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Image and story courtesy Times of Israel
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2,000-Year-Old Fortress discovered in Jerusalem.
The recently discovered fortification built by Selecuid Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes was used by him during the 168BC siege of Jerusalem. It is largely believed to be part of the Acra fortress built by Antiochus in his attempts to subdue the priestly rebellion centered on the Temple (the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabean revolt). The site was opened to the public on December 6th- the beginning of Hannukah.
Wastewater purification with plants.
Israeli company Ayala Water & Ecology harnesses the power of plants to purify wastewater. Now this technology is more popular than ever thanks to increasing awareness of ecological issues and "green living". With little to no maintenance (except pruning), the water-purifying ecosystem focuses on using indigenous plants and is a closed system: using water already on-site. The all-natural system can be used for water purification and reuse at homes, farms, factories and public spaces like parks. Ayala's technology is already well established and in use around the world: Chile, India, Mexico, Germany, Greece, France, The U.S.A., Singapore and Israel; projects for the U.K. and the Philippines are in motion. Ayala CEO Eli Cohen says "You can produce high-quality water from nature if you create the right environment of plants, gravel and soil, and special natural additives for specific problems such as heavy metals and radioactive elements. If you do it in a natural way, it can last forever." Time to start thinking green?!
Wine from Jesus or King David's Time.
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Image and story courtesy Israel21C
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Recently, in what has been called a "turning point in modern wine-making in Israel", Barkan Winery has planted vineyards with the Jandali and Marawi indigenous species of vines. Renacanti Marawi wines has produced a wine similar to what would have been drunk during King David or Jesus' time. Currently 2,480 bottles are only available in restaurants across Israel. Elyashiv Drori, an agricultural and oenological researcher says Marawi, "...is a tasty grape to eat but it also makes very good wine similar to Chenin Blanc...it is complex and interesting. The nose is very citrus and mineral; you can really feel the soil in this wine. It's not aromatic like Muscato but has lots of character on the mineral notes." Best of all, according to Drori, it is a proper, authentic Israeli wine, not simply a wine produced in Israel. Here's to future Israeli wines on the horizon-L'Haim!
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Chinese at the Olive Tree Hotel
Alterations have recently been made in order to better accommodate
Chinese clientele. Signs within public areas are now written in Chinese. Brochures in Chinese are available in the rooms and provide information regarding the Olive Tree Hotel. Chinese television channels such as: CCTV 4 and Phoenix Infonews have also been added to the hotel television services.
During breakfast and dinner times, popular specialty Chinese dishes have been added to the menu such as:
- Vegetable Soup with Egg Drops
- Sichuan Style Beef Chunks
- Sauteed Noodles with Vegetables
- Chinese Egg Roll
- Congee with Orange
The hotel now also accepts the Chinese Union Pay Credit Card.
Global Hope Network International: Adopting Families, Iraqi Refugees
"Love your neighbour..." The following story shares about the important work that Global Hope Network International is doing with Iraqi Refugees and families in Jordan, please read and feel free to share.
"As a result of persecution of Iraqi Christians, over 250,000 Iraqi Christians have been forced to leave their homes and cities to find refuge in safe areas. They have lost their homes, businesses and belongings. They have told us that the options they were given were to confess the other faith, pay very high taxes, face death or leave. They choose to not deny their faith and Lord, and instead leave their homes trusting God and brothers and sisters in the faith for assistance in their future.
We have blessed over 500 families already and hope to bless up to 1,500 Iraqi refugee families here in Jordan. We trust the Lord to enable us to help many more. It takes a $1,000 to cover basic needs for a family for two Months.
This picture is one of 4,000 Refugee families from Iraq.
This family is such a
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Text and image courtesy of GHNI.
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very precious family.
Despite all that they have been through, they still keep smiling. They have shared with us how God used these circumstances to draw them nearer to Him. As ISIS threatened them, they left everything. He was an owner of a steel company. They took it. He had a nice home. They took it. He had a savings account to retire. They took that too. All because they are Christian. Every Christian in Mosul, Iraq had to leave. What ISIS could not take was his family, and their faith.
The Vision:
As we continue to serve the needy families, our vision is to have loving and praying families who will pray and sponsor Iraqi Christian refugee families in Jordan."
If you would like more information on how to support this work, please contact your Sar-El representative.
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Sid Roth teaching at the Southern Steps
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We have been blessed with many visitors to Israel through Sar-El over the past months including several large conferences and special multi-bus tours in addition to our faithful friends both old and new. At a time when concerns have been raised in regard to safety in Israel, it is a blessing to share reports of just a few of the most recent groups that have traveled here with us.
