Category Archives: evangelism

January 6, 2025 · 9:00 AM

The Enduring Call of Romans 1:16

I am writing this brief letter to you right before I visit Israel this month. This is going to be a very significant trip, and I hope you will pray for me.

I cannot easily describe the level of suffering and anguish the last sixteen months have brought upon Israelis, Palestinians, Chosen People Ministries—Israel staff, and for Jewish people globally because of the wave of antisemitism that has erupted since the beginning of this horrible war.

Life in Israel During Wartime

As I write, quite a few of our staff are still moving in and out of bomb shelters on an almost daily basis. The missile sirens seem to be going off day and night, even though the Israel Defense Forces have destroyed so many of the missile launchers in Gaza and southern Lebanon. There are usually between twenty and one hundred (sometimes even more!) explosives fired every day. A number of civilians, both Arab and Jewish, are killed within Israel because the missile defense systems cannot shoot down every projectile or drone.

Israeli soldiers—most of them in their early twenties—are also dying daily both in Gaza and Lebanon . . . more than 800 so far! May I also remind you that there are still more than one hundred hostages held by Hamas in Gaza? As of November, Israeli intelligence has assessed that half the hostages are still alive. Mothers and fathers, husband and wives, and children continue to be distraught and spend hours shedding tears of grief because of the extreme adversity their loved ones continue to endure in the dark underground tunnels of Gaza.

Pray for My Trip to Israel

I will admit that it is a bit dangerous for me and for the two other godly men joining me on this trip to Israel, yet we really do not spend our time thinking about it. Our beloved staff endure this stress day in and day out, and all I want to do is support them. I do hope that you will pray for fruitfulness and safety for our little team as well as for our staff.

We hope to meet and pray with our staff members individually and with their families. We love them so much, and I am personally inspired by and grateful for their bravery during this difficult time. They not only care for their own family, but they are out and about each day meeting the needs of suffering and displaced Israelis. If you have given a gift already to our work in Israel, I want to assure you that it is being used well, as our staff continue their ministry amid ongoing danger.

I will also be reviewing the progress of our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center. I am so grateful for the huge outpouring of support for this new and much-needed center. We are now able to celebrate the completion of our two-year, $6.5 million campaign, which means we now own this beautiful new center in the heart of the Holy Land—debt-free. Thank you so much!

The construction has continued miraculously and should be completed by mid-February. Even our elevator, needed to ensure everyone can participate in our ministry activities, has come six weeks earlier than thought after being fabricated in Germany. All I can say is hallelujah!

The Enduring Call of Romans 1:16

Throughout the month of January, we emphasize the theme of Romans 1:16, where the apostle Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (emphasis added). This text is foundational to our ministry of 131 years. We are still unashamed; the gospel is still God’s power for salvation, and the message is still for everyone who believes—“to the Jew first” and also to the Gentiles!

We are praying for an outpouring of prayer and financial support during this month as we begin the year with a deep concern for the well-being of Jewish people. I cannot tell you how much your prayers, encouragement, and generous support mean to us.

The psalmist wrote, “pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you” (Psalm 122:6). It is love which is at the heart of our generosity, and this new center was built with the love of faithful Jesus-followers for Jewish people.

The time of salvation is NOW, and your support and prayers are needed NOW . . . and the need to bring the gospel to Israelis and Jewish people around the globe is NOW.

May I also ask whether your local church has invited a Chosen People Ministries speaker? If not, please talk to your pastor and let them know that we are available. You can call our Church Ministries department at (561)-737-1431 or email us at churches@chosenpeople.com. We would be honored to send someone to speak at your church. Your pastor might especially consider a “Messiah in the Passover” presentation during the Easter season.

My wife Zhava and I pray you will know the power of His resurrection and the joy of His presence in the new year.

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December 16, 2024 · 9:00 AM

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and an early prayer for His blessings to fill your home in 2025! 

I am more convinced than ever that the gospel is our only hope! Jesus rose from the dead, burying our sins at Calvary, and because He conquered death, we will overcome the world through Him. The apostle Paul reminded the believers in Corinth—and us—of this great truth, when he wrote, 

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:54–56)

I am warmly comforted, knowing that because Jesus was fully human, yet without sin, He endured the personal pain we feel when this world disappoints or hurts us deeply. He understands us and is our only hope. 

One of the reasons I love the Christmas season is because of all the focus on the person of Jesus the Messiah. These days are supposed to cause us to reflect on His birth, yet for me, Christmas rekindles my hope that Jesus will return so on and establish His throne, removing the curse of sin forever (Romans 8:22)!

In fact, I cannot think about the first coming of Jesus without yearning for His return!

Our hope is in the One who overcame the world, and because He did, we will as well. As followers of Jesus, we have something this world cannot give—a certain and sure hope for today and tomorrow! He is the God of hope, as Paul described our loving Father, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Hope is refined by suffering. As believers we are not exempt from the troubles of this life. Jesus Himself teaches this by example. One of the most moving moments in the life of our Savior is when He wept after hearing about the death of His friend Lazarus:

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” (John 11:33–36, emphasis added)

We are in a season of monumental suffering for so many around the globe. Wars, hurricanes, floods, famine, and other disasters have exacerbated personal difficulties like health challenges, financial woes, and grief. When I pray for you, myself, my children, our country, Israel, and Jewish people, I ask the Lord to strengthen us through this gift of hope!

We see sparkles of hope every time God answers a prayer for healing, for deliverance from some type of bondage. Yet, it is clear that suffering in this life is one step along the pathway to hope as we follow the Savior and we walk in His footsteps. He never lost hope, and neither should we. 

Permit me to tell you a story about one of the early lessons the Lord taught me about hope.

I became friends with a pastor, who later became the president of a Bible institute. After several years, I heard this pastor was very ill with cancer and in a great deal of pain because the cancer had spread to his bones. I went to visit this wonderful man who was living with his daughter. When I saw him lying on his bed, he was obviously in some discomfort.

I very much wanted to pray with my pastor friend, thinking, of course, that I was ministering to him. I could tell he was at peace but in pain, and he asked me to pray with him. When he began praying, the presence of God was palpable in the room, and I felt as if I had come face-to-face with God himself. The prayer did not last long, but I think this experience forever changed my life, as I had never sensed such peace and hope before as a believer.

As we were saying goodbye, I perceived that his entire countenance spoke of the hope in his soul. His parting words to me, as you might expect, were something like, “I am ready to go be with the Lord, and that is all I want. I cannot wait!” I will never forget my dear friend, his faith, or his parting words. I left  the room filled with hope and a holy confidence imparted to me by someone in great pain who was dying yet fully aware the Lord was with him and that he would be with the Lord forever.

I held back my tears because I did not want to upset him. As I was about to walk out the door, his daughter came running after me saying, “Hold on one second. My dad wants to give you something.” She came back with a hand-scrawled $1,000 check for our ministry. My friend relayed to me—through her—his burning belief in the importance of reaching Jewish people for Jesus Christ. As Paul said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Romans 10:1).

I was stunned and grateful.

I will never forget his face, the sparkle of his eyes, the hope he exuded, and his generosity. I am so grateful that the Lord enabled me to get to know this dear man. Decades later, I still remember this experience. It is one of the ways the Lord infused hope within me during my early years of ministry.

Today, I am confident Jesus overcame death and lives forever and that, one day, I will join my pastor friend and live forever with the Lord. This is the Christmas message. It is not simply that the Lord has come, but that He died, rose, ascended to the Father, and will return so we will live with Him forever. This is our hope. He is our hope!

A Quick Word about Hope in the Midst of War

I am also encouraged by the faith and courage of our workers in Israel, who continue to serve the Lord in wartime. For instance, I recently spoke to one of our dear staff members in Israel about how he was doing during this avalanche of missiles falling throughout Israel. He said to me that it was terrible. He reflected on his coming to Israel to help build the Holy Land and stand with His own Jewish people.

He admitted that he had never experienced such disappointment and concern for the safety of His wife and children. But he reminded me of the unshakable hope he had in the promises of God. He declared that nothing on this earth could keep the Lord from fulfilling His promises to Jewish people. He had no doubts about God’s faithfulness and ability to keep His promises.

