CBN.com – Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year, is at once solemn and joyful. It is solemn because of the Awe of judgment. It is joyful because it represents the hope of the future redemption of Israel. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the High Holy Days. It falls on the first day of the seventh month, according to the Hebrew calendar (see Leviticus 23:23). It could occur anywhere from the first to the last week of September on the Western calendar. (Sept. 11, in 1999) It ushers in the ten days of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
The name "Rosh Hashanah" literally means "Beginning of the Year" You may wonder how this can be, since it is called the first day of the seventh month! The reason is that the Jewish calendar is built on two cycles-the religious calendar beginning in the Spring, and the civil calendar beginning in the Fall. In the Torah, the months are never named but only numbered, beginning with the month of Nisan in the early Spring, which is the first month according to the religious calendar.
Rosh Hashanah Customs
Among the many traditions of Rosh Hashanah are:
Dipping of bread into honey after kiddush and ha-Motzi, as a symbol of the hope that the new year will be sweet.
Dipping pieces of apple into honey, for the same reason.
Also, the apple is said to symbolize the Divine Presence.
Use of round loaf of bread instead of the usual braided hallah. Some say the round shape symbolizes a crown. Avoidance of nuts. This is because the numerical value of the Hebrew word for "nut" is the same as the word for "sin."
Tashlikh ceremony, in which "sins" are ceremoniously tossed into a river and washed away, as penitential prayers are said.
The Shofar
The most obvious distinguishing feature of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar, or ram's horn. The Biblical name for this holiday is in fact Zichron Teruah (Remembrance of the shofar blast), or Yom Teruah. (Day of the shofar blast). In some English Bibles it is called The Feast of Trumpets.
Over a thousand years ago, the great Jewish sage Saadia Gaon came up with ten reasons for sounding the Shofar:
1.The shofar is associated with the coronation of a King.
2.The shofar heralds the beginning of the penitential period.
3.The Torah was given amid blasts of a shofar
4.The prophets compare their message to blasts of shofar.
5.It is a reminder of the Conquering armies that destroyed the temple.
6.It is a reminder of the Substitutionary Sacrifice of the ram for Isaac.
7.It fills one with Awe-Amos 3:6.
8. It is associated with Judgment Day-Zephaniah. 1:14, 16.
9.It heralds the Messianic Age, Isaiah 27:13.
10. It heralds the Resurrection.
Significance
Unlike Passover, the Bible does not clearly identify Rosh Hashanah with a historical event, so we must look to tradition to discover its significance.
According to Talmudic tradition, the Ten Days of Awe which begin at Rosh Hashanah are the time in which God determines the fate of each human being. On Rosh Hashanah, the wholly righteous are supposedly inscribed in the Sefer ha-Hayyim, or Book of Life, while the wholly wicked are inscribed in the Book of Death. The fate of all others hangs in the balance until Yom Kippur. Consequently, it is a time for introspection, for taking stock of one's behavior over the past year and making amends for any wrongdoing.
The Book of Life in the Bible
In chapter 32 of the book of Exodus we find the first hint of the book of life. Moses has been on the mountain receiving the Torah while the people of Israel waited below. Seeing that Moses was taking a long time in returning, the people gave up waiting and made themselves a golden calf to worship, thus incurring the wrath of God. Moses asks to be "blotted out of the book" if God will not forgive the sins of the people. (See also Deut. 9:13).
There are a number of other references in the Tanakh which mention God blotting out or not blotting out someone from the Book. In Psalm 51:3/2, David asks to have his sins blotted out. Psalm 69:29/28 uses the exact phrase "Book of Life" See also 2 Kings 14:27, Psalm 9:5/6.
Rosh Hashanah in the Bible
The Torah does not use the term "Rosh Hashanah," but calls this holiday Yom Teruah, The Day of the Sounding of the Shofar. According to Leviticus 23:23-25, it was to be celebrated by blowing a shofar, or ram's horn, by resting from all work, and by calling a holy assembly, and presenting an offering. The offering is described in Numbers 29:2-6. In Nehemiah 8:2-9 we find Ezra reading the Torah to the assembled people of Israel on this date. Psalms 93-100 are also believed to have been composed for Rosh Hashanah.
Modern Observance and Jewish Tradition
In modern Jewish observance of Rosh Hashanah, the principal themes are:
1.Repentance (Teshuvah in Hebrew-literally "turning back" to God).
2.Redemption-restoration of a severed relationship with God.
3.The coming of Messiah.
4.Judgment.
5.Creation.
The Coming Messiah
The following quotes underscore the theme of the coming Messiah in Rosh Hashanah tradition: "The sounding of the shofar is related to the Messianic theme, and in one tradition, Rosh Hashanah is said to be the time of the ultimate redemption." - Philip Sigal
"The prayers . . . in many ways allude to God's enthronement, for the kingship of Heaven materializes with the advent of Messiah, who presides over the last judgment." - Philip Sigal The Brit Ha-Hadashah (New Testament) also associates the sound of the shofar with the coming of Messiah. Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, a book of the Brit Ha-Hadashah, tells us:
"For the Lord himself (i.e., Yeshua ha-Mashiach) will come down from heaven, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call (Tekiat Shofar) of God, and the dead in the Messiah (i.e., those who believed in Yeshua and have died) will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. . . ."-I Thessalonians 4:16 - 17. (Believers refer to this coming event as the "Rapture," from the Latin word for "caught up.")
The description of Things to Come given in the Brit ha-Hadashah fits well with all the modern themes of Rosh Hashanah. In order to participate in the Rapture, one must 1) Repent: Turn away from sin and toward God. Then you will be personally 2) Redeemed. The soul will be redeemed immediately, and your body on that day when 3) The Messiah comes again and "we shall all be changed/ we shall be like him as he is!" (1 Corinthians 15:51, I John 3:2) and therefore ready for the (4) Judgment.(Revelation 20:11-15) before the world is 5) created anew (Revelation 21).
