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By Arlene Bridges Samuels  

To those who are reading this from Israel, know that all of us at CBN Israel were devastated to learn of the massive wildfires that broke out yesterday in the forests between Eshtaol and Latrun and forced evacuations as well as the cancellation of all Independence Day events.  

At sundown today, May 1, Israelis will conclude a trio of important anniversaries. These anniversaries began with Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 23-24 (Yom HaShoah) and include two back-to-back days, Memorial Day on April 30 and Independence Day May 1. Israelis remember their fallen soldiers and victims of terror on Memorial Day, then right away on May 1, joyous celebrations of Israel’s miraculous modern state break out. It may seem unusual to mark the solemnity of Memorial Day and high-spirited Independence Day one after the other. Then again, it is a portrait of Israel’s twin culture, where the strong bond between the sacrifices of the fallen and the miraculous establishment of the modern State of Israel are evident. 

Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron) is set aside to express grief, yet Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) is a time for joy. As is the custom on Memorial Day, the entire country comes to a halt for one minute after country-wide sirens blare. Vehicles stop on highways, drivers get out of their cars, and people stand in silent stillness in stores, on sidewalks, and in homes. The opening state ceremony for Memorial Day is held at the Western Wall. Military events occur to honor the national sacrifices, flags are lowered nationwide, and graves are visited. The end of Memorial Day is officially marked with a torch lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl, site of Israel’s national military cemetery named for Theodor Herzl, the father of the modern Jewish state. This solemn event signals the end of Memorial Day and officially opens the Independence Day celebrations. 

This year, the number of deaths from war and terrorism have increased dramatically amid ongoing terror assaults of every kind. The Defense Ministry’s annual reporting shows that since last Memorial Day, 316 soldiers have fallen and 79 civilians were killed in such attacks. These losses are annually noted in numbers dating back to 1851 and 1860! Since 1851, Arab terrorists have killed 5,229 Jewish civilians. Added together, 25,417 IDF soldiers, police officers, prison wardens, Shin Bet security service, and Mossad agents have been killed defending the land of Israel since 1860—the year that Jewish settlers ventured outside the walls of Jerusalem to build new neighborhoods. And when we include civilians killed in terror attacks since 1851, the total rises to 30,646! 

It is important to note that every Jewish Israeli—almost without exception—knows someone who has died in war, civilian terror, or both. Israel is one of the smallest nations in the world. Its Jewish population is currently estimated at 7.7 million Jews, with a total population of nearly 10 million citizens. Israel’s diverse citizens include 2 million Arab Israelis and minorities of Christians, Druze, and Bedouins who enjoy the same freedoms, including freedom of worship. 

Worldwide, the Jewish population stands at 15.8 million. With over 8 billion people in the world, compare these startling numbers: Muslims are estimated at around 2 billion people. Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, topped only by Christianity. A surprising and sad commentary about the world Jewish population is that right before World War II, it was 16.6 million. In 1948, when the modern State of Israel was established, the world Jewish population was 11.5 million.

Jews have slowly regained their pre-World War II population, but it has been difficult amid repeated attempts to wipe the Jewish nation and people off the map. Hours after Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, read their Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948, Jews who had been dancing in the streets were quickly forced into defending themselves with inadequate weapons against Arab aggressions—aggressions that have never stopped. As evident by the biggest conflicts—1948/49, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, 2006, two Intifadas, Hamas rockets for decades, and the most devastating, October 7, 2023—Israel’s enemies still do not understand: The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in His sovereign plans will win in the end, no matter what. Those enemies include the Islamic Regime—the world’s biggest exporter of terror.  

Despite their seasons of tragic history, the unstoppable resilience of the Jewish people is especially in evidence on Independence Day, with cookouts, music, and dancing. Each year of surviving Jew hatred and celebrating their freedom in their own land is a reminder to those who hate them: That the chosen people, the Jews, are here to stay. Despite runaway antisemitism and war, Israel is still a blessing to the world—with its massive innovations that make the quality of life better on nearly every continent. 

Deuteronomy 7:6 makes it clear: The LORD your God has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. What we owe the Jews is far beyond their modern innovations. God’s chosen scribes for the Old and New Testaments have told us that the pinnacle of God’s love is giving us salvation by sending His Son to earth through the Jewish people and culture, to pay our debt of sin on the cross. All who ask, receive this gift! 

 That, my Christian friends, is why we support Israel. This tiny nation figures large in God’s eternal plans for both Gentiles and Jews who believe in Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. While we Christians are often wrongly thought to idolize the Jews and Israel, they—like us—are imperfect. We care for Israel because God makes it plain that we are to stand with them, because God chose them in a world-changing role for every imperfect person ever born.  

