Here is a calendar of upcoming events, up and down the country. Some are organized by us, others by like-minded organizations and groups.
NZFOI: Under the circumstances, Israel needs all the supporters it can get.
ISRAEL FOCUS GROUP
17 March Meeting
The Café, Gracecity Church,
17 Marewa Rd, Greenlane, Auckland
2.00pm – Meet & Greet
2.30pm – Meeting to Commence
Dr SHEREE TROTTER will be our Guest Speaker
& if available Hon. ALFRED NGARO
Dr Sheree Trotter & Hon. Alfred Ngaro
are the Directors of the recently opened
Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem.
This Embassy is for the Indigenous of the Nations in
Solidarity with Israel & the Jewish People.
This Embassy is exactly the 100th Embassy
To be opened in the State of Israel &
The 5th in Jerusalem
We will include Prayers for Israel
Followed by Refreshments
Collection will be Taken
Please invite likeminded family & friends
Ps 122 v 6
Pray for thew Peace of Jerusalem:
They shall prosper that Love Thee
Ps 1221 v 4
Behold, He that Keepeth Israel
Shall neither Slumber nor Sleep
We Pray
Thy will be done on Earth
As it is in Heaven
Dr Sheree Trotter
Indigenous Peoples and the Middle East Conflict
Today, one hears that the Palestinians are an indigenous people that is having their homeland stolen from them by the white settler colonialists, the Jews. Is this true?
The events of October 7 have divided New Zealanders. The connection to indigenous rights has created fault lines for our Maori community.
On Thursday, we are delighted to welcome Dr Sheree Trotter to talk to us about the establishment of the Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem and her views on how the Middle East Conflict has impacted her Maori Community.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr Sheree Trotter is a researcher, writer, and co-director of the Indigenous Coalition For Israel. She also co-founded the Holocaust and Antisemitism Foundation, Aotearoa New Zealand (formerly Shadows of Shoah). Sheree is Māori (Te Arawa) and earned her PhD in History at the University of Auckland.
After October 7, Israel needs your Love
Livestream: 23/03/2024 Tony Kan Friends for Israel – YouTube
The October 7 Massacres were a turning point in Israel’s relations against Gaza.
Hamas’ brutality, its targetting of women for rape, disfigurement, its indiscriminant execution and torture of civilians horrified the world.
Hundreds of hostages were taken.
In this latest conflict, everything is being turned upside down.
Hamas has turned homes into battlefield cover, civilians into shields and even UN agencies into extensions of its own organization.
Now months later, it is Israel that is being vilified and not Hamas.
Today, chants such as “K– the Jews! F– the Jews! G– the Jews!” can be heard and nothing is done about it.
October 7 has launched a wave of Anti-Semitism across the world and New Zealand is caught up in it too.
For us New Zealanders, for Christians, for Jews, for Atheists, for Muslims, for anyone who believes in justice, what does this mean? What is our connection to the modern state of Israel? Why should we care? And if we care, what should we do?
If what you have seen through the news has stirred something inside you, and you’ve been wanting to know what you can do about it then join us on Saturday, March 23, 2.30 pm at Church on Vogel.
Please bring a plate of finger food. We’d be grateful if you didn’t include any pork or seafood products.
The jolly festival of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (late winter/early spring). It commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day,” as recorded in the Megillah (book of Esther).
The Persian Empire of the 4th century BCE extended over 127 lands, and all the Jews were its subjects. When King Ahasuerus had his wife, Queen Vashti, executed for failing to follow his orders, he arranged a beauty pageant to find a new queen. A Jewish girl, Esther, found favor in his eyes and became the new queen, though she refused to divulge her nationality.
Meanwhile, the Jew-hating Haman was appointed prime minister of the empire. Mordechai, the leader of the Jews (and Esther’s cousin), defied the king’s orders and refused to bow to Haman. Haman was incensed, and he convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews on the 13th of Adar, a date chosen by a lottery Haman made.
Mordechai galvanized all the Jews, convincing them to repent, fast and pray to G‑d. Meanwhile, Esther asked the king and Haman to join her for a feast. At a subsequent feast, Esther revealed to the king her Jewish identity. Haman was hanged, Mordechai was appointed prime minister in his stead, and a new decree was issued, granting the Jews the right to defend themselves against their enemies.
On the 13th of Adar, the Jews mobilized and killed many of their enemies. On the 14th of Adar, they rested and celebrated. In the capital city of Shushan, they took one more day to finish the job.
Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. The holiday was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme. You can pronounce this name many ways. In Eastern tradition, it is called poo-REEM. Among Westerners, it is often called PUH-rim. Some Central-European communities even call it PEE-rim. (WARNING: Calling this holiday PYOO-rim—as English speakers are sometimes wont to do—is a surefire newbie cover-blower.)
- Reading of the Megillah (book of Esther), which recounts the story of the Purim miracle. This is done once on the eve of Purim and then again on the following day.
- Giving money gifts to at least two poor people.
- Sending gifts of two kinds of food to at least one person.
- A festive Purim feast, which often includes wine or other intoxicating beverages.
Source: Chabad
PFI meeting is 1st SATURDAY of the month.
Lady Wigram Village
210 Kittyhawk Ave Wigram
SKYBAR
Mustang Apt building
10am – cuppa – 12md (ish)
Followed by…
Light lunch, available with Dick & I plus a few others in the cafe.
Directions:
Main Entrance
Enter Foyer
Turn LEFT at Reception.(weekend staff know nothing about meeting.)
Walk past dining room on left & Cafe on right.
Walk thru to Mustang Apts at stone wall.
Take lift to 1st floor.
Exit, turn left & spot flag at end of corridor.