Podcasts about Ashkelon

Recientemente, la Corte Suprema de Israel emitió un fallo histórico prohibiendo el profiling racial en los operativos policiales de identidad, se trató de una demanda presentada por minorías étnicas, como los judíos etíopes, para protegerse de la discriminación que sufren por parte de las autoridades. Sin embargo, esta decisión es tomada con pinzas por los también llamados Beta Israel, los judíos negros de Israel y que representan el 2% de la población.    Desde Tel Aviv y Ashkelon Actualmente, son unos 170 mil los judíos etíopes que viven en Israel. Llegaron en los años 80 siguiendo el sueño que habían alimentado sus ancestros, llegaron anhelando Jerusalén porque para ellos no existía el Estado de Israel ni sus fronteras sino solamente Jerusalén. Sin embargo, al llegar la realidad sería otra y el sueño de la Tierra prometida donde todos serían hermanos no tardaría en disolverse bajo expresiones de racismo y discriminación por parte de otros judíos. Rápidamente, los judíos etíopes entendieron que, en Israel, que era también su tierra y su único hogar, debían abrirse camino y empezar desde cero. Asi lo explica Dany Admasu, doctor en sociología, judío, etíope y también ciudadano israelí En Occidente hay este dicho acerca de la democracia, se dice que algún día va a llegar, pero, en ese momento del presente, no existe y nunca vas a estar allí cuando llegue. Sin embargo, esa esperanza te anima para que sigas haciendo lo que haces para mejorar la sociedad. Jerusalén era así. No era un lugar específico, pero desde niño yo sabía que era de allí. Pero cuando al llegar aquí te llaman «kushi», que es como decir negro - ni siquiera es llamar a alguien de piel oscura - es realmente Khushi, nigger. Muchas cosas fueron muy extrañas. Fue muy difícil como niño, pero sé que soy de aquí y no extraño ni tampoco deseo regresar a Etiopía En este camino, Dany Admasu se ha convertido en uno de los principales referentes científicos de la comunidad. Este 2026, Dani publicará su libro Negritud y judaísmo: la resistencia del judaísmo etíope. Cuatro décadas después de la llegada de los etíopes a esta tierra prometida, su libro será el primero de carácter científico publicado por un miembro de la misma comunidad. Cuarenta años después de su llegada a Israel, el camino de los judíos etíopes es uno cuesta arriba y saben que sus condiciones en tanto que comunidad afrodescendiente son bastante distintas a las de los judíos blancos de Israel.  Racheli Makali, directora de la organización Empoderando mujeres etiopes, cuenta que ella, pese a haberse criado en Israel sufre la discriminación por ser etíope, es decir, por el color de su piel. No solo lo experimentó cuando le negaron alquilarle un departamento por ser etíope sino que es algo que ya sus hermanos y padres y familiares habían vivido. Sucede todo el tiempo… ahora y antes. Cuando mi hermano era chico y estaba aún en la escuela, un día quería comprarle un regalo a mi papá, tenía 200 o 300 shekels, unos 70 u 80 euros en el bolsillo,  y un policía lo vio y lo detuvo ¿Por qué tienes tanta plata?, le dijo. En realidad, no era tanta plata y mi hermano no entendía por qué lo detenían, pero son cosas que pasan todo el tiempo. Los jóvenes etíopes no pueden sentarse en las bancas así como así en la noche en un barrio de blancos porque son vistos como sospechosos… Racheli tiene 43 años está casada y es madre de tres hijos. Ella emigró de Etiopía a Israel en 1991 para instalarse en Kiryat Malachi. Racheli cuenta que fundó su organización inspirada por el mensaje de su madre: “Hay que luchar contra el racismo accediendo a puestos clave. Solo así podremos tener un impacto, sin esperar a que otros cambien la realidad”. En 2020, Empoderando mujeres etíopes pasó de ser una asociación a una organización con una estructura jurídica, gracias a ella más de 250 pequeñas empresas han sido creadas por mujeres etíopes.  El Harlem de Israel En Israel, los migrantes judíos, aquellos que llegaron a través de la aliyá, es decir, la inmigración de judíos a la Tierra de Israel, y que es considerada un retorno espiritual y físico a su patria ancestral, se encuentran agrupados en la periferia de la ciudad. Históricamente fue el barrio de Kyriat Malachi donde se construyeron residencias temporales para estas personas, sin embargo lo temporal devino permanente y estos lugares menos favorecidos se convirtieron en el lugar de los excluidos. Otro de estos lugares es Ashkelon, al sur de Tel Aviv, muchos judíos etíopes viven allí hoy rodeados por otras minorías étnicas. Una de ellos es Shulamit Somos el Harlem de Israel. Aquí se cometen muchos delitos. Hay proxenetas, drogas y más… Todo esto está sucediendo aquí y es difícil llevar una vida así… pero necesitábamos crecer y salir adelante lo mejor que podíamos y lo hicimos. Shulamit es judía de padres árabes, judía mizrahi como designa el término de los judíos descendientes del norte de Africa y de Medio Oriente. Shulamit no tiene el brazo izquierdo completo, su mano no termino de desarrollarse y esta discapacidad, además de sus orígenes árabes, le hicieron a ella y a su hermana Orel, darse cuenta de que, si bien todos son judíos, no todos los judíos son iguales.  Los judíos ashkenazíes, es decir, los judíos blancos recibían un trato muy diferente al nuestro. Había niveles y nosotros estábamos en el nivel más bajo. Siempre fuimos los desfavorecidos en este país. Entonces, cuando llegaron los etíopes, que estaban por debajo de nosotros, eso supuso un pequeño cambio. Hoy en dia, el racismo es más difícil de ver, pero sigue ahí. Operaciones de exfiltración de los judíos etíopes La historia de los judíos etíopes en Israel empezó oficialmente a fines de 1984 y principios de 1985 cuando tras décadas de idas y venidas el gobierno decidió exfiltrarlos tras haber aceptar que al ser también judíos tenían el derecho a la Ley de retorno y a ser reconocidos como ciudadanos israelíes. Bajo el nombre de la operación Moisés, primero, y operación Salomón, después, militares israelíes, miembros del Mossad, aterrizaban de noche en los campos de refugiados de Sudan, país enemigo de Israel y exfiltraban a estos judíos etíopes hermanos suyos para llevarlos luego a Israel. Una tarea delicada, pero sobre todo una odisea para los propios etíopes pues debían primero lograr la hazaña de llegar a Sudán. Fue el caso del periodista Dany Abebe quien publicó este 2025 el primer libro de testimonio y ensayo escrito por un miembro de la comunidad etíope acerca de la aliyá Cuando tenía unos nueve años, mi familia y yo dejamos nuestro pueblo y emprendimos un viaje hacia Sudán. La verdad es que lo pasamos bastante mal. Perdimos a mucha gente en el camino. Como comunidad judía, sufrimos por ser judíos. Sufrimos por culpa de los gobiernos nacionales, de los gobiernos locales y también por culpa de los no judíos, muchos de ellos eran cristianos, muchos de ellos eran musulmanes. Ser judío es complicado en todo el mundo y - ya sabes - el antisemitismo no solo proviene del mundo occidental, está en todas partes. Por ejemplo, durante un año, el gobierno etíope no concedió ni compartió tierras a los judíos a pesar de que éramos etíopes. Si eras judío, no podías conseguir tierras. Y, bueno, a nuestra comunidad se la llamaba falasha que quiere decir sin tierra, extranjero; y nuestros vecinos cristianos etíopes no confiaban en nosotros, creían que íbamos a quedarnos para siempre ahí. Pese a estas condiciones de vida difíciles en Etíopía, estos judíos y mal llamados falashas vivieron en una especie de pseudo tranquilidad hasta que en los años 70 una terrible hambruna golpeo el país y con el cambio de régimen, el nuevo gobierno marxista de Mengistu Hailé Mariam - que se convirtió luego en dictadura - decretó que ninguna persona podía abandonar el territorio. Se calcula que, en su ruta de escape, en el camino entre Etiopia y Sudán unos 4 mil etíopes judíos perdieron la vida. Dany recuerda aún el día en que salió de Etiopía hacia una destinación desconocida En 1983, oímos hablar de un viaje de la comunidad judía y una noche, un viernes por la noche, nos fuimos, dejamos nuestro pueblo. No sabíamos adónde íbamos ni cuánto tiempo duraría. Todo era un gran secreto. Caminamos descalzos, sin zapatos, sin comida, sin ropa.. Caminamos un mes o algo así y llegamos a la frontera de Sudán.Por desgracia, nos quedamos en Sudán un año, en un campo de refugiados. Unos cuatro mil etíopes murieron, entre ellos algunas personas de mi familia, vidas que se perdieron en Sudán y durante el camino a Sudan. Entonces, nuestro sueño y nuestra misión es contárselo a la sociedad israelí, al pueblo judío, lo mucho que sufrimos para llegar a Jerusalén. Luchamos por formar parte de ella, por ser como ellos, como la sociedad israelí. Ashkelon, un bunker antibombas para cientos  Las diferencias de trato hacia los judíos de minorías étnicas en Israel se expresa también en bunkers antibombas, ciertos barrios como el de Ashkelon cuentan solo con un bunker antibombas para varios edificios en caso de ataque. En el barrio de Shulamit, el bunker se encuentra al centro del conjunto habitacional, expuesto. Sin embargo, la situación es otra en barrios más privilegiados y menos mixtos, ellos tienen incluso un bunker para cada departamento. Shulamit cuenta cómo fue su experiencia el 7 de octubre, cuando el grupo islamista Hamas ataco Israel No podíamos salir de nuestras casas y  llegar al refugio porque corríamos el riesgo de que los terroristas nos mataran. Y no podíamos llegar a las escaleras porque había cohetes. Así que, bueno, nosotras estamos en el último piso, en el cuarto; lo único que atinamos a hacer fue a meternos debajo de las mesas de la casa y rezar para seguir con vida. No teníamos nada más que hacer. Y esta es la complejidad, otra complejidad que la gente no entiende. No somos una élite. No todos los judíos son ricos. No todos los judíos están pasando el mejor momento de sus vidas. Estamos luchando. Luchamos por sobrevivir cada día, especialmente en barrios como este.  Avera Mengistu, el judío etíope secuestrado una década por Hamas Cuando Shulamit aún estaba en la secundaria, Orel, su hermana había empezado a hablar en casa del secuestro de Avera Mengistu, un judío etíope con autismo retenido por Hamas y que permaneció en su poder por más de diez años. Shulamit sintió que Avera podía haber sido ella  Cuando Orel empezó con el activismo y se involucró un poco más, y empezó a hablar del caso de Avera en nuestra casa, yo pensaba: «Esto es una mierda, lo siento, pero es una mierda. Es una mierda, es igual que con nosotros (judíos mizrahi). Si fuéramos nosotros, nadie lucharía por nosotros». Y ese es el problema - lo siento - pero es lo que pasó con muchas familias del 7 de octubre, ellas no lo entendían hasta que les pasó a sus hijos. Inspirada en su experiencia personal y la discapacidad de su hermana, Orel Schitrit decidió crear la cuenta de Instagram Counting Avera para sensibilizar y exigir su liberación. Ella tomó contacto con la familia de Avera Mengistu y periódicamente organizaron manifestaciones en las que exigían al gobierno israelí que interceda ante el gobierno de Gaza por su liberación. Después de 7 de octubre 2024, las cosas cambiaron, la presión fue mayor y ya no no solo de los judíos mizrahi y etíopes sino de toda la sociedad israelí que se unió detrás de una bandera exigiendo la liberación de todos los que se encontraban en manos de Hamas. La presión surtió efecto y Avera fue liberado a principios de 2025.  Contra la discriminación, educación, activismo y redes sociales En Israel, el activismo ha logrado cierto reconocimiento y Racheli Malkai de Empoderando mujeres etíopes, fue elegida para encender la antorcha en las celebraciones por las fiestas nacionales de Israel. El empoderamiento de las mujeres, en general y de las judías etíopes, en particular, es más que necesario dice Racheli Malkai desde su oficina en Ashkelon. En 2013, el gobierno israelí admitió, como lo habían denunciado decenas de mujeres etiopes, que les administro Depo-Provera un contraceptivo de larga duración en contra de su voluntad. Hoy en día es diferente. Estamos más informadas y tenemos más educación. Conocemos el idioma, conocemos nuestros derechos. Antes, se administraba la vacuna a mujeres migrantes que no entendían el idioma, y se les  administraba a la fuerza. Se les administraba tanto que ya no podían tener hijos. Básicamente, se les daba una vacuna que las dejaba estériles. Hoy en día es diferente. Entendemos mejor, conocemos nuestros derechos. Tenemos médicos etíopes, así que es completamente diferente, ya no pueden hacer lo que quieren. Pero sí, es doloroso saber que, al final, han trabajado con mujeres inocentes que no estaban al tanto de lo que les hacían y que recibieron una vacuna en contra de su voluntad. Gracias a la organización de Racheli, mujeres como Shelly han podido crear sus empresas, empezar a generar sus propios ingresos y ganar un poco de independencia. En realidad, yo empecé a diseñar desde casa. Aprendí a cortar y coser por mi cuenta. Vivía en el kibutz Gevra'am, en el sur del país, y cuando llegué a Ashkelon, la asociación Empoderando mujeres etíopes estaba organizando un evento muy importante al día siguiente y me ofrecieron hacer un desfile de moda allí. Era la primera vez que organizaba un desfile de ese tipo, fue muy emocionante, fue mi oportunidad de mostrar lo que me gusta y lo que hago. Antes yo tenía una tienda, pero con el coronavirus tuve que cerrarla. Ahora trabajo desde casa, tengo una página web y estoy en las redes sociales, en Facebook, TikTok e Instagram. Las cosas van bien y participé hace poco en un programa de televisión de modas en Tel Aviv, donde también había modelos muy conocidas. Las redes de apoyo no solo provienen de los propios judíos etíopes sino también de voluntarios que se han organizado y creado iniciativas para que jóvenes de la comunidad etíope puedan cursar estudios superiores y tener mejores oportunidades de vida. Es el caso de YOEL, una organización que los ayuda a preparse para pasar un examen de admisión, les enseñan a utilizar computadoras y programas y sobre todo a tener un nivel de idioma que les permita defenderse en el ámbito profesional. Oshrat, judío etíope, es una antigua alumna de este programa, ella hoy estudia derecho en la universidad de Reichman. La línea de inicio no es la misma para todos. En sentido metafórico diría que, para empezar una carrera, necesitas, por ejemplo, zapatillas y otros implementos y eso es lo que YOEL me dio. Gracias a ellos pude seguir en la carrera con el agua y las zapatillas, por ejemplo. Especialmente en mi universidad, es muy, muy cara. Es una universidad privada, de otra manera no sé cómo podría haber entrado. Desde otros espacios los jóvenes etíopes intentan también abrirse camino en la sociedad israelí pese a los desafíos. Brhan, influencer judío etíope, cuenta que después del 7 de octubre hubo muchas informaciones falsas acerca de los judíos en general y de los judíos etíopes, en particular, eso la animó a contar su historia y la de su comunidad a través de las redes sociales. Lo que estoy haciendo es contar la historia y reformular la historia de los Beta Israel, porque cuando la gente piensa en Israel, hay mucha desinformación que se les ha transmitido. Creen que (los judíos etíopes) no hemos aportado nada a la sociedad israelí, que aquí somos delincuentes y ciudadanos de segunda clase y eso es mentira. Hay un enorme legado que los Beta Israel trajeron consigo a la sociedad judía israelí. La gente piensa que fue el Mossad el que vino y salvó a los judíos etíopes, lo cual es cierto, pero también hay que dar crédito al pueblo judío que se marchó de sus pueblos y recorrió miles de kilómetros hasta Sudán y de Sudán a Israel. Los etíopes también se salvaron a sí mismos. Y si los etíopes no hubieran estado allí para presionar entre bastidores, el Mossad no habría venido. Convivir entre nosotros lo mejor que podamos  "Israel es una sociedad compleja", no se cansan de repetir los judíos etíopes que entrevisté. Todos ellos aman su patria, no solo porque no tienen otra sino porque es su hogar y la tierra con la que sus ancestros les enseñaron a sonar. Sin embargo, la idea de una sociedad homogénea y con un solo perfil étnico que los segrega va en contra de la idea de la nación de Israel según explica Dany Admasu Es un reto. Israel es lo que llamamos el espacio afro-levantino. Esta nación existe y es posible porque hay muchos grupos pequeños que la conforman. Si separas a sus miembros e intentas convertirlo en grupos puros diferentes entonces la idea de nación ya no existe.  La cuestión es como lo resolvemos y cómo podemos vivir y mejorar la sociedad para todos. Esta es mi idea. En un mundo cada vez más polarizado, la sociedad israelí libra su propia batalla, y las fracturas se hacen cada vez más visibles pese a un discurso que pareciera borrar todas las diferencias, a pesar de ello, los grupos que lo conforman elevan su voz y eligen también contar, contar como ciudadanos y contar también su propia historia.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. Through snow and ice and disconnected H VAC units, we have finally gathered together, and we are getting ready to finally start Second Samuel. So if you're with us in the fall, we finished up First Samuel. We. We took a break with the Remember series and Give series, and now we get to start Second Samuel. We kind of jump into the middle of the story. First and Second Samuel actually were written as one book together. If you remember this when we first started, it's written as one book together because of how scrolls worked back in the day, they had to divide it in two separate scrolls. So it's one story. And we're jumping in the middle of a story at the beginning of 2 Samuel chapter 1. And we jump in the middle of a sad moment. And what we're going to see today is a lament that David has wrote for the people of God. And there are times where it's good to be sad. And when tragedy hits, when loss hits, there's something in us that aches for a response. I remember in 2001 when 911 happened, that as a nation, we were just collectively at a loss of words, and there was just a deep sadness for what many of us witnessed on TV and all the horror and the pain that came with that. And in November, two months after. I remember at the cmas, which is the Country Music Awards, Alan Jackson, he performed a song that he had written just a few weeks before. It's called Where Were youe In the World? Stop Turning. And the whole song is. It's a lament. It's country music, but it's a lament that captures how everyone felt in that moment as we witnessed all the pain and suffering at 9 11. And I just remember watching that with my parents and just being. Just felt it. You felt it in the room. And, you know, people outside of country music that don't even like country music, which is quite a few people, they actually, some of them very much appreciated the moment because what he was doing was capturing what we just felt. And that's what lament does. It captures this. This suffering, this. This loss, this pain that we feel. And it's good for. For us to sit in that. And poetic songs and poetic laments capture that. And that's what we get to see today as we jump into the middle of a story where we finish up in Second Samuel. We see the death of Saul and Jonathan and the defeat of Israel. We're going to walk through how David finds out about this. Then we're going to see how he laments and then as Christians, we're going to be able to sit in this and understand the importance of. Of what it means to be a people who lament. Well, so I'm going to pray for us, and then we'll walk through this together. Heavenly Father, I thank you for your word. It is precious, it is a gift, and it communicates wonderful, eternal truths that mold and shape us and conform us into your image in new and better ways. And I pray that you would do that to us this morning as we read and study and sit under the authority of your precious word. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.Okay, so if you weren't here for First Samuel, let me just give a quick summary. If you were here and it's been months, let me just help us remember. In 1st Samuel, God calls the final judge and the period of the judges and prophet Samuel. Because first and Second Samuel in the Old Testament is the beginning of the age of the kings. So the people are longing for a king. They want a ruler. They had God as their ruler. They had God as their king. And God used judges to reign them in at times. But this moment, they want a king. They go to Samuel. Samuel listens to the Lord, gives them their first king, which is Saul. And at first it goes well. Saul fits the bill. He looks like a king. He's tall, he's handsome. He leads the people, and they beat, they defeat the Ammonites. They do all kinds of things like this. And it's wonderful. And then as you keep reading, you see that his heart actually isn't fully for the Lord, that he has moments of deep faithlessness. And in his faithlessness, God rejects him as king. He anoints David, who is the next king of Israel. If you're familiar with anything in first and Second Samuel, you're probably familiar with the story of David and Goliath. That is when David steps onto the national scene after he's anointed by Samuel and he becomes a hero. He defeats Goliath, and then Saul appreciates David for, like, 10 minutes. It seems it's not very long. He, like, invites him to marry his daughter. He marries into the family. Things are good for a moment. And then quickly, I think Saul realizes, oh, David is the next king, and he becomes a threat. And the whole rest of 1st Samuel is Saul trying to kill David over and over and over again until finally we get to chapter 31 of 1st Samuel, when finally God brings judgment upon Saul and his house, and they're defeated by the Philistines.In 1st Samuel 31 it says,> Then the battle went hard against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.> Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he was very afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.> And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died with him.> So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.So that is the end of Saul and 1st Samuel, or 2 Samuel chapter 1 picks up right where that leaves off a few days later. Verse 1.> After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.> And on the third day behold, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.So while Saul was fighting the Philistines, David was facing off with a band of Amalekites who had kidnapped him and his men's families. So he goes, he defeats them, and this is them kind of resting after the battle. And then all of a sudden, verse two, it says, and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. So clothes torn and dirt on your head. That was an immediate sign to David and his men that something bad has happened. That's a sign of lament. You're in your garments, you put dirt on your head. Something major has happened. Which David said to him, verse three, where do you come from? And he said to him, I have escaped from the camp of Israel. And David said to him, how did it go? Tell me. And he answered, the people fled from the battle. And also many of the people have fallen and are dead. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead. So this is the first that David hears of this, that Saul, Jonathan, his friend, they're gone.Now, put yourself back in when we finish this up in the fall, and remember all that David went through to get to this moment and understand the complexities of how he must have been feeling. Saul tried to kill him over and over and over and over again, hurling spears, chasing him in the wilderness, chasing him in and out of towns, and finally it's over. And David had opportunities. He had opportunities to kill him himself. He had two opportunities with his hand in his life, and he spared him because he would not raise his hand against the Lord's anointed. He said, God will bring judgment on Saul. I will not. And it's finally happened. So that's in the background. And then also, Jonathan was one of his closest friends. Jonathan was a dear friend to him. If you remember when we walked the story of David and Jonathan, we got to see Jonathan, who was the next in line to be the king. Saul's son was. He was beloved by the people. He was a mighty warrior. And when David steps on the scene, he yields. It's very clear that he trusts that God has anointed him to be the next king. And that doesn't happen in the Old Testament, that doesn't happen in history. People don't give up their right to the throne like that. But he's a faith filled man and he trusts the anointing that David has. And you see, even when they talk, he longs to be serving in David's court one day. And he also. We saw how much Jonathan honored his father. He called him out at times for how he was pursuing David, but he honored him and stood by him in this battle. And his friend Jonathan is dead. So there is a lot happening in the soul of David as he receives this.And then in verse five, it says,> And the young man who told him said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were closing in on him.> And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, 'Here I am.'> And he said to me, 'Who are you?' And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'> Then he said to me, 'Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.'> So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen.> And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and brought them here to my lord."Okay, if you're reading first into second Samuel, just chapter 31, straight into this right here. That's quite jarring because those aren't the same stories. That is two different tellings of what happened. And I just want to show you the differences in this. I've got a chart up here. And first Samuel, chapter 31, the narrator tells us that archers surrounded Saul and badly wounded him. But when the Amalekite retells, he says, no chariots and horsemen were close upon him. And in 1st Samuel 31, the narrator tells us that Saul turns to his armor bearer and asks to kill him because he doesn't want to be mistreated. But Amalekite says no. He called out to me. He said, I'm. He said, ask me to kill him. In 1st Samuel 31, we see that the armor bearer refuses. So Saul kills himself, but the Amalekite says, no, I killed him. The only part where. Where it is similar and you can line them up in compatibility is when it says in 1st Samuel 31 that the Philistines recovered just the armor. And then we get in the Amalekite retelling that the crown and the armlet he had so that you can line up, but everything else is different. So when we come upon situations like this in the Bible where there's. There's two differences there, that's an opportunity to lean in and to ask why? Why are these accounts different? And if you are undiscerning and you hop on the Internet and you get into the deep pages of Reddit or Google or wherever you go, you might find the lazy approach that's like, aha. Contradictions. See, your Bible is not trustworthy. And that's an opportunity to just sit in it longer, to ask deeper questions, to be more thoughtful and discerning. And once you do that, it's very clear what's happening. The Amalekite is lying. He's a liar. He's an opportunistic liar. He stumbles upon the battle. He sees Saul. Everyone knows that if Saul's dead, David is the next king. This is an opportunity for him to be rewarded in his mind. Grabs the crown, he grabs the armlet, he makes up a story, he leaves. And then he comes and he tells David the story. So he tells him this. Now David begins to really lament.Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.> Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and likewise all the men who were with him.> And they mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.For Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword, which is just a picture. When, when the leader mourns and laments, everyone does. They follow suit. They tear their clothes, they weep, they fast. Which just as a thing to think about, that's one of the reasons for fasting. Like we're in the south and when someone dies, we eat. Which I think can be fun, but also have a category for fasting is good for the people of God to actually to. To fast and to pray and depend upon the Lord. And that's what they do until evening.And David said to the young man who told him, where do you come from? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner and Amalekite.> And David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite."David said to him, how is it you who. How is it you who were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed? So this is about the moment the Amalekite begins to realize that he has made a massive mistake. Because David had multiple opportunities to do just this. David could have ended Saul's reign, could have taken the throne, could have seized power. But he feared the Lord and he trusted the Lord. And he was not going to do and raise his hand against the Lord's anointing. He was going to trust the Lord when the Lord decided to bring judgment. So how in the world could this Amalekite, this person who belonged to a people who were enemies of God, think that he could raise his hand against the Lord's anointed and this would somehow be rewarded? This is not the case. And he realizes he has made a mistake, that condemnation is coming.Then David called out, called one of the young men and said, go execute him. And he struck him down so that he died. And David said to him, your blood be on your head for you, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, I have killed the Lord's anointed.> And David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"> Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go near and execute him." So the young man struck him down, and he died.> And David said to him, "Your blood is on your head; your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed.'"So the Amalekite, his reward for opportunistic lying is execution. And that's is another example from the scriptures of the dangers of lying. You can do a whole sermon on that right there. But that's actually not the main point of this story. And we're going to move on to what is the main point, which is this moment of loss for David and the people. And David is going to enter into a lament that he has written. We get the setup for that in verse 17 when it says,> And David took up his lament over Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.So what we're about to read is a lamentation, a poetic sadness that the people of God are meant to read for centuries to come. And we also see that it's recorded in the book of Joshar, which. That is a Jewish history book that's referenced a few times in the Old Testament. It's lost to history. We don't have any more copies of it, but it was written in the Book of Joshar for the people, and it was recorded here in these scriptures for the people to remember and to lament together. So we're going to read this lament. But as we read this, I want us, as we catch this poetic capturing of the sadness of the people of God and David, we should remember the complexities of how David is feeling in this, of everything that's happened to him and everything that even Saul and his relationship and how complicated that was, that Saul was his enemy, that Saul wanted him dead, but Saul was also his father in law. Saul was also his king. Saul was also his commander. And now he's gone and so is his friend Jonathan. So there's a lot happening here. And we'll read this lament together. He said.> Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!> Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.> O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.> From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.> Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.> O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.> How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places.> I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.> How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!If you have a title for this lament, it's how the mighty have Fallen, which I got curious and I was wondering, and as best I can tell, that is where we get the sarcastic play on Lament, oh, how the mighty have Fallen. So this is. It comes back to this. It's how the mighty have fallen. One of the things he laments in the loss of Saul and Jonathan and this army is that the daughters of the Philistines rejoice. And this is. This is a picture of the people in Gath and Ashkelon. These are cities in Philistia. They're all celebrating. So not only have they lost their leader, but also their enemies are rejoicing and they're sad.You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul not anointed. With oil. Mount Gilboa is where this battle happened. It's where Saul died. And David curses it. He curses it. He wishes this place to be as desolate and devoid of the life that was taken there. Cursed be Mount Gilboa. Says, from the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back. And the sword of Saul returned not empty. Which, every now and then the ESV translations get a little clunky. I think it's helpful if you reverse this. The bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty from the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty. What that is saying is that they once were mighty warriors. They. They once fought for Israel, they slayed their enemies, and now they're gone and they're lamenting the loss of their mighty warriors. So Saul and Jonathan, beloved, beloved and lovely in life and death. They were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. And we've seen this, we talked about this, that they, that. And through everything that was going on with Saul and David, Saul or Jonathan, honored both his friend and also his father. And they fought together, and they were mighty in battle. You read that in First Samuel. Together they were mighty warriors who defeated their enemies. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.You, daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. Remember how when he reigned, how prosperous we were. How, how the daughters of Israel had scarlet and gold. He says, oh, how, he said, how, how the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle. And this refrain leads into David reflecting on his friendship with Jonathan. Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant have you been to me. Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. So we catch this final glimpse of David's great love for his friend. And he describes this brotherly love that he had with Jonathan as surpassing the love of women, which we talked about this in the David and Jonathan sermon in First Samuel. If you weren't here, I'd encourage you to go back and listen to it. But just a moment to sit in that idea. It is good to have deep friendships like this. And more specifically, it is good for men to have deep friendships with other men. And a time where it is regularly written about that, that male. That male loneliness is a crisis. It's talked about as an epidemic, that men, especially young men, suicide rates are through the roof, substance abuse is through the roof. Drug overdoses has been through the roof. Sports gambling is an absolute disaster right now for young men. And on and on and on. It's just, it's regularly observed there's something wrong and that they're. There's a need for men to have deep friendships. And we aren't culturally set up well to do this. The men aren't culturally set up well to do this. In fact, it's very apparent that culturally we don't understand a depth of friendship like this. Because people read this and they, they, they jump to, oh, something, something sexual in nature must have been going on between those two. I mean, that is, that is, that is what some people will argue that this is evidence that something was happening between those two men. And it's like we've so misunderstood and are so underprepared to understand how important is to have deep relationships with other men that you can walk side by side and that you can see as brothers. So we, we need to, to grow in this. And especially if you're, if you're married. Let me just say this very clearly. If you're married and your wife is your only friend, nowhere in the Scriptures do I see that as wise. You should absolutely have friendship with your wife. Also, you should have depth of relationship with other men. She should not be your sole confidant. We have care nights where we separate the men and women. And one of the reasons we do that is so that men can grow in friendship and brotherhood and accountability and depth. And that matters. So you can go back, listen to that sermon. More was said there, but I'll move on. And he is just lamenting the loss of this great friend that he had. Verse 27. He ends, how the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war perished. So he ends that refrain, the reminder of what they lost in Jonathan, what they lost. And when you think about what David's doing on behalf of the people of God and personally, and thinking about this, it's very peculiar because you have to recognize that ultimately for David, this is a good thing for him. He's not going to have to look over his shoulder. He's not going to have to be on the run. He's not going to have the threat of death hanging over him over and over and over again. Saul for years has made his life miserable. And you can see this very clearly not just in First Samuel, but when you read the Psalms, particularly the Psalms that David wrote while he was on the run from Saul. You see this in Psalm 57. 4. It says, My soul is in the midst of lions. I lie down amid fiery beasts, the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp, sharp swords. I mean, you see the distress as. As Saul and his men, and all the lies and all the. All the slandering, all the. The threats. In Psalm142.3, another Psalm he wrote on the run from Saul, it says, when my spirit faints within me, you know my way in the path where I walk, they have hidden a trap for me under the threat of being captured continuously. Psalm 54, another Psalm that he wrote while on the wrong from Saul, he says, for strangers have risen against me. Ruthless men seek my life. They do not set God, God before themselves. They seek Saul and his ambition, but they don't consider the Lord. And you see the turmoil that David was in for years. So it's reasonable to assume this moment that he hears of Saul's death, that he's relieved. But that's found nowhere in this lament, not for a moment as you celebrate this, even though ultimately this is for David's good and he knows now I'm able to step into the throne that God has prepared for me, he still appropriately laments. He laments the loss of this nation's leader. He laments the loss of his king, he laments the loss of his friend. And he does this for himself and the people of God to remember. And I think David's response is exemplary. I think it's a very helpful example for us to have this category of lament, even though good things may await us, because I think as Christians, we are just in America. I think we're weaker here. And I see this in a few different ways. I see this in the way that some Christians approach funerals. And I'm not here to attack you. If you've said this or if you believe this, I do want to correct you. I've heard Christians say, well, this brother or sister died, and we're not having a funeral, we're having a party. We're having a celebration because we know where they are, and where they are is far better. So there will be no tears. We will celebrate. And I just go, where do you get that from the Scriptures? Where do we get that idea that we smile in the face of death? Where do you get the idea that we should just be happy? We know that good things just. David knew that good things awaited him. But in the moment of death, the appropriate response is lament. I see people when they lose a job, some Christians come alongside them and they're quick to just want to point out things and they'll say things like, yeah, you know, but it's an opportunity for you to trust the Lord. And it seems like you're really upset about losing this job. You might want to check your heart. It's possible that you have some idolatry for this job. It's possible that you have some control idolatry, that you're trying to control everything. And this is an exposure. God is working in this trial to teach you you should be joy filled. And it's like, whoa, he just lost his job. She just lost her job. There's a moment that it's appropriate to be sad. And certainly we can work through the other things later and count it joy for sufferings. But must we jump straight into the good things that might away? This happens with health trials, various members of our church going through all types of health trials and battles. And I appreciate some of the optimistic culture that surrounds all of that. You hear people say, you know, God's got this and, and, and we're, you know, just. And I appreciate aspects of that that rally in a way that's appropriate and good. But there also, there's a moment and there are days that it's just okay to be sad. It's just okay to lament the reality of suffering. And we should hold these together because human emotion is far more complex than this. We as Christians should be the best at this, y', all to have moments where we are just sad for the reality of death and loss and suffering, while also having our hope secured and tethered to the reality of the future promises that await God's people. We should be able to hold both intention together. And no one exemplifies this better than Jesus Christ.When you get to the Gospel of John in chapter 11 with the recounting of the story of the death of Lazarus and his resurrection, when you read that in verse 11, it says, after saying these things, he said to them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him. And that's important because Jesus absorbs the reality that his friend is dead, that Lazarus is dead, while also saying, I'm going to raise him. Jesus knows exactly what he's about to do. He's about to raise Lazarus from the dead because that resurrection is going to point forward to later, not far actually down the road where Jesus Christ will be resurrected, which again points to the future resurrection. So he's doing something bigger here. He knows what he's about to do. He knows the good things that are about to happen. And yet when he meets his friends Mary And Martha, verse 32, it says now, when Mary came to see to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews would come with her, also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, where have you laid him? They said to him, lord, come and see. Verse 35. Jesus wept. And I think that's important because I think if some American Christians would have written this story, they would have said, Jesus comes on the scene and he sees them weeping and he says, dry your tears because I'm about to do something big, I'm about to do something good. I'm going to do something glorious. But he doesn't. He sees his friends who are broken and in tears, and he's deeply moved in his spirit and he weeps. It doesn't say he cried a few tears, it says he weeps. What a wonderful example we have in our Savior. And seeing the need to lament, knowing that good things may await. But the reality is, is that death stings. Yes. Oh, death, where's your sting? That's future looking. But the sting is now. And there are moments where that recognizing that and living in that reality is beautiful and good for our souls. We should be a people who do this well. We should be a people who both hold the reality of death in front of us and cry. And also hold the reality of the future resurrection and new heavens and new earth, where there is no more death, where there is no more sting, where there is no more tears. And hold those both together. I mean, that's when Paul is writing to the Thessalonians. In 1st Thessalonians 4, he says, but we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who do not have hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. And I think some people just jump to the we have hope. We have hope. And it's like. But it presupposes what he just told them. He says, may not grieve as others who do not have hope. But he doesn't say, don't grieve. He says, no, we're going to grieve, but we're going to do it as those who have hope. Those who are grounded in the hope of the future resurrection. And that's what we're called to do. That when someone dies, the appropriate response is, if they're a Christian, is not, let's have a party. It's like, no, no, Death is awful. Now, we had a funeral here three weeks ago for one of our members, Ms. Valerie. And she was 93 years old. And y', all, she suffered greatly in the last few years of her life. And I could hold the thought in my head that says, I'm so thankful for where she is now. But when I sat with her family, I said, y' all should feel this death stings and it's okay to be sad. And we could hold both of those thoughts together. That when you experience loss, when you lose something, that you can be sad while also having your faith anchored in the reality that one day there will be no more losing, there will only be gain. That we as Christians can have sufferings. And know what James 1 says, when it says, count it all joy. My brothers know what Romans 5 says, that suffering produces character, care produces endurance. Like we can have all these together while also being faith filled and sad and also putting our hope in what is to come and growing and maturing along the way that we should be able to hold these both together. Because we as Christians live between the already and the not yet. We live between the reality of present suffering and the future promises that await. And we should be a people who lament well personally, but also we should help others lament, brothers and sisters. Do not rob others of the opportunity to both grieve and be sad and let God meet them in their grief. Because I think sometimes because we're uncomfortable, because we don't like the silence, or because we lack the theological depth to understand how we should respond. And we'll just offer shallow truisms or Christian niceties. We need to grow in helping other brothers and sisters who are lamenting suffer well and lament well so that God can meet them in their grief and grow their faith in wonderful ways.I was on the Internet the other day and I saw one of my friends from college post this, one of the most moving things I've ever read on grief. And him and his wife had struggled with infertility for years. They six months ago had twin boys and were excited and did the gender reveal and all the things. And we're all very excited. And at 22 weeks, everything fell apart. They had emergency delivery and their boys lived for only a day. And then this past week, after six months of reflecting, he wrote this. And I Want to ask permission for me to read this because I found it to be very moving, very helpful. How God can meet us in our grief and our lament. And here's what he wrote. He said, grief is about allowing loss to enlarge my heart and increase my capacity to hold both joy and sorrow. Grief is teaching me that my boys live on in me and will always be a part of me. Grief is instructing me to cry out to God and complaint and lament long enough to hear him whisper, I know what it's like to lose a son. Grief is increasing my longing for heaven and the renewal of all things. Grief is daring me to believe that despite our loss, God is still writing a good story. Grief is consistently inviting me to choose life in the face of death. I'm a different person than I was six months ago. But as a friend who knows what it's like to lose a child, has told me I want my child back, but I don't want the old me back. I think I'm just starting to believe him. So it is through grief that I echo the words of Nicholas Wolterstaff in his book of Lament of a Son. I shall look at the world through tears. Perhaps I shall see things that dried eyed I could not see. I read that and I just was like, you don't arrive at that conclusion without having your faith so deeply anchored. The reality that one day he will make all things new, but he's sufficient to meet us in the moment of lament that comes through faith filled lament. You don't see God like this without him meeting us in our grief like this, knowing that God in our suffering gives us eyes to see, even if those eyes are stained with tears. You don't embrace this without faith filled lament. You don't refuse it. You lean into it. And that is something that we need to grow in as Christians. We need to grow in learning to lament well. We need to grow and having this trusting the Lord in the middle of the suffering and the loss.And one of the ways we get to do that is through taking the Lord's Supper and through singing, which we're going to do in a moment. We're going to take the Lord's Supper and we're going to sing a song of lament. As we come to the table as Christians, we're reminded of what Jesus instituted for us on the night that he was betrayed. He took bread and he broke it. He said, this is my body that was broken for you. And he took the cup of the new covenant. He said, this is my blood that was shed for you, that as often as you eat and drink this, you proclaim my death until I return. Jesus instructs his church to practice this practice, to remember that he secured salvation for us on the cross while also pointing forward to one day when the final feast happens. And that we as Christians live in the middle between both. So we don't come to the table all the time with just joy filled hearts. Sometimes we come with heavy hearts, and that's good. If you're a Christian, you get to consider your sin, you get to consider our sufferings, and we also get to consider our Savior who meets us in our sufferings. And in a moment you'll come to the table and I invite you to. If you're not a Christian, we don't want you to come to the table. We want you to come to our Savior. That walking through this life will be filled with suffering, it will be filled with trials, it will be filled with death. And I hope that reality is impressed upon your heart to see that there is someone who can meet you in that and can point you to the hope that we have that is secure. So don't come to the table, come to Jesus Christ in faith. But the band's going to come up now. They're going to take the Lord's Supper, and then we're going to sing a song of lament that is meant to help us learn how to grieve well, how to lament well. And we will sing this out together.

