Tzemach News Service
NEWS FROM THE LAND UPDATE
January 23, 2001
Editor: Sondra Oster Baras, Director of CFIC's Israel Office
Dear Friends,
In recent letters, I have opened my heart and shared so much more than
recent news items. I have tried to introduce you to the people in Judea,
Samaria and Gaza who are living and breathing the difficult situation in
our area. So many of you have responded with letters of encouragement and
financial support that I know I have touched your hearts in some small
way.
CFIC is really all about touching hearts. When we turn to you and ask you
to stand with the people of Biblical Israel, we are not only giving you an
opportunity to get involved in the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy, but
we are also building bridges between my people and yours, between Jews and
Christians. These bridges are true bonds of friendship, stripped of any
evangelistic or patronizing attitudes. These are the bridges of friendship
and support, even partnership, towards a goal we all believe to be sacred
--the return of the Jewish people to Zion.
Today, I am turning to you with a specific request. Just in the last three
days, I have received desperate phone calls from three different
communities, asking for moral and financial support. These are their
stories. Please hear their pleas and heed their call for help.
MEVO DOTAN
We phoned Carmella in Mevo Dotan today to find out how she was doing.
Carmella is the correspondent for that community with their adopting
church in Cocoa, FL. Carmella sounded rushed and harried. When we asked
her what was going on, she replied that she was moving out of the
community. They had made the decision just 48 hours ago, and were packing
up and moving to a safer place. She just couldn't take the danger anymore
-- especially for her children.
I was speechless. Carmella loves Mevo Dotan and sounded so firm in her
commitment just a few weeks ago. I certainly could not blame her for
leaving at such a desperate time, but it brought home to me how desperate
this community must be.
I immediately phoned Shmuel Elad, the community's administrator. Shmuel
himself lives in another small community in Samaria and travels each day
on very dangerous roads to Mevo Dotan. Since the violence began, he has
brought the community its mail, as the postal service refuses to come.
Shmuel had a very sad story to tell.
Carmella is not alone. There have been a number of families that have left
the community in recent weeks. The morale is terrible and people are
frightened. Just a few weeks ago, Arabs ambushed the car of a man on his
way home from work. He lost a finger and was injured in the head. All but
one road to and from the community has been closed and that one road has
one very dangerous kilometer. It also takes a lot longer to get to any of
the major cities on that road -- at least a half-hour extra each way.
Thank G-d, there is a nucleus of very ideologically committed people in
Mevo Dotan. These people are not only staying in their homes, but many of
them are about to embark on an incredible adventure. They are going to
establish a new settlement point on a neighboring hilltop, one that has
significant strategic ramifications for Mevo Dotan. By establishing this
new hilltop, these brave pioneers feel they will be doing something active
to further Zionism in the Land of Israel.
I asked Shmuel how we could help. His answer was simple -- moral and
financial support.
HOW CAN YOU HELP MEVO DOTAN?
a.. Write letters to the community demonstrating your support and your
belief in their right to settle there. Mevo Dotan is adjacent to the Dotan
Valley, where Joseph went seeking his brothers (Genesis 37:17). What
better place to establish and preserve a strong Jewish community. Please
address your letters to Mevo Dotan, c/o CFIC, P.O. Box 752, Ginot Shomron,
Israel. Or send them an e-mail c/o sondra@internet-zahav.net. We will make
sure your letters are delivered to the people of Mevo Dotan.
b.. Mevo Dotan is desperate for basic equipment that will enhance the
personal security of the residents. Of primary importance is bullet-proof
vests, to enable the people to travel to and from work with greater
safety. There is an immediate need for 5 such vests. Each vest costs $500.
Total Funds Required: $2,500.
HEBRON
Hebron has been under siege for nearly 4 months now. Shooting is a daily,
even hourly occurrence, and the targets include any Jew walking or driving
in Hebron, and many Jewish homes along the community's periphery. The
mobile homes in Tel-Rumeida, are riddled with bullet holes. Many of the
apartments in Bet Hadassah have sandbags in the windows. There is a great
deal of anxiety among the children in Hebron today and the community is
doing whatever it can to provide welcome distractions from the violence.
HOW CAN YOU HELP HEBRON?
The Jewish community of Hebron would like to establish a music room in the
community, complete with instruments. The children can no longer travel to
nearby Kiryat Arba for music lessons. By providing the lessons and the
instruments in Hebron, music will be available to all of the children in
the community. Not only will they be able to continue their lessons, but
the music room will become an oasis of peace and harmony for the children
of the City of the Patriarchs. Total Funds Required: $ 20,000 (Detailed
budget available upon request.)
