Rocket’s Red Glare

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As it goes for Israel, it will also be for us.

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List of rockets fired against Israel just in 2012:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel,_2012

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Shared history: Death by rocket fire

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Americans have been taught their national anthem since childhood, but many forget the story behind the words.

The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships in Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.

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Rockets were flying inland from the British warships against the American post.

There was terror, bloodshed, and desolation, and people hung on to their last hope in their help from heaven for their freedom.

Heaven then sends a glimmer of hope:

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

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Israel has also been experiencing “red rockets” descending upon its innocent civilians for the purpose of desolation and even worse, annihilation. This has been going on for too long.

Do we look the other way?

Should we forget our own history, and ignore the same danger to Israel?

God warns that anyone who would come against Israel will be harmed.

Zechariah 12

V3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.

Refusing to help Israel in need is causing indirect harm, by an act of omission.

Americans, and other righteous nations, should remember when “red rockets” almost destroyed their own countries.

It was only for the Lord, and Heaven’s purpose, that they were spared.

They should have empathy for Israel, and not be lax in support or caring.

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The same rescue scenario has been true for Israel, for God has shown himself to the protector of Israel.

Psalm 124

If [it had not been] the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:

Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

Blessed [be] the LORD, who hath not given us [as] a prey to their teeth.

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

Our help [is] in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

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Report: From the South of the US to the South of Israel

I grew up in the southern region of the US. Once a year, we were trained for tornadoes at school. The emergency siren would sound and we were told to crawl under our desks and put our heads down, backs up, and hands clasped over our necks.

We sat there for 5 minutes, in silence – of course, if you even whispered, you’d get detention: this drill was serious. To the students, it was just five minutes less of math. To the teachers, it was a yearly annoyance. This is how I grew up – in the land of tornadoes.

Jump ahead 20 years, and I am living in the southern part of Israel. The part of Israel the media has been covering for weeks.

The part of Israel that is struck with rockets, grads, and emergency sirens every hour, and sometimes every 15 minutes.

To me, it’s pretty interesting, but it’s more than pretty scary. I was trained to protect myself from tornadoes, not rockets. It’s scary living in a place that is under constant attack from neighbors.

It’s even scarier that they are targeting me – a 25 year old Jewish American who was raised in the suburbs and works 10 hour days, just like the rest of the world.

It’s me who has to run out to the cement shelter every 15 minutes, sometimes in the middle of the night, just to protect myself from large pieces of metal falling from the sky.

The sad part about all this is that Israelis are so used to it.

I am living with an Israeli family who has lived in rocket territory for 10 years, now.

The mother sees how afraid I am when the emergency siren goes off, and she tries to console me every time. “This is normal for us. This is how we live. We haven’t been hurt, yet. It’s okay.”

It’s too bad something like this has become normal. As we walk back inside the house after the 10 minutes of required waiting in the shelter, she says, “This is nothing. I’m more afraid of the tornadoes in the US.”

Palestinian rockets fired at Sderot

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Showing your support for Israel during these trying times is not as difficult as you might think:

You can help by

1. Praying for Israel’s safety every day.

2. Staying informed about current events that affect Israel.

3. Vocalizing support for Israel to congressmen

4. Fellowshipping with local Jewish congregations and groups to let them know of your concern and prayers.

5. Learning more about Judaism, to enhance your own spirituality, and understand the deeper meanings of scripture. Appreciate and respect what Judaism teaches and has to offer to the world.

6. Donations to Jewish safety causes, such as the Magen David fund. Sponsor a unit of blood.

7. Purchasing products made in Israel–Judaica to enhance your spirituality or Dead Sea products to experience one of Israel’s natural treasures. Provide financial support for those living in a territory where the economy has been damaged by war and political hatred.

8. Make your next vacation a truly meaningful pilgrimage, and come to visit the Holy Land yourself!

 

 

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Other support for Israel sites:

http://www.afmda.org/

http://blog.standforisrael.org/articles/as-goes-israel-so-goes-the-west

http://www.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/USENG_homenew

http://supportisrael.us/news/

http://www.worldofjudaica.com/

http://www.worldofjudaica.com/dead-sea-products