of America and the American people and the Jewish state since America was created. George Washington was a supporter. In fact, this is an interesting story. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and I believe John Adams, I think. Proposed that the seal of the United States, which is now an eagle holding out its wings, they proposed the seal should be Moses splitting the sea as the pharaoh and the military Egyptians were coming across the sea to come and kill all the Jews who had just escaped. All the Israelis, the Hebrews who had just escaped, and the sea splits and swallows up all the military while the Jews are watching in the scene beforehand and cheering. That's the seal that Franklin Jefferson and Adams wanted as a seal of America. That's the kind of connection America's had to the Jewish people. It was barely voted down, barely voted. It almost became the seal. So to this day, in a recent poll, who do you support in this war in America, Hamas or Israel? I'm shocked. It's only 82 percent should be 100 percent. But it's 82% say Israel should be fighting against this vicious regime of Hamas. So there's overwhelming support in America. There's even overwhelming support in Congress. It has weakened. There are now a number of congressmen who are speaking out inappropriately in a hostile way toward Israel. But nonetheless, the overwhelming majority of the Congress is supportive of Israel. And that's been true really since Israel was – America was established in 1776. There's been support for the re-establishment of a state and now for the state itself. Well let me throw in some other kind of facts on that, I think the US is Israel's largest trading partner, I think I read is about 50 billion trade back and forward and of course you got the military aid that goes to Israel every year of billions and you mentioned the beginning about the U.S. backing Israel in the U.N. And the U.S. has used a veto dozens and dozens of times in the U.N. Supporting Israel, backing Israel. And, of course, President Trump moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem despite all the pushback, despite the debate over that. But all of that is actually Israel is shoulder to shoulder. And there have been a time where maybe Britain was shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel. That is still there in relation to Europe, but actually it is the U.S. that seems to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel. Well, let me first tell you about, you mentioned the aid, billions of dollars in aid. Let me tell something that I'm sure most of your viewers do not know. Israel was getting half a billion dollars in aid, 500 million, until the late 70s. Then Carter was pushing the deal with Israel to give away the entire Sinai which was five times the size of Israel. Israel when they controlled the Sinai developed four major oil wells themselves in the Sinai these oil wells gave Israel two and a half billion dollars in income in 1978. And Menachem Begin, the prime minister, then said, we cannot give away the Sinai because we will lose two and a half billion dollars of oil wells we found, we developed ourselves. And we can't do it. Carter said, I will make up the difference. I'll give you the extra two and a half billion. So it went from 500 million to three billion. But this is not really America's money per se. Israel gave up two and a half billion. So $2.5 billion of the aid Israel gets is the fact that they gave up the oil wells. And do you know, Peter, how much income today those four oil wells would be delivering to Israel? $10 billion because oil prices have gone up dramatically. So they've given up a tremendous amount. And people forget. Do you know how much aid Egypt gets from America? It's never mentioned. $2.5 billion. $2.5 billion for Egypt. Jordan, $1 billion. The Palestinian Authority, a terrorist dictatorship, gets almost $1 billion in aid right now. So people forget about the aid others get. And with Israel, 97% of the aid they get is spent in America, buying equipment here in America. So it comes right back to America in any event. And you mentioned that Trump moved the embassy to Jerusalem. I was intimately involved in that issue with Senator John Kyle, who's a hero that no one even remembers. He's the one who really pushed this issue more than anyone else. And the vote to move the embassy in 1995 was 93 to 5 in the Senate, 93 to 5, 347 to 37 in the House. In other words, over 95% of Congress voted to move the embassy. Bill Clinton was against it. Now, he couldn't veto it because it would be overridden because it was such an overwhelming support. So he ignored it. If you ignore a law, if a president ignores a law, it automatically becomes law in 30 days. and it became law. And then Senator Dianne Feinstein had put in what's known as a poison pill. She said, any president can say, I'm not moving it if there's a security issue. And each president for 18 years said there's a security issue and never moved it. But people, of course, predicted if you move it, there'll be violence all over the place. Of course, it turned out to be completely false. There was no violence. But let me tell you something else that I'm sure most of your viewers do not know. Of course, they want to move the embassy to Jerusalem because Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Jerusalem has been the holiest state to the Jewish people since time immemorial. But the Arabs say this is their holy city. Well, is it? Is Jerusalem holy to Muslims? Jerusalem was the capital only of Israel throughout history, never of any other country. When the Palestinians conquered Palestine in 716, they made Ramleh their capital, not Jerusalem. It's called the Temple Mount, not the Mosque Mount because the Jewish temple was on this area. The majority of people living in Jerusalem since 1850, the first census, have been Jews. The overwhelming majority of people living there since 1850 have been Jews. The Jewish holy books mention the word Jerusalem 700 times. How many times is the word Jerusalem in the Koran? How many times is the word Jerusalem, if it's so holy to Muslims, this is their holy book, how many times is it mentioned? Zero. Not a single time. How can it be so holy to them if it's not in their holy book? So they say, Muhammad went from Jerusalem to heaven. But that's not what the Koran says. Read the Koran. It says that Muhammad went from the furthest mosque to heaven. It didn't say Jerusalem. And they say, well, the furthest mosque was in Jerusalem. Well, when the Koran was written, there was not a single mosque in all of Jerusalem. So if Muhammad went from the furthest mosque, it couldn't be in Jerusalem. There were no mosques there. So the truth is that Jerusalem is not holy to Muslims. In fact, from 48 to 67, when they controlled Jerusalem, When they captured that war, they captured it. They allowed it. The Jordan and the Arabs allowed it to become a slum. There was virtually no water, electricity or plumbing. There were 58 synagogues in Jerusalem that they captured. They destroyed all 58 of them to eliminate proof that Jews, this was a holy place to them. So that's another thing that most people don't understand. Jerusalem is minimally holy to Muslims at most. It is a holy to Jews and possibly Christians. I'm not a Christian, so I don't know the Bible so well, the Christian Bible, that may be holy to Christians, but it is not holy to Muslims. Yeah, well, I think the holiness to Christians is simply because of the biblical story. And without Judaism, there'd be no Christianity. Without Judaism, there'd be no Jesus. But I love the way Muslims can claim hold of a city because Muhammad flew there on a winged donkey in his dreams. So if we could all actually take our dreams and claim to hold, we could be in paradise more. We could be anywhere. But again there was no, it wasn't from Jerusalem it's from the furthest mosque, no mosque in Jerusalem, it can't be Jerusalem and by the way this is interesting, not a single Arab leader except from Jordan ever visited Jerusalem when the when the Arabs controlled it. It meant nothing to them, Mecca and Medina are the holy cities for Muslims, not Jerusalem, it's high time we make that publicly clear. No 100 % and Muhammad probably never went to Jerusalem if Muhammad did exist, but that's a whole other conversation I'll take up with Robert Spencer. Can I ask you, because the support for Israel comes from different sections of society, and certainly there is a strong support from churches, from Christianity, not across the board, certainly, but there is. Can you tell us, where does the support, the backing, individuals, organizations standing up for Israel's right to exist, where does that come from? I mean, have you been surprised maybe with some of the areas it's come from that you weren't expecting? The strongest support in America for the Jewish state and the Jewish people comes from the 80 million evangelical Christians. Why are they so supportive of Israel as a Jewish state? Because it's in the Bible. Because God gave the land to the Jews. When I speak at churches, they say it's in the Bible. This land was given to Jews by God. End of discussion. So and the Jewish people are not nearly as strong Bible believers as the Christians. So you have stronger support for Israel among the Christian evangelicals than you do, frankly, among the Jews. So for most Christians, it's simply a matter of religion and God. For others who are not religious, they recognize that this land was given to Israel under international law. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration and many UN resolutions after it, and they accept the fact that that's right. Plus, they see it's reasonable. Why should there be 56 Muslim states and not a single Jewish state where the Jews can practice their religion in the way they're supposed to? So I think it's just a rational support for what's right, for what's moral, for what's decent, for what's just, that most non-religious people support the right of the Jews to have the state. It's a tiny little state. There's over 200 million Muslims in the Middle East. There's only 7 million Jews. Imagine if there were – there's 22 Arab states. Imagine if there were 22 Jewish states and one tiny little Arab state the size of Israel. And the Jews would be saying, we want a 23rd Jewish state carved out of this tiny Arab state. The world would say, this is ridiculous. The Arabs have nothing, this little tiny state. Leave them alone. But that's the situation we have. 22 Arab states, 99.5% of the land mass, and they still want to make Israel even smaller in order to make it easier to destroy. That's the basis. It's a religious war to destroy the Jewish state. It has nothing to do with land per se. It has nothing to do with the Palestinian state. Nothing. Because they could have had it eight times in the last 80 years. They said no every single time. Can I finish just with the current situation, which we'll not give justice to in our time, but just to touch on it. And I am perplexed at how Israel seemed to be so bad at the PR war, at the publicity war, the media war. But I've been intrigued watching kind of different countries holding with Israel and then pulling back in the media conversation. And what is it like, maybe for our viewers, I mean, our viewers are 50-50, US, UK and Europe. Maybe just give us your thoughts on where the media and the government is in terms of support for Israel over the last six months. You mean the US government? Yeah, yeah. This government in America under Joe Biden and Barack Hussein Obama, Obama never left Washington. Every president, when they're finished their term or terms, they go back home. Obama stayed in Washington. Obama is running the show behind the scenes. How do I know this? Because almost every person that Biden has appointed that affects Israel is a friend of Obama's, virtually every one, and is hostile to Israel. This government of Biden, Obama, Blinken is the most hostile to Israel we've ever had in America, I'm sorry to say. So, and when the war started, Biden did come to Israel two days after the Hamas massacre. And he said he has total support for Israel. But in that speech, the original speech on the tarmac, Biden said we need to establish a Palestinian state. Now, that is his first speech two days after the massacre of 1,200 innocent Jews. What's he bringing up a state for? It shows the hostility he has toward Israel. And now he's pushing for a state relentlessly. He condemns Israel for killing too many civilians. Let me tell you something. The record is this is the smallest number of civilians per capita ever killed in any war in history. And the reason for that is Israel drops leaflets before they hit a building to tell the Arabs to get out of the building. They put knock bombs where they knock on the top of the roof as a signal, get out of here. They call on cell phones, get out of here. They protect civilians to the detriment of their own soldiers. And when Hamas says 32,000 civilians were killed, first of all, Hamas is a terrorist Nazi-like monster group. Who believes them anyway? But the fact is 15,000 of the alleged 30,000 or so have been terrorists. These are combatants. And the other 15,000, a number of distinguished statisticians have studied the data from Hamas and say these are grotesquely exaggerated. It is only a few thousand that have been killed. And moreover, they say, look at what they say every day, Hamas' division telling you how many civilians died. The same number of civilians die every single day according to the data of Hamas. That's not possible. This showed you how fraudulent the data is. So we have to really thank Israel for being extraordinarily humane in protecting civilians And let me tell you, in any war, innocent civilians die. You can't have war without civilians dying. If you say to yourself, I won't go to war unless I can assure no civilians will die, the tyrants will win. Hitler will win. Hamas will win. Because civilians naturally will die in a war. It's tragic. And now when Biden went crazy, when Israel mistakenly killed seven aid workers, in wars, these types of tragic mistakes happen all the time. In America's wars, we have killed many civilians' envoys, mistaking them for terrorists. In Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, I can list them. I won't. We've hit wedding parties by mistake, killing 50 people attending a wedding, including the bride. So this happens in war. So the fact that Biden is making a major deal out of this tragic mistake just shows he is trying to find anything to put enormous pressure on Israel to set up a Palestinian terrorist state. And remember, Israel gave away all of Gaza. And what did they get in return? They got a Hamas regime and 30,000 rockets aimed at civilians, 30,000 since 2005 when the regime was established. Why is it wise to give them even more land, the West Bank and Gaza, headed by who, Hamas, by Abbas, by another terrorist? It'll give them more power to endanger Israel. And this state would be on Israel's longest border, directly adjacent to 70% of Israel's population. It would be a tragic mistake to establish a state. That's why the Israeli people, 80% and more say we cannot have it, it's too dangerous. Biden has become enormously hostile to Israel, despite the fact that overwhelming numbers of Americans support Israel, and we are devastated by this. We're terribly disappointed by this. But outside of this regime and Obama's first regime, the American governments have been extraordinarily supportive of Israel throughout the establishment of Israel and throughout America's own establishment in 1776. You know, well we'll finish it up, there my criticism of Israel is they were for 13 years, they were far too patient with Hamas whenever they pulled out in 2010 to actually going in 2023 and it wasn't of their own accord, they went in actually, it was because of that attack on 7th October, so Israel had been remarkably reserved I think in how how they've dealt with them, and maybe they should have been a heck of a lot stronger. But that's another conversation. Morton, I really appreciate you coming along. I do thoroughly love and admire the work that ZOA do there. I know people go on the website, they can find not only your work on campuses, they can find news articles, they can donate, and there's many ways they can support you on ZOA.org. So thank you so much for your time today. Peter, thank you for your holy and important work to give a podium to people who are telling the truth of the Arab-Islamic war against Israel and the West. Very holy work you do. Thank you.