Despite the Jew hatred, including the digital domain that unleashes its relentless spewing of accusations and lies, Israel still exists amid every attempt by her enemies to erase her existence. 

Meanwhile, Christian and Jewish Zionists must suit up in the mantle of biblical truth found in the Old and New Testaments. Let us make sure we rely on the facts of the Bible that Israel is the ancient and modern ancestral homeland and Jews are the indigenous people. Prayer and helpful advocacy go hand in hand. 

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you with appreciation to join us this week in prayer.  

Prayer Points: 

• Pray with thanks for God’s eternal promises for Israel. 
• Pray for our Christian community to maintain our hopes for Israel and the world.  
• Pray with praises for our Bible, the most factual, trustworthy document in history. 
• Pray for Israel’s examples of how to maintain resilience and hope amid tragedy. 

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Last night at sundown, Jewish families lit the first candle for their eight-day Hanukkah celebrations. Joining on Christmas Day this year, both Jews and Christians are celebrating light. As Anne Frank once observed, “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” During the last 14 months, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have bravely defied their enemies in a seven-front war and “define[d] the darkness” every day with lights of victory.

Hundreds of thousands of Israeli reservists and active-duty soldiers have served in the IDF since October 7, 2023. According to the state of Israel’s requirement, any Israeli citizen over the age of 18 who is Jewish, Druze, or Circassian must serve in the Israel Defense Forces. In Gaza alone, during the Swords of Iron war, as of mid-December 386 soldiers have fallen in combat and 5,493 have been wounded. As we light a Hanukkah candle each night during Hanukkah, also called the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights, such loss of life is heartbreaking. 

For upwards of 7 million Jewish citizens, nearly everyone knows someone who has died, been wounded, or is missing. Prayers are lifted up for the remaining 100 hostages living in the darkness of evil. Isaiah 40:1-2 is an inspiring Scripture to pray for our Jewish friends in Israel and globally during their Hannukah Festival of Lights. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for.”

During a time of sorrow and trauma, Israelis will light their candles each evening, signifying the single cruse of oil that miraculously lasted eight days in the Second Temple candelabrums while the priests made more of the specialized oil needed. Jewish families will eat latkes—the fried potatoes that celebrate the oil—and will dance, sing, and give gifts. 

Amid the precious traditions, however, the Festival of Dedication is more significant today than candles, latkes, and gifts. It is a time where the victories already won by the IDF are miracles. Parents and grandparents will retell their children about the ancient victories won by the Maccabees who amazingly defeated King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. 

The Greek (Hellenistic) king ruled the Seleucid Syrian Empire from 175 B.C. until his death in 164 B.C. He had desecrated the Temple, plundered its sacred vessels, outlawed circumcision, and burned sacred Scriptures. He adopted the name Epiphanes, which means “God manifest, illustrious,” and demanded that the Jews renounce their faith and worship him and his pagan gods. On the front side of a coin minted for Antiochus he is shown wearing a diadem, a crown. 

The IDF, defending the world’s only Jewish state, is a modern replica of the brave Maccabees who rose up against Antiochus. The Islamic Regime and its proxies are the new versions of Antiochus and his pagan empire. The present-day ayatollahs worship a Mahdi, thinking of him as their Islamic savior. Their so-called “savior” allegedly forces the entire world into an oppressive caliphate, not the freedom already won by our Jewish Savior 2,000 years ago. If he were real, the so-called Mahdi would wear a diadem, a crown—as if he had the sovereign power to erase the world’s Jews, Christians, and anyone who was in opposition. 

The modern Islamic Regime has already made its goals as clear as the brightest day on earth. That hateful, murderous regime targets its own population and is emblematic of Antiochus. Also, like Antiochus, the Islamic Regime will eventually suffer defeat based on what the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has voiced throughout Scripture. 

Jewish children really enjoy hearing grown-ups retell the story of the Jewish “hammers,” the colloquial term for Maccabees. Everything came to a head when a Seleucid official tried to force Mattathias, a priest, to make a sacrifice to a pagan god. The Maccabees’ history unfolded from that moment in the already-desecrated Temple when Mattathias killed the enemy. Jews united under him and his five sons and led the liberation, becoming known as the Maccabees (Hebrew for “hammer”)—described as striking hammer blows against their enemies. Jews refer to them as Maccabees, but the family is more commonly known as part of the Hasmoneans. 

