Month: August 2015

French Jews Returning to Israel

On By Aaron AllisonIn Current Events, IsraelLeave a comment

ICEJ - French Aliyah

If you love the Jewish people and the nation of Israel as I do, you may be interested in what is happening among French Jews.  Yesterday, our partner ministry ICEJ distributed this information via e-mail:

France is home to the third largest Jewish community after Israel and the USA. There are about 550,000 French Jews. In the last five years more than 20,000 of them, mostly young people and families, made Aliyah (immigration to Israel). And more than 1 percent of this population, a record of 7,237 French Jews, came just last year. In 2014 France has become the number one source of immigration to Israel for the first time. And there is no end in sight. Israeli headlines dub this summer the “Summer of French Aliyah.” The Jewish Agency expects to bring home more than 3,000 French Jews. By the end of the year there might be 8,500 new French olim in Israel, a new record.

Celebrating Progress for Women’s Rights

On By Aaron AllisonIn Culture, HistoryLeave a comment

Women's Suffrage
We celebrate today that on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees the right of women to vote, was ratified when Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it.  This is an occurence to remember and celebrate.

America has come a long ways in opening civil rights for females, but the progression has not been quick enough. I heartily believe a women should be paid the same amount of money as a man to accomplish the same task. Gender discrimination is an injustice that Christians should be concerned about.

Nature, reason, and Scripture clearly recognize the unique characteristics of each gender. Society functions best when these distinctions are recognized and honored. God has designed each gender uniquely to compliment each other in marriage, parenting, community, commerce and various other areas.  The genders may be different in many areas, but they should be the same in respect and opportunity.

Abortions are Declining Nationwide

On By Aaron AllisonIn Abortion, Culture, Current EventsLeave a comment

baby-handsI am happy to share some positive news regarding abortion.  Below is a summary by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of an Associated Press report earlier this summer. It is not clear whether this is happening from restrictive laws or better birth control.  Either way, a reduction of abortions is data that everyone should be pleased to discover.

Abortions are Declining Nationwide

The Gist: Nearly everywhere in America the rate of abortions has declined since 2010, says the Associated Press.

The Facts:

  • The Associated Press obtained the most recent abortion numbers from the health departments of all 45 states that compile such data on a comprehensive basis. (States not compiling such data are California, Maryland, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Wyoming.)
  • Although the U.S. population has increased by 9 million, the survey found a nationwide decrease in abortions of about 12 percent since 2010.
  • The biggest decrease in abortion, percentage-wise, was in Hawaii, where abortions fell from 3,064 in 2010 to 2,147 in 2014.
  • In two states, Michigan and Louisiana, abortions actually increased by significant amounts, due largely to an influx of women from more neighboring states with more restrictive laws.
  • Since 2011, state have enacted a total of 267 abortion restrictions. Yet in five of the six states with the biggest declines — Hawaii (30 percent), New Mexico (24 percent), Nevada (22 percent), Rhode Island (22 percent), Connecticut (21 percent) — have passed no recent laws to restrict abortion clinics or providers.