On May 22, 2016 I attended the Jerusalem Post's Annual Conference at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The purpose of this conference was to give an overview and an update on the State of Israel. This update covered a broad range of topics including education, security, culture and business. Just a few short weeks ago, I was at this same location in New York City (since the Marquis Theater is part of the hotel), for an entirely different reason. My husband surprised me with tickets for the Broadway Show, "Get On Your Feet : The Emilio and Gloria Estefan Story." I recommend this Broadway Show to my readers. It is a delightful evening of music and dance and the inspiring story of the Cubano-American power couple and music legends Emilio and Gloria Estefan. It is one of the handful of Broadway shows at any given time that is an option for people of faith.
My attendance at a family-friendly Broadway show on my birthday makes sense, but why would a blogger going by the moniker of "Westchester Christian Housewife" choose to attend a Jewish Israeli
themed conference? Sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday constitutes the Jewish sabbath,
therefore it is only natural that the Post would choose to hold this event on Sunday to accommodate
their mostly Jewish audience. I had to miss my regular Sunday Church service in order to attend this
event. So what's a "shiksa"* like me doing in a place like that and missing Church yet? The answeris, that I believe it is vitally important for every committed Christian to stand up for the State of Israel and to support the Jewish people in their God-given right to live in the land "flowing with milk and honey." Exodus 3:8.
Panel Discussion on B.D.S.
The dire, daily news headlines emanating from the Mideast are nothing short of horrific. Beheadings,
rape, and suicide bombings are a constant. Civil War has been raging in Syria for five years and we have all read the stories of refugees from this conflict flooding Europe. Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon,
and Yemen are all dealing with serious internal conflict. As the Middle East descends into chaos and
ruination, the State of Israel has managed to stay afloat and even thrive. With this in mind, I thought
it was critical to stay abreast of Israeli current events and to reach out to befriend and support God's "chosen people" the Jews. Deuteronomy 7:6.
Author Mosab Hassan Yousef
So why is it that Israel, which achieved Statehood only sixty-eight years ago, is so different from
those countries surrounding it? The blessings of Middle Eastern oil deposits were not bestowed upon her. That abundant worldwide commodity alone is a key factor which propelled much of the Middle Eastern economy onto the stage of global importance. Yet Israel has also become one of the best economies on earth. With scant natural resources, they have made the most of what they do have.
Throughout the history of the Jewish people, they have faced many challenges. Almighty God has
chosen this small group of twelve tribes to be at the center of the world stage, and here they are, right where they should be. Revelation 21:12 (ESV)-It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve Angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed."
Prime Minister Addresses the Crowd from Israel
I arrived at 7:30 A.M. just in time for bagels, coffee and conference registration. The security was
tight as I expected it to be considering the constant existential threat that the nation of Israel and people of Jewish descent face all over the world. As I munched on delicious cinnamon rugalah, I
shared a table with a retired lawyer named Bernard, a doctor from White Plains ( Westchester, N.Y.)
and a woman who divorced one of the commandoes who helped execute the famous raid on Entebbe.
The Doctor, looked familiar to me. Wouldn't you know it, I can't go anywhere without running into
someone from Westchester County, N.Y. While strolling on the Left Bank in Paris once I actually ran
into a young lady and her mother whom I knew from volunteer activities in my hometown. Crazy right.
Business Panel
The Jewish people that I met were cordial and eager to share their stories and discuss current events.
A woman that I talked to over breakfast, told me how her boss just sold his apartment in Paris due to the hostility now facing the Jewish people in that world Capitol. In the past two years alone 8,000 people have fled the French Capitol to emigrate to Israel. She then spoke of her husband's role in the
1976 raid in Entebbe, Uganda to rescue Jewish hostages taken captive by a Palestian terror group and
two German revolutionary's. As I spoke to people, I realized how vitally important it is to study the
history of the Jewish people, as well as the Bible to understand the need for a Jewish State. Genesis
26:4 says, " I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed."
