Dear Friends, Partners and Prayer Warriors,
During the Holocaust, 1.5 million Jewish children were murdered by the Nazis. When visiting Paris, I saw the only reason for their deaths written on the wall of an elementary school: “Children were taken from this school simply because they were Jewish.” Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, over two million Israeli babies have lost their lives to abortion simply because they were in the womb. Rather than the womb being the safest place for a baby, it has become the most dangerous. A little-known heroine named Stanislawa Leszchyriska was a Polish midwife who was incarcerated with her daughter, a doctor, at the Auschwitz death camp because their family had smuggled food into the ghetto to help the starving Jewish population. In Auschwitz, this brave midwife delivered over 3000 children. She was told to drown them in buckets after their birth, but she refused. Although most of the babies didn’t survive the horrific conditions of the camp, Stanislawa protected the mothers and children as best she could. Like the Biblical midwives Shifra and Puah in the first chapter of the book of Exodus, she refused to take the lives of the babies. “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live…so God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.” As a result of her courage, Stanislawa is an official candidate for canonization (sainthood) by the Catholic Church. It takes courage to face a dictator or a Pharaoh. It takes courage to defend life when our governments protect the so-called “rights of women over their bodies,” even though we know that the child in the womb is clearly a separate human being with his own genes and a beating heart.
Thank you for standing courageously with us as we protect life in the womb despite the apathy of the Israeli public.
“For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for
Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till
her vindication shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.”
Isaiah 62:1
With gratitude,
Sandy
Rona & Baby Naomi
Our “Sleeping Beauty Naomi” is now a year and seven months old. Her mom, Rona, was filled with joy as she told me that Naomi has brought so much light into their lives. Rona shared with me that it has taken time, but her life has totally turned around, and she has been free of her drug addiction for nearly three years. She and Naomi’s father married after the baby was born and are doing well together as a family. Although physically disabled, Rona's husband began working three months ago as a clerk in a shop. Naomi is doing well in a day care center. Rona shared that her biggest hope right now is that her ten year old son, who was placed in various foster homes during her years of struggle, will be allowed to come home and be part of their family. They live in government housing which has put less strain on their budget.
Throughout her pregnancy and for the first year of Naomi’s life, her Be’ad Chaim counselor Albina, phoned her and met with her monthly. Rona told me how grateful she was for this attention and care. The continual love and support from Be’ad Chaim was a blessing and an encouragement to her for which she is deeply thankful. She told me that we were a tremendous help to her in her darkest season.
Through generous sponsors, Rona became part of the Operation Moses project which provided her with all of Naomi’s basic needs for the first year of her life. Also, in our Beer Sheva center, there is a clothing distribution program where she was able to choose lovely items for her baby. This meeting and distribution space was provided to us in cooperation with the Welfare Department. We are grateful for the strong relationships that we have with social workers in Beer Sheva.
Rona sent us this special thank you note: “I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to Be’ad Chaim for all the help I have received this year. All that I received through the Operation Moses Project and the support of my counselor helped me “to breathe”. Through this support I was able to give my time to my precious baby and concentrate on her and not worry about financial troubles. Again - THANK YOU! With much appreciation, Rona”
Some FACTS about abortion in Israel
Israeli law specifies that an abortion can be done, and funded by national health care, after the approval of a committee in a local hospital under these conditions:
- The woman is below marriageable age (up to 18 years).
- The woman is not married or the pregnancy is not from her marriage.
- The woman has reached the age of 40 years or over.
- The pregnancy arises from relations that are forbidden by criminal law, such as rape or incest.
- The offspring is liable to have a physical or mental abnormality.
- Continuation of the pregnancy is liable to endanger the woman’s life or cause her physical or emotional damage. (This is a “catch all” which enables women to abort because they are “stressed”)
Partnership with Social workers: Hannah & Baby Liel
When Hannah found out she was pregnant for the second time, her little son was only one month old. When she was three months pregnant, her boyfriend left her. They had only been together for 15 months. Hannah was desperate for help and turned to her social worker, who then, thankfully, referred her to Be’ad Chaim. We work diligently to build excellent relationships and cooperation with social workers because they are often the most influential in sending women either to us for help or for an abortion.
During Hannah’s first pregnancy she had a herniated disc due to a work injury and had to be on bed rest. She suffers from pain to this day. Her second pregnancy was high risk and she developed preeclampsia. On January 20th, labor was induced at 37 weeks. The baby’s heartbeat was very elevated, but the birth went well with no further complications, and her precious daughter was born weighing 6.34 pounds. She named her Liel. We believe that God’s hand was on Liel and her mother Hannah.
Her brother was only 10 months old when she was born, so thanks to our generous donors, Be’ad Chaim was able to provide them with a twin stroller and much needed vouchers for the whole year to buy essentials like diapers and formula for the babies. Hannah, who had no idea how she would be able to provide for two little ones on her own, is deeply grateful for the emotional and practical support that she receives from Be’ad Chaim for Liel’s first year.
Pnina & Baby Alma
Pnina had been married for a few years. She and her husband had a two year old and a one year old. Sadly, when she became pregnant with the third, she and her husband separated, and Pnina was left to raise the children on her own. She has a job in customer service, and her siblings help to pay her rent. Yet, as a single mom with a toddler, baby and now pregnant, Pnina was in a very difficult situation. She heard about Be’ad Chaim through her friend, and immediately turned to us for help. A loving counselor was able to give her the care and emotional support that she needed, and enrolled her in the Operation Moses Project. This provides her with a crib and sheets, stroller, bathtub, and the promise of monthly vouchers for a year to buy the other essentials she would need. In January, 2019 Pnina gave birth to a precious baby girl, weighing 2.680 kg. She named her Alma. It was a normal birth and Pnina recovered quickly. She is bottle feeding baby Alma and they are both doing well.
Alma’s father has come only once to see his new daughter since her birth, in the hospital. We pray that he will begin to take an interest and become involved with his family again. Pnina is presently on paid maternity leave and is planning on going back to work after the three months of leave is over.
At the Gardens of Life
Groups are welcome at the Gardens of Life to plant trees in memory of babies who are now in heaven. Last week, our prayer counselor, gardener and I welcomed a group of Portuguese speaking women. Many of them had not thought about their abortions in many years and as believers, had “known” that they were forgiven, but had never really taken hold of the forgiveness. They had never let go of the guilt, the shame and the pain. Two women, both about sixty years old, stood out as they declared for the first time that they had had abortions. One woman wept as she planted a tree in memory and honor of the five babies she had aborted decades before. Others quietly gathered around her in prayer, love and support to comfort her in her remorse and grief. She was relieved that day of the secret shame that she had carried for so long. She was finally able to give her burden to the Lord. The act of planting a tree is not magical. It is a symbol of the unburdening of a heavy heart as the burden of grief is placed in the ground and life is planted in its stead. The goal of the Gardens of Life is written so beautifully in Isaiah 61:"to provide for those who grieve in Zion— to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise in place of a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
Special Prayer Request
In last month’s newsletter, we wrote about Maya and her new baby Annaelle. These names had been changed. The baby’s real name is Adel. We grieve to share that baby Adel passed away in her bed during her first day at day care. Mother “M” needs your prayers. She will begin counselling sessions with our new staff psychologist. We pray that she will find comfort and peace despite the loss of her beloved, precious three month old daughter.“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”Psalm 34:18