Where did Talmud/Zohar/etc come from? How do these writings affect Arab Christians or Christians who work in the Holy Land? Was Oct. 7 an inside job to achieve various goals, amongst them the advent of the Talmud's Messiah? How is the "vaxx a certain percentage and they'll all be vaxxed via shedding" principle working out? What unique celestial event will occur March 8 and did occur in 2018? What potential crime against a high-profile visiting American was recently averted by Russian police? Why is Israel about to draft the ultra-orthodox? Israel is bombing Damascus - does Isaiah 17 portend end times?  Please join Steve and Bonnie for another episode of preparing for the days when the Almighty Himself will begin to fight back on behalf of His people Middle East Wars/Syn of Satan/Israel “The Other Israel,” history of rise of Talmudic Judaism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsR0mLPxnBU&t=2s When Gaza falls, will “the messiah” come? Redemption will come for the nations who accept “the Noahides”? (see at 2.05): https://youtu.be/JGz-HywdgJo?si=K1tcv3uPKVEo5Ofq Talmudist to Christian preacher in Israel, “We'll kill you.”: https://youtu.be/lq28ZFNzaWM?si=lqNZGawi9d5X-9XV Former IDF Gaza border guard re Oct. 7 – incompetence or inside job?: https://www.bitchute.com/video/PNszgzq9yyLg/ From Talmud: https://youtu.be/NUsYb0wGG8I?si=NC4acBxHcJJcSfCq American physician goes to Gaza: https://theuglytruth.xyz/im-an-american-doctor-who-went-to-gaza-what-i-saw-wasnt-war-it-was-annihilation/ Luciferian religion of globalists: https://alt-market.us/to-understand-the-globalists-we-must-understand-their-psychopathic-religion/ War on civilians or Hamas:  https://youtube.com/shorts/Scyu5LU8LVs?si=rPyj70UVC0StfSrF Anti government protests again erupt in Israel: https://youtu.be/wjoONtYf2-A?si=ixrfPMH5NRNwvIEl Israel attacks Lebanon: https://t.me/GodsRoadmap/1940 Hamas chief calls for Arabs to storm Al-Aqsa mosque on Ramadan, begins 3.11: https://t.me/The_Jerusalem_Post/6064   https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-788185 How evangelicals betray Christians who live in the Holy Land - by Christians who live there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHT-SjIM0tA Vaxx 770 unique symptoms of C19 vaxx – shhhh: https://www.bitchute.com/video/W7khXrfj5C06/ Media can sway pub opinion by choosing what people see: https://t.me/RWMaloneMD/8661 UK – problems with excess deaths?  Then change the way you count!! (one can analyze their “transparency” data only if heavily schooled in calculus):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoOgDwhWXYk France outlaws C-19 vaxx criticism:  https://expose-news.com/2024/02/16/article-pfizer-passed-by-national-assembly/ Economist Catherine Austin Fitts – Trump put $10 billion into program to “depopulate the US”: https://www.hopegirlblog.com/2024/02/21/catherine-austin-fitts-trump-put-10-billion-dollars-into-a-programme-to-depopulate-the-us/ Horrifying adverse reaction tabulation: https://t.me/VigilantFox/10893    https://t.me/VigilantFox/10894 Incidence of myocarditis in US children causes NYS to run commercial normalizing same as one more childhood pathology (vid taken down but prose remains): https://www.naturalnews.com/2022-09-18-new-normal-new-york-childrens-myocarditis-awareness.html Canada – paralyzed by vaxx?  We have the answer – we'll euthanize you!: https://t.me/gregreesevideoreports/460 Absolutely horrifying data re vaxx shedding.  All need to pray for we live in a contaminated soup: https://t.me/gregreesevideoreports/458 America in Trouble March 11, bank laws change re credit: https://youtu.be/FkGcAsi7PKk?si=YRk_RLztHzdxAd_L Dollar slip sliding away: https://watcher.guru/news/brics-30-new-countries-prepare-to-join-alliance-in-2024#google_vignette TX burns: https://t.me/GeneralMCNews/7543 Russia avers assassination attempt by Ukrainian paid $4000: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/02/breaking-attempted-assassination-tucker-carlson-here...

Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel is Founder and Executive Director of the Atlanta Ministry with International Students Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born in Kafr Yasif, in the Galilee, of Christian Palestinian parents. He was ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church USA in 1978 and has served on the mission staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. Rev Fahed was instrumental for mission trips to Kenya, Haiti, Brazil, Egypt, Israel, and Palestine. To help sustain our work, you can donate here To check out what RLC is up to, please visit us www.redletterchristians.org  Follow us on Twitter: @RedLetterXians Instagram: @RedLetterXians Follow Shane on Instagram: @shane.claiborne Twitter: @ShaneClaiborne Common Hymnal information: https://commonhymnal.com/ 

He was born in Syria in 1860, in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. In his childhood, his family took refuge in Lebanon after their parish priest, St Joseph of Damascus (July 10) was martyred; but they later returned to Damascus. In 1879 he was tonsured a monk and entered into the service of Patriarch Hierotheos of Antioch. The Balamand Seminary had been closed since 1840, but the young monk was offered a scholarship at the Constantinople Patriarchate's seminary at Halki. Returning to Syria with a theological degree, St Raphael became assistant to Gerasimos, the new Patriarch of Antioch, traveling and preaching on his behalf. After further studies in Kiev, he transferred to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow and for a time was professer of Arabic studies at the Theological Academy in Kazan. (At that time the downtrodden Orthodox of the Middle East received considerable aid and theological training from the Tsar and from the Church in Russia).   In 1895 he was sent to the United States to shepherd the Arab Orthodox Community in New York, which was without a church or a priest. He quickly consecrated a chapel and with great energy set about the work of shepherding his flock there; but he was concerned not only for them but for the Arab Christian immigrants scattered through North America, most of whom were without a pastor and in danger of falling into heterodoxy or abandoning religious life. He traveled widely throughout the continent, visiting, counseling and serving Arab Christians, preaching, celebrating marriages and baptisms, receiving confessions and celebrating the Divine Liturgy, usually in private houses. In 1898 he published the first Orthodox prayer book in Arabic to appear in the New World. In 1899, he made a seven-month journey through forty-three American cities, seeking out the "scattered sheep" of the Church in America. His services were attended not only by Arabs but by Russians and Greeks, all of whom at that time depended on the Russian mission to North America. During this entire period, he held the official rank of Archimandrite, though his work and duties exceeded those of most bishops.   In 1901, Patriarch Meletios was elected to the see of Antioch, the first Arab to occupy the patriarchal throne for 168 years. Several proposals were made to elect Archimandrite Raphael to a see in Syria; but he refused all such offers, pointing out the Orthodox people's great and little-met needs in North America. In 1904, the Moscow Patriarchate made him Bishop of Brooklyn, the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on American soil. He redoubled his already impressive pastoral work, ordaining priests to the many new parishes that he had founded, and assisting Saint Tikhon (then Bishop of North America) in the care of his huge diocese. In 1905 he laid the foundation of the Monastery of St Tikhon in Pennsylvania.   The bishop saw the importance of integrating the faithful into the life of their new homeland, and was an early advocate of the use of English in American Church services. When Isabel Hapgood's Service Book — the first useful English translation of the Church's services — was published in 1906, he advocated its use in all his parishes.   In 1912, St Raphael was found to be suffering from heart disease, but continued his exhausting pastoral work for two more years. In 1915 he was finally unable to continue, and reposed after two months' illness.   When his relics were transported in 1998 from Brooklyn to Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA, they were found to be incorrupt, and in 2000 he became the most recently glorified Saint of North America.   In North America St Raphael is commemorated on the anniversary of his repose: February 27 on the Civil/New Calendar, February 14 on the Julian Calendar. He is also commemorated with the Synaxis of Saints of North America on the Second Sunday after Pentecost. The Patriarchate of Antioch also commemorates him, but on Saturday before the Synaxis of the Archangels (November 8).

He was born in Syria in 1860, in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. In his childhood, his family took refuge in Lebanon after their parish priest, St Joseph of Damascus (July 10) was martyred; but they later returned to Damascus. In 1879 he was tonsured a monk and entered into the service of Patriarch Hierotheos of Antioch. The Balamand Seminary had been closed since 1840, but the young monk was offered a scholarship at the Constantinople Patriarchate's seminary at Halki. Returning to Syria with a theological degree, St Raphael became assistant to Gerasimos, the new Patriarch of Antioch, traveling and preaching on his behalf. After further studies in Kiev, he transferred to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow and for a time was professer of Arabic studies at the Theological Academy in Kazan. (At that time the downtrodden Orthodox of the Middle East received considerable aid and theological training from the Tsar and from the Church in Russia).   In 1895 he was sent to the United States to shepherd the Arab Orthodox Community in New York, which was without a church or a priest. He quickly consecrated a chapel and with great energy set about the work of shepherding his flock there; but he was concerned not only for them but for the Arab Christian immigrants scattered through North America, most of whom were without a pastor and in danger of falling into heterodoxy or abandoning religious life. He traveled widely throughout the continent, visiting, counseling and serving Arab Christians, preaching, celebrating marriages and baptisms, receiving confessions and celebrating the Divine Liturgy, usually in private houses. In 1898 he published the first Orthodox prayer book in Arabic to appear in the New World. In 1899, he made a seven-month journey through forty-three American cities, seeking out the "scattered sheep" of the Church in America. His services were attended not only by Arabs but by Russians and Greeks, all of whom at that time depended on the Russian mission to North America. During this entire period, he held the official rank of Archimandrite, though his work and duties exceeded those of most bishops.   In 1901, Patriarch Meletios was elected to the see of Antioch, the first Arab to occupy the patriarchal throne for 168 years. Several proposals were made to elect Archimandrite Raphael to a see in Syria; but he refused all such offers, pointing out the Orthodox people's great and little-met needs in North America. In 1904, the Moscow Patriarchate made him Bishop of Brooklyn, the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on American soil. He redoubled his already impressive pastoral work, ordaining priests to the many new parishes that he had founded, and assisting Saint Tikhon (then Bishop of North America) in the care of his huge diocese. In 1905 he laid the foundation of the Monastery of St Tikhon in Pennsylvania.   The bishop saw the importance of integrating the faithful into the life of their new homeland, and was an early advocate of the use of English in American Church services. When Isabel Hapgood's Service Book — the first useful English translation of the Church's services — was published in 1906, he advocated its use in all his parishes.

S.A.L.A.M. in The Holy Land Serving Among Local Arab Ministries We are a Christian ministry serving as a bridge between North American Churches to the Arab Christian community in the Holy Land; with focus on encouraging this community of faith for sharing the Good News of Christ to Arabic speaking peoples in the land. For donations: https://salamintheholyland.com/giving    To get the book Sharing Hope in The Holy Land click the link below: https://www.amazon.com/Sharing-Hope-Holy-Land-Touching/dp/1700489496/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1M2KA6IVX4U77&keywords=salam+in+the+holy+land&qid=1706054138&sprefix=salam+in+the+holyland+%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-1 To contact Rani Directly: https://salamintheholyland.com/contact-us

Dr. Mark Carpenter holds a Ph. D. in Church History with minors in Theology and Missiology. He has been a minister of the gospel for over thirty years. In that time, he pastored four churches. He has taught as a joined instructor for Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis Tn, and Brookes Bible Institute in St. Louis, Mo, and for the Seminary Extension for the Sabine Neches Area of Associations in Southeast Texas.  He has been involved in church planting in Michigan, Arkansas and Missouri. Over the years he has engaged in short term mission trips to Argentina, Ecuador, Belize, Haiti, Kenya, Mali, Moldova, and Israel. Dr. Carpenter is currently the Executive Director of G.R.A.C.E. International which is a non-profit organization that focuses on providing resources among Arab Christian churches in the Holy Land. To donate for the work of G.R.A.C.E. International click the link below:  Donate By PAYPAL https://growgo.org/donate Dr. Carpenter lives in Silsbee, Texas with his wife Amy and has two grown children. His daughter Hannah lives in Beaumont, Texas and his son James is a senior at Ouatchita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Thank you for your desire to partner with us. Your giving empowers us to reach our goal of educating peoples of the world about Jesus's Hebraic Aramaic Middle Eastern mindset through our online weekly Zoom lessons.  Your donations will go towards production expenses, and all ministry expenses such as but not excluded to: (Andre/Tony Travels in USA).  Donate ONLINE www.twinstours.com/give   Donate by CHECK Please mail your tax-deductible donation to:                 G.R.A.C.E International                   P.O. Box 723, Silsbee, Texas 77656 Memo:    Twins Tours Academy (is a 501(c)(3) Texas non-profit organization. EIN # 83-2788768) (no goods or services have been/will be provided for donations)

It was so powerful today not just to be the hands and feet of love to the residents of war torn Sderot but to tell them our Arab Christian brothers are standing with you and sending aid with the love of our Messiah! What a witness of God's redeptive love!!!As you may already know, Israel faced a coordinated attack Saturday morning. It included missiles and terrorists breaching our borders.The impact has been devastating, with hundreds of lives lost in the southern regions and thousands more injured or displaced.Please give now to offer vital assistance to Israelis in crisis, including:https://www.oneforisrael.org/israelis-relief-2023/Emergency Food: Providing nourishment to those in immediate need.Essential Supplies: Ensuring families have access to critical items.Trauma Support: Offering comfort and care to those traumatized by the events.Funding for Evacuation Accommodations: Helping families find safe shelter during this crisis. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.lightsource.com/donate/1604/29

On October 7, 2023, the terrorist organization Hamas brazenly attacked Israel. The savagery and evil unleashed by the Islamic militants stunned not only Israelis but the entire world. The attacks came on a holiday. Civilians – including women, children and the elderly – were targeted, tortured and murdered. Many were dragged back into the Gaza Strip as hostages; their fates unknown. How are biblical Christians to process all of this? What was it like for believers in Israel? What can Christians around the world consider, when they contemplate the situation today in Israel and disturbing events that have unfolded globally in the following weeks? How can we as a spiritual Body pray for the traumatized and broken? Pastor Howard Bass, who lives in southern Israel, joins the Christian Emergency Podcast to speak to these issues and more. He describes his church's experience that fateful morning and how they have dealt with the fallout. Other topics addressed by Pastor Bass include the fragile state of unity among Jewish and Arab Christians in the region. He also shares how Christians around the world can shape their prayers for the situation in Israel, and also how they can prepare their own hearts for hard days ahead.   If you find this episode helpful, please give us a positive rating and review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Also share this episode with a friend so they too can be blessed by these insights. To learn more about resources mentioned in this episode, see the following. Christian Emergency Alliance (Website) Christian Emergency Alliance (Twitter): @ChristianEmerg1 Christian Emergency Alliance (Facebook): @ChristianEmergency The Christian Emergency Podcast is a production of the Christian Emergency Alliance. Soli Deo Gloria

In this episode of the Grace Church Members Podcast, Chris Rivers sits down with Scott Mozingo and Dr. Tim Wardle, a professor from Furman University, to discuss the historical, political, and geographical complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian region. This context can provide a framework for us to understand the significant challenges that Arab Christians face in this region. As we continue to pray, particularly for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we hope you will take time to listen and reflect. If you have questions or want access to additional resources, be sure to check out the podcast page at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://resources.gracechurchsc.org/podcasts/memberspodcast⁠

John of Damascus was an Arab Christian monk, apologist, and prolific writer. Today, Stephen Nichols introduces us to this significant figure in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/john-of-damascus/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.ligonier.org/donate/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Did you know that Arabs will play a crucial role in the coming revival in Israel? God wants to supernaturally intervene in their lives, like He did in Aisha's, who was in the middle of a suicide attempt. Join us in prayer! | TreeofLifeIsrael.orgGod is opening up the eyes of His people Israel more than any time in the last 2,000 years. Find out more about our online and street evangelism and our pro-life work in Israel here!Support the show