I was moved by the clarity and power of his expectations and willingness to struggle each day with the current conflicts in light of the hope of tomorrow. We know that, according to God’s word, all wars will end one day and the Lord will reign. We do not know when, but until that great day, we will proclaim the hope we have with friends, family, and all who need to know the salvation our Savior purchased through His perfect sacrifice.

Our hope for the future is gloriously described by the prophet Isaiah, who paints a picture of the future God has prepared for those who love Him,

And He [the Messiah] will judge between the nations and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war. (Isaiah 2:4, emphasis added) 

During this wonderful season of hope, please remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the release of the hostages.

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September 19, 2024 · 2:49 PM

Blow a Trumpet in Zion

Jewish people are getting ready to celebrate the Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah, at the very beginning of next month. I hope you take the time to wish a Jewish friend, Chag Sameach (Happy Holiday)! 

During Rosh Hashanah, we have a wonderful Jewish tradition of serving apples and honey to family and friends, representing our wishes for them to enjoy a happy and sweet year! So, do not be shy. Bring over a nice plate of apples and honey to a Jewish friend or a Rosh Hashanah card as an act of kindness to build your friendships with the Jewish people in your life. 

A HIGH HOLIDAY GIFT FOR CHRISTIAN CHILDREN

I also have some great news for you: We have completed our latest Jewish holiday animated video—this one is about the Jewish New Year and is ideal for Sunday school-age kids. 

We would love to see this resource help Christian children understand their Jewish neighbors and begin to develop a love for Jewish people at a young age. This animated video is delightful and has a very powerful gospel presentation geared for children. You can show it to a Sunday school class, at a Christian school or homeschool group, in your own home, at a Good News Club, or at a Vacation Bible School. All you need is a phone, tablet, or television. 

So, dear friend, mom, dad, or grandparent, please use the video. Who knows, maybe you will have the opportunity to show the animation to a Jewish child or two as well! 

THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS POINT TO JESUS

I love the Jewish holidays because God designed each one to promote some of the most significant themes of Scripture, which describe His person, plan, and promises. Let me start by giving you a few essential facts about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. 

MORE ABOUT THE JEWISH NEW YEAR

I must first tell you the words “New Year” or Rosh Hashanah (“the head of the year”) are not used in the Bible. Jewish tradition, however, connects it to Leviticus chapter 23:23, which mentions a day of rest and a day of trumpet (or shofar) blasts. This holiday also falls in the seventh month of the year. 

The Hebrew calendar is quite different from the Gregorian calendar most widely used today, and the Hebrew month Tishrei, the seventh month, usually aligns with our September or October, which is why the holiday is observed in the fall. 

Why do Jewish people observe the New Year in the seventh month? It is a good question, which most Jewish people cannot answer. But if you saw the movie Fiddler on the Roof, you probably remember the song, “Tradition!” Jewish tradition tells us the New Year should be linked to the holiday described in the biblical text as the month of the blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn. 

Tradition is not bad, but you must be able to separate tradition from Scripture. The Hebrew word rosh means “head,” and shanah means “year.” So, the festival named in the Bible as the “Blowing of the Shofar” is now viewed as the “Head of the Year,” or Rosh Hashanah, and the holiday when we blow the shofar. 

May I take us one step deeper into the Jewish background and meaning of Hebrew terms? The Hebrew Bible does not include the word “blowing” (Lev 23:24). The Hebrew word used, teruah, is one of the sounds the shofar makes when blown! I find it best to translate the term as “toot toot.” Of course, I smile when I write this. But it is true; the literal name of the festival is a sound. But it is a very important sound. 

We must dive even deeper, though, into the overall background of the Jewish festivals to better understand this first holiday of the seventh month! 

THE FESTIVALS’ ROAD TO REDEMPTION

We find the seven great festivals of Jewish people meticulously detailed in Leviticus 23. All the festivals point to the past, the present, and the future in one way or another as each festival is prophetic. To help you understand Rosh Hashanah—the first fall festival—let us examine the Sabbath and the spring festivals. 

The Sabbath (Leviticus 23:3):

Leviticus 23 begins by introducing us to the archetypal festival, the weekly Sabbath. 

The Sabbath, which is in many ways the foundation for the seven annual festivals, looks back to God’s rest from His labor after creating the heavens and the earth in six days. Moses then commanded Jewish people to cease from work every seventh day from Sinai onward. However, many Jewish people fully understand how the past and present Sabbath also points to a greater Sabbath to come, when the ultimate Davidic King will sit on the throne of David, and there will be peace throughout the earth (Isaiah 9:7). We believe this Davidic King is none other than Jesus, the Jewish Messiah for all. 

Passover and Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:5–8):

The first holiday of the Jewish year points to the redeeming Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in a greater way than the lamb slain by the Israelites in Egypt and whose blood they splashed upon their doorposts. 

We know Jesus, the Messiah, fulfills this prophetic picture. The Festival of Unleavened Bread is a picture of how He lived a life without sin, as leaven is a symbol of sin. But this prophetic roadmap to redemption does not end with His death! 

First Fruits (Leviticus 23:9–14):

The Feast of First Fruits is the third festival in the spring. This holiday was divinely scheduled to fall the day after the Sabbath related to Passover. Jesus died on Friday, the beginning of the Sabbath, and was in the grave Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday, then He rose in power as “the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). 

Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot) (Leviticus 23:15–21):

Pentecost (from the Greek word meaning “fifty”) is next and is the day God chose for the Holy Spirit to fall upon the early band of Messianic Jewish future evangelists, who obediently waited for the promise of the Father. 

Many Jewish sages and scholars believe the first Pentecost reflects the giving of the law at Mount Sinai when the Israelites saw similar signs and wonders as God Himself gave new revelation. 

A GREATER ISAAC

Hashanah (Lev 23:23–25). At the heart of this first fall festival is the blowing of the shofar, the ram’s horn. In Jewish tradition, this looks back to Genesis chapter 22, known as the Akedah in Hebrew, which translates to “binding” or “tying” in English. 

This passage describes Abraham’s son Isaac, who was bound to the altar by his loving and obedient father whom God tested to see if he would kill his son with a knife as a sign of his faith. Thank God we know his hand was stayed, and God provided a ram caught by its horns in the thicket as a substitutionary sacrifice for Isaac. His potential sacrifice on Mount Moriah represented the first of multiple thousands of animal sacrifices eventually offered at this same location where King Solomon later built the Temple. 

Isaac is a type—a pattern—of the Messiah. He was innocent, beloved by his father, and almost sacrificed, though there was no reason for his untimely death. God called Abraham to climb the mountain and sacrifice his son as a test. The shofar is blown to remind Jewish people of Abraham’s obedience and Isaac’s willingness to be sacrificed. As Messianic Jews and Gentile Christians, we are certain this prophetic pattern was fulfilled in the death and ultimate resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. God, in His great love, sent His only perfect Son to atone for the sins of all humanity. 

Yet, we still wait for another blowing of the shofar one day, which will announce the coming of the Lord. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Cor 15:52). 

We pray for the salvation of Jewish people and all people! We especially pray many Jewish people today will recognize the greater Isaac, Jesus, who through His atoning sacrifice, sets us free from sin and death at the very moment we give our lives to Him and recognize He is our Savior and Lord! Our staff in the United States, Israel, and eighteen other countries around the globe proclaim this message to our beloved Jewish people. 

While we long for His return, we also want more time because we hope to see so many others come to faith. Nevertheless, our hearts still cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). May we hear the sound of the heavenly trumpet soon! 

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September 3, 2024 · 8:30 AM

Hope Is Rising in Tel Aviv

Shalom in His grace. I am delighted to write and bring you up to date on what God is doing through our 130-year-old mission to Jewish people.

Israel is still deeply in turmoil, which keeps me on my knees. Even if Israel agreed to some type of peace accord with Gaza, welcomed all the living hostages back, received the bodies of those who died in captivity, and secured the safe return of the tens of thousands of Israelis who evacuated their homes near the border, Israel would still have to face all the challenges of a future plan for Gaza! Even if Israel fully dismantles the threat of Hamas (and Hezbollah), how long would peace last? 

POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIPS FOR ISRAEL

There is also the question of potential governing bodies who would partner with Israel in controlling any future terrorism from Gaza. If an alliance of Arab countries with Israel had equal authority in the Gaza Strip, would this partnership endure? I realize these scenarios are hard to imagine, and we cannot predict the future. We can only follow the One who can!

Who could logically believe this alliance could work? The Palestinian Authority, who controls the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), has proven itself to be an undependable partner in peace. Judea and Samaria have been rife with terrorism, and it is possible more Israeli soldiers will die in this territory than in Gaza!

And what about Hezbollah’s frequent rocket attacks into northern Israel, destroying homes and causing raging wildfires? Can we really trust Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy, to remain within the demilitarized zone already established at the Litani River in 1985? Hezbollah moved into southern Lebanon after the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was forced out in 1982. What assurance does Israel have they will not use their Iranian-supplied arms to bring destruction to the north, including to cities like Haifa or in the Galilee? Many believe their rockets and missiles can even reach Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as well. You can see Israel’s options for partners is getting slimmer as time goes by.

SOME OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY WITH LEBANON

This is not the first time Israel thought a solution would work in southern Lebanon. An Israeli news source, Ynet News, describes the first Lebanon war:

The 1982 Lebanon War began on June 6, 1982, as what was supposed to be a short-term military operation—Operation Peace for Galilee. The operation was meant to destroy [Palestinian] militant infrastructure on the Lebanese-Israeli border, which had been used by terrorists to attack [the Israel Defense Forces] . . . as well as the Israeli communities abject to the border. In 1978 Israel launched Operation Litani, temporarily occupying southern Lebanon up to the Litani River. Once the IDF withdrew its forces later that year, an alliance was formed between the IDF and the South Lebanon Army (SLA), resulting in a buffer zone along Israel’s border.1

However, this plan for northern security did not hold as Ynet further describes,

January of 1985 saw the Israeli government decide to gradually withdraw from Lebanon, and by springtime most of the IDF’s troops—with the exception of those stationed in the south Lebanese buffer zone—were out of Lebanon. 

According to the Defense Ministry, Israel suffered 1,217 fatalities in the war itself, which lasted between 1982 and 1985. 

The rising number of fatalities among IDF soldier[s] stationed in the buffer zone led to a growing public outcry to pull all troops out of the area and in 1999, then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak led his government to vote for the complete withdrawal from Lebanon.

The last Israeli soldiers left Lebanon on May 24, 2000.2

Why would the lack of lasting peace be any different today? Israelis old enough to remember these events ask themselves this question. What has changed other than Iran and Hezbollah drawing closer and becoming more militarily capable?

Israel will do whatever it takes to survive. If viciously attacked, Israel will defend herself once again. Only this time, with the memory of what happened previously, Israel’s response will be fierce and decisive, leading to further and more massive destruction on all sides.

ISRAEL’S DILEMMA

As you can see, Israel is still in a very difficult situation. I do not want to leave you feeling hopeless but to help you get a sense of what our staff in Israel is going through as they reach Israelis at this critical time with the message of true hope through the Messiah. Not even one of our workers permanently left Israel during the war—though many of them could have gone elsewhere. I am so proud of their dedication and selfless service.

I could not be more pleased with the way our staff has served the Messiah and shown His love in dozens of ways, touching the lives of thousands of Israelis who feel so vulnerable and hopeless at times.

So, our staff continues to serve faithfully, and they can do this because you care and stand with them in their efforts!

A WARTIME MIRACLE: THE NEW NEW TEL AVIV CENTER

Now, let me tell you about what I can only call a wartime miracle. Our beautiful new ministry center in Tel Aviv is almost done. Can you believe it? We still need a little more than a half million dollars toward this $6.5-million-dollar project. 

But the true miracle is not the funding but rather overcoming the lack of labor over the last year as building projects in Israel so often depend upon Palestinian laborers—many of whom came in through Gaza each day. 

And yet God provided laborers from among Christian Arabs and Israelis to get us very close to the finish line on the building. We cannot tell you how thrilled we are to see God’s provision. It reminds me of the miracle of the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:13–21). We did not bring much to the table by way of labor, but God maximized what we brought. 

THE FREEDOM TOWER, A SYMBOL OF HOPE

May I explain to you a little bit more how I feel about what the Lord has done? 

I lived through the 9/11 tragedy in New York City. My house in Brooklyn is downwind from the World Trade Center towers, meaning smoke was clearly visible from my home. I cannot tell you about the horror of those moments, when more than 2,977 people died. In September 2021, on the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, we honored the hundreds of law enforcement, fire department, military, and Christian workers who perished as they worked to save others. We also thanked those who rallied to the challenge to help rebuild New York City. 

I am sorry to say both Israel and the United States have a common enemy. Those who perpetrated the awful tragedy of 9/11 and those who are behind the war in Israel have a common ideology. This ideology of evil goes far beyond borders and resides across many nations. These adherents hate the West, hate Jewish people, hate Christians, hate the Lord, and hate Judeo-Christian values. But the Lord overcomes our enemies! 

I watched the new Freedom Tower being built for years. Today, it stands grand and proud as a symbol of our freedom and our enemies’ inability to destroy us. 

HELP US FINISH THE NEW TEL AVIV MESSIANIC CENTER

I want our new Messianic center in Tel Aviv to stand as a sign of God’s faithfulness to Israel, Jewish people, and in particular to the Messianic Jewish movement within Israel, which is growing by leaps and bounds over the last twenty-five years. Our Romans 11:5 remnant is increasing, and Chosen People Ministries—Your Mission to the Jewish People—is one of the largest ministries in Israel.

In Tel Aviv, we hope to plant a congregation, continue our outreach concerts, and implement other ministries. Our staff across Israel will continue to reach out to children, young adults, elderly Holocaust survivors, and many others.

Endnotes

1 “The Lebanon War (1982),” Ynet News, November 30, 2008, https://www.ynetnews.com/ articles/0,7340,L-3631005,00.html.

2 Ibid.

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August 15, 2024 · 8:30 AM

The Time for Rebuilding Is Now

I visited Israel recently to spend time with our staff, hear their stories, pray with them, and encourage them in the great work they are doing to reach our Jewish people in Israel during these very difficult days.

Our staff gathered to try to get away from the stress of war and travel around on a brief Jeep tour in the Judean Hills.

During the trip we were able to get to know some of our drivers. One of them was Avi, who lived on a moshav1 a few hundred feet from the border with Gaza. This community is called Netiv HaAsara, which means “the path of the ten” and reflects how the community was formed. The name comes from the ten soldiers who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in 1971 in the Gazan town of Rafah. Netiv HaAsara is known for its various peace initiatives, and prior to October 7, many Gazans lived in the village and worked alongside the locals in different capacities.

MOSHAV NETIV HAASARA

This moshav was created so families who wanted to make peace with Palestinians could intentionally live on the border to be close to their neighbors in Gaza. The families of the moshav created something called “The Peace Wall” (pictured on the cover), where people could paint bright colors as a symbol of their hopes for peace in the region.2 The moshav was established in 1982 and had close to 1,000 individuals living on the land owned by the community. In 2005, with the disengagement of Israel from Gaza, it became the closest Israeli community to the Gaza Strip.

The story of what happened at the moshav on October 7, 2023, is well known: thirty-five Hamas terrorists attacked the community and killed at least twenty people. Their security team fought valiantly, but three of them were murdered during the attack. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were able to save the rest of the people on the moshav once they arrived, about six hours after the attack started. They either arrested or killed the remaining Hamas terrorists.

Our new friend Avi, who drove one of the vehicles for our staff, was one of the first to see the paragliders land in the center of the community.3 We kept in touch with Avi after our staff trip, and he invited us to visit the moshav to hear his story. He showed us around to see where the gliders came in and the homes where his neighbors were killed. Avi even took some time to tell us the story of this morning of terror.

AVI’S STORY OF OCTOBER 7

Now, please take a few moments and try to imagine what it was like for the members of this moshav on the Gaza border, surrounded by security walls and barbed wire fences as well as lush terrain growing beautiful roses, olives, and fruit trees. It was very sad to hear how their hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict with Gaza was crushed by the brutality of the attacks of October 7.

HERE IS AVI’S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS:

At 6:00 in the morning, like always, I woke up to take the dog for a walk. At around 6:20, I heard the sound of small firearms. There was also the sound of rocket fire, and not the typical ones you hear. It’s usually one rocket or two rockets, but now there were a lot of rockets.

I thought it was a reaction, maybe to an IDF operation where maybe we took out one of the leaders like Sinwar,4 and they’re upset, so they’re firing. But it was something very unusual, something unexpected, this amount of rocket attacks. It didn’t stop. It just kept coming and coming and coming. Normally, we have a rocket or two, or maybe four or five, and then it stops, but it was wave after wave after wave.

Then I understood. I heard the sound of a motor of some kind of aerial vehicle. The first thing I did is I called the security manager for the moshav, but he didn’t answer, so then I called the local IDF coordinator, but he also didn’t answer. And then I heard another motor from another aerial vehicle coming up. So I said to myself, “I have to do something. I’m going to film it.” And so, I started recording it.

So when I started filming the second glider, I realized the first terrorist had already landed and was walking around in the moshav. I wanted to see where the terrorist was going to land so that I could report it to the security squad protecting the moshav. But the terrorist saw me and changed his direction so that I wouldn’t be able to identify where he landed. He probably thought I had a weapon, but I didn’t have any weapons at the time.

I continued to try to call and inform people, and the only one I could reach by phone was my neighbor who said, “I’m not at home, I’m up at the Sea of Galilee.” So I came home and I told my wife and kids to stay home, to stay inside. I didn’t tell them that there were terrorists loose in the moshav. I didn’t want them to be stressed by the situation.

I continued to try to reach people unsuccessfully, and then suddenly there was no water or electricity. And of course, no internet either. The telephone was hardly working, but WhatsApp5 was somehow working. As soon as the terrorists landed, within a few minutes, there was constant gunfire. I heard the firing all around me and at houses nearby and at the house across the street.

I left the bomb shelter because I thought if they’re going to come toward me, I could interact better with them outside than inside the bomb shelter where I can’t do anything. So I left with a knife and a fishing spear gun, as that’s all I had. For some reason the terrorists didn’t come to my house.

The children of my landlord who lived nearby called me because their mom, my landlord, wasn’t answering the phone. They were concerned for her. So, I went to her house. I tried to hide because I wasn’t well armed. So, I was trying to get over there without being seen. The reason I was hiding was not because I was afraid of being seen by the terrorists. I was afraid of being misidentified by the army as a terrorist, so I was hiding. I totally expected the army to be here already, but they didn’t come for hours!

I arrived at my landlady’s house, but she wasn’t there. I didn’t find her in the house, and I didn’t think to look in the bomb shelter. I looked on the street because she’s an older woman. I thought maybe she had fallen or something, but I didn’t see her, and I didn’t want to cross

the street. I didn’t want to be out exposed for too long. I was sure that the army was coming, and they would interact and engage these terrorists, but the army didn’t come so I came home.

When I got home, I was able to finally reach the IDF security coordinator for the area, but our connection was in and out. Sometimes the phone lines would drop, so I used a combination of phones and WhatsApp messages back and forth, and I finally got ahold of somebody. Then I started to relax a bit.

I knew or at least had some idea of what the terrorists were doing because first of all, you could not only hear it, but you could also smell it. But also on the WhatsApp messages, I was getting updates from the security squads about where the terrorists were going and what they were doing. And so I knew more or less what was going on around me as they burned a few houses, and you could smell the smoke.

At 9:00 or 10:00 am more terrorists arrived, in addition to the original thirty. They were armed. One of them even had a bulletproof vest; they came to steal and then to kill. The security team of the moshav captured them but didn’t kill them. They transferred them for interrogation.

Tactical units and the border patrol came in the afternoon, and I understood that the situation was more or less under control, but they didn’t leave because there was still fighting all around them in some of the other towns in the area. And we stayed in our bomb shelter until 5:30 or 6:00 at night, so for about twelve hours.

I heard (but can’t verify the authenticity of it) that the IDF listened to the recordings of the conversations between the terrorists and their leaders back in Gaza, and that they had originally planned to destroy the border wall and completely take over our moshav and kill all of us.

But when the terrorists came and started killing people, they found hardly anyone in their homes or walking the street and reported back that they killed everyone that was here, and that the village was now unoccupied. And so, they decided not to break the wall and completely invade. About 1,000 people were in their bomb shelters. So when the terrorists came, they didn’t see anyone, but whenever they found somebody in a safe room, or a bomb shelter, they threw grenades inside and kept going.

I found out the terrorists had all taken a particular drug (Captagon)6 that removed their fear. It also affected their reasoning and their logic, which is why they may have reported that the town was empty, when in fact, they did meet people, and they knew they were in bomb shelters, but they reported that the town was empty. This drug is big business for Hezbollah in Lebanon. They sell it all over the Middle East. It’s a cheap drug to make, and they make a lot of money on it, and it’s very popular in the West Bank. So it’s hard to know what really happened and why we seemed to be protected from additional murders.

All of this is very unfortunate as I worked regularly with Gazans, and they work really hard. One Gazan worker equaled three regular workers. I don’t know if there’s going to be peace or not, but I don’t hate them. Okay, those who committed atrocities, like murder and rape, there’s no question they just need to be eliminated. But at the end of the day, there’s still going to be two million Gazans.

I then asked Avi about his view of the future of the moshav. He continued,

First of all, we have to eliminate Hamas. That’s the first thing. And then whatever happens, it’s politics. We can’t know. But what we do know is we have to eliminate Hamas. They’re fanatics and they’re murderers, and they need to be removed.

I further asked Avi if he believed the moshav would return to normal and the hundreds of people who used to live there would return to their homes. He simply answered, “Yes, I hope so!” I was greatly moved by his hope and by his bravery. He is a hero and shows the determination of Israelis to survive and thrive even when facing seemingly unsolvable conflict.

A CALL TO PRAYER

So, how can we pray for Avi, his family, and the members of this beautiful moshav where its members were so hopeful to create peace between Gazans and Israelis?

We can pray for the families of those who were murdered. We can pray God will keep terrorists from attacking once again. And most of all, please pray Avi, his family, and many others at the moshav who dreamed about peace will find true and lasting peace through the Prince of Peace, Jesus our Messiah.

As the psalmist wrote, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you’” (Psalm 122:6).

Thank you for your support, which enables us to help friends like Avi and our workers in Israel and around the globe in all their many efforts to bring the good news of hope and peace through the Messiah Jesus “to the Jew first” and also to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16)!

We would like to have additional funds to help members of Netiv HaAsara, as well as Israelis who cannot yet return to their homes in towns near the Gaza border or on the border of Lebanon. Your gift of any amount to the Israel benevolence fund will support Israelis in this dark time. We so appreciate your partnership.

We want to help Israelis practically and find ways to tell them about the Prince of Peace who brings peace to the hearts of all who call upon Him! He specializes in solving the unsolvable.

1 A moshav is similar to a kibbutz but allows for private ownership of property among some other key differences.

2 “Another inspiring project in Netiv Ha‘Asara is ‘The Path to Peace’ project led by artist Tsameret Zamir. The project transformed a once-plain security wall into a colorful canvas of hope by placing colorful brushstrokes bearing positive messages on the wall. Each stroke of paint symbolized hope for a peaceful future. It was a poignant reminder how, even in the shadow of conflict, the people of Netiv Ha‘Asara were dedicated to the pursuit of peace, one brushstroke at a time” (Kim Paffen, “Life near the Gaza Border: Living amid Ongoing Gaza-Israel Conflict,” Our Planet in My Lens, October 8, 2023, https://ourplanetinmylens.com/life-near-the-gaza-border/).

3 Hamas terrorists used paragliders on October 7, 2023 to get over the border fence into Israel.

4 Yahya Sinwar has been the leader of Hamas in Gaza since 2017.

5 A mobile application popular in Israel and many other countries, WhatsApp supports instant messaging and phone calls through the internet.

6 Joseph Pergolizzi Jr., et al. “The Emergence of the Old Drug Captagon As a New Illicit Drug: A Narrative Review,” Cureus 16 (2), Feb. 2024, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10977473/.

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July 15, 2024 · 9:30 AM

Christians Will Stand with Israel

I am writing to you from Israel, where I was encouraging our twenty-five-plus staff members—visiting one-on-one to talk and pray with them as they serve the Lord in the midst of some really challenging conditions.

I spoke to a gathering of more than seventy-five young adults at our current rented Tel Aviv Center. My message was from the book of Acts about relying on the Lord and the power of His Spirit during very stressful times. I was also part of a teaching team at a leadership retreat for forty young adults serving in congregational and mission leadership throughout Israel.

The summer is always a busy time for Your Mission to the Jewish People as we are in the midst of many evangelistic efforts and campaigns around the globe, especially in New York City and in Israel. Please take a moment to pray for our annual Shalom New York outreach, which takes place during the last week of July.

Also, please pray for our children’s camps in both the United States and Israel. Our Israel camps this year will focus on both Russian and Ukrainian new immigrants and their families who have fled one war only to find themselves in the Holy Land experiencing another.

I found some very desperate needs in Israel because of the Israel-Hamas war, and I am praying and hoping for good fruit through our Israeli staff at this very moment.

I am particularly concerned for several groups within Israel, including evacuees, soldiers, and the hostages brutally taken on October 7.

PRAYER FOR EVACUEES

There are still thousands of evacuees unable to return to their homes because they live in border towns in both the north and south of Israel. There are thousands of families who have been living in hotel rooms for almost a year now. This living arrangement is becoming so hard, especially on their children. At the hotel where we held the leadership retreat, there were evacuees all around us, which led to some great opportunities to speak to them and try to encourage them during this very difficult moment in Israel’s history! I told many of those displaced people how American Christians are praying for them, and they greatly appreciated this news. So, please pray for these displaced Israelis all throughout the country.

PRAYER FOR SOLDIERS

Please also pray for the young people in Israel, especially those serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Remember, Israel has a mandatory draft, which begins when these teenagers graduate high school. Every day, eighteen- and nineteen-year-old Israeli boys and girls head to the military. They are young, not yet seasoned for battle, and are learning about life the hard way!

Please pray the Lord would especially keep the believing soldiers safe and also provide them with ways to grow spiritually and opportunities to proclaim the gospel among their fellow soldiers. I cannot tell you how many great stories I heard from our staff during my recent time in Israel as well as from some of the younger leaders who took the weekend off from battle to join us! Two brothers in the Lord are tank commanders and went back to Gaza immediately after the retreat to rejoin their fellow soldiers.

PRAYER FOR THE HOSTAGES IN GAZA

Please continue to pray for the hostages. The Israel Defense Forces have made repeated attempts to rescue the more than one hundred hostages still held in Gaza. Some continue to die in captivity, and others have been tortured and mistreated to an incredible degree. How human beings can treat one another so cruelly is not something I can even begin to understand.

We hear of repeated attempts to bring the hostages home, but for the moment, there has been only limited success. On the last day of the leadership retreat, we rejoiced to hear how four hostages were freed by the IDF in a very dangerous and costly military operation.

We need our all-powerful Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to directly intervene on behalf of those still in bondage. While in Israel, I saw signs all over the country asking for their release. There are pictures of these young men, women, and even still some children, who are being held by merciless captors. It reminds me of the words in the Psalms,

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us songs, and our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy. (Psalm 137:1–6)

In Jewish tradition, the authorship of this beautiful and mournful psalm is sometimes attributed to the prophet Jeremiah—the weeping prophet. The contemporary Messianic songwriter Joshua Aaron from Israel sings a soul-filled version of this psalm, which captures the hopes of Jewish people in exile from the land of Israel and their longing to return. I am sure hearing his modern rendition of the ancient text will inspire and bless you!1

I can hardly imagine what the hostages are going through and what their families are experiencing. Of course, I am writing well before you receive this so, perhaps, by God’s grace, additional hostages may have been released or rescued by the time you read our newsletter. At this moment, it does not seem likely, and if they have not been released, please pray, ask your church to pray, and may the Lord bring them home soon!

May I make two more prayer requests?

PRAYER FOR GAZANS SUFFERING UNDER THE HEAVY HAND OF HAMAS

Please pray for the Gazans who are suffering at the hands of Hamas who constantly use their own citizens as human shields. I pray for their deliverance and for the “day after” plan for Gaza to include a more benevolent and caring government to nurture the well-being of so many who have suffered. Pray Israelis and Gazans would find hope and peace through the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Messiah, and for the Lord to touch both groups.

PRAYER AGAINST ANTISEMITISM

Finally, please pray for Jewish people around the globe who are experiencing the greatest movement of antisemitism since the Holocaust. This resurgence of the “oldest hatred” is why Your Mission to the Jewish People recently held a rally with more than 400 attendees in Manhattan last month.

We are also planning a larger conference to gather Christians of all ages and backgrounds to stand against antisemitism. This event is also at Moody Bible Institute on November 9. 

I cannot tell you how powerful and positive it is for Christians to stand with Jewish people and against antisemitism. This creates a new environment of friendship between Jewish people and Christians, which I know will be a blessing to both communities!

A NEW SURVEY OF CHRISTIAN VIEWS ABOUT ISRAEL AND JEWISH PEOPLE

So, what do Christians think about Jewish people and the State of Israel post-October 7? We felt we needed to know, so we asked two Jewish scholars who have done some amazing surveys on this topic to let us help them do a new survey. I believe you will be encouraged by what you read!

So, please keep praying for Your Mission to the Jewish People during these very challenging days!

Thank you for caring and for your generous support and prayers!

1 Joshua Aaron, “Bring Us Back (By the Rivers of Babylon) Psalm 137,” music video, 4:25, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7lHsoascJY.

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July 3, 2024 · 8:30 AM

They Survived!

I am writing to you on behalf of some special Jewish people we love so dearly. They are the last remnant of Jewish people who suffered more than any others during their lifetime. They are elderly, lonely, in need of our love and help, and do not have many more years on this earth before they pass into eternity.

I am, of course, speaking about the worldwide community of Holocaust survivors!

There are fewer than a quarter million Holocaust survivors remaining, with an average age of eighty-six.1 About half of them live in Israel, where Your Mission to the Jewish People has been serving hundreds of these precious souls since 2003.

MINISTERING TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS IN ISRAEL

Approximately 130,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel today, 99 percent of whom are Russian speakers from the former Soviet Union.2 Most were children at the time of the Holocaust. Many of them underwent horrific experimentation by Nazi doctors and, as a result, could not have children of their own. This outcome led to greater loneliness because they do not have children or grandchildren to care for them in their old age.

Chosen People Ministries—Israel has been faithfully ministering to Holocaust survivors in many ways. First, our staff in Israel care for some of their physical needs. In March, for example, our staff bought a washing machine for one of our survivor friends. Our staff helps by buying groceries, making home visits, and trying to ensure each survivor gets what they need.

In addition, Your Mission to the Jewish People is helping address their health concerns. The psychological trauma many Holocaust survivors endured when they were so young often led to sickness. The current conflict in Israel is also taking a toll on them physically. Our staff visits them when they are in the hospital, takes them to doctor’s appointments, and purchases medical equipment like walkers, hearing aids, and glasses. Our staff also takes them to buy their medications.

Most importantly, our ministry is caring for the spiritual and emotional needs of these precious survivors. Before the current war, our staff held community events, like art classes, to provide Holocaust survivors with companionship. But since October 7, survivors—who were already experiencing severe trauma—now need more intensive spiritual and psychological help. For many of them, the horrific events of October 7 reminded them of the Holocaust. One woman fled Israel because she did not want to go through “one more Holocaust.” After seventy-five years, October 7 brought all those memories back to the surface.

PROGRAMS AND TRIPS FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

Through it all, our ministry is reaching Holocaust survivors with the love of Jesus the Messiah. At our three-day retreats for survivors from the south of Israel, our staff spend time with them, pray with them, and answer their difficult questions like, “Why is this happening?” and “What will happen in the future?”

Our staff also visit the more than one hundred post-October 7 survivors who are now evacuees living in hotels. We pray with them, read Scripture with any who want us to, and even bring them homemade food, which they love!

We occasionally bring them to our Jerusalem Messianic Center to provide a much-appreciated break from the noise and lack of privacy at the hotels. Some of our staff also take survivors on tours to biblical sites in Israel, like the Sea of Galilee for a brief walk and a boat ride, complete with worship and teaching!

One of the most significant ways Your Mission to the Jewish People serves Holocaust survivors is by celebrating the Jewish and Israeli national holidays with them.

WE ARE THEIR FAMILY!

One staff member said, “We always pray so they understand we are not trying to change their religion but hoping to help them find a personal relationship with God. By doing this, everyone knows who we are and what we believe.” This emphasis makes Chosen People Ministries different from other humanitarian organizations because we focus on God, express our love for the Messiah, and minister one-on-one, all while serving physical needs. Taking care of physical needs is crucial, and adding spiritual care brings great fruit with eternal impact. Through caring for the soul, especially at this time of their lives, we are giving the survivors the gift we know will endure forever!

WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7, 2023, AMONG THE SURVIVORS?

Sderot, a small city bordering Gaza, was greatly affected by the storm of rockets fired by Hamas just prior to the attacks of October 7. Many Holocaust survivors watched in horror from their windows as terrorists killed others outside their homes. Some survivors called our staff trying to explain what they were seeing through their windows. Many of them spent up to seventy-two hours sitting in bomb shelters with not enough water or food to carry them through. It was, as one staff member put it, “A huge, tragic mess.”

The inhabitants of Sderot, including the survivors, were evacuated after ten days.

Ashkelon, a larger city near the border, also suffered major devastation as Hamas launched uncountable rockets toward the city. Thankfully, most were shot down by the Israeli air defense systems, and the Iron Dome in particular.

The city of Ofakim is home to many Holocaust survivors and was also the target of Hamas terrorism. When the terrorists violently entered Ofakim on October 7, they cornered the Holocaust survivors and killed six of them. When our staff visited the town on November 1, there was no one on the street. “Until today,” said one staff member, “people are afraid to open their doors there.” Unfortunately, some of the survivors know exactly what happened to their fellow survivors and will be scarred for the remainder of their lives.

TESTIMONIALS OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS SERVED BY CHOSEN PEOPLE MINISTRIES

Caleb* and Gavriela:* Caleb was the first person on a trip to Poland to accept Jesus as his Savior. During the trip, the Word of God touched him, and he could not stop asking questions. He saw the Light! Upon returning to Israel, he attended a local congregation and was baptized. His wife supported him in everything but was a bit uncertain herself about Messiah until she heard from the Holy Spirit. She then was baptized, and now the couple shines when they talk about their walk with God.

Levi* and Eliora:* Our staff have known Levi and Eliora’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for a long time. Seeing how our staff assist people, this couple also wanted to get involved. Their grandson repeatedly contacted our staff to offer his help, and he bought various medical supplies for Holocaust survivors. We are seeing the hand of God in this couple’s life and how He has carefully turned their hearts toward His own.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE SURVIVORS?

Our staff in Israel knows the days of this heartfelt ministry to survivors are numbered. They are aging quickly, and in the near future, they will pass into eternity—either with the Lord or without Him. We are sobered by this thought and sense a holy urgency to reach these precious Jewish people before it is too late. The time to act is NOW.

Our efforts in loving survivors and spreading the gospel have been a joy, but we need to do more. It is critical to help the survivors TODAY! Each opportunity to introduce them to Messiah is invaluable—with eternal consequences.

As we look toward the future, we are focusing on the next couple of generations of the survivors’ descendants. Some of them were able to marry, and we have ongoing relationships with their children and grandchildren, in part because they have seen how we love their families. We hold a children’s camp each Passover for the grandchildren of survivors.

On behalf of our staff in Israel and those they serve,
Mitch

P.S. According to Israeli law, you cannot talk about the gospel and provide material help at the same time unless those you are helping initiate the conversation. We do all we can to follow this policy, and more often than not, survivors pepper us with questions about why we love and help them. We are then free to respond and talk to them about our faith.


Endnotes

1 Kirsten Grieshaber, “Almost 80 Years after the Holocaust, 245,000 Jewish Survivors Are still Alive,” AP News, January 23, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/holocaust-survivors-numbers-reportclaims-conference-890c9ad6aa7bc1cf99e1cbe40e61c013.

2 Ibid.

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June 15, 2024 · 9:00 AM

Christians against Antisemitism

I have been pondering the touching story in the New Testament about the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant (Luke 7:1–10). As the story progresses, we discover this centurion was noteworthy for his surprising love for Jewish people, which led him to build a synagogue for the Jewish community of Capernaum (Luke 7:5).

Perhaps the centurion saw the dimming spark of God’s presence in the Galilean city, which Jesus Himself chided for its lack of spirituality (Matthew 11:23). Conversely, Jesus commended the words and actions of this centurion who had come to love the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

I find the Roman centurion to be an inspiration! He loved the God of Israel, the Messiah of Israel, and the people of Israel.

While Jewish people today do not usually require Christian help to build synagogues, we do need help fighting the increasingly virulent antisemitism not seen since the Holocaust. Additionally, our not-yet-believing Jewish people need to hear the gospel message so they, too, can powerfully encounter Jesus the Messiah, the Prince of Peace.

A PROMISE

We live in a world overwhelmed by spiritual, moral, and political confusion, which is why it is so important to see life through the lens of Scripture. For example, though more than 60 percent of Christians above the age of fifty believe the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, our younger generation of future leaders in the church are not as certain. The number of those believers under forty who support Israel drops down to below 50 percent! However, when we read about God’s assurances to Abraham and his descendants and the Abrahamic promise to create a people destined to live in the Promised Land, we are clear on this fundamental truth: God gave the land of Israel to His chosen people.

In Genesis 12:1–3, we learn this promise is without conditions and free of time parameters. The fulfillment of the promise depends upon the power of God rather than the capabilities of humankind. Jewish people were created for a holy purpose and mission to bless the world. God said directly to Abram, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, emphasis added). God created Jewish people for the sake of the Gentiles!

A PEOPLE

The very creation of the people was a miracle. Abraham and Sarah were beyond childbearing age, yet God supernaturally intervened to create Isaac, who was the first fruits of God’s promise to Abraham.

God promised no one would ever destroy this people. Numerous nations tried to destroy the people of Israel, but God would not allow it and kept His mighty hand upon them (Jeremiah 31:35–37).

A PLACE

The boundaries of the land given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are outlined in Genesis 15:18: “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.’”

The answer to those who question if Jewish people have a right to the land is to believe this passage and take it literally—as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.

The cry of anti-Israel protesters, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” opposes what God promised in His word. As faithful followers of Jesus and those who believe the Bible, we reject the slogan entirely as it displaces Jewish people from the very land God Himself promised!

The tension in the Middle East will never subside until those involved in the conflict recognize the biblical promises of God to Jewish people and take them to heart. God pledged ownership of the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Any efforts toward reconciliation apart from this promise will ultimately fail.

We do not wish to debate whether 1948 was a human act or accomplished by the power of God. We understand the current conflict is complex, yet at the heart of the issue is the question of whether the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel by virtue of God’s covenant with Israel. If we read the Bible literally and come to the conclusion that He gave this land—with the Genesis 15 boundaries—to Jewish people, then we must support the right of Jewish people to live in the land God established for His chosen people.

A PURPOSE

God promised Jewish people would live in the Holy Land and be a blessing to the nations. Isaiah predicted shalom (peace) would come to the Middle East: “In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth” (Isa 19:24).

Jewish people will enjoy an enduring peace when the Prince of Peace reigns on His rightful throne. This hope reminds me of the temporary nature of all earthly conflicts, which the Messiah Himself will one day resolve.

A PRAYER WITH A PROMISE

The prayer we should pray throughout the Israel-Hamas conflict is the one for peace the psalmist penned in Psalm 122:6–7: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’”

This prayer includes a promise: Those who love Jerusalem will prosper. The Hebrew word shalah, which is translated as “prosper,” refers to a sense of inner peace, as those who pray for peace will experience peace in their lives as well.

The peace we enjoy in our relationship with God is a foretaste of the global peace God will bring to the world when His Son returns to reign on His rightful throne. He is the Prince of Peace and will remove the curse of sin at the heart of the current conflict. He will bring humanity back to the peace Adam and Eve experienced in the Garden of Eden. The prophet Ezekiel mentioned a future day when the nation of Israel will turn to the Lord, and the land will be “like the garden of Eden” (Ezekiel 36:35).

A PLEA: FOR CHRISTIANS TO OPPOSE ANTISEMITISM

I am hoping both local churches and individual Christians will boldly pray against and actively oppose the rising global antisemitism. Our 130-year-old ministry is here to inspire you to pray for, support, and act on behalf of Jewish people by opposing antisemitism.

Jewish people need our help today!

SEE SOMETHING . . . SAY SOMETHING: A CALL TO ACTION

How can we stand by and watch Jewish people suffer at the hands of modern-day Hamans and Hitlers? Antisemitism is anti-gospel and anti-God. It is antithetical to God’s promises found in Scripture. The problems in the Middle East cannot be solved by removing Jewish people “from the river to the sea.” The beginning of any diplomatic solution must be to allow Jewish people to live safely and peacefully in the land God promised to His chosen people.

Let me be clear: We believe the gospel is the only ultimate hope for Jewish people, Arabs, and all who seek authentic and enduring peace.

So, how can we be part of the solution to this seemingly insoluble problem?

The first step is to turn to the Lord in prayer and intercession and then view the conflict through the lens of Scripture. Our actions must begin with prayer because this battle is a spiritual one, and prayer puts us in the right relationship with the One who made these promises. The Scriptures provide the understanding we need to propose workable solutions because they are in sync with God’s eternal purposes.

Then, like the centurion, we ought to find ways to bless Jewish people, as blessing the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will lead to blessings for the world. If we support those working toward the destruction of Jewish people and their removal from the land of Israel, then we are working against the eternal purposes of God (Acts 5:39)!

Let us join the Holy One in blessing Israel, Jewish people, and all men and women who are created in the image of God and for whom Jesus died.

Thank you for caring, praying, and supporting the 130-year-old work of Your Mission to the Jewish People.

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June 1, 2024 · 9:00 AM

Ministry in Israel Continues during War

Grace and peace in our Messiah, Jesus. We praise God for your faithful support and pray you will continue to be a friend to Israel. When surrounded by enemies, one’s friends become clearer and dearer. 

I do not need to remind you of the more than 3,000 Hamas terrorists who stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, murdering, raping, and kidnapping innocent Israelis living near Gaza as well as young people attending a music festival—all crimes against humanity. Many Israeli soldiers and Gazan civilians whom Hamas used as human shields have since lost their lives due to the ensuing war. 

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) called up 360,000 reserve troops to join this fight against the terrorists and eliminate the threat against Israel. The IDF is also searching for 130 hostages taken on October 7 who are still held in captivity. 

In addition to Hamas’ brutal assault, Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon continue to threaten Israel. Hezbollah is firing rockets daily into northern Israel, preventing 60,000 Israeli evacuees from returning to their homes. On Saturday, April 13, 2024, Iran launched more than 360 missiles and drones into Israeli territory— targeting mostly civilian areas! Thanks to Israel’s air force, the Iron Dome, and help from the United States, Jordan, and the United Kingdom, 99 percent of these missiles were eliminated. 

I heard from our staff about all they went through during the Iranian attack. We praise God for His protection, but as one of our staff members told me, “It was terrorizing for hours, knowing the attack was coming because we had hours to think about it and prepare.” I saw the pain on our staff member’s face when she told me how she felt during our call. Thank God all our staff are safe. We consider it to be a modern-day miracle there was no loss of life and minimal destruction of property. 

By God’s grace, our staff in Israel continue to proclaim the gospel and do all they can to meet the needs of suffering Israelis.

MINISTRY IN ISRAEL DURING WAR

Thank you for supporting Israel and Jewish people around the world. Please continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). By God’s grace, our staff in Israel is doing more than ever to reach “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). They discovered new ways to proclaim the good news to Israelis hungry for the Word of God. Many turned to the book of Psalms for comfort and hope while waiting for the drones to arrive.

Our wonderful staff worked with other ministry partners in Israel to bring food, clothing, hygiene items, and various necessities to soldiers and Israelis evacuated for their safety from their homes near the northern and southern borders. 

Chosen People Ministries—Israel continues to proclaim the gospel of Jesus in these difficult times. Our Bible studies, prayer meetings, and outreach events are filling with seekers and believers needing help through the challenges of daily life. Our staff are finding Israelis more open to the Lord as they seek answers to life’s deepest questions. 

Here are a few great stories about how God is working through our staff during this critical time in Israel’s history! 

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUNG ADULTS

One young Israeli man, wanting to grow spiritually, began asking one of our staff serious questions about the Bible and his relationship with Jesus. He felt he was losing the spiritual excitement he experienced early on as a believer when he sensed God’s peace. Previously, he had multiple opportunities to proclaim the gospel, but his zeal had worn off and was replaced with such emotional pain and spiritual struggle he even began to weep. His passion to grow in the Lord during difficult days moved our Israel staff!

ISRAELI SOLDIER COMES TO FAITH

Oren* first connected with our staff on social media late last summer. Although he grew up in an atheistic family, he found himself increasingly pondering the existence of God. After starting his mandatory military service, he began reading the Tanakh (Old Testament). He was surprised by Isaiah chapter 53 and how it predicted the life and ministry of the Messiah, Jesus. Oren wanted to know more and asked one of our staff to meet with him.

During the meeting, Oren took notes and expressed delight when our staff member gave him a Hebrew copy of my book, Isaiah 53 Explained. He met with this staff member several times, and then October 7 happened. At the beginning of November, Oren reached out again. He told our staff how he miraculously survived during the initial terror attack in southern Israel. Because he was saved while so many others were killed, his hunger for the truth about God continued to grow. 

When the situation in southern Israel improved, Oren asked to resume meeting with our Israel staff. During one of these meetings, they read together from John chapter 3. When he reached verse 16, Oren—in his own words—told us he finally realized the depth of Yeshua’s love for him. He asked our staff to pray with him to confess his belief in Jesus as his Savior. Oren is now baptized and growing in his faith!

AGNOSTIC ISRAELI WOMAN ATTENDS BIBLE STUDY

Someone invited Rotem,* a formerly religious and now agnostic Israeli woman, to an event at our Tel Aviv Messianic Center. She arrived late, fatigued, and had missed most of the program, but bounced back to life as she spoke with our staff. Our staff invited her to an upcoming women’s Hebrew Bible study, and she eagerly accepted.

The Bible study took place at our Tel Aviv center a few days later, and Rotem was the first to arrive. As others trickled in, one young lady asked what it meant to be created in God’s image and likeness. This launched a vigorous discussion even before the Bible study began. Once the study started, Rotem was obviously excited as the group was studying the life of Joseph (Genesis 39–40), which “happened” to be her favorite Bible story! Rotem volunteered to read and then engaged in the discussion. 

When they closed in prayer, she made a prayer request, and our staff could hear her faintly praying under her breath. Afterward, she told a staff member she had not prayed in months, certainly not since October 7. She thought God would not and could not hear her prayers. However, as our staff prayed, she sensed God was listening and prayed along! 

Rotem accepted a Hebrew Bible, which also listed Messianic prophecies. Two weeks later, at our women’s brunch, she told our staff she was reading the Bible regularly! Please pray for Rotem; God is at work.

PSALMS OF HOPE

Aside from all the wonderful personal ministry with Israelis, our staff members are also seeing success in our online approach to evangelism. We learned the term “Psalms” was the primary Google search in Israel over the last few months—especially on Saturday, April 13. I was stunned, as most Israelis are quite secular. This tells me Israelis are open to a relationship with God at this critical time in Israel’s history. 

We plan to initiate a “Psalms of Hope” campaign this month, using the Psalms to turn the eyes of Israelis toward the Messiah of Israel. We will start with a budget of $75,000 to provide the advertising punch for this campaign. We will advertise online through Facebook, YouTube, and other sites, as well as through brochures and newspapers. We hope to distribute a new booklet based on a selection of Psalms with some devotional and evangelistic thoughts included as well. 

Since we know Israelis are currently seeking for answers and turning to Psalms, we hope to encourage their search as we prayerfully try to reach as many as possible with God’s Word. We cannot wait for Israelis to discover Psalms 2, 16, 22, 110, and other Messianic psalms. We will begin by inviting them to read Psalm 23, which is familiar to most Jewish people, then introduce them to psalms speaking of the comfort we can have through the Messiah, Jesus.

We know God’s Word never returns void! 

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May 15, 2024 · 9:00 AM

Say “No” to Antisemitism!

As the war in Israel continues, our hearts go out to those suffering due to the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah! The impact of the conflict now stretches across the globe. It has caused the rise of new challenges for the worldwide Jewish community and for Your Mission to the Jewish People, as you can see from the following reports about the growing number of antisemitic incidents in the United States. Sadly, I am certain further events will have transpired by the time my letter crosses your desk or kitchen table. Yet, the pro-Hamas protestors act as if October 7 never happened!

THE CHILLING TRENDS

The Anti-Defamation League, the world’s leading organization tracking and opposing antisemitism, reported in early January, 

In the three months since the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, U.S. antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed, reaching a total of 3,291* incidents between Oct. 7 and Jan. 7, according to ADL’s (the Anti-Defamation League) preliminary data. This represents a 361-percent increase compared to the same period one year prior, which saw 712 incidents.

The preliminary three-month tally is higher than the total number of antisemitic incidents tracked in any year in the last decade, except for calendar year 2022, when the total number of incidents reached a historic high of 3,697. Since Oct. 7, there was an average of nearly 34 antisemitic incidents per day, putting 2023 on track to be the highest year for antisemitic acts against Jews since ADL started tracking this data in the late 1970s.1

Although these statistics are from the United States, this dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents is global, especially affecting Western countries where you might not expect this dramatic rise in Jewish hatred.

I am especially astounded by the antisemitism currently raging in England. According to the Community Security Trust, which gathers information on antisemitism in the United Kingdom, there were 3,328 incidents of abusive behavior, 266 assaults, 305 threats, and 182 acts of damage and desecration throughout 2023. The charity said there was a total of 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom in 2023, up from the previous annual record of 2,261 in 2021.2

Similar occurrences of antisemitic hatred were recorded in Canada and Australia, home to hundreds of thousands of Jewish people.

MY FAMILY’S STORY

My maternal grandparents emigrated from Belarus to the United States to escape the everyday horrors of antisemitism. Little did they know the most extreme, diabolical, and destructive expression of antisemitism would soon come from Germany, one of the most sophisticated and Christianized countries in Western Europe.

My grandparents left their homes and families behind because of the attacks against Jewish people (called pogroms), which motivated them to make the dramatic move to an unknown country! Like so many Jewish people, they were desperate to get away from those who sought their destruction and build a better life for their children. They willingly left the land, language, and life they knew to live in a land built upon freedom of religion.

The United States still had some restrictions prohibiting or limiting Jewish people at colleges and fraternal organizations and in certain professions. But my grandparents could still own property, get a better education, and enjoy opportunities in their new homeland they could not get in Europe.

COUNTERING THE CURRENT WAVE OF ANTISEMITISM

So much of the current wave of antisemitism is rooted in the belief in Israel and Jewish people in general as aggressors. We would not suggest every criticism of the policies and actions of the State of Israel, valid or not, springs from the poison of antisemitism. Yet, from what we have seen taking place across the United States, anti-Zionism and the belief Israel is an illegitimate state is often fueled by antisemitism.

I am sorry to say Jewish students on our university campuses are feeling the brunt of a growing, unreasonable anger and hatred. They are often targeted by Hamas sympathizers, who are abetted by administrations at various—and not just “elite”—schools, which seem to look the other way and tolerate targeted protests.

One of the groups countering the growing antisemitism on campuses across our country is the Brandeis Center in Boston—part of the enduring legacy of the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, the late Louis Brandeis. He was a staunch supporter of Jewish rights and the State of Israel. The Brandeis Center plays a vital role in opposing antisemitism on campus.

Let me give you a couple of examples of what they are doing:

The Brandeis Center and Jewish on Campus (JOC) filed a joint complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on behalf of numerous Jewish students at American University (AU) who have been assaulted, threatened, harassed and intimidated in dormitories, classrooms and campus spaces. According to the complaint, AU was fully aware of the pervasive and hostile environment for Jewish students, and not only ignored it, in some cases, it chose to subject Jewish whistleblowers to harassment and disciplinary proceedings.3

And further,

In another story, on the downfall of Harvard’s and UPenn’s presidents and the double standard applied to Jewish students by campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, Marcus [president of the Center] stated: “DEI offices have often acted as if Jewish Americans were outside their scope of responsibility.” When Jewish students go to DEI offices seeking support, “they will receive a cold shoulder from administrators who are quicker to support members of other groups such as African American, Hispanics, or gay or lesbian students.”4

Whereas we hope all those who feel the pain of discrimination and prejudice will find help, the overt dismissal of Jewish student concerns is intolerable and unfair. I believe followers of Jesus need to spring into action on behalf of Jewish people.

SHOULD CHRISTIANS OPPOSE ANTISEMITISM?

We must ask ourselves the question: “Is opposing antisemitism a spiritual duty for all believers in Jesus?”

Today’s antisemitism, seen in synagogue shootings, attacks on a kosher market in France, the taking of hostages at a synagogue in Dallas, and through the growing presence of antisemitism on social media, is no longer merely latent. To a large degree, tensions in the Middle East have exacerbated this growing antisemitism.

However, we would be mistaken in thinking this “oldest hatred” did not exist prior to October 7 or before Israel became a modern state.

After October 7, it did not take long for antisemites to begin targeting Jewish people in the United States, Germany, England, and across the globe. It is apparent their hatred of Jewish people was not new, and the events of October 7 simply sparked what was already there, causing it to rise to the surface. Really, the opposite should have been the case. It is also remarkable how quickly Hamas sympathizers swept the atrocities committed by the terrorist organization on October 7 under the rug.

Jewish people worldwide are now the objects of anger and contempt by these same sympathizers. It seems as if any Jewish event on campus and in various communities is subject to the wrath of radical and violent advocates who believe their mission is to remove Israel “from the river to the sea.”

This terrible surge of global antisemitism needs to be stopped. First, by our prayers, followed by our actions.

THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF ANTISEMITISM

The roots of antisemitism remain deeply woven into our culture and those of many Western countries, as well as those nations part of the Arab world. Yet, the problem goes deeper than this!

As I have mentioned in the past, the root of antisemitism is profoundly spiritual.

We affirm God chose Jewish people to be His people and to accomplish His purposes (Genesis 12:1–3). At the exact moment God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants, the devil chose Jewish people as his target throughout the ages. The devil hates God, our Messiah, the Bible, and Jewish people.

As believers in Jesus, we must support Jewish people globally, even if we have political disagreements with the modern State of Israel. Affirming God’s chosen people is a personal duty for all Christians and requires our standing against antisemitism.

In light of God’s far-reaching purposes for the global Jewish community, we have no option other than to find ways in this hateful environment to defend and protect Jewish people and to oppose antisemitism wherever we see it today.

Thanks for your love, prayers, and support for Israel and Jewish people—and all who are oppressed by Hamas—especially for the hostages held in Gaza since October 7. The next section of the newsletter will offer some practical suggestions for ways Christians can support Jewish people and oppose antisemitism.

Endnotes

*Note: This is preliminary data. An earlier version of this press release was updated on January 17, 2024 to reflect the latest findings.

1 “U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Skyrocketed 360% in Aftermath of Attack in Israel, According to Latest ADL Data,” ADL, January 17, 2024, https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/us-antisemitic-incidents-skyrocketed-360-aftermath-attack-israel-according.

2 Yoni Gordon-Teller, “Antisemitic Incidents 2023,” Community Security Trust, 2024, https://cst.org.uk/data/file/9/f/Antisemitic_Incidents_Report_2023.1707834969.pdf.

3 “February 2024 Brandeis Brief,” Brandeis Center (blog), February 8, 2024, https://brandeiscenter.com/february-2024-brandeis-brief/.

4 “February 2024 Brandeis Brief.”

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