Aliyah to Israel on the Rise
by Samara Greenberg • Sep 7, 2010 at 12:47 pm
http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/blog/2010/09/aliyah-to-israel-on-the-rise
With the Jewish New Year (5771) rapidly approaching, the Jewish Agency for Israel released statistics yesterday that indicate aliyah – immigration to Israel under the Law of Return – continues to steadily increase. According to the numbers, 17,880 new immigrants came to Israel in the Jewish year 5770, an 18% increase from the previous year.
Of the total number of immigrants, around 5,130 people made aliyah from English speaking countries during the year 5770, as opposed to 5,030 during 5769. From the U.S. – 3,350 people migrated, compared to 3,120 last year. There was also an increase in the number of new immigrants from Western Europe from 2,090 last year to 2,420 this year.
In addition, there was a rise in numbers from Latin America and Spanish speaking countries: 1,360 in 5770, compared to 1,230 in 5769. Moreover, this past year Israel became home to new immigrants from what might be considered somewhat unusual places such as Thailand, Hong Kong, New Caledonia, Japan, Tunisia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Angola and Uganda.
According to Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, “Aliyah is a strategic asset for Israel. It is the most significant way that Diaspora Jewry interacts with Israeli society. The rise in aliyah,” he continued, “is even more impressive because of the de-legitimization campaign against Israel going on today around the world.” Indeed, this news is a joyous way for Israel and world Jewry to begin the New Year.
Dear Faithful Friend,
Unity and division are powerful spiritual realities which can impact situations for the good or for the bad. In Luke 11:17, Yeshua declared that “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall”. In Genesis 11:9, when speaking of the Tower of Babel, God declares the power of unity when he says; “if as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” And Paul exhorts in Ephesians 4:13 that “unity of the faith” is one of the prerequisites to “becoming mature, and attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Messiah.”
In every situation, unity brings about great power and division will cause a house to fall. As I have pondered recent events in Israel, I have been impressed with the need for us to pray either for unity or division, depending on the different events.
Anti Missionary Conference
Next week in Israel’s largest national conference center in Jerusalem, the enemies of the Gospel will be gathering in unity to address the growing problem of “Missionaries” in Israel. Their translation of the word “missionaries” is “Messianic Jews”. The problem the religious community is addressing has arisen because the Messianic Jews are succeeding in bringing Israelis to faith and are ever more visible to the Israeli public. Recently, there have been major outreach events in the towns and cities of Israel, articles written about us in major Israeli newspapers and several television interviews.
This past week in synagogues throughout Israel, leaflets were handed out advertising the coming “anti missionary” conference and encouraging people to come. No doubt those interested will be bussed in from throughout the country. Many of Israel’s leading anti-messianic organizations along with important area rabbis will be taking the opportunity to “educate” the people on the “impossibility” of being Jewish and believing in Yeshua, as well as informing them of the great danger Messianic Jews are to traditional Judaism.
This is the first time that there has been a concerted effort by numerous anti messianic organizations against us and this new unity could increase the intensity of the daily persecution that we face. Please pray that a spirit of division would be on this gathering of religious Jews. Pray that their house would be divided and that no effective strategies would be achieved in their intensifying battle against those of us who believe. Also, please pray that we would know the right strategy in response to this event. Pray that in God’s mercy, even as they speak against Yeshua, that some hearts would be touched by his great mercy and love.
http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/09/04/just-out-time-magazine’s-latest-blood-libel-about-israel/
When American magazines start planting these kind of ideas in the public consciousness about Israel there is trouble ahead!
