Today is Day 55 of the continuing war in Israel against the brutal terrorist group now known worldwide as Hamas. Hamas violated the cease-fire at 5:00 this morning, and Israel showed restraint for two hours while a barrage of rockets was being shot into Israel by Hamas in many areas then Israel resumed their military campaign to destroy the terrorist organization.
81 Israelis were freed during the temporary cease-fire – hostage release – prisoner trade. Approximately 240 Palestinian terrorists and convicted prisoners were released from Israeli prisons.
131 of our brothers and sisters are still kidnapped in Gaza, including children and 20 women.
While the world condemns Israel and our Jewish people, let’s be real clear: all of the bloodshed in this war is ‘on Hamas’ hands.’ On 7 October, Hamas violated Israel’s borders, murdered innocent civilians, and took captives from many nations to use as human shields and bargaining chips. Israel did not start this war – Hamas did.
Certainly, this is a time for prayer and a strong stance against evil. Please join us.
On Sunday, 26 November, British Jews held a massive march against anti-Semitism, which brought an estimated 105,000 people to the streets of London. Much like the November 14 rally in Washington, DC, it was described by attendees as an inspiring and peaceful event. The veteran Anglo-Jewish journalist Stephen Pollard summed it up thusly:
It was quite an emotional experience. The quiet dignity of the march was such a contrast to the carnivals of hate seen on recent Saturdays (at Pro-Palestinian rallies). And how wonderful to have so many non-Jewish allies with us.
Likewise, another prominent British Jewish journalist, Jake Wallis Simon, observed:
:
There was not a single masked face; not a single act of intimidation or vandalism; not a single call for death or genocide; not a single desecration of our monuments or statutes; and not a single bad-tempered interaction with the police.
Exactly that sort of vandalism and desecration was on display in New York City last week, as red-paint handprints, the words “Free Palestine,” and the like were left on the façade of the main building of the New York Public Library.
Representatives of the library, a public institution open for anyone to use free of charge, have said that it will cost between $60,000 and $75,000 to repair the damage.
More than one observer noted common facts in all these “Pro Israel” demonstrations: there was no violence or calls for death to anyone there was order there were patriotic images visible, US, British & Israeli everyone’s faces were visible – there were no masks there was no defacing of public buildings or statues police orders & boundaries were respected.
Where is the International Red Cross? This excerpt from their website, www.icrc.org
27 January is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945. For the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), it also marks a failure, the failure to help and protect the millions of people who were exterminated in the death camps. The ICRC has publicly expressed its regret regarding its impotence and the mistakes it made in dealing with Nazi persecution and genocide.
Do we have a repeat of the ICRC’s “impotence” in World War II? Why are they not visiting the hostages? Why are they not demanding humane conditions? Why are they not calling out Hamas’ torture and deprivation? Will we have another expression of “impotence” and “regret” over the current situation?
How is it that not one of the 22 Arab nations will take even one Palestinian ‘refugee’, even temporarily?
Where is the outcry from the women’s rights movement?
Where is the outcry from organizations dedicated to protecting children?
The silence is deafening.
The 29th of November – known in Hebrew as Kaf Tet b’November – is a date so iconic that there are streets named after it in many Israeli cities: Jerusalem, Ashdod, Petach Tikva, Herzliya, and more. It represents a key moment in the lead-up to Israeli national independence, and some have even considered making it a national holiday.
While official Israeli independence was declared on May 14, 1948, the international recognition that many say made it possible happened when the UN General Assembly voted on and approved the Partition Plan for Mandatory Palestine – allowing the creation of a Jewish state alongside an Arab one – on November 29th, 1947.
Jews in the Land of Israel and all over the world listened to live announcements of the United Nations’ vote count on the radio with bated breath, and spontaneous cheers and dancing erupted in the streets as soon as it was over.
The final count was more than enough to pass the proposed partition, known as Resolution 181: 33 countries were in favor, 13 opposed, 10 abstained, and one was absent.
The UN vote came during a bloody civil war between Jews and Arabs in what was then Mandatory Palestine, with Jewish safety in jeopardy as the region’s Arab population was growing increasingly and ever more violently hostile to any continued Jewish presence in the Land of Israel.
It was also only a couple of years after the Holocaust which saw a near decimation of Europe’s Jewish population, and amid increased violence and pogroms against Jewish communities throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
The international community’s recognition of and promise of Jewish sovereignty therefore came as a welcome sign of hope that brighter days lay ahead. Even though it would be several more months until independence would be formally declared by David Ben Gurion, the UN approval was a sort of mini-independence celebration for the Jews living in the Land of Israel.
In addition, the Zionists who had been agitating for Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel wanted recognition and legitimacy on the international stage, to assure that the State would last, and formal approval by the United Nations fulfilled that role.
The vote was also important for internal Jewish unity and agreement. Many more religious Jews, who were initially opposed to the creation of a Jewish state without Divine intervention, considered the UN resolution to be a sign from God and a formal consent by the nations of the world to restore Jewish sovereignty in the Holy Land.
Some had suggested to David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, that November 29th should become a national holiday, though it ultimately didn’t happen. The legacy of the date has become somewhat mixed over the years – some people question whether the UN vote was necessary for Israel’s independence, and some even consider the UN partition plan to be a catastrophe because it did not provide for a unified Jerusalem as part of Israel, and the city remains a controversial international issue to this day. Overall, its importance in the public consciousness is not as great as Israel’s Independence Day on May 14th.
Nonetheless, the 29th of November is a day on which we mark and celebrate the international recognition of the right of the Jewish people to live freely in the Land of Israel, our ancestral homeland, and an almost-independence and important step in the Zionist struggle.
Today, the date is remembered in Israel through educational programming organized around its anniversary, as well as the small everyday reminders like passing a street named “Kaf Tet b’November” or “29 November.”
CHANUKKAH BEGINS THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER 2023, 25 KISLEV 5784
Chanukkah, or Hanukkah, or Hanukah, is one of my favorite Jewish holidays. Reminds me of heading to our Synagogue as a family for the annual Chanukkah Party. For a child, it was a time of gifts, songs, donuts and chocolate ‘coins,’ and getting to ‘play with matches’ and light candles.
With the Hamas/Israel war raging again, its hard to imagine celebrating a military and spiritual victory over a cruel, oppressive regime, but our ancestors did it! A small band of what we would today call ‘guerrilla freedom fighters’ took on the most powerful army in the world at that time – Syria. The Temple had been desecrated, Jews were forbidden to practice key elements of our faith, and there was much sadness and tsuris in the Land. God used a local hero, Judah, son of Mattathias, to lead a successful ‘rebellion’ against pagan worshippers, and the Temple was cleansed, worship restored, and one of the many miracles recognized by our people took place when a vial of one day’s supply of purified anointing oil used in the Temple lamps burned brightly for eight days !!
So, as we celebrate this great victory in a time of sadness, war, and seeking release of our hostages from the cruel hands of Hamas terrorists, we can remind ourselves of a historical ‘truth” recounting Jewish history in 9 words, ” they tried to kill us, we won, lets eat.” May your Chanukkah be filled with lots of oily food, good fellowship, and much optimism – the Lord is on our side.
NOVEMBER MINISTRY ACTIVITY IN AND ABOUT MC COMB, MISSISSIPPI
November was a busy month, in addition to being glued to the Internet and TV news regarding the war against Hamas.
The Congregation we’ve been attending, FBC of Mc Comb, hosted a “Thanksgiving Day” meal for residents of Mc Comb. On Sunday, 19th of November, approximately 350 people gathered in the parking lot on the main street in Mc Comb for a wonderful meal, presentations by the Mayor, a Drum Corps from Mc Comb High School, and worship of the Most High God! Patricia and I were privileged to literally serve our neighbors as they came through the food line. What a blessing!
On Sunday 26 November, Michael was asked by our pastor to share on the Israel-Hamas situation. Michael brought a message of hope and encouragement, focusing on having the right perspective of the conflict as well as in life, and knowing the history and promises of God to our Jewish people. The message was well received, and he will have another opportunity to share at a dinner for local pastors on Thursday, 7th of December. May the Lord be glorified.
PARTNER WITH US IN FINANCES
We are grateful to receive a partial salary from the King of Kings to help with the work of ministry, and as God opens new doors for us, we know He will supply the needed resources to enable us to minister from America to Israel and to the Nations. May God continue to bless you as you continue blessing us and Israel.
There are a few options if you are prompted to partner with us financially:
If you don’t need a tax deduction, you can send funds to us via the INTERNET directly thru PayPal. Use [email protected], which is Michael’s account. Send as a friend, and there is no cost to you or us.
If you don’t need a tax deduction, you can send funds to us by check, payable to Michael Bryan. Mail to Michael Bryan, 150 Caroline Drive, Magnolia, MS 39652.
Tax-deductible donations via the INTERNET can be made thru the KKCJ website, www.kkcj.org. Engage the “Give” tab at the top of the page, select “Staff Support,” and select “Michael Bryan.”
Tax-deductible donations CHECK can be made payable to “King of Kings Ministries” with a note “for Bryan family” and mailed to:
King of Kings Ministries Inc
PO Box 30607
Phoenix, AZ 85046
You will receive a printed receipt and our eternal gratitude.
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