The moment, taped by Hamas, that Shiri Bibas, clutching to her 2 baby sons
was taken by Hamas. Her husband was already kidnapped. Hamas would
go on the strangle to dear the babies with their bare hands. We still await
forensic news of how Shiri was murdered. Her husband was released in the
past fews weeks after being held in the most inhumane circumstance in
the pit of Hamas hell. Don't turn a blind eye from reality.
A Weekly Horror Show
by Orna Grinman
Ot OoMofet Ministries /A Sign and Example
at OrnaGrinman.com
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My Shabbats’ routine is repeating
itself these days: I
am usually glued to the screen for long hours, waiting for the next photo or
update to appear. It begins in the morning, with the setup of a staged scene in
Gaza, designed by Hamas to project a sense of control. Banners with Hebrew
slogans - often with typos - hung around the stage. Last week, the set included
a picture of a fist with six (!) fingers, interesting when you recall the
description of some Philistine warriors in 2 Samuel 21:18-22. Was this simply a
mistake of a careless artist, or an intentional act?
Then starts a long wait until the white Hamas
vehicles enter the frame. On our end we hold our breath. The door finally
opens, sometimes after agonizing, endless minutes. The Israeli media scrambles
to identify which of the kidnapped is inside. Do they look like themselves? Are
they on their feet? So far, yes… A brief sigh of relief. We can breathe.
Tears fill everyone’s eyes,
including our news anchors, who by now are so familiar with the families and
the story of each of those kidnapped. Some of these reporters were the only
people families managed to reach on the phone on October 7th. They were calling
from closets, bedrooms, or so-called safe rooms, when neither our army nor the
police knew what to do.
The next phase of the Hamas horror
show starts. They are masters in squeezing every possible opportunity to film
and exploit the kidnapped, forcing them to express gratitude to their captors.
One more opportunity for humiliation they are not going to miss. At last, the
kidnapped are handed over to the Red Cross. We endure another long wait...
30... 40 minutes... sometimes even an hour... until the Red Cross’ vans reach
the IDF’s. Only then the Israeli media finally confirms: They are in Israeli
hands.
An Empty Bosom | The cameras shift back and forth to the homes of
those who are released that day, capturing their families oscillating between
tears, joy, and fear. In these moments I usually pray that these relatives will
lift their eyes to God. That they will thank Him, and catch a glimpse of His
Face.
I also pray for the fabric of our
national soul - for Israel the widow, who is longing and waiting to embrace her
returning broken children. I pray that this moment will spark a national
realization, of how desperately we need our Husband, how we are unable to fully
protect our people on our own. The IDF and our leaders are simply not enough.
We need Someone higher, greater (and no, I am not referring here to President
Trump).
Next we wait for the IDF vehicles to
cross the Re’im border point with Gaza, with the returning captives inside.
Knowing they have been tormented by men all these months, most of them will be
treated by female officers, doctors and nurses at the beginning. So a
high-ranked female officer meets them, and assures them that they are home,
that they are safe.
They
undergo initial medical assessments - do they need emergency treatment? Should
they be rushed by ambulance to the nearest hospital or can they be flown to a
better-equipped facility in central Israel? Then they shower. Shave, if they
want to. And at last, they will embrace a loved one. This is the image we all
anticipate. When that moment finally airs, it shatters us to pieces.
I think of the bosoms of the
mothers, fathers, children, who have been empty and aching since October 2023,
longing for this moment. They just want to take a deep look into the eyes of
the kidnapped, to touch their skin, smell them, check if they are sane, and
assure them that they will never leave them again, that they are safe now, that
they will be all right.
VIDEO Watch how his dad hugs and kisses him... makes me wonder how God feels when
one of His children is set free from bondage and comes back home.
At this point I pray for God’s
longing to be fulfilled, for His bosom to be filled with His children, that we
will all run to His embrace. These moments give me a glimpse into centuries of
pain and yearning that had filled our Abba’s heart towards His people. We, too,
have been kidnapped - by our own ignorance and terrible choices.
Lord, turn our faces to You. Turn
Your Face toward us. Show us Your longing and mercy. Forgive us, Abba, for
failing to see the deep spiritual parallels in this nightmare. Have mercy on
us, not according to what we deserve, but according to Your covenant with us.
This entire horror show goes on for
six or seven hours. Through it all, millions here endure this same emotional
roller coaster together. It creates a profound sense of solidarity, simply
because we are all experiencing the same extreme emotions, even if we do not
know each other. For me, this is another opportunity to dive into the depths of
our national soul, which is broken, yet full of hope. Mourning, yet rejoicing.
