Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2019To: Friends & SupportersFrom: Gary L. Bauer, Director Day Of AtonementJews throughout the world will begin observing Yom Kippur at sunset today. This is the holiest day of the Jewish year and it is a solemn day. It is known as the Day of Atonement because it marks God's forgiveness of His chosen people for the sin of the golden calf.Many Israelis remember the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Arab armies took advantage of the holiday to launch a surprise attack against Israel. After intense fighting throughout the month of October, Israel ultimately prevailed.The White House ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ) today released the following message:"Melania and I wish all Jewish people a blessed Yom Kippur. "Known as the 'Sabbath of Sabbaths,' Yom Kippur is the holiest of days in the Jewish faith and the culmination of the High Holy Days. Through teshuva, tefilla, and tzedakah, Jews on Yom Kippur reach toward God to reunite and seek spiritual closeness to our Creator. As the day's services conclude, the final great blast of the shofar signals the end of the Day of Atonement and a strengthening and renewal of the spiritual bond with God."On this day, as Jews around the world stand in front of the open ark, facing the holy Torah and asking God's forgiveness, Melania and I pray that He may seal you in the Book of Life for the coming year and grant His people a year of sweetness and plenty."Israel Will RespondLt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ), the IDF chief of staff, addressed a memorial ceremony honoring the Israeli soldiers who fought and died in the Yom Kippur War. He spoke of the many challenges to Israel's security today and vowed that the Jewish state would respond "forcefully" to any attacks. Below are excerpts of Gen. Kochavi's remarks."Last summer was full of security incidents, both above and below the surface, in both nearby and far-off arenas. In the Gaza Strip, rocket fire was avoided and neutralized, and infiltration attempts were thwarted time and again. "In the area of Judea and Samaria, the intelligence and operational effort that prevented many, if not all, terrorist attacks continue, and in the north, action has been taken to curb the efforts of Iran and Hezbollah. The challenges are not over."We will not allow harm [to be inflicted on] the State of Israel, and should that happen, we will respond forcefully. The IDF is a strong, offensive, and responsible army, which operates in many arenas. . . "The State of Israel has faced security challenges in the past and we continue to face them today. . . Israel's citizens can continue with their daily routines, in the thriving and special country established here."An Inspiring StoryCalling a plumber is something everyone dreads. But something truly inspiring happened when Rosa Meir ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ) of Haifa called the plumber.When the Matari brothers (Simon and Salim, who are Arab-Israelis) arrived at Rosa's home, they found "a large blast of water" and immediately got to work. Later Salim struck up a conversation with Rosa and learned that she is a 95 year-old Holocaust survivor. "Her life story touched my heart. At that moment, I decided I won't take a cent from her," Simon told the Times of Israel. When they gave Rosa the bill, it read: "Holocaust survivor, may you have health until 120 [years old], from Matari Simon and Matari Salim." And the service was free. Simon and Salim also told Rosa that they would happily return and fix any other problems she had for free. Christians United for Israel Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, donations are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. To make a donation, please call 202-738-4714, or send a check to:CUFI Action Fund ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ )300 Pennsylvania Avenue, SEWashington, D.C. 20001EMAIL GARY BAUER ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ) ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) CUFI Action Fund300 Pennsylvania Avenue, SEWashington, D.C. 20001 Update your Email Preferences ( [link removed] ) or Unsubscribe ( [link removed] )
