Written by: Vivienne Myburgh
Article source: JOY! Magazine
The scourge of anti-Semitism continues to rise dramatically year-on-year in Europe. According to EU officials, unreported anti-Semitic incidents in the European Union member states may be as high as 80% due to their lack of trust in the authorities to act in any meaningful way. The upward trend in anti-Semitic incidents in the USA is also especially concerning and has led to increasing numbers of Jews deciding to make Israel their home. Aliyah figures from the USA show that 2020 figures are up at least 50% over the previous years.
Surge in Aliyah despite Covid-19
Despite all the recent global travel bans due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) was still able to bring a remarkable 1000 Jewish immigrants on Aliyah flights to Israel in the last four months, including 234 Ethiopian Jews and 766 Jews from across the former Soviet Union between February 20th and June 16th. This has been possible due to Christians from around the world blessing Israel with their material blessings!
“For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.” – Romans 15:27
ICEJ sponsored flights for over 1000 Jews to make Aliyah during Covid-19.
Even a pandemic won’t stop God’s plans
“The Corona pandemic has brought much suffering and negative headlines all over the world, but one of the positive stories coming out of this crisis is the surprising surge in Aliyah, as many Jewish families are seeking a way to reach Israel as soon as possible”, said ICEJ President Dr Jürgen Bühler.
“We are both honoured and elated to play a key role in this unique chapter in the modern-day return to Israel, even a global pandemic could not stop Jewish people from finding their way home to Israel.”
Celebrating 30 years of sponsoring Aliyah
ICEJ also recently marked the special anniversary of 30 years of sponsoring Aliyah flights of Jewish people coming home from the nations. A few months after the former Soviet Union had opened to finally “Let My people go,” the German and Finnish branches of the ICEJ sponsored the ICEJ’s very first charter flight of Jews making Aliyah from Russia, which landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on 28 May 1990.
“I will whistle for them to gather, for I have redeemed them; and they will be as numerous as they once were. Though I sow them among the nations, they will remember Me in distant lands; they and their children will live and return.” – Zechariah 10:8,9
Please consider joining us in the Rescue250 challenge
We can rejoice in God’s faithfulness as the ICEJ has now assisted more than 157 000 Jews to make Aliyah since the ICEJ was founded 40 years ago. We are working closely with the Jewish Agency to keep up this pace of flying 250 new immigrants to Israel each month through till the end of the year. Please prayerfully consider joining us in this ‘Rescue250’ challenge, as we seek to fund emergency flights for Jews in dire circumstances due to Covid-19 and other factors.
Join us in prayer
One fruit of the current crisis is a very spiritual one as we have launched a weekly Global Prayer Gathering from Jerusalem, which has attracted believers from over 100 nations, including many Arab countries. Please consider joining us every Wednesday at 3pm SA time as we pray together for Israel and the nations in these unprecedented times. Visit on.icej.org/ICEJGlobalPrayer or email vivienne@icej.org.za
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Date published: 04/08/2020
Vivienne Myburgh is the National Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) Branch in South Africa. Visit icej.org.za
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