I Stand With Israel!

Shalom Everyone!

Israel, God bless it! For a country that’s just over the size of Lake Ontario – approximately eight thousand square miles – it is by far the most amazing and blessed land in this world.

Last week my family and I were blessed to be able to attend two incredible events. The first was a benefit evening with the Jewish community from Uptown Chabad-Lubavitch. The benefit was well attended with about 900 people, who had the honor to alongside our Jewish brothers and sisters, to sit and listen to the one and only Glenn Beck – of Fox News and GBTV/Radio fame. I have to say, it was incredible and I learned a lot. Beck is clearly a wise, passionate and worldly man.

Beck has been a steadfast supporter of Israel for many years – here’s a clip from a 2011 from his show on Fox News just to give you all a taste of what I’m talking about.

So first off, the event was hosted by the HILARIOUS Reuven Russell who literally had me giggling my heart out – amazing host! (We really need to find us one of those in the Pakistani Christian community!) 

Reuven Russell

The word Chabad is an acronym which means wisdom, comprehension and knowledge, and Uptown Chabad-Lubavitch is dedicated to the teaching and preservation of Jewish history – so Beck was there to talk about the importance of KNOWING and TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN. Actually as I learned that evening, this teaching stems directly from one out of the six hundred thirteen commandments of God’s law for the Jews: which is simply to teach and learn the Torah. One of the speakers that evening reminded the Jewish community that "there will always be someone who knows more, and someone who knows less of the Torah around us so it is always possible to teach and learn!" I really think we need to start actively applying that law to our community and the Bible as well! 


As Beck said, we must learn and preserve history because one day it will be taken from us.

Here’s a clip from the evening – sorry that it’s quite blurry as I recorded it on my iPod but the audio should be alright!



Not only was it a joy to hear from Glenn Beck, but I gained so much from what I heard from my Jewish brethren as well. Talking about Israel’s history and it’s present day issues, Rabbi Moshe Steiner said “no matter what Hashem gives you, you can overcome.” Something that we too know from:

1Corinthians 10:13 -- “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Rabbi Moshe Steiner

Another speaker humbly told the audience that if Israel depended on physical strength alone, they may not have achieved many of the successes that they have in battle – but their success stems from their dedication and commitment to the God of Abraham, and His commitment to Israel through His promise. It still stands today guys, and I could give you a trillion reasons why this is true, but I'm not here to prove anything. Just to share these events with you! One thing I will repeat though, is a statement Beck made: the Jews are literally doing and following what Moses did way back when and you show me another nation, another people who after going through all that this nation has gone through AND are still right where the Lord God told them to be.

Phoebe Samuel with Michael Coren of Sun News Network.

This has all actually reminded me of a Jewish family that I know and love. They were my neighbours – who sadly moved away a couple of years ago much to the dismay of the entire neighbourhood I’m sure, because they were truly wonderful people – wonderful neighbours.

There was a time when my family and I were asked to share our life story with our church during an evening service – so we invited our friends, family and our neighbours to join us there. During this service I specifically told a story about a time when I needed and God provided.

Someday I’ll definitely blog about the circumstances in which this happened; but my family and I went through a very difficult time not too long ago where we were not financially stable. The story goes that one day I literally had no gas in my car and no money to buy it – but I had dedicated myself to my church choir, and was determined to make to every practice. So barring all logic I got into my car and drove to church. Thankfully the car made it to church but when I got there and parked I almost wanted to cry because – well have you ever had your car’s gas gauge go so far past the E for empty that you think you might just be going back in time?! Ok no not back in time but it was EMPTY.

So I braced myself and prayed for a miracle, and hobbled my way into church. I loved being in the choir, it was literally one of the only things holding my sanity together at that time and that night was especially uplifting – except that I still had no gas in the car. So after everything wrapped up and as the evening ended I felt my panic rising again, but I kept a smile plastered to my face and got my jacket – and that’s when this wonderfully kind woman of God ran up to me and grasped my arms with a smile saying “Wait! It’s Chinese New Year’s! I have something for you!”

So I hugged her and said my thank you and goodbye taking the traditional red Chinese New Year’s envelope from her. Just a note to everyone who hasn’t received one of these before, often they have a coin inside – or sometimes a chocolate coin instead and I was thinking that day well, ok a chocolate loonie will make me feel better I suppose. It was only once I got in my car and popped open the envelope that I realized what had just happened.

I got my miracle, and there was twenty dollars sitting in my hands for gas.

After the service ended and we had shared our story with the church, my Jewish neighbors waited for quite some time. The family came to speak with us and the patriarch of the family said to me in a fatherly tone, something along the lines of: “I never want to hear again that you have left your house lacking anything. If you need money, gas, a ride whatever please tell my family. It is our honor and our duty by our faith to look after others and we would consider it a favor if you asked us for help not the other way around.”

So yea, they were pretty amazing and I could tell you a million other stories why but needless to say I’ll never forget them. Of course there are positive and negative experiences with people in all communities and from all backgrounds – but I can say for myself, that this kind of genuine kindness and friendship is one that I have experienced with many Jewish people – especially the ones that I have extended my hand to as well.

Vincent and Phoebe Samuel with the outspoken Tarek Fatah.

Back to Glenn Beck though, he said something that many people need to hear and need to repeat over and over to everyone: standing with Israel is not even about the Holocaust, the fact is that this has happened literally nineteen times to them throughout history. Standing with Israel is not really about giving our armed forces to them or coming to their rescue because as Beck said they can pretty much kick anyone’s butt – example 1967.

It is the world’s responsibility to stand and say without a doubt that every Jew has the RIGHT to live, and Israel has the RIGHT to exist.

Glenn Beck

Beck also made another interesting point during the night about the Arab Spring – the rarity of the American Revolution aside; revolutions do not end with the people that started them. They end with the most ruthless, vicious and violent or the best organized – and as Glenn Beck pointed out, in the case of the Arab Spring both of those characteristics fit one group known as the Muslim Brotherhood.

But on to lighter subjects, I also learned that thirty percent of the American founders’ writings were based on the Book of Deuteronomy. Pretty amazing stuff – and as I’m slowly catching up on Canadian heritage these days too, I will definitely post more on our own founders and history in the upcoming months.

The second event we attended was at Victory International Church on Father’s Day where the Consul General of Israel, Honorable Amir Gissin visited to speak to the church about where Israel stands today and what as friends of Israel we can do to support them!

Sometimes with all the media hype and crazy news from the Middle East we can really forget just how small Israel is. I alluded to this in the beginning of the article but really it is SMALL – and this small country is in high demand.

Israel has its fair share of problems, mainly security issues; being populated with just about 8million and surrounded by a force of 80million against. But they also face a constant campaign to terrorize and malign their nation and existence as well. Honorable Gissin said my country “knows its problems” which is why it “also knows to appreciate its friends as well.”

Gissin detailed Israel’s understanding of the Arab Spring agenda which Glenn Beck also mentioned in the previous event. He discussed briefly the hypocrisy that is: the world’s reaction to Syria. Why is no one taking real action against Syria? There was literally thirty thousand victims in Libya before the world stepped in during that crisis as well – but Syria being in the heart of the Middle East is just too dangerous for the world’s forces it seems.

Gissin discussed how often human rights are used as a bargaining chip – and friends we can see this within our own country (Pakistan) as well: in example where the polio vaccine is being cut off by clerics and leaders who are demanding that US drone attacks be stopped before vaccination is given. So basically it’s ok to allow innocent people to die from deadly and preventable disease rather than to allow the removal of terrorists who are thriving on Pakistani soil and Pakistani blood.

Bargaining chip indeed.

June 19 2012, Polio Vaccinations being given to children in Lahore, Pakistan.

Another such issue is oil prices – which often dictate right and wrong because politicians feel they would be unable to survive it if they fought for the innocent – and we ended up paying more for our daily commute – but isn’t that true? Would they survive it? Probably not – but what does that mean for the suffering people in this world?

Gissin then discussed the issue of Iran’s mission to become a nuclear nation. It is clear that Israel will NEVER allow this to happen. Rightfully so because a nuclear Iran is not just Israel’s problem but everyone’s; a special correspondent of The PC Inquirer will be delving into the details of that issue with an upcoming article, so be looking out for that!

If a country not only constantly threatens to wipe out Israel but actively seeks the means to do it – that is a serious and real threat, and it is being taken really seriously. Quoting Gissin, “This is not politics, it’s just you see we have been there before. They tried and failed, and when we say never again it means only one thing: NEVER AGAIN.”

There’s a huge falsity being spread worldwide that the “problem with the Middle East” stems from the Israeli Palestinian conflict which is just not true. In fact all over the Middle East, Arabs are killing Arabs regularly – one of the oddest arguments I ever hear from my Muslim brothers and sisters when I speak with them about Christian persecution in Pakistan is that Muslims suffer far more; and in fact the reality is that they do suffer – they are suffering – but by their own hands. Gissin pointed out that during a year of the Arab Spring, just one single year – more Arabs died at the hands of their brothers than in near thirty years of casualties of war between both Israel and Palestine AND Israel and other Middle Eastern countries.

That my friend is hypocrisy: handing over Israel to Palestine is not only injustice, but it’s really irrelevant when it comes to what is happening in the Middle East, and the world.

Well, politics aside; on a brighter note Israel with its constant struggle for freedom still THRIVES. It is the most creative place on earth, and innovations such as its partnership with Canada on the Blackberry – medical, scientific, and technological advances make it irreplaceable. Last year alone Israel had over 700 start-up technology companies! There are more Nasdaq listings for Isreali companies than any other country in the world except the US itself – more listings than all of the European Union combined! Per capita Israel has more patents than the US!

So when you think of Israel if you think of conflict, think again.

Gissin also went into detail about the close and very much appreciated relationship that Canada shares with Israel; something that I am very proud of as a Canadian, and commend my government for maintaining not only through words but with actions.

Honorable Amir Gissin with the Rt Honorable Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Finally I just want to say Israel does not want to take over the world, in fact they already have their land of milk and honey; the place where our faith and our world was shaped. Judaism is one of the only religions in the world that does not try to push its beliefs down anyone’s throats but only to preserve it within their own communities. They are a people who give more than they take in near every sense and I for one can’t wait to go there to see it for myself! So I hope I was able to share with you a little about the socio-political reasons why I stand with Israel – someday I’ll delve into why my faith also tells me to bless God’s chosen people. 


For now though, thanks for reading!