THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL UPDATE
A Note from Jonathan Bernis
Shalom, my friend!
I’m so grateful for your prayers and support on behalf of this ministry and the Jewish people.
As you know, only God can effectively combat the anti-Semitism and hatred against the Jewish people that we’re seeing in Israel and around the world.
In fact, one of the greatest hopes we have is that God hears the cries of His people. That no matter what any of us might be facing, He is in control to move and act according to His plans.
That’s why I hope you’ll continue to pray for the Jewish people – for their ongoing safety, for God to open their hearts to receive the Gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) and for our ministry in Israel and around the world.
Thank you for standing with us through your partnership.
To the Jew first and also to the Nations,
Jonathan Bernis
President & CEO
Jewish Voice Ministries International
Headline News
German Guard Detained for Hitler Salute to Israeli Athletes Visiting Munich Memorial
The Times of Israel reported last week that a German security guard had been arrested for making a Hitler salute in front of a group of Israeli athletes visiting a memorial to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.
According to German police reports, the 16 athletes from the Israeli European Championships team were visiting the Olympic Park in Munich when the banned gesture was made.
Police immediately arrested the suspect, a 19-year-old from Berlin. And as reported by The Times of Israel, he has been banned from all further European Championships events.
The arrest comes at a sensitive time, with Munich hosting the European Championships ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Olympics massacre in 1972, in which 11 Israelis were murdered.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also further inflamed the situation during a visit to Berlin last week.
According to The Times of Israel, President Abbas failed to condemn the massacre and instead compared crimes committed against the Palestinians to the Holocaust.
The Palestinian Presidency later addressed the comments after they attracted a wave of international furor and claimed President Abbas had merely intended to highlight Israeli “crimes.”
Updates from the Middle East
Israeli Prime Minister to U.S., Europe: Walk away from Iran talks or look weak
Last week, Israel’s Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, told officials from the U.S. and Europe that the West will look weak if it doesn’t stop nuclear talks with Iran now. The Prime Minister’s remarks came just days after Iran responded to what was meant to be a final text of a renewed nuclear deal.
Russian Jews head for Israel as Kremlin targets Jewish Agency
According to Israeli government figures, 20,246 Russians emigrated to Israel between January and July 2022, with a spike from February to March – following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The scale of the emigration seems to have taken the Russian authorities by surprise and may have prompted retaliation by the Kremlin. Recently, the Russian Justice Ministry requested the liquidation of the Moscow branch of the Jewish Agency for Israel, a non-profit organization that helps foreign Jews looking to move to Israel.
Pray with Us This Week
Please pray with me for:
- God to protect the innocent lives from the fighting in Ukraine and to bring a peaceful end to the invasion by Russia
- God to surround His people in Israel, who are constantly facing threats and violence from surrounding enemies
- Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
- Jewish people to recognize "Yeshua" as their Messiah