Text: Joshua chapter 13: 1 When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, you are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered.
 2 This is the territory that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and the Geshurites,
 3 and the larger territory of the Canaanites, extending from the stream of Shihor on the border of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron. It includes the territory of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The land of the Avvites
 4 in the south also remains to be conquered. In the north, the following ...

Egypt's Decline and the Rise of Israel: Colleague Eric Cline explains that while Egypt survived the collapse, it merely "coped" rather than flourished, entering a chaotic era known as the Third Intermediate Period; as Egypt retreated from the international stage, a power vacuum allowed smaller entities like the Israelites to emerge, while recent DNA evidence from Ashkelon confirms the Philistines' origins in southern Europe, likely Crete or Sardinia, showing they migrated and intermarried with local Canaanites rather than simply conquering them. 1894

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to George Truesdale from Cocoa Beach, FL. Your commitment through Project23 helps deliver God's Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one's for you. Our text today is Judges 14:19-20 And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father's house. And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man. — Judges 14:19-20 Samson is furious. He's lost his bet, been manipulated by his wife, and humiliated in front of his enemies. In rage, he storms down to Ashkelon and kills thirty men to settle the score. And here's the shocking part—the Spirit of the Lord rushes upon him. This is where it gets tricky. God still used Samson's actions to confront Israel's enemies. But Samson's heart was in the wrong place—driven by anger, not obedience. He would confuse God's power with God's approval. Just because God uses you doesn't mean he approves of how you're living. This is a hard pill to swallow. A sermon can land even if the preacher's hiding sin. A business deal can succeed even if corners were cut. A gift can look fruitful while the heart is far from God. Power and results don't always equal God's pleasure. Samson's story warns us—God's calling is irrevocable, but his approval rests on obedience. His Spirit may still work, but sin always leaves wreckage. Samson was used by God, yet left broken, angry, and estranged. Don't mistake God's patience for permission or his power for a green light. What he wants most isn't just results—it's your heart. ASK THIS: Where have you been tempted to measure God's approval by your success? Is there an area of your life where you're "winning" but not obeying? What's one area you need to realign with God's will today? DO THIS: Identify one place in your life where results have blinded you to disobedience. Confess it to God in prayer. Commit one act of obedience this week that costs you something but honors God. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You that You still work through weak and broken people like me. Keep me from confusing Your power with Your approval. Align my heart with Yours so that my life brings You pleasure, not just results. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Heart of Worship."

Natalie starts the program describing her recent trip to Warsaw where she visited the Warsaw Ghetto, and couldn't hold back with exclaiming "there is no reason to live outside Israel today!" Her guest, David Levine, is a former advertising executive from New York's Madison Avenue who made aliyah with his wife towards the end of his career in 2015. . The couple moved to Ashkelon and David writes a blog "The Truthful Project" www.thetruthfulproject.blogspot.com/ and has authored several articles which he's compiled into "Hey Israel, You're Perfect - Now Change" which is available here: FREE download at www.bit.ly/HeyIsrael-2dEdition Mentioned in this episode is an upcoming Book Shuk in Jerusalem, Dec. 7th https://www.nbn.org.il/book-shuk/ Returning Home 23NOV2025 - PODCAST

Natalie interviews two people who both moved to Ashkelon, and neither is taking Ulpan. Miriam 26, nurse and mother made Aliyah in May 2025 from Far Rockaway with her husband and baby, and Dr. Howard Eisenberg, 71, made aliyah in March 2024 from Baltimore with his wife. Miriam and her husband are starting out in life, and describe "working hard" and "life being expensive no matter where you are." The couple is on their own here, no family. Miriam is working for an American company now, but will eventually work in Israel, and her husband is studying to be a scribe. Dr. Howard Eisenberg and his wife life are at the end of their careers, working because they want to. They live in the Anglo section of Ashkelon, and say all their friends keep busy working, volunteering, or traveling. Dr. Howard stressed being outgoing and friendly and described joining an organization as a board member from a chance meeting on the beach. Sometimes things happen that way here. Returning Home 17NOV2025 - PODCAST

Theme: Restoration, Repentance, and Prophecy — God's Zeal for Zion and His Sovereign Plan Pastor Matthew continued the study in Zechariah chapters 8–9, emphasizing God's zealous love for Jerusalem, His plan to restore His people, and the prophetic revelation of Jesus' triumphal entry hundreds of years before it happened. The message blended historical restoration, end-time prophecy, and personal spiritual application about obedience, repentance, and loving truth. The Context of Zechariah's Message Zechariah ministered to the returning exiles who were rebuilding the temple and city after Babylonian captivity. His message: Repent and rebuild, learning from the failures of their fathers who disobeyed God. “The reason Jerusalem was run over and the walls were down was because their fathers decided not to obey God.” Pastor warned that disobedience in one generation damages the next, but also offered hope: “The Lord will restore everything the cankerworm has eaten… You can start over today because His mercies are new every morning.” God's Zealous Love and Protective Jealousy (Zechariah 8:1–3) God declares: “I am zealous for Zion with great zeal.” Pastor explained the difference between sinful jealousy (possessive, fearful) and God's holy jealousy (protective, loving). He illustrated this with a story of a discerning wife's protective instinct — likening God's jealousy to the kind that protects, not controls. Application: God's jealousy is a shield of love, not suspicion. He guards His people as a husband guards his bride. God's Promise of Restoration and Peace Zechariah's vision shows old men and women in the streets and children playing again — symbols of renewed peace. Pastor noted that this prophecy has a dual fulfillment: Immediate — Israel's physical return and rebuilding under Nehemiah and Zechariah. Future — The millennial kingdom, when Christ reigns and Jerusalem is finally at peace. “There's coming a day when Jerusalem will never be moved again. They'll suffer, but they're there to stay.” The Nations and Israel — God's Sovereign Control Pastor described how world events align with biblical prophecy: nations turning against Israel, yet unable to uproot her. He cautioned that the stage is being set for the end-times conflict when “all nations come against Jerusalem.” “They're not leaving. Russia's not pushing them out. Muslims aren't. America won't compromise them out. They belong to God.” He reminded the congregation that God owns every nation: “Israel belongs to God. So does Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, America, and China. The earth is the Lord's.” Key Point: The rise and fall of nations are under divine authority; human plans collapse, but God's purposes stand forever (Psalm 2). God's Call to Integrity and Truth (Zechariah 8:16–17) The Lord calls His people to: Speak truth to neighbors. Give just judgment. Avoid evil and deceit. Pastor explained that while we are no longer “under the law,” the Ten Commandments remain, summed up in Jesus' two greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor as yourself.” He warned against loving lies and gossip, urging believers to love truth even when it hurts: “Love truth when it punches you in the face. It's your protector.” The Value of Correction and Loving Truth Pastor reminded that truth both encourages and rebukes: “One day truth pats you on the back, saying, ‘Keep going.' The next day it slaps you on the shoulder and says, ‘Stop being foolish.' We need both.” Truth guards against deception — echoing Paul's warning that in the last days, God will send strong delusion to those who reject truth (2 Thess. 2:11–12). Application: “Don't just love truth when it makes you feel good — love it when it corrects you. That's what keeps you safe.” Restoration of Joy and the Future Kingdom (Zechariah 8:19–23) God promised that Israel's fasts of mourning would become feasts of joy. People from many nations would say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Pastor noted this points to both: Israel's national revival, and The global acknowledgment of God's presence among His people. He reminded the church that God reveals Himself to all nations and that no one is beyond His reach, citing: “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” (Titus 2:11) God's Sovereignty in Judgment and Mercy (Zechariah 9) Pastor transitioned into Zechariah 9, noting it shifts from restoration to prophecy and divine judgment. The Lord declares He will judge the surrounding nations (Tyre, Sidon, Gaza, Ashkelon, Philistia), showing He alone controls history. “Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. If He tells you to store up, do it. If not, don't worry — just obey Him.” Prophecy of the Messiah — The Triumphal Entry (Zechariah 9:9–10) One of Scripture's clearest messianic prophecies: “Behold, your King is coming to you… lowly and riding on a donkey.” Pastor showed how this prophecy was fulfilled exactly in Luke 19:28–40, 500 years later, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt. He explained Jesus' deity through this miracle: He knew where the donkey was before the disciples arrived. The unbroken colt didn't resist because its Creator was riding it. “You don't buck the one who made you.” Key Revelation: Even creation recognizes the Creator. When the Pharisees told Jesus to silence His followers, He replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Closing Reflections — God's Ownership and Faithfulness Everything in creation belongs to God and returns to Him. All life flows from Him — human, animal, or natural — and He sustains it all. Pastor closed personally, thanking the congregation for prayers during his recovery from hip pain, testifying how God used the trial to draw him closer: “If you'll just talk to God and open your life to Him, He'll use it. He knows how to do things right.” He reflected on Jacob's limp and said, like the patriarch, “God weakened my strength in the way” to prepare him for the next phase of ministry. Core Message God's jealousy is protective — His love guards His people. Love truth, even when it hurts. Israel's restoration and Christ's reign are certain. God's Word is precise — prophecy always fulfills perfectly. Every trial, every delay, every pain can be used by God for transformation.  

Send us a textA lion roars, a riddle lands, and a feast sours into betrayal—yet beneath the drama of Judges 14 runs a deeper current: God's sovereign purpose advancing through painfully human choices. We open the text with clear eyes and steady hearts, tracing how Samson's desire collides with covenant identity, how parental counsel meets a higher design, and how the Spirit's sudden power turns a predator into a parable. Out of the eater came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet is more than a party bet—it's a window into providence, where threats become nourishment and setbacks become soil for surprising grace.Together we examine the tension most believers feel but rarely name: if God is sovereign, what do my choices mean? The narrative refuses easy answers. Samson's sin isn't excused, yet God's plan isn't hindered. The Spirit rushes, the riddle exposes loyalties, and pressure at the feast reveals how compromise creeps in through affection and fear. We talk plainly about responsibility, manipulation, and the fallout of divided loves, then follow the story into Ashkelon, where judgment overturns smug certainty and the cost of pride becomes undeniable. Through it all, we keep looking for Christ—the stronger One who brings sweetness out of defeat and forms a faithful people in the face of hostile powers.If you've wondered whether God can redeem a tangled past, or how to stand when intimacy demands what integrity cannot give, this conversation offers courage and clarity. Listen, share it with someone who needs hope, and tell us what surprised you most. If the episode helped you see Scripture—and your story—with fresh faith, subscribe, leave a review, and join us for the next study.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Egypt's Retreat and the Emergence of New Kingdoms in the Early Iron Age AUTHOR NAME: Eric Cline BOOK TITLE: 1177 BC, the year civilization collapsed; After 1177 BC, The Survival of Civilizations Following the collapse, Egypt, despite surviving, merely coped and retreated from the international stage, entering the chaotic Third Intermediate Period. The resulting power vacuum allowed the emergence of smaller kingdoms like Israel, Judah, and Moab. Archaeology uses Old Testament texts as guideposts for the First Millennium BC. The Philistines are identified as the Sea Peoples group called the Peleset, evidenced by DNA extracted from Ashkelon burials.

2 Samuel 1: 1-27After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. 3 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.' 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?' I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.' 9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.' 10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord's anointed.'”17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.21 “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings!For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.22 “From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.23 “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided;they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

Global Sumud Flotilla risponde all'ennesimo tentativo di Israele di piegare il diritto internazionale ai propri interessi. La richiesta di “attraccare e trasferire” gli aiuti umanitari al porto di Ashkelon non è una misura logistica, ma parte integrante del blocco illegale. Amnesty e Human Rights Watch hanno condannato pratiche simili come violazioni del diritto umanitario e strumenti per ritardare e negare l'assistenza. Parlare di “sicurezza” è un pretesto per esercitare controllo e trasformare soccorsi civili in merce di scambio. Etichettare la flotta come minaccia significa legittimare l'uso della forza contro chi porta aiuti. Mentre Israele fabbrica cavilli, Gaza continua a contare i morti. Nella notte almeno 37 persone sono state uccise nei raid, altre 17 all'alba, e dodici strutture dell'Unrwa sono state colpite a Gaza City. Gli ospedali senza carburante parlano di “morte certa”. Numeri che non sono statistiche ma volti cancellati: bambini, donne, uomini privati di acqua, cure, cibo. E mentre a Roma si tace, a Madrid il premier Sanchez chiede all'Onu misure immediate per proteggere i civili palestinesi, dimostrando che la responsabilità politica non è un optional. In Italia la voce resta quella delle piazze. Una società civile che ricorda al governo che il silenzio è complicità. La flottiglia naviga, e a terra una rete di mani tiene la rotta. La ciurma di terra protegge. Ricordarselo sempre. Gli occhi sono su Gaza. #LaSveglia per La NotiziaDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/la-sveglia-di-giulio-cavalli--3269492/support.

5/8. As discussed by Professor Eric Cline, the Philistines are definitively identified as part of the Sea Peoples, likely the "Pleset" mentioned by the Egyptians. They settled in five key cities, including Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Gaza. Archaeological and recent DNA evidence from children in Ashkelon shows a mix of local Canaanite and "other" (possibly Aegean/Sardinian/Spanish) ancestry, indicating their descendants were from the original Sea Peoples, confirming their identity and origins. 1ST CE, NAPLES

In today's episode, Claire is joined by Baylor faculty member and GPD Deirdre Fulton. She is a zooarchaeologist that specializes in animal bones in the Southern Levant. Her excavations in Ashkelon, Tel Shimron and as part of the Jezreel Valley Regional Project help inform questions related to diet, sacrifice, and economy. Learn more about this branch of study and how “man's best friend” shows up in ancient Near Eastern archaeology.Deirdre Fulton joined the Department of Religion at BaylorUniversity in the fall semester 2013. Her area of research focuses on the Persian Period, specifically the books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Fulton is also interested in zooarchaeological related research, connecting text and artifact. She is involved in several ongoing excavations in Israel, including the Leon Levy Ashkelon Excavations, Tel Shimron Excavations, and also the Jezreel Valley Regional Project. Her interest in archaeology helps inform questions related to diet, sacrifice, and economy.Deirdre is a member of the Steering committees on Literature and History of the Persian period for the Society of Biblical Literature and the Feasting and Foodways for the American Schools of Oriental Research. She is also a member of the Catholic Biblical Association and American Institute ofArchaeology. 

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23 Our text today is Judges 1:16-21: “And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad, and they went and settled with the people. And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah. Judah also captured Gaza with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory. And the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron. And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said. And he drove out from it the three sons of Anak. But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.” — Judges 1:16-21 At first glance, things still seem to be moving forward. Judah fights. Victories are won. Cities are claimed. Hormah is renamed after a devastating defeat of the Canaanites. Caleb continues to drive out giants. However, the cracks soon begin to appear. Judah takes the hill country, but they stop short in the plains. Why? Iron chariots. A visible enemy with intimidating strength. And then there's Benjamin. They don't even drive the enemy out. They just let them live there. This is where the shift happens. The faith-filled obedience we saw earlier begins to give way to fear-based compromise. The Lord was with Judah, but that didn't mean it would be easy. Obedience never guarantees comfort. It guarantees conflict with our flesh, our fears, and our enemy. And here's the truth: any area we leave unconquered becomes a future foothold for the enemy. What we tolerate today may torment us tomorrow. Compromise is subtle. We tell ourselves, “I've done enough.” Or “This part isn't so bad.” Or “It's too hard to deal with now.” But unfinished obedience is still disobedience. And letting sin live beside us only weakens our walk. So what have you left unfinished? What stronghold are you ignoring? Where have you stopped short of full surrender? Today's the day to pick up the fight again. Don't settle where God has called you to conquer. ASK THIS: Where have I grown passive in my obedience? What's the “iron chariot” I've been afraid to face? Am I tolerating sin that should be driven out? What would full obedience look like in this season? DO THIS: Identify one area of compromise and take one bold step toward obedience today. PRAY THIS: God, expose the places I've compromised. Give me the courage to fight again and finish what you've asked me to do. Amen PLAY THIS: "Battle Belongs."

Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni, of blessed memory (1927–2022), was one of the most profound Talmudic scholars and theological voices of the postwar era. A Holocaust survivor, Halivni went on to shape generations of students through his decades of teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Columbia University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar Ilan University, and the Institute of Traditional Judaism. Now, after years of collaboration, meeting nearly every week from 2008 to 2012 with this world-renown Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Ronald Price brings us Rabbi Halivni's Torah teachings, which he faithful recorded. Stay tuned as we speak with Rabbi Ronald Price about his recent publication, Divrei Halev: Thoughts of Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni on the Weekly Torah Portion! Rabbi Ronald D. Price holds semikhah from Rav Halivni. Rabbi Price was the founding Executive Vice President of the Union for Traditional Judaism and founding dean of the Metivta, the Institute of Traditional Judaism. He resides in Ashkelon, Israel, with his wife Tziporah. 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

Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni, of blessed memory (1927–2022), was one of the most profound Talmudic scholars and theological voices of the postwar era. A Holocaust survivor, Halivni went on to shape generations of students through his decades of teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Columbia University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar Ilan University, and the Institute of Traditional Judaism. Now, after years of collaboration, meeting nearly every week from 2008 to 2012 with this world-renown Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Ronald Price brings us Rabbi Halivni's Torah teachings, which he faithful recorded. Stay tuned as we speak with Rabbi Ronald Price about his recent publication, Divrei Halev: Thoughts of Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni on the Weekly Torah Portion! Rabbi Ronald D. Price holds semikhah from Rav Halivni. Rabbi Price was the founding Executive Vice President of the Union for Traditional Judaism and founding dean of the Metivta, the Institute of Traditional Judaism. He resides in Ashkelon, Israel, with his wife Tziporah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni, of blessed memory (1927–2022), was one of the most profound Talmudic scholars and theological voices of the postwar era. A Holocaust survivor, Halivni went on to shape generations of students through his decades of teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Columbia University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar Ilan University, and the Institute of Traditional Judaism. Now, after years of collaboration, meeting nearly every week from 2008 to 2012 with this world-renown Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Ronald Price brings us Rabbi Halivni's Torah teachings, which he faithful recorded. Stay tuned as we speak with Rabbi Ronald Price about his recent publication, Divrei Halev: Thoughts of Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni on the Weekly Torah Portion! Rabbi Ronald D. Price holds semikhah from Rav Halivni. Rabbi Price was the founding Executive Vice President of the Union for Traditional Judaism and founding dean of the Metivta, the Institute of Traditional Judaism. He resides in Ashkelon, Israel, with his wife Tziporah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni, of blessed memory (1927–2022), was one of the most profound Talmudic scholars and theological voices of the postwar era. A Holocaust survivor, Halivni went on to shape generations of students through his decades of teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Columbia University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar Ilan University, and the Institute of Traditional Judaism. Now, after years of collaboration, meeting nearly every week from 2008 to 2012 with this world-renown Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Ronald Price brings us Rabbi Halivni's Torah teachings, which he faithful recorded. Stay tuned as we speak with Rabbi Ronald Price about his recent publication, Divrei Halev: Thoughts of Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni on the Weekly Torah Portion! Rabbi Ronald D. Price holds semikhah from Rav Halivni. Rabbi Price was the founding Executive Vice President of the Union for Traditional Judaism and founding dean of the Metivta, the Institute of Traditional Judaism. He resides in Ashkelon, Israel, with his wife Tziporah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

Thursday with Tabitha 7. Zephaniah by Tabitha Smith This week in our series on the minor prophets we are looking at the book of Zephaniah. Zephaniah was a contemporary of Jeremiah, Nahum and possibly Habakkuk and his prophecy was written during the reign of king Josiah of Judah. Josiah reigned between 640–609 BC. The prophecy includes reference to the future destruction of Nineveh, capital of Assyria, so it was likely written before the date of this event, which was 612 BC. The little territory of Judah was the only surviving part of the original people of Israel. The northern kingdom of Israel had been overthrown and Judah was under the control of the Assyrians. King Josiah was a good king who undertook significant religious reform in Judah, trying to turn the people back from worshipping idols to worshipping their God. Josiah's father, Amon, had been a wicked king, and his grandfather, Manasseh, was one of the worst kings in the history of Judah, doing evil in God's sight and turning the people away from God. The king before Manasseh was called Hezekiah. We read his story in the book of Isaiah. Zephaniah 1:1 provides us with Zephaniah's family history. This is traced back as far as his great, great grandfather, Hezekiah. It is possible that this was the same king Hezekiah, meaning that Zephaniah came from a royal family. One of the main themes of the book is the coming of the Day of the Lord. This is a phrase that appears many times in the Bible, referring to a day of judgment that would bring terror for God's enemies and blessings for those who belong to God. Many prophetic oracles in the Bible have an element of immediate historical fulfilment in the day they were written, and another more distant application in a time yet to come. Zephaniah's writings are no exception. In Zephaniah 1, the prophecy launches straight into a devastating description of coming judgement. This is portrayed as an apocalyptic event, reversing the very order of creation and sweeping away both man and beast. But the focus zooms in very quickly to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, and in Zephaniah 1:4 we learn about some of the things the people of Judah were doing to incur such judgment: they were worshipping Baal, worshipping the heavenly bodies, pretending to worship God but trusting instead in the pagan god Milcom. They were turning away from God and ignoring him entirely. God levels two main accusations against his people. The first is one of syncretism. This means mixing acts of service to God with pagan religious elements. In chapter 1 verse 8 the king's sons and officials are described as wearing foreign clothes, probably associated with other religions, and in verse 9 the curious reference to people ‘leaping over the threshold' probably refers to another pagan custom. You can read about the possible background to this practice in 1 Samuel 5:1-5. The second accusation of God against his people is that they have become complacent in sin. The Judeans had started to think that God didn't really involve himself in their daily lives, so it didn't really matter how they lived. They had reduced God in their minds to a distant, impotent deity. The prophecy describes God going through Jerusalem personally, with search lamps, to find these complacent people and punish them. The second half of Zephaniah 1 contains a fearsome description of the Day of the Lord as a day of great darkness, distress, wrath and ruin. Nothing will be able to protect human beings, not all the wealth they have collected. They will be reduced to nothing. Thankfully, the book doesn't end there! In Zephaniah 2 the people of Judah are told that repentance is still possible. This is surely good news after the terrible picture painted in chapter 1. The people are warned that the day of judgement will come quickly so they need to gather together and repent, to humble themselves and seek God. Zephaniah 2:3 proclaims: “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.” The word ‘perhaps' might initially suggest that Zephaniah has doubts about whether God can indeed forgive any of the people. But in fact, this statement shows that Zephaniah understands and respects God's sovereignty. God is able to forgive, but whether he does or not is entirely up to him. Any mercy he shows to the repentant is still entirely undeserved grace. The rest of Zephaniah 2 contains a series of oracles of judgment against the nations that surround Judah, the enemies of God's people. The cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Ekron are Philistine cities to the west, along the Mediterranean coast. Moab and the Ammonite territory lie to the east. The Cushites originate from Ethopia and Egypt in the south, and Assyria lies to the north. The comprehensive description of judgment extending to the four corners of the known world includes the promise that God will return parts of these lands back to Judah and there is a hint of restoration to come. However, before the people get too complacent again, Zephaniah 3 contains a hard-hitting denouncement of the city of Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. The people of God need to learn that they are not immune from God's judgment of sin and they are just as accountable, if not more, than the pagan nations around them. The charges against the judges, officials, prophets and priests of Judah are pretty damning. They are corrupt, polluted, defiled. Zephaniah 3:5 proclaims that: “The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail.” So judgment is inevitable and unavoidable. God must be just and repay sin with punishment. But there is good news to come. Zephaniah 3:9 suddenly introduces a startling promise of hope. God says that there will be a day when he will change the speech of his people and make it pure again. The people will call out to God once more, they will serve him and he will restore them. A picture of unity, peace and holiness follows. The last 6 verses of the book contain the most glorious and beautiful image of God delighting and rejoicing over his restored people. The judgement is finished, the shame is gone and restoration is possible. God does not delight in judgment, he delights in being in the midst of his people.  Zephaniah 3:17: The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. This final prophecy seems to refer to a future time of unity and peace for God's people. In the short term, Judah was punished and judged when the Babylonians overthrew the Assyrians. Jerusalem was taken, and many of the people were carried off into captivity. After the exile, there was a degree of restoration and some of the exiles returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and its walls. But the picture of complete peace and restoration was not yet fulfilled. The gathering of all God's people, the salvation of those who are lame and broken, and the rehoming of the outcast, is something we can still look forward to. So what do we take away from the book of Zephaniah? We are reminded of the reality of the Day of the Lord that is still to come. Jesus warned that this day of final judgment would come suddenly, like a thief in the night, and many will be unprepared. We don't want to be like the complacent Judeans, thinking that God wouldn't involve himself in the reality of human affairs. Jesus is coming back! The humble people amongst the remnant of Judah hoped that their repentance might not be too late. They threw themselves upon God's mercy. For us, living in the light of Jesus' cross, it is because of Jesus that we can know with assurance that we do not need to fear this coming Day of the Lord. If you have believed and trusted in Jesus, there is no “perhaps” about it. Jesus has taken upon himself the judgment that would have been yours and mine and we can be certain that there is no more condemnation. The Day of the Lord will be a day of stark contrasts. This day will be terrible for those who have lived lives separated from God, in denial of him or in opposition to him. But for those who have humbled themselves and chosen to live under his authority, it will be a day of great joy, when God comes to dwell in the midst of his people. God will sing to us, his people! He will rejoice over us. What an amazing thought! The choices we make now have eternal consequences. I'll finish with the words that James writes in his New Testament letter: "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?' But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you!" (James 4:4-10 ESV) Right Mouse click or tap here to download this episode as an audio mp3 file

1 Samuel 31 The Death of Saul Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me. But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.7And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them. 8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.10They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days. 2 Samuel 1 David Hears of Saul's Death After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. 3David said to him, Where do you come from? And he said to him, I have escaped from the camp of Israel. 4And David said to him, How did it go? Tell me. And he answered, The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.5Then David said to the young man who told him, How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead? 6And the young man who told him said, By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here I am. 8And he said to me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an Amalekite.9And he said to me, Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers. 10So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord. 11Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13And David said to the young man who told him, Where do you come from? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.14David said to him, How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed? 15Then David called one of the young men and said, Go, execute him. And he struck him down so that he died. 16And David said to him, Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, I have killed the Lord's anointed. David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan 17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18and he said it[a] should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.[b] He said: 19Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!How the mighty have fallen!20Tell it not in Gath,publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. 21You mountains of Gilboa,let there be no dew or rain upon you,nor fields of offerings![c]For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 22From the blood of the slain,from the fat of the mighty,the bow of Jonathan turned not back,and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!In life and in death they were not divided;they were swifter than eagles;they were stronger than lions. 24You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. 25How the mighty have fallenin the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places.26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;very pleasant have you been to me;your love to me was extraordinary,surpassing the love of women. 27How the mighty have fallen,and the weapons of war perished!

