Don't miss this special 'It's Supernatural' episode where Sid Roth hosts Barry and Batya!


They'll be talking about the glory God is pouring out on Israel, Batya's family origins in the land, and the constant attacks coming from the nations.


The episode airs the week of the 20th of December on different networks:

Click here for stations and airing times!

Barry and Batya are interviewed by Sid Roth in the Israel Update

Barry & Batya with Sid Roth Teaser

Are you willing to bless Israel, make a difference in the lives of people, and partner with God's plan for restoration of the land of Israel?

Don't miss this special 'It's Supernatural' episode where Sid Roth hosts Barry and Batya talking about testimonies and mobile shelters.

Barry & Batya Testimonies & Shelters | Blog | Vision for Israel

Barry & Batya Talk about Shelters with Sid Roth

Join us for this week’s reading of Parashat Vayechi as we take a deeper look into the last verses in the book of Genesis (47:28-50:26). The other passages included in this week’s reading are 1 Kings 2:1-2:12, Hebrews 11:21-22, and 1 Peter 1:3-9.

Throughout the book of Genesis, we learn about our fathers, their interesting lives, their wives and children, and their process of passing on blessings from generation to generation. We also learn that our ancestors are mere mortals, and yet they were chosen by God to be eternal legacies that impact future generations. Our ancestors have paved the way for faith in God and in showing us how to walk in step with Him. 



The Father’s Blessings and Instructions

In these last few chapters of the book of Genesis, we will discover more about the end of Jacob's life in the land of Egypt and the way he blessed each of his children and grandchildren. Here are the instructions and blessings he gave:


First, he instructed Joseph not to bury him in Egypt, but in the place where his fathers were buried (Gen. 47:29-31). 

Second, he blessed Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Gen. 48). 

Third, he blessed all twelve of his sons, each with a special blessing (Gen. 49:1-25). 

And his last instruction was for his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah (Gen. 49:29-32).

Jacob’s Request & The Blessing of Joseph’s Sons

The first instruction that Jacob gave to Joseph was: “When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, ‘If I have found favour in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.” (Gen. 47:29-30). At this point, Jacob was 147 years old, and together with his sons and their families, they were living in Egypt with Joseph for 17 years. Joseph was the second-most powerful man in the Egyptian kingdom, and yet he agreed to his father’s request and brought his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see their grandfather before he died.



“Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, ‘I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.’” —Genesis 48:10-11

Jacob Blesses His Sons & Gives His Last Instruction (Genesis 49)

Picture Jacob lying in his bed about to die with all twelve of his sons by his bedside. Each of the sons was probably eager to hear what blessing they would receive from their father. Jacob blesses all twelve of his sons and then gives one last instruction for him to be buried in the cave in the field of Machpelah where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah were buried.



When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.” —Genesis 49:33

As soon as Jacob breathes his last breath, Joseph throws himself on his father weeping over him and kissing him. He has his father embalmed and then asks Pharaoh for permission to bury his father in Canaan. With the blessing of Pharaoh, Joseph went to Canaan to bury his father, accompanied by Pharaoh’s officials and Joseph’s family. Joseph and his brothers fulfilled their promise to their father by burying him in the cave in the field of Machpelah. 

As Joseph and the whole company return to Egypt, Joseph’s brothers are filled with fear that Joseph will try to pay them back for all the wrongs they did to him. Therefore, they lie to him and tell him that their father left one last instruction for Joseph to forgive his brothers. As Joseph sees his brothers, he graciously explains to them, “‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (Gen. 19-21)

Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years, embalmed and placed in a coffin kept in Egypt.



Can you see a similarity between the life of Joseph and the life of Yeshua? They were both hated by their brothers, sold, suffered greatly, and yet became powerful men who saved many lives. Joseph provided food for the hungry and saved many lives. Yeshua fed millions, not only physical food but also spiritual food. Yeshua gave up his life to save all who would believe in him. Joseph was hidden from his brothers and they did not recognize him when they came to Egypt. Yet, Joseph knew his brothers right away, had compassion and love towards them, and even chose to forgive them for betraying him. Yeshua is hidden from the eyes of his people and betrayed by many, and yet he knows his people, loves them, forgives them, and gave up his life for them. 




As we reflect on Joseph’s life, we see the long-suffering he had to endure. He stood up before his family and expressed his interpretation of his dreams, and because of this his brothers hated him, were jealous of him, and even collaborated against him. All the hate was simply because he stood up and told them the simple truth, which may have caused them to feel that Joseph was being arrogant. How would one feel if we were in his position?  Lonely, angry, upset, ashamed, embarrassed, or maybe blaming himself? His brothers threw him into a pit to let him die, then sold him to the Egyptians. Later, he was put in prison for 12 years. Joseph was the only one who was able to interpret the dream that Pharaoh had, and because of this his life was saved and he was promoted to the second most powerful position in Egypt.

When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt in need of food, Joseph could have taken advantage of the situation for revenge and return to them a portion of what they had done to him. But instead, Joseph was only interested in one thing… to find out about his father and if he was still alive. Then in this parashah, we learn how he was longing to get the blessings from his father. He knew that this blessing was the most important element he needed in his life, in order to pass it on to his children.

As we reflect on the lives of our ancestors, we pray that we gain a deeper understanding of the blessings and instructions our Heavenly Father is personally speaking over each one of us. God, please help us bless the way Jacob blessed his sons and grandsons, forgive the way Joseph forgave his brothers, and love the way Yeshua loves and cares for His people.


From Parashat Vayechi we learn about the way Jacob blessed his children and grandchildren before dying in Egypt, and also about the legacy of Joseph’s life.

Parashat Vayechi—Teaching Blog | Blog | Vision for Israel

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Over the last three months, our efforts have been focused on providing basic essentials and prepaid gift cards to families in need throughout the land of Israel. Here are some highlights from our recent activities.

This has been an amazing summer. We have been hard at work helping anyone and everyone that we can and spreading God’s light throughout our community. Though we know that this work has amazing effects, sometimes it really strikes us how much of an impact we can make through God and our donors and friends.

Imagine all the 275,000 children who were the recipients of VFI’s school bags over the years coming together to shout “thank you!” The sound would be tremendous. It is this reality that keeps us going.

It warms our hearts when we interact with these children and their parents. Their joy and laughter at our events bring out the children in us too, something that is rare and cherished as the years pass. Through the eyes of these children and their smiles, we can relive our own childhoods. Our ability to help them attend school and gain education is nothing but a blessing. 

In August, we donated two more vehicles to MDA (Magen David Adom): a bloodmobile, and a mobile intensive care unit ambulance (MICU). The dedication event was heartfelt and meaningful, full of sincere speeches and gratitude. So far, over 30,000 emergency responses have occurred with all the vehicles that we have donated. Saving lives and saving people is what it is all about!

“This is a day we dreamed of seeing since Vision for Israel was founded and began 27 years ago. Not only being able to save lives when needed, but to serve the community around us and all Israel. It gives us the privilege to serve, providing hope and strength in any time of need for emergency services provided by Magen David Adom. We do not just believe in miracles and visions but in their coming to fulfilment." 

Every year, the weeks before the Jewish High Holidays are especially busy for us at Vision for Israel. One of VFI’s main activities is the distribution of magnetic gift cards to low-income families, the elderly, Holocaust survivors, new immigrants, terror survivors, and lone soldiers.

Many times, a gift card means the world to them, especially in preparation for the holidays. This time of year means more expenses and more preparation for family meals and celebrations. Our magnetic gift cards help to ease financial stress and help families to celebrate the High Holidays properly. 

We held a ceremony at the Millennium Centre for 52 terror survivor students and their families. The students received scholarships to help them with their higher education. There was a moving speech and beautiful music. The latter was performed by a musician who lost both his parents in an act of terrorism.

Giving scholarships brought intense joy to many of these students, and allowed us to help to ease some of the pain and hardship that they carry. 

Protection is Here!  Mobile Bomb Shelters 

When the rockets were falling on us, we found ourselves praying for God's intervention. Our prayers—and our appeals to you, our faithful partners—have been answered. Thanks to your generous participation and faith in our work and in God, we have now ordered enough shelters and locking systems for the first stage of our goal.

We are so incredibly grateful to have received a donation of 1,020 new pairs of denim overalls from the Netherlands.

Our team at Vision for Israel donates the clothing we receive to needy families. We also give to children’s homes and at-risk children, as well as young people with unique emotional and cognitive needs. Our donors in this arena have always been so generous, and we are continually grateful. 

Hunger does not only exist during the holiday season, so we work with food donations all year long. Our wonderful volunteers have helped us pack hundreds of baskets during every donation event. We then distribute the baskets along with magnetic cards for purchasing food at the major food chains. Dozens of families come to various centres across the country to receive the assistance. We work in collaboration with the welfare departments to locate the people who need help the most. This month, our team distributed food baskets in Neve Yaakov in Jerusalem and Rishon Lezion. We see these baskets making a huge difference for some families, and all of them are so grateful to our donors for making our work possible.

It's always good when our partnerships with organizations and non-profits expand. Recently we sorted and packed lots of items to donate to charities. Among the objects were clothing and shoes, medical equipment, tools, housewares, undergarments, bedding, school bags, and more. The organizations that receive the donations address important issues in Israeli society, such as helping minorities, rescue and disaster relief, combating domestic violence, and helping school dropouts.

With the help of our partner organizations, we can reach out to more and more people in need.

As we do every year, this winter we will hold a festive event for dozens of bar and bat mitzvah boys and girls from families affected by terrorist attacks. We do this together with other organizations that represent the victims of hostilities and terrorism.

The work begins months in advance, as we plan and improve our methods. All of us are very excited and hope to hold a moving, significant, and memorable event this year for these dear children, who have endured more in the past few years than many of us have in our whole lives.

We are so grateful to our partners, donors, and friends who make all of the above possible. There are truly no words to express the great impact you can have on these communities and families. If you have not already, you can take part in all these exciting life-changing experiences by pledging monthly donations to Vision for Israel. Our work is never-ending, and every donation helps us to spread God’s love and word across Israel.

Over the past quarter, we have succeeded in helping hundreds of families and individuals in different ways. Thanks to our donors, we can continue to spread God’s love. 

Impact Report—November 2021 | Blog | Vision for Israel

We hate war.  We do not rejoice in victories.  We rejoice when a new kind of cotton is grown, and when strawberries bloom in Israel.

Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Hebrew calendar, is a day of fasting and reflection. We all have fond memories of breaking the fast with family at the end of the Day of Atonement and looking forward to celebrating Sukkot. This day is so revered that it is never postponed, even when it lands on the Shabbat. It is central to the Jewish faith.

Though the holiday has been honoured and celebrated for centuries, Yom Kippur of 1973 stands out as a painful and tragic date. This day will be talked about for decades, via stories that hold immense pain, courage, and heroism. On Shabbat, October 6, 1973, the Yom Kippur War erupted, bringing a dark memory to this otherwise blessed day. 

The war began as Egyptian and Syrian soldiers advanced to reclaim land that they had lost during the famous Six-Day war of 1967. Israel was attacked simultaneously on the northern and southern borders. The attack was ordered by the president of Egypt at the time, Anwar el-Sadat. Though he wanted to make peace with Israel, he knew that his country’s poor economy and lost land would create unfavourable peacetime conditions for the Egyptians. He decided instead to attack Israel on the holiest of days.

Because most Israeli soldiers were observing Yom Kippur with their families, there were fewer ready to fight the incoming armies. What happened next is destruction and desolation like we have never known. 

Batya shares her memories from this war: “I lived two houses from the Prime Minister's residence. Like every Yom Kippur, the streets were deserted, and there was not a single vehicle on the roads. There were no means of communication, as all the channels were off. Only the worshipers who come and go to the synagogue were seen on the streets from time to time. Everyone was weak and tired from the fast.

At noon I heard vehicles driving on the road at breakneck speed. They just kept coming. I went out on the porch to see who dared to drive on Yom Kippur and found that the drivers were personnel and government ministers who had arrived at the home of Prime Minister Golda Meir.

We knew something was wrong, so we turned on the radio to find out what was happening.“

An IDF spokesman on the radio said: "As of 2:00 PM, Egyptian and Syrian forces are attacking Sinai and the Golan Heights in the air and on land. After a series of airstrikes on our outposts and force camps, the infantry launched a ground attack. Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal in several places, and Syrian forces launched an armoured and infantry attack along the line in the Golan Heights. IDF forces are working against the attackers, and in both sectors there are battles in the air and on land."