Helpless, yet active. Worried, yet determined.
How
Can This Be? | For months, our government has assured us that Hamas is
weakening. They probably are, yet, there they stand - uniformed, armed,
orchestrating the spectacle. How can that be? What will it take to finally get
them out of the picture?
Hamas is not just an entity. It’s an
ideology. An evil one, birthed in the pits and tunnels of hell. Changing or
annihilating it requires long-term education and relentless efforts. It takes a
different level of war. Such a sobering reality.
With Trump’s unprecedented declarations, that might happen. Perhaps the
education system in Gaza will eventually lead to a generation that won’t be
brain-washed. Hamas’ ideology is still around, but I choose to remember that
Zionism has the upper hand. Simply because it is not just one more ideology.
It’s not just a modern political movement. Zion is God’s throne. It’s a
physical place with an eternal plan that was birthed in Heaven, and this is the
one that will prevail.
No wonder most of the world opposes
it.
The
Restoration Starts | Kibbutz Be’eri is one of those who were pogromed on
that day. It was the biggest in the region, with about 1,200 members. On
October 7th, early 10% (101 members) were butchered. 31 kidnapped, including
kids.
The surviving community moved to a
hosting kibbutz in the region, who quickly built a new neighborhood for them,
so they would still be together and support each other. Today, nearly 15 months
later, 21 babies have been born in that community. In this season of Tu Bishvat
- the Israeli annual day of tree-planting and a symbol of renewal and
restoration - I rejoice as once more the enemy tried to annihilate us and sow
chaos in this land, yet we are multiplying, and taking deep roots.
Small
Stories That Tell The Big One | One of the first things Gadi Moses, 80,
said on the day of his release from Hamas captivity, was: “I will do everything
I can to rehabilitate my kibbutz.” Since he was discharged from the hospital a
few days ago, he is constantly searching for nature, wanting to touch the soil,
breathe the air of Israel again and focus on the future.
Gadi says he did not get sick even
once during captivity. His captor, however, fell ill at some point, and Gadi
found himself taking care of him. He could have taken his captor’s weapon and
escape, but he didn’t know where he was or who would find him outside. So, he
stayed and even gave a massage... to his captor.
Sagui’s third daughter was born on
his birthday, while he was in Hamas’ tunnels. On Saturday he met her for the
first time, and heard her name - Shachar, meaning Dawn, in hope of a dawn of a
new day. Ya’ir is a devout fan of the Be’er Sheva soccer team. Shortly after
his release, when he climbed up the aircraft that would take him to the hospital,
he asked the pilot to fly over the stadium. It happened that a soccer match was
taking place in the stadium at that time. As the helicopter hovered over, you
can imagine the shouts of joy of the spectators and players.
Ya’ir wrapped the Israeli flag
around him while on the helicopter. That is the image he wanted everyone to
remember when he stepped off the military helicopter onto the hospital’s
landing pad.
Yes, they are angry at what they had
to endure. That is obvious and expected. But neither of them thinks of revenge
or hatred. They just want to see the rest of the kidnapped make it back home,
their families healed and their communities restored. This
and more on Orna’s blog
Arrows
from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer
Requests Israeli Ministries
Heartbreaking,
that is the one word title Reuven Doron
sent on Thursday after the coffins of 4 hostages were returned to Israel. He
didn’t know it then but the mother of the two Bibas babies was not returned
with her sons. Another unidentified woman was returned in Shiri Bibas’ place.
It is unknown if she is dead or alive. A grandfather was also returned and as
Reuven notes, “hundreds of Muslim terrorists
were released from Israeli prisons to be received with cheers of joy by their
Arab clans as victorious heroes” in exchange for the 4 Israeli bodies. It is
heartbreaking and also maddening. Click
the title to read more, and also watch this short video Reuven sent to “help
you find heaven’s perspective for these events” - Slaughtered before Him
Rueven’s
previous MERCY - The
Final Frontier is a much needed perspective as well. “From our heavenly
perspective then, let us pray that God’s MERCY may prevail in the coming
days and throughout the coming events. Let our short video below encourage your
heart with God’s Word || Current War Report continues
online where Reuven offers
incredible out-of-the-box takes on the various issues Israel is facing.”
To partner with us, you can visit https://pushpay.com/g/reuven , or email us at
reuvendoron@gmail.com for more information.
Chaim Malespin, who often posts his daily videos from the frontlines where this
ministry leader is serving in the IDF writes about a very important issue: Post
Traumatic Stress Syndrome. “Right now there are many people suffering from trauma and PTSD
in Israel. This includes the people that were attacked on October 7th, our
soldiers, and many others. And this is a disease that affects all three parts
of a person. Thankfully, God offers complete healing for our body, soul, and
spirit.