Devin: What do you think of as your superpower?Avi: I can't stop. There's no way.When I visited the Beit Dror LGBTQ youth shelter in Tel Aviv last month, it took me a while to appreciate that the most significant risk the kids faced was not emotional stress but actual threats to their lives. In some Arab-Israeli communities, honor killings are still an issue.During our visit, Avi Soffer, the operations manager of the shelter who officially has been given a title that translates literally as “mother of the house,” shared stories I knew I couldn't tell without his help. I invited him to record an episode of the show, which we did shortly after my return. I'm excited to share that with you.AI SummaryLike most people who produce content for a living, I'm experimenting with AI tools. I used one to generate this summary of the interview:Avi Soffer is the operations manager at Beit Dror, the only shelter in Israel that deals with minors ages 14 to 18 who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Beit Dror's population has changed over the years, with more trans people seeking shelter. There is also a range of ethnic and religious backgrounds, including ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredi), and Arab youth. The youth at the shelter face the threat of honor killing or being disowned by their families, with some incidents of family members attacking the youth. The shelter has a family therapy program that helps bring family members back together, with over 35% of youth returning to their homes. Avi talks about the struggles that marginalized youth face when coming out to their families, and the violence or shunning they may experience. The center provides counseling and life skills training, such as taking care of their bodies and asking for help. One of the biggest challenges is getting parents to accept their LGBTQ children, but Avi is hopeful that attitudes can change. He emphasizes the importance of taking small steps, not seeking external validation and being creative in finding solutions to problems. Anyone interested in his work can reach out to him directly.Saving Lives at Beit Dror“Beit Dror: The meaning of the name is a house of freedom or home of freedom,” says Avi. “It's an LGBTQ youth shelter, the only one in the country for minors.”Avi has been an activist in the gay community since he came out. “I was married. I had two children married to a woman. And I came out at the late 80s.”He notes that there have been remarkable changes in the population served at the shelter over its twenty-year life. Initially, the kids identified as gay and came as they approached 18 years old. Today, most of those served in the shelter are trans and arrive much younger, some not yet 13 years old.The youth most often come from communities outside the large, secular Jewish population. They come from the Haredi ultra-orthodox Jewish, Arab Muslim, Arab Christian, Palestinian and Bedouin communities. In these more religious communities, the disconnect between a family and a trans youth may be too significant for the child to overcome without outside help.Avi shared the story of an extreme example. “We had a kid from a village in the north. She came out as a trans. She was 15.”“One Friday, her brothers came,” he says. “They planned it because they had to drive 2.5 hours. They waited outside, and they stabbed her.”“They stabbed her badly. She was saved by one minute, Avi says.” It's a miracle.”Avi and the team also hope to do the best for the child. Often, this is to help facilitate a safe and happy return to the family, working with social workers. More than 35 percent of the time, this works.“The thing is,” Avi says, “to show them that we are not the devils they think we are.”Over the years, Avi has learned to celebrate small victories. “You have to believe in the small changes that you make. What happens is that sometimes they come back after two years, five years, ten years, and they say, ‘Wow! It saved my life!'”Avi has had a few birthdays. I didn't pin him down, but he's been at this for a while. He just can't quit. That, he says, is his superpower.How to Develop an ‘I Can't Quit' Attitude As a SuperpowerTo help us understand his superpower, Avi shared his story:At first, I was not an activist. I was a so-called straight person. I had a nice career. I'm a designer by profession. I was a jewelry designer. I had an amazing career. I had a wife I met at 14; at 20, we got married. We have two wonderful children. Everything was fine. I didn't even know what—the first time I heard the word gay, I was a father. Back then, there was no word. There was no word. I went to all the therapies. I even went into conversion therapy without even knowing. I didn't know that at that time. Because somebody said, “That's not a problem; we can do this and this and this and we'll solve it. Okay, fine.”It was the 80s; it was so backward. There was no television here. There was no—I didn't—I can't even find the words, as you see, to describe it. Because how would you make a thought without words? I didn't have the words. Then I went to hell. It took me eight years. Then I decided. Okay, I can't leave like this. It's impossible. It took me years to say, “Okay, that's what it is. You're gay. It's simply this. You're homosexual, and that's it.”I was with my wife. We had an amazing relationship. We loved each other. We still do. It has nothing to do with it. But it was very difficult, first, to explain it to myself and then to explain it to the world—that it's even possible with two children back then.A rabbi turned me into an activist. Divorce court. Rabbinates Chief Justice, this stranger. You're ready to laugh your head off. Okay. I went through a horrible divorce. Horrible. Horrible. A lot of things that happened then that cannot happen today. In one of the stages, we reach the discussion of custody. Because I'm a married kind, five months after we separated, I already had a boyfriend. We lived together for 15 Years. And we are business partners, and we are like brothers ever since.So we. There was a court regarding, “Okay, he's a homo. What about the kids?” In Israel, it's religious weddings, marriages. I was charged in rabbinic court. Then there was the recess. The chief justice, a rabbi with a beard down to the floor, leaned to the other and says, in Yiddish. (I am from a Sephardic family.) He leans to the other and says, “Well, if he's this, then he can't see the kids at all. What is the question?”Only he didn't count on the fact that I will be the only person that heard it and the only one who understood Yiddish.I went out from court, and I said, “I don't care about anything. Nobody is going to disconnect me from my children.” I became an activist within a week. I had no idea about it. I said, “No, no, no. They're going through it. They will succeed.” Then I went to the only organization that was in the country. A few months later, I was on the board. A few, two years, later, I was a chairperson. It's in my blood. I can't see myself without it. I always feel I'm always on the front. I'll always take the worst cases because I feel somebody needs to do it. I cannot sit at home. It's not possible. If there's one kid. I'll be there.This intensely personal story explains how Avi became an activist who can't quit. Most of us won't go through an experience that will light a similar unquenchable fire, so I asked him for some coaching tips for developing a can't-quit attitude.He offered three suggestions:First, he reinforced the message he shared earlier about the importance of celebrating small wins. Big progress takes time, but the work happens every day. You've got to see and celebrate the little things.Second, he notes that those little wins may sometimes be big. A young person who spends a week in the shelter and then disappears may return in 20 years, saying, “You saved my life.”Finally, he says, you need to develop resilience to opposition. He explained in this vivid metaphor:Let's say, somebody in the community wants to put a knife in my back. I deal also with politics. It can happen. It's very problematic. My back is full of knives. There's no room to put another one. You have to take one out. And that's it. If you sit and wait for everybody to love you and appreciate what you do, you're bound to fail. It's not going to happen.By following Avi's example and coaching, you can make a can't-quit attitude a superpower enabling you to do more good in the world. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at devinthorpe.substack.com/subscribe