We were once again privileged to serve Dr. Paul Dhinakaran and Jesus Calls Ministry with their most recent gathering here with over 290 participants who toured the land and interceded from the Jesus Calls Prayer Tower in the center of Jerusalem.
We are also blessed to have author and evangelist Perry Stone with us for two back to back tours throughout Israel. The groups toured well-loved sites in the Galilee, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea region.
World famous Filippino boxer Manny Pacqiao made international news headlines with his recent visit to Israel with his wife Jinkee and their tour group. He is well known as a strong supporter of Israel (even calling their son Israel), and was interviewed by the media as he explained how important it is for him as a Christian to visit Israel each year.
400 people joined well known author and "It's Supernatural!" television evangelist Sid Roth in Israel for a tour at the end of November. The group toured throughout the country and were inspired by Sid Roth' s teachings.
We are also very grateful for all of our Tour Leaders and participants from all parts of Asia to California, South Africa to Canada and many places in between who came and saw that the "Land is good."
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Dear Friends,
As we celebrate Hannukah and Christmas, we remember the true Light of the World and His sovereignty as Messiah. This coming month is a time that many of us remember yet again God's faithfulness to us; He sent the Messiah into the world that we might have life and be with Him forever.
At this time I am also reminded that the existence of Israel today is a testimony to God's faithfulness. The fact that the nation of Israel exists after all that they have faced throughout history is not because it is perfect in the eyes of God; it is simply a sign and testament to the world of God's faithfulness. It is a witness to the fact that God always keeps His promises.
"Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: "If this fixed order departs from before Me," declares the LORD, "Then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever." Thus says the LORD, "If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel For all that they have done," declares the LORD...." Jeremiah 31:35-37. The sun, the moon and stars all still give their light, the waves still roar, the heavens have not been measured nor the foundations of the earth - in other words, God's promise still stands- Israel is a nation before Him forever!
In recent months we have seen several direct challenges to Israel; this is nothing new. The labeling of Israeli products from Judea and Samaria for example, and the continued call for boycotts against the State of Israel for various matters. In light of this, I would like to encourage us to look at God's word and remember what He says about His land, Israel. May this be a reminder to us all of God's sovereignty and, that at the end of the day, God's word is true and what He says will stand
(Isaiah 40:8).
"And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and my elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there." Isaiah 65:9. God reiterates His promise of inheritance, the mountains of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria are His mountains, God calls them His own and proclaims that His chosen will inherit the land and live there, in the land where He ordained. Incidentally, these are the very same mountains where today, dispute lies over the dwelling of Israelis, their farming and cultivation of the land.
Zechariah 12:8 says
"...the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem..." and Isaiah 41:11 that
"All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish." As God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3,
"And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." To those who bless Israel, God will bless them, but to those who oppose Israel the opposite is true
(ultimately, they are in opposition to God himself).
God also instructed Israel to be a blessing to the stranger in the land
"You are to love those who are foreigners for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt" (Deuteronomy 10:19, see also Leviticus 19:34), and He purposed Israel to be a blessing to our neighbors and to the world. Jewish scientists, politicians, inventors and writers have been blessing the world through their work for hundreds of years. Of all the Nobel Peace Prizes awarded, 41 have been to Jews (Nobel Prizes have been awarded to over 850 individuals, at least 20% of whom were Jewish). Just some of the inventions by Jews that the world uses every day are: lasers, pacemakers and defibrillators, stainless steel, mass energy-equivalence, vaccines for polo and cholera and Google.
"And I will make them and the places all around My Hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing!" Ezekiel 34:26. Even more important than all of these, God used Israel to bring the biggest blessing of all into the world: the Messiah, the one true source of peace to whoever puts their trust in Him.
As we remember God's faithfulness to us in this holiday season, may these following verses encourage you. God is faithful and He is true. Remember these verses next time you visit with us!
"For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah;
that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. Also, the descendants
of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His name shall dwell in it." Psalm 69:35-36
"...Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, and their children, and their children's children forever: and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a Covenant of Peace with them; it shall be an Everlasting Covenant with them: and I will establish them, and multiply them, and I will set My Sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yes, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the nations shall know that I, the LORD sanctify Israel, when My Sanctuary is in their midst forevermore." Ezekiel 37:24-28
Wishing you all a blessed holiday season and a fruitful new year ahead of us,
Blessings,
Samuel Smadja
President and Owner
Sar-El Tours & Conferences
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