Israel is managing the influx, but with enormous strain—putting immigrants through language schools, crowding them into apartments, and forcing the economy to absorb them.
Les Feldick says many Russian Jewish newcomers cannot speak Hebrew, so the Israeli government's first step is a language school. Finding apartments is mind-boggling, with families living two or three to a small apartment, and the economy must absorb them. Behind the process, Les sees the sovereign God making the task possible.
Jeremiah 23:8 — Les quotes this verse to show the influx is God's promised regathering of Israel from the north country and from all countries.
Ezekiel 38:8 — Les applies this verse to present-day Israel, describing the land as brought back from the sword and gathered out of many people.
Jeremiah 23:8 says, "But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land." The verse describes the Lord bringing the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country and from all countries where He had driven them, and they shall dwell in their own land. Ezekiel 38:8 describes a latter-years people coming "into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them." This is the prophetic picture of a nation gathered out of many nations. Scripture thus connects the gathering of Israel to God's own actions and His promise of return to the land.
Les describes the scale as stunning: immigrants have been coming in at a rate of almost a thousand a day (Clip 3), and he recalls 14,000 to 15,000 Ethiopian Jews airlifted from Addis Ababa to Israel in 33 hours (Clip 2). He says Jews are returning from Russia, Albania, Ethiopia, Europe, and other places, with Jews in Israel already representing 133 different nations (Clip 5). Only about 100 or 200 Jews remain in Albania, and Syria has only a few hundred; the large Jewish communities remain in Russia and America (Clips 2, 5). On the practical side, Les says most of the Russian Jews cannot speak Hebrew, so the Israeli government's first move is to put them into language school so they can function in the society. Finding apartments is mind-boggling, and many families live two or three in a small apartment. The economy has to absorb them, and native Israelis worry about job security because so many Russian Jews are doctors, scientists, and engineers—Israel now has the lowest per-capita number of people per doctor of any nation (Clip 1). Les sees the sovereign God behind the logistics. He also notes that Israel is only about 40 miles wide and 180 miles long, and with another eight to nine million Jews expected in, the country will need every square mile it can get (Clip 4). This is why, in his view, the Palestinians face displacement; he says he feels for them, but God has promised the land through the Abrahamic covenant (Clip 6).
Les explains that because most of the Russian immigrants can't speak Hebrew, the first step is a government language school so they can function in Israeli society. Finding apartments is mind-boggling, with many immigrant families living two or three to a small apartment. The economy must absorb them, and native Israelis worry about job security because many Russians are highly educated—doctors, scientists, and engineers. Israel now has the lowest per-capita ratio of people per doctor of any nation.
Les says immigrants have been coming in at almost a thousand a day. He describes 14,000 to 15,000 Ethiopian Jews airlifted from Addis Ababa to Israel in 33 hours. He says only about 100 or 200 Jews remain in Albania, and only a few hundred remain in Syria. Jews have come from many nations, with 133 different sovereign nations represented among Jews living in Israel. Most of the remaining large Jewish populations are in Russia (2 to 3 million) and America (5 to 6 million).
Les notes that Israel is only 40 miles wide and about 180 miles long, so with another eight or nine million Jews expected, the country will need every square mile it can get. He says he doesn't see much hope for Palestinians hanging on to their present land, and he feels for them, comparing their situation to American Indians in the 1800s who saw waves of settlers. He also says there won't be peace in the Middle East because the Jews keep coming and need room, and he sees the Abrahamic covenant as the reason God promised the land to Israel.
Les quotes Jeremiah 23:8 about God bringing the seed of Israel out of the north country and from all countries, applying it to Russia and modern immigration. He also references Ezekiel 38:8, describing Israel as a land brought back from the sword and gathered out of many people—present-day Israel. He says the nation was once a no-man's land but now has remarkable farm and agriculture production because these Jews have come from almost every nation.
Ezekiel 37 Explained: Israel's Dry Bones Prophecy Fulfilled?
For Judah..." Now that was the southern kingdom, remember, Judah and Benjamin, the southern kingdom after the nation had been divided. "...take one stick for Judah, and then take another stick for Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel and his companions." That was the northern kingdom. So we have one stick representing the southern kingdom, Judah and Benjamin.
Language School and Housing Strain
Les explains that Israeli immigrants who cannot speak Hebrew are put through government language schools, apartments are so scarce that families live two or three to a unit, and the economy must absorb the newcomers.
Ethiopian Airlift and Russian Return
Les gives examples of the influx: 14,000 to 15,000 Ethiopian Jews airlifted in 33 hours and Jews leaving Albania to return to Israel.
Nearly a Thousand New Arrivals a Day
Les says immigrants have been coming in at almost a thousand a day and notes millions still remain in Russia and America.
The Land Is Tiny
Les says Israel is only 40 miles wide and about 180 miles long, so millions more Jews arriving will require every available square mile.
From 133 Nations
Les says Jews in Israel have already come from 133 sovereign nations, and Albania has almost no Jews left.
Need for Room and Abrahamic Covenant
Les says thousands of Jews coming in from around the world need room, making peace unlikely and spelling trouble for Palestinian land claims.
Gathered Out of Many People
Les applies Ezekiel 38:8 to present-day Israel, where a once-empty land is now productive because Jews have gathered from nearly every nation.
Jeremiah 23:8: But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
The verse Les quotes to explain the return of Russian and other Jews to Israel.
Ezekiel 38:8: After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
Les applies this verse to modern Israel, a land gathered out of many nations.
Les says immigrants have been coming in at almost a thousand a day, and he recalls the airlift of 14,000 to 15,000 Ethiopian Jews in 33 hours. He adds that large Jewish populations still remain in Russia and America.
Les says the Israeli government's first step is to place them in language school so they can function within society. This is especially relevant for Russian Jews, who often cannot speak Hebrew.
Les says it is mind-boggling to find apartments, and many immigrant families are living two or three in a small apartment. He also notes the country is only about 40 miles wide and 180 miles long, so every square mile will be needed.
Les quotes Jeremiah 23:8 and Ezekiel 38:8, seeing the modern influx as God bringing the children of Israel back from the north country and gathering them out of many people into their land. He calls the scale so great that only God's sovereignty could make it work.
Watch the Teaching: Ezekiel 37 Explained: Israel's Dry Bones Prophecy Fulfilled?