On to Ukraine

    As we prepare to travel to Ukraine on April 26th to encourage IAMCS Messianic Jewish congregations from all over the country who will gather in Odessa, we ask you to pray for our travels and the right words and acts of encouragement for such a time as this. There are some reports of new unrest in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border. All of this agitation for "independence" in eastern Ukraine and Crimea is instigated by President Putin in his quest to regain Eastern Europe. In the midst of this potential civil war and drawing in of the EU and the US, we hope to be a ray of hope to believers whose lives have been disrupted by worldly and demonic powers who want to bring down freedoms won over 20 years ago. (See link at http://www.businessinsider.com/masked-pro-russia-protestors-seizing-state-buildings-in-ukraine-2014-4 )

   During our trip we will host a banquet for survivors of the Holocaust and visit and minister to orphans with heart disease issues. These are great opportunities to be a  blessing and you are invited to be part of our next leadership conference in Ukraine in October, 2014. We also will be helping to lead a Messianic Jewish leadership conference for western Europe, sponsored by the IAMCS and our member congregation near Brussels, in late May, 2014. It's no too late to consider joining us in Belgium. Please contact us if you are interested in that gathering by writing me at rabbi@shalombirmingham.com.

   Any contributions for Ukraine relief can be sent to Rabbi David Schneier, c/o Beth Hallel Birmingham, 2230 Sumpter St. Birmingham, Al 35226. Your checks should be made payable to Beth Hallel Birmingham. As always, your contributions are tax deductible and no fees will be deducted by Beth Hallel to support our humanitarian aid to Ukraine other than the cost of the wires charged by our financial institutions. Please indicate on your contributions that the gift is for "Ukrainian relief." Gifts can also be made by credit or debit cards and by Paypal on our website at www.shalombirmingham.com under the donation button. After you fill out the financial information, on the next page you can indicate the purpose for the gift. There you can enter "Ukrainian relief."

   Thanks so much for your prayers and sowing into relief for Ukraine. Love and Shalom from David & Leslye Schneier.

Live on WDJC in Birmingham

     Tomorrow, April 4th, Leslye and I will be on WDJC radio (93.7 FM) at 6:30-7:30am on the Roxanne and Chris show. We'll be be discussing our 40 years in the Messianic Jewish movement, our move after 18 years from Europe to Birmingham, Al and our upcoming Community Passover Seder at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. Shalom, David and Leslye Schneier

A photo from long ago

     Here is a snap shot of me and our four kids maybe 33 years ago. I would have been 31. This is a staged shot but maybe some would believe we were a farming family in the 1930's. Leslye was the photographer no doubt. We could fill a museum with all of our photos especially if we printed all of the digital ones! Shalom, David Schneier

Calm before the storm? Some words from Ukraine.

      Another touching communique from Odessa, Ukraine. We will be there in late April, God willing. Pray for  and encourage the believers in Ukraine. Shalom, David Schneier

"Shalom Rabbi David!
      I began to write less because the news in the country and the city is not much. The country lives a bit in unstable condition. Mobilization suspended, at least in Odessa. Life goes on, and no significant changes are observed, in addition slightly increased the prices of food products. But it is not critical, so there was no panic or discontent in the society. People live their lives, but there is pretty tight news from the border of Ukraine and Russia. There are going more and more military forces from Russian side. Putin has said that they will not attack the Ukraine, and we so want to believe! But we know all too well how much are the words of this man! And we are pray before going to sleep that at night was no attack.
Your prayers are very much help us! Confidence in the prayer support from your side gives strength for me to believe in happy future! Thank you very much!!!
Shalom,_________"

     This is a shop in Jerusalem. Is this a sign that God is for Alabama? Shalom. David Schneier

    Putin annexes (steals) Crimea from Ukraine and the West imposes travel bans. First Georgia and now Ukraine. What will it take to stop such dictators? Or shall we wait like we did in the 1930's with Hitler. Please pray for us as we travel to Ukraine on April 26th to encourage our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in the Messianic Jewish movement there. Want to help? Leave your contacts in a comment and we will get in touch. Shalom. David Schneier

Putin's future for Ukraine - Please pray his plans like Haman's are thwarted!

  This map was sent by a friend in Ukraine and you'll see what Putin's real intentions are in Eastern Europe. Shalom, David Schneier

"Shalom Rabbi David.
Here is how Putin sees Ukraine
Green highlighted part that should belong to Russia, according to Putin. This photo was published in the British newspaper Daily Mail."

Please click on the map to make it larger