He was born in Syria in 1860, in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. In his childhood, his family took refuge in Lebanon after their parish priest, St Joseph of Damascus (July 10) was martyred; but they later returned to Damascus. In 1879 he was tonsured a monk and entered into the service of Patriarch Hierotheos of Antioch. The Balamand Seminary had been closed since 1840, but the young monk was offered a scholarship at the Constantinople Patriarchate's seminary at Halki. Returning to Syria with a theological degree, St Raphael became assistant to Gerasimos, the new Patriarch of Antioch, traveling and preaching on his behalf. After further studies in Kiev, he transferred to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow and for a time was professer of Arabic studies at the Theological Academy in Kazan. (At that time the downtrodden Orthodox of the Middle East received considerable aid and theological training from the Tsar and from the Church in Russia).   In 1895 he was sent to the United States to shepherd the Arab Orthodox Community in New York, which was without a church or a priest. He quickly consecrated a chapel and with great energy set about the work of shepherding his flock there; but he was concerned not only for them but for the Arab Christian immigrants scattered through North America, most of whom were without a pastor and in danger of falling into heterodoxy or abandoning religious life. He traveled widely throughout the continent, visiting, counseling and serving Arab Christians, preaching, celebrating marriages and baptisms, receiving confessions and celebrating the Divine Liturgy, usually in private houses. In 1898 he published the first Orthodox prayer book in Arabic to appear in the New World. In 1899, he made a seven-month journey through forty-three American cities, seeking out the "scattered sheep" of the Church in America. His services were attended not only by Arabs but by Russians and Greeks, all of whom at that time depended on the Russian mission to North America. During this entire period, he held the official rank of Archimandrite, though his work and duties exceeded those of most bishops.   In 1901, Patriarch Meletios was elected to the see of Antioch, the first Arab to occupy the patriarchal throne for 168 years. Several proposals were made to elect Archimandrite Raphael to a see in Syria; but he refused all such offers, pointing out the Orthodox people's great and little-met needs in North America. In 1904, the Moscow Patriarchate made him Bishop of Brooklyn, the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on American soil. He redoubled his already impressive pastoral work, ordaining priests to the many new parishes that he had founded, and assisting Saint Tikhon (then Bishop of North America) in the care of his huge diocese. In 1905 he laid the foundation of the Monastery of St Tikhon in Pennsylvania.   The bishop saw the importance of integrating the faithful into the life of their new homeland, and was an early advocate of the use of English in American Church services. When Isabel Hapgood's Service Book — the first useful English translation of the Church's services — was published in 1906, he advocated its use in all his parishes.   In 1912, St Raphael was found to be suffering from heart disease, but continued his exhausting pastoral work for two more years. In 1915 he was finally unable to continue, and reposed after two months' illness.   When his relics were transported in 1998 from Brooklyn to Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA, they were found to be incorrupt, and in 2000 he became the most recently glorified Saint of North America.   In North America St Raphael is commemorated on the anniversary of his repose: February 27 on the Civil/New Calendar, February 14 on the Julian Calendar. He is also commemorated with the Synaxis of Saints of North America on the Second Sunday after Pentecost. The Patriarchate of Antioch also commemorates him, but on Saturday before the Synaxis of the Archangels (November 8).

He was born in Syria in 1860, in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. In his childhood, his family took refuge in Lebanon after their parish priest, St Joseph of Damascus (July 10) was martyred; but they later returned to Damascus. In 1879 he was tonsured a monk and entered into the service of Patriarch Hierotheos of Antioch. The Balamand Seminary had been closed since 1840, but the young monk was offered a scholarship at the Constantinople Patriarchate's seminary at Halki. Returning to Syria with a theological degree, St Raphael became assistant to Gerasimos, the new Patriarch of Antioch, traveling and preaching on his behalf. After further studies in Kiev, he transferred to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow and for a time was professer of Arabic studies at the Theological Academy in Kazan. (At that time the downtrodden Orthodox of the Middle East received considerable aid and theological training from the Tsar and from the Church in Russia).   In 1895 he was sent to the United States to shepherd the Arab Orthodox Community in New York, which was without a church or a priest. He quickly consecrated a chapel and with great energy set about the work of shepherding his flock there; but he was concerned not only for them but for the Arab Christian immigrants scattered through North America, most of whom were without a pastor and in danger of falling into heterodoxy or abandoning religious life. He traveled widely throughout the continent, visiting, counseling and serving Arab Christians, preaching, celebrating marriages and baptisms, receiving confessions and celebrating the Divine Liturgy, usually in private houses. In 1898 he published the first Orthodox prayer book in Arabic to appear in the New World. In 1899, he made a seven-month journey through forty-three American cities, seeking out the "scattered sheep" of the Church in America. His services were attended not only by Arabs but by Russians and Greeks, all of whom at that time depended on the Russian mission to North America. During this entire period, he held the official rank of Archimandrite, though his work and duties exceeded those of most bishops.   In 1901, Patriarch Meletios was elected to the see of Antioch, the first Arab to occupy the patriarchal throne for 168 years. Several proposals were made to elect Archimandrite Raphael to a see in Syria; but he refused all such offers, pointing out the Orthodox people's great and little-met needs in North America. In 1904, the Moscow Patriarchate made him Bishop of Brooklyn, the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on American soil. He redoubled his already impressive pastoral work, ordaining priests to the many new parishes that he had founded, and assisting Saint Tikhon (then Bishop of North America) in the care of his huge diocese. In 1905 he laid the foundation of the Monastery of St Tikhon in Pennsylvania.   The bishop saw the importance of integrating the faithful into the life of their new homeland, and was an early advocate of the use of English in American Church services. When Isabel Hapgood's Service Book — the first useful English translation of the Church's services — was published in 1906, he advocated its use in all his parishes.   In 1912, St Raphael was found to be suffering from heart disease, but continued his exhausting pastoral work for two more years. In 1915 he was finally unable to continue, and reposed after two months' illness.   When his relics were transported in 1998 from Brooklyn to Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA, they were found to be incorrupt, and in 2000 he became the most recently glorified Saint of North America.   In North America St Raphael is commemorated on the anniversary of his repose: February 27 on the Civil/New Calendar, February 14 on the Julian Calendar. He is also commemorated with the Synaxis of Saints of North America on the Second Sunday after Pentecost. The Patriarchate of Antioch also commemorates him, but on Saturday before the Synaxis of the Archangels (November 8).

GET YOUR MERCH FROM SARDE https://sardeafterdinner.com/collections/all  Want to support our Sarde and watch episodes earlier? Check out our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/sardeafterdinner   Because two interviews weren't enough to quench our thirst for History, Charles al-Hayek is BACK for a third #sardeafterdinner with Médéa & Mouin to talk about: - The incredible and complex history of Muslims and Christians living together in the Middle East: “Coexistence vs. Cohabitation” - Explaining Roman cults and their present day influence. - Uncovering and busting ancient myths about the Crusades and other conflicts: “Kill them all, God will sort them out.” - The pivotal role Arab Christians played in the Middle East. - Shared Heritage: from Maamoul, Hrisse, or Awaymat, to unique traditions. بما أن حلقتين لم ترويا عطشنا للتاريخ، يعود شارل الحايك للمرّة الثلاثة إلى #سردة مع ميديا ومعين للتحدث عن: التاريخ الغني والمعقّد للعيش سويًا للمسلمين والمسيحيين في الشرق الأوسط: "التعايش أو العيش سويًا؟"  -شرح الآلهة الرومانية القديمة وتأثيرها في ايامنا هذه.  -الكشف عن الروايات الشائعة حول الحروب الصليبية وغيرها من النزاعات: "اقتلوهم جميعا، يختار الله بينهم."  -الدور المحوري الذي لعبه المسيحيون في الشرق الاوسط.  -التراث المشترك، من المأكولات، مثل المعمول، والهريسة، والعوامة، الى العادات الفريدة من نوعها. Sarde (noun), [Sa-r-de]: A colloquial term used in the Middle East to describe the act of letting go & kicking off a stream of consciousness and a rambling narrative. The Sarde After Dinner Podcast is a free space based out of the heart of Beirut, Lebanon, where Médéa Azouri & Mouin Jaber discuss a wide range of topics (usually) held behind closed doors in an open and simple way with guests from all walks of life.   سردة (إسم) سَرْدَةْ : مصطلح بالعامية يستخدم في منطقة الشرق الأوسط للدلالة على الاسترخاء وإطلاق سردية. يشكّل بودكاست سردة بعد العشاء مساحة حرّة من قلب بيروت، لبنان، حيث تناقش ميديا عازوري ومعين جابر عدّة مواضيع (لطالما) تمّت مناقشتها خلف أبواب مغلقة وذلك بطريقة بسيطة ومباشرة مع ضيوف من شتّى المجالات.   SARDE EVERY SUNDAY with NEW EPISODES released WEEKLY! 9:00 PM

