FZS Update – Summer 2024
FZS Update – Summer 2024
Dear Friends of FZS,
Summer is upon us here in Jerusalem and the temperatures stay well in the 90’s for several months. During the hottest part the day, people try and stay indoors as much as possible which means the nightlife here is usually quite active, well past midnight for some. We have also seen that the summer months tend to be the slower months of the year for new immigrants (Olim) who visit our distribution center for food, clothing, fresh bread and other necessities.
Unfortunately, the war in Gaza drags on and on over 9 months now, and our hope of retrieving the over 100 hostages dims with each passing day. Our soldiers are tired, our people are wounded in soul and spirit and our nation is weary of this seemingly endless conflict.
And to think that the October 7th tragedy may have been avoided as I think back to Israel’s colossal blunder in 2005 when Ariel Sharon and his “right wing” coalition conducted a mass expulsion of some 10-thousand Jews from Gush Katif in GAZA which served as a strategic buffer zone of protection.
22 beautiful synagogues, thousands of homes, gardens, greenhouses, yeshivas, parks, fertile fields… Young and old, men, women and children, mercilessly driven out of their homes in tears, clutching their Torah scrolls and carrying their dead loved ones who had to be exhumed to prevent Arab desecration. This would prove to be the largest expulsion of Jews since the time of the Spanish inquisitions of 1492, yet this time it was by the Jews themselves in Israel!
Book by Naomi Grossman (Editor)
In a prophetic sense, we see Gaza mentioned in a few places in scripture,which may give us insight into current events:
Amos 1:7 “But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof”; Zephaniah 2:4 “For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at the noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up”.
However,we also see in Zephaniah 2:7 that many of the people of Judah will return there and produce agriculture successfully once again:
“And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon. In the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for the LORD their God shall visit them, and return them from captivity.”
Could this be the return of the thousands of residents of Gush Katif who were “expelled for peace” after the Gazan war with Hamas has ended? Even now we see the people of Gush Katif who are more than ready to return back to their homes where they were expelled from 20 years ago…
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Return to Gaza Conference. Jan. 28, 2024 (photo by Jonny Yechiel Stein)
Aid and Bread Distribution in Jerusalem
We at For Zion’s Sake Ministries continue our calling to reach out and bless the poor and needy in Israel including Holocaust Survivors, wounded soldiers and grieving families. Whatever we have to give such as new shoes, clothing, fresh bread, food, and financial assistance, we give with all our love in Yeshua’s name…
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We also deliver bread twice weekly to a home for elderly Holocaust Survivors. More than 200 Survivors live in this elderly home not far from our warehouse. Sometimes they can’t wait until we carry the sourdough bread in and they meet us at the car.
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As so many are turning against Israel and the Jewish people globally, how important it is for us to continue to stand with Israel together in our time of need! This is a time when Israel can see and know just who their true friends are and whom to trust. By God’s Grace, For Zion’s Sake is here both to love them and also support them as much as possible! Thank you for making this possible through your prayers and support!
“It hath pleased them (and us) indeed, and they are their debtors. For if theGentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things…” – Romans 15:27
A heartfelt Shalom and many Blessings,
Bradley Antolovich
International Director
Aid to Israel and the Nations