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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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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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April 15, 2024 · 8:30 AM

Passover Points to a God Who Keeps His Promises

I would like to wish you a Happy Passover and Easter.

Since the exodus, Jewish people have celebrated Passover as a memorial to God’s love, power, and plan for His chosen people. It is a reminder of how the Lord of the universe, against all odds, promised to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and bring them back to the land of Israel (Genesis 15:13–14). Passover reminds us God has not forgotten His promises to His people.

If God keeps His promises to Jewish people, then we have further confidence He will keep His promises to all those who have trusted in Jesus!

Each year, on the fourteenth day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, God asks the people of Israel to stop whatever they are doing and observe the Passover—regardless of circumstances. The Jewish community observed the festival amid the darkest moments of Jewish history—the Crusades, pogroms in Eastern Europe, the Holocaust, and the wars following the formation of the modern State of Israel in 1948. 

Despite the terrible loss of life on October 7, 2023, and the ongoing war we currently face in Israel, Jewish people will again remember God’s miraculous redemption and faithfulness revealed in the Passover! The observance of Passover is a higher priority than all other events or challenges we face as families and as Jewish individuals. Our busy schedules must bow to the Lord’s commands and plans—this is true not only for Jewish people but for every follower of Jesus as well! 

The prioritizing of God’s will we learn from observing the Passover and other holidays is a critical lesson for those who want to follow the Lord. We need to be ready to drop what we are doing in order to obey the Lord and follow Him. This practice is an important lesson Christians can learn from Jewish people. 

PASSOVER: HOPE FOR SHATTERED TRUST

On October 7, most Israelis lost trust in the army and government, whose preparation for and response to the flagrant violation of Israel’s borders was insufficient at best. I cannot blame my fellow Jewish people living in Israel for feeling this way, as they were profoundly disappointed by those entrusted to protect them. When we draw back the curtains of history and look at the story of Passover, we see there is only One who merits our complete trust—God Himself. 

Egypt trusted in their numerous gods, but the God of Israel proved Himself stronger than them all. The Lord delivered His people “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 26:8). Passover teaches us God shows up at the right time, even when it seems all odds are stacked against Jewish people. We trust in God alone for Israel’s ultimate deliverance from her enemies at the end of days.

The Bible teaches all humankind is damaged by sin, which clouds our judgment and often causes us to place the concerns of this world above God’s concerns. Even the people we love sometimes disappoint us because of sin. Sin also taints all human institutions, which ultimately disappoint us.

God warned Israel not to trust in man but rather in God:

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord! (Isaiah 31:1)

I understand this passage very personally, as I trusted in the world until the day I met the Jewish Messiah, who delivered me from my false reliance and enabled me to stand upon the rock of His faithfulness. Though it may take some time, and we may struggle with trusting in the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding—or the understanding of others—the Lord will always prove Himself trustworthy. My prayer for my people today is for this disenchantment with institutions and people to lead to a deeper trust in the God of Israel and His promises.

IN GOD WE SHOULD TRUST

When I think about the future of Jewish people, I think of passages in the prophets like Isaiah 62, Amos 9, and Jeremiah 31. Perhaps we can take a quick look at this last passage and remember God’s promises of Israel’s deliverance: 

Thus says the Lord, “If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:37)

God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham will not allow Him to stand by and watch the destruction of His chosen people. The Lord Himself will make sure Israel fulfills the purposes for which He created and chose them. Passover is an excellent example. For the Israelites to fulfill their divine calling, they had to dwell in the land of promise. Egypt’s power could not stand in the way, and God rescued His people with great signs. Passover is a reminder of God’s faithful track record. Because He has saved and sustained His people thus far, we can be confident He will continue.

We already see signs of Jesus’ soon return when all Israel will recognize Him as the Savior. Many Jewish people have returned to the land of Israel in unbelief and will one day experience the fullness of the Spirit of God. The dry bones of Ezekiel 37 will come alive! Yet, this fulfillment is only the beginning. Jewish people simply living in the land does not satisfy the totality of the Abrahamic promise, as Israel must inherit the land and dwell in peace with her neighbors:

In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:24–25) 

As we well know, this has yet to happen! However, it will come to pass when Jewish people turn to Jesus, and He returns to reign as King. Jerusalem, Israel, and the world will then be transformed.

Too often, we end Israel’s story at the cross and see Jewish people replaced by those who follow Jesus—including Jewish people and Gentile nations—without understanding the day will come when Jewish people return to the Lord and Messiah. Only then will the world be blessed as the Holy One promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:3).

Darrell Bock, a New Testament scholar, often says the inclusion of the Gentiles does not demand the exclusion of the Jewish people from the purposes of God (Romans 11:17–18).

Another incredible blessing we look forward to when Jesus returns is God Himself will once again rule over His creation without the limitations the fall caused. As Jeremiah wrote:

They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, declares the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. (Jeremiah 31:34)

For those who follow Jesus, part of this verse has already come to pass, as God has forgiven all our sins because of our faith in the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. However, this prophecy has obviously yet to be fulfilled entirely. Nevertheless, I believe the universal reign of the one true King is one of the glorious results of the second coming of Jesus!

