She is just 17 years old and she has already won the Jerusalem District Bible Contest for secular public schools. She is one of four pupils who will represent Israel at the annual International Bible Contest, which will be held on Independence Day in Jerusalem this week. It seems that nothing can stop her. At least, nothing except her faith in Yeshua. For Bat-El Levy belongs to a family of Messianic Jews, who believe that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel. Israeli anti-missionary organization Yad L'Achim were fuming whenever they found out that a Messianic Jew was representing Israel in the International Bible Contest. They believe that Bat-El has "has a chance of becoming the world Bible champion", and that her participation in the contest will serve only to "greatly encourage the spread of Christianity among the Jews". Yah L'Achim director Shlomo Dov Lipschitz sent a letter to the Rabbinical and lay leaders in the religious community to try and have her disqualified from the competition, on the grounds that her faith in Yeshua means she cannot be considered a true Jew. But the Ministry of Education have refused to disqualify her, stating that the school records and population registry list her as Jewish, and that she is eligible to take part in the competition. Yad L'Achim has now written to some of the contestants and is hoping to convince them to boycott the contest over Bat-El's participation in the event.

Quote: "Levy, the Bible quiz champion for the Jerusalem district, was unavailable for comment. Relatives said she was too busy studying for the competition to deal with the media uproar.

As the article points out, if it weren't for the interference of Yad L'Achim, none of this would have come to the attention of the press. The event would have passed off without so much as a whisper, but now everyone's eyes will be on Bat-El to see whether or not she can win the competition and silence her antagonists. Unfortunately Jewish believers in Yeshua are still persecuted for their faith in the Messiah in Israel, just as they were in New Testament times.

Acts 5:27-29
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

But praise God that He is working amongst the Jewish people in Israel, and that the blindness which has afflicted the nation for nearly 2000 years is being lifted. Pray for Bat-El, that the Lord would give her help to obey God rather than men, and that the name of Yeshua will be lifted up among His people.

Source JTA, Arutz 7

A young boy has been severely wounded after a device that was concealed inside a gift basket his family had received for Purim exploded. The fifteen year old boy who suffered wounds to his chest, neck and head, is still in critical condition in the Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikvah. Doctors were forced to amputate one of his legs, and have warned that he could still lose his eyesight. The Israeli police are carrying out a full investigation into the incident. Initial reports suggested that the attack may have been carried out by some sort of cult, but the family's links to Messianic Judaism have left some wondering whether elements closer to home may have been involved. Messianic Judaism is a branch of Judaism that recognizes Yeshua, Jesus Christ, as the Messiah. Arutz 7, which often publishes articles defaming Messianic Jews, was largely silent as to the possible religious motivations behind this incident.

Quote: ""All Messianic Jewish communities are still in shock and pain over the incident," Roni, a family friend, said. "The feeling is really difficult right now. The most important thing is that the youth come out of the operating room and the second thing is that we hope that they will catch the person who did this and condemn the phenomenon." Roni, also a member of the sect, accompanied the injured teen to the hospital. "Messianic Jews suffer a lot of harassment and from other types of violence – burning down meeting places, pestering (us) at home, the publishing of announcements with featuring our pictures and more." Roni also said that the primary danger threatening the members of the community came from extremist religious organizations – Muslim and Jewish. "There is always a danger from the religious perspective but the question is: Where does it come from? "We would really like to believe that it doesn't come from Judaism. Every Messianic Jew is a target for radical Jews and in the past Messianic Jewish synagogues have even been burned down in Israel.

So it seems that not much has changed. Jewish believers in the Messiah often faced similar persecution from the religious authorities in New Testament days. Rabbi Shaul, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, even went as far as persecuting 'this way' unto death (Acts 22:4). His name, Shaul - 'a haughty one', later became Paul - 'a little one', and he would in turn suffer many things by his own countrymen for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 9:16, 2nd Corinthians 11:24-33). And in the West, today we remember the sufferings of our Lord, who was mocked, scourged, beaten and crucified for us. Paul suffered willingly for the Lord, but he did not chose to suffer. Jesus Christ chose to suffer because of His great love for us. He made Himself poor so that we could be rich (2nd Corinthians 8:9). He suffered so that our joy might be full (John 15:11). He died so that we might have life (John 10:10). "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends", John 15:13. Who can measure the love of God? Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

1st Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Source YNet News, Haaretz, Arutz 7

Carl Moeller, the president of Open Doors USA, says 2008 could see an increase in persecution against Christians worldwide. While persecution against Christians increased dramatically last year in countries such as India, Pakistan, and Indonesia, Dr. Moeller expects the new year to see more instances of Christian persecution. The Open Doors leader says recent events show that hostility against Christians is on the rise worldwide.

John 15:20
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also

Chinese police detained and tortured a key official of an umbrella group representing the rapidly growing underground house churches in China, as part of a Christmas season crackdown on devoted Christians, an advocacy group with close knowledge about the situation said Wednesday, December 19.