What we can learn from a gentile from the city of Ashkelon about honoring our parents

Israel and Iran threaten to step up their military confrontation, nearly 48 hours after the Israeli strikes began. Newshour analyses Israel's strategy and assesses how close Iran was to making a nuclear weapon.Also in the programme: two US politicians are shot in Minnesota; and Bangladesh's interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus on the ending of aid to his country.(Picture: Missiles launched from Iran are intercepted, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, June 13, 2025. Credit: Reuters)

Amos 1:1-2:3 (NASB) 1 The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he saw in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 And he said,“The Lord roars from Zion,And from Jerusalem He utters His voice;And the shepherds' pasture grounds mourn,And the summit of Carmel dries up.” 3 This is what the Lord says:“For three offenses of Damascus, and for four,I will not revoke its punishment,Because they threshed Gilead with iron sledges.4 So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael,And it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.5 I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,And eliminate every inhabitant from the Valley of Aven,As well as him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden;So the people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,”Says the Lord. 6 This is what the Lord says:“For three offenses of Gaza, and for four,I will not revoke its punishment,Because they led into exile an entire populationTo turn them over to Edom.7 So I will send fire on the wall of GazaAnd it will consume her citadels.8 I will also eliminate every inhabitant from Ashdod,As well as him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon;And I will direct My power against Ekron,And the remnant of the Philistines will perish,”Says the Lord God. 9 This is what the Lord says:“For three offenses of Tyre, and for four,I will not revoke its punishment,Because they turned an entire population over to EdomAnd did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.10 So I will send fire on the wall of Tyre,And it will consume her citadels.” 11 This is what the Lord says:“For three offenses of Edom, and for four,I will not revoke its punishment,Because he pursued his brother with the swordAnd stifled his compassion;His anger also tore continually,And he maintained his fury forever.12 So I will send fire upon TemanAnd it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.” 13 This is what the Lord says:“For three offenses of the sons of Ammon, and for four,I will not revoke its punishment,Because they ripped open the pregnant women of GileadIn order to enlarge their borders.14 So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah,And it will consume her citadelsAmid war cries on the day of battle,And amid a storm on the day of tempest.15 Their king will go into exile,He and his princes together,” says the Lord. Chapter 2 1 This is what the Lord says: “For three offenses of Moab, and for four,I will not revoke its punishment,Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.2 So I will send fire upon MoabAnd it will consume the citadels of Kerioth;And Moab will die amid the panic of battle,Amid war cries and the sound of a trumpet.3 I will also eliminate the judge from her midstAnd slay all her leaders with him,” says the Lord.

The Test of Speach is the final Tikkun Before Shavuot 5785 2025 & Moshiach's coming, as expressed with Divine Providence learning Likutei Moharan Torah 38 2. The Torah is the blueprint of creation, and through our speech, we fix all the judgements and prosecution forces. Thank you, Hashem. Thank you to all our soldiers, Thank you for the Torah Kedosha and the beautiful land of ancestors and our future. Cover pic on our way to Nissim Black's wedding of Dovid Emmanuel through the holy land to Ashkelon next to Gaza...PLEASE KEEP

Gaza's health system nears collapse as UNRWA issues urgent alarm Gaza's healthcare is on the brink, warns the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The agency says one-third of vital medical supplies are gone, with another third vanishing fast—blaming Israel's siege and relentless bombardment. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini grimly cautions that the blockade risks silently killing more women and children beyond the bombs. Israel's military invasion in Gaza has killed over fifty-two thousand four hundred Palestinians since October 2023, while Tel Aviv faces genocide charges at the International Court of Justice. Yemeni Houthis target Tel Aviv airport with hypersonic missile strike Yemeni Houthis said they have launched a hypersonic ballistic missile targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, warning international airlines of the airport's unsafe conditions. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed the missile hit the target, and another struck Ashkelon. Israeli authorities suspended flights at the airport after a missile landed near Terminal 3, injuring six people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation against the Houthis and their Iranian backers. In response, US warplanes conducted airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen. Romania's presidential election heads to a second round Romania will proceed to a second round of presidential elections on May 18, following the failure of any candidate to secure the required 50+1 percent majority in the first round. Far-right George Simion led with over 40.2 percent of the vote, based on results from over 98 percent of ballots. He was followed by Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who garnered 20.8 percent, and Crin Antonescu of the Social Democratic Party, who earned nearly 20.5 percent. The first-round victory of pro-Russian candidate Calin Gorgescu was annulled in November 2024 following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow has denied. Simion emerged to replace Gorgescu after his ban from the new race. Fighting in eastern DRC escalates as rebels take key town M23 rebels and allies seized Lunyasenge, a strategic fishing town on Lake Edward's west coast in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, after deadly clashes with the army that left 17 dead, including seven soldiers. The Congolese military condemned the assault as a blatant ceasefire violation. As rebels advance in North Kivu, Kinshasa warns of retaliation. Rwanda faces renewed accusations of backing M23, amid ongoing peace talks in Doha and Washington. Kigali denies any involvement. Trump imposes full tariff on non-US movies President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100 percent tariff on foreign-made films, claiming Hollywood of being ""devastated"" as US filmmakers turn to other countries for production incentives. The decision, shared via Truth Social media platform, follows criticism of his aggressive trade policies. While the full impact on the movie industry remains unclear, Trump insists it's a matter of national security. Meanwhile, talks with China and other nations on trade deals continue, with potential agreements on the horizon.

The oracle of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and Damascus is its resting place. For the LORD has an eye on mankind and on all the tribes of Israel, and on Hamath also, which borders on it, Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. Tyre has built herself a rampart and heaped up silver like dust, and fine gold like the mud of the streets. But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and be afraid; Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish; Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded. The king shall perish from Gaza; Ashkelon shall be uninhabited; a mixed people shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of Philistia. I will take away its blood from its mouth, and its abominations from between its teeth; it too shall be a remnant for our God; it shall be like a clan in Judah, and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites. Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold

PM hopes US tariffs will be cancelled or reduced at Monday's White House meeting. IAF hits Gaza after Ashkelon rocket barrage. Jonatan Urich released from custody. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak with Michal Lobanov, the wife of Alexander (Alex) Lobanov HY'D, who was abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, while working as the head bartender at the Nova Music Festival near Kibbutz Re'im.  Alex was a devoted father from Ashkelon, caring for his physically disabled parents and supporting his wife Michal, who was five months pregnant at the time of his abduction. Tragically, after enduring months of captivity, Alex was murdered by Hamas, and his body was recovered from a tunnel in Rafah on August 31, 2024. In this heartfelt conversation, Michal shares her journey of grief, resilience, and the challenges of raising their two children, including the child born during Alex's captivity. She reflects on the profound impact of the October 7 attacks, the enduring pain of losing Alex, and her determination to honor his memory. This episode sheds light on the human cost of terrorism and the strength required to navigate unimaginable loss. Join us as we listen to Michal's story—a testament to love, courage, and remembrance. You can support the Loubanov family by making a donation here: https://thechesedfund.com/hopeinaction/help-family-of-murdered-hostage-alex-lobanov You can follow Michal's journey on https://www.instagram.com/michalobanov  and follow the page in memory of her late husband Alex Lobanov https://www.instagram.com/remember.alex.lobanov i Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support these important conversations.     This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ____________________________________________________   ► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again! https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp  __________________________________________________ ►Kupath Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes: Support Families In Need Currently numerous families in Israel are being presented with unprecedented financial pressure and hardships Amidst these difficulties, Kupath Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Kolel Polin remains a steadfast source of direct care and support for those in need. Together, let's help these families land on their feet and restore a glimmer of hope to their lives. https://kupathrabbimeir.org/donate.aspx?utm_source=meaningfulminute&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=04.03.25 __________________________________________________   ► Lalechet     We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.    https://www.lalechet.com/website   __________________________________________________ ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka    https://pushka.cc/meaningful    __________________________________________________ ► Eretz Hakodesh - Vote to Keep Israel Holy!   Over the years, liberal movements have gained significant influence as the primary representatives of the Jewish Diaspora. From this position, they have pushed agendas that impact crucial issues related to religion and state in Israel.   Eretz HaKodesh seeks to balance this influence by accurately reflecting the power dynamics of Jewish communities in the Diaspora and amplifying the voices of Orthodox communities dedicated to preserving the timeless values of the Torah and authentic Jewish tradition. Click here to vote in the upcoming World Zionist Organization elections: https://bit.ly/41D1Ag0     __________________________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp     https://www.townappliance.com     https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp    ____________________________________________________ Order the brand new Meaningful People Game!   https://meaningfulminute.org/thegame    ____________________________________________________ ► Subscribe to our Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     https://apple.co/2WALuE2    https://spoti.fi/39bNGnO  

Welcome to another fascinating episode of Inside The Epicenter with Joel and Lynn Rosenberg. Today, we delve into the intriguing intersection of ancient biblical prophecy and modern geopolitics, focusing on Zephaniah chapter two and its implications for the Gaza Strip. Our host, Joel Rosenberg, alongside co-host Lynn, examines how President Trump's unexpected plan for Gaza intriguingly aligns with prophetic scriptures about its future. Could these century-old prophecies be unfolding today? Join us as we explore these compelling possibilities and their potential impact on the Middle East. Tune in for a captivating discussion on prophecy, politics, and the profound mysteries that connect them. (00:03) Trump's Shocking Gaza Plan(05:36) Gaza, Judgment, and Zephaniah Prophecy(06:52) Prayer for Peace and Restoration(09:58) Gaza's Future Return to Judah 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: Zecheriah 2:5-7 -. Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites. The word of the Lord is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines. And I will eliminate you so that there will be no inhabitants. So the seacoast will become grazing places with pastures for shepherds and folds for flocks, and the coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah. They will drive sheep to pasture on it. In the houses of Ashkelon, they will lie down in the evening, for the Lord their God will care for them and restore their fortunes. Prayer: Pray that God's peace will come to Gaza and that any plan by the United States government, Arab countries in the Middle East, or anyone else will bring lasting peace for all the people of this area.Pray that everyone displaced by the challenges in Gaza will be comforted and know God's peace. Related Episodes:Yair Lapid Discusses Gaza, Hostage Deal, and Israeli Government Strategy #268Can the Abraham Accords Survive the Gaza War? #246Arab Pastor’s Life-Altering Mission Among Israelis and Palestinians #230Gaza’s Future According to Bible Prophecy #226 Links For Reference https://www.inspirationtravel.com/tjahttps://www.joshuafund.com/learn/latest-news/join-us-on-our-alaska-cruise Donate a generous monthly gift to The Joshua Fund to bless Israel and Her Neighbors now and for the long haul. Become an Epicenter Ally today! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

0:00 2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻10:59 2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻21:48 2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻32:50 2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻43:40 2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻54:14 2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻62012年英语专业四级听力 新闻1A huge storm that collapsed part of a cliff on Israel's central coast led to the discovery of a statue dating back to the Roman period, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Tuesday.以色列文物局周二表示，一场巨大的风暴击垮以色列中部海岸的悬崖，一尊罗马时期的雕像被发现。The white marble statue of a woman is estimated to be 2,000 years old.据估计，这尊白色大理石女性雕像有2000年的历史。It stands 1.2 meters tall, weighs about 200 kilograms and was found with no head or arms, according to a news release by the authority.据权威机构发布的消息称，它高1.2米，重约200公斤，没有头部和手臂。A person walking on the shore at Ashkelon on the west coast of Jerusalem made the discovery, the authority said.当局称，耶路撒冷西海岸阿什克伦海滩上的一名行人发现了这一雕像。The statue fell into the sea when the cliff collapsed as a result of the storm.由于暴风雨的袭击，这座雕像掉进了海里。The collapse also ruined a bath house and mosaics that had been in the cliff for many hundreds of years.倒塌也催毁了一间浴室，还有镶嵌在悬崖上数百年的马赛克。The storm, one of the strongest Israel has experienced in recent years, brought winds of more than 100 kph that sent 10-meter waves crashing into Israel's coast.这场风暴是以色列近年来遭遇的最强大的风暴之一，风速超过100公里，在以色列海岸掀起10米的海浪。2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻2Canadian police and military teams were working Tuesday afternoon to rescue about 300 people stranded after what a local official termed the most brutal storm to hit the Ontario region in 25 years.周二下午，加拿大警方和军事小组营救被困的300多人。安大略地区官员称这是25年来最猛烈的风暴。Some people had been stuck in their vehicles for more than 24 hours following blinding snow that piled up so high it made it almost impossible to open vehicle doors.由于积雪堆积，车门很难打开，一些人被困在车里超过24小时。Ontario Provincial Police initially reported about 360 vehicles and about 300 people had been stranded near Sarnia, Ontario, on Highway 402-a major thoroughfare linking the U.S.-Canada border to London, Ontario.安大略省警方最初公布，大约360辆汽车，300人被困在安大略省萨尼亚附近的402公路上，这是安大略省伦敦市通向美加边境的主要通道。Some of those people have since been rescued, but Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said it could be another 24 hours before everyone is taken to safety.其中一些人已经获救，但萨尼亚市长迈克·布拉德利表示，还需要24小时才能将所有人都送往安全地带。2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻3A top anti-smoking law has taken effect in Spain.西班牙出台了一项反吸烟法案。The ban, one of the strictest in Europe, outlaws smoking in all bars and restaurants.这项禁令是欧洲最严格的禁令之一，禁止在所有酒吧和餐馆吸烟。Smokers will also be prohibited on television broadcast, near hospitals or in school playgrounds.在电视广播中、医院附近或学校操场上吸烟也受到禁止。A law tightens anti-smoking restrictions introduced in 2006.该法律比2006年出台的禁烟限制条例更加严格。The anti-smoking rules introduced in 2006 outlawed smoking only in the workplace.2006年颁布的禁烟令只禁止在工作场所吸烟。It let bar and restaurant owners choose whether or not to allow it.酒吧和餐馆老板自主选择自己的经营场所是否允许吸烟。Most chose not to impose any ban.大多数人选择不实施禁令。Only large restaurants and bars were obliged to provide a smoke-free area.只有大型的餐厅和酒吧才有义务提供无烟区。Now,hotel, restaurant and bar owners have said they could face a 10% drop in trade with the new rules.现在，酒店、餐厅和酒吧老板都表示，新规定出台后，他们的营业额可能会下降10%。The industry has already seen a sharp fall in sales due to Spain's economic problems.由于西班牙的经济问题，该行业的销售额已经急剧下降。But doctors argue the new legislation will help smokers give up.但是医生们认为新法律将有助于吸烟者戒烟。2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻4Police in India have arrested a city bank employee accused of cheating clients out of millions of dollars.印度警方逮捕了一名城市银行职员，他被控诈骗客户数百万美元。Shivraj Pierry, 32, who is expected to appear in court later, told an Indian newspaper he was innocent.32岁的希夫拉杰·皮耶里，预计稍后会在法庭上露面，他告诉一家印度报纸说他是无辜的。The alleged fraud was discovered earlier this month, in a branch of the global bank,in Gurgaon, a wealthy suburb of Delhi.本月早些时候，在德里富裕的郊区古尔冈的一家全球银行分支机构，这起涉嫌欺诈的案件被发现。The bank has said investors were promised quick, high returns from a bogus financial scheme.该银行表示，有人向投资者承诺可以迅速从一个虚假的金融计划中获得高额回报。It is alleged that Mr. Pierry transferred the money into accounts controlled by three relatives.据称，皮耶里将这笔钱转入了三名亲属控制的账户。Mr. Pierry reportedly handed himself in on Thursday, a day after police said he was wanted for questioning.据报道，皮耶里周四自首。此前一天，警方称他被通缉审问。The alleged fraud came to light earlier this month when a client mentioned this scheme to a senior bank manager.本月早些时候，一名客户向一名高级银行经理提到了这一计划，这场诈骗才被发现。2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻5Some Hotmail users are reporting that their e-mails are missing from their accounts.一些Hotmail用户称账户里的电子邮件不见了。A number of people with Hotmail accounts have posted complaints on Microsoft forums complaining that their e-mails have been deleted.很多Hotmail用户在微软论坛上投诉称自己的电子邮件被删除了。Users around the world said e-mails were missing from their inbox and other folders within their Hotmail accounts.世界各地的用户都表示，他们Hotmail账户里的收件箱和其他文件夹都有电子邮件丢失A spokeswoman from Microsoft said the issue of missing e-mails was not a widespread problem.微软的一位发言人说，丢失电子邮件的问题影响范围并不大。By Sunday evening the issue was fully resolved, she said. The company apologize for any inconvenience.她说，到周日晚上这个问题已经完全解决了。公司对由此带来的不便表示歉意。2012年英语专业四级听力 新闻6The number of North Americans who went to the cinema in 2010 was around 5 percent down on the 2009 total, figures show.数据显示，北美2010年去电影院看电影的人数比2009年下降了大约5%。Box office analysts forecast 1.35 billion tickets will be sold by the end of the year,down on 1.42 billion sold in 2009.票房分析师预测，到今年年底，将售出13.5亿张门票，低于2009年的14.2亿张。It is the biggest year-on-year drop since 2005, making 2010 the second lowest attended year of the decade.这是自2005年以来最大的同比降幅，2010年也成为10年来第二低的一年。Yet,box office revenues remained about the same at 10.7 billion dollars due to increased ticket prices.然而，由于票价上涨，票房收入仍然保持在107亿美元左右。Animated movie Toy Story 3 was the highest grossing film of the year at the U.S.box office, earning nearly 450 million dollars.动画电影《玩具总动员3》是今年美国票房收入最高的电影，收入近4.5亿美元。The Pixar sequel, like the second highest grossing title Alice in Wonderland,was one of several hit movies released in 3D.皮克斯的续集，比如票房第二高的《爱丽丝梦游仙境》，是几部热门3D电影之一。It is thought the attendance figures in the U.S. and Canada will rise next year when sequels to hit comedies The Hangover and Pirates of the Caribbean are released.有人认为，美国和加拿大的观影人数明年将会上升，届时喜剧《宿醉》和《加勒比海盗》的续集将会上映。