The rest is history. Though its enemies tried to destroy Israel through this surprise attack, Israel gained territories that it had never intended to capture. Egypt had lost the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip, Jordan lost the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and East Jerusalem, and Syria lost the Golan Heights. Israel’s victory came at the cost of heavy casualties, and Israelis criticized the government’s lack of preparedness. That time is now described as "a war heavy with days, and heavy with blood.”

Testimony of an Israeli pilot:

"I was on a flight over the Suez Canal. We were on a mission to stop the Egyptian forces that tried in the masses of tanks and soldiers to enter the borders of Israel. I saw from the cockpit the incomparable balance of power, hundreds of enemy army tanks and thousands of Egyptian soldiers approaching and fighting. On the Israeli side, there were very few military forces to provide protection for the borders. From above it seemed shocking. It could end in a Holocaust and the destruction of an entire state, the State of Israel. I did not believe what I saw, and I said to myself, it can not be. Where is the balance of power?

Air Force planes continued with continuous shelling and I saw the thousands of Egyptian soldiers advancing with almost no interruption and few forces of soldiers and tanks on the Israeli side.

Then I sat in the cockpit and prayed for a miracle. I am a kibbutznik, and I was educated in a non-religious kibbutz. But suddenly I see an amazing spectacle. Masses of Egyptian soldiers returning towards Egypt, tanks retreating. Some of the enemy fighters raise a white flag and surrender, and I do not understand what is happening. I'm stunned and ask myself, what's going on down there?

This scene has not been erased from my memory and I remember that later when the war was forgotten in the warriors' discourse, I heard what had happened from the testimony of the Egyptian prisoners.

Here is the story from the Egyptian side: As the Egyptians advanced toward Israel, they suddenly saw masses of Israeli soldiers. They were sure they were falling into a trap from which they wouldn’t come out alive. They did not understand where all these soldiers came from. Out of fear and anxiety they decided to surrender.

I am the pilot. I saw from above the balance of power. I knew that there is a God in heaven, that he guards us with all his angels. Thanks to his defence and intervention we were able to win the difficult and bloody war."

The formerly unbelieving pilot who gave the testimony became an observant and God-fearing believer after the miracle he saw that day.

Do not keep silent, O God!  Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God!  For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”  For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You“

Israel is surrounded by enemies. Our existence is a testimony for God’s wonders and miracles since the creation, an everlasting covenant He made with Abraham and our forefathers. Let the Lord continue to fight for us.

May we always remember times of tragedy, so that we may honor those who died and ensure that the evil of war does not repeat itself.

In 1973, Egypt and Syria made a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest of days. May we always remember this day and honor those who were lost.

A Reflection on The Yom Kippur War of 1973 | Blog | Vision for Israel

A Reflection on The Yom Kippur War of 1973

As you know, our team is constantly serving our community. Whether we are giving backpacks to children or funding medical vehicles, God’s work through you is ongoing.

The delivery of aid to families this week was particularly interesting. We took supplies and food baskets to about 50 families in downtown Jerusalem. The baskets were heavy, and there were no safe spaces to park and unload. In the end, we had to recruit willing passers-by to distribute the baskets to the waiting families. Though it was no small job, these people responded to our plea and helped us carry the baskets to the distribution point.

Families gathered their baskets, thanked us, and went home to cook their meals. However, while we were distributing we received a call from a woman. She was on our list to receive a food basket, but she had a special request. She could not take any dry food, only fresh and ready-to-eat items. This is because she was recently evicted from her home, and had taken to living in a nearby park. She had no stove to cook on, no kitchen to prepare anything in, and no hope of returning to her home. Her financial situation would prevent her from moving back in. We were able to bless her with a gift card so she could purchase food items that fit her situation.

God works in mysterious ways. This woman became a reminder from Him that every person we meet is facing a unique and personal struggle. Though we are all human, we all have different problems and issues to overcome. While we can’t pretend to understand this woman’s experience with homelessness, our heart goes out to her and her family.

