Our hearts are broken to be adding this kind of story to our newsletter. Please pray for Israel and Jews everywhere in the world. Click on the links in the titles to be directed to the full story.
On Saturday, October 27th, a gunman entered the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh and killed 11 people, wounding six others. It was the worst recorded anti-Semitic act in American history. Anti-Semitism has been on the rise, despite the media’s attempts to downplay it in other instances. In this heart-breaking event, there was no way to downplay the obvious hatred of Jewish people that motivated the killer to commit this act of violence. Across the world, celebrities and dignitaries alike hastened to share their support and shock over the senseless shooting. Many are still wondering what will happen next.
Israeli judoka Sagi Muki made history on October 28 – coincidentally, World Judo Day — by winning a gold medal in the 81-kilo weight class at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. This marked the first time Israeli competitors were permitted to show the Israeli flag on their uniforms and the first time Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikva,” was played in the United Arab Emirates.
Israel’s Minister of Sports and Culture Miri Regev was in attendance and couldn’t hold back her emotion as “Hatikva” was played for the first time in an Arab country at a sporting event.
Sagi’s teammate, Peter Paltchik, also won Gold in his weight class and the joy of hearing Hatikva played twice was apparent for the Israeli supporters and competitors. It was a different kind of victory and it may have been just as satisfying as being handed the gold medal.
Anti-Semitism is Anti-semitism and a hate crime is a hate crime but when they are both perpetrated against Jews because they are Jews, it is easy to see why Israel must exist and why the IDF is so important for the survival of the Jewish people. Read the first-hand account of what Arie, the soldier stabbed in the attack, was feeling and thinking in the moments following the stabbing. Click here to see the additional pictures on our FaceBook page. 
