JEWISH LEADERS DISCUSS HOPE AMID RISING ANTI SEMITISM About one thousand Jewish leaders from over 40 countries gathered recently in Budapest to discuss the challenges and opportunities of being Jewish in the enlarged European Union, amid concern about anti Semitism on the continent.

Delegates attending the 3rd General Assembly of European Jewry, heard reports that despite the rising tide of sectarian hate crimes, the new Europe is experiencing a revival of Jewish life and culture, not seen in more than a century. Delegates hope Hungarian and other Eastern European Jews contribute to what they describe as Europe’s largest reawakening of Jewish life and culture in over a century, said Jonathan Joseph, who is president elect of the European Council of Jewish Communities. “The countries that have now joined the E-U were the countries that were the cradle of the major populations of Jews up to the Second World War,” he said. “And it is the joining of those countries…that is the exciting thing.”

Not everyone is pleased with the spread of Jewish culture. Security measures required for conference were a reminder that only last month Hungarian police discovered an anti Jewish bomb plot. The one thousand Jewish leaders attending the conference were expected to adopt a collective strategy to encourage Jewish people not to abandon their heritage and culture.

Source: ASSIST News Service [ Top ]

PRESSURES BOND MESSIANIC AND PALESTINIAN CHURCHES IN ISRAEL As Israelis begin their withdrawal of Rafah, in the Southern part of the Gaza Strip, many people are looking for answers. They’re looking for answers that can only be found in Jesus Christ. And, according to Evangecube International’s Tom Doyle people are discovering that Christ is providing all the answers they need.

Doyle says the interesting thing is that the uncertainty is bonding the Messianic Jewish Church and the Palestinian Church. He says, “Because of the pressure on both sides, God has allowed this to cause them to cling together. We’ve just seen tremendous unity like we’ve never seen before among Palestinian believers and Messianic believers to the point of Palestinian pastors preaching in Jewish Churches and Messianic pastors going to Palestinian churches. And, there’s just a sweet spirit there in the midst of all the terrible things going on. The church is really coming together.

“The great thing is the church is growing. Doyle says, “We know about 20 years ago, there were 4 Messianic churches in Israel. Now there’s over 200. Same thing in the Palestinian areas. There’s a brand new church in Bethlehem that just started a year ago that has over 300 people.” Doyle says people are getting saved. Muslims and Jews are very open to the Gospel.

Source: Mission Network News