THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL UPDATE
A Note from Jonathan Bernis
Shalom, my friend!
This week we pause in remembrance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. And to grieve for their families, their lives and the lasting global stain of Nazism that caused so much hatred, suffering and death.
Days of remembrance like this are critical. We remember so that we never forget … so that it never happens again.
As you remember God’s Chosen People, as you thank God for the Auschwitz liberation that took place in 1945, please pray that the Jewish people will experience true liberation that can only come from Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah.
Thank you for standing with us. And for your love of God’s people. Please continue to pray for Jewish Voice and for the Jewish people in Israel and around the world.
To the Jew first and also to the Nations,
Jonathan Bernis
President & CEO
Jewish Voice Ministries International
Headline News
Amid a Rise of Anti-Semitism, Global Support for the Jewish People is Undeniable
YnetNews reports that a total of 1,116 global entities adopted and endorsed the Working Definition of Anti-Semitism issued by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). According to the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM), the tidal wave of global support for the Jewish people is undeniable and greatly encouraging. Especially at a time when the rise in anti-Semitic incidents has been alarming.
Since the Working Definition of Anti-Semitism was adopted by the IHRA in 2016, it has become the consensus definition and a widely-recognized tool in the effort to identify all contemporary manifestations of anti-Jewish hatred, including by far-right extremists, Islamists and the far-left.
Included in the growing list of IHRA Working Definition of Anti-Semitism adoptions are nations, cities, universities, NGOs and corporations such as The Philippines, Colombia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vancouver, the University of Pittsburgh and Lufthansa Airlines. And in the United States, 18 new states adopted it via legislation or executive actions throughout the last year, bringing the total number of states adopting this definition of anti-Semitism to 30 out of 50.
“Support for the IHRA Working Definition of Anti-Semitism transcends the political and ideological spectrum and unites entities and individuals of a broad swathe of religious, national and cultural backgrounds,” said CAM CEO Sacha Roytman Dratwa.
Updates from the Middle East
Israel Walks Tightrope During Russia-Ukraine War
Israel has sought to maintain relations with both countries even as it has condemned Russia's war on Ukraine and has provided humanitarian assistance. While Israel’s embassy in Kiev had ceased operating full-time when the war broke out last February, plans are underway to restore its operations within 60 days. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, indicated that humanitarian aid would continue with the fully operational embassy when he tweeted, “I promised to continue the humanitarian aid with an emphasis on the restoration of energy infrastructure.” To date, Israel has provided Ukraine with some $30 million in humanitarian assistance, including medical supplies, generators and charging stations for phones.
Last Jewish Youth to Escape Auschwitz Passes Away
Israel Levin, the last Jewish youth to survive the Auschwitz concentration camp, passed away recently at the age of 90. Levin was 11 years old when he managed to escape the camp alongside his father and a group of other adults through the camp’s sewer system. His family told reporters that he thought it was important for everyone to know the horrors and difficulties he faced during the Holocaust and how he managed to survive. Levin’s mother and sister were murdered in the Holocaust.
Pray with Us This Week
Please pray with me for:
- God to continue to protect innocent lives from the fighting in Ukraine and to bring a peaceful end to the invasion by Russia
- God to break our hearts over the global horror of the Holocaust so that we’re never compelled to repeat it
- God to surround His people in Israel, who are constantly facing threats and violence from surrounding enemies
- Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
- The Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah
