How can it be that another month has passed? Time is flying by. We are now into the 6th month of the corona crisis and there is no end in sight. I seem to have adjusted to the ‘new normal’ staying at home mostly, not going out to work and seeing most of my friends only on Zoom. It is a strange life but it is life and I seem to still be keeping plenty busy. I am grateful that I and all my close friends and family are still healthy and that I still have a roof over my head and food on my table. I am so much better off than so many. It is good to count our blessings in such times – it helps us keep our balance.
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Covid-19 in Israel
Here in Israel we are experiencing the ‘second wave’ of the virus amidst economic and political chaos. As of today (04/08) Israel has had a total of 74,430 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 546 deaths. A week or so ago, the rate of new infections per day was exceeding 2000, the fifth highest per capita in the world, even higher than the USA. The graph below shows the number of new confirmed cases per day in Israel since the beginning of the pandemic.
As you can see there have been many more cases in the ‘second wave’ than in the first but, compared to other countries, our death rate has remained very low, now standing at 546 in total, less than 0.1%. The curve showing the total number of confirmed cases per day (see below) appears to be flattening over the last few days, but this could be misleading as the number of tests carried out has also dropped. As you can see yesterday (03/08), the number of new cases jumped by over 1800 but the number of tests carried out doubled over the previous day. The steep drop for 04/08 reflects that it is still only midday and many more may be reported as the day goes on.
A better indicator of the situation is the graph below that shows the total number of confirmed cases since the end of February. As you can see the graph may be showing a levelling off, but it is way too soon to know for sure.
You might be wondering how it is that Israel, which did so well at containing the first wave, has failed so dismally in this ‘second wave’. In the first wave, restrictions and a lockdown were quickly implemented and there was a high degree of cooperation by the general public. However, Israeli patience is short, and as soon as restrictions began to be lifted we immediately lost all discipline and many people began to act as if it were all over, gathering in large groups and ignoring government guidelines. It didn’t help that the opening of the lockdown coincided with a severe heatwave that sent thousands to the beaches and other open spaces contrary to restrictions at the time. Schools were also immediately reopened and it proved impossible for them to maintain the restrictions, especially in the heat. Some schools became centers of infection and had to be closed down. In the weeks that have followed the government has zigzagged on restrictions, changing their minds every day or so, until the general public became totally confused about what was allowed and what not, and they lost faith in the government. This of course has sent all the politicians scrambling for survival, as the government teeters on the edge of collapse and the possibility of new elections looms. The dire situation has sent thousands to the streets to protest the perceived failure of the government in ongoing demonstrations, which have at times devolved into violence between demonstrators and counterdemonstrators, and the police trying to keep order. Needless to say, the demonstrators are not keeping social distancing rules nor wearing masks, and it seems to me they pose a greater threat to us all than the weak and confused government.
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Of course all this is having a detrimental effect on the economy and people are getting angry and scared as the months tick by and still no money is coming in. There are still around 800,000 unemployed, more than 20% of the workforce. Many sectors, the tourist, hospitality and entertainment industries especially, are still totally shut down and these represent a huge part of the Israeli economy. This week the government is making a cash payment to every Israeli in an attempt to cool the anger, appease complaints and stimulate the economy. This payment is however very controversial as a flat sum is being paid out irrespective of income and means, which means the rich and very rich, who do not need it at all, get the same payment as the desperately needy, while the payout is costing the country around 1.9 billion dollars which we will have to borrow. This may not be so easy as Israel’s credit rating is deteriorating because it has been unable to pass a National Budget in spite of 3 elections and a unity government. If a Budget is not passed by 25 August, we will automatically have to go to new elections – something we need like a hole in the head. While I will be grateful for the 750 shekel handout they promise me as a single individual, this amount will cover perhaps two trips to the supermarket and will not significantly help in the long term. I cannot see this move will in any way stimulate the economy.
The situation is bleak and the future is uncertain. Recently the Director General of the World Health Organization put it this way:
“The pandemic is still accelerating,… We know that the pandemic is much more than a health crisis, it is an economic crisis, a social crisis and in many countries a political crisis… The greatest threat the world faces is the lack of global solidarity and global leadership” (1).
The end result of this pandemic could yet result in the destabilization of many governments and nations, social chaos and world-wide economic collapse, the conditions just perfect for the establishment of a one-world government under the control of a strong, charismatic leader, the Antichrist, as the Bible predicts will occur in the end times.
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13 : 1- 8
“I will punish the world for its evil,
And the wicked for their iniquity;
I will halt the arrogance of the proud,
And will lay low the haughtiness of the tyrants.
I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold
Isaiah 13:11-12
Hospitals in Crisis
We are in the midst of the worst medical crisis to hit Israel and our hospitals are to be congratulated on the excellent care provided to the ill which has resulted in a very low death rate. However hospital authorities are warning that this could all change if the government does not do something to help them out. Yesterday some of the largest hospitals in Israel warned that they would have to start laying off staff as they can no longer pay their salaries, and this comes at a time when we are desperately short of doctors and nurses. Since the beginning of the corona crisis only 19 new hospital beds have been made available. A couple of weeks ago, the exhausted nursing staff went on strike for two days, pleading for help, and especially the hiring of additional staff. The government did say it would hire another 2000 doctors and nurses, but it is not clear where these highly trained people are going to come from, and who will pay them. Hospitals are warning they are close to collapse. If the rate of serious corona cases continue to rise we will soon be unable to treat those needing ventilation and we will see a sharp rise in the death toll. Please pray that a solution to this situation will be found.