This work can be difficult, but we are constantly encouraged by the fact that our service and our gifts truly mean something. Your help allowed this woman to eat and gave her a basic necessity that she had otherwise been denied. Anything we can do, any kindness we can extend, makes a difference. When we walk in God’s light and do good in His name, we make the world a better place.


We delivered food baskets to families this week and we realized the impact of acts of kindness. We must find ways to bring God’s love into everything we do.

Food Baskets for the Needy | Blog | Vision for Israel

So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; 

Did you know that God commanded the Israelites to rejoice before him for seven days every single year? Today, the Jewish people still celebrate this holiday called Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Booths, by gathering together with family and friends to rejoice before the Lord!

This year Sukkot begins sundown on 20 September and ends sundown on 27 September. Let’s discover more about this unique and God-commanded festival by diving into the word of God! 

‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of Sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of Sabbath rest. On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.’ (Leviticus 23:39-40)

In Leviticus, we discover that Sukkot is a time to rest and rejoice in our Heavenly Father, as we remember his faithfulness of delivering the Jewish people out of Egypt, sustaining them for 40 years in the wilderness, and bringing them into their Promised Land! Sukkot starts and ends with a Sabbath, which means no work is allowed on the first and eighth day of the Feast. On the days in between, people are free to work. However, many Israelis take these days as a holiday so they can rest and enjoy time with their family and friends.

Sukkot is also viewed from an agricultural perspective and is referred to as the Festival of Ingathering. This holiday signifies the end of the harvest season in the Land of Israel and therefore is a time to rejoice and feast on the crops gathered.

…Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. (Exodus 23:16)

The word Sukkot is actually the plural form of “sukkah”, which is a booth, tabernacle, or temporary shelter covered with plants. Therefore, the name of the holiday, Sukkot, indicates that this festival has to do with building temporary shelters. It is also believed that farmers dwelt in temporary shelters during the harvest season. 

In the book of Nehemiah, we see that the Lord commanded the Israelites to build temporary shelters to live in during Sukkot.


‘They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written. (Nehemiah 8:14-15)

Today, as you walk through the streets of Jerusalem during Sukkot, you will see a temporary dwelling called a sukkah, set up on people’s balconies, outside apartment buildings, and outside of restaurants. Many Jewish people build sukkahs to gather for meals and daily activities for the entire seven-day feast.

In the weeks leading up to Sukkot, Jewish people purchase the four species: willow branches, myrtles, etrogs, and lulav, in the market. The Jewish tradition is to wave the four species each day of the Feast.  When constructing the sukkah, it is important to leave holes or space between the branches on the roof so that the sky and the stars are still visible. This is done so the Jewish people can better understand what it felt like for their ancestors who slept under the stars in the wilderness for 40 years. There are still some that actually sleep in their sukkah for an even richer experience. 


“Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 23:42-43)

This scripture in Leviticus helps us see that God invites us to remember what He did for the Jewish people. Let us take time this Sukkot to remember God’s faithfulness of delivering the Jewish people out of Egypt, sustaining them for 40 years in the wilderness, and bringing them into their Promised Land!

For us who believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, Sukkot is not only a holiday to remember the past or celebrate the present, but it is also a prophetic feast that fixes our gaze forward to our glorious future. Sukkot is a picture of the day that we will finally get to dwell and tabernacle with the God of Israel! 


“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)

As you prepare to celebrate this joyous Feast of our Heavenly Father, we pray that you will take time to remember God’s faithfulness, rejoice in God’s goodness, and ready your heart for the incredible future and hope that awaits us in Yeshua! 



A Fun Adventure: This Sukkot holiday, try something new! Gather materials with family and friends to build a sukkah together. And then enjoy spending time inside the sukkah with some good food, star gazing, worship, and fun!


Sukkot is a seven-day celebration of rejoicing in the Lord! Seven days delighting in the God of Israel! Sukkot is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles.

Celebrating Sukkot With Joy! | Blog | Vision for Israel

But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 

Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe, but we have once again arrived at Rosh Hashanah. And as you probably already know, it’s a very special time—a holy time set aside to reflect on the year past and to ground ourselves in preparation for Yom Kippur. It’s a time of renewal, and of deep reflection as we look at our relationship with God and with the people in our lives over the past year. 

Especially during the High Holidays, God is asking us to remember the poorest among us and lift them up in any way that we can.

“For there will never cease to be poor people in the land. Therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You must surely open your hand to your brother—to your needy and poor in your land.’”

This has never been more necessary, as our world is constantly plagued with violence, disease, and loss of faith. The poor among us have suffered more than we can know—not only undergoing a pandemic as we have—but living in poverty and with food and housing insecurity. 

When considering the poor, we must make sure that we are humble, and that we put ourselves in a place of service. In order to truly care for the poor, we must acknowledge that we are no better than they are. We are equal in the eyes of God, so we must understand that the poor are our brethren and our peers. 

Remember, Yeshua walked the earth with humility. He aligned Himself with the lowly, the poor, and the sinner. In like manner, God’s grace is found in all walks of life. 

During this time of reflection, we should also consider why we give alms. When performing acts of mercy, we remember that we do so because our Lord has been generous and merciful to us. We did nothing to earn His love and reward, yet He gives it to us unconditionally. So we also must turn to our brothers and sisters in need, and help them with mercy and generosity. No human being needs to earn the Lord’s love, and neither should they have to earn grace from their earthly peers. 

By caring for the weakest and the least fortunate among us, we infuse our communities with strength, prosperity, and hope for the future. During Rosh Hashanah, this hope and prosperity are especially fitting. We must begin this new year looking toward the future and refocusing on our walk with God. 

As you break challah and enjoy apples dipped in honey with your family this Rosh Hashanah, take time to reflect upon how you can better serve the poor and needy in your community. How can you take Yeshua’s words, and put them to work in your daily life? How can you help bring the sweetness of Rosh Hashanah to the poor? 

We invite you to give generously, as the Lord of this blessed season moves you.

Shana Tova u'Metuka,

Barry & Batya Segal

As you know, Rosh Hashanah is a very special time—a holy time set aside to reflect on the year past and to ground ourselves in preparation for Yom Kippur.

Exclaiming Joy—and Appreciation | Blog | Vision for Israel

"A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge."

During July and August, when the children were resting and recharging their batteries in preparation for the new school year, we at Vision for Israel were hard at work. Amid the summer months, we are known to distribute high-quality school bags and stationery sets to children from families in need.

And this year, we were able to reach a variety of places in the country. Among them were the southern cities that suffered from rocket attacks during Operation Guardian of the Walls —areas devastated by terrorism, and refugee centers.

The parents that we helped expressed endless gratitude, and the children were very excited about their new supplies. We were so thrilled to be with them and glad we could help.

We received a touching letter from one of the families, which we would like to share with you. The family said:


“We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping our daughter who is going into first grade with a backpack, as well as our daughter who is going into fifth grade. This is a big help for us and great kindness. May you be blessed and may God give you strength, health, and joy to continue your blessed work.”

Vision for Israel is committed to distributing high-quality school bags and stationery to kids in need. This prepares them for a successful school year.

Pack to School 2021 | Blog | Vision for Israel

And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you shall act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a loyal heart. 

Dear Friends,

At this time, with all the uncertainty and instability, it is easy to feel disheartened about the separation and divisiveness we see every day. It’s so easy to fall into patterns of judgment, hostility, and anger when we see how much pain occurs in our world.

With this in mind, it’s helpful to remember that faith in God brings stability. As we begin to prepare for the coming high holidays, we see countless scriptural reminders that God always prevails. Though the world has been through uncertainty before—and certainly will go through it again—God has always walked with His people, and given reassurance through scripture.

In times like this, it can be helpful to bring the word of God to our communities, and to those in need. We all need to lean on each other, strengthen one another, and know that where one is weak the other is strong. When we learn to rely on each other and have faith in God together, we can begin to see something good on the horizon.

At Vision for Israel, we have been providing humanitarian aid and economic support for the needy, the sick, the downtrodden, and victims of terrible brutality for over 27 years. And it is this community—this service we give to one another—and our faith in God that has gotten us all through the worst of times. 

One of the great mitzvahs is, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Banding together with others to walk in God’s word, and cyclical activity in our organization has saved us from despair on many occasions. From seasonal projects to actions to donations, we create patterns of faith that lift us up on our darkest days. We encourage you to join us on this journey.