Underestimating the Maccabees’ determination, both Antiochus and today’s Islamic Regime (and proxies) have underestimated Jewish resolve. Such resolve—matched with strategic brilliance—to defend their sovereignty and their citizens has been apparent since October 7, 2023. Antiochus first deployed a small force against the Maccabees, and when that force was defeated, the tyrant king sent in much larger, more powerful forces. But the persistent determination of his Jewish adversaries led to Jerusalem being recaptured by the Maccabees and the purification of the Temple—a massive victory that gave birth to the holiday of Hanukkah. 

During the years when Maccabee defenders fought the Seleucids, Antiochus died and his successor agreed to Israel’s independence in 142 B.C., and after more than 500 years of occupation, Jews were free again. When Mattathias died, his son Judas, also known as Judah Maccabee, led the revolt. At the war’s end, only Simon, one of the five sons, survived. He ushered in an 80-year period of Jewish independence in Judea, Israel. The Kingdom regained boundaries, most of Solomon’s realm, and Jewish life flourished. The Hasmoneans claimed the throne of Judah. 

Now, despite the small nation of Israel fighting a seven-front war, the successes of the “modern Maccabees” are beyond imagination too! The highly respected native Israeli, Amir Tsarfati, president of Behold Israel and international Bible teacher, highlights some of the near-miraculous IDF successes. He mentions that Israel now has a buffer zone in both the north and the south where terrorists cannot simply pour over the border. Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran in Syria have been decimated, both their leadership, manpower, and weaponry (ground and aerial). 

Syrian President Assad, a dictator whose regime killed hundreds of thousands of Syrian citizens, has fled to Russia. Israel has made sure that the massive store of weapons that he and his welcomed Iranians left behind is not usable by any rebel or terror groups who take over. Go to Behold Israel on Telegram and other social media for Amir’s commentary and news. 

On December 17, it was an extraordinary moment when Prime Minister Netanyahu stood in Syria on the peak of Mount Hermon with his military leaders making Israeli security assessments for the future. In a video, he commented that it was “nostalgic” to be in Syria once again after 53 years when he was “with his soldiers in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit.” He announced that the IDF would remain in Syrian buffer zones until “other arrangements were made.” An ancient and modern connection in Syria where the Maccabees won each time! 

Israel’s defensive war goes on, yet their achievements bring fresh light into Hanukkah 2024. If you wish to discover additional fascinating details and facts about the Maccabees, read 1 and 2 Maccabees. They were included in Catholic Bibles, omitted from Protestant Bibles, and I am glad that Amazon has not omitted them! 

Prayer Points:

• Pray for Israelis to have a calm Hanukkah inside their borders where they may safely walk, drive, and celebrate. 
• Pray for families and friends of imprisoned hostages, that comfort will pierce their unrelenting grief. 
• Pray with thanks that Lebanese Christians are openly expressing their love for Israel. 
• Pray and praise God that the cruel Assad is no longer in Syria. 
• Pray that world leaders will have wisdom in evaluating any new leaders in Syria. 

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Two glorious celebrations converge on December 25, 2024: Christmas Day and the first day of Hanukkah. Also called the Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah lasts eight days. The first candle is lit at sundown on December 25. Although it is a time of gift-giving in the Jewish community, its significance is spiritually splendid. 

The Feast of Dedication marks two compelling events. First, an unexpected military victory when the brave Maccabees, beginning in 164 B.C., reclaimed their desecrated Second Temple from the Syrian dictator. Secondly, the Maccabees discovered one small cruse of Temple oil that proved to last eight days—far beyond its normal capacity—while a batch of specialized olive oil was made by Temple priests for the candelabrum. These miracles transpired 165 years before Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) birth. 

We will return to Jesus’ profound words as He walked in Soloman’s Portico during the Festival of Lights, as written in John 10:22-23. You may ask, how does the United States Congress fit into my Hanukkah perspective? And what is the connection between the Festival of Lights and Christmas?

It has to do with Judea and Samaria, Israel’s biblical heartland. For 369 years the Tabernacle, located in ancient Shiloh, served as Israel’s capital and thrives today! Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Judaism’s two Temples were located in Judea.

These historic credentials were reinforced a few short days ago, on December 5, 2024 (Hebrew month Kislev). Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton (R-A.R.) and House Member Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) introduced legislation to dismiss using the term West Bank in federal documents. The short title of the bill is the “Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act.”

The bill requires using only “historically accurate terminology” to align U.S. policy language with the geographical and cultural significance of the region. Senator Cotton emphasized, “The Jewish people’s legal and historic rights to Judea and Samaria goes back thousands of years. The U.S. should stop using the politically charged term West Bank to refer to the biblical heartland of Israel.” Sen. Cotton and Rep. Tenny recognized Israel’s ancient and modern sovereignty by proclaiming the facts. Congresswoman Tenny added, “At this critical moment in history, the United States must reaffirm this.” 

