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ONTARIO –The world became a darker place October 7th, 2023. “The Black Sabbath Massacre” became the biggest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Gazan Jihadists slaughtered over fourteen hundred Israelis, and abducted another two hundred-forty. In one of the most pressure-packed periods in the history of the globe, Ohio faith leaders went on record Tuesday night and vocalized their strong support for Israel. ‘Never again’ is right now.
“While the Church as a whole remained largely silent during the Holocaust, as leading clergymen from one hundred-fifty-five diverse congregations across the Buckeye Bible Belt, we publicly stand in solidarity with the Nation of Israel and corporately condemn the anti-Semitic atrocities perpetrated by Hamas,” Pastor J.C. Church declared at the Israel rally. “From Pharaoh, to Hamman, to Hitler to Hamas, Israel has continually been targeted for being GOD’s chosen people.”
Prior to the clergy joint statement, several quotes on the tragedy of silence were recited by a ten year-old student to the gathering. Each seat at the ‘Night for Israel’ event had posters depicting the faces of innocent civilians abducted from Israel into the Gaza Strip by Hamas. The posters served as reminders to attendees that each hostage is watching their response to evil. “This surprise attack is ‘Israel’s 911,” commented Rabbi William Halbrook. “It is human depravity of the highest magnitude.”
“There was no justification for the use of brutal acts of terrorism by Hamas to target Israeli and Palestinian civilians. We believe each murder and brutal act by Hamas during the October 7th massacre constitutes as an act of genocide.”
The clergy statement went on to describe the foreign terrorist organization Hamas, which assumed administrative control over the Gaza Strip after winning the 2006 legislative elections. “Hamas has a charter stating ‘Israel will exist until Islam obliterates it.’ Further, Hamas leaders say they love death as much as the Jews love life and incentivizes terrorism by paying families of suicide bombers four times the average income. They regularly use their citizens as human shields to protect military operations, and have wide support of their citizens, even supporting the use of terrorism against Israeli civilians,” the clergy wrote.
“We unequivocally agree Israel has the absolute right to exist and to defend itself, which includes taking measures to eliminate its foes. We pray for the safe release of every hostage held captive by the terrorist group Hamas. We corporately pray for GOD to comfort and strengthen His chosen people and to help those impacted by October 7th’s “Black Sabbath Massacre” to find healing and hope in the midst of devastation.”
Ohio clergy joint statement
Unfortunately, opponents of Israel have effectively used media to attempt to rewrite Israel’s history. “Israel is the only Jewish state in the world,” said Reverend El Akuchie, another spokesmen at Tuesday’s assembly. “Israel has been commonly mislabeled an ‘apartheid’ despite having ten elected Arab members currently serving in the Knesset, and despite being surrounded by twenty-two Islamic Arab states that threaten its existence, stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Jewish history in the land goes back to before the tenth century B.C.,” he said. To address misnomers about the State of Israel, Apologetics handouts were provided to attendees of the event.
“We unequivocally agree Israel has the absolute right to exist and to defend itself, which includes taking measures to eliminate its foes,” said Pastor J.C. Church. “We pray for the safe release of every hostage held captive by the terrorist group Hamas. We corporately pray for GOD to comfort and strengthen His chosen people and to help those impacted by the “Black Sabbath Massacre” to find healing and hope in the midst of devastation.”
Reverend El Akuchie added, “The Bible clearly gives justification for war by civic governments to protect its sovereignty and defend its citizens found in Romans 13. And Psalms 97 goes further saying to ‘Hate evil those who love the LORD.”
In addition to Mansfield City Councilman Rev. Akuchie, elected officials attending the event included State Representative Marilyn John, Richland County Commissioners: Cliff Mears, Darrell Banks, and Tony Vero, Sheriff Steve Sheldon, Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, and Judges Steve McKinley, Beth Owens, and Mike Kemerer.
The region has a reputation of support for the Jewish State. Clergy co-signers of the joint statement have congregations located in twenty-two counties throughout Ohio. Counties with the most congregations represented include Richland, Crawford, Ashland, Trumbull, Wayne, Knox, Morrow, Huron, and Stark Counties. Earlier this year on ‘Jerusalem Day,’ faith leaders encouraged state lawmakers to formally recognize Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel. A large number of mayors and several Boards of County Commissioners also recognized the seventy-fifth anniversary of the rebirth of Israel.
The ‘Night for Israel’ event raised $7,000, with donations going to David Rubin’s Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund. The former Mayor of Shiloh, Israel has visited Ontario several times. Those in attendance also saw a boots on the ground interview of Dr. Eldad Keynan from Northern Israel. The war hero discussed the attitudes of the Israeli people and the issues they are contending with.
Pastor J.C. Church believes Scripture sums it up the best. “When King David and Israel’s army were surrounded in front and to the rear, David’s commander, Joab told his partner in command, ‘Be strong, and let us be courageous for the sake of our people, and for the cities of our GOD; and may the LORD do what seems good to him.’”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Psalm 120,“My soul has long dwelt too long with him that hates peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.”
View slideshow by Frontlines Ohio of “Night for Israel” event in Ontario on Tuesday evening.
View video produced by Frontlines Ohio of clergy joint statement during the “Night for Israel” event in Ontario on Tuesday evening. (Duration 9 min.)
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