The Book of Life in the Brit ha-Hadashah
The Concept of the Book of Life is found in the New Covenant Scriptures as well. In Philippians 4:3, Paul mentions his faithful colaborers as being written in the book of Life. The book of Revelation, dedicated to the themes of judgment and the coming Messiah, contains several references to the "Book of Life."
Revelation 3:5 - "he who overcomes" will not be blotted out.
Revelation 13:8 -- All who are not written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb will worship the beast.
Revelation 17:8 -- All who are not written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb will be astonished at the beast.
Revelation 20:12 -- Judgment by the Book.
Revelation 20:15 -- All who are not found in the book are thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:27 -- Those who are in the Book will enter the New Jerusalem.
Tashlikh
One very interesting ceremony of Rosh Hashanah is the custom of Tashlikh. In a Tashlikh service, worshippers go to a body of water such as a stream or an ocean, and toss the contents of their pockets into it while reciting passages such as Micah 7:19, ("You will hurl (Tashlikh) all their sins into the depths of the sea.") as a symbol of sin being swallowed up in forgiveness.
A New Covenant
This is not the only place in the Tanakh where God speaks of such total forgiveness for his people. Jeremiah 31:34 says: "For I will forgive their iniquities and remember their sins no more." Only one verse before, God declares that one day he will make a New Covenant (Brit Hadashah) with Israel, and put his Torah in their minds and write it on their hearts: "See, a time is coming-declares the LORD-when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers, when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, a covenant which they broke, so that I rejected them-declares the LORD."
What is this "New Covenant"? What is to be the basis of Atonement under it? The Torah teaches that atonement requires the shedding of blood, i.e. a sacrifice. (Leviticus 17:11). Yet, there is no more temple in which to make the sacrifice, so how can there be atonement? It is impossible to keep the Torah completely as long as there is no temple. The rabbis declared that prayers would take the place of the sacrifices, but is that really enough? If prayer is as good as sacrifice, why did God ever demand sacrifice in the first place? Would HaShem allow the temple-so central to his service-to be taken away for so long without putting an alternative plan in place? Hass ve'halilah! If God has allowed the temple to lie in ruins for so long, could it be that it is because he has provided another way?
Suppose someone you know to be reliable gives you directions to someplace and you suddenly find yourself at a dead end. You know the directions are good, so you back up to see if you missed a turn somewhere. Those directions are the Torah and the prophets. The dead end is the Hurban. The missed turn is the New Covenant-one that doesn't need a physical temple, because the ultimate sacrifice has already been made, making all other sacrifice obsolete. The Hebrew prophets predicted that a "Righteous Servant" would some day make such a sacrifice. (Isaiah 53:6, 8, 12)
"And the LORD visited upon him the guilt of us all."-Isaiah 53:6 (JPS).
"My righteous servant makes the many righteous, It is their punishment that he bears" -- Isaiah 53:11 (JPS).
"For he was cut off from the land of the living Through the sin of my people, who deserved the punishment " -- Isaiah 53:8 (JPS).
"He bore the guilt of the many And made intercession for sinners." -- Isaiah 53:12 (JPS).
We believe that Yeshua is that Righteous Servant (what other candidates are there?), and that his Atonement is the basis of the New Covenant spoken of by Jeremiah. If the New Testament ("Testament" is simply another word for Covenant or Brit) is true, it proves that God has not abandoned Am Yisroel. We believe that God has come in person to rescue his people from their sins as a prerequisite to the final restoration of Israel to the Land, when HaShem Himself will rule over them as King. Marana Tha!*
*(Aramaic for "Our Lord, Come!")
The Amidah Prayer
Christianity's Jewish Roots on CBN.com
More from Spiritual Life
Learn more about Christianity's Jewish roots at the Jews for Jesus Web site
*This article was originally published in 1978.
© Jews for Jesus. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
source:http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/BibleStudyAndTheology/jewishroots/Rosh_Hashanah_Jews_For_Jesus.aspx?intcmp=ROSH10002
Friday, September 10, 2010
Burning the Quran? Leaders Speak Out
ChurchWatch
Join Craig von Buseck weekdays as he shares his perspective on the major trends and news affecting the Body of Christ today.
Craig von Buseck
By now, most people have heard the reports that a virtually unknown minister, Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, plans to mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington by burning copies of the Quran.
The QuranJones said he will still go ahead with the event despite U.S. official warnings it will endanger American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. "We are still determined to do it, yes," Jones told the CBS "Early Morning" show.
Earlier this week, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, issued a statement criticizing the plan to burn copies of the Quran on September 11, warning the demonstration "could cause significant problems" for American troops overseas.
"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," General Petraeus said.
Petraeus warned that burning Qurans "is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems -- not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."
Jones insists the event is "neither an act of love nor of hate," but a warning against what he calls the threats posed by Islam.
But other Christian leaders disagree and have been vocal in their opposition to what is being called a dangerous publicity stunt.
On The 700 Club, Pat Robertson asked the question, "Can you imagine a pastor that is so egotistical that he would sacrifice the lives of missionaries and soldiers to go forward with it? … This guy is looking for attention. He's looking for publicity. … I think it's horrible what this guy is doing."
Open Doors USA President, Carl Moeller reacted with a strong warning. “The planned burning of the Quran is a disaster on two fronts: It violates the command of Jesus to love our neighbor and it would likely cause Christians worldwide to be more vilified and persecuted.”
Moeller says a possible Muslim backlash would probably focus on Christians living in predominately Muslim countries who already are caught in the crossfire, including those who have converted from Islam to Christianity.
“The burning of Qurans will only confirm what many Muslims believe – that Christians hate Muslims. That is exactly the opposite message we as Christians want to send."