Here
are some scriptures that speak about this | For the body: "But
I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD."
Jeremiah 30:17 | For the soul:
"He restores my soul;” Psalms 23:3 | For the spirit: “The LORD is close to
the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
This war
in Israel has been devastating and tragic in so many ways. It has been a
difficult season and it is still not over. However, we don’t lose hope. We are
praying that God has a purpose in all of this. . . . Won't you please: Sow into The
Faithful Galileans and the Aliyah Return Center
From Sally Shiff of the HaMaayan congregation (currently
touring in the US) 2/20 “Today Israel mourns…. Israel received back 4 caskets. Two of them
contained the bodies of 9 month of Kfir and Ariel 4 years…. Now they are at
forensics to discover their final fate. A few weeks ago, their father Yarden
was returned in a hostage exchange. Now he has lost his family, and Shiri's
parents who were also murdered on October 7, 2023. The country is shattered.
The heart-wrenching devastation continues, and should be a vivid reminder that
this is real and if given the opportunity to continue, the head of the snake,
Iran will not stop with Israel. Israel having to return terrorists for these
wonderful innocent children and the rest of the hostages dead and alive is a
promise of continued attacks against Israel and the rest of the world.
On 2/19 Sally wrote about “My
view of what I am finding here in America: It's
quite understandable that the top news is Trump and what he has accomplished
since taking office. The wars in Ukraine and Israel have taken a back seat, and
once a "cease-fire" had been announced, the war is "over." I
get it, but that thinking is far from true. The war is not over in
both Israel or Ukraine. Fighting is still taking place, and will continue
until the enemy is completely eradicated. My time here has been "one
person or one group" at a time.
On 2/17 she wrote, “Today is the 500th day of this war, and 500th day of
captivity of our hostages. The body of Yeshua is gathering today "in
spirit" of a fast day for our war and all its elements. This is a
spiritual war that only God can change and direct. It doesn't matter how much
the enemy tries to rear his ugly head and try to intimidate Yeshua, He has
already won. Pray that as a body, (you included) can stand strong and continue
to fight. "Do not grow weary in
doing good for you will reap if you do not lose heart." Meanwhile we wait on the Lord's guidance
and direction while doing our part to pray. Much more…but I have to
limit the space here
From Pastor Pochtar in Ashdod, Beit
Hallel congregation and Voice of Judah
Ministries, Watch VIDEO Incredible
Reconciliation Conference in Turkey Brings Believers Together | Something truly special happened recently in
Turkey—a powerful reconciliation conference where ministers from Israel and
leaders from mostly Muslim nations, including those where Christians face
persecution, gathered to worship, pray, and build bridges. Beit Hallel Congregation's
very own Pastor Kostia Tsivin had the amazing opportunity to be there.
Hear Pastor Israel
speak in-person on Sunday, February 23, 2025. Join us in-person at My Father's House 5712 Bass Rd.
Fort
Wayne IN 46808 at 10 am EST
or online. Watch live on YouTube or Facebook Pastor Israel shared a word
on the Hebrew meaning of “shalom” – it means “means
so much more than just the absence of conflict—it speaks of wholeness,
completeness, and divine well-being.” Also this “Application: True
shalom is not something the world can give or take away. It comes from knowing
that God is in control, that He provides, protects, and restores. No matter
what challenges we face, His shalom remains. A Prayer for You: May the
shalom of God guard your heart and mind today. May His presence bring wholeness
to every area of your life, and may you experience the fullness of His peace in
every situation.”
From the Revive Israel team led by Youval and Valerie Yanay, “a young
woman who participated in our last winter program, was deeply moved by the vision
of communal life and has now chosen to become a part of our community. It is
always a joy to witness someone embracing this shared journey of faith. As she
steps into this new season, please keep her in your prayers.” | At the same
time, we ask for your continued prayers for Raphael, Liel, and their children,
who are still serving in Brazil. |
A New
Name, A New Identity | There is something profound in Yeshua’s words—the
personal call of the Shepherd to His sheep. It is not just a distant voice
or a general instruction; it is a personal call, a name, an identity, and a
deep recognition. The sheep recognize the Shepherd’s voice because He speaks to
each one by name. On our farm, we
also raise goats. To train a goat to recognize its name, we enter the pen
and call it by name. When it responds, we reward it with dry bread (which they
consider a real treat), a vegetable, or a gentle touch. Over time, the goats
learn not only their own names but also who their owner is. They come to
associate their name with something good—something that belongs to them. This
is very similar to what Yeshua does in our lives. At first, He calls us by name. (WOW! Beautiful! Dd)
From Christian Arab prophetic intercessor Rania Sayegh of the House of Prayer & Exploits in
Nazareth, her Prophetic
Mission to Norway & Sweden “….—it was
a prophetic mission connected to a vision God gave me nearly 11 years ago. As I
traveled through Sweden and Norway, I carried a message of unity, calling
the Nordic nations to stand together as one arrow in the hand of the Lord.