Though it may feel as though the world is full of instability, mistrust, confusion, and division—remember that every month and every season has meaning in our lives. We may feel confused, and even scared at times, but God has a plan for all of us. As we turn to God, He creates the stability, clarity, and trust that we so desperately seek. By manifesting these traits in our lives, we are making changes in the world around us. 

Holidays are times of community and care. If you are feeling lost or helpless, we encourage you to turn to the scripture. Reflect on how you can bring God’s word to action in your life, and create stable and faith-based cycles for your days. When we focus on God’s messages of life and love, we can begin to see a brighter tomorrow. 

We call on all of you; our partners, donors, and friends to stand with us in doing so regularly and consistently. Your loyal heart through ongoing prayer and financial support makes a huge difference in the lives of so many people here in Israel.


At this time, with all the uncertainty and instability, it is easy to feel disheartened about the separation and divisiveness we see every day. 

A Loyal Heart Amid Turmoil | Blog | Vision for Israel

The Sabbath (in Hebrew, Shabbat, pronounced shah-BAHT) may be the Jewish people’s most distinctive and characteristic practice, as well as one of its most prevalent and long-lasting gifts to Western civilization.

Shabbat begins at sunset on Friday evening and ends at nightfall on Saturday when 3 stars are visible in the sky. Shabbat is more than just a day off from labour. It is also a day of physical and spiritual delights that is meant to illuminate certain key concepts in the traditional Jewish perception of the world.

Shabbat is considered to be the most important of Jewish holidays. It's to be marked by three qualities: rest, holiness, and joy.



 Like many important facets of Judaism, Shabbat has its origins in the Torah, where it is most notable as a day of complete cessation of labour. On Shabbat, we remember that God created the world in 6 days, and on the seventh day He rested from his labour (Gen. 2:2). 

The prophetic tradition portrays it as a day of pleasures as well. The Rabbis spelled out their understanding of forbidden “labour” in a complex series of restrictions on productive activities of many sorts. They also prescribed festive meals and ceremonies for every part of the day. The varieties of Shabbat observances and customs over the ages and around the world illustrate the adaptation of Jews in many societies to new realities and modern ideas.



Shabbat is portrayed in the Bible as the pinnacle of the creation of the universe, and its observance can be seen as a reminder of the purposefulness of the world and the role of human beings in it. Shabbat also serves as a memorial to God‘s act of rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt by setting aside a day for personal autonomy and freedom from the harsh demands of labour. 

 The traditional Shabbat is portrayed in Jewish liturgy, song, and story as a day of joy, a sanctuary from travails, and even a foretaste of the perfected world that will someday be attained.


Shabbat is a time to spend with family and friends, to pray, read the Bible, and rejuvenate. One constant theme in Shabbat's observance across time and territory is the centrality of home life with family members and guests. Preparation for Shabbat begins as early as mid-week in some households, and its arrival is marked by the spiritual illumination of a candle-lighting ceremony. 

Rabbinic tradition mandates three Shabbat meals, two beginning with a special kiddush (“sanctification”) recited over wine. Family meals are occasions for singing, studying, and celebrating together, and consuming distinctive Shabbat foods such as challah.

The lighting of the candles on Friday evening symbolises driving away darkness and welcoming the light of Yeshua the Messiah into our hearts. There are 3 main rituals regarding the Shabbat observance:


Reciting the HaMotzi blessing over the challah

The Shabbat meal is spent with family and friends sharing highlights from the past week, discussing the Torah, and singing special Shabbat songs (Zemirot). The Scriptures instruct us to both remember and guard the sabbath day, to consecrate it as a day devoted to the things that matter most in our lives before the Lord.


Enter into a state of peace and rest with the Lord. DAY 7 is an invitation for you to enjoy the Shabbat, featuring beautiful, traditional melodies and joyful original songs that will help you leave behind the cares of this world, and enter into the seventh day—the day of rest. On sale now through July 31 for only £7.

Shabbat observance in the public sphere is focused on the synagogue, from the lively welcoming service, Kabbalat Shabbat, to the pensive farewell ceremony, Havdalah. The daily round of prayer services is augