Scripture Reading for December 30, 2017
Torah: Genesis 47:28 – 50:26, “Vayechi” (and he lived … ) Haftorah: I Kings 2:1 – 12 New Testament: I Peter 1:3 – 9 Gospel: John 1:19 – 28, “Adute shel Yochanan” (The Testimony of John … )
Messianic Lite: Vayechi, “and he lived”
This week’s Torah portion covers Genesis 47:28 to 50:26. When Jacob was nearing his death in Egypt at the age of 147, he called all of his sons together to receive their final blessings. Blessings is probably not the appropriate term here because he also doles out criticisms and prophecies. To modern day, when Jews…
Israel Announces “Donald Trump Train Station” in Jerusalem
By Israel Today— Israel Railways has decided to name the final stop on its soon-to-open high-speed Tel Aviv-Jerusalem line after US President Donald Trump, reported Yediot Ahronot. The much-anticipated rail line was originally supposed to terminate at a new station being built adjacent to Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station and the International Convention Center (known locally…
The Seeds of Messiah Planted in the UN Jerusalem Vote
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, Breaking Israel News— The Tenth of Tevet, a fast day that began Thursday morning, commemorates the beginning of the Greek siege of Jerusalem, an event one rabbi sees mirrored in the hateful United Nations vote last week that attempted to isolate Jerusalem from the world. In the spirit of one of…
Iranian Parliament Recognizes Jerusalem as Capital of Palestine
By JPost–– The Iranian parliament voted to approve a plan on Wednesday that would require the government of Iran to recognize Jerusalem as the permanent capital of the Palestinian people, Iranian news agency Fars reported. The vote yielded 207 supporters and met with no opposition. On December 6, US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as…
Jerusalem’s Christian Communities Feel Anxiety in Testing Times
By Greer Fay Cashman, Jerusalem Post— In as much as Christian communities enjoy freedom of worship in Israel, they are fearful of an intrusion into their rights by a proposed bill circulating in the Knesset. Concern to this effect was voiced on Wednesday by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem at the annual pre-New…
Displeased with Palestinians, Arab states chart new Jerusalem policy
By Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom— Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are displeased with the way the Palestinian Authority has reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and his decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy to the city, Israel Hayom has learned. Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit announced over…
Ambassador Friedman: Stop using the word ‘occupation’
By Gary Willig, Arutz7— US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman recently asked the State Department to cease using the term ‘occupation’ to describe Israel’s presence in Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem, according a report by Kan, the Israel Broadcasting Corporation. According to the report, the State Department objected to the request, but eventually agreed to…
Saudi Writers: Why Should Saudi Arabia Pay the Price for the Mistakes of the Palestinians?
In a recent TV interview, Saudi writer Mohammed Al-Saed said that over the past century, Arab groups, regimes, and political parties had “peddled in the Palestinian cause and pinned all their mistakes on it to serve their own economic interests and survival.” Talking about the missed opportunities for a Palestinian state over the past century,…
Israeli Prime Minister Offers to Give Christians Guided Tour of Israel for Christmas 2018
By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post— https://www.christianpost.com/news/israeli-prime-minister-offers-give-christians-guided-tour-israel-christmas-2018-211298/Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday wished “Merry Christmas” to Christians and said he is “very proud” to be the leader of a country that doesn’t shy away from saying “Christmas.” “It’s a pleasure for me, on Christmas Eve, to be here, standing in Jerusalem, the holy city,” Netanyahu…