“A righteous man,” “the leader of the generation,” and “the yeshiva comedian” were just some of the ways Rabbi Raziel Shevach was described by friends and colleagues who knew him well. The rabbi, 35, was shot in the neck by a Palestinian terrorist in a drive-by shooting near his home town of Havat Gilad, in the so-called West Bank. He leaves behind his wife Yael and six children: Renana, 10; Naomi, 8; Miriam, 6; Malka, 5; Ovadia, 3; and Benayahu, 10 months.
Let us pray for them all and for the Jewish community in Samaria. Our hearts pour out in love for this dear family that have lost a husband and father at the hands of such brutal and unjustifiable act of terrorism.
It is sickening that both Hamas and supposedly ‘moderate’ Fatah, have celebrated the murder with the latter describing it on their Facebook page as an “operation” by a “skilled shooter”. What is even more shocking is that the international community is largely silent. We are not aware of any official condemnation from the UK Government. However, on Tuesday – the same day as this terror attack – some Members of Parliament were attacking Israel over the arrest of Palestinian teen, Ahed Tamimi, for kicking and hitting an Israeli soldier.
Foreign minister, Alistair Burt, responded from the despatch box: “The truth is the soldiers shouldn’t have been there and the young woman shouldn’t have needed to do what she did.”
There was no mention about Tamimi telling the camera after the incident of her support for suicide bombers, or of her reputation for attacking soldiers, or of her family’s long history of supporting terrorism. Nor was there any acknowledgement of the restraint demonstrated by the israeli soldier.
A few hours later, Rabbi Raziel became the latest victim of Palestinian terror.
It is clear that as well as praying against Palestinian terrorism, we must pray for our own Government. Because until they start standing with Israel and condemn this evil brutality, those that hate Israel will never get the message that terror is always unacceptable and NEVER justified.
The following prayer points are to assist you as you pray. For the stories behind these prayer points, please view the CUFI Weekly News Round-up, by clicking here.
May God bless you as you pray.
- Pray for the family of Rabbi Raziel Shebvach, who was murdered in a Palestinian terror attack this week. Pray for his wife and six children. That God’s peace and comfort will surround them and that our Heavenly Father will heal their pain.
- Pray that the UK Government will speak out strongly against Palestinian terrorism and incitement. Pray that the Foreign Office will possess moral clarity and not justify violence against Israel.
- Pray for the Jewish community in Havat Gilad following this attack.
- Pray also for the Israeli-Arab mother who was injured when her car flipped after being struck by Palestinian rock-throwers.
- Pray for the Jewish community in Paris, especially after a kosher store was destroyed by arson on the third anniversary of the fatal attack at a Jewish supermarket in Paris.
- Pray for the Jewish community in historic Djerba, Tunisia, following fire-bombs targeting its synagogue and two Jewish schools amid anti-government protests.
- Praise the Lord for the Dutch Foreign Minister’s commitment this week to oppose boycotts against Israel.
- Pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu as he embarks on a visit to India this week.
- Pray for CUFI’s campaign to ban Hezbollah. Praise the Lord that over 14,000 people have now signed the petition. Pray that the debate set for 25 January will lead to the UK banning of the terrorist organisation in its entirety. Pray that the pro-Israel voice will be heard.
- Pray also that CUFI’s Jerusalem recognition campaign will continue to gain momentum, especially after Boris Johnson committed to the Palestinian foreign minister that the UK supports the sharing of Jerusalem.
And “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”