Through powerful prophetic acts, divine confirmations, and a renewed call to
intercede for the nations, my time at the conference was both impactful and
transformative….watch a
brief recap, offering a glimpse into all
that the Lord has accomplished during our time in Norway and Sweden.”
Our Prayer Points: Faith for
Israel & the Nations | Join us in
prayer for Israel, the nations, and HOPE’s mission. As a community of
intercessors, we stand as pillars in the house of prayer, believing God will
move mightily in this season. | Raise a Generation of Prayer Warriors:
Pray for God to raise intercessors worldwide, uniting them to dispel darkness
and release the power of prayer.| Unveil the Messiah to His People: Pray
for the veil over the Jewish people to be lifted, that their hearts cry out for
the Messiah, rejecting abortion and embracing His truth.| Break the Chains
of Oppression: Pray for a spiritual awakening among God’s army, breaking
the slumber caused by witchcraft and exposing the schemes of those with
destructive agendas.| Salvation for All: Pray for God’s light to reach
the darkest hearts—Jews, Arabs, and even terrorists—bringing salvation to all
who seek Him.| Protection and Provision for Israel: Pray for angelic
protection over Israel, the miraculous rescue of hostages in Gaza, and for
wisdom and righteousness in Israel’s leadership.| Strength and Provision for
Rania & the HOPE Team: Pray for Rania and the HOPE team as they serve
in intercession, worship, and outreach. Ask God to strengthen them, grant
wisdom, and provide resources, including new partners to expand HOPE’s work in
2025. |
Sow Into HOPE | Recently we’ve been blessed with new premises
to expand this work, but meeting our $5,300 monthly operational costs remains a
step of faith. Thanks to the support of our global family
From Richard and Carolyn Hyde at Heart for
G-d Ministries write, “We're excited to
share a recent outreach with believers and Israeli pre-believers - listening to
Adonai bears good fruit for everyone. Also we're grateful to return to Europe to minister in German public schools again. Please
pray for open hearts and decisions for Messiah.”
Why Not
Aliyah Now? The Aliyah flyer that Richard
created is now in website form! Please share with Jewish friends and family. If
you have documents to prove you're Jewish and you follow Yeshua, NBN is NOT
advisable, so contact us if you'd like Aliyah counsel...
Thank you for praying for these many
prayer requests: *Our sons and the Tree of Life Israel team | *The
upcoming Israeli Believers Women's Conference | *Torn hearts that cry for our
hostages to come home versus the exchange of murderous criminals released in
our midst |*The soon release of our new music video from Jerusalem | *Upcoming journey to Germany, Austria,
Ireland & England
City of Life congregation in Sderot’s
Michael Beener reports shortly before the release of the Bibas family, “With deep sorrow, we continue to pray for the swift
release of the hostages still held by Hamas under inhumane conditions, tortured
and confined in Gaza’s tunnels. The slow pace of their liberation and the
fragile peace agreements fill us with anguish, as so many families still wait
for news of their loved ones. Today, the heart of Israel mourns one of the most
heartbreaking confirmations: the Bibas family, who had become a symbol of the
fight for the return of the hostages, has been murdered.”
This congregation is among
several who are bearing their own cross for their faith in Yeshua – another
pressing burden in the midst of all Israel is being wrung out with due to the
brutality of those they war with. Here is a congregation of Jewish believers in
Yeshua/Jesus doing commendable humanitarian aid in their needy city and the
ultra-Orthodox are so bound in jealousy they are in a fit to shut them down and
run them out of town. The result is Constant
Persecution On Our Ministry. One thing would give them breathing
room to work and if you would like to be a part of helping them move into that
solution Michael writes, We are going
to need your help! He also writes, We aren’t going to quit!