It's Wednesday, December 28th, A.D. 2022. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldView.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Iranian police have killed 500 protesters; 26 slated for execution Anti-government protests in Iran entered their one hundredth day this week. It's the longest demonstration in the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Over 500 protesters have been killed, including two who were executed by authorities. Twenty-six more demonstrators face execution. Iran's security officials have warned Assyrian and Chaldean Christians in the country against joining the popular protests or posting about them online.  International Christian Concern noted, “These groups have been pressured for many years not to go against the regime for fear of being arrested or facing worse persecution.” Israeli Christian population grew by 2% A new report from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics found the Christian population in the country grew 2% in 2021. Christians now comprise 1.9% of the population in Israel, numbering over 180,000. Seventy-five percent of them are Arab Christians, making up nearly 7% of the Arab population in Israel. Romans 11:25-27 says, “A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob, and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.'” Texas officials believe Christian foster agencies have right not to place with “gay” couples Texas filed a lawsuit earlier this month, challenging a 2016 federal rule that discriminates against Christian foster care agencies.  Texas is fighting to work with faith-based agencies as they face surges in children needing out-of-home placements in recent years. The 2016 Department of Health and Human Services rule cuts funding to states that partner with agencies that refuse to place children with people living sexually perverted lifestyles. However, Texas argues another HHS rule protects religious organizations from such funding discrimination. 18 Republicans support $1.7 trillion bill with abortion & sexual perversion funding Last Friday, Congress passed a $1.7 trillion government funding bill. President Joe Biden said he will sign it. Eighteen Republicans in the Senate and nine in the House joined Democrats to pass the omnibus spending package. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the bill met the party's top priorities.  MCCONNELL: “Providing assistance for Ukrainians to defeat the Russians. That's the number one priority for the United States right now, according to most Republicans. That's sort of how we see the challenges confronting the country at the moment.” However, the spending deal continues to fund abortion with $286 million for the Title X family planning program. Other earmarks in the bill include $477,000 for "anti-racist" training from the Equity Institute, $3 million for the homosexual/bisexual/transgender museum in New York City, and $575 million for so-called “family planning” in areas where population growth “threatens biodiversity.” Exodus 23:2 says, “You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice.” A third of Americans fallen away from church attendance A new Gallup poll found over a third of U.S. adults have fallen away from attending religious services. Sixty-seven percent of Americans said they attended services regularly while growing up, but only 31% said they still do.  The amount of people who seldom or never attend services has doubled now compared to when respondents were growing up. The study noted that children who grew up in church were more likely to still attend services than those who did not grow up in church.  Florida abortions dropped by 11,000 this year How about some good news? Florida's health department reports abortions in the state are down. Indeed, 11,000 fewer babies were killed by abortion this year compared to last year. Over 79,000 unborn babies were killed in abortion in 2021. That number decreased to just over 68,000 this year. The decrease comes after the state passed a 15-week abortion ban this summer. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, out-of-state abortions increased in Florida. Despite that, abortions overall are down in the state. Florida is fastest growing state And finally, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that Florida is the country's fastest growing state. The Sunshine State's population grew by 1.9% between 2021 and 2022. Florida's population now stands at 22.2 million, nine times what it was in 1946. In the post-World War II era, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, North Dakota, and Alaska have also been among the fastest-growing states. Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, December 28th in the year of our Lord 2022. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Dr. Chawkat Moucarry, an Arab Christian from Syria, developed a passion from a young age to build bridges of understanding between Christians and Muslims. His work with university student ministries, World Vision International, and Veritas Forum in France—where he lives and serves today—has all been focused on promoting interfaith dialogue built on relationship. Chawkat is the author of several books that explore these topics, including his most recent, "Islam on Trial: Globalization, Islamism, and Christianity." In part two of his conversation with Chris, they discuss Chawkat's new book, which provides non-Muslims with a foundation for understanding Muslim faith and practice, and highlights shared common ground between Christianity and Islam. They also touch on the nuanced religious landscape of France, where Chawkat lives and serves. To learn more about and purchase Dr. Chawkat Moucarry's newest book, "Islam on Trial," visit: langhamliterature.org/islam-on-trial

Dr. Chawkat Moucarry, an Arab Christian from Syria, developed a passion from a young age to build bridges of understanding between Christians and Muslims. His work with university student ministries, World Vision International, and Veritas Forum in France—where he lives and serves today—has all been focused on promoting interfaith dialogue built on relationship. Chawkat is the author of several books that explore these topics, including his most recent, "Islam on Trial: Globalization, Islamism, and Christianity." In part one of his conversation with Chris, he shares about growing up as a Christian in the Middle East, his compassionate approach to apologetics, and how his background spurred on his desire to seek mutual understanding and respect between Christians and Muslims. To learn more about and purchase Dr. Chawkat Moucarry's newest book, "Islam on Trial," visit: https://langhamliterature.org/islam-on-trial

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

Netanyahu closes in on a coalition agreement, a rabbi and his wife lobby for widows and orphans and a journalist weighs in on free speech. Holiday celebrations bring joy to Jerusalem and an Arab Christian shopkeeper continues his family's legacy.

European Cultural Diplomacy and Arab Christians in Palestine (1918-1948) (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020) investigates the transnationally connected history of Arab Christian communities in Palestine during the British Mandate (1918-1948) through the lens of the birth of cultural diplomacy. Relying predominantly on unpublished sources, it examines the relationship between European cultural agendas and local identity formation processes and discusses the social and religious transformations of Arab Christian communities in Palestine via cultural lenses from an entangled perspective. The 17 chapters reflect diverse research interests, from case studies of individual archives to chapters that question the concept of cultural diplomacy more generally. They illustrate the diversity of scholarship that enables a broad-based view of how cultura  l diplomacy functioned during the interwar period, but also the ways in which its meanings have changed. The book considers British Mandate Palestine as an internationalized node within a transnational framework to understand how the complexity of cultural interactions and agencies engaged to produce new modes of modernity. With the editors, Karene Sanches Summerer and Sary Zananiri, we discussed the term cultural diplomacy and its varied definition by the contributors of this volume. The book, divided in three parts, looks at various forms of cultural diplomacy, its indigenization, cultural diplomacy as an hegemonic force and lastly a number of scholars discussed a variety of examples of cultural diplomacy as intended by European countries. Roberto Mazza is visiting professor at Northwestern University. He is the host of the Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast and to discuss and propose a book for interview can be reached at robbymazza@gmail.com. Twitter and IG: @robbyref Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