 Musical Interlude |
| As time goes by memories fade. Many attendees told me that a conference such as this one was an opportunity to keep their history alive, especially since the Universities have grown hostile to fhe Jewish community,( more on that later). The raid in Entebbe, Uganda occurred forty years ago. Yet as I heard the tale related today, how fraught with timely lessons it was. The story began in Tel Aviv, Israel where Air France Flight 139, departed with their French crew and mostly Jewish passengers on their way to France. There was one stopover in Athens, Greece. The security in Greece was lapse thereby allowing a group of terrorists to board the plane. Their plan was to take all Israeli passengers hostage and hold them for ransom and to use them to negotiate the release of Palestinian terrorists in prison. The plane then went to Benghazi, Libya to re-fuel and finally flew to Uganda. The dictator of that country, at that time was Idi Amin, who was an ardent supporter of the terrorists. Zechariah 2:8-" For thus saith the Lord of hosts; after the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye." |
Outgoing Editor of the Post
Despite the furious negotiations that went on among world leaders, it seemed nothing could be done. The United States, Egypt and many African nations seemed unwilling or unable to save these kidnapped victims. During this time the Israeli Defense Force acting upon information from the Mossad that the hostages would ultimately be killed, devised a brave and ingenious plan. They would send 100 commandoes, under the leadership of Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of the current Prime Minister of Israel to rescue the hostages. They would have to fly 2500 miles at night
to Uganda, and refuel mid-air because most African countries refused to assist them out of fear or loyalty to Idi Amin. They flew over hostile Arab countries trying to allude radar detection knowing that if caught trying to save innocent life from the clutches of evil-doers that they too would be killed. The only country that assisted them in Africa was Kenya. This mission was very dangerous. They would face the hostile troops of Idi Amin. Yonatan Netanyahu would be killed, as would some of the hostages caught in the crossfire. Psalm 25:22 (ESV)-" Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles."
Award Ceremony
The story of the the Jewish captives held in an African airport and their rescue and safe return to
Israel is a variation on a theme that has occurred throughout history starting in the Bible. Nehemiah 2:20 (ESV) "So I prayed to the God of heaven and I said to the King, " If it please the King, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father's graves, that I may rebuild it." After World War Two it seemed as if the world was ashamed of itself and ready to head in a new direction as regarded the treatment of Jewish people. Books were written on that topic. Looking back on all that the Jewish people went through since that time I am wondering if it was ever really true. Joshua and Caleb had to fight as much to start the nation of Israel as modern day Israelis did in the Six day War. The Jewish people had to fight to get the right to leave Russia in the 1980's. Some of the so called "refuseniks" had to endure jail time. The Jews were badly treated in the Middle Eastern countries of Iraq and Iran. Many of them made the "Aliyah" or migration to Israel since the formation of that safe haven for the Jews. They had their property stolen there just as the Nazis and Russians had done before them.
We still have lax airport security in many European airports, and an absolute inability to see or care just as they did in 1976. Look at all the terrorist attacks that have occurred in France and Belgium lately. In any wave of attacks the Jewish people are always sought out and viciously targeted. As a Christian I know that it is absolutely unGodly. Psalm 122:6-" Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee."
Details on the Conference continued Next Monday June 6th. Exciting Guests- Michael Douglas the Actor etc.
Israel is a variation on a theme that has occurred throughout history starting in the Bible. Nehemiah 2:20 (ESV) "So I prayed to the God of heaven and I said to the King, " If it please the King, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father's graves, that I may rebuild it." After World War Two it seemed as if the world was ashamed of itself and ready to head in a new direction as regarded the treatment of Jewish people. Books were written on that topic. Looking back on all that the Jewish people went through since that time I am wondering if it was ever really true. Joshua and Caleb had to fight as much to start the nation of Israel as modern day Israelis did in the Six day War. The Jewish people had to fight to get the right to leave Russia in the 1980's. Some of the so called "refuseniks" had to endure jail time. The Jews were badly treated in the Middle Eastern countries of Iraq and Iran. Many of them made the "Aliyah" or migration to Israel since the formation of that safe haven for the Jews. They had their property stolen there just as the Nazis and Russians had done before them.
We still have lax airport security in many European airports, and an absolute inability to see or care just as they did in 1976. Look at all the terrorist attacks that have occurred in France and Belgium lately. In any wave of attacks the Jewish people are always sought out and viciously targeted. As a Christian I know that it is absolutely unGodly. Psalm 122:6-" Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee."
Details on the Conference continued Next Monday June 6th. Exciting Guests- Michael Douglas the Actor etc.
