In January 2004 Lura & Eddie open a small Community center near the central marketplace in Arad, where there are many Israelis who get by on low incomes. Their center has served many purposes: a Soup Kitchen for the needy, a used clothing distribution center, a Bible Study location, a place to show Bible Videos and a Chess Club for the sizeable Russian population there that love that game.

Since the opening, some (not all) in the Orthodox Jewish community have tried to shut them down. Here are some of the instances of harassment, vandalism and stalking the Beckfords and other believers in Arad have experienced over the last 2 years:

• The Beckford's use their Van to transport the needy and minister to people. It has been vandalized on several occasions, sometimes with serious damage and other times with spray-painted taunts. From their window the Beckford's have seen young Hasidic men do this on several occasions, and have had to chase them away. Filing reports with the Police usually results in the Police scolding the Beckfords for "making trouble" !!
• The Hasidim filed a false report that several believers were illegally in Israel. The Police launched a 'raid' at 2 AM only to discover that they were Israeli citizens with all papers.

In August 2005, things started 'heating up". Lura writes:

August 1st. We had our Monday evening food-sharing meal and afterwards, we were making our way to the van and about 40 Hasidim began surrounding us and actually pushing the little children and then ripped a sign from Rebeka and threw it - it hit one of the little kids and Eddie stepped in between the attackers and the children to protect them.  The end result was that Eddie grabbed one by his coat jacket. All 40 of them scattered.  We were able to exit and then the police showed up. (The restaurant owner had called the police about 45 minutes before. The police station is only two blocks away.)

Yesterday (Wednesday August 3^rd) about 20 of them showed up at the kehila (congregation) and screamed, shouted and surrounded one man (tourist) - They pulled his beard, spit on him and pushed him, but he kept on filming them - turns out the video clip will be on TV in America next week. This morning at prayer meeting, one of our guys had to step between a Haredi (Ger Hasid) and a lady Believer because the Haredi suddenly got very aggressive and was coming at her.

August 4, Lura writes:
The shop is burning!” said the voice on the telephone. Our friend had received a call and passed the news on to us. Just today Eddie talked about taking the television out of the shop because of the threat of theft. A Palestinian tried to walk out the door with it today and an Arab friend stopped him. Not the first time, but no time now for regrets – must get to the shop! God is in control – focus!

Fire! We wondered what the Haredim would do next! Is this it?

We pulled up to the shop, camera in hand; a policeman was openly annoyed that we were there. His first question, “Who called her?” He cornered a medic, “Did you call her?” I wondered why that was important????? I answered, “This is our shop – we need to be here!” Then I noticed the restaurant owner from next door. The police had called them, but not us! Questions!!!

The fireman was hosing the place down with lots of water and it was still smoldering. There was a heavy smell of smoke and gasoline in the air. We were warned not to get too close because the electricity was not turned off yet and there was water everywhere. I walked to the back of the shop and the water was pouring from under the rear door. I wondered if it was just the water from the fireman’s hose or did the pipes break in the bathroom?

I took some pictures and then called our landlord & his wife, waking them, and broke the news to them. Within 10 minutes, he and his wife were at the scene. They were sympathetic and at the same time worried about their property. I assured them we would honor our agreement and repair it He was glad to hear that we would continue on, and began making suggestions as to how to improve security. We had been unable to obtain insurance since we are a private venture.

The restaurant owner was also worried about his adjoining property. He asked us what are we going to do? – We answered, “Repair it and continue on!” He was not happy about that. Our presence is a danger to his restaurant.

The police officer requested that I sit in his car with his accompanying IDF soldier and give a statement about the fire, so I did. He was reluctant to include any report of the Haredim threatening us or anything about their newly opened chess club behind us. I insisted.

Meanwhile the books were still smoldering with a glow underneath. The fireman had finished his work, rolled up the hose and left. We called the fire co, again and told them, but they said it was O.K. and didn’t return.

I walked behind the darkened shop, and in the light of the street lamps, I saw stones lying around the back door. There were more stones in front of the shop. I noticed new indentations in the window of the back door, and of course, the front windows were totally broken. It looked to me as if more than one person was involved. What kind of arsonist throws rocks and burns a place, too?
The whole scene was disturbing, yet both Eddie and I were sensing a supernatural peace. God was in our midst. Somehow, we know in our hearts that HE will be glorified through this situation.

The next morning, arson investigators came from Beersheva and carefully examined our burned building. They said at least 40 liters of gasoline had been used to start this fire. That’s more than one person can carry. (Stones were thrown through the windows and gasoline poured in)

The chess players began to arrive and were shocked to see the condition of the shop. Some had tears in their eyes. Eddie began to bring out the tables which barely survived in the fire – They are blackened and warped, but usable. The chess clocks are almost a total loss. The chess boards all have the touch of fire upon them. It is a sad picture, but the players are encouraged by our promise to renovate and continue on in the face of opposition.

Many friends have sent us notes of encouragement and Bible verses. It is comforting to know that so many are praying and holding us up. A number of believers have asked for suggestions as to how they can help in a practical way. We will begin to clean-up on Tuesday morning. (We want to show the people what happened to our shop on Monday open-air market day.) We can feel your love and we thank you for it! God bless you in Yeshua’s Name and for His Glory! We appreciate you!

Monday – we were greeted by the Ger Hasidim who were passing out flyers which stated that we started the fire to gain attention. I thought, “How arrogant!” They burned the place down and then have the nerve to appear in public and make fun of us. They circled the shop and laughed and gloated and spoke lies about us. That evening they harassed us as we prepared a picnic outside the shop. It is difficult to be in the presence of so many demons and come away from that encounter unscathed. One of our group reminded us to pray and spend time with the Lord – and allow Him to wash our feet from the “dust” of the day.

Tuesday, lots of chess players showed up willing to help! What an encouragement! Just last evening, someone came to me and told me “it was not worth doing a chess club for these kind of people… they have no hope in their heart and will do nothing for anyone. They are beyond help.” I assured that they were exactly what we wanted: we want to give hope to the hopeless! She didn’t understand. Yet here were these “hopeless” men happy to pitch in and carry things out to the dumpster

Within an hour all the burned items – all the melted plastic – all of it was in the dumpster. We were a sooty crew but satisfied with our labors! God is good! Next came the clean up, and the people from Jerusalem arrived, so the chess players began to play chess while their replacements cleaned. It was a good day until one of the Haredi showed up and began making rude comments. Eddie and I stood in front of him and would not let him into the shop. Whenever he tried to take pictures, I put a broom in front of his camera. He called the police, and they yelled at him and asked him why he was there. I guess it takes a fire to make the police act as if something serious is going on.

Cleaning soot off walls is an experience, especially without electricity. There are no windows in the bathroom, so I was feeling my way around trying to get enough soot off the walls so that light would reflect. We had a flashlight, but it was useless against the sooty walls – Black, black and more black.

Three of the Haredim have been arrested and charged with arson. All three were released on a limited basis awaiting trial.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

http://www.police.gov.il/english/