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Israel & Christians Today

Biblical understanding about Israel

January 28, 2014

Crisis in the Ukraine - urgent call for prayer and support 

by Koen Carlier, C4I leader in Ukraine

The Ukraine is in a state of crisis. There has been growing unrest in the Ukraine since December 2013, mainly in the capital city Kiev which is spreading now to all other major cities. Millions of people have been expressing their anger against the government, in a pro-European demonstration. A large part of the opposition is supporter of the Swoboda party - an openly anti-Semitic, nationalistic movement. There is great fear in the Jewish community. In the last week alone, several orthodox Jews have been attacked.

 
Occupation of a government building in Vinnitsa


In the last few days, Ukraine has been transformed. I barely recognise it. Everywhere chaos and disorder. The country is collapsing. I am deeply concerned that - like 70 years ago - the hatred and violence will suddenly turn into an anti-Jewish pogrom. Some of the demonstrators in Kiev shout: "Out with the Jews!" 

Today I was invited to participate in the Holocaust Remembrance event in Tulchin. I spoke with an 84-year old survivor of the Holocaust. He said - "This is not going to end well". My wife Ira read from Psalm 121. "The Lord will keep you from all harm". No-one spoke a word. At the end, everyone said quietly "Amen".

 
 Rita, head of the Jewish community in Tulchin is glad to see us
 
 Holocaust Remembrance: my wife Ira reads from Psalm 121
 
19 Holocaust survivors came to the Remembrance


In many cities the synagogues and Jewish schools have been closed, and in some places it is dangerous for Jews to wear their kippas openly in the street. Everywhere there is fear. Our friends from the Jewish community in Kiev wrote: “Due to the complicated situation we had to double or triple the security in our institutions. The strongest security was put around children’s institutions."


Fleeing from the land of the north

 
Very unusual sight: desolate roads

Kiev is a big city in the Ukraine with 6 million residents and about 60.000 to 70.000 Jews. More than 300.000 Jews in the whole of the Ukraine have the right to return to Israel. The Ukraine is not part of the European Shengen Treaty, which means that the borders are secured for those who want to enter or leave the country. The whole country can be sealed off in a couple of hours.

I have spoken with many Jewish people, who say they are secretly considering leaving for Israel. They need our help. Many of the Jews in Ukraine are very poor. They are afraid, they do not know how to go about it, and they do not have the resources to travel to the Israeli consulate in Kiev to get their papers in order. This is where we help them.

The prophets speak of a massive exodus from the land of the north in the last days. They speak of a time of fishers, and a time of hunters. Zachariah 2:6:
“Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the Lord.


Please help us to support the Jews in Ukraine.

  1. pray for the Jewish people in the Ukraine. Pray for the leaders in the Ukraine. Pray for safety and protection for Koen and his team.

  2. make a donation NOW to support the work of Christians for Israel in the Ukraine
  • bring the Jews Home €135 or US $185 for one person to make aliyah
  • food parcels for the Holocaust survivors: €10 or US $14

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