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Israel Update - November 15

CMJ USA • Nov 15, 2023

It’s been more than 40 days since the brutal October 7 massacre of Israelis and peoples from several other countries. Rocket fire from Gaza in Israel continues as the Israel Defense Forces work to root out Hamas from their hiding places. Israelis and Gazans mourn their mounting dead.

In recent days, staffers have attended funerals for two different fallen soldiers while a cousin of another staffer was seriously wounded in the fighting in Gaza. We pray for staff members and family members who are actively serving in the military.

In the midst of this, our colleagues at CMJ Israel continue to minister to the displaced, the poor, and the harassed.

The Christ Church Mercy Fund team went to East Jerusalem to visit the Domari (Gypsy) Community Center recently. About 1,500 Domari live in the Jerusalem area amidst difficult conditions that include poverty, low levels of education and unemployment. With problems intensifying amidst the current emergency, many depend on social welfare programs for their daily needs. The Mercy Fund has stepped up the provision of humanitarian aid to this community. Please continue to lift them up in prayer.

Mercy Fund staff also help the Domari with translation to fill out legal forms and insurance claims, as well as applications for assistance from the government following the destruction of their homes, loss of work, or even if they've tragically lost a loved one to terrorism and war. One woman with five children, one of whom is special needs, told a volunteer that this is the first time in her life she feels like there's someone who cares about her and her family and is showing kindness to them.

Please continue to pray for the CMJ community in Israel. They are frequently celebrating communion there as a way of reminding all the powers and principalities, as well as the faithful, that Jesus has put an end to death and He has defeated the devil. People might become hopeless, cynical or fatalistic, and we must be careful not to fall into those ways of thinking. They are holding daily Bible studies for the staff and community members. They are also working on pushing back against the rise of antisemitism.

Romans 12 offers us guidelines: abhor what is evil, weep with those who weep, and above all do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Let us also remember Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Please continue to pray

That the conflict will not escalate in the north.
For all who have been taken hostage.
For God's grace and comfort to be with all grieving families.
Especially for the many children who are caught up in the horror of these events. Many are scared, hungry, and have lost their homes and shelter, as well as some who have lost their parents or other family members.
For our leadership at CMJ as we continue to assess how best to respond to the unfolding situation. At the time that we need them the most, many key personnel have been called into service to the defense of Israel and their usual workload, as well as the additional tasks that have come with this emergency, are being carried by those who remain behind.
Pray specifically for the peace, well-being, and strength for the individuals who are staying at Christ Church and those who continue to seek refuge. The children who are without school, the grandparents who wait for phone calls, and the handicapped who are without their normal structure.

We close with the testimony of one of the Russian-speaking Israelis who has found refugee at the Christ Church Jerusalem guest house.