How did the senator and congresswoman come to their historically correct conclusion? It goes back to 1967. It is commonplace among Christians worldwide to refer to Jesus’ birthplace as Bethlehem. However, it is easy to overlook the fact that Bethlehem and its fields were and are in Judea. After Arab armies instigated the 1967 Six-Day War against Israel, part of Israel’s victory took place when Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recaptured Judea and Samaria and reunited Jerusalem, also located in Judea. 

Since then, however, much of the world refers to Bethlehem as being in the West Bank and refuses to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital. The description “West Bank” simply refers to the region west of the Jordan River. After Israel’s modern independence was announced on May 14, 1948, Jordan had occupied Israel’s biblical heartland for 20 years before the IDF liberated it from Jordanian occupation. Like so many other dismissals of the heritage of Jews in the land of Israel for thousands of years, the West Bank nomenclature has overtaken the true geography called Judea and Samaria, Israel’s biblical heartland. Jews are historically the indigenous people of Israel. 

It is not surprising that the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act is already creating controversy. The idea of a two-state solution, one for Palestinians and one for Jews, has served as a sacred cow for decades and was promoted by successive U.S. administrations (both Democrat and Republican), the United Nations, and the European Union. President-elect Trump briefly considered the idea in his first administration, but it is crystal clear now that after the October 7 war was launched, Israelis will not consider it. Nor should they. The inhuman nature of terrorists and oppressive Islamic ideology and actions are in plain view everywhere the Israelis turn. No “peace” partner exists.

Cotton and Tenny are following in big footsteps. During President elect-Trump’s first term he opened doors wider for Israel’s biblical heartland, populated by 500,000 Jews, when he announced that what the world calls “settlements” are not illegal, nor are they a violation of international law. Returning the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem (in Judea) marked the implementation of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, when most of the Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, passed the law to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv back to Jerusalem. 

Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden bypassed the congressional decision in a loophole that allowed them to delay the embassy move every six months. Then and now, some members of Congress are opposing Cotton and Tenny’s legislation. Let us pray for success in this important legislation—as a Hanukkah gift to Israelis in their time of war.

When it comes to the eternal plans of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, no amount of opposition will hinder His timetable. When Jesus attended the Feast of Dedication, walking in the Second Temple, He made Himself clear. John 10:22–42 are the only verses in the Bible about Jesus celebrating the victorious Festival of Lights. Questioned by crowds pressing in to tell them “plainly” if He was the Messiah, Jesus created an uproar with his answers. He declared Himself to be both Messiah and Son of God (10:24) and added, “I and the Father are one” (v. 30). Jesus already knew His destiny as the Light, the Redeemer. 

In this particular passage, Jesus does not declare Himself in the phrase, “Light of the world.” Nevertheless, the Apostle John emphasizes that Jesus had proclaimed earlier in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of life.” While the Maccabees recaptured, then restored, the Temple from the darkness of evil, Jesus’ birth in Judea fulfilled prophecies and brought Eternal Light to our world. His light cannot—will not—be extinguished. 

Jesus is the eternal Hero that John declares in John 1:5, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John goes on to write later in Revelation 21:23 that “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” 

Just as Jesus attended the Feast of Rededication, let us take a moment to rededicate ourselves and our families to Him in this 2024 season of Light with luminous candles, Advent, and Hallelujah choruses. May Israel miraculously experience The Light during their eight days of Hanukkah. 

Our team welcomes you to celebrate with us while reflecting on Yeshua’s assuring words in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of life.” 

Prayer Points:

• Pray for more Christians to rediscover the Jewish roots and foundation of our faith. 
• Pray that Israeli Jews will be able to observe Hanukkah 2024 in peace. 
• Pray for the hostages and all Israel that Light will shine into their traumas. 
• Pray for Israel’s IDF, the new Maccabees, for victories and security. 
• Pray that the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act is passed.

Arlene Bridges Samuels is the weekly feature columnist for CBN Israel since 2020. Working on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as their SE Regional Outreach Director for nine years, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as the Leadership Outreach Director part-time for their project American Christian Leaders for Israel. Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, is published at AllIsrael.com and The Jerusalem Connection, and has traveled to Israel since 1990. By invitation, she attends Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summits as part of Christian media worldwide. In 2024, Arlene and her husband Paul co-authored Mental Health Meltdown: Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental Illnesses. www.TheMentalHealthMeltdown.com.