JERUSALEM-ON-THE-LINE February 25, 2010

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

PURIM: Holiday greetings to our friends in all places from The Joseph Storehouse & Vision for Israel staff members. The biblical holiday of Purim will be celebrated in Jerusalem, starting at sunset on Sun, Feb. 28. This triumphant festival commemorates how G-d’s people were preserved from destruction during the 5th century BC by the beautiful Jewish orphan Esther, who became the queen of the Persian King Ahasuerus. At that time many Jews were still living under Persian rule and the king’s second in command, Haman, wanted them all destroyed. He convinced the king to call for their execution. The plan was foiled by the courageous Jewish queen and her daring uncle, Mordechai who remain a classic example of successful teamwork and unfailing unity that saves Jewish communities and brings about the destruction of those who hate them. In finality the wicked Haman was hanged and Mordechai, a leader to the Jews in the Persian Empire became a prime minister. Iran (once Persia) will likely have nuclear weapons in the coming months. This Muslim extremist country’s most hated and maligned enemy - the tiny nation of Israel - considers a nuclear Iran to be the greatest threat to its existence in the world today. Faithful watchmen on the walls, continue to pray for the triumph of Israel over this modern day Haman.

IRAN TO BUILD ENRICHMENT SITES INSIDE MOUNTAINS: Iran intends to build two new uranium enrichment facilities deep inside mountains to protect them from attack. Iranian Vice President ali Akbar Salehi said Tehran will use its more advanced centrifuges at the sites, which will be able to enrich uranium much faster than the old ones. This means Iran could amass more material in a shorter space of time that could be turned into the fissile core of missiles. The US said Monday, Iran's latest plan is "further evidence" it rejects engagement with the international community. (AP)

ISRAEL DEMANDS EMBARGO ON IRAN OIL, EVEN WITHOUT UN OKAY: PM Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an immediate embargo on Iran's energy sector, saying the UN Security Council should be sidestepped if it cannot agree on the move. Iran's uranium enrichment, in defiance of several rounds of Security Council sanctions, has spurred world powers to consider tougher diplomatic measures, against the backdrop of threatened military action by Israel as a last resort. Netanyahu said if the world "is serious about stopping Iran, then what it needs to do is not watered-down sanctions, moderate sanctions ... but effective, biting sanctions that curtail the import and export of oil into Iran." (Ha’aretz)

CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP WANTS AG TO DISBAND YAD L’ACHIM ORGANIZATION: The Jerusalem Institute of Justice has turned to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein in a request to disband Yad L'achim and declare it a terrorist organization. According to the institute, Jewish terrorist Jack Teitel was a member of Yad L'achim for five years. The institute's request lists a long line of allegedly illegal acts committed by the ultra-Orthodox organization against ethnic and religious minority groups. (Ynet) Yad L’achim has gained notoriety for its violent actions against Messianic Jews. Teitel, a resident of Israel, was charged last Nov. with murdering two Palestinians and attempting to murder three people, including Ariel teenager Ami Ortiz. The youth, from a family of Messianic Jews, was gravely wounded by a bomb packaged inside a Purim gift in March 2008. Teitel said he placed the bomb because Ortiz family members are "missionaries trying to capture weak Jews." Pray for legal dictates to disband Yad L’achim.

SARKOZY: FAILED PEACE TALKS LEADING TO INTIFADA: Middle East peace talks must be restarted to avoid a catastrophe, French President Sarkozy declared this week. "We think the end of discussions makes the bed of extremists," Sarkozy said at a news conference. "If there are no talks we take the risk, the international community, of a third intifada." (Ha’aretz)

ATTEMPTED BOMBING AT CAIRO SYNAGOGUE: The largest synagogue in Egypt was the target of an attempted bombing this week. Egyptian police reported a man tried to set the structure ablaze early Sunday morning, hurling an explosive suitcase at the synagogue from the fourth floor window of a hotel located across from the building. Authorities arrested a suspect on Tuesday whom they described as an addict, who was repeatedly jailed for dealing and abusing drugs as recently as 2007. The suspect, who confessed to the failed bombing, was implicated in attacks organized in the 1980s by Islamic terrorist groups targeting video stores. (INN)

PA POLICE DESTROY STOLEN ISRAELI CARS: Palestinian Authority police chose to destroy hundreds of stolen Israeli vehicles last week, rather than return them to their owners, after discovering the cars in the town of Jama'een. The town, located south of the PA-controlled Samaria city of Shechem, served as the headquarters of a major car theft ring, where nearly 500 stolen Israeli vehicles were recently found. At least 941 stolen Israeli vehicles have been impounded and destroyed by PA police forces since January 2010. (Arutz 7)

CHINA GETS KOSHER MILK: The Jewish community of China enjoyed fresh kosher milk for the first time this week as a dairy in Beijing became the first to welcome kosher supervision. China is home to an estimated 10,000 Jews. Three years ago, the Jewish community of Beijing opened that city's first kosher restaurant and began producing kosher meat products. (INN)

ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND WALL MATCHING BIBLICAL STORY: Israeli archaeologists have announced the discovery of a massive wall built in the 10th century BCE in Jerusalem between the Temple Mount and the village of Silwan. Dig director, Dr. Eilat Mazar, dates the wall to King Solomon and the First Temple period, as described in the Bible. (Ha’aretz) “Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem.” 1Kings 3:1  

MEETING ISRAEL’S NEEDS DURING INCREASINGLY TROUBLED TIMES: The National Insurance Institute's annual Poverty Report released Nov. 2009, paints an extremely grim picture: There are 1,651,300 needy people living in Israel, including 783,600 children. Hardship is mounting. Please continue to enable us to assist terrorist victims, entire households suffering from poverty, the elderly and others in need in Israel. Your donations are needed and welcomed at www.visionforisrael.com. Make your online donation today. For residents in the UK and outside North America you can visit www.josephstorehouse.co.uk.

  Blessings from Jerusalem,

Barry Segal with the Editorial Staff

As international speakers and messengers of the Good News through music, Barry and Batya Segal are at the forefront of what God is doing in the present day nation of Israel. With strong ties in both the nations and Jerusalem, the Segals are weaving the deepest roots of our biblical heritage together with the fresh Spirit-filled worship of today to create their rich harmony of Scripture and song.

The Segals have a vast vision for God's purposes in the nations and to the people of Israel. In fact, their longing to help rebuild Israel both spiritually and physically inspired them to pioneer the non-profit charity organization, Vision for Israel and The Joseph Storehouse. This arm of their ministry focuses on assisting the poor and needy, widows and orphans, and reaching out to the new Jewish immigrants coming into the land of Israel. Vision 's most challenging project to date is "The Joseph Storehouse®", humanitarian aid center, located in the hills of Jerusalem. The Joseph Storehouse functions as a channel of blessing to all of Israel, Jewish and Arab, through the gathering and distribution of emergency medical supplies, food, clothing, and other basic life necessities. USA office contact info: Vision for Israel, PO Box 7743, Charlotte NC 28241, 866-351-0075. The Segal's web site is http://www.visionforisrael.com/

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.