“I urge the Dove World Outreach Center and its senior pastor, Terry Jones, to cancel the event," Moeller pleaded. "Hate is not biblical; it is not the message of Jesus.”
J. Lee Grady of Charisma Magazine declared, "Rev. Terry Jones does not speak for charismatic Christians, and his brand of fire-breathing judgmentalism doesn't even remotely resemble the message of Jesus Christ. I am praying that he will repent and renounce his outrageous intentions before the time arrives to strike the first match."
Grady points out that the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), which represents numerous Pentecostal denominations and charismatic fellowships, denounced Jones' actions in a recent statement. "The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbours of other faiths. God created human beings in His image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect," the statement said.
Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition wrote, "I heard someone call the Dove World Outreach Center’s 'Burn a Koran Day' a 'stunt' earlier today and I thought that captured it pretty well. Burning books takes on a very ominous tone because it is so closely associated with the Nazis. It is being done for one purpose – publicity. Like that Kansas pastor who shows up at military funerals with his crude signs, the Florida pastor is anxious for his 15 minutes of fame and he’ll do anything to get it."
Charles Colson of Prison Fellowship explains that this act is not only un-Christian, but it is also un-American. "The unique thing about the United States is that we are prepared to fight for and defend every single individual’s right to his or her choice to practice the religion of their choice. We learn to respect our differences in a free, pluralistic society."
"I find Jones’s plan to burn the Koran foolish and contemptible," Colson declared. "It poses dangers Jones has either overlooked or chooses to ignore.
Dr. John Rankin, president of the Theological Education Institute warns, if Jones burns the Qur’an, “the images will reverberate on the Internet internationally, and this could lead to unparalleled fury in the Muslim world.”
Colson agrees and points out that most of that fury will be directed into violence against Christians in Muslim areas throughout the world. "If Jones goes through with this horrid plan, people—Christian people—will suffer and some will die."
Secretary of State Clinton has condemned the church's plans during her remarks at a State Department dinner she hosted in observance of Iftar, the breaking of the daily fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths," Clinton said.
CNN is reporting that religious leaders in Gainesville have planned an event billed as a "Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope" on September 10, in response to the Jones' Quran burning plan.
Carl Moeller stated the case in plain language. "We will most likely see Christians killed around the world because of these Quran burnings."
So here's my take on this issue: I think we need to go back to the words of Jesus when confronted with these kinds of inflammatory and antagonistic actions.
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44, ESV)
Nothing more needs to be said.
Join Craig von Buseck weekdays as he shares his perspective on the major trends and news affecting the Body of Christ today.
Craig von Buseck
By now, most people have heard the reports that a virtually unknown minister, Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, plans to mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington by burning copies of the Quran.
The QuranJones said he will still go ahead with the event despite U.S. official warnings it will endanger American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. "We are still determined to do it, yes," Jones told the CBS "Early Morning" show.
Earlier this week, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, issued a statement criticizing the plan to burn copies of the Quran on September 11, warning the demonstration "could cause significant problems" for American troops overseas.
"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," General Petraeus said.
Petraeus warned that burning Qurans "is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems -- not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."
Jones insists the event is "neither an act of love nor of hate," but a warning against what he calls the threats posed by Islam.
But other Christian leaders disagree and have been vocal in their opposition to what is being called a dangerous publicity stunt.
On The 700 Club, Pat Robertson asked the question, "Can you imagine a pastor that is so egotistical that he would sacrifice the lives of missionaries and soldiers to go forward with it? … This guy is looking for attention. He's looking for publicity. … I think it's horrible what this guy is doing."
Open Doors USA President, Carl Moeller reacted with a strong warning. “The planned burning of the Quran is a disaster on two fronts: It violates the command of Jesus to love our neighbor and it would likely cause Christians worldwide to be more vilified and persecuted.”
Moeller says a possible Muslim backlash would probably focus on Christians living in predominately Muslim countries who already are caught in the crossfire, including those who have converted from Islam to Christianity.
“The burning of Qurans will only confirm what many Muslims believe – that Christians hate Muslims. That is exactly the opposite message we as Christians want to send."
“I urge the Dove World Outreach Center and its senior pastor, Terry Jones, to cancel the event," Moeller pleaded. "Hate is not biblical; it is not the message of Jesus.”
J. Lee Grady of Charisma Magazine declared, "Rev. Terry Jones does not speak for charismatic Christians, and his brand of fire-breathing judgmentalism doesn't even remotely resemble the message of Jesus Christ. I am praying that he will repent and renounce his outrageous intentions before the time arrives to strike the first match."
Grady points out that the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), which represents numerous Pentecostal denominations and charismatic fellowships, denounced Jones' actions in a recent statement. "The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbours of other faiths. God created human beings in His image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect," the statement said.
Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition wrote, "I heard someone call the Dove World Outreach Center’s 'Burn a Koran Day' a 'stunt' earlier today and I thought that captured it pretty well. Burning books takes on a very ominous tone because it is so closely associated with the Nazis. It is being done for one purpose – publicity. Like that Kansas pastor who shows up at military funerals with his crude signs, the Florida pastor is anxious for his 15 minutes of fame and he’ll do anything to get it."
Charles Colson of Prison Fellowship explains that this act is not only un-Christian, but it is also un-American. "The unique thing about the United States is that we are prepared to fight for and defend every single individual’s right to his or her choice to practice the religion of their choice. We learn to respect our differences in a free, pluralistic society."
"I find Jones’s plan to burn the Koran foolish and contemptible," Colson declared. "It poses dangers Jones has either overlooked or chooses to ignore.
Dr. John Rankin, president of the Theological Education Institute warns, if Jones burns the Qur’an, “the images will reverberate on the Internet internationally, and this could lead to unparalleled fury in the Muslim world.”