From the Tiferet Yeshua
congregation in Tel Aviv, pastor Gil Afrait sits down with one of their
elders, Oren who “received two prophetic words which anticipated the
October 7th massacre and Israel's miraculous victory against Hezbollah in the
north a year later.” Together they “discuss
at length how Oren received this first prophetic word, the details of which
specifically foretold the events of October 7th, and what it had to say about
God's heart and calling for Israel. Also about the second. Watch Now
As Israel
continues to be in turmoil in the aftermath of October 7th attack, we at
Tiferet Yeshua feel the urgency of shining the light of Messiah Yeshua to
Israel while raising up a strong, healthy congregation in the heart of Tel
Aviv. We believe and rely with much expectation on the promises of the God of Israel
to save Jacob in the time of his trouble (Jeremiah 30) and bring a spiritual
revival to His people (Romans 11). Your
generous support gives us the ability to continue in God's calling to serve
and impact the people of Israel with the gospel! Give Today
Felipe Hasegawa, Director of Communications at Tikkun Global give us the first stunning look at the new Tikkun
Global Ministry Center + Prayer Room. . Watch the VIDEO and look at the fantastic view of the city including the Mount of Olives from a
giant wall of windows. Felipe writes, “The
Tikkun Global Ministry Center + Prayer Room will be used for studio and content
creation, teaching space, fellowship and hospitality, and of course, prayer…. I
have many more updates to provide you of all the activities Tikkun Global is
doing here in the land and will soon be sharing more.”
Avi Tekle at Tents of Mercy in Kiryat Yam opened
with the scripture from Zechariah 12:10, “They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son and grieve
bitterly for him, as one grieves for a firstborn.” He continued writing, “ I have long imagined how this verse would
look and feel when it came to pass. A nation - mourning collectively as one -
as for their own son. Today we saw a glimpse of it. Today, the worst
scenario played out, and the hope we have held for 503 days fell.
“Four bodies, assumed to be Oded Lifshitz (the oldest hostage from
Kibbutz Nir Oz), and three members of the Bibas family (Kfir kidnapped at 9
months, Ariel kidnapped at age 4, and their mom, Shiri) - all these precious
souls returned today in caskets. Thousands of Israelis lined the streets to pay
their respects as the convoy of vehicles drove past, saluting and bowing their
heads before Oded, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir. This
brief video message is my attempt to share a small portion of what I/we are
feeling.
“We pray comfort and closure for the bereaved families in this
impossibly tragic circumstance. Blessed are those who mourn; they will be
comforted! Broken and held in Yeshua’s love, Avi & Hannah Tekle”
Ronit Bender, an inspiration of friend-making &
personal evangelism,
writes about her recent evangelistic encounters, but she also shares the news
of two fronts. The first the sorrow she shares with all her countrymen as the
hostage exchange has begun to hold the whole country hostage to the dramatic
evils of their enemies. Ronit writes, “All Israel is mourning. . . .this is reality. Israel has a great need for
your comfort and continued prayers and we count on YOU dear brothers and
sisters. Because I'm not sure what you hear in the media in your countries if at
all I felt I needed to share these. Isaiah says, "'Comfort, yes,
comfort My people', says Your God."
“As I
was writing this update, I had a meeting scheduled with the leaders at
"Kerem El" congregation. I have attended that congregation for over
ten years, and as the new year came in, the Lord spoke to my heart to return
Carmel Congregation full time. When the Lord speaks, you listen and
obey. It's never easy to leave a congregation, but I trust the Lord has His
reasons and a plan. So the meeting took place, a few tears shed, but we
parted as friends like it should be.
“That day was also 11 years since Tom's graduation to Heaven and the same
day Trump returned to office. Additionally, after 471 days, 2 young male
hostages were returned from Gaza. It was a day of many tears; tears of joy and
excitement, tears of sorrow for those still waiting to be released, wondering
if they ever get to return to their families. Please pray for the nation of
Israel - these are tough times.
In her next prayer letter I will feature Ronit’s special anointing to
lead individuals she meets to the Lord. . . .As she did “A” last week. Ronit
requests, “A made a commitment to the Lord, but please pray for both her and her
husband to yield to the Spirit of the Lord and be fully saved.” Also: “I was
invited to speak to a group of Holocaust survivors on the 27th of February.
This group is very elderly and will see eternity soon. I would really your
prayers for me as I impart my testimony and the love of Yeshua. I will be
sharing about this experience next letter. “
Last but certainly not least, Cookie Schwaeber-Issan daily writing
article/commentaries that appear in AllIsrael.com and the Jerusalem Post. She
is Available for Zoom Calls for your
Israel-interested groups: EMAIL itscook7@gmail.com. Here are her latest At
AllIsrael.com 2/21 What the
Bibas Family Tragedy Revealed | 2/20
Exposing
antisemitism is not manufactured moral panic | 2/18
Why
apologize for doing what God commanded | 2/16
How Should
Evil be Confronted | At Jerusalem
Post 2/16 Are
hospitals abroad safe for Israelis?
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