Late last summer, the war front in Israel moved up here to the North. Hizbulla began firing missiles at us every day, multiple times a day (and night). Each salvo contained anywhere from 20-60 missiles. When the red alert siren sounded, we had only a few seconds to find shelter. Thank goodness we had the Iron Dome Missile Defense System which intercepted most of the rockets. But then there was the vey real danger of falling shrapnel.

Soon after, concrete bunkers – small shelters called magenit, or little shields – started popping up on highly trafficked street corners. They were placed in parks, near schools, kindergartens, shopping center parking lots. Hideously ugly, they did the job. But they also proved to be the perfect blank canvases. Enter Australian artist, Justin Andrew Hook.

John and I had the good fortune of spending a day with Justin last month, hearing his story and getting to know this amazing human being. Justin, whose, stepfather is Jewish and mother who is Christian, worked for a while in the luxury hospitality industry in Sydney, even serving members of the government and foreign dignitaries. Everything changed for him during COVID, when his jobs ended. This led to some intense soul searching.

“G-d placed certain gifts inside me that needed to be honored. Art was my currency that actually became my identity. When I started to acknowledge and use that, things began to shift for me,” explained Justin. He began to show his paintings at exhibitions and galleries, and then became a curator and manager of an art gallery in the heavily traveled Bondi Junction suburb of Sydney. Opening nights attracted many different kinds of people from all over the world.

Because many Israelis travel the globe after their army service, Justin soon made many new Israeli friends. He began to bump into Israelis everywhere, and a desire to visit the Holy Land grew within his spirit. He now comes every year. “I absolutely love Israel! The culture is so attractive, fast-paced and super inclusive. The people are warm and inviting: the lifestyle and food is amazing! It’s like you become instant family with everyone here! Despite all the severity here, Israelis know how to live life, prioritizing G-d, family and friends. They live life to the max and know how to get the most out of life.”

Totally extroverted and exuberant, Justin has met a wide spectrum of people in Israel from Orthodox Jews to seculars; from Arabs to Druze; Christians and Messianics. His experiences are different each trip. In 2022, he was commissioned to paint a huge mural on a prominent wall in the village of Mesilat Zion outside Jerusalem. A short documentary was made and put on YouTube which opened up many more opportunities for him.

https://youtu.be/FzhMbIL-5fc?si=S9keT8WNhSNGQrKQ

During his 2023 trip, Justin happened to be celebrating Sukkot in a village outside Haifa when the 7 October Hamas invasion into Israel took place. Thousands of rockets were falling on Tel Aviv and the center of the country. The Australian government put a notice out to all travelers that they must return home immediately. There was no choice and a military airlift was scheduled to depart. Justin was in no way fearful. He even wanted to stay and help anywhere he was needed, but the government was insistent that he leave.

In the months that Justin was home in the Land Down Under, it seemed that everything had truly turned upside down. The narrative of the situation in Israel as told by the media was nothing but half-truths and outright lies. This deliberate anti Israel propaganda resulted in the growth of the pro-Palestinian movement, marching and chanting and vandalizing the larger cities of Australia. The media was playing upon the good Will of innocent, well-meaning people – stories of genocide and IDF atrocities against the people of Gaza was a complete deception. Immediately, Justin knew he had to become a voice for truth and for the people of Israel. He was well connected to the Land and the People and knew firsthand the reality of the situation on the ground.

At the very last minute, this past September, he knew in his spirit that it was time for his return. Justin booked round trip tickets for a 2 1/2 week stay during the Feast of Sukkot. He was led to travel the country, bringing a message of hope and support to his friends. When he arrived at Tiberias on the shores of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), the doors opened wide for him to put his artistic talents to work.

Despite continual bombing by missiles from Hizbulla in Lebanon and suicide drones, those ugly cement shelters were calling out to him. Justin reached out to an Israeli friend, who immediately and miraculously received instant approval from the mayor of Tiberias to decorate the blank boxes. Not only that, but Justin’s Jewish friends who run NGOs throughout the Galilee would help support the project. There was just one hitch: it had to be done now or never.

A new dilemma arose: Justin was scheduled to fly back to Australia in less than a week. There was no way he could attempt to complete such a project in so little time! Justin walked along the Kinneret, praying and seeking G-d’s direction. Everything was happening so quickly, but if this was part of the Divine Plan, all the little details would come together. In Israel, there is a saying: “There are no coincidences. It is all by HaShem (G-d).” And so it was, that at the very last minute, Justin’s non-refundable plane ticket was changed and paid for by his very own travel agent who also had a deep love for the people of Israel. Both of them knew that Justin had been handed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I also set up a last minute page (on his social media) showcasing this opportunity. It included a Go Fund Me link so people could help contribute to my living expenses. My visa was good for three months. Amazingly, after posting a few videos, generous people from all over the globe caught on to the vision and funded my ability to stay in Israel.” The various cities paid for all of his art supplies and he was able to focus on the project and complete the first season of shelters. The. L-rd provides and guides.

“It was during this time I learned spontaneity. I just rode the wave and flowed with the Spirit. I knew G-d wanted me to be a bridge builder with love and the desire to help these people in need.” For the next three weeks , Justin painted his first shelter, right in the center of downtown Tiberias, an extremely important Orthodox city, one of the four holy cities of Israel.

On the outer walls of the bomb shelter he painted the most gorgeous mural of the Sea of Galilee in the full bloom of springtime. The painting wraps around the entire magenit. The mountains of the Golan and lower Galil region encircle it. Butterflies ands birds symbolize new life. The red poppies are a remembrance of the hostages still in captivity. Working with a medium of spray paint, Justin captured the fishing boats on the sea and the migrating birds overhead. The morning sun over the mountains depicts the verse from Malachi 4:2. “The sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings.” It was truly a project of healing.

But this was not all. Missiles flying overhead and the thunderous booms as Iron Dome intercepts the incoming rockets can be terrifying for many people. Little children, especially are easily traumatized by having to run for cover. Through Justin’s gift, fear, trauma and ashes could be transformed into beauty and hope.

Justin was inspired to paint a large tallit, prayer shawl wrapped over the entrance to the shelter. It was a sign of G-do’s abiding presence. People were beginning to take notice as he painted. Rabbis stopped to admire his work. Justin painted a verse from Psalm 16:1, a Psalm of David, in Hebrew: Preserve me, O G-d. You are my shelter.”

Stepping inside, instead of being greeted by cold, gray walls, Justin painted the seven-branched menorah that stands in the Old City of Jerusalem, its flames almost alive, glowing brightly. It was truly an inspired vision and a way to share the message of hope and G-do’s love and mercy to His people. It is the national symbol of Israel and has become his signature inside each bomb shelter. “The menorah is a sign of the victory of the Jews over their enemies. It is an eternal symbol that proclaims ‘I am with you always,” explained Justin.

The chief Chabad rabbi of Tiberias sent a video of the finished shelter to the chief Chabad rabbi of Sydney. It was shared with the public on the last night of Chanukah, giving a loving message of perseverance to the Jewish people of Australia. The video soon spread throughout Jewish congregations worldwide:

https://youtu.be/l71sEL_uaao?si=dX9_T2QayrnynL9P

After this first shelter project, 50 more quickly became available throughout the Galilee, in Tiberias and he Holy City of Tsfat. Justin has received a commission to decorate magenit at playgrounds, skate parks, bus stops and schools. Thus far, six have been completed.

Returning to Jerusalem, Justin bumped into wildly popular social media influencer and Jewish/Israel activist, Zack Sage Fox at the Kotel (Westen Wall). He was visiting from the States.The two did an interview on the spot and Justin’s fame spread like wildfire. I met up with Justin a couple days thereafter. He is totally a bridge between Australia and Israel, the Christian Zionists and the Israeli people.

Justin had to leave as his visa was up, but is praying that the Australian and Israeli governments will grant him a long term visa which will enable him to see the new art project to its completion. “We are all called to be light wherever we go,” he told us over coffee. “We embody His living Torah; we are to do good works and serve others in love, to bring joy and hope to those we meet. We are each given specific gifts and talents that make up our unique identity. If everyone used the gifts given us, for the betterment of the world, this would be a better place.”

He can be found on Instagram @justin_andrew_hook. On Facebook and at http://www.justinandrewhook.com

To support his work, you can go to SUPPORT A PROJECT. justinandrewhook.com/s-projects-basic