Colson agrees and points out that most of that fury will be directed into violence against Christians in Muslim areas throughout the world. "If Jones goes through with this horrid plan, people—Christian people—will suffer and some will die."
Secretary of State Clinton has condemned the church's plans during her remarks at a State Department dinner she hosted in observance of Iftar, the breaking of the daily fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths," Clinton said.
CNN is reporting that religious leaders in Gainesville have planned an event billed as a "Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope" on September 10, in response to the Jones' Quran burning plan.
Carl Moeller stated the case in plain language. "We will most likely see Christians killed around the world because of these Quran burnings."
So here's my take on this issue: I think we need to go back to the words of Jesus when confronted with these kinds of inflammatory and antagonistic actions.
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44, ESV)
Nothing more needs to be said.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The World Jewish Congress Celebrates the IDF’s Aid to Haiti
08 September 2010 , 09:16
The leadership of the World Jewish Congress recognized members of the IDF rescue mission to Haiti. President of the Congress: “When Israel does something to help another nation, it helps every Jewish community in the world.”
Rotem Caro Weizman
Leaders from the World Jewish Congress convened last week in Israel to honor members of the IDF rescue mission to Haiti. During the ceremony, Certificates of Recognition were awarded to the Home Front Command, the Amirim Communications Battalion, the Shaldag Unit, the Oketz Unit, the IDF Spokesperson Unit, the Israeli police, the Zaka organization, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all of which participated in the rescue mission.
“There is special significance in mentioning the commendable humanitarian acts of the state of Israel and especially of the IDF,” the President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder, told the IDF Website. “The Congress is a worldly body and when Israel does something for another nation it helps Jewish communities in every member country of the Congress, especially when so many are slandering and trying to delegitimize the existence of the state of Israel.”
The Head Medical Officer, Brig. Gen. Dr. Nachman Eish, from whose corps several soldiers were sent on the mission to Haiti, was moved by the special mention.
“You go on a mission because of its importance, the importance of helping others without always thinking about what you represent. But at the end of the day, the greatest gift is to be there and to save lives. Only afterwards do you understand that in so doing, you actually represented the Jewish people and brought respect and admiration to them, despite coming from a small country. We got there quickly, we were efficient and ultimately made a large contribution.”
Two fighters from the Oketz K-9 Unit who were presented with the award were received with cheers and applause, which was extremely touching to the two. “First of all, I’m proud of Israel,” said Sgt. First Class Dror Tropel. “It warms the heart to feel the great recognition and it strengthens the desire to continue giving.”
The World Jewish Congress: Representatives from 80 countries
The World Jewish Congress was established in 1936, with the purpose of heeding needs and wants of Jewish communities all over the world. It unites Jewish community representatives from over 80 countries all over the globe.
Every four years, the Congress comes together to develop new strategic programs related to different topics connected to the Jewish world. It also updates its members on the happenings of the Jewish communities around the world.
“In light of recent events, the Congress focused on Israel in order to express solidarity with the Jewish State,” advisor Michael Tadigsman, one of the organization’s advisors, said. “We want to unite the Jewish people in support for Israel.”
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/09/0801.htm
The leadership of the World Jewish Congress recognized members of the IDF rescue mission to Haiti. President of the Congress: “When Israel does something to help another nation, it helps every Jewish community in the world.”
Rotem Caro Weizman
Leaders from the World Jewish Congress convened last week in Israel to honor members of the IDF rescue mission to Haiti. During the ceremony, Certificates of Recognition were awarded to the Home Front Command, the Amirim Communications Battalion, the Shaldag Unit, the Oketz Unit, the IDF Spokesperson Unit, the Israeli police, the Zaka organization, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all of which participated in the rescue mission.
“There is special significance in mentioning the commendable humanitarian acts of the state of Israel and especially of the IDF,” the President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder, told the IDF Website. “The Congress is a worldly body and when Israel does something for another nation it helps Jewish communities in every member country of the Congress, especially when so many are slandering and trying to delegitimize the existence of the state of Israel.”
The Head Medical Officer, Brig. Gen. Dr. Nachman Eish, from whose corps several soldiers were sent on the mission to Haiti, was moved by the special mention.
“You go on a mission because of its importance, the importance of helping others without always thinking about what you represent. But at the end of the day, the greatest gift is to be there and to save lives. Only afterwards do you understand that in so doing, you actually represented the Jewish people and brought respect and admiration to them, despite coming from a small country. We got there quickly, we were efficient and ultimately made a large contribution.”
Two fighters from the Oketz K-9 Unit who were presented with the award were received with cheers and applause, which was extremely touching to the two. “First of all, I’m proud of Israel,” said Sgt. First Class Dror Tropel. “It warms the heart to feel the great recognition and it strengthens the desire to continue giving.”
The World Jewish Congress: Representatives from 80 countries
The World Jewish Congress was established in 1936, with the purpose of heeding needs and wants of Jewish communities all over the world. It unites Jewish community representatives from over 80 countries all over the globe.
Every four years, the Congress comes together to develop new strategic programs related to different topics connected to the Jewish world. It also updates its members on the happenings of the Jewish communities around the world.
“In light of recent events, the Congress focused on Israel in order to express solidarity with the Jewish State,” advisor Michael Tadigsman, one of the organization’s advisors, said. “We want to unite the Jewish people in support for Israel.”
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/09/0801.htm
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Christian rights group welcomes release of Cuban church leader
by Charlie BoydPosted: Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 12:07 (BST)
Christian Solidarity Worldwide has welcomed the release of a respected Cuban church leader who had been facing one year in prison over accusations of “threatening behaviour”.
The Rev Roberto Rodriguez was arrested unexpectedly last week and tried in court but was cleared of the charge after his accusers gave contradictory evidence against him.
The ruling has been welcomed by the 67-year-old pastor’s family, who said that the court in Placetas, central Cuba, had no choice but to find him innocent.
