"Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles." Zech 14:16

SUCCOT 2009: The Middle Eastern heat cools into balmy autumn days with the hope for abundant rains to soon begin. Market places across Israel are fragrant with harvest fruits. They display tables of the Four Species to be used in Succot celebrations and buzz with activity as Israelis prepare for the most joyous holiday on the Jewish calendar. Succot begins this year at sunset Friday, the 2nd of October and will continue through dusk the 9th of October. Throughout the Land families are building succahs (huts) with a roof covering of branches. Children make and hang decorations inside these temporary dwelling places. For seven days and nights, families and guests will eat their meals in the succah and otherwise regard it as their home. This is to commemorate the forty years traversed in the Sinai Desert prior to entering the Holy Land during which Moses and the children of Israel dwelled in tents. Succot events will take place day and night throughout Jerusalem and in other parts of Israel. Staff members at Vision for Israel & The Joseph Storehouse send their warmest greetings to friends near and far at this happy time. We hope to see many of you at our Succot Celebration this year.

ISRAELI RESEARCHER DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER’S VACCINE: An Israeli researcher is preparing a vaccine to prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease, one of the most devastating forms of dementia. Dr. Alon Monsonego, a researcher at Ben Gurion University, inoculated mice with human genes carrying Alzheimer's disease. He and his colleagues found the mice "were able to reduce plaques of beta-peptides, as well as inflammations and neuronal damage associated with the disease." The study was aimed at creating a vaccine that would strengthen the immune system to prevent subsequent development of Alzheimer's in people with a genetic predisposition to the disease. (INN) 

GAZA ROCKETS MAR YOM KIPPUR FOR SOUTHERNERS: Palestinian terrorists operating out of the Gaza Strip fired a number of rockets and mortar shells at communities in southern Israel on Monday as Israelis were trying to mark Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Several of the rockets scored direct hits on small communities in the Negev region. Community leaders fear a return to the days before the recent Gaza war, when Gaza-based terrorist groups fired tens of rockets into southern Israel on a daily basis. (Israel Today) Pray against the resumption of terrorist rocket attacks on Israel’s Negev communities.

THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF GAZA: Reliable sources confirm there is a growing dominance of Islamic extremism in the Gaza Strip. This change is being felt in the very fabric of daily life. A transition of the status of Islamic observance from social norm to legal compulsion is under way. The most obvious sign of this is the creation of the new "Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" security force. This force is tasked with enforcing Islamic codes of behavior. Its members patrol beaches, parks and public areas, ensuring proper Islamic modesty. Also, every mosque now has an Amir al-jamia or "head of the community" who acts on behalf of Hamas authorities. It is his task to observe the prayer habits of all members of the mosque, and to intervene where insufficient devotion is diagnosed. (J.Post)

IRAN’S NUKE PLANT BUILT IN A MOUNTAIN: Iran's nuclear chief said this week his country built its newly revealed uranium enrichment facility inside a mountain and next to a military site to ensure continuity of its nuclear activities in case of an attack. Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who also heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said the Islamic Republic is willing to have a general discussion about nuclear technology in Geneva but will not give up its right to uranium enrichment and conversion. The revelations of the new site has brought increased international pressure on Iran to come clean on its nuclear program, which the US, Israel and others suspect is aimed at producing atomic bombs. (Fox)

IRAN: ATTACKING US WILL EXPEDITE ISRAEL’S LAST BREATH: Iran's defense minister warned Israel again on Monday against launching any attack on the Islamic Republic, shortly after Iran test fired missiles reportedly capable of hitting Israel. "If this [Israeli attack] happens, its ultimate result would be that it expedites the Zionist regime's last breath," Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said on state television. Israeli leaders have refused to rule out pre-emptive military action to prevent Iran from developing an atomic weapon. (Ha’aretz) "The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them." Ps 2:4

FM ACCUSES NORWAY OF ANTISEMITIC POLICY: Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman accused Norway last week of upholding antisemitic and anti-Israel policies. He fiercely criticized the Norwegian government during the UN General Assembly, demanding answers from Norwegian FM Jonas Gahr Støre regarding talks Oslo had been holding with the Hamas terrorist group now ruling in Gaza. He brought up what he termed Norway's "quiet support" of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, noting that Norwegian representatives to the UN did not leave the room during the Iranian leader's New York speech - during which he again slandered the Jewish state. (J.Post)

CHRISTIAN BOOTH REMOVED FROM 4 SPECIES FAIR: The Binyamin Rabbis' Council issued Tuesday a letter stating a Christian booth has been removed from the four species (Arbaat HaMinim) fair at the Shaar Binyamin Industrial Zone. On Friday, the rabbis published a letter of warning to fair-goers regarding the presence of the Christian booth. (INN) For those who are unaware of the significance of such fairs and display tables in Israel, Leviticus describes the Four Species and their use during Succot: "You shall take for yourselves on the first day [of Succot], the fruit of the beautiful [citron] tree, tightly bound branches of date palms, the branch of the braided [myrtle] tree, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days." Lev 23:40

ISRAELIS IN NEED OF FOOD FOR HIGH HOLIDAYS: Some 200,000 needy Israelis are seeking food aid during the October/November Jewish High Holiday. Please continue to enable Vision for Israel & The Joseph Storehouse to assist entire households suffering from poverty. We ask you to be especially generous at this time of year when so many families are unable to meet additional food expenses. Our phones have not stopped ringing with appeals for food aid. Your donations are needed and welcomed at www.visionforisrael.com Make your online donation today. For residents in the UK and outside North America you can visit www.josephstorehouse.co.uk "Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the po or and needy praise your name." Ps 74:21