Volunteers from abroad have joined the olive harvest in Ashkelon's national park as part of a project called Volunteer for Nature promoted by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. KAN's Mark Weiss spoke with Jonathan Feldstein, founder and director of the Genisis 123 Foundation. (Photo: Courtesy)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gaza (Azzah). Ashkelon. Work in judgment.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Zman Yisrael editor Biranit Goren and reporter Sue Surkes join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode. Four IDF soldiers were killed and 58 others were wounded by a Hezbollah drone strike on a military base near Binyamina in north-central Israel last night. Forty-one soldiers of the 58 soldiers wounded in a Hezbollah drone strike on an army training base last night remain hospitalized, with eight in serious or critical condition, medical officials said this morning. Goren takes us through what happened in the strike and why it was so deadly. The Pentagon on Sunday confirmed that Washington will send an advanced air defense battery to Israel to protect the country in case of an Iranian reaction to an expected Israeli reprisal attack, along with American soldiers to operate it, as Tehran appeared to threaten the US troops to be stationed in the region. Goren takes us through the brief history of US deployment in Israel and what makes this American bear hug so unique. The Tekuma Authority, tasked with rehabilitating the Gaza border communities overrun by Hamas terrorists a year ago, will spend NIS 6.4 billion ($1.7 billion) during 2024, equivalent to 90 percent of the budget approved by the government, according to its first six-month report, covering April to September. While the budget is large, Surkes explains that parts are already being held up. Ahead of Rosh Hashana, a holiday associated with eating honey, Surkes visited Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, some 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of Ashkelon, where the majority of Israel's honey is produced. She reports back. To end with, we hear about an 18-month pilot project to test the effectiveness and popularity of eco-toilets at the IDF's Nitzanim training base in southern Israel. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Four soldiers killed, seven seriously hurt in Hezbollah drone strike on military base US confirms it's sending missile defense battery, 100 troops to operate it, to Israel Tekuma Administration reports spending NIS 6.4b on Gaza border reconstruction this year Despite the war, no shortage of honey for Jewish New Year Army cleans up its act with eco-toilets Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi talks to soldiers at a Golani base in northern Israel after a deadly Hezbollah drone attack on October 14, 2024 (Israel Defense Forces)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GOOD EVENING: The show begins in Iraq where the US is preparing to withdraw military forces... 1926 Baghdad CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9:00-9:15 1/2: #IRAQ: Withdrawal planned. Bill Roggio, FDD 9:15-9:30 2/2: #IRAQ: Withdrawal planned. Bill Roggio, FDD 9:30-9:45 #UKRAINE: Air War to what end? John Hardie, Bill Roggio, FDD 9:45-10:00 #UKRAINE: No Plan B: war war. John Hardie, Bill Roggio, FDD SECOND HOUR 10:00-10:15 #ISRAEL: The UN gathers while Beirut evacuates; the Hezbollah cowers. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 @ThadMcCotter @theamgreatness 10:15-10:30 "Indiana" Hoenlein and the Lost 1700 year-old Greek-themed chambers at Ashkelon. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 10:30-10:45 CYBER COMMAND: ineffective and falling farther behind. Bill Gertz, Washington Times. @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill 10:45-11:00 #US NAVY: Not confidently ready for War in the Pacific & What is to be done? Jim Holmes, US Naval War College. @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill THIRD HOUR 11:00-11:15 #DEUTSCHLAND: AFD in footfall from overtaking long potent Social Democrats in the Prussian state of Brandenburg --and what about the economy? Chris Riegel, Scala.com 11:15-11:30 #UKRAINE: The Brandenburg vote for the anti-war AFD, and what does this mean for the war? Katrina Vanden Heuvel, Nation 11:30-11:45 1/2: #HEZBOLLAH: The Air War & What must be done? David Daoud, FDD. Bill Roggio, FDD. 11:45-12:00 2/2: #HEZBOLLAH: The Air War & What must be done? David Daoud, FDD. Bill Roggio, FDD. FOURTH HOUR 12:00-12:15 #NewWorldReport: Venezuela Nicholas Maduro posts arrest warrant for Argentina Javier Milei and his sister and security minister. Joseph Humire @JMHumire @SecureFreeSoc. Ernesto Araujo, Former Foreign Minister Republic of Brazil. #NewWorldReportHumire 12:15-12:30 #NewWorldReport: Brazil forces Musk to remove dissenting voices from X. Joseph Humire @JMHumire @SecureFreeSoc. Ernesto Araujo, Former Foreign Minister Republic of Brazil. #NewWorldReportHumire 12:30-12:45 #ISRAEL: The lawful conduct of military action vs adversaries: Necessity, distinction, proportionality. PETER BERKOWITZ, HOOVER INSTITUTION 12:45-1:00 am #CANADA: In praise of Winston Churchill and FDR saving Europe December, 1941 until FDR's death April, 1945. Conrad Black, National Post

"Indiana"Hoenlein and the Lost 1700 year-old Greekthemed chambers at Ashkelon. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 1715 Troy

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. After a series of sharp escalations in the almost year-long tit-for-tat conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, some 2 million Israelis are in areas that are currently affected by Hezbollah rocket fire. This deeper Hezbollah retaliation comes after the IDF assassination of some dozen top commanders of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force in the Friday strike in Beirut that killed Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollah's military operations. We begin the program by hearing how significant was Aqil and how much of a blow this mass assassination was. We hear about the scope of Hezbollah's fighting force and learn about a new kind of missile being used in the deeper attacks today. Is the IDF prepping the ground for an incursion? The IDF carried out an airstrike this morning and on Saturday against a group of Hamas operatives at command rooms embedded within former school in Gaza. With most of Gaza under IDF control, when will it move into the small pockets in central Gaza that have not yet been touched. Two terrorists who likely murdered six Israeli hostages in a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip last month were killed by Israeli troops, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Saturday. How did the IDF tie the terrorists to the hostages? A Jewish Israeli civilian was arrested last month after he was allegedly recruited by Iran to advance an assassination plot of Israel's prime minister, defense minister, or the head of the Shin Bet, authorities announced on Thursday. The suspect, named as 73-year-old Moti Maman from the southern city of Ashkelon, was indicted on Thursday, after which the Shin Bet revealed details of the investigation. What do we know? For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Hezbollah fires 100 rockets at north, wounding 3; teen killed in crash during siren IDF confirms eliminating multiple top Hezbollah commanders in Friday's Beirut strike IDF says it struck Hamas operatives at inactive Gaza school; 21 reported killed Army says it killed 2 Hamas terrorists who likely murdered 6 Israeli hostages in tunnel Israeli Jew recruited by Iran in plot to kill Netanyahu, Gallant or Shin Bet head Bar Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod Waves. IMAGE: Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli strike that targeted the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Zibqin on September 22, 2024. (Kawnat Haju / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode. A surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen set off sirens across central Israel this morning. Fabian gives us an update. A barrage of some 40 rockets was fired from Lebanon at the Galilee Panhandle and Golan Heights this morning. We hear how these rockets are wreaking damage and how they compare to the missile shot by Yemen this morning. On Saturday, the IDF called on Palestinians in parts of the northern Gaza city of Beit Lahiya to evacuate, after two rockets were fired from the area aimed at the southern coastal city of Ashkelon. The IDF in recent months has repeatedly issued evacuation orders for areas from which terrorists launched rockets at Israel, but that wasn't always the case. What changed? Fabian reports back from Rafah where he learned last week that the Hamas terror group's Rafah Brigade has been decimated, at least 2,308 of its operatives have been killed by the Israel Defense Forces and over 13 kilometers (8 miles) worth of tunnels have been destroyed. What did he see on the ground? According to a number of unconfirmed foreign reports last week, Israeli special forces carried out a raid on an Iranian weapons facility in Syria. The reports claim Israeli troops operated on the ground at Masyaf, which lies about 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of Israel, only about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Syria's western coastline. The IDF has not confirmed these reports, but Fabian describes what we are hearing. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Ballistic missile fired from Yemen triggers sirens across central Israel IDF orders evacuations in northern Gaza's Beit Lahiya after rocket attack on Israel IDF declares Hamas's Rafah Brigade defeated; no active cross-border tunnels found Reports: Israeli troops raided IRGC weapons facility in Syria, took equipment, documents Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod Waves. IMAGE: Police near the remains of a ballistic missile fired by the Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen, near Moshav Kfar Daniel, September 15, 2024. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I spoke last night with our frequent guest, former IDF spokesperson, Lt. Col. (Res.) Jonathan Conricus, to focus on what many outside Israel find to be a very confusing state of chaos. There is a government that has made clear that a red line – an inviolable boundary in its negotiations for a hostage deal with Hamas – is that it will not abandon the Philadelphi Corridor. Shortly after this position was made public in a leaked recording from an Israeli security cabinet meeting, the bodies of six hostages were found in the Gaza tunnels. They had been murdered by Hamas a short time before. And their deaths enraged the nation. Were their murders avoidable? Was PM Benjamin Netanyahu being callous to their plight in sticking to this position? Or was he steeling and doing what is necessary for the future of Israel? Listen to our discussion in which we explore this horrible dilemma.Below, just received before publishing this podcast episode, is the transcript of PM Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks to the international press at 8pm (Israel time) today, Wednesday, Sept. 4. His very full statement stands as a robust response to many parts of our podcast. I suggest reading the statement in full.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Remarks at his Press Conference for the Foreign MediaFollowing are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks, this evening (Wednesday, 4 September 2024), at the GPO in Jerusalem:"Israel is experiencing days of horror, sorrow and rage. A week ago, we experienced such horror.Yesterday, I visited in Ashkelon the family of one of the hostages murdered in cold blood. A day earlier, I spoke to several of the families of these murdered hostages. It tears your heart out. I said to them that I'm sorry. I apologized that we, we didn't get them out. We worked so hard to get them. We were close. But we didn't. And they changed the torment of families worried about their loved ones to families grieving for their fallen beloved. That sentiment I know because I belong to that family. But it's a horror.We also lost brave policemen and brave soldiers who were fighting in the Gaza front and I embraced their families as well. All our people do.On October 7th, we experienced the worst savagery in this century. On October 7th, we experienced the worst savagery meted on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. These savages massacred our people. 1,200 civilians. They beheaded our men. They raped our women and then murdered them. They burnt babies alive. They took 255 of our people hostages to their underground dungeons. That's a horror that the world saw and responded to initially.It's important that we remember it. But we were given a reminder. A terrible reminder. Last week, when these savages murdered six of our hostages in cold blood. They riddled them with bullets. Then they shot each of them in the head. Some of them several times.And these are the savages, these are the terrorists that Iran implanted next to our border as elsewhere. And we're committed to defeating them, to extirpating this evil from our midst. I want to talk to you today about some of the things that we must do to achieve that goal, including the questions of the Philadelphi Corridor.But before I do that, I want to give your readers and viewers some context because often you see maps of Israel. You think it's a Goliath.Well, I'd like to give you first an overview of where Israel is. (Click here for a PDF file.)This is the Middle East, and this is the entire Arab world, and this is Israel. It's one of the world's tiniest countries. I give it the, you know, the thumb test. This is a big one, so you need a bigger thumb. But it's a tiny country. It's one of the tiniest countries on the planet. It's, I think one tenth of one percent of the territory of the Arab world, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's two tenths of one percent.It goes from the river. The river is right here. That's the Jordan River. To the sea, the Mediterranean Sea. So, when Hamas is talking about liberating Palestine from the river to the sea, basically, what they're saying is destroying Israel.And the entire width of this, it's probably around the width of the Washington Beltway, it's all together in its widest point is about 50 miles. Right here. Tiny.And here's Gaza there. This is the red thing that you see here. That's Gaza. Now I want to zoom in. When I zoom in, remember how tiny this is. Remember the distances here.Now, take a look. Here it is enlarged. This is Israel. This is the Mediterranean Sea. The Jordan River is right here.This is Egypt and the Sinai desert. Now, look at Gaza. Where is Gaza? Gaza is implanted in this tiny country 30 miles from Tel Aviv, 40 miles from our capital Jerusalem, 30 miles from Beer-Sheva. These are three of Israel's largest cities. Gaza is within spitting distance to them.Israel, up to the disengagement agreement of 2005, Israel controlled this border under an agreement with Egypt after the Camp David Peace Accords. We controlled this part, which is called the Philadelphi Corridor, I'll talk about that in a minute, right down to Eilat in the Red Sea. This was our border. And while there was, I would say a minimal amount of terrorism, that wasn't, we didn't really face a big problem.Let's zoom in on that a bit more. Here's Gaza Strip enlarged. Again, this is the situation in Gaza before the disengagement of 2005. And the Gaza Strip is firmly under Israeli control. We control the maritime border. You can't smuggle in weapons. They tried but we stopped it. You control the land border. And you control this border between the Sinai desert, Egypt and Gaza. The Gaza Strip, it's controlled. This is the Philadelphi Corridor. This is the Rafah Crossing. Controlled by the IDF.Now look at the distances from Gaza. It's four miles to another city in Israel called Ashkelon, where I visited that bereaved family yesterday. It's a population of 170,000 people. They are four miles away. But some of our communities like kibbutz Be'eri, which was one of the hardest hit, is one mile away from Gaza. Kfar Aza is less than one mile away. It's literally walking distance. Okay.And so, as long as we controlled this, these communities, sometimes they were harassed by this rocket or that rocket but it was marginal. We controlled the security situation. But something happened in 2005. Israel unilaterally disengaged from Gaza. It just went out. It took out everything. It took out the army. It stripped, uprooted communities, took out 10,000 people.The army left the Philadelphi Corridor. Here's what happened.This is Gaza after the disengagement. And Hamas now has a weapon smuggling operation nurtured by Iran, financed by Iran, supplied by Iran, delivered by Iran.And here's what happened. That Philadelphi Corridor became completely porous. The other borders controlled by us. But once this was perforated, even though the policy of Egypt was to prevent it, you know, it didn't necessarily work, it didn't, it didn't succeed. And this border once we left our side of the Philadelphi Corridor, rockets went in, missiles went in, drones went in, ammo went in, weapons manufacturing equipment came in, tunnel drilling equipment came in.Once we got out, once we left the Philadelphi Corridor, Iran could carry out its plan to turn Gaza into a base, a terrorist enclave that would endanger not only the communities around it but would endanger Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beer-Sheva, the entire country of Israel. It became a huge terrorist base because we left that Corridor.So, we vowed, or I would say, all this, you have to understand that the centrality, the centrality of the Philadelphi Corridor to the arming of Gaza, to the arming of Hamas and this all led to the October 7th massacre, which Hamas has vowed, proudly vowed to do again and again and again.We vowed that they won't be able to do it. So we said, as far as Gaza is concerned, three war goals: The first war goal was to destroy Hamas's military and governing capabilities. The second was to free our hostages. And the third was to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.And all three of those goals, all three of them go through Israel's control of the Philadelphi Corridor. And it's obvious why. You want to destroy Hamas's military and governing capabilities – You can't let Hamas rearm. It's obvious. So you have to control the corridor. You can't let them have…by the way, it's not only to prevent them from terrorizing us, attacking us, it's also to prevent Hamas or any other terrorist organization from terrorizing the people of Gaza.Gaza cannot have a future if Gaza remains porous and you can enable rearmament of terrorists through the Philadelphi Corridor.The second thing is to release the hostages. First of all, you can't prevent, if you leave this Corridor, you can't prevent Hamas from, not only, not smuggling weapons in, you can't prevent them from not smuggling terrorists, hostages out. It's walking distance, nothing. They can easily smuggle hostages out here to the Sinai desert in Egypt, they disappear. It's crossing distance. The distance is nothing, it's meters, meters away.They cross the, the barrier above ground. They don't even have to go underground. They disappear in the Sinai and then they end up in Iran or in Yemen. They're gone forever.And you need something to squeeze them, to prevent them, to put pressure on them to release the remaining hostages. So if you want to release the hostages, you've got to control the Philadelphi Corridor. And the third reason, the third goal of ensuring that we prevent Gaza from being again a threat to Israel. It's clear. Gaza must be demilitarized. And it can only be demilitarized if the Philadelphi Corridor remains under firm control and is not a supply line for armaments and for terror equipment.I think that's clear to most Israelis, to all Israelis. But a question has arisen: that may be the case, but why don't you leave Gaza for 42 days, you could come back. Well, aside from what I said that they could smuggle the terrorists out. I want to show you what they've got under Gaza. I didn't show you that. So I want to show you that.This is what they have under the Philadelphi Corridor. Just so you understand the supply lines we're talking about. This is one of the tunnels there. Look at the engineering, look at the investment here, look at what they've got. We've got dozens of such tunnels, dozens of such tunnels, underneath the Philadelphi Corridor. To give you an impression of the size of these things: This is a soldier. This is a tunnel. You could drive a truck through this. Indeed, you could. Here's a truck, or it's a Humvee. This is a huge, huge problem.Now, you're just going to walk away? It's obvious we have to control it, right? I think, once you see this, you understand that? But then the next question is, okay, you leave and you come back. That's what they tell us. Okay. We'll have complete international legitimacy to come back. Sorry, we've gone down that route. We were down that route when we left Lebanon, and people said you can leave Lebanon and you can come back. The first time they fire a rocket you can come back, the world will support you. It didn't. And we've been out of Lebanon for 24 years.They said the same thing when we left Gaza in the disengagement. They said, you can leave, and the first rocket. I remember, Prime Minister Sharon said this to me. The first rocket above ground or below ground, we'll be able to go back in. It's been 20 years and we haven't gone back in. Because you all know and understand that the international community, including friendly countries, under enormous domestic pressure because of the propaganda that's leveled against Israel and against them, there'll be enormous, international pressure not to come back. What is their message? End the war. End the war. And so, when we want to come back and resume, we'll pay an exorbitant price in many fields, including in the lives of our men.To come back? It's not a just a military question. It's a military, political, strategic question. And we make that decision. We're not going to leave. 42 days? We're there. I don't want to leave in order to come back in, when I know that we didn't come back in. And it's not going to take another 24 years to come back in. And God knows what price we'll have? How many more massacres? How many more kidnappings? How many more hostages? How many more rapes? It's not going to happen.So, people said, yeah, but if you stay, this will kill the deal. And I say, such a deal will kill us. And there won't be a deal that way. This is a false narrative. I'm willing to make a deal. I made one already, one that brought back 150 hostages, 117 alive. And I'm committed to return the remaining 101. I'll do everything I can to get them in.But leaving Philadelphi does not advance the release of the hostages, because the deal cannot be advanced. They'll give you a minor part if they give anything, and keep the rest. Go and argue. You know when they started giving us hostages? When we went into Philadelphi. When we went into Rafah. When we controlled the Rafah Crossing. That's when they felt the pressure. As long as they didn't feel the pressure, they wouldn't do it. The first batch, the first deal that we got, was a result of our invasion, the military pressure we put in. They gave us the hostages. After that, they thought, well, you know, we'll have the international pressure turn on Israel so we won't have to do, we won't have to make any concessions. But after Rafah, their tune changed, and they began to change. If we leave Rafah, if we leave the Philadelphi Corridor, there won't be any pressure. We won't get the hostages.I said I'm willing to make a deal. The real obstacle to making a deal is not Israel and it's not me. It Hamas. It's Sinwar. On April 27th, I put forward a proposal by Israel, which Secretary Blinken called extremely generous. On May 31st, having met Blinken again, I said, we agreed to the US-backed proposal, and Hamas refused. On August 16th, the US brought forth what they called the final bridging proposal. Again, we accepted, Hamas refused. On August 19th, Secretary Blinken said, Israel accepted the US proposal, now Hamas has to do the same. On August 28th—that's a week ago—the deputy CIA director said Israel showed seriousness in the negotiations, now Hamas must make the deal. This was last week. So, I ask you, what has changed. What has changed in this week? What's changed is that they murdered six of our hostages in cold blood.Now, the world will seriously demand that Israel make concessions after this massacre? What message does this send to Hamas? I'll tell you what the message is. Murder more hostages, you'll get more concessions. That's not only illogical, it's not only immoral, it's downright insane. So, it's not going to happen. We have red lines before the murder. They haven't changed. We'll hold to them. But we also had flexibility. And I'll tell you one thing, Hamas will pay for this. That you can be assured. We'll make sure that we extract that price from them. But we are firm on our red lines, including the Philadelphi Corridor, for the reasons I described here. I'm flexible where I can be. I'm firm when I have to be.I think there is a possibility of getting this deal if we stick to this strategy. I said before, we got 150 hostages out because we combined a firm stance with military pressure. And I said that Hamas after that relied on international pressure, but it had weakened. And then we went into Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor, so it got strengthened, and they were beginning to balk. A condition that they said they'd never accept, a red line, is that we must commit to getting out of Gaza and enabling Hamas basically to take over Gaza again. End the war, get out, let them retake Gaza. That's obviously something we couldn't do.They said there'll never be a deal. Well, they started caving in there after we took the Philadelphi Corridor. And then they started backing off. You know why they waited? Why they started backing off? Because they waited for Iran to start a general war with Israel. That didn't happen. So then they waited for Hezbollah to start a general war with Israel. That didn't happen either. So now they resort to the final tactic. They're going to sow discord and create international pressure, again using the hostages, even after the murder. And this is something that's not new because they started this a year ago.You should see this. I mean, this is their tactic. This is Hamas orders for psychological warfare, found in Hamas underground command post on January 29th, that's right after the beginning of the war, 2024. And this is the original document in Arabic. Our soldiers found it.And here's what it says: Push photos and videos of hostages. Put it out in the media, because that creates enormous psychological pressure. Who's not affected by it? Any human being seeing these souls, these girls, these people, young people from those dungeons, you're affected by. Second: Increase psychological pressure on defense minister. Third: Continue blaming Netanyahu. And fourth: Claim ground operation will not release hostages.That's Hamas', it's not only their talking points, it's their strategy. And their idea is this will sow internal discord and increase international pressure on Israel. That's what they hope to achieve. And they hope, they think this will happen. Well, it won't happen. I can tell you why it won't happen. I'll tell you why they'll fail. Because overwhelmingly the people of Israel are united. They understand everything that I said here. Overwhelmingly. You should know that. It's important. And the second thing is, we're committed to achieving our goals—all three goals: Destroying Hamas' military and governing capabilities, releasing all our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza does not become a threat to Israel anymore. And all these require standing firm on the things that will ensure the achievement of these goals. And with G-d's help, and with our people's will, and with the courage of our soldiers, we will achieve all goals."State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Yishai and Malkah Fleisher are on the beach in Ashkelon, thinking about the safety that comes through God's blessings, and through the valiant defense of Israel by the fighters of the IDF. Then, Yishai analyzes and takes down the speech made by arch-terrorist Mahmoud Abbas in Turkey. Also, Ben Bresky on the Gush Katif Museum of the Jewish communities of Gaza. And finally, Table Torah about God's Eyes Upon the Land.

