Hanukkah 2023 from Israel

By Celeste Mills, Neve Ovid Poriya, Galilee, Israel, 14 Dec 2023

Introduction by Col Mike Howard US Marines (Ret)

The 2023-ongoing Battle for #Gaza is a committed struggle between #Israel and Hamas. Good vs evil. Light vs. darkness. Following the 7 October 2023 unprovoked attack by Hamas terrorists into Israel, over 1,200 innocent Israelis were brutally killed, tortured, mutilated, raped, and at least 240 Israelis (and over a dozen Americans) kidnapped. Every nation, society and individual has an inherent right to self-defense, and so the Israel Defense Force (IDF) reacted swiftly. The attackers in Israel were rapidly hunted down and killed, and the Gaza Strip surrounded by the IDF. Israel is closing the noose on Hamas.

The following letter is from our dear friends in Israel. We have known them since the 1980s and our children grew up knowing their children, several of whom are now serving with the IDF (affectionately known as “Zahal”) in the desperate Gaza fight.

Special THANKS (“Todah Rabbah”) to our dear family and friends who graciously responded with both loving “Care Packages” (BBQ beef jerky & Peanut M&Ms) and generous donations to our IDF Soldiers fighting in Gaza. Treats & cash for flak jacket & helmet upgrades were much appreciated!

“Semper Fi” from this old combat Marine vet who knows the meaning of these items in a fight. MH

Tonight is the last night of Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday that commemorates the ”against all odds” defeat of an invading mighty Greek army by a small band of brave and faithful Jewish fighters in the second century. Initially, it felt odd to be celebrating a holiday while our nation was still grieving and suffering- while families wait for their captured relatives to return, soldiers put their lives on the line day and night and hundreds of thousands of families are displaced from their homes because border towns have become a war zone. We need to remember, however, that the miracle of Hanukkah was that God delivered His people from their enemies and He will do it again! “The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy” (Zeph. 3:17). So as we light our Hanukkah menorah, we are asking the Lord for the miracle of deliverance once again, deliverance from our enemies that are on every side- Hamas in the south, Hezbollah on the north, terror cells in the West Bank and Iran, who is orchestrating all of these attacks, to the east.


As the IDF has moved deeper into Gaza, the battles have become more intense and the army is paying a heavy price with the lives of our soldiers. Over the past few days, the death toll has risen significantly with many more wounded. Just this afternoon we received word that the cousin of our son-in-law was wounded in battle. Uriah is suffering from a severe head injury and is in intensive care, sedated and ventilated. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors to know how to treat him as shrapnel in his head is causing a complex situation. And please pray for the protection of all of our soldiers.


Shirel had an adventurous trip back to her base on Sun. First, she was told to evacuate her bus because of flash flooding in the Negev then on the next leg of her trip, the bus had to stop because of rocket fire overhead. Praise the Lord that no one was harmed from the rocket nor from the shrapnel that resulted from its interception with the Iron Dome missile defense system. Even Shirel whose military job is to work with children still faces the dangers of war!


We thank the Lord that He protected our son, Nate, during his time of service. Last Friday he was released from reserve duty and this morning he and Becca flew back to the States. Though it was their original plan to leave at this time they had debated whether or not they should delay their departure. After seeking the Lord, they felt led to keep their tickets. Please pray that they will now get settled back in the States and that the Lord will direct their steps in this next chapter of their lives. I’m sure that it will be very hard for them to be so far away while Israel is at war. (Though Nate says he’ll be back if a larger conflict opens up on the northern border.)

Indeed, it is hard to know how this war will progress. Amidst mounting international pressure for a ceasefire and the United States’s directive to end the war by the end of the year, both our Minister of Defense and Prime Minister Netanyahu have stated that the war will continue “until the end”. Hamas has spent over a decade building its underground infrastructure and it is going to take time to destroy it, especially as the U.S. continues to tie the military’s hands by dictating how it handles the operations. The Lord said that nations rising against nations were merely the beginning of birth pangs (Matt. 24:7-8) and the thing about birth pangs is that you can never go back! We’re looking forward to “the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah.”

Ben and Celeste Mills

Additional Note:

Dear friends of Israel.


We are writing to express our gratitude for the generous support that we have received from your community during these challenging times.


Your unwavering support has not only provided us with essential equipment but has also given us a strong sense of unity and solidarity. It is a reminder that we are part of a larger global Jewish community that stands by our side, no matter the distance.


In these trying times, when the security of our nation is tested knowing that we have the backing of Jewish communities around the world provides us with strength and a feeling of unity.


Am Yisrael Chai!

Israel

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” … and her defenders.