Chaim starts by saying that these are very interesting times we’re living through, expressing the wonder many are feeling about what’s going on around us, but he reminds his viewers that “strength comes from above” and quotes Deuteronomy 30:19; I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
He says the IDF has a mission of defending life, but points out that Hamas put their military headquarters in Shifa Hospital, a place meant to preserve life, so they could deliver death from that place.
He also says that nations around the world are choosing death. He mentions Iran’s leaders who are making pronouncements that Israel will soon die. He mentions the Yemeni rebel group that has hijacked a ship on the high seas just because it’s partially owned by an Israeli company, rhetorically asking “what are we, back to the age of pirates?”
Chaim says that this act of piracy, carried out by Houthi rebel forces trained and financed by Iran, is an indication of the spread of terrorism. Chaim says “terrorism must be stopped” even as he laments the 11 Israeli soldiers who were killed in Gaza over the weekend.
He mentions the march by masked Neo-Nazis in Wisconsin, declaring death against the Jews and he says he’s glad to see so many children pushing back by declaring life, sending encouraging cards and gifts to soldiers on the front lines.
He mentions with sadness that Christmas has been canceled in Bethlehem, and says he was at the funeral of a friend recently and it reminded him that while we are still alive, we have the ability to carry out God’s plans and purposes for our lives.
He quotes Jeremiah 31:15-17; Thus says the Lord: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”
Thus says the Lord: “Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own border.
Chaim says he believes there is still hope that the hostages will indeed be returned to Israel, but he also wanted to take a moment to ponder the words of a survivor of the October 7th massacre who realized through his trauma that Israel needs to call on the name of their Creator, stop fighting among themselves, and get back to the calling God put on them as a nation.