SEASON 2024 EPISODE 33: Yishai and Malkah Fleisher are on the beach in Ashkelon, thinking about the safety that comes through God's blessings, and through the valiant defense of Israel by the fighters of the IDF. Then, Yishai analyzes and takes down the speech made by arch-terrorist Mahmoud Abbas in Turkey. Also, Ben Bresky on the Gush Katif Museum of the Jewish communities of Gaza. And finally, Table Torah about God's Eyes Upon the Land.SPONSOR LINKS:The Israel Bible https://theisraelbible.com/Prohibition Pickle https://www.facebook.com/Prohibitionpickle/Hebron Fund https://hebronfund.org/The Jewish Press https://www.jewishpress.com/JNS https://www.jns.org/Kosher Cycle Tours http://www.KosherCycleTours.comPODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://yishaifleisher.com/podcast/Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3mIsdfUSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3oP2Reo4JYnfIJdDUrQS2cRSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1271258.rssYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/YishaiFleisherTVSUPPORT & CONNECT:Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcastSupport on Givecloud: https://kumah.givecloud.co/Twitter: https://twitter.com/YishaiFleisherInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yishaifleisherLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yishaifleisher/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YishaiFleisherSupport the Show.

This week, two major terrorist leaders were assassinated in the Middle East. Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion in Tehran, just a day after top Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut in retaliation for the horrific rocket attack that killed 12 children on a soccer field in northern Israel. What does this mean for Israel and the wider region? Is this a major setback for Iran and its terror proxies? Tune in to hear what AJC Jerusalem Director Lt. Col. (res.) Avital Leibovich, who visited the site of the terror attack in Majdal Shams, has to say. Episode Lineup:  (0:40) Avital Leibovich Learn: What to Know About Hamas Terror Leader Ismail Haniyeh What to Know About Hezbollah's Escalation Against Israel Listen: Aviva Klompas is Fighting the Normalization of Antisemitism on Social Media On the Ground at the Republican National Convention: What's at Stake for Israel and the Middle East? Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Transcript of Interview with Avital Leibovich: Manya Brachear Pashman:   This week marked 300 days of captivity for the 115 remaining hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7. There was also a major development: confirmation that an operation in July led to the death of Hamas' military leader Muhammad Deif. But there were two more assassinations this week, the leaders of two terror groups targeting Israel.  On Wednesday, we learned that Hamas terror leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion in Tehran shortly after meeting with Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Haniyeh had been in Tehran for the inauguration of its new president. This just a day after top Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut in retaliation for the horrific rocket attack that killed 12 children on a soccer field in Golan Heights. AJC Jerusalem director Avital Leibovich is with us now to discuss these developments. Avital, welcome back to People of the Pod. Avital Leibovich: Thank you. Manya. Good to be here. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So, Avital, my first question is, are we safer now than we were at the start of the week? Do two fewer terror leaders lead to less terror? Avital Leibovich: Well, I would say the world in general is a safer place with the absence of Shukr and Haniyeh. However, the neighborhood here is not changing. And unfortunately, we are still surrounded by vicious enemies, who still are seeking to see our erosion and eradication. So while I'm very happy with your outcome in the last 24 hours, I also know there's still a lot of reason for concern. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So tell us about these terror leaders. Who was Ismail Haniyeh? And what was his role with Hamas? Avital Leibovich: Sure. So Ismail Haniyeh, who's also, by the way, has another name, which is Abu al-Abed, he actually served as the number one political leader of Hamas since May 2017. He actually substituted in this role, Khaled Mashal and other terrorists, and before that, he actually served as the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority just for a very brief, short time between 2006 and 2007. And he actually became very close to a Hamas leader called Ahmed Yassin. And basically, he really grew into the very radical agenda of Hamas. Interesting enough, his background was totally different. I mean, even worked in Israel in the city closest to Gaza called Ashkelon. So he knows the country. He knows the mentality. So in addition to this, he also began to do some terror activity after the three years of working in Ashkelon in Israel. And then he initiated different kinds of activities. Among them was the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit, a soldier who we'll remember. And after being involved in the terror realm and the political realm, he decided to focus more on Hamas' agenda, on Hamas' charter. And basically, what we have seen in the last couple of years are a few things. Number one, Hania got very rich, because he received millions and millions of dollars from the Qataris. Number two, he left Gaza and he spent the last years of his life in Qatar, in lavish hotels and apartments, enjoying great life. And this is also an indication of how much does he care about the people of Gaza.  And I want to connect to the current war and give you a quote of who Haniyeh was because I see that some of the media outlets have the nerve to call him a moderate negotiator. Therefore, I'd like to help them and share with you the following quote, which was said on October 27 — that was the first day where the IDF entered Gaza following the October 7 massacre. So he said, "We need the blood of women, children, and the elderly of Gaza, so it awakens our revolutionary spirit." This is the moderate guy that international media is referring to in their reports. He was a radical, he was a terrorist, and we had a very good opening of our day this morning when we heard the news. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And Fuad Shukr, what was his role with Hezbollah? Avital Leibovich: He also, you know, this is a name which is not known, I think, to many people, but he does have a French connection and an American connection — of course, an Israeli connection. The guy was number two in the level of seniority in Hezbollah. He was actually the manager of the army in a way of the Hezbollah military apparatus.  But more than that, he was a strategist, and he knew what direction should Hezbollah take in the next years. He was in charge of developing the entire missile industry that Hezbollah had, including the accurate missiles. In other words, he was a strategist but also was a practical man. Now, here's the connection that he had to the US and to France. In 1983, he was one of the orchestrators of the attack in the marine base in Beirut.  On that terrible day, 241 American marines lost their lives, but 70 French soldiers were killed as well. So as you can imagine, this terrorist Fuad Shukr has 40 years of terror activities, primarily against Israel, but also against Israeli allies. So again, I think it was a very courageous and accurate Israeli operation. And more than anything, Manya, it shows the amazing level of intelligence, where that person was exactly in which room, in which building, in which floor, and to be able to very surgically act in the right time, at the right moment and target him, I think that shows a lot for the Israeli intelligence capabilities. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Was Haniyeh part of the ceasefire and hostage release negotiations? Avital Leibovich: So if you look at the title that Hanieyeh had, which is the head of the political branch of Hamas, you could think that he had some impact on the decision making process with the hostage deals. But I can tell you that he had really no impact, very little impact. Because from the analysis that we have here in Israel, the main decision maker is Sinwar.  Now the question is, will the death of Haniyeh have an impact, number one on Sinwar? And therefore, number two on the hostage deal? Now, I'm not sure it will have an effect. I have to say. Sinwar is known as the longtime rival of Haniyeh. So in other words, he will not be mourning his death. But he had the last word with regard to any of the discussions on the hostages.  And at the end of the day, Sinwar said numerous times, that he's willing to die. And his ultimate goal is to make sure that Hamas has some sort of a controlling Gaza. He understands today Sinwar, that Hamas will no longer control the government, therefore, he's willing to compromise. For example, let's say Hamas will be giving the role of being in charge of the renovations in Gaza. Or perhaps they will be in charge of the education system and so on, in other words, just to have some sort of a stronghold inside Gaza in terms of governance of some sort. Now, if that will not be a part of any possible deal, then Sinwar has no interest to give a positive answer to a deal. Manya Brachear Pashman:   I am curious why Haniyeh would have met with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before his death? Avital Leibovich: Hamas and Iran have different kinds of cooperation. We have seen that across the region. In other words, we have seen Hamas representatives in Lebanon, working alongside Nasrallah, the health Hezbollah, but also meeting the Iranian foreign minister, when he came to Lebanon for visits. We understand that this time around there is a clear interest which Iran supports, is to target Israel as much as possible. And obviously Iran prefers a proxy like Hamas to be representative of its own goals and intentions.  And therefore you saw Haniyeh last time, was last night paying respects for the inauguration ceremony in Iran. And according to what I'm hearing, he was also hosted in a Revolutionary Guards facility. In other words, whoever targeted Haniyeh had a great level of intelligence by knowing how to get to that specific building.  But moreover, this is a very secure area, because the Revolutionary Guards are considered the body which is the most guarded of all bodies in Iran. They're the ones controlling the budget of the Iranian government. They're the ones operating Hezbollah and other militias and proxies. So in other words, the fact that it was a Revolutionary Guards headquarters, Antonia was there and despite of all this information, the security system around him cracked. I think that sends a very loud and clear message to the Iranians. Manya Brachear Pashman:   How is the relationship between Iran and Hamas and the relationship between Iran and Hezbollah different? Can you explain that to our audience? Avital Leibovich: First of all, I mean, you know, Iran is the chief orchestrator of everything that we have been seeing here since October 7, but actually before that as well. Now, I would say that with Hezbollah, it's a long love story between the two. Actually, Hezbollah was founded by Iran, quite shortly after the revolution in '79.  When the country became a fundamentalist Islamist and obviously, took the wrong path, distancing itself from the Western world. Iran actually built Hezbollah, founded Hezbollah, first the military wing, and then adding three years later the political wing. And the idea was to use them in order to attack Israel. And this is very convenient.  Think about it, Iran is 1300 kilometers away from Israel. It's not convenient to fire a rocket all the way from that country to Israel. But let's say you want to use simpler means and within half an hour to take an operation out, it's easier to use someone who's bordering with Israel. So gradually, we saw Hezbollah taking over almost the entire country. And everything had to do with Iranian funding. Now, in order to have Iranian funding in terms of sanctions, Iran and Hezbollah, found alternative options like laundering money, like a whole chain of drug trafficking in Syria and other countries. So they found solutions to do that.  By the way, Iran is doing the same thing with the Houthis in Yemen, also using them as a proxy. Because you know, this is the most poor country in the region, huge unemployment rates, you can recruit 10s of 1000s and hundreds of 1000s of people, as long as you pay them a very minimal salary. Now, as for Hamas, Hamas was built a little bit later.  It's actually an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, so not directly of Iran. However, sometimes there are joint interests between different terror groups. Actually, Iran founded the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, in 79, right after the revolution, because he thought this would be the main actor controlling Gaza with the best assets and so on. But with the course of the years, when Hamas controlled Gaza, and was able to develop its terror means rockets, drones, etc, then, of course, Iran moved to cooperate with Hamas, according to its needs for Iran, it's, of course, more worthwhile to use the blood of Palestinians than the blood of Iranians to sacrifice Palestinians and not the Iranians. This is how they see it.  At the end of the day, Iran now wishes to resume to the situation of being a major empire as it used to be, a Persian empire decades and decades ago. So this is the longtime dream, I would say. And the proxies are just another, I would say detail in the path to reach that dream.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Now, Hezbollah did not claim responsibility for the attack that killed a dozen children on a soccer field. Why not? They're usually proud of the death and destruction that they wreak. Why did Israel target the terror group anyway?  Avital Leibovich: Look, say a few words about this tragic event that took place just a few days ago in a very small, beautiful, pastoral village called Majdal Shams, which, by the way, means the tower of sun. It's on the Syrian border, and the other side is on the Lebanese border. And, you know, people asked me if this is the first time that Hizballah ever targeted Druze or targeted Muslims. Now this specific village was targeted five times already by Hezbollah. Saturday, obviously, was the deadliest of all the five. It was 6:18 in the afternoon, beautiful summer day, lots of kids outside.  I visited the soccer field where it happens. And the rockets left, really not a chance for those kids who were playing there. Although there was actually a shelter right there, maybe two feet from where the rocket hit the ground. They really didn't have a chance to make it and go into the shelter. And unfortunately, those poor 12 year old kids, ages 10-16, died in place. We still have over 30 people hospitalized, many of them are kids as well.  And I have to say, Manya, that I saw a village who has been traumatized. People are still wearing black clothes. There are black flags hanging everywhere inside the village. The pictures of the kids are, you know, pasted everywhere, on the squares just on random villages and walls of buildings.  I also went to one of the bereaved families. And you know, you sit there with a parent who lost his 12 year old boy named Johnny [Wadeea Ibrahim]. And he tells you about his dreams. And he says to me, you know, these dreams will never be fulfilled. And he says to me, we don't even know how to digest what happened to us. So, for Hezbollah, they don't really care who they're firing at, whether it's Jews or Arabs, or Muslims or Christians, whoever, they don't care if it's in the eastern Galilee, or the Western Galilee, or the Golan. All these areas are relevant for the Hezbollah fire since October 8. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, Hezbollah did not take responsibility. Why not? Avital Leibovich: So here is the mistake. Hezbollah actually made the mistake. Hezbollah has a TV station, which is its mouthpiece, just like Hamas's TV station mouthpiece is Al Jazeera. Hezbollah's is Al Mayadeen. Now, immediately after an attack, a Hezbollah attack, Al Mayadeen immediately publishes responsibility taking by Hezbollah always every time. And by the way, we're talking about an average of eight attacks a day, every day. And that's what they did here too. On Saturday, they immediately took responsibility in the name of Hezbollah.  