Despite clearing him of the charge, the court still handed Rodriguez a fine. CSW said it was not clear why he had been fined.
The ruling ends a two-year ordeal for the pastor who was first charged in 2008. As no trial date had been set, he was forced to spend the last 21 months under house arrest until the hearing last Thursday.
CSW said his relatives had suffered verbal and physical abuse from neighbours, apparently with the support of the government, and that the family home had been vandalised.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said Rodriguez, a pastor for 48 years, had been targeted because his church had resisted attempts by the government to interfere in its internal affairs.
He said the treatment suffered by the pastor over the last two years had been a “disgrace”.
Mr Thomas said: “CSW calls on the Cuban government to ensure that restitution is made to the family for the damage caused to their house by their now discredited accusers, and that they are allowed to return to their home with the full guarantees of protection that are their right as Cuban citizens.”
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.rights.group.welcomes.release.of.cuban.church.leader/26649.htm
Christian Solidarity Worldwide has welcomed the release of a respected Cuban church leader who had been facing one year in prison over accusations of “threatening behaviour”.
The Rev Roberto Rodriguez was arrested unexpectedly last week and tried in court but was cleared of the charge after his accusers gave contradictory evidence against him.
The ruling has been welcomed by the 67-year-old pastor’s family, who said that the court in Placetas, central Cuba, had no choice but to find him innocent.
Despite clearing him of the charge, the court still handed Rodriguez a fine. CSW said it was not clear why he had been fined.
The ruling ends a two-year ordeal for the pastor who was first charged in 2008. As no trial date had been set, he was forced to spend the last 21 months under house arrest until the hearing last Thursday.
CSW said his relatives had suffered verbal and physical abuse from neighbours, apparently with the support of the government, and that the family home had been vandalised.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said Rodriguez, a pastor for 48 years, had been targeted because his church had resisted attempts by the government to interfere in its internal affairs.
He said the treatment suffered by the pastor over the last two years had been a “disgrace”.
Mr Thomas said: “CSW calls on the Cuban government to ensure that restitution is made to the family for the damage caused to their house by their now discredited accusers, and that they are allowed to return to their home with the full guarantees of protection that are their right as Cuban citizens.”
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.rights.group.welcomes.release.of.cuban.church.leader/26649.htm
Palestinians say unwilling to compromise for peace
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas clarified for his people on Monday that he intends to make not even one concession or compromise in direct peace negotiations with Israel, and that for a final status peace to be achieved, Israel will have to fully meet all Arab demands and abandon its own conditions.
First and foremost, Abbas told Palestinian newspapers that if the Jewish building freeze in Judea and Samaria (the so-called "West Bank") is not extended indefinitely, the negotiations will come to an immediate halt. But Abbas also said he would walk out of the talks if he is pressured at all to alter the Palestinians' more hardline positions.
"If they demand concessions on the rights of the refugees or the 1967 borders, I will quit. I can’t allow myself to make even one concession," Abbas told the Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayyam.
Abbas was referring to the Palestinian demand that Israel solve the purported "Palestinian refugee" issue by opening its border to millions of new Arab citizens. Abbas has long championed that demand, despite the fact that it would mean the demographic destruction of the Jewish state. Even Israel's most liberal politicians reject the so-called "right of return."
The Palestinian leader's position on the issue was two-faced, as he then turned around and insisted that an independent Palestinian state created by the current peace process must not have a single Jew living in it. "We clarified that [the Palestinian Authority] would not agree to continued Israeli presence, military or civil, within a future Palestinian state," Abbas said.
In speaking of the 1967 borders, Abbas made it clear that he will not allow Israel to maintain control over a united Jerusalem as part of any peace deal. Up until 1967, the eastern half of Jerusalem was illegally occupied by Jordan. The Palestinians now claim it as their rightful capital.
Abbas reiterated his position in an interview with Jerusalem-based Arabic newspaper Al-Quds when he rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's talk of a historic compromise between the two sides in order to reach a durable peace agreement.
Abbas also addressed Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians must recognize Israel as "the Jewish state."
"We're not talking about a Jewish state and we won't talk about one," Abbas said. "For us, there is the state of Israel and we won't recognize Israel as a Jewish state."
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=21833
First and foremost, Abbas told Palestinian newspapers that if the Jewish building freeze in Judea and Samaria (the so-called "West Bank") is not extended indefinitely, the negotiations will come to an immediate halt. But Abbas also said he would walk out of the talks if he is pressured at all to alter the Palestinians' more hardline positions.
"If they demand concessions on the rights of the refugees or the 1967 borders, I will quit. I can’t allow myself to make even one concession," Abbas told the Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayyam.
Abbas was referring to the Palestinian demand that Israel solve the purported "Palestinian refugee" issue by opening its border to millions of new Arab citizens. Abbas has long championed that demand, despite the fact that it would mean the demographic destruction of the Jewish state. Even Israel's most liberal politicians reject the so-called "right of return."
The Palestinian leader's position on the issue was two-faced, as he then turned around and insisted that an independent Palestinian state created by the current peace process must not have a single Jew living in it. "We clarified that [the Palestinian Authority] would not agree to continued Israeli presence, military or civil, within a future Palestinian state," Abbas said.
In speaking of the 1967 borders, Abbas made it clear that he will not allow Israel to maintain control over a united Jerusalem as part of any peace deal. Up until 1967, the eastern half of Jerusalem was illegally occupied by Jordan. The Palestinians now claim it as their rightful capital.
Abbas reiterated his position in an interview with Jerusalem-based Arabic newspaper Al-Quds when he rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's talk of a historic compromise between the two sides in order to reach a durable peace agreement.
Abbas also addressed Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians must recognize Israel as "the Jewish state."
