Greetings!
Sephardim Hope International wishes you Shana Tovah for a wonderful New Year.
We head into Tishrei 5768 with thankfulness and hope for the future with G-d on our side. Isaiah 49:8, 9 encourages us in speaking of his "acceptable time" to hear us, help us and preserve us! The prophet Isaiah encourages us to restore the earth, inherit the desolate heritages, to say to the prisoners, "Go forth" and to those who are in darkness to "show yourselves". It is time for the B'nai Anusim, the lost Sephardic Jews of Spain, to arise out of the ashes for this new year and time with HaShem's strength and help.
We pray for the Joy of HaShem (which is our strength) in the desert, in spite of difficult circumstances on every side. For Yom Kippur we wish a fresh start of forgiveness and a good forward path from our time of Teshuva. For Feast of Tabernacles, much joy and blessing for the provision from our great G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! He is a faithful and only G-d of Israel.
We are still the most blessed people on the earth, because we know who we are and we know who our Great G-d is! WE are grateful for both the United States and Israel! |
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SHI hosts John Daly
Last month found us with special friends in our San Francisco area! We hosted John Daly from Israel from Friends In Deed, Inc. His non-profit specializes in helping build the bridge and "close the gap" between Christians and Jews. Thanks John, for sharing insights on these important efforts.
- Dona Gracia with John Daly in San Francisco |
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SHI in Sacramento
We supported and sang Israel Biblical music for, Come Answer the Call in Sacramento CA as they hosted, Sondra Oster Baras. She is an Orthodox woman speaker who is representing Christian Friends Of Israeli Communities. This is one of the organizations that represent the some of the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria to Christians, linking Christians and Jews together. SHI is in support of all the territories of Israel staying under Jewish control. This is the Covenant of God, Joshua 11:23 and Deuteronomy 7:9.
- Dona Gracia with Sondra Oster Baras
SHI is Not a political organization, but benevolent, educational and Biblical in nature. We have visited the Samaria communities with our dear friends, such as David Rubin from Shiloh on several trips to Israel. They are also doing a great job! We have also wept with our dear friends from Gaza who are still scattered in other areas.
Our place and emphasis for SHI, however, is in the Negev. This is our portion of the inheritance to "the captives of Jerusalem from Sepharad", according to Obadiah 20! We believe and agree with Ben Gurion, that the future of Israel lies in the Negev's vast frontier! Much is being done in this area. This is our future and hope, the Torah and the prophets. Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 31:7-14 |
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SHI in Fresno - Night To Honor Israel
As we approach the rememberance day for 911 in the United States, we remember the fallen and their families. I was honored to represent Sephardim Hope for CUFI for the Night to Honor Israel in Fresno, CA on September 9th. I was asked to sing, "God Bless America" for the event. May G-d truly bless our nation and our beloved Israel as we continue to stand for democracy and freedom.
Dona Gracia Singing "God Bless America" |
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Join Us in Spain & Israel In January 2008
Our trip to Israel and Spain has been rescheduled for January (hoping for good flights on January 13th) for 12 days. There is still time to contact us with your deposit of $250 to hold your airfare! We are working for the best price ($2,500-2,900+/-) for you!
This trip will include three days in Spain - Madrid, the Plaza Mayor (site of the unfortunate burning of the Inquisition) & the El Prado Museum, a day trip to Toledo (historical city founded by the Jews) that is now a city-museum, and the famous Bridge of San Martin (where the Jews were expelled from Toledo). Toledo will be shared by a very special person who lives in the city area! As a bonus, the shopping is terrific with beautiful European finds!
- San Martin Bridge, Toledo, Spain
We will then head over to Israel before Friday's Shabbat, share a couple of nights at our SHI center in Be'er Sheva (or at the Paradise/Tulip Hotel for overflow)! We will host lunch, special meetings, singing concerts and sight-seeing of the city of Be'er Sheva. This major city of the south and capital of the Negev was the first city our father Abraham traveled to, the city of the 7 wells of Abraham!!
We will also spend two nights at least in Jerusalem (meet some Ladino language experts) and two nights at the Hotel Museum, the Dona Gracia Hotel in Tiberius(another piano and music
concert). We are planning meetings with important connections and hope some of the B'nai Anusim will go with us to "see their land" of promise.
This is going to be very special. We are working hard to bid this trip for the best prices! Your deposit of $250 is due ASAP! Join us to "discover the land of the Negev" and the "springs in the desert"! Isaiah 35:7 and Isaiah 41:18.
- Ein Avdat, Springs in the Negev |
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Announcing SHI DNA Project!
Sephardim Hope International has had an Anusim Names Project for some time where we have been gathering names and family stories of B'nai Anusim. We are now happy to announce we have entered into an agreement with FamilyTree DNA to further provide DNA testing. You will soon be able to...
We will send you an email notification when the SHI DNA Project is set up.
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Shanah Tovah
Shana Tovah, tikateivu!", "May your name be inscribed for a good year. "Kitevah Tovah"..."good inscription in the Book of Life!" for Rosh Hashanna ("New Year" literally meaning, the "head of the year". Daniel 12:1 says: "...but, at that time everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered."
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Loving Shalom,
Dona Gracia Serrano Fenn |
Awakening The Sephardim To The Negev!
Sephardim Hope International is a benevolent international non-profit organization to bring the message of the Sephardic Anusim Jews (the descendents of the forcibly converted ones) from Spain to the awareness of the Jews, the Christian Church and the world. This is a prophetic message of hope and part of the story of Biblical Zionism.
Sephardim Hope International is also a support to the! ! nation of Israel working in partnership with other organizations bringing aid and comfort to Jerusalem and the Jewish people.
Sephardim Hope International is a tax-deductible 501 (c)3 charitable organization formed for the above purpose. Donate tax-free to help support Sephardim Hope International in this endeavor of education, benevolence and helping the Anusim to make Aliyah to Israel.
To donate by regular mail please use the address at the bottom of this newsletter. You may also donate securely on-line by clicking here. Or you may call (408) 422-5498 and ask for Drake Fenn to donate by phone.
We look forward to hearing from many of you. Remember that you can respond to our newsletter or email directly with questions.
May Ha Shem continue to bless you and your families in this great year! Please do contact ! our administrator Drake (my awes! ome husband and webmaster) at Drake@SephardimHope.org for speaking and music engagements.
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