SHAVEI SHOMRON
I received another desperate phone call yesterday from Mordechai Fogel,
the administrator and a long-time resident of Shavei Shomron. People are
under tremendous pressure, he tells me, particularly the younger families
that were not living in the community during the previous Intifada (Arab
riots) in the late 80's. Three families have left the community. Shooting
is a frequent occurrence, both into the community and at the main junction
nearest the community. One bus driver found 17 bullet holes in his bus
after an attack at the junction. Thank G-d no one was injured. Most of the
buses refuse to enter the community creating special hardships for
residents who rely on public transportation to get to work.
I spoke to other friends in Shavei Shomron -- Marshall Lipnick and Freida
Weiner. Despite the difficulties, both Marshall and Freida are strong.
Freida drives to work in Netanya each day and hopes for the best. Marshall
travels to Raanana.
HOW CAN YOU HELP SHAVEI SHOMRON?
Bullet-proof vests will be a real life-saver for the people of Shavei
Shomron. There is an immediate need for 10 such vests @ $500 a piece.
Total Funds Required: $ 5,000.
CFIC REACHES OUT TO U.S. CHRISTIANS
CFIC has undertaken to do whatever it can to raise support for the
struggling communities of Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Kim Williams, Executive
Director of the U.S. office and Sondra Oster Baras, Director of the Israel
office, will be travelling to many cities in the U.S. during the month of
February to educate Christians as to what is really happening in Israel
today and to raise funds from committed friends of Israel.
HOW CAN YOU HELP CFIC?
Their travel schedule is listed below. Both Kim and Sondra still have some
time available for additional meetings and speaking engagements. If you
can put us in touch with individuals or churches in any of these cities,
who can host a private or church meeting or who might be able to help us
in some other way, please let us know as soon as possible.
Kim's Schedule:
Orlando, FL Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, 8
Jacksonville, FL Feb. 3-4, 6
Tallahassee, FL Feb. 5
Cocoa Beach, FL Feb. 7
Albuquerque, NM Feb. 9-10
Sondra's Schedule:
Houston, TX Feb. 8
Dallas, TX Feb. 9-13
Los Angeles, CA Feb. 14, 16-17
Oakland, CA Feb. 15
New York City / NJ Feb. 18-19
In summary, How Can You Help the People of Judea, Samaria and Gaza?
The people of Judea, Samaria and Gaza have suffered terribly in recent
months. Maligned by the press and ignored by world leaders and, sometimes,
even by their own government, they have clung to their homes and their
very special lives in the hope and faith that they are doing God's will.
This is your opportunity to send them a strong message of support and
encouragement, reaffirming your belief in prophecy and in the truth of
God's promises.
You can help the people of Mevo Dotan by writing them letters of support
and donating much needed funds for bullet proof vests. Total Funds
Required: $2,500.
You can help the people of Hebron by donating funds for a music room for
the children of that precious community. Total Funds Required: $ 20,000
You can help the people of Shavei Shomron by donating funds for
bullet-proof vests. Total Funds Required: $ 5,000
You can help the people of Judea, Samaria and Gaza by introducing us to
churches and individuals who can help us at this time!
Please send your tax-deductible donations to Christian Friends of Israeli
Communities, P.O. Box 49487, Colorado Springs, CO, 80949. For donors
outside of the U.S., you may send your donations directly to Israel:
Christian Friends of Israeli Communities, P.O. Box 752, Ginot Shomron,
Karnei Shomron, 44853 Israel.
CFIC will transfer 100% of your donation to this or any other of the CFIC
projects in Israel, as per your designation.
May G-d Bless you all!
Sondra Oster Baras
Director
CFIC - Israel
VISIT ISRAEL AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITIES OF JUDEA,
SAMARIA AND GAZA!
CFIC, in conjunction with Lev Ha'Aretz Heart of the Bible Land Tourism
Authority, is promoting Christian solidarity missions to Israel. If you
want to show your support for Israel and for the beleaguered settlements,
please contact our U.S. office at 1-800-551-3207or our Israeli office at
972-9-792-0958.
Christian Friends of Israeli Communities
PO Box 49487
Colorado Springs, CO 80949
Tel: 719-590-1146
1-800-551-3207 (in the U.S)
Fax: 719-532-9078
e-mail: IsrliNews@aol.com
Christian Friends of Israeli Communities--Israel
PO Box 752
Ginot Shomron 44853
ISRAEL
Tel./Fax: 972-9-792-0958
e-mail: sondra@internet-zahav.net