"We're not talking about a Jewish state and we won't talk about one," Abbas said. "For us, there is the state of Israel and we won't recognize Israel as a Jewish state."
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=21833
Monday, September 6, 2010
“The Upcoming Period Will Be Even More Tense”
02 September 2010 , 19:16
Tuesday’s deadly shooting terror attack is the most serious event that happened over the last eight years in the Judea and Samaria region
Dan Tamir
“The likelihood of an attack during this period is high. We knew that there would be an attack, but there was no concrete warning”, a senior IDF officer explained a day after the lethal shooting attack which occurred at the Bnei Naim junction, during which four Israeli civilians were killed. “The terrorist cell that executed the attack is extremely professional, operating at a level higher than that of the cell which executed the shooting attack during which Policeman Shuki Sofer was killed this past June”.
In the light of current events including the beginnings of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the scheduled end of the construction freeze and the beginning of the school year, the alert level was raised in the Judea Territorial Brigade in recent weeks. The region’s officers and soldiers were even prepared for the possibility that hostile operatives would try to execute serious terror attacks. “Such a grave attack, which resulted in the death of four people, has not been seen in the region over the past eight years”, an official explained.
“Even with a very high level of preparedness, there is no 100% guarantee of thwarting such an attack. After all, the enemy is the one who chooses the time and place of the attack. Terrorism in Hebron is not seen above the surface, and therefore Hamas, which has many supporters in Hebron, is becoming organized underground, with sleeper cells.”
IDF’s Central Command is preparing for the consequences of the terrorist act. “It may encourage more terrorist cells to execute attacks, given the success of the terrorists during the last events”, the senior official said a short while after receiving reports about the shooting attack at the Rimonim junction, during which a couple traveling near Kochav Hashachar was injured when Palestinian terrorists opened fired on them from a passing vehicle.
In addition, the Central Command estimates that the attacks are expected to spark reactions from Israel as well. “Israeli citizens can also execute acts of violence against the Palestinian population. These two things could break the relative quiet in the region and there is no doubt that the upcoming period will be even more tense”.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/09/0203.htm
Tuesday’s deadly shooting terror attack is the most serious event that happened over the last eight years in the Judea and Samaria region
Dan Tamir
“The likelihood of an attack during this period is high. We knew that there would be an attack, but there was no concrete warning”, a senior IDF officer explained a day after the lethal shooting attack which occurred at the Bnei Naim junction, during which four Israeli civilians were killed. “The terrorist cell that executed the attack is extremely professional, operating at a level higher than that of the cell which executed the shooting attack during which Policeman Shuki Sofer was killed this past June”.
In the light of current events including the beginnings of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the scheduled end of the construction freeze and the beginning of the school year, the alert level was raised in the Judea Territorial Brigade in recent weeks. The region’s officers and soldiers were even prepared for the possibility that hostile operatives would try to execute serious terror attacks. “Such a grave attack, which resulted in the death of four people, has not been seen in the region over the past eight years”, an official explained.
“Even with a very high level of preparedness, there is no 100% guarantee of thwarting such an attack. After all, the enemy is the one who chooses the time and place of the attack. Terrorism in Hebron is not seen above the surface, and therefore Hamas, which has many supporters in Hebron, is becoming organized underground, with sleeper cells.”
IDF’s Central Command is preparing for the consequences of the terrorist act. “It may encourage more terrorist cells to execute attacks, given the success of the terrorists during the last events”, the senior official said a short while after receiving reports about the shooting attack at the Rimonim junction, during which a couple traveling near Kochav Hashachar was injured when Palestinian terrorists opened fired on them from a passing vehicle.
In addition, the Central Command estimates that the attacks are expected to spark reactions from Israel as well. “Israeli citizens can also execute acts of violence against the Palestinian population. These two things could break the relative quiet in the region and there is no doubt that the upcoming period will be even more tense”.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/09/0203.htm
Prayer Center Destroyed by Force, Church Leaders Threatened for Mission Conference Invitation
by Staff
ZHEJIANG, China, On August 30, 2010, several elderly Christians were disturbed during their morning prayers when authorities trooped into their mountainside prayer center. They were forcibly removed, and then watched helplessly as the building was demolished.
The police force, several hundred strong, removed about twenty elderly Christians from the building. No one seemed injured. Workmen proceeded to destroy the church's prayer room, school room, and training center rooms.
Known as "Prayer Mountain," the complex was owned by the Taishan Christian House Church (located in Qinggang District, Yuhuan county, Taizhou City, Zhejiang province). This incident comes on the heels of more recent persecution against house churches.
According to ChinaAid's reliable sources, at least three house churches were shut down August 5th and 6th, 2010. The churches were located in Wuhan, Hubei, in Sanmenxia, Henan and in Changsha, Hunan. They belonged to China Gospel Fellowship (CGF), one of the major house church networks in China, with an estimated 5-7 million members.
The churches were forced to close down by the Chinese government because church leaders were invited to attend the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in October 2010 at Cape Town, South Africa.( www.Lausanne.org ) Sources informed ChinaAid that the Chinese Public Security Bureau has obtained the list of 200 Chinese invitees and threatened some of them not to attend, but CGF leaders refused to back down.
source:http://www.chinaaid.org/qry/page.taf?id=105
ZHEJIANG, China, On August 30, 2010, several elderly Christians were disturbed during their morning prayers when authorities trooped into their mountainside prayer center. They were forcibly removed, and then watched helplessly as the building was demolished.
The police force, several hundred strong, removed about twenty elderly Christians from the building. No one seemed injured. Workmen proceeded to destroy the church's prayer room, school room, and training center rooms.
Known as "Prayer Mountain," the complex was owned by the Taishan Christian House Church (located in Qinggang District, Yuhuan county, Taizhou City, Zhejiang province). This incident comes on the heels of more recent persecution against house churches.