Corona ‘Czar’
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkCpm60lv
One ray of hope in this situation is the appointment two weeks ago of Professor Ronni Gamzu as the Corona ‘Czar’, an experienced medical professional in the public health field and a non-political figure, tasked with stopping the chain of infections and he has authority in testing, epidemiological investigations and quarantines. Gamzu lost no time in addressing the public and calling upon us to cooperate and work together with him and the government to fight this outbreak. He is working to present a logical and sensible plan of attack. A central part of his new plan will be the involvement of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to implement the epidemiological tracing of the infected, a somewhat controversial move as it involves the tracing of individuals by means of their cell phones, a serious infringement of privacy, but one temporarily sanctioned by the government under the emergency law.
No doubt there will be much controversy yet but at least now there is someone taking charge who seems to know what he is doing and has no personal political interests. Ynetnews put it this way, ”
At long last someone has decided to put his professional and personal ego aside in an attempt to create a consensus among all those who want to see Israel emerge from this mess. Gamzu’s opening moves are cause for optimism, and even if success is not guaranteed, we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. If Israelis pitch in with Gamzu and his plan, there just might be a chance the country can defeat the virus without another lockdown and normal life can slowly resume. If not, all that await us are failure and disaster (2).
Please pray for Gamzu. He has terrible responsibility on his shoulders and needs all of God’s wisdom to make good decisions. Please also pray the politicians will not undermine his efforts. We need someone to reunite us as a people, and who will encourage us to pull together to get out of this mess.
With the school year about to start, at the beginning of September, there is talk of a possible total lockdown being imposed again towards the middle of this month. Although all effort is being made to avoid this happening, it may be deemed necessary to decrease the level of infection prior to the beginning of the school year. Decisions about schools opening, and under what conditions, have still not been reached. This is creating a high level of uncertainty and anxiety for students, parents and teachers.
Tension in the North
Two weeks ago a Hezbollah operative was killed by an attack on Iranian installations in Syria and Israel has been blamed. Hezbollah promised to avenge this killing and last week a group of Hezbollah operatives penetrated the Israeli border but were chased back by IDF forces who spotted them. Thus frustrated, another attempt was made, this time from Syrian space, and four operatives tried to plant explosive devices in an abandoned IDF base. They were killed by IDF fire and an aircraft. Yesterday morning the Imam Ali base near the town of Abu Kamal, in eastern Deir Ezzor region close to the border with Iraq, was attacked by unidentified aircraft and 15 Iranian-backed militiamen were killed. A number of positions, bases and weapons stores were destroyed (3). Israel has not admitted to carrying out this attack but has an ongoing policy of attacking Iranian supply lines, installations and weapons stores in Syria.
Please pray this escalating tension will ease. The last thing anyone in this region needs right now is a war.
Tension in the South
The southern border is relatively quiet but there have been a number of rockets being fired into Israel over the last weeks and also at least one incendiary balloon. With the fire risk season approaching its peak we do not want to see a resurgence of the balloon warfare we experienced over the last few years.
Wildfires
Fire season is upon us. Yesterday there was a major wildfire across the valley from here near Ein Kerem (the birthplace of John the Baptist). Some buildings and public buildings were threatened and around 200 severely handicapped children had to be evacuated because of the risk of smoke inhalation. Fire fighting planes and firefighters succeeded in extinguishing the fire. It served however as a warning that as temperatures rise and the late summer winds increase, the wild fire season is once more upon us.
Iran
Iran is also battling a serious crisis with the coronavirus, but lately it has also been hit by a string of explosions and fires at both civilian and military strategic installations. At first they tried to say these were accidents but the number and nature of these events clearly indicate that they are attacks. Israel is of course being implicated but there are a number of other possibilities too . Foreign or domestic organizations opposed to the regime may well be responsible.
Where is God in all this?
The situation is grim but I believe that God is still in control and has a purpose in all this – namely to call the unsaved to consider their lives and confront the possibility of death. God desires that no man, woman or child would die. He has provided a solution through the death and resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus), who has conquered death and promised eternal life to all who will follow him.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
This is the message that needs to be proclaimed to all mankind today. There is hope, certainty and safety in Yeshua if we are willing to follow Him. Without him there is only doubt, turmoil and darkness.
Please pray that this message will go forth loudly and clearly here in Israel. Congregations have not been able to meet face-to-face for nearly 6 months now and we are all being challenged to find new forms and ways to fellowship together and to proclaim the gospel effectively and clearly. One way this is being done is through the internet. I can recommend the videos being produced by OneforIsrael – just google them. Though they are in Hebrew , English subtitles are provided. Some of these videos have reached more than 500,000 Israelis and there is much fruit. Please pray for this ministry and especially for their protection (they have received death threats) and that they can continue their work. Pray too for other internet releases. Below is a fun one based on the story of Noah, produced by the Messianic Jewish Alliance and performed by the Music and Media School in Jerusalem.
Finally here is another video, produced by OneforIsrael which exposes the basis of the spiritual bankruptcy of Rabbinical Judaism as it is practiced today.
‘My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Jeremiah 2: 13
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As usual, quite informational and interesting! Thanks Talia!