Current Israel

President Herzog Visits United Arab Emirates

President and First Lady Herzog flew to the United Arab Emirates, landing in Abu Dhabi for two days of meetings and visits. The President met with the nation’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed (known at MBZ) and other key political and business leaders to discuss trade and tourism. He also met with influential members of the Jewish community and opened “Israel Day” at the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.

The visit was scheduled despite a drone attack against the United Arab Emirates launched earlier this month by Houthi rebels, in Yemen, supported by Iran. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of Israel has asked Israeli intelligence to assist the Emirates in defending against future threats. Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid have also previously visited the United Arab Emirates. Bennett has extended a warm invitation to bin Zayed to visit Israel.

Please pray for continued warm relations and mutual trust between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, a very important ally in the Middle East.

Update on Holocaust Survivors in Israel

Last week, the world commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day. There are currently 165,800 Holocaust survivors living in Israel. Their average age is 85 years old. More than 31,000 of them are 90 or older, and 950 survivors are more than 100 years old!

Sadly, over the past year, 15,324 have passed away, a rate of 42 dear ones per day. Interestingly, the city of Haifa has the most Holocaust survivors with a total of 11,300, followed closely by Jerusalem with 10,300 and Tel Aviv with 8,900. The Holocaust Survivors’ Rights Authority, a government agency, aims to reach out to each survivor and assist with any needs they may have.

Please pray for these dear souls to find the hope and peace that is in Messiah Jesus!

Our Meaningful Work in Israel among Holocaust Survivors

One element of our work in Israel is dedicated to connecting with and blessing Holocaust survivors with the message of salvation found in Jesus. CPM have a team of dedicated workers who invest time, prayer and service to affirm their dignity and bring hope to survivors at the end of their lives.

Our team has a list of 6,000 people whose lives they have the opportunity to bless by organising a variety of events, concerts, and seasonal celebrations. We have also been providing medical equipment and even offering art therapy. Last month, we donated thirty walking aids and other medical devices to those in need of support. We also support survivors by helping towards the extra cost of electricity needed to heat their homes during this exceptionally cold Israeli winter.

Despite the pandemic, we safely visited 1,000 people in their homes last year. This psychological and emotional support has been such an encouragement to some of the most vulnerable in society.

Please pray with us that, as we touch people’s lives with hope, we can build faith and encourage hearts by sharing with them the love and truth found in Jesus the Messiah.

Photo Credit: Times of Israel