Passover not only reminds Jewish people of God’s plan of redemption but also reminds those who love the Jewish Messiah today He will come again to deliver our beautiful-but-broken world from the darkness and frailty of sin once and for all. 

Passover makes me cry out: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Happy Easter and Passover from your Chosen People Ministries family,
Mitch

P.S. My heart still breaks for the hostages. We must not forget about them but continue to pray for their release from captivity, especially during Passover!

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March 1, 2024 · 9:00 AM

A Report from Our Staff in Israel

This month, I want to honor the selfless work of our team in Israel, especially since October 7.

The barbaric Hamas massacre traumatized the nation and changed Israel forever. The bloodbath shattered Israelis’ trust in their leaders and defenses. Given Israel’s relatively small size, virtually everyone in Israel knows someone who was murdered, injured, or taken hostage.

Our staff immediately sprang into action. Though they, too, grapple with grief, fear, and the new normal of running to bomb shelters, they are doing all they can to serve others.

The following are just some of the ways our brothers and sisters in Israel are bringing practical aid and the hope of the gospel to Israelis enduring these horrific trials.

SERVING ISRAELI SOLDIERS

Some soldiers, like those stationed near the northern border, are facing harsh, cold conditions. Our staff gave out hundreds of packages of supplies to these Israeli soldiers, including socks, thermal underwear, watches, water packs, sleeping bags, and lights to wear on their helmets to see at night. Some of our staff met with believers at different army bases and distributed these essential items.

After a few weeks, we knew we needed more help as we did not have enough people to drive to every base. We partnered with those in the Messianic community who could deliver the resources we gathered for the 500–600 Israeli believers scattered among the various army bases. Since we knew believers in most units, we asked them to distribute the items to their fellow soldiers.

Among the most meaningful aid we provided was fresh, home-cooked food. On one occasion, we brought this nutritious food to soldiers guarding the Lebanese border. We had the privilege of reaching a unit on the very outskirts of the border area. Our staff member described the encounter:

The commander kept shaking my hand, and he said, “You have no idea how much this means to our soldiers. Yes, we have food, but it’s tuna fish in a can.” Home cooking means so much for the soldiers. Everyone was really grateful, and we took time to pray.

Shortly after October 7, supplies became hard to find. But, somehow, God opened doors of provision. Here is just one story from our staff about God’s faithfulness:

We needed to find battery packs to give out to soldiers. I called around and couldn’t find any. But, after looking and praying, we found one of the larger stores in Israel had 200. So, we bought 100 of them. Then, by God’s grace, we were able to contact an importer and get wholesale prices for the same items. We were very grateful for the ability to meet real needs and also do it in a way that exercised good stewardship of the funds we had. Each item was distributed with a warm smile and, of course, when asked, we told them clearly we were Jewish believers in Jesus who loved them! 

SERVING EVACUEES, CHILDREN, AND HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

In the months following October 7, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon continued to fire rockets into Israel. As the Israeli Defense Forces fortified these borders, more than 120,000 Israelis living in those areas were displaced. 

We reached out to Israelis forced to evacuate their homes on the northern and southern borders. By partnering with other faithful, Bible-believing organizations in Israel, we had the opportunity to minister to individuals living in hotels. One of these ministries covered the expenses of this work. We assigned one of our young staff members to serve in a hotel filled with evacuees. 

Our hearts were especially broken over the condition of the children who fled their homes and had to abandon all their normal routines. Most of these children lost a couple of months of school! This loss not only slowed their education but added to the sense of instability both parents and children felt. The need for someone to stay home with the kids interrupted parents’ work schedules. Other households temporarily had only one parent as Israel mobilized much of its reserve force. These sudden changes wreaked financial and mental strain on numerous Israeli families. 

A few new opportunities arose to assist families and children impacted by the war. For example, we received the blessing of providing dozens of tablet devices for kids to use for their education. These children were staying at the Baptist Village in the city of Petah Tikva so they could attend school online, but there were not enough tablets for all the children. We also bought and gave toys to the kids as gifts. Additionally, we organized food distribution for dozens of Holocaust survivors too afraid to leave their houses, either because of the constant rocket attacks or the trauma from Black Saturday, as the Israelis call October 7.

Practical aid often led to the opportunity to proclaim the gospel. The assistance our staff provided stimulated many great conversations about the Lord, and our team encouraged many Israelis during this harrowing time. Most of the Holocaust survivors are in their 90s and full of anxiety and fear. Having us visit, talk, and pray with them greatly ministered to their shattered hearts. Too many of these precious elderly Israelis lost friends to the brutality of the Hamas terrorists who stormed their villages on October 7. Would you please pray for them as well?

Despite the immense, ongoing hardship, we praise God for what we accomplished. However, there is still so much more to do!

