VFI News Jul 23, 2021

The UK suffered its worst-ever outbreak of antisemitic fervor in a one-month period from May to June this year since records began in 1984, with a massive increase in antisemitism during this period coming against the background of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

According to a new Community Security Trust (CST) report, an organization that tracks antisemitism in the UK, a total of 628 antisemitic hate incidents took place between May 8 and June 7, more than four times the number of incidents during the same period in 2020 and the month prior to May 8, 2021.

Of the total 628 incidents in the period in question, 585 involved language, imagery, or behavior linked to the conflict in Israel and Gaza, and 112 incidents were of individuals targeting random Jewish people or Jewish neighborhoods with shouts of “Free Palestine,” Palestinian flags or both, including explicitly abusive or threatening language or gestures intended to offend and intimidate.

CST said it does not treat slogans such as “Free Palestine” or “Free Gaza” as antisemitic in and of themselves, unless they are used to deliberately target the Jewish community in an abusive way, such as addressing them specifically to Jews or spray-painting such words on a synagogue. (JPost / VFI News)

“God, we ask that you prevent antisemitism and hatred toward the Jewish people, and protect Your people from hate crimes."

The articles included in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Vision for Israel. We try to provide accurate reporting on news pertinent to Israel, the Middle East, the diaspora, and Jewish issues around the world—and we hope that you find it both informative and useful for intercessory prayer.

Israel and Morocco have signed their first-ever cyber-defense accord in a signal that fledgling official relations between the two countries have continued to advance.

Israel National Cyber Directorate Yigal Unna signed a deal this past week in Rabat with his Moroccan counterpart Gen. El Mostafa Rabii and Morocco’s Minister Delegate in charge of National Defense Administration Abdellatif Loudiyi.

“The accord is for operational cooperation, research and development, and the sharing of information and knowledge,” the Foreign Ministry said.

On Friday, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tweeted that he had “a long and warm conversation” with his counterpart Nasser Bourita.

A direct connection between the countries and their peoples is a top Israeli priority. (JPost / VFI News)

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Israel is likely to soon impose mandatory quarantine on all travelers — including the vaccinated and those who have recovered from COVID-19 — entering the country, aiming to stem the resurgence of the coronavirus, according to television reports Monday evening.

The development came as more than 1,100 cases were diagnosed in the country as of Monday at 10 p.m., and as authorities urged Israelis to avoid unnecessary international travel due to rising global COVID-19 cases, but said the government was not currently weighing closing the country’s borders again.

The Health Ministry is expected to recommend a self-isolation period of between four and seven days to the coronavirus cabinet during a Tuesday meeting, and ministers are expected to approve such a move. (TOI/ VFI News)

“Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.” - Jeremiah 33:6

President Isaac Herzog said Saturday night that he has sent a letter to his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expressing condolences for Germans killed in the lethal flood that hit Western Europe, and offering any assistance Israel can provide.

“On behalf of the people of Israel, I sent a special letter of condolences and my deepest sympathy to German President Frank Walter Steinmeier and to the German people upon the recent disastrous floods, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and thousands of still missing and displaced persons,” Herzog said.

“I agree with the president of Germany, that the challenge of global warming, which contributed to this calamity, requires us all to make a special effort. I stated that we would be willing to help in any way,” he added. (TOI/VFI News)

“God, we ask that you heal our planet and your people, to prevent further death and destruction.”

This beautiful hymn is a prayer from Deuteronomy 26:15, expressing a great desire that God would look upon us with an eye of love, favor, and delight—and grant the promises that He has made to us for abundance and prosperity. Enjoy this warm, personal prayer to God, set to serene scenes and timeless tones from the Land.

New regulations in Canada threaten to limit the performance of one of the most important Torah commandments: Brit Milah (circumcision).

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba issued new standards of practice which, as written, would only permit a male infant circumcision to be performed in a medical facility or doctor’s office. The college says its proposed practice standard is being developed to minimize risks around a range of specific office-based medical procedures, with male circumcision among many outlined in the draft.

This restriction would go into effect in the fall and would effectively ban brit milah, the Jewish rite that was first described as being performed by Abraham in the Bible. The commandment welcomes each Jewish baby boy into God’s covenant on the eighth day after his birth and is performed by the vast majority of Jewish parents including those who self-define as secular.

The CPSM received about 200 written responses from the Jewish community objecting to the change, including a lengthy statement from the Winnipeg Council of Rabbis.

“We want to assure the public that the standard will not infringe on any human or religious rights and freedoms whatsoever,” Dr. Ziomek added.

The CPSM updated its website last week, promising to revise its guidelines regarding religious circumcision. (i365 / VFI News)

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is being pulled from the shelves of several supermarket chains in New York since the company announced its plans to boycott Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem, according to a report.

Seasons, an upscale kosher supermarket chain located in New York and New Jersey, sent a message to customers Monday. They said, “Seasons has removed all Ben and Jerry’s products from all its stores as a result of the ice cream maker’s decision to cease sales in parts of Israel.”

According to the New York Post, Morton Williams Supermarkets’ board of directors met Monday evening to discuss and agree to “reduce the Ben & Jerry’s products it sells in its 16 stores by 70 percent.” The board also agreed to stop promoting the ice cream company in the weekly circulars. “You’ll be able to find the product, but you’ll have to look for it,” Kaner said. (BB / VFI News)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) President Morton Klein blasted Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company on Tuesday while calling for the removal of its kosher certification after the Vermont-based company announced plans to boycott Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem.

Morton Klein expressed outrage over the recent boycott by the famed company that stated in a notice on its website on Monday that, “We believe it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).”

Calling on the kosher certification agency that grants the company’s kosher label to discontinue certification, Klein explained that “kosher” conduct should entail more than ingredients.

“In addition, we believe that [their Kosher certifier] must discontinue certifying Ben & Jerry’s products as kosher,” he said. “It’s not kosher to aid Arab terrorists and bigots who boycott Jewish people living in the Jewish homeland.” (BB / VFI News)

“God, we pray that you would stop the lies about the so-called "Israeli occupation" and that you would bring the hate against Israel to an end. We also pray that the activity of the BDS against Israel will cease".

A Canadian Jewish organization on Tuesday issued a statement of condemnation after a series of churches in the province of British Columbia were torched in what is believed to be in reaction to the confirmation of more than a thousand unmarked graves at several former residential school sites.

The most recent such incident occurred in the Whalley neighborhood in Surrey early Monday morning.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) condemned the arson attacks, saying, “Deeply troubling. Another church destroyed by a suspicious fire. We were angered and deeply saddened to learn about the destruction of the St. George Coptic orthodox church in Surrey, BC”.

“Five other churches in BC have been targeted. We condemn these acts of violence, we stand in solidarity with those impacted, and we note that Indigenous leaders have roundly rejected these attacks stating they do nothing to help Canada's first peoples,” added CIJA. (INN / VFI News)

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. - Hebrews 12:14

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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