My Last Video and Blog with Maoz Israel (in 2010)

READ MY FAREWELL BLOG HERE...IT SAYS IT ALL

For the last 2 years, it has been my honor to be a part of the team at Maoz Israel Ministries.

After spending more than a decade working for the world's top media companies, in the U.S. the LORD had a new assignment for me. Help build a media department for Him, in Israel! And so He opened the door for me to make aliyah to my ancestral homeland and to get to be a part of the extraordinary events happening in the epicenter of it all.

Now, after 2 wonderful years, the LORD has a new assignment for me. So with love and gratitude and excitement in my heart I write my final blog for Maoz and I bid you our dear friends a sincere 'shalom' (or as we say in Israel "l'heet'ra'ote" [see you later]).

Since I arrived at Maoz, in 2009, my assignment from Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram (the co-founders of Maoz) was to make videos with 2 goals; 1) to show 'what is Israel' and 2) to show 'what is Maoz'.

With that charge and with my trusty camera, I set out to document what is really going on here in the Holy Land. Not what you see on CNN or read on most websites...but what is 'REALLY' going on here!

My first assignment was a crash course in the reality of being a Jew who believes in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Jewish Messiah in Israel. I was sent to the home of the Ortiz family to do an interview with them. The Ortiz's had suffered more than, perhaps, any Messianic Jew in Israel had since the days of the disciples. Someone had left a bomb at their home and their teenage son Ami was ripped to shreds by the explosive (which had been disguised as a gift basket). Finally, after an excruciating time of in-action on the part of the authorities, there was a break in the case. Someone had finally been arrested and it was my job to talk to the Ortiz's about it.

My journalistic juices began flowing. I was ready for the scoop, just the facts ma'am, it was time to report this news. But, instead of getting the traditional 'victim's' interview, you see so often on the evening news...I got something very unexpected. I got grace, love, kindness and forgiveness. The Ortiz's weren't angry at their attacker, they were sorrowful for him. They weren't out for vengeance, they were so excited to finally know who to pray for, who to concentrate on forgiving.

I soon learned this job of mine would be like none other that I had ever experienced.

God had put me in a position to be the eyes and ears and voice for the body of Messianic Jewish believers, at such a time as this, to record their stories, and to share them with the world. And so, it was and so it has been for the last 2 years.

I've been to the Golan Heights, I've been to Eilat and I've been nearly everywhere in between. From the scene of a bombing in Ariel, to the courtroom with the bomber in Jerusalem, from the aftermath of a horrific fire on Mt. Carmel to the aftermath of riots in Beer'sheva. From reporting on a baker harassed in Ashdod, to being surrounded myself by an angry mob in the same city. I've met the saints who are rescuing prostitutes and those sold into sexual slavery. I've seen with my own eyes how refugees from Darfur who've been rejected by the world are welcomed with open arms by a people who survived their own genocide just a generation ago. I've talked to a Jew on the streets of London protesting against his own people, and I've witnessed thousands of Nigerians cry out in prayer for Israelis they will never meet.

Yes, I've had a front-row to history and what an honor it has been.

And now, I offer the final video of my time as the head of the media department here at Maoz. And how fitting it is.

If you ask anyone what the most difficult issue in the world to solve is, they will tell you it's peace between Israel and the Palestinians. "It's impossible", the pundits and politicians will tell you. "It will require a complicated system of military and political solutions" the 'experts' will say.

But, I tell you I've seen it with my own eyes and it required no such things. I have seen Israelis and Palestinians repent to one another, forgive one another, embrace one another, pray for one another, weep with one another, and become the closest of friends. I myself have spent time with the former personal driver of Yasser Arafat, who himself is now an on-fire believer in Yeshua. We have eaten together, prayed together and laughed together.

Yes, it is not only possible, it is happening. But not in the Prime Minister's residence or the White House. No, it is happening amongst the believers in Yeshua. The Palestinian Christians and the Messianic Jews. Those who are united in the Holy Spirit and who's very lives have been surrendered to the one true God. They are living in friendship and peace. And so they are the model for the rest of their people.

Earlier this month, at a conference called 'Elav' which means 'To Him' hundreds of Messianic Jewish and Palestinian Christian young people came together and built a human bridge of peace and prayer and reconciliation and our Maoz cameras were there to capture it all. I pray this video inspires you as much as it does me.

And so, of all the 100+ videos I've been privileged to be a part of producing I think this one is the most satisfying and exciting. It allows me to leave this job of mine more optimistic and more certain of my faith than when I entered. I will never be discouraged by the headlines of the day. I will never put my hope in politicians and military strategists. No, I know that the only hope for Israel and the Palestinians and the entire world is Yeshua. Period.


And so I thank you for reading my blogs, for watching the videos, for following my comments on Facebook and Twitter and Myspace, etc.. etc.. I thank Ari and Shira for 35+ years of faithful service to God, for allowing Him to use them to build this beautiful ministry that is Maoz Israel. I feel so privileged to have been part of this organization and I know the team that remains will bring you even greater content in the weeks to come as the LORD will continue to do even greater things here in this land.

Yes, we are living in historic times. Israel is a nation again after 2,000 years of not being so. Hebrew is being spoken again as a national language after thousands of years of being virtually dead. And thousands of Jews are coming to faith in their Jewish Messiah. But it's only just the beginning. Our prayer is that all Israel will be saved!

I pray you'll continue to partner with Maoz until that great day comes!


With love and gratitude and shalom,
Chaim Goldberg
(former head of media, but still passionate supporter of Maoz Israel Ministries)