SERVING A TRAUMATIZED NATION: NEXT STEPS

We are ready to continue and expand these ministries to all the people we serve in Israel, as the Lord guides us. There are many needs, which we believe we can meet with your help.

I received this note from one of our most experienced missionaries who described the displacement of Israelis as a result of the war:

Hi, everyone!

Due to the outbreak of war, more than 120,000 citizens have been displaced and are currently seeking temporary housing. The evacuees can be categorized as follows:

    • those from the war zone near the Gaza Strip who face long-term displacement due to the destruction of their homes
    • evacuees from communities near Gaza with a higher probability of returning home once the war ends
    • evacuees from the north who left their homes in haste

    I write this letter after conversations with social workers from different hotels, each housing hundreds of evacuees from the south and north. While there is no immediate shortage of necessities like food, clothing, toys, and hygiene products, their prolonged stays in hotels have led to increased aggression and adverse social phenomena, including violence between individuals, and vandalism.

To address these issues, Chosen People Ministries Israel proposed a number of projects last year: 

  • organizing activities for evacuees (including children and Holocaust survivors) in hotels, like do-it-yourself crafts, music classes, and clubs to help alleviate their restlessness and provide a sense of purpose 
  • scheduling events with musicians, artists, and games to bring some joy and entertainment to the evacuees
  • conducting seminars with Christian psychologists who can provide much-needed emotional support
  • assisting individuals with special needs, who are not adequately supported by the state, by providing transportation for medical appointments or catering to families with children with specific requirements 
  • organizing fun-filled days for children to help create a positive atmosphere and bring some normalcy to their lives during this challenging time

We already have shown the love of Jesus through some of these activities and through the opportunities to speak to those who ask about Him.

I am so grateful for your love, prayers, and sacrificial support.

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February 15, 2024 · 8:30 AM

Christian Zionism

As I write this letter, the war in Israel and its repercussions are still impacting the lives of Israelis. They are hurting and in great need of our prayers and support. Please also remember to pray for the forty-plus Chosen People Ministries staff members currently serving in the land. They are faithful amid incredible challenges to their lives and ministries! 

In light of current events, I am especially eager to present to you this current volume of our newsletter. It addresses the critical and contemporary issue of Christian Zionism, or Christian support for the modern State of Israel, which should be a central concern for all who love the God of Israel, the Messiah of Israel, and the land of Israel. This month’s feature article (pages 4–5) was written by Reverend Thomas Fretwell, who leads the Ezra Foundation and partners with Chosen People Ministries—United Kingdom. We welcome Tommy’s excellent contribution to this newsletter and are pleased to offer you two of his books as a resource. To purchase, please go to store.chosenpeople.com. 

This newsletter will answer the question: What role does the Bible ask Christians to play regarding modern Israel? 

LET US START AT THE BEGINNING!

In Genesis 12:2–3, God made a covenant with Abram (later renamed “Abraham”), which included making him a great nation, giving him a land, and granting his descendants a holy purpose. The Jewish people were also to be a bridge of blessing to the world. God did not choose Jewish people for this task because Abram or his descendants somehow deserved this role. Rather, God chose Israel because of His love for her (Deuteronomy 7:7–8). 

The Abrahamic Covenant not only established the unique role of Israel in the world, but also forged an extraordinary relationship between Israel and the nations. There were mutual obligations for both Jewish and Gentile people toward one another embedded in the covenant from the very start! God would bless all the families of the earth through Jewish people. Gentiles were also to bless Israel (Gen 12:3). 

Paul recognized the key role his own people would play in the drama of world redemption when he wrote to the Roman believers, “From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom 11:28– 29, emphasis added). 

THE LAND OF PROMISE

I understand that godly and sincere Christians might not see eye to eye about how to understand the covenant God made with Abraham. But according to a recent poll, 80 percent of evangelical Christians do believe God gave the land to Jewish people based upon Genesis 12:1–3.1 If you are one of those who do, then you are a biblical Zionist, one who believes God gave the land to Abraham and his descendants. God provided the boundaries of the land gifted to Abram so there would be no mistake regarding the parcel Abram and his descendants would inherit: “From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates” (Gen 15:18). The promise of the land and its boundaries were specific and even larger than those of the modern-day State of Israel. 

The One who created the heavens and the earth is sovereign over the boundaries of nations and holds the hearts of the kings of nations in His powerful hand (Deuteronomy 32:8–9; Proverbs 21:1; Acts 17: 24–27). We should not think it odd at all for God to delineate the specific boundaries of Israel’s territory when He first called Jewish people as His special nation. 

THE PROMISE OF THE LAND ENDURES

God’s promise of the land passed from Abraham to his son, Isaac:

Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. (Genesis 26:3, emphasis added)

God then made these same promises to Jacob, after He changed his name to Israel:

God also said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you. The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you.” (Genesis 35:11–12, emphasis added)

In summary, God created and chose Jewish people to be a holy nation and a blessing to the nations. The greatest blessing from Jewish people came when the greatest Jewish person who ever lived, Jesus the Messiah, was born into this world. The story of His first coming was set within a Jewish context, and His second coming will be the same. The Jewish people and the land of the Savior’s birth will play a major role in His glorious return. In fact, He will return to Jerusalem when, and only when, Jewish people turn to Him as Savior and Lord (Matthew 23:37–39; Zechariah 12:9–10). 