European Cultural Diplomacy and Arab Christians in Palestine (1918-1948) (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020) investigates the transnationally connected history of Arab Christian communities in Palestine during the British Mandate (1918-1948) through the lens of the birth of cultural diplomacy. Relying predominantly on unpublished sources, it examines the relationship between European cultural agendas and local identity formation processes and discusses the social and religious transformations of Arab Christian communities in Palestine via cultural lenses from an entangled perspective. The 17 chapters reflect diverse research interests, from case studies of individual archives to chapters that question the concept of cultural diplomacy more generally. They illustrate the diversity of scholarship that enables a broad-based view of how cultura  l diplomacy functioned during the interwar period, but also the ways in which its meanings have changed. The book considers British Mandate Palestine as an internationalized node within a transnational framework to understand how the complexity of cultural interactions and agencies engaged to produce new modes of modernity. With the editors, Karene Sanches Summerer and Sary Zananiri, we discussed the term cultural diplomacy and its varied definition by the contributors of this volume. The book, divided in three parts, looks at various forms of cultural diplomacy, its indigenization, cultural diplomacy as an hegemonic force and lastly a number of scholars discussed a variety of examples of cultural diplomacy as intended by European countries. Roberto Mazza is visiting professor at Northwestern University. He is the host of the Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast and to discuss and propose a book for interview can be reached at robbymazza@gmail.com. Twitter and IG: @robbyref Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

When we pray for Israel we need to pray for ALL of Israel! Our ministry has a powerful outreach and discipleship ministry in Arabic reaching Israelis and the entire Middle East with the Gospel of peace, and we need your prayers! Learn more about how to pray for the Muslim seekers and Arab Christians in Israel. Download our 31 days of prayer devotional, click the link below. https://www.oneforisrael.org/pray/ Learn more about our Arabic Ministry. https://www.oneforisrael.org/arabic-ministry/

He was born in Syria in 1860, in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. In his childhood, his family took refuge in Lebanon after their parish priest, St Joseph of Damascus (July 10) was martyred; but they later returned to Damascus. In 1879 he was tonsured a monk and entered into the service of Patriarch Hierotheos of Antioch. The Balamand Seminary had been closed since 1840, but the young monk was offered a scholarship at the Constantinople Patriarchate's seminary at Halki. Returning to Syria with a theological degree, St Raphael became assistant to Gerasimos, the new Patriarch of Antioch, traveling and preaching on his behalf. After further studies in Kiev, he transferred to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow and for a time was professer of Arabic studies at the Theological Academy in Kazan. (At that time the downtrodden Orthodox of the Middle East received considerable aid and theological training from the Tsar and from the Church in Russia).   In 1895 he was sent to the United States to shepherd the Arab Orthodox Community in New York, which was without a church or a priest. He quickly consecrated a chapel and with great energy set about the work of shepherding his flock there; but he was concerned not only for them but for the Arab Christian immigrants scattered through North America, most of whom were without a pastor and in danger of falling into heterodoxy or abandoning religious life. He traveled widely throughout the continent, visiting, counseling and serving Arab Christians, preaching, celebrating marriages and baptisms, receiving confessions and celebrating the Divine Liturgy, usually in private houses. In 1898 he published the first Orthodox prayer book in Arabic to appear in the New World. In 1899, he made a seven-month journey through forty-three American cities, seeking out the "scattered sheep" of the Church in America. His services were attended not only by Arabs but by Russians and Greeks, all of whom at that time depended on the Russian mission to North America. During this entire period, he held the official rank of Archimandrite, though his work and duties exceeded those of most bishops.   In 1901, Patriarch Meletios was elected to the see of Antioch, the first Arab to occupy the patriarchal throne for 168 years. Several proposals were made to elect Archimandrite Raphael to a see in Syria; but he refused all such offers, pointing out the Orthodox people's great and little-met needs in North America. In 1904, the Moscow Patriarchate made him Bishop of Brooklyn, the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on American soil. He redoubled his already impressive pastoral work, ordaining priests to the many new parishes that he had founded, and assisting Saint Tikhon (then Bishop of North America) in the care of his huge diocese. In 1905 he laid the foundation of the Monastery of St Tikhon in Pennsylvania.   The bishop saw the importance of integrating the faithful into the life of their new homeland, and was an early advocate of the use of English in American Church services. When Isabel Hapgood's Service Book — the first useful English translation of the Church's services — was published in 1906, he advocated its use in all his parishes.   In 1912, St Raphael was found to be suffering from heart disease, but continued his exhausting pastoral work for two more years. In 1915 he was finally unable to continue, and reposed after two months' illness.   When his relics were transported in 1998 from Brooklyn to Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA, they were found to be incorrupt, and in 2000 he became the most recently glorified Saint of North America.   In North America St Raphael is commemorated on the anniversary of his repose: February 27 on the Civil/New Calendar, February 14 on the Julian Calendar. He is also commemorated with the Synaxis of Saints of North America on the Second Sunday after Pentecost. The Patriarchate of Antioch also commemorates him, but on Saturday before the Synaxis of the Archangels (November 8).

At 15 years old -- Doris's life was pre-determined.  Not so fast.   Hello Doris Inc.  In 10th grade, Doris an Orthodox Christian Arab, happily learns she will marry Marcelle.   Doris is controlled first by her parents and next by her mother-in-law.  As the years progressed, Doris dreamed about independence.  After an Oscar-nominated movie is filmed in her rough neighborhood in Jaffa, Doris grabs her opportunity.  Listen to Doris's personal story of how she no longer says 'Yes  sir" but rather "Yes."   Doris has become a sensation with politicians and celebrities flocking to hear her special story of empowerment.   Doris Inc. was launched.  Join me for this inspiring story; it's the best eighteen minutes you'll spend today.Please do three things: Subscribe to our podcast through your favorite platform.Share with a few of your friends today.Visit our website at http://findinginspiration.lifeIn this episode we cover:Doris has hosted over 4,000 people in her home in Ajami (Jaffa).Doris shares what it was like to live in a tightly controlled childhood home and how her experience was typical of all her contemporaries in the Islamic culture. Doris has a revelation that her life should be more in her control.    Doris shares how her upbringing and marriage were a continuation of not being allowed to make decisions and how much of her life was pre-determined by her Arab Christian culture. Doris said: "I understood that our daughters were the product."An Oscar-nominated movie is filmed in her neighborhood.  Following that, tour groups started walking around to see where the movie was filmed. Doris excitedly jumps at the chance to re-make her image and build her self-confidence.Today, thousands of people have sat in Doris's home to hear her personal story and learn more about the Arab Christian culture.As an Orthodox Christian Arab who was born in Jaffa, Doris shares how the Ajami neighborhood catapulted her into hostessing as a business. Doris shares about the modern role and expectations of women today. US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, Sarah Jessica Parker, New crews, and Mayors eagerly listen to Doris'personal empowerment triumph.Amazing Informative Links: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1077262/https://www.jpost.com/opinion/grapevine-lured-by-home-hospitality-600775https://www.jaffastoriesandcoffee.com/https://www.viator.com/tours/Tel-Aviv/Jaffa-Cultural-Stories-and-Coffee/d920-110735P1https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sk4v00qbbyhttps://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297749-d17559583-Reviews-Doris_Hiffawi-Jaffa_Tel_Aviv_Tel_Aviv_District.htmhttps://daattravel.com/photoblog/doris-coffee-for-a-change/

Former Google chief Eric Schmidt makes the case for the U.S. to massively invest in artificial intelligence technology in order to keep up with China's fast advancements. As Italy blocks a shipment of vaccine from going to Australia, Zanny Milton Beddoes discusses the problems with the European Union's slow vaccine rollout and how it is affecting politics in the UK. Fareed asks renowned medical ethicist Arthur Caplan about the pros and cons of a COVID-19 vaccine passport. Then, Ben Wedeman reports on Pope Francis's historic visit to Iraq and what it means for the Arab Christian community. Finally, a look at India's democratic decline amid the rise of Hindu nationalism in the country. GUESTS: Eric Schmidt, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Arthur Caplan, Ben Wedeman Airdate: March 7, 2021 To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy