Shanna Tova – Happy New Year 5785
Shana Tova 5785 – The Jewish New Year
It has certainly been a wild ride this last month in Israel in the geopolitical arena that has affected all of us in ways that are still unfolding before our eyes… On October 7th, we commemorated a year since the violent and gruesome atrocities perpetrated by Hamas in 2023 which is described as a 12-fold 9/11, not to mention all those that were taken hostage and the casualties since, the evacuees and wounded… The rocket attacks from Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen don’t cease. The war in the north with Hezbollah has recently taken a dramatic and unprecedented turn beginning with the surprise explosions of thousands of pagers, cell phones and other electronic devices in which Israel had so cleverly intercepted years before on their way from an Alibaba order from China and quickly booby trapped them with highly concentrated explosives on their way to Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon. Then, after waiting patiently for years for the exact time, the IDF Intelligence, in a surprise moment, detonated them all simultaneously! The result was devastating, leaving many hundreds of Hezbollah’s top brass killed or severally wounded. And just a few days later, Israel with special intelligence of Hassan Nasrallah’s whereabouts in Beirut, sent a number of sorties loaded with bunker buster bombs and totally annihilated the head of the serpent!
On the days that followed Nasrallah’s assassination, Israel was deciding when the best time would be to enter Lebanon and dismantle many of the Hezbollah stockpiles of long-range rockets aimed at our major population centers like Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem… On October 1st, the IDF ground offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon began as thousands of IDF soldiers moved in and hundreds of IDF tanks crossed the border.
Here are some of the first photos of the IDF entering into Lebanon…
And the same evening, 7 Israelis were murdered in a terror attack at a tram station in Tel Aviv, while Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel and 10 million Israelis had to take cover all across the country.
What we witnessed in the evening of October 1st was nothing less than an absolute miracle here in Israel. Even with our advanced air defense system working with almost pinpoint accuracy, some rockets were still able to escape our defense and were not intercepted, but what is even more amazing is the low casualty numbers from the rockets and missiles that we’re NOT intercepted. Where did those missiles go? I’ll tell you where; They landed in sand, in water, and in “Empty spaces”. Praise The LORD!!!
WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS MORE THAN EVER! Some war analysts are saying that this may very well lead to an all-out confrontation directly with Iran, the very weapons supplier of these proxy terror groups like Hezbollah, Houthis and Hamas. Also, if the IDF is successful against the remaining Hezbollah forces in the weeks ahead, they may fire as many remaining cruise missiles and drones as possible at us in desperation…
Perhaps you can pray this prayer with us at FZS:
HEAR O ISRAEL! You are coming to battle against your enemies today. Let not your heart be afraid, nor be afraid, nor bedismayed, nor be terrified because of them! For it is the LORD your God who goes with you to fight for you against yourenemies, to save you.” Deuteronomy 20:3-4
Also, just a reminder of the Fall Feasts that are now upon us…
ROSH HASHANNA – The Jewish New Year Began at sunset, October 2nd and ended on Friday evening, October 4th.
YOM KIPPUR -The day of Atonement Begins: sunset Friday, October 11th, and ends: Saturday evening, October 12th.
SUKKOT – The Feast of Tabernacles Begins: sunset Wednesday, October 16th, and ends: Wednesday evening, October 23rd.
SIMCHAT TORAH – The Giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai Begins: sunset Wednesday, October 23rd, and ends Friday evening, October 25th.
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and continued support to FZS!
“Preparation” is always central for Jews to celebrate High Holy Days, and as they/we mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepare for Yom Kippur and reflect on the last year… we still have in mind the remaining 101
hostages held captive in Gaza, those who have returned and are still healing, the soldiers fighting and those recovering, evacuees still scattered and unsettled, survivors and all of the families and friends affected by this war whose lives are forever changed. And it’s not over yet…
May we also prepare our hearts for that soon and coming day of our Blessed LORD and Savior,Yeshua, the Messiah!!!
Shanna Tova!
Bradley Antolovich
International Director
Aid to Israel and the Nations