According to ChinaAid's reliable sources, at least three house churches were shut down August 5th and 6th, 2010. The churches were located in Wuhan, Hubei, in Sanmenxia, Henan and in Changsha, Hunan. They belonged to China Gospel Fellowship (CGF), one of the major house church networks in China, with an estimated 5-7 million members.
The churches were forced to close down by the Chinese government because church leaders were invited to attend the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in October 2010 at Cape Town, South Africa.( www.Lausanne.org ) Sources informed ChinaAid that the Chinese Public Security Bureau has obtained the list of 200 Chinese invitees and threatened some of them not to attend, but CGF leaders refused to back down.
Cuban church leader arrested on 'false' charges
by Aaron J Leichman, Christian PostPosted: Saturday, September 4, 2010, 8:56 (BST)
Cuban church leader arrested on 'false' charges
A Christian human rights group is calling on Cuban authorities to release a respected church leader who was unexpectedly arrested this week and taken to a town in Central Cuba, where he is expected to stand trial.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide is also calling on authorities to drop all charges against the Rev Roberto Rodriguez, including the charges of “offensive behaviour” and “threats”.
CSW said it believes the charges against the church leader are "false", based upon the testimonies of those close to him.
According to reports, Rodriguez, who is in his late 60s and in poor health, became a government target after the organisation he led publicly withdrew from a government-sanctioned religious umbrella group in the second half of 2008.
It was later that year that the first charges were brought against Rodriguez, and though he was given three trial dates over the course of 2009, no trial ever took place. Over the last 21 months, Rodriguez has been under house arrest.
“The treatment of Reverend Rodriguez and his family over the past 21 months has been disgraceful,” said CSW National Director Stuart Windsor, whose organisation specialises in religious freedom.
“While some heralded the release of some Cuban prisoners of conscience this summer as an improvement in the human rights situation, the arrest of Reverend Rodriguez this week demonstrates that the Cuban government is not interested in real human rights reform,” he added.
According to Rodriguez’s family, state security officials arrived at their home without warning on Monday and forced the church leader to go with them. The arrest was so sudden that Rodriguez was reportedly unable to take important medication with him.
It is feared that without the medication, the pastor's health will continue to deteriorate.
“The European Union will be looking at the human rights situation and reviewing its Common Position on Cuba this month,” noted Windsor. “We call on the EU to make urgent representations on behalf of Reverend Rodriguez to the Cuban government.”
Rodriguez is expected to be put on trial in the town of Placetas sometime over the next few days.
Prosecutors are reportedly asking that Rodriguez be given a one-year prison sentence.
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/cuban.church.leader.arrested.on.false.charges/26633.htm
Cuban church leader arrested on 'false' charges
A Christian human rights group is calling on Cuban authorities to release a respected church leader who was unexpectedly arrested this week and taken to a town in Central Cuba, where he is expected to stand trial.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide is also calling on authorities to drop all charges against the Rev Roberto Rodriguez, including the charges of “offensive behaviour” and “threats”.
CSW said it believes the charges against the church leader are "false", based upon the testimonies of those close to him.
According to reports, Rodriguez, who is in his late 60s and in poor health, became a government target after the organisation he led publicly withdrew from a government-sanctioned religious umbrella group in the second half of 2008.
It was later that year that the first charges were brought against Rodriguez, and though he was given three trial dates over the course of 2009, no trial ever took place. Over the last 21 months, Rodriguez has been under house arrest.
“The treatment of Reverend Rodriguez and his family over the past 21 months has been disgraceful,” said CSW National Director Stuart Windsor, whose organisation specialises in religious freedom.
“While some heralded the release of some Cuban prisoners of conscience this summer as an improvement in the human rights situation, the arrest of Reverend Rodriguez this week demonstrates that the Cuban government is not interested in real human rights reform,” he added.
According to Rodriguez’s family, state security officials arrived at their home without warning on Monday and forced the church leader to go with them. The arrest was so sudden that Rodriguez was reportedly unable to take important medication with him.
It is feared that without the medication, the pastor's health will continue to deteriorate.
“The European Union will be looking at the human rights situation and reviewing its Common Position on Cuba this month,” noted Windsor. “We call on the EU to make urgent representations on behalf of Reverend Rodriguez to the Cuban government.”
Rodriguez is expected to be put on trial in the town of Placetas sometime over the next few days.
Prosecutors are reportedly asking that Rodriguez be given a one-year prison sentence.
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/cuban.church.leader.arrested.on.false.charges/26633.htm
Hamas calls women and children 'military targets'
The Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas on Saturday said that all Jews living in Judea and Samaria (the so-called "West Bank") are legitimate military targets, regardless of whether they are men, women or children.
Hamas spokesman Azat al-Ghashek told the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat that it is "natural" to want to harm any Jew that is found in these areas, as they are "the reserve force of the occupation army on Palestinian land."
Al-Ghashek was interviewed following last week's brutal execution of four Jewish civilians near the Judean town of Hebron that left seven Israeli children without parents. Hamas claimed credit for that attack and organized street rallies in Gaza City to celebrate the slayings.
Palestinian terror groups have long argued that even killing Israeli women and children constitutes legitimate military activity since all Israeli Jews eventually serve in the army.
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=21818
Hamas spokesman Azat al-Ghashek told the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat that it is "natural" to want to harm any Jew that is found in these areas, as they are "the reserve force of the occupation army on Palestinian land."
Al-Ghashek was interviewed following last week's brutal execution of four Jewish civilians near the Judean town of Hebron that left seven Israeli children without parents. Hamas claimed credit for that attack and organized street rallies in Gaza City to celebrate the slayings.
Palestinian terror groups have long argued that even killing Israeli women and children constitutes legitimate military activity since all Israeli Jews eventually serve in the army.
