Ami Oritz bombing

[Lebesgue]

Get out your tissues and prepare to fall on your knees.

Please pray for this man and his family and congregation

The Israeli police are now investigating who sent a package which exploded in the home of Messianic pastor David Ortiz in the town of Ariel, Israel.
According to David, the police now believe that an "Anti-missionary" - radical Orthodox Jew, was the perpetrator behind the bombing attack.
Please pray for Ami's healing, and for this father and mother who have served the Lord and now have to deal with the emotional burden of their suffering son.

The Judean and Samaria Police stated that they cannot comment on the investigation because of a court-imposed media blackout.
David said that his son, Ami will survive; however Ami is still suffering from serious injuries all over his body.
Ami's neck had an eight-inch gash - like someone slit his throat. His lung was also ruptured
The doctors had to operate on his tongue and he received second-degree burns on his chest and arms.
There is no flesh on his thighs and the doctors had to amputate two toes!

Minister ********, we ask you to please pray that the Lord will do a miracle for His glory and for the sake of Ami.
David said that after the explosion his wife Leah was going downstairs to throw out the garbage and she saw flames coming out of the windows. Leah ran and saw her son spread out lying on the floor - she held his neck to keep the wound closed and created a hole in his throat so that he could begin to breathe. Thank goodness Leah had paramedic training. When the ambulance driver arrived he moved fast and was able to keep Ami alive until they got to hospital.
David and his wife Leah lead a Messianic congregation of about 50 families in the town of Ariel.
For many years David has had to deal with abuse from anti-missionary radical Orthodox Jews.
In the past they posted flyers and set up a petition asking people in the community to sign it, which called for the family to leave their apartment and the town of Ariel. Some neighbors refused to sign the petition. There were also demonstrations by radical Orthodox Jews in front of the family's building with people shouting that his family should leave the town.
According to David, his neighbors told him that some of these radical religious Jews said that if David and his family were the only people living in the building that they would have blown it up.
When David first moved to Ariel and set up the congregation, the local rabbi visited him and told him that he could not talk about Yeshua outside of his home, however David responded that Israel is a democratic country and that it is not illegal to share the Gospel with people over the age of 18.
David and Leah have four children who have all grown up in Israel and served in the Israeli Defense Forces.
Messianic Parents throughout the country have had to deal with the thoughts of how to protect their families, and we ask that you would Stand With Israel, with our Brothers and Sisters in the Holy Land and show your unity by praying.
The Israeli police are now investigating who sent a package which exploded in the home of Messianic pastor David Ortiz in the town of Ariel, Israel.
According to the David, the police now believe that an "Anti-missionary" - radical Orthodox Jew, was the perpetrator behind the bombing attack.
Please pray for Ami's healing, and for this father and mother who have served the Lord and now have to deal with the emotional burden of their suffering son.

The Judean and Samaria Police stated that they cannot comment on the investigation because of a court-imposed media blackout.
David said that his son, Ami will survive; however Ami is still suffering from serious injuries all over his body.
Ami's neck had an eight-inch gash - like someone slit his throat. His lung was also ruptured
The doctors had to operate on his tongue and he received second-degree burns on his chest and arms.
There is no flesh on his thighs and the doctors had to amputate two toes!

Minister ********, we ask you to please pray that the Lord will do a miracle for His glory and for the sake of Ami.
David said that after the explosion his wife Leah was going downstairs to throw out the garbage and she saw flames coming out of the windows. Leah ran and saw her son spread out lying on the floor - she held his neck to keep the wound closed and created a hole in his throat so that he could begin to breathe. Thank goodness Leah had paramedic training. When the ambulance driver arrived he moved fast and was able to keep Ami alive until they got to hospital.
David and his wife Leah lead a Messianic congregation of about 50 families in the town of Ariel.
For many years David has had to deal with abuse from anti-missionary radical Orthodox Jews.
In the past they posted flyers and set up a petition asking people in the community to sign it, which called for the family to leave their apartment and the town of Ariel. Some neighbors refused to sign the petition. There were also demonstrations by radical Orthodox Jews in front of the family's building with people shouting that his family should leave the town.
According to David, his neighbors told him that some of these radical religious Jews said that if David and his family were the only people living in the building that they would have blown it up.
When David first moved to Ariel and set up the congregation, the local rabbi visited him and told him that he could not talk about Yeshua outside of his home, however David responded that Israel is a democratic country and that it is not illegal to share the Gospel with people over the age of 18.
David and Leah have four children who have all grown up in Israel and served in the Israeli Defense Forces.
Messianic Parents throughout the country have had to deal with the thoughts of how to protect their families, and we ask that you would Stand With Israel, with our Brothers and Sisters in the Holy Land and show your unity by praying.

The things that fanaticism will lead to, and there are fantatics in all faiths.

WHERE is the eretz Y'israel in the person who did this?

Shalom,

Lebesgue

[Lulav]

Get out your tissues and prepare to fall on your knees.

Please pray for this man and his family and congregation

The Israeli police are now investigating who sent a package which exploded in the home of Messianic pastor David Ortiz in the town of Ariel, Israel.
According to David, the police now believe that an "Anti-missionary" - radical Orthodox Jew, was the perpetrator behind the bombing attack.
Please pray for Ami's healing, and for this father and mother who have served the Lord and now have to deal with the emotional burden of their suffering son.
Ami, opened a package that was designed to look like a Purim gift, and when he opened it up, it exploded. He sustained serious injuries in the blast!
The Judean and Samaria Police stated that they cannot comment on the investigation because of a court-imposed media blackout.
David said that his son, Ami will survive; however Ami is still suffering from serious injuries all over his body.
Ami's neck had an eight-inch gash - like someone slit his throat. His lung was also ruptured
The doctors had to operate on his tongue and he received second-degree burns on his chest and arms.
There is no flesh on his thighs and the doctors had to amputate two toes!
Right now the doctors are hoping that he won't lose his arms and legs as his whole body is full of fragments of shrapnel.
Minister ********, we ask you to please pray that the Lord will do a miracle for His glory and for the sake of Ami.
David said that after the explosion his wife Leah was going downstairs to throw out the garbage and she saw flames coming out of the windows. Leah ran and saw her son spread out lying on the floor - she held his neck to keep the wound closed and created a hole in his throat so that he could begin to breathe. Thank goodness Leah had paramedic training. When the ambulance driver arrived he moved fast and was able to keep Ami alive until they got to hospital.
David and his wife Leah lead a Messianic congregation of about 50 families in the town of Ariel.
For many years David has had to deal with abuse from anti-missionary radical Orthodox Jews.
In the past they posted flyers and set up a petition asking people in the community to sign it, which called for the family to leave their apartment and the town of Ariel. Some neighbors refused to sign the petition. There were also demonstrations by radical Orthodox Jews in front of the family's building with people shouting that his family should leave the town.
According to David, his neighbors told him that some of these radical religious Jews said that if David and his family were the only people living in the building that they would have blown it up.
When David first moved to Ariel and set up the congregation, the local rabbi visited him and told him that he could not talk about Yeshua outside of his home, however David responded that Israel is a democratic country and that it is not illegal to share the Gospel with people over the age of 18.
David and Leah have four children who have all grown up in Israel and served in the Israeli Defense Forces.
Messianic Parents throughout the country have had to deal with the thoughts of how to protect their families, and we ask that you would Stand With Israel, with our Brothers and Sisters in the Holy Land and show your unity by praying.
The Israeli police are now investigating who sent a package which exploded in the home of Messianic pastor David Ortiz in the town of Ariel, Israel.
According to the David, the police now believe that an "Anti-missionary" - radical Orthodox Jew, was the perpetrator behind the bombing attack.
Please pray for Ami's healing, and for this father and mother who have served the Lord and now have to deal with the emotional burden of their suffering son.
Ami, opened a package that was designed to look like a Purim gift, and when he opened it up, it exploded. He sustained serious injuries in the blast!
The Judean and Samaria Police stated that they cannot comment on the investigation because of a court-imposed media blackout.
David said that his son, Ami will survive; however Ami is still suffering from serious injuries all over his body.
Ami's neck had an eight-inch gash - like someone slit his throat. His lung was also ruptured
The doctors had to operate on his tongue and he received second-degree burns on his chest and arms.
There is no flesh on his thighs and the doctors had to amputate two toes!
Right now the doctors are hoping that he won't lose his arms and legs as his whole body is full of fragments of shrapnel.
Minister ********, we ask you to please pray that the Lord will do a miracle for His glory and for the sake of Ami.
David said that after the explosion his wife Leah was going downstairs to throw out the garbage and she saw flames coming out of the windows. Leah ran and saw her son spread out lying on the floor - she held his neck to keep the wound closed and created a hole in his throat so that he could begin to breathe. Thank goodness Leah had paramedic training. When the ambulance driver arrived he moved fast and was able to keep Ami alive until they got to hospital.
David and his wife Leah lead a Messianic congregation of about 50 families in the town of Ariel.
For many years David has had to deal with abuse from anti-missionary radical Orthodox Jews.
In the past they posted flyers and set up a petition asking people in the community to sign it, which called for the family to leave their apartment and the town of Ariel. Some neighbors refused to sign the petition. There were also demonstrations by radical Orthodox Jews in front of the family's building with people shouting that his family should leave the town.
According to David, his neighbors told him that some of these radical religious Jews said that if David and his family were the only people living in the building that they would have blown it up.
When David first moved to Ariel and set up the congregation, the local rabbi visited him and told him that he could not talk about Yeshua outside of his home, however David responded that Israel is a democratic country and that it is not illegal to share the Gospel with people over the age of 18.
David and Leah have four children who have all grown up in Israel and served in the Israeli Defense Forces.
Messianic Parents throughout the country have had to deal with the thoughts of how to protect their families, and we ask that you would Stand With Israel, with our Brothers and Sisters in the Holy Land and show your unity by praying.

[HadassahSukkot]

Unfortunately.. I know some folks who know these folks, and that article is incorrect on a lot of facts.

Here's what I know, and two links to back it up.

They suspect it is Arabs, not Haredim involved in the attack, especially because it was a Purim package and who all the family has been involved in ministry with, not to mention that there's been a lot of activity and "buzz" in the radar/lines about more palis trying to get Israeli Arabs involved in infiltrating certain settlements and areas to mitigate attacks. With the Oritz family, they have more problems with their Muslim neighbors than the Jewish community at large.

From what everyone has said (the two that know the family) in Ariel there are maybe 10 Messianic families, and Messianics are coming and going to help them out certain days of the month.

Ari has a LONG road of recovery. He's got shrapnel in his lungs, and he had some in one of his eyes. Once they are able to take him out of a medicine induced coma and the swelling goes down, they will know if they can save his eye or not. He lost two toes, and has burns on his arms and hands.

What is astonishing is that the maid who brought the package into the foyer of the house was unharmed. When Ami opened the package (which you could see chocolate in the top of and had smiley faces drawn all over it), it is a miracle that it didn't do more damage than it did, and only harmed him.

His parents were in Jerusalem at the time and had to fight traffic to get to the hospital where he was taken.

Apparently with what all is going on, the news surrounding what happened isn't getting out much (or is sensationalized), but that's ok I think. So long as people who know them see how they handle the situation and how G-d carries them through it all, I think it will really impact the school Ami attends and their community to make people wonder "what is it they have that we don't? How did they come thru this?"


Jerusalem Post Article (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1205420768089&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull)


Urgent Prayer Request and Medical Update for Ami the son
of David and Leah Ortiz of Ariel, Israel (http://www.watch.org/showprint.php3?idx=102455&mcat=1&rtn=/index.html)



...
Okay, some details about Ami:
There are some false rumors going around, mostly because of sloppy media reports. Unfortunately, even the usually reliable Jerusalem Post got things mixed up. Although it made a great story, Ami was not saved by his mom (his parents were in Jerusalem and had to fight their way through traffic to the hospital). There are not "50 families" of Messianic Jews in Ariel (don't we wish!! - the number is closer to 9 or 10 families, plus several volunteers who come and go on tourist visas). Ami did not need to have his intestines and kidneys reconstructed as far as I can determine, although shrapnel and glass was removed from lots of places I don't want to think about. Nor were any limbs amputated (he lost 2 toes only)...

...
Details about the damage:
The apartment did not lose all its furniture, as reported by some - by a fluke, the sofa and TV are fine. The phone and electric work, and the computer works, but the spiral stairs to the upper floor are rickety. It may take a while before all the damage is known. The windows are in process of being fixed. One group of believers has already undertaken to replace the refrigerator. The Ortizes did have house insurance. Those of you who were asking about this aspect of their needs, stand by until we know more...

...With that said, there are some new developments...

...Some others also visited David - members of the local orthodox community. Having concluded that the media reports (all favoring the "Jewish extremist" theory) must have some factual basis, they apologized to David and disowned whoever did it. Likewise the leader of Yad L'Achim, who publicly denounced the deed in the media.
I'm not saying any more, since these are the only real facts I have...



If you like, when I get another emailed update on the situation, I can post it here.. :thumbsup:

[visionary]

Keep us posted... as you learn more about this... thanks

[visionary]

UPDATE on Amiel Ortiz – Miraculously Amiel (the 15 year old boy, a Messianic believer from the town of Ariel in Israel, who was blown up by a package bomb last Thursday) opened his eyes for the first time this morning and started talking. Please pray for his complete healing, and for psychological healing as well, as he is suffering from trauma.

[Henaynei]

Medical Update and Prayer (http://watch.org/showprint.php3?idx=102633&mcat=1&rtn=/index.html)
Request for Ami the Son of

of David and Leah Ortiz of Ariel




(http://watch.org/showprint.php3?idx=102633&mcat=1&rtn=/index.html)



March 30, 1008



Email address for the Ortiz family.
Kehilat Ariel
David and Lea Ortiz
ldortiz@netvision.net
---
Sent by Orna from Modin, Israel:
Shalom everyone,
Here is the recent update from Hannah Weiss from "Restorers of Zion", concerning Ami and his family.
_____________________________
I salute the Body of Messiah worldwide. Your prayers and love are coming through loud and clear!

BTW I am happy to stand corrected in my note about "believers from every continent except Asia" -- our brothers and sisters in the Far East are also circulating the reports and praying for Ami.
Your prayers are being heard, and the L-rd is moving things faster than even the doctors were prepared for. In fact, I have had several delays in sending this out, because the news keeps changing!

Ami was to be taken out of the medically controlled coma slowly, over several days. Instead, he woke up by himself last night - another miracle, and one that must have startled the ICU team. Moreover, he was aware of his surroundings. He couldn't focus his eyes to really look at people, but he was able to respond to questions by blinking.

There were reports from his family that he is having periodic panic attacks. Small wonder. Imagine that you are 15 years old, you wake up feeling weird, not sure where you are, can't move freely, something is wrong with your eyes, struggling to breathe (he is off the respirator, but still has a collapsed lung).... and the last thing you can remember is a basket of goodies exploding in your face. Pray for the L-rd's peace to totally surround Ami, that he will feel SAFE in His arms.

So now your prayers need to cover his battle to rebuild his life, which is only beginning and will be a long one.

Pray also for his family, who is now staying with him in shifts. Although none of them would want to go back to the time when he was unconscious, there was an illusion of peace and serenity during that time. His fight to recover is now out in the open and must be shared by them. This can bring on a new sense of loss. It has got to be tough to see him struggling (the "baby" of the family, no less) and feel helpless to rescue him. Pray that the L-rd will give each of them wisdom to do the things that are good for Ami.
***********************
Okay.... that's what I wrote this morning. By afternoon today (exactly a week after the bombing), this news, incredible as it was, was already out of date -- the L-rd has moved so fast, He's left us all huffing to catch up!

This afternoon, Ami began moving around and talking. His first request was to see his brothers and sister, give them hugs and tell them he loved them. Then he began complaining that he wanted to go home. THEN he tried to get out of bed! (not possible because his legs are still in bad shape)

By this evening they were moving him out of the ICU into a regular room. The nurse who settled him in his bed came back a short while later and could SEE the improvements in his face! He is literally changing hour by hour.

Tell me that's a normal recovery, under ANY circumstances. Let alone a kid who was at death's door exactly a week ago.
And that's not all. We have been joined in prayer by the children in Ami's class, who informed a family friend that they are not "stahm" praying (going through the motions of liturgical prayer) but praying every word from the heart.

Imagine the impression G-d's amazing response is going to leave on each teen who poured out his/her heart to Him on behalf of Ami.... Since these are secular Israelis, it's probably the first time most of them have ever attempted to reach out to Him.

"Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

There are still challenges ahead - recovering the use of his legs, for example. Also he can hear out of one ear only. One immediate need is healing from the emotional trauma (he is having flashbacks of the explosion). Please pray that the L-rd will relieve Ami of this torment. According to another brother (thanks Tommy!) Ami is also expressing intense anger over the whole event, a very normal response and a necessary one. There are no easy answers to give him, and the L-rd knows what he needs in order to work through that.

Local believers: I don't know yet about visiting hours in the ward where he is, or who will be allowed to see him. You should call the hospital for more details, or stand by until I get that information.

Now I want to comment about our support system as a Body. It has been wonderfully effective and dedicated, and has crossed all sorts of barriers that tend to separate us. It is a selfless giving and a unity that I have never had the privilege to see before in my 46 years of walking with the L-rd. It is conduct that is surely pleasing to Him and brings glory to His Name.

Yet this is only a beginning. If we are going to grow from this experience and continue following where He is going, there are some matters that need our attention and prayer.

There are groundless rumors being passed around. I have tried to correct some of them, but I did not mean it as criticism. This kind of thing is inevitable, and we need to watch our responses to the mistakes being made.

All of us reporting to you from Israel are relying on those closest to the situation for our information, but these same people are under the most stress, obviously. Over the past week, they have had very little time to recharge. Under those conditions, it's easy to get details garbled or add personal feelings to the factual stuff. They do not need to be graded on accuracy right now. And we should be quick to forgive anyone who innocently repeats something that turns out not to be true, or who was not exact in passing on what they heard, or who maybe could have chosen their words better.

I personally apologize if I made anyone feel bad by correcting such mistakes - you are all doing a labor of Love by sending your own updates abroad. Please, please continue. I don't think the L-rd intends for me to do this alone. If you make a mistake, just correct it in your next letter. (I've done that twice already.)
With that said, the disinformation has had two sides to it. There is the harmless kind of rumor, like the one going around that the police have arrested a suspect. We all want that to happen very much, but if the police have detained anyone, Ami's own brothers are not aware of it (as of this morning). At any rate, there is no harm done, other than widespread disappointment.

But there is another kind of rumor, which can hinder what the L-rd may be about to do in Israel. I'm talking about the consensus being expressed among nearly all believers that this was the work of hostile anti-missionaries or a Jewish vigilante group.
Even now, there are many good reasons to suspect Arab terror, which I won't list here because I don't want to add fuel to this fire. The police have imposed a complete media blackout on their investigation, which hints that the case is not so simple. Suffice to say that there is no reason for any of us to conclude from the known evidence that it "must be a Jewish group"... no reason other than personal bias.

Are we, the Body in Israel, being too quick to assume that "the" orthodox or haredi (ultra-orthodox) Jews are capable of cold-blooded stalking, baiting and murder of Messianic Jews? (One or two have claimed to know of similar incidents, but none have provided documentation.) Have we forgotten what it feels like when the haredi Jews assume (also without documentation) that we are capable of stealing children from Jewish families, forcibly baptising them, and brainwashing them?

We base our assumptions on the hurt and harassment by some of the haredim against believers in recent years. Well, the haredim are quick to believe the rumor about Messianics stealing their children for the same reason - because Jews have been hurt by that kind of church-sponsored action for centuries. (Anyone who doubts that statement needs to read up on church history.)
As we deal with our pain before the L-rd, are we giving Him permission to send us to minister to the very ones who have abused us? (For the record, I am no armchair analyst, but speak from firsthand experience.) Or do we pray only that He will settle the score, and pay them back for the damage they have done to believers? This is a sign that we have closed our hearts to responding as the apostles did in the book of Acts. How can we expect to receive the power they had, without paying the price they paid?

I have also heard the rumor that the perpetrators of Ami's tragedy "are planning more attacks against the believers". Not only does this "warning" come to me repeatedly without evidence to validate it, but no one gains ground by circulating it except Satan. Israeli believers feeding on such speculation will hardly be ready to change gears, if suddenly a modern Saul of Tarsus from Yad L'Achim or the Gur Hasidim should show up at our door, wanting to know Yeshua. Won't we throw him out as a spy who is merely planning the next attack on believers?

Let me start a different rumor, which is based on more reliable information than the above, but so far has not made it into the Messianic/Christian grapevine:

G-d is doing something strong and unlooked-for in the religious Israeli community. We need to look and listen carefully, or we are going to miss it.

I began writing about this phenomenon two months ago, in a Restorers Update that never seemed to get finished. I am now realizing why - what is happening here belongs in the picture. L-rd willing, I will share more of the picture in that framework (this is not the time or place).

For now, I appeal to believers who are speaking to the media about Ami's experience: Promote our faith and proclaim our rights to practice it and share it, but avoid speculation about who committed this crime. For love of Him, avoid putting extra stumbling blocks in the way of the orthodox believers-to-be, who the L-rd is calling out for Himself.

Believers worldwide, please include us Israeli believers in your prayers, that we will stay in the L-rd as we navigate through this complex situation.

blessings,
a very tired Hannah signing off at 4 am, Israel time.
hannah@restorersofzion.org

[Henaynei]

Medical Update and Prayer (http://watch.org/showprint.php3?idx=102668&mcat=1&rtn=/index.html)

Request for Ami the Son of
David and Leah Ortiz of Ariel

(http://watch.org/showprint.php3?idx=102668&mcat=1&rtn=/index.html)
March 31, 1008




Morning update, written by Hannah Weiss:
Shalom to the worldwide network of the L-rd's people - the true Restorers of Zion. And on behalf of the Ortiz family, thank you for all your emails, prayers, visits and other expressions of love.

Each one of you is a reflection of Him, and your unselfish, unified love is a praise to His name.

"...that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that You did send Me, and did love them, even as You did love Me." (John 17:23)

A lot of non-believing Israelis are watching the Body coming together for Ami and his family... neighbors, security people, hospital personnel, anti-missionaries. Some of it is due to the media coverage (which has been hit-and-miss), but a good deal more is just by word of mouth. And it's catching! Tommy, a brother in Ariel, reports that the Ariel police took up a collection for the family and presented it to them.

In short, there are a lot of communication channels opening that weren't there 2 weeks ago. Pray that the L-rd uses every one of them.

Ami's progress (a combination relay report, with thanks to Roz and Tommy!) continues to move quickly. An operation on his right eye took place on Shabbat, a delicate procedure to remove a large metal shard near his cornea, and it was successful. His lungs are still full of metal bolts, and yet his brothers say somehow he is breathing okay. (no one is sure about the collapsed lung, whether it has been re-inflated or not.) He was suffering from a fever and chills yesterday, but that seems to have passed.

The plastic surgeon saw him today and will soon start the skin grafts. The word from this doctor is - if all goes well, Ami might become an out-patient in two weeks or so. Some of the brethren have written about natural substances that can speed up and ease the painful burn-healing process - I am passing on this information to the family as soon as I see them again.

The post-traumatic stress is slowly subsiding. Leah says that for the first time today, Ami's personality is coming back in his responses. (He is really annoyed at not being allowed to get up and use the bathroom...) And he is calmer. Please continue to pray the L-rd's healing peace into Ami's soul and mind, as he works through the intense flashbacks that still come now and then.

Leah is concerned for Marina, the housekeeper who found the package and who was one of the first to see Ami after the explosion. Marina is also suffering from post-traumatic stress symptoms, and needs to be supported in prayer.

Local believers, bless those of you who have expressed love to the family by bringing hot meals to the hospital. This has proven to be one of the most valuable practical actions - they love it and feel quite spoiled! And Ami actually nibbled on some real food today (congratulations to the loving sister who made the irresistible blintzes!) We will continue to coordinate this service until they let us know that meals are no longer needed.

Israelis who would like to visit - Ami is located at Schneider Children's Hospital, in the Burn Unit (5th floor). Schneider is behind Beilinson Hospital (Petach Tikvah).

The apartment repairs are in high gear this week, a combination of professional workers and believers volunteering their renovation skills.

Those who took to heart the plight of the Ortiz family dog and were praying for him, you also can rejoice in His mercy! Dusty appears able to hear again, and is starting to eat normally. He is still very nervous and hides a lot, but he comes out and sleeps in a corner when some of the Ortiz boys are around the house. As a dog-owner, I am relieved that the little rascal is returning to normal. We should not underestimate the healing effect this will have on the family, and eventually Ami when he comes home.

Please pray for the Ortiz's neighbor, who lives on the first floor of their building. She was one of the first to arrive on the scene of the bombing (she is a trained nurse), and at the time she acted professionally and helped stabilize Ami. But she was so traumatized by the sight of Ami's wounds ("he was open and bleeding everywhere") that now she cannot sleep at night. She really needs to visit him and see G-d's miracles, but her memory of what he looked like is probably preventing her from considering it.

The investigation is still under a media black-out. I have checked on the persistent rumors that the police are dropping hints about the direction they are taking - I have confirmed that they are saying NOTHING, not even to Ami's parents. So please discount any rumors you might hear about "leads" they are following in pursuit of one group or another.

Consider such speculation a distraction from praying on target - that the L-rd will uncover the guilty party, and that by the time He does, the party will be repentant and full of the fear of the L-rd. Never forget that our enemy is not flesh and blood -- if we want to hit him where it hurts the most, we should pray that he loses his grip on many, many souls as a result of this incident!

There is also the report that "Rumors are spreading around Ariel that the Ortizes are leaving Ariel." I am not aware of any such talk myself, either among believers or Ariel residents, and neither is my husband. I have no idea who from Ariel carried this rumor to other believers outside of the town. It is baseless gossip as far as I know.

David and Leah are praying for the L-rd to forgive whoever did this thing. We should unite with them in this prayer, and release His full power to turn this evil into good. Please keep holding the family up before Him as well - they must be exhausted with the nonstop stress of the past 10 days. Leah has asked me to pass their intense gratitude to each one of you - your prayers are holding them steady through all the ups and downs.

Increasing numbers of believers have been asking about where to send donations for the Ortizes. Now that the dust is settling, I have asked the family if there is a more direct way to do that, other than sending it through us. You can contact their legal representative, Calev Myers, who has opened up a special account to receive donations for them. Send an email to: myers@yraveh.co.il.

blessings to you all,
Hannah
hannah@restorersofzion.org
-----
Email address for the Ortiz family.
Kehilat Ariel David and Lea Ortiz
ldortiz@netvision.net

[ChavaK]

They suspect it is Arabs, not Haredim involved in the attack, especially because it was a Purim package and who all the family has been involved in ministry with, not to mention that there's been a lot of activity and "buzz" in the radar/lines about more palis trying to get Israeli Arabs involved in infiltrating certain settlements and areas to mitigate attacks.

This makes much more sense to me than the Haredim being involved
in it.
Having been to Ariel several times, and meeting people there, and
knowing the problems they have with their Arab "peace partners"-
I find it hard to believe Jews could do this....










(http://www.watch.org/showprint.php3?idx=102455&mcat=1&rtn=/index.html)

[Lebesgue]

This makes much more sense to me than the Haredim being involved
in it.
Having been to Ariel several times, and meeting people there, and
knowing the problems they have with their Arab "peace partners"-
I find it hard to believe Jews could do this....










(http://www.watch.org/showprint.php3?idx=102455&mcat=1&rtn=/index.html)

I agree Chava. After looking at stuff about this I just don't think it was the Haredim. I just don't think Jews would do something like this.

Welcome back. How was your trip?

Shalom,

Lebesgue

[HadassahSukkot]

Video clip of David Ortiz sharing about Ami (Miracles and Forgiveness)

Take 15 minutes and hear from David himself about what happened to his son Ami and how Ami is doing. This link is from the Epicenter Conference 2008, organized by Joel Rosenberg in Jerusalem. Skip Heitzig is also in the video praying over David. Listen to this inspiring video. It's packed with miracles:

Video link: http://blip.tv/file/815590

Thanks to a friend who emailed this link to me. You keeping me posted, helps me keep everyone else posted.

[ChavaK]

Video clip of David Ortiz sharing about Ami (Miracles and Forgiveness)

Take 15 minutes and hear from David himself about what happened to his son Ami and how Ami is doing. This link is from the Epicenter Conference 2008, organized by Joel Rosenberg in Jerusalem. Skip Heitzig is also in the video praying over David. Listen to this inspiring video. It's packed with miracles:

Video link: http://blip.tv/file/815590

Thanks to a friend who emailed this link to me. You keeping me posted, helps me keep everyone else posted.

Any more word about who was responsible for the bombing?

[ChavaK]

Here is something I just saw on line. It gives a very real reason
why the Muslims would want the family dead.
David Ortiz is not Jewish, it's an intermarried family, and I just
can't see a reason why Jews would go to this length since
the family would be considered lost anyway:




The most tension the Messianic Jews ever experienced in Ariel was in the late 1980s, she said, when the Yad L'Achim would knock on believers' doors, snap their pictures when they answered, and then put up posters in town warning people against them.

The majority of Ariel's population is secular. Religious Jews range from ultra-Orthodox Haredis to Russians who eat pork and celebrate Christmas.

Santa Clauses and Christmas trees are sold in the city's shopping center at Christmas, and one store sells pork, she said. If the Jewish extremists haven't bombed the pork shops, why should they go after an individual, Hannah wondered.

On the other hand, David Ortiz is on Hamas' hit list and the group put out a fatwa - a religious edict - calling for his death several years ago, she noted. The Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the gift basket bomb and Hamas bragged that it had used an Israeli Arab to bring in the bomb, she said.

There have been several Palestinian terror attacks outside the gates of the community over the last few years, including one at the city's hotel, one at the gas station and at least one at the nearby bus stop.

Hannah wondered if it wasn't easier for the residents of Ariel somehow to think that the attack had been carried out by Jewish extremists with a score to settle than to believe that an Arab terrorist had made his way into the heart of their peaceful community.

[visionary]

Ami Ortiz Update

As for Ami Ortiz, I hear that he has regained 20/20 vision and is doing so much better. Praise Yahweh! It is important that we continue to pray for him and his family :)

Moran Rosenblitt from Hope For Israel sent me this info:

Video: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/360254.aspx
Article: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/355790.aspx
Video: http://www.blip.tv/file/815590

Please pray:

For Ami's wounds to continue to heal quickly. There are almost no open wounds that need to be healed, praise God! But he still has burns all over his body that are healing please continue to pray against infection and for complete healing.

For his hands -- there is still some damage that needs repair in his hands. Please pray for a miraculous healing for them.

Physical therapy -- the little bit that he is having currently is VERY painful. He is just at the beginning stages of the therapy and there will be much more as soon as his wounds heal completely. Please pray for a miracle of NO PAIN during these sessions.

Lastly, and most importantly, please pray for Ami to receive understanding from the LORD. As you can imagine, he struggles with why this happened to him, especially with a bright future ahead of him. Please pray that he will come to a place of peace and stillness with God in the journey ahead. To God be the glory!
--
Please contact Moran at the web link above. Perhaps he knows of how you can financially bless the family and ministry, if you feel led to do so. I personally know Moran and have seen him and Taysir Abbu Saada of Hope For Ishmael share their testimonies together. You should invite them out to share at your congregations and churches as well and if you feel led, financially support their ministry :) Please note, even though people support my ministry, I also do financially support other ministries as well-for real. The bigger picture - it's all Yahweh's money anyways. He just has us shift it around as He leads us.

I heard from a few sources that you can send postcards (please no packages - just postcards) to Ami Ortiz at:

Ami Ortiz
PO Box 1903
Ariel 40700
Israel

[FortressOfYshua]

Here is something I just saw on line. It gives a very real reason
why the Muslims would want the family dead.
David Ortiz is not Jewish, it's an intermarried family, and I just
can't see a reason why Jews would go to this length since
the family would be considered lost anyway:


So what your saying is that all the talk about the Charedi sect being irate about Messianic Judaism is completely fakakta. I really hope you're right. Jews are better than this. A child?!

[Lulav]

Here an interview with David Ortiz that can be downloaded this week only

At the hospital

http://wstw.fm/purimbomb.mp3

[Lulav]

do you know what this reminds me of?

The Halloween terrors, of putting razor blades in apples and drugs and poision in candies handed out to children for trick or treat.

A bomb in a Chag Sameach basket of candy!

[Lulav]

But continue to pray!



please take time to listen to this interview (http://wstw.fm/purimbomb.mp3), if you absolutely can't please take time to send a card, or word of encouragement to the family and to Ami

Please send postcards and letters and cards for support for the parents and
also for Ami.

Send encouragement to:


David Ortiz
PO Box 1903
Ariel, 40700
Israel

If you would like to help support them in their time of rebuilding write to Kalev Myers at this email address.

myers @ yraveh.co.il

Some notes from the interview, but much more and worth listening to:

He will be moving to rehab soon, as he has lost many toes and was a basketball player. The Israeli team, Maccabi's came to visit him and invite him to a game and they are making a tribute to him.
Also the Dove awards called to find out his favorite song which they will feature at the awards on the 23 ( this Friday) and will be also dedicating to him.


The Doctors are hopeful that he will play basketball again, he was the captain of the team and it may take a year or so for him to be able to play with special shoes to compensate for his missing toes.

A Jew against a Jew is not terrorism but attempted murder, but he is asking for forgiveness, and to not judge the whole community for these few individuals.

[ShirChadash]

Notable:


http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/7875
Harassment and Freedom

by Penina Taylor

The bombing as a springboard for legal change.

Thursday, March 20, 2008, marked an interesting change in the dynamics between the Orthodox Jewish communities and the Evangelical Christian and “Messianic” communities in Israel. The event that sparked this change was the explosion of a package that severely injured the teenage son of a Messianic pastor in Ariel, a city in Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/static/images/q_top.png
Caleb Meyers, legal council for the Messianic community and the Ortiz family, is milking this for all its worth.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/static/images/q_bottom.png



Despite the fact that the MO was typical of Palestinian terrorists, particularly since it was packed with shrapnel, and despite the fact that the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades is reported to have taken credit for it, according to the Ma’an news agency, and despite the fact that the pastor has, for some time, had a fatwa on his head (a Muslim death threat) for having converted Muslims to Christianity, the family, the Messianic community and their legal representation continue to look towards the religious Jewish community, whom they typically call “extremists,” for the perpetrator(s) of the crime.


As it has yet to be shown that the family has ever received an actual death threat from a religious Jew, and as this does not fit the way even the most extreme religious Jews operate, it would seem that the Messianic community is using the bombing as a springboard for legal change in their status in this country. Citing past harassment by the religious Jewish community and annoying protests that have sometimes ended in fisticuffs, Caleb Meyers, legal council for the Messianic community and the Ortiz family, is milking this for all its worth.



--- more at link...

[anisavta]

This has been dear to my heart. I have friends in Israel who have kept me informed about Ami from day one.
First of all I wish it were true about it not being the anti missionaries but sad to say they are becoming very bold. These videos will discuss what is happening concerning the investigation.
Ami has a long road ahead of him in his recovery but the miracles that have taken place are amazing.
If anyone is interested in keeping up with his progress I would be more than happy to keep you informed. Please PM me.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub6c09um5gs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sypBz7-LT4k&feature=related

[ShirChadash]

Please note the large portion below

Notable:


http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/7875
Harassment and Freedom

by Penina Taylor

The bombing as a springboard for legal change.

Thursday, March 20, 2008, marked an interesting change in the dynamics between the Orthodox Jewish communities and the Evangelical Christian and “Messianic” communities in Israel. The event that sparked this change was the explosion of a package that severely injured the teenage son of a Messianic pastor in Ariel, a city in Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/static/images/q_top.png
Caleb Meyers, legal council for the Messianic community and the Ortiz family, is milking this for all its worth.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/static/images/q_bottom.png



Despite the fact that the MO was typical of Palestinian terrorists, particularly since it was packed with shrapnel, and despite the fact that the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades is reported to have taken credit for it, according to the Ma’an news agency, and despite the fact that the pastor has, for some time, had a fatwa on his head (a Muslim death threat) for having converted Muslims to Christianity, the family, the Messianic community and their legal representation continue to look towards the religious Jewish community, whom they typically call “extremists,” for the perpetrator(s) of the crime.


As it has yet to be shown that the family has ever received an actual death threat from a religious Jew, and as this does not fit the way even the most extreme religious Jews operate, it would seem that the Messianic community is using the bombing as a springboard for legal change in their status in this country. Citing past harassment by the religious Jewish community and annoying protests that have sometimes ended in fisticuffs, Caleb Meyers, legal council for the Messianic community and the Ortiz family, is milking this for all its worth.



--- more at link...

[anisavta]

What is your point?

[ShirChadash]

This has been dear to my heart. I have friends in Israel who have kept me informed about Ami from day one.
First of all I wish it were true about it not being the anti missionaries but sad to say they are becoming very bold.

your comment appears to state that it is indeed anti-missionaries, because after all, they are apparently "becoming bold".

I highlighted and enlarged the text from the article which bears repeating in the face of such speculation:

Despite
the
fact
that the MO was typical of Palestinian terrorists, particularly since it was packed with shrapnel,

and
despite
the fact that the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades is reported to have taken credit for it, according to the Ma’an news agency,

and
despite
the
fact that the pastor has, for some time, had a fatwa on his head (a Muslim death threat) for having converted Muslims to Christianity,

the family,
the Messianic community
and their legal representation
continue to look towards the religious Jewish community, whom they typically call “extremists,” for the perpetrator(s) of the crime.


^
that would be my point.

And this isn't far behind it:


As it has
yet
to
be
shown
that the family has ever received an actual death threat from a religious Jew,

and as this
does
not
fit
the way even the most extreme religious Jews operate,

it would seem that
the
Messianic
community
is using the bombing as a springboard for legal change in their status in this country.

Citing past harassment by the religious Jewish community and annoying protests that have sometimes ended in fisticuffs,
Caleb Meyers,
legal council for the Messianic community and the Ortiz family,
is milking this for all its worth.

The rest of the article is quite worth reading as well, as it the quote from an article ChavaK found, noted in this post on this thread:
http://christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=45878103&postcount=12

[zaksmummy]

Then maybe the police should come clean about what they had found, then there wouldnt be any room for speculation.

[anisavta]

Penina Taylor is director of Jews for Judaism. It is an anti missionary org.
Her article was written in March of this year. It is now June. They now have a video servalance photo of the person who delivered the bomb. They have ruled out Palestinian involvement. They now know there is Israeli government coverup over this. It is not a matter of who done it but now it is a matter of when it will come into the open that it was a Jewish act of terror against Jews.
Ami is the son of a Jewish mother and that makes him Jewish. And just because David is Latin American does not mean he is not Jewish. Ever heard of Sephardic Jews?
So unless you can come up with hard core evidence that this act of terror was done by Palestinians - stop speculating and join with us in davining for the Ortiz family!

[anisavta]

Then maybe the police should come clean about what they had found, then there wouldnt be any room for speculation.

And loose support of the Haridim and their influence in governmental issues especially towards a group of people they hate?
Politics are quite a bit different than here in the good ol US of A.

Why haven't they booted out Olmert? There is lots of "goods" on him.

[ShirChadash]

Penina Taylor is director of Jews for Judaism. It is an anti missionary org. so no one can possibly report wisdom hm. If I were to apply your standard then, we have to rule out any information or points made by xian sources, messianic sources, muslim sources and Jewish sources because all have an involvement/interest? mmm okay.


Her article was written in March of this year. It is now June. They now have a video servalance photo of the person who delivered the bomb. and? I mean seriously...

They have ruled out Palestinian involvement. They now know there is Israeli government coverup over this. It is not a matter of who done it but now it is a matter of when it will come into the open that it was a Jewish act of terror against Jews. who is *they*?


Ami is the son of a Jewish mother and that makes him Jewish. And just because David is Latin American does not mean he is not Jewish. Ever heard of Sephardic Jews? -- and I said he isn't, uh... where exactly? Oh that's right, I didn't. Have I heard of Sephardi Jews? Snottiness noted. Of course I have heard of Sephardi Jews. I might also add -- he is a xian, and the son of a xian missionary with a fatwa on his head for converting MUSLIMS and the fact that they are Jewish is only more not LESS likely to engender hate from muslims.

So unless you can come up with hard core evidence that this act of terror was done by Palestinians - stop speculating and join with us in davining for the Ortiz family! 1) when you have your indictment, then you will know if there was Jewish involvement, and until then you speculate. *I* did no speculating, but pointed out that Muslims have taken responsibility -- and as a Jew, of course Ami Ortiz would be receiving Purim packages, heh? -- and every other interesting point of notice that certainly is more indicative of a palestinian attack. You and every other person here who have written in such a way as to lay the blame of this directly on "anti-missionary Jews" are the ones doing the speculating. and 2) what on G-d's green earth would make you think I haven't been praying for Ami Ortiz?!

[Redheadedstepchild]

Mod Hat On

Thread closed for review. Thank you for your patience.

Mod Hat Off

[Redheadedstepchild]

Mod Hat On

Thread is now open. This thread can get very emotional very quickly. Please stay on topic and avoid engaging in personal debate and flaming.

Mod Hat Off

[anisavta]

I just received a new update on Ami Ortiz. If anyone is interested please PM me and I will send it to you.

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by anisavta http://img.christianforums.com/style/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://christianforums.com/showthread.php?p=47341819#post47341819) Penina Taylor is director of Jews for Judaism. It is an anti missionary org.I used to post that forum a few years back. Drashi and I got along quite well. Then he left for awhile to get married and while he was gone I got banned by some other Jews. :D
They renamed their forum Kosherjudahism. :wave:

http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/phpBB2/index.php

http://www.kosherjudaism.org/forum/

[Henaynei]

A visit with Ami Ortiz (http://www.umjc.net/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,89/task,show/action,view/id,395/)
a recent report of a visit with Ami on July 3rd