BIBLICAL ZIONISM

The hope of Zion and the promise of God to Jewish people of a land, a purpose, and a destiny is not a political philosophy, but a truth from the Word of God. 

What, then, are the responsibilities of believers in Jesus? 

First, we are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. In Psalm 122:6, the psalmist tells us to pray for God’s peace to come to Jerusalem. Jerusalem also represents the whole nation of Israel, so please pray for all Israel and Jewish people worldwide. We need to pray for the Prince of Peace to return to His rightful throne in Jerusalem and reign over Jewish people and the nations with true righteousness. 

I hope that every follower of Jesus will support Jewish people as Israel is home to more than half of the world’s Jewish population. Supporting Israel, however, does not mean every Christian must agree with every decision made by the prime minister of Israel or the government of Israel. Rather, followers of Jesus should support the right of the State to exist and thrive, and ultimately be a place ready for Messiah’s return. Overall, Christians should bless Jewish people in any way possible as instructed by God (Genesis 12:2–5). 

Of course, one of the most obvious responsibilities Christians have toward Jewish people is to proclaim the good news of Jesus. Paul instructs Gentiles to make Jewish people jealous of the Jewish Messiah living in their hearts (Romans 11:11). 

Finally, it is very important to bless Jewish people by standing against antisemitism. The line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism is being crossed regularly. We see this fact in the exponential rise in global antisemitism since October 7, which is no coincidence. Today, the political, ethical, moral, and spiritual issues intertwine in ways difficult to separate. Christians must show God’s love for Israel and Jewish people by countering antisemitism on social media. There is also prejudice against Jewish people and Israelis on many college campuses; we should speak up against it at our alma maters and on campuses in our respective towns. 

In light of the massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023, it is very important for those who love the Lord to make a clear, unequivocal statement of love and support for Israel and Jewish people. Supporting modern Israel and caring about Palestinians are not mutually exclusive! A testimony of your love for Jewish people and the State of Israel will demonstrate God’s love and faithful commitment to His Jewish people.

I hope you enjoy the rest of this urgent newsletter, and I encourage you to continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

1 “Evangelical Attitudes Toward Israel Research Study: Evangelical Attitudes Towards Israel and the Peace Process,” Lifeway Research, 2017, https://research.lifeway.com/wp-content/ uploads/2017/12/Evangelical-Attitudes-Toward-Israel-Research-Study-Report.pdf. 

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January 15, 2024 · 8:30 AM

Transformed by His Grace

Thank you for your prayers for Israel during these difficult days. I recently spent a week in the Holy Land visiting with our staff. The entire nation is mourning over those murdered by Hamas and the many hostages yet to be found and released.

During my trip, I witnessed our staff serving the displaced and evacuated, helping to provide food for the elderly who are unable or frightened to go out of their homes to shop. The sirens were blaring during most of my time in the Holy Land as Hamas fired hundreds of rockets into Tel Aviv neighborhoods and many other cities within Israel.

Despite this, we are still progressing with our new Messianic center in Tel Aviv. Though delayed because of the war, we hope to complete the work by the end of this summer.

TRANSFORMED BY THE POWER OF GOD

Our Israeli staff told many stories about Israelis turning toward heaven for answers to life’s most profound questions. They have lost trust in their leaders, especially in Israel’s military and intelligence agencies, leading to a number of Israelis coming to faith in Jesus, the Messiah. We baptized one young woman who recently became a believer within a week of the October 7 attacks!

I well remember the day when Jesus came into my life. I was raised in a traditional Jewish home in New York City. At the age of nineteen, I ran out of answers to the deeper questions of my heart and turned to the Messiah Jesus. Ever since then, the Spirit of God began transforming my life! The Bible describes this change, in the words of the apostle Paul: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I never tire of hearing the stories of others, both Jewish and Gentile, who have been transformed by the power of God. Helping Jewish people find eternal life through the Jewish Messiah remains the focus of Chosen People Ministries as it has from the very beginning of our ministry 130 years ago.

May I share some testimonies of Jewish people who recently came to faith in Jesus?1

Leah, for example, found Jesus when facing a dangerous medical condition:

In 2018, I was diagnosed with a rare heart condition causing abnormally fast heartbeats due to an extra electrical connection in my heart. While recovering from surgery, I was stuck at home and depressed. My mother encouraged me to read the Bible. One day, following the voice of the Lord with a deep feeling that repentance would save me, I decided to go to the beach to repent before God, and at the beach, I had an encounter with the Lord and was filled with His peace.

A few days later, I woke up with a new “spiritual” heart. Words could not describe the joy. Though my faith was so new, and I often thought my physical heart would fail me, it did not because God was so faithful. I give thanks to my Lord and Savior, Yeshua (Jesus). He enables me to stand firm today, encouraging others, loving others, and sharing my story of salvation. Though the journey has started, it is not over until He returns.

Anya, who came to Israel from Eastern Europe in 2014, discovered hope as she saw believers helping people like her flee from Hamas rockets:

A couple of months ago, when the war started, we were running away from rockets in the city where we lived. Days later, I saw some people coming to help us, giving us a place to live and some food . . . but, it was not just physical food they gave us as we began to talk about spiritual matters. They helped us sacrificially without asking for anything in return, and this caused me to think about what made them different.

I looked at their lives, relationships, how they related to one another, and I thought I wanted to be like them. Over time, I came to understand Who was behind this. I came to love not only this community of believers but the God they loved and the Messiah they worshiped. I see the change not only in me but in my ten-year-old daughter too. She has become not just more friendly but is starting to pray and understand more about the Lord. Before, I believed in myself, but now I know God exists and wants us to follow Him.

God used logic to reveal Himself to Miriam, who now has a passion for sharing her faith:

Though I grew up in a secular, atheistic Jewish family, God showed Himself to me in a special way. He had to get hold of my intellect before He captured my heart. One of my teachers in high school was a Messianic Jewish believer. He did not make a big deal about it, but I remember one of the students pressing him about what he believed one day, and he said, “Yes, I’m a Messianic Jew; I believe in Jesus.” Later, I dated a guy who also said he was a Jewish follower of Jesus. We had lots of theological arguments.

By then, I was more open and wanted to learn about his point of view. At first, I tried to prove him wrong. He gave me a Bible (including the New Testament). I remember reading the Gospels and writing my questions in a notebook. My boyfriend later invited me to attend a congregation with him. I was glad to because I had all these questions I wanted to ask. I was not convinced of everything at first, but then it made sense to me, and I put my trust in the Messiah Jesus. I was baptized soon after.

Reading the Gospel of Matthew changed the life of Doron, a former Orthodox Israeli:

My family moved to Israel from Russia in 1998. After I joined the army, I became Orthodox. I followed a religious lifestyle for about three years—observing the Sabbath, eating kosher, and reciting the daily prayers, but I was never fully convinced. I wanted more evidence than just taking someone’s word for it. So, I continued searching, and after slowly abandoning religious Jewish practices, I led a secular lifestyle for about six years.

I still believed in God and was always interested in spirituality. I read books about Jewish mysticism, Buddhism, Japanese philosophy, etc. Then, I began listening to sermons on YouTube about Jesus. Though I knew very little about the New Testament then, I found what this “preacher” said was extremely powerful, and I wanted to hear more. The videos helped me connect a lot of the dots about how Jesus fits with the Old Testament. So, I started reading the Gospel of Matthew and soon became convinced Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and gave my life to Him.

I hope these testimonies touched your heart as they did mine. We pray many more Jewish people will join the remnant of the redeemed the apostle Paul described in Romans 11:5: “a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”

Your prayers and financial support are essential to us, and we know we could not fulfill our calling without you. One quick way to proclaim the message of the Messiah to Jewish friends is to send them a link to one of our testimonies on http://www.ifoundshalom.com.

Please keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem and for our work among Jewish people in Israel and beyond. Your gift today encourages us to proclaim the gospel, and God is answering your prayers and filling our dedicated staff with power from on high to be His instruments of grace, leading Jewish people to Jesus.

1 These stories are based on personal interviews and were lightly edited for clarity. All names changed.

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September 21, 2023 · 3:56 PM

“Let the Children Come to Me”

Shalom in His grace. Thank you for taking a few moments to read and reflect on the ministry and concerns of Chosen People Ministries—Your Mission to the Jewish People.

Our mission statement reflects the teaching of Scripture:  “Chosen People Ministries exists to pray for, evangelize, disciple, and serve Jewish people everywhere and to help fellow believers do the same.”

I am grateful for your prayers and support! Without you, we could not continue this great and historic work among Jewish people!

THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH EVANGELISM

The Bible builds a powerful case for the importance and urgency of Jewish evangelism. We are all, hopefully, familiar with verses like Romans 1:16, 11:11, and the words of encouragement from the Savior Himself who told us, “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). We can also learn from Paul’s strategy in the book of Acts, where he consistently went to the synagogue to reach his fellow Jewish people even as he exercised his calling as the apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul passionately expresses his broken heart for his own Jewish people in his letter to the Romans (Rom 9:1–3, Rom 9–11):

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (Rom 9:1–3)

I deeply identify with Paul’s sentiments. Passages like these from Romans and others form the biblical foundation for Chosen People Ministries, which has not changed in 129 years. Chosen People Ministries’ history is important to understand as our past helps shape our future!