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=21818
The target: Jerusalem
Op-ed: Accurate Hezbollah rocket arsenal makes symbolic Jerusalem sites a potential target
Alex Fishman
Published: 09.06.10, 11:24 / Israel Opinion
Syria’s president and Hezbollah’s secretary general do not believe a word coming out of Israel. Assad and Nasrallah perceive everything that happens here as a scheme; in their view, the Israelis are always cooking up something. Even the forged so-called “Galant document” is some kind of deception in their eyes. They just haven’t figured it out yet.
We can reasonably assume that Major General Gadi Eisenkot’s decision to stay on as Northern Command chief is also perceived as a trick that has to do with Israeli preparations for confrontation. After all, it’s impossible for an officer to refuse a defense minister or army chief’s request to become deputy chief of staff. For Assad and Nasrallah there’s no such thing. There’s no other possibility: Everything is about schemes.
Meanwhile, for the Iranian-Syrian coalition, Iraq’s weakening and Saudi Arabia’s military buildup (the recent $60 billion arms deal,) along with the Israeli-Palestinian talks, are processes that call for action. Moreover, the Iranians are still preparing for an American-Israeli offensive which they’re sure will come.
Yet the current threat on our north includes implications we haven’t seen in the past. If, for example, Israelis were certain that Jerusalem and its holy sites will always remain out of bounds for the missiles – because it’s unimaginable that the Syrians or Iranians will hit the Temple Mount, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, any other Muslim or Christian holy site, or the Arabs of east Jerusalem - this assumption is invalid given the new realities. If Israelis viewed Jerusalem as a refuge for a cloudy day where they can escape to once missiles start landing in central Israel, this perception is over.
Iron Dome around Jerusalem?
Hezbollah’s dramatic armament process, where it equipped itself with long-range, accurate rockets (such as the M-600 missiles,) turns west Jerusalem into an attractive target. And if missile also constitute a terror weapon aimed at undermining morale, Israel’s capital is a wonderful target given the many symbolic sites there: The Knesset, government offices, the High Court of Justice, and so on. On top of it, the accurate rockets and missiles minimize the possibility of harming east Jerusalem residents.
The IDF Home Front command is already addressing this threat, and the above statements are openly presented to the heads of Jerusalem-area municipalities. Nasrallah talks about reciprocity, and we may end up discovering batteries of the anti-missile Iron Dome system deployed around the capital.
Meanwhile, rockets from Gaza already have an 80-kilometer (roughly 50 miles) range, reaching all the way to Kfar Saba, northeast of Tel Aviv. We won’t be surprised to discover in a year or two that these rockets already have a 100-kilometer range. This is the pace of rocket development in the Strip.
The military conclusion from these changes is as follows: The next war may require the IDF to start with deterring blows – in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza – because taking over territory is a long process that exacts many casualties.
And then there’s the diplomatic conclusion: An agreement with the Palestinian Authority is not the ultimate solution that will allay the tensions in the region. At best, such deal may be an (important) step en route to a regional agreement.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3950184,00.html
Alex Fishman
Published: 09.06.10, 11:24 / Israel Opinion
Syria’s president and Hezbollah’s secretary general do not believe a word coming out of Israel. Assad and Nasrallah perceive everything that happens here as a scheme; in their view, the Israelis are always cooking up something. Even the forged so-called “Galant document” is some kind of deception in their eyes. They just haven’t figured it out yet.
We can reasonably assume that Major General Gadi Eisenkot’s decision to stay on as Northern Command chief is also perceived as a trick that has to do with Israeli preparations for confrontation. After all, it’s impossible for an officer to refuse a defense minister or army chief’s request to become deputy chief of staff. For Assad and Nasrallah there’s no such thing. There’s no other possibility: Everything is about schemes.
Meanwhile, for the Iranian-Syrian coalition, Iraq’s weakening and Saudi Arabia’s military buildup (the recent $60 billion arms deal,) along with the Israeli-Palestinian talks, are processes that call for action. Moreover, the Iranians are still preparing for an American-Israeli offensive which they’re sure will come.
Yet the current threat on our north includes implications we haven’t seen in the past. If, for example, Israelis were certain that Jerusalem and its holy sites will always remain out of bounds for the missiles – because it’s unimaginable that the Syrians or Iranians will hit the Temple Mount, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, any other Muslim or Christian holy site, or the Arabs of east Jerusalem - this assumption is invalid given the new realities. If Israelis viewed Jerusalem as a refuge for a cloudy day where they can escape to once missiles start landing in central Israel, this perception is over.
Iron Dome around Jerusalem?
Hezbollah’s dramatic armament process, where it equipped itself with long-range, accurate rockets (such as the M-600 missiles,) turns west Jerusalem into an attractive target. And if missile also constitute a terror weapon aimed at undermining morale, Israel’s capital is a wonderful target given the many symbolic sites there: The Knesset, government offices, the High Court of Justice, and so on. On top of it, the accurate rockets and missiles minimize the possibility of harming east Jerusalem residents.
The IDF Home Front command is already addressing this threat, and the above statements are openly presented to the heads of Jerusalem-area municipalities. Nasrallah talks about reciprocity, and we may end up discovering batteries of the anti-missile Iron Dome system deployed around the capital.
Meanwhile, rockets from Gaza already have an 80-kilometer (roughly 50 miles) range, reaching all the way to Kfar Saba, northeast of Tel Aviv. We won’t be surprised to discover in a year or two that these rockets already have a 100-kilometer range. This is the pace of rocket development in the Strip.
The military conclusion from these changes is as follows: The next war may require the IDF to start with deterring blows – in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza – because taking over territory is a long process that exacts many casualties.
And then there’s the diplomatic conclusion: An agreement with the Palestinian Authority is not the ultimate solution that will allay the tensions in the region. At best, such deal may be an (important) step en route to a regional agreement.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3950184,00.html
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