Unfortunately, for them, after 20 minutes, they understood the extent of the mistake they did, and deleted, of course, this responsibility, and then they made up their own narrative. The narrative was that a misfiring of an Iron Dome interceptor, mistakenly killed the kids, like Israel's fault is that the kids died. Now, this narrative, if you think it was only the social media, then think again, they sent the foreign minister of Lebanon to the media to repeat it.  But they also did something more. They sent the head of the Druze community. It's the same blood and flesh of the Druze in the Golan. They sent him to the press to declare that it was not a Hezbollah rocket. So they understood that they will pay a price of some sort. I'm sure they understood that I'm not sure they understood the extent of the intelligence Israel had. And now of course, they're threatening to target Israel. I think the next 48 hours will reveal where we're heading. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And you talk about the incredible intelligence that led to the precise explosion in Beirut as well as the death of Haniyeh. Has Israel taken responsibility for his death and what it claimed credit if it was responsible, Avital Leibovich: Up to this minute, Israel did not take any responsibility for Haniyeh's death. Of course, yes, for the Hizballah number two guy Fuad Shukr, but not for Haniyeh. As a matter of fact, the Prime Minister ordered the Cabinet members and the ministers not to speak publicly on the issue. And basically, there's been a lot of quiet from the political echelon here since the morning. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And you touched on what my last question is, and that is, how will this elevate the tensions? Does this raise the chance of a war between Israel and Lebanon, Israel, and Iran, these assassinations?  Avital Leibovich: So I would say we are already in a war to some extent with Hezbollah, because Hezbollah has fired more than 6000 rockets since October 8. And I've counted 43 Israeli casualties since October 8. So we are talking about an active war in a sense, I think that there is a good reason to believe that both Hezbollah and Iran will react to these two targets. I'm not sure in which way. I do think that Hezbollah still has the notion and the strategy of not completely escalating the situation to a full scale war. I'm sure that Nasrallah is sitting in his bunker in the darkened neighborhood, seeing the footage from Gaza and understanding Israel's capability and does not want to turn Beirut into a similar kind of situation.  And he also saw the building last night and he also understood the extent of the intelligence capability. So I think he will have to react in such a way that on the one hand, he could be proud that he did something but on the other hand, would not engage in a full scale war. Iran, on the other hand, is a different story.  Because three months have passed since April 14 in which Iran decided to gift us with hundreds of drones and different kinds of ballistic missiles. And from their perspective, it failed. It failed because Israel has a great defense system. It also failed because the US led the great coalition of countries who supported the interception attempts in April 14. However, and this is a big however, Iran learned its lessons.  Iran learned why it failed in April. And therefore, my concern is that they will take these lessons and implement them in whichever reaction they will have. I'm not sure it will be tomorrow morning. Tomorrow, they will celebrate Haniyeh in the big funeral in Iran, and then there will be additional mourning days in Qatar. So it may take a few days, but I have no doubt that they will both, Hezbollah and Iran react. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Avital, thank you so much for just explaining all of these developments and what they mean. Avital Leibovich: Of course, I just hope that for once they will be able to talk about positive things and not only terror and wars. Manya Brachear Pashman:   We hope so too. We hope so too. Thank you so much. Avital Leibovich: Thank you and Am Yisrael Chai.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode. At least 12 people were killed Saturday, mostly children and teens, and dozens more were wounded when a rocket fired from Lebanon hit a soccer field in the northern Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights. We hear about the attack and Fabian discusses IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi's statements about the IDF's readiness in case of an increased escalation along the border. A Hezbollah drone launched from Lebanon and believed to be heading toward offshore gas infrastructure in northern Israel was shot down by the Israeli Navy over Israel's territorial waters on Saturday morning, the military said. How is the IDF protecting this vulnerable site? On Saturday morning, the IDF issued fresh evacuation orders to Palestinians in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, including in sections of the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone, citing intelligence that Hamas terrorists were operating in the area. What new area of Gaza is the IDF operating in now? In a dangerous operation on Wednesday, the bodies of Ravid Katz, 51, Oren Goldin, 33, Maya Goren, 56, Sgt. Kiril Brodski, 19, and Staff Sgt. Tomer Yaakov Ahimas, 20, were recovered by IDF special forces and members of the Shin Bet security agency. Fabian explains how the interrogation of a Hamas prisoner led to the bodies' location. On Friday, the coastal city of Ashkelon was targetted by rockets in an attack claimed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. What do we know about this terror group's capabilities almost 10 months into the war? For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: 12 killed, all aged 10-20, as Hezbollah rocket hits soccer field, sparking wider war fears Hezbollah will pay ‘heavy price,' PM vows after strike on Druze town kills 12 youngsters IDF has killed 500 terrorists in Lebanon since beginning of war, says senior officer Hezbollah drone apparently heading for offshore gas rig downed by Israeli Navy IDF orders new evacuations for humanitarian zone, hits Hamas HQ in central Gaza school Bodies of 5 hostages were found in tunnel in Gaza's Israeli-designated humanitarian zone Ashkelon targeted by rocket fire from Gaza for first time in a month Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ben Wallick. IMAGE: Mourners carry the coffin of a child killed in a Hezbollah rocket strike from Lebanon a day earlier, during a mass funeral in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, on July 28, 2024. (Jalaa Marey / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the five cities of the Philistine pentapolis. Thank you for listening! Please leave a 5 star review, share and subscribe!

Content warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence, combat, death, sexual assault, violence against children and more.   Dorin Cohen grew up in Ashkelon, Israel and most recently lived in Kibbutz Kfar Aza with her husband, Itamar, and her two young boys, Adam and Jonathan, where they survived nearly 30 hours in their bomb shelter on October 7. Dorin has a Bachelor's degree in Law from Ono Academic College and is currently pursuing an advanced studies degree in Child Development at Bar-Ilan University. Earlier this month in New York at an event titled Understanding Israel, Dorin bravely shared her story. It's a story of unthinkable cruelity, an unprecedented moment, and unparalleled heroism. You might think you know the story of October 7th, but you haven't heard it through Dorin's eyes. Hers is a story that is much bigger than the division that has unfolded around the world since Oct 7th and the combat that has followed. Dorin's story is one of a young mother, a wife, a human being, and a hero–who showed a kind of courage that few will ever know. No matter where you stand on Israel/Gaza/Palestine, this is a story you need to hear. Because it's about much more than Hamas and Israel, it's about the most basic brutalities and beauties of humanity. And it's a story everyone in the world must hear.  It comes from the Understanding Israel event that was hosted by friend of the show and former guest, Eli Elefant (Episode 252 - Nov. 16, 2022). Dorin was introduced by her friend, Rachael Braverman. And her unforgettable talk followed the panel with Ambassador Marc Ginsberg and Mike Novogratz that was moderated by our Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) and broadcast exclusively by Righteous Media in our previous, important, special Episode 262 posted last week.  After experiencing this unimaginable trauma, Dorin and her family are now working to build a new life–maybe in Israel–maybe in America. You can help them on this path by donating what you can to this GoFundMe page set up by their friends.  Every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories–and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's content for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. Independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve–and stay vigilant.  -Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know.  -Watch Dorin Cohen's powerful remarks from the Understanding Israel event on YouTube. -Donate to help Dorin and her family. And encourage others to do the same.  -Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America's next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Content warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence, combat, death, sexual assault, violence against children and more.  Dorin Cohen grew up in Ashkelon, Israel and most recently lived in Kibbutz Kfar Aza with her husband, Itamar, and her two young boys, Adam and Jonathan, where they survived nearly 30 hours in their bomb shelter on October 7. Dorin has a Bachelor's degree in Law from Ono Academic College and is currently pursuing an advanced studies degree in Child Development at Bar-Ilan University.Earlier this month in New York at an event titled Understanding Israel, Dorin bravely shared her story. It's a story of unthinkable cruelty, an unprecedented moment, and unparalleled heroism. You might think you know the story of October 7th, but you haven't heard it through Dorin's eyes. Hers is a story that is much bigger than the division that has unfolded around the world since Oct 7th and the combat that has followed. Dorin's story is one of a young mother, a wife, a human being, and a hero–who showed a kind of courage that few will ever know. No matter where you stand on Israel/Gaza/Palestine, this is a story you need to hear. Because it's about much more than Hamas and Israel, it's about the most basic brutalities and beauties of humanity. And it's a story everyone in the world must hear. It comes from the Understanding Israel event that was hosted by friend of the show and former guest, Eli Elefant (Episode 252 - Nov. 16, 2022). Dorin was introduced by her friend, Rachael Braverman. And her unforgettable talk followed the panel with Ambassador Marc Ginsberg and Mike Novogratz that was moderated by our Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) and broadcast exclusively by Righteous Media in our previous, important, special Episode 262 posted last week. After experiencing this unimaginable trauma, Dorin and her family are now working to build a new life–maybe in Israel–maybe in America. You can help them on this path by donating what you can to this GoFundMe page set up by their friends. Every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories–and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's content for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. Independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve–and stay vigilant. -Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know. -Watch Dorin Cohen's powerful remarks from the Understanding Israel event on YouTube.-Donate to help Dorin and her family. And encourage others to do the same. -Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season. -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America's next great independent media company. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says that when the footage of the deadly January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is released to the public, the faces of the rioters will be blurred to protect them from being charged by the Justice Department. Former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney was the vice chair of the House Select Committee that investigated the insurrection. She joins AC360 to discuss Speaker Johnson's decision. She also talks about the current state of the GOP and says this group of Republicans "can't be counted on to defend the Constitution." Plus, the Israeli military says today was the "most intense day since the beginning of the ground operation." CNN Correspondent Jeremy Diamond is in Ashkelon, Israel. He tells Anderson Cooper what's going on in Southern Gaza where Israeli troops have encircled the city of Khan Younis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Israel Defense Forces say they found the body of Yehudit Weiss, an Israeli hostage, near the Al-Shifa hospital. Weiss was kidnapped on October 7th and a military spokesperson said the 65-year-old grandmother was killed by Hamas but didn't give details on the cause of death. CNN Correspondent Jeremy Diamond joins AC360 from Ashkelon, Israel to discuss where the negotiations stand to release some of the other hostages. Plus, a House Ethics Committee report revealed “substantial evidence” that Republican New York Rep. George Santos stole from his campaign and delivered a “constant series of lies” to voters and donors. GOP Rep. Ken Buck tells Anderson Cooper why he now wants Santos to be expelled from Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The terrorist attacks on the people of Israel have caused indescribable devastation and destruction. Seeing our people's suffering and being unable to help can be overwhelming and utterly exhausting. In this episode of the MPP, Rav Moshe Weinberger, Rabbi Elyada Goldwicht, and Rabbi Menachem Leiberman share their emotions and thoughts on the attacks.   The Rabbi of Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, Rav Weinberger's genuine and soulful teachings have become a pillar in the community and beyond, inspiring countless people.    Rabbi Goldwicht, is the founder of Semichas Chaver Program (SCP), the fastest growing Torah-learning initiative for young professionals in the world, is an IDF soldier currently serving in the war.    Rabbi Menachem Leiberman is the Chabad shaliach in Ashkelon. His family's home and the school he leads were destroyed by direct rocket hits from Hamas terrorists.   The three-pronged conversation overflows with healing, inspiration and light, providing direction to us all through this devastating darkness.   Help Chabad of Ashkelon Here paypal.me/chaiashkelon   Just One Chesed https://justonechesed.org/   Chesed V'Rachamim https://www.charidy.com/Chessedvrachamim   ____________________________________ ►Meaningful People Whatsapp Channel Join our brand new Meaningful People WhatsApp Channel! Exclusive content, breaking updates + more of Meaningful People right at your fingertips!   Join now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va5NAOUFCCoQmgEUiy1 Subscribe to Meaningful Minute on WhatsApp:  WhatsApp Subscribe Link ____________________________________ Subscribe to our Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2WALuE2 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/39bNGnO Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/MPPGooglePodcasts Or wherever Podcasts are available!   Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/meaningfulpeoplepodcast Like us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/MPPonFB Follow us on Twitter:https://twitter.com/MeaningfuPplPod   Editor: Sruly Saftlas Podcast created by: Meaningful Minute   For more info and upcoming news, check out: https://Meaningfulminute.org   #jew #jewish #podcast #frum #rabbi #frumpodcast #meaningfulpeople #torah #mitzvah #hashem #jewishmusic #jewishpodcast #israel #kumzitz #nachigordon #jewishpod #Conversion #Mayer #Weiss #Chassidim #hispanic