THE HISTORY OF CHOSEN PEOPLE MINISTRIES

Chosen People Ministries’ founder, Rabbi Leopold Cohn, left his home in Hungary and immigrated to the United States in 1892. Soon after he arrived, the rabbi heard the good news about the Messiah from a young Polish Presbyterian missionary to the Jewish people. After receiving the Lord, Rabbi Cohn studied theology in Scotland and returned to Brooklyn in 1894 to begin what is now known as Chosen People Ministries.

God called Rabbi Cohn to reach out to his fellow Jewish people immigrating to the United States. At that time, the Mission served the material and spiritual needs of the growing population of Jewish immigrants.

Several decades later, our staff served the survivors of the Holocaust—a tragedy of astronomic proportions. Today, we still assist elderly Holocaust survivors. Most are in their nineties and living in Israel!

Our staff love God’s chosen people, and we do whatever it takes to support their needs and present the gospel message at the same time.

Our focus has always been on a people, not a particular country. In the 1990s, when millions of Russian-speaking Jewish people left the former Soviet Union for America, Germany, Canada, Australia, and, of course, Israel, we were there to help and show the love of Jesus the Messiah to our people.

With God’s help, Chosen People Ministries is eager to reach Jewish people of the twenty-first century. Our strategies, methods, and materials have changed with the times and will continue to adapt—which is part of our DNA. Yet, the gospel we proclaim remains the same: We preach an unchanging message of God’s power to save, “to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). We preach this message in Hebrew, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, French, English, and as many languages as it takes to reach our people!

We began as a global ministry, and by His grace, we will continue this way until the great day when, as Paul writes, “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). Only then will our work be done.

“HELPING OTHERS DO THE SAME”

Chosen People Ministries relies on the help and partnership of our brothers and sisters in the Messiah to help us reach the 15 million-plus Jewish people in the world today. Our mission statement affirms we not only reach Jewish people with the gospel but also help the church do the same.

To understand how evangelicals perceive the Jewish people, we decided to study Christian involvement in Jewish evangelism by sponsoring a survey of more than 2,000 evangelicals.1

This survey discovered approximately 70 percent of evangelicals look favorably toward Israel, and 86 percent agree proclaiming the gospel among Jewish people is important. We found this fact very encouraging. However, we also learned age makes a big difference! According to the survey, evangelicals age 65 or older are 10 percent more likely to agree “sharing the gospel with Jewish people is important” than evangelicals ages 18 to 34.2

We looked at other organizations’ surveys to see if this interest in Israel and the Jewish people among younger Christians was waning and how it might impact their willingness to be active in reaching their Jewish friends for the Lord.

A survey by the Brookings Institution in 2021 found support for Israel among young evangelicals dropped all the way to 34 percent from 75 percent in 2018. Within just three years, support for Israel plummeted 41 percent!3 So, our research and the results of others confirms younger evangelicals are becoming less favorable to Israel and are likely growing cooler toward Jewish evangelism as well.

We suspect support of Jewish missions increases when those engaged have a favorable view of Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Since this favorability is lessening among younger evangelicals, we should be concerned about Jewish evangelism decreasing among this group as well.

INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF JEWISH EVANGELISTS

How do we pass the baton to a new generation who might not necessarily embrace the full package of evangelical views and values cherished by previous generations? Though generations and cultures change, God’s character and Word do not. We believe affirming the ongoing role of the land and people of Israel in God’s plan is part of being faithful to Scripture. So, we should care about helping younger evangelicals appreciate this key theme in the Bible.

We asked our staff and friends to suggest some ways we can help a new generation of Christians care about the Jewish people.

To most effectively spur the next generation to support Israel and passionately proclaim the gospel among the Jewish people, we need to start educating at a young age. Childhood and adolescence are key times to learn about the world and form opinions about complex topics. We should reach children at home, through kid’s programs at local churches, and at Christian camps. As kids mature, we can cultivate conversations about Israel and the Jewish people through youth groups and student ministries.

For this reason, we are producing new materials to help children learn about and love Jewish people. We are excited about our new animated video and teaching materials for children on the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). This video is available now, and I hope you will watch it and pass it along to your children, grandchildren, children’s pastors, and homeschooling groups.

The video is by no means our only strategy for reaching younger generations! For years, we have run summer camps and winter weekend retreats for children and adolescents. These programs have shaped hundreds of young people’s relationships with the Messiah and have influenced their understanding of Israel in the Bible. These camps are only growing!

Another way to inspire younger generations toward Jewish outreach is through our new Host Israelis ministry. We are currently recruiting host families for this new ministry where you can have young Israelis stay in your home. This will not only be good for the Israelis who will see your love for the Lord through your hospitality, but it will also help your kids or grandchildren who might be meeting Israelis for the first time. You can then follow up by teaching these children about God’s plan for Israel and the Jewish people! Stay tuned to hear more about our Host Israelis ministry in our November newsletter!

We believe one way we can influence a new generation of Christian young people for the Lord is to foster from a young age their interest in Israel and in outreach to their Jewish friends.

I am sure you will enjoy this newsletter, and please join us in praying for the next generation of young people who will carry the banner of the Messiah and Jewish outreach to a future day . . . until He returns!

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August 2, 2023 · 4:35 PM

Messianic Jewish Music: A Testament to God’s Faithfulness

We see the dramatic rise of new Messianic music today and musicians, especially in Israel, including Joshua Aaron, SOLU, MIQEDEM, and others who are writing Israeli-style Messianic music, unlike the older, more eastern European tunes. The older style gave powerful testimony to a generation of post-Holocaust Jewish people, confirming you can be Jewish and believe in Jesus. At the same time, these new Israeli sounds make it clear Israelis who believe in Jesus are not only still Jewish but, by culture and nationality, proudly Israeli.

Many Messianic congregations worldwide have embraced this new form of music, and it is an authentic part of our worship life and witness to how you can be Jewish and believe in Jesus. What a joyful Jewish testimony for the Lord!

MESSIANIC JEWISH MUSIC FOR ALL

Rabbi Stuart Dauermann1 is one of the early fathers of Messianic music who continues to lead worship and write today. I asked my dear friend Stuart about his pilgrimage in Messianic music and wanted to tell you some of his thoughts.

I am so grateful to Stuart for his treasure trove of musical contributions to the corporate life and testimony of today’s growing Messianic Jewish community. Singing songs expressing our love for the Lord is always a sign of a vital and growing movement of the Spirit.

Our Messianic Jewish music is so essential to our identity as Messianic Jewish people and for our witness. If the number one objection Jewish people have about believing in Jesus is they would no longer be Jewish, then our music might be the loudest and sweetest testimony to proving we keep our Jewish identity. At our core, we are always who God made us (1 Corinthians 7:18), even more so when we recognize He created a covenant people whom He called for His specific purposes.

Every Jewish believer in Jesus we meet is a testament to God’s covenant faithfulness. When we lift our voices and sing Messianic songs within our hearts, we not only affirm we are Jewish followers of Jesus but also identify with and love our people.

Enjoy the rest of the newsletter, and please continue praying the Lord will put a new song in the hearts of Jewish people worldwide. You can help make this happen by praying and standing with Your Mission to the Jewish People.

AN INTERVIEW WITH STUART DAUERMANN

How do you define Messianic Music?

I used to define Messianic music as Jewish in flavor and apostolic in doctrine. I no longer define it that way because it left out the element of communal location. I now favor this definition: “Messianic music is music that is Jewish in flavor, apostolic in doctrine, and expressive of the covenantal and social location of Messianic Jews as part of the remnant within Israel and not outside of it.”

How did you begin writing Messianic music?

I attended an American Board of Missions to the Jews (Chosen People Ministries’ older name) meeting in New York City, where the leaders sought to communicate in Jewish ways to Jewish people. However, as I told the director there, the music in the meetings sounded very un-Jewish. The music actually implied that Jewish people who believe in Jesus lose their identity as Jews. Since I was going to music school then, he challenged me to write some better music. So I did!

What might the future of Messianic music look like?

Messianic music will lose its power and lose its way if those responsible for it themselves lose clarity on their identity as Jewish believers in Jesus. The music must not only be biblically and theologically sound but must also be an authentic expression of Jewish faith in Jesus the Messiah. To achieve this, over the past thirty-five years, I have increasingly written music based on Jewish liturgy, which itself expresses the voice and soul of the Jewish people. Only by hitting the right biblical, theological, communal, and cultural notes will it be possible for Messianic music to be spiritually enriching and something not only lively but alive.

1 Dauermann earned music theory and music education degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. He later completed a PhD in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary.

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January 20, 2023 · 8:00 AM

Helping Suffering Ukrainians

We are celebrating our 129th year of proclaiming the gospel among the Jewish people worldwide! For me, it is a great honor to lead this historic mission to the Jewish people started by Rabbi Leopold Cohn in 1894. 

Chosen People Ministries means so much to me and Zhava. My wife came to faith through young adults trained to witness to Jewish people by a Chosen People Ministries missionary at the very Jewish high school in Los Angeles she attended. I will be forever grateful for this Chosen People missionary and the young evangelists he trained! 

In so many wonderful ways, I am a debtor to the Lord and to Chosen People Ministries! Paul understood this great biblical truth so well when he wrote, 

“I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise” (Romans 1:14, NKJV). 

As a young man, barely 19 years old and as a brand-new believer, Chosen People Ministries paid my way through Bible College. The missionaries who were part of the New York area work at that time helped disciple me in the Word of God, and I am thankful for their personal and devoted care for me and my walk with God. Especially as at the time my family did not understand my newfound faith and I desperately needed the support of more mature believers . . . Chosen People Ministries provided all this for me at a crucial time in my life. 

It is a privilege to do the same for so many others in more than twenty-five cities in the United States and Canada and in twenty-one countries around the globe. I am so glad we can continue the Rabbi’s vision of bringing the gospel to the Jewish people—my people—in so many new and relevant ways without changing the eternal message of the gospel. I cannot tell you how many thousands of people, even millions, have watched the Messianic Jewish testimonies found on http://www.ifoundshalom. com. If you have not seen them, please watch and make sure you view my testimony on the site. It will help you appreciate what I write when you see the power of God’s deliverance in my life! 

Helping Suffering Ukrainians 

I am excited about all God is doing through Your Mission to the Jewish People today. Yet, at the same time, it grieves me when I remember the plight of war-torn Ukrainian families—especially in the midst of a dramatically cold and severe winter. 

During January, we like to remember the words of the great Jewish apostle who wrote, 

“For 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” (Romans 1:16). 

We believe the gospel is “to the Jew first” and also to the Gentiles. This ministry strategy is of great practical importance to our mission, especially during these terrible and tragic days of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. We are doing all we can, especially during this deadly winter, to bring food, warmth, and spiritual hope to thousands who are suffering. 

This crisis has been ongoing for about a year, with no clear end in sight. Your generosity enables us to invest thousands of dollars in relief work each month in Ukraine and other places refugees have fled, like Poland, Germany, and Israel. 

Let me summarize what we have been able to do because of your prayers and generosity. 

Every month since the war began, we have sent aid to a network of Messianic Jewish congregations in Ukraine. We have served these congregations for more than thirty years! They are dependable, hardworking people whose lives are war shattered. Without our help, some of these dear brothers and sisters and their children would barely be making it. Knowing how winter, with freezing temperatures and shorter days, greatly exacerbates the hardship of life in Ukraine, we organized a winter relief fund some months ago to prepare for these harder times. 

These resources help our Ukrainian brothers and sisters receive everyday necessities like flashlights, winter clothing, heaters, generators, and sleeping bags. Due to Russian attacks, electricity is unreliable throughout the country. Heating and water are also scarce, especially in eastern Ukraine. In addition to winter supplies, we continue to provide funds for basics like rent, food, and medicine. 

One of our Russian-speaking Israeli staff members visits Ukraine and Poland several times a year to aid the relief efforts. He recently helped a church in western Ukraine organize a three-day retreat for refugees from Mariupol, a city hit hard by the fighting. The program includes walking in the mountains, playing games with the kids, relaxing, and studying the Bible. One man who attended went four days without drinking alcohol and just told us he has decided to quit drinking! He needs to take the next step and receive Jesus as His Savior, which will bring unimaginable healing to his heart, soul, and family. 

Project Promised Land 

More than 30,000 Ukrainians immigrated to Israel since the war began. Israel also received tens of thousands of immigrants from Russia, who oppose the war and Putin’s increasingly restrictive regime. Many of these newcomers arrive with little more than the clothing on their backs. 

Through Project Promised Land, our staff in Israel are hard at work helping the new arrivals settle into Israeli life. We distributed gift cards totaling thousands of dollars for groceries and other essentials. We also serve these refugees by assisting with government paperwork and organizing free tours of biblical sites. Hundreds of people participated in these tours. A few have come to faith and have since connected with local Israeli churches. 

Our staff hosted a three-day conference for families who recently arrived from Ukraine and Russia. The time together greatly encouraged these children and families who endured so much. We also regularly welcome these immigrants to Sabbath meetings and other events at our Jerusalem and Tel Aviv centers. Through these programs, our team embodies the love and compassion of Jesus, which leads to opportunities to proclaim the gospel. 

The Difference You Made 

I want you to know how much your support means to the thousands of Ukrainian lives we touched over this difficult year. There are so many stories I could tell, but here are two brief testimonies from the leaders of Ukrainian Messianic congregations we are helping: 

We are a Jewish Messianic Community in the city of Zhytomyr [near Kyiv]. We are grateful to God and Chosen People Ministries, as well as to our brothers and sisters who have raised finances to buy warm clothes and everything we need to get through winter. We are grateful to the ministry for having been able to send the funds necessary to help in this difficult time. May God bless and cover the needs of your hearts for the riches of His glory. Amen. 

Another congregational leader in Kharkiv writes: 

We want to thank Chosen People Ministries for monthly financial support during this difficult moment of life in Ukraine. We thank God for your work, prayers, special attention, and understanding of the whole situation! 

Unfortunately, the crisis is not over. No resolution is yet in sight, and we are still in the early days of winter. The coming months will be difficult with scarce heating and unreliable electricity throughout Ukraine. 

We request your prayers as we seek to tell Ukrainians about the healing work of Yeshua. Thank you, again, so much for your partnership. We could not do our work without you! 

And now some late breaking news! 

We are also purchasing a building in Tel Aviv. This property will provide more than twice the space as our current rental for our gospel events designed for both young and old. Since the new building was bare, we are now in the thick of renovating the property so it will be ready for our ministry programs. In the coming weeks, we will tell you much more about our exciting plans for our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center and how you can support the creation of a Messianic Center in Tel Aviv. 

Thanks for investing in the salvation of Jewish people in Israel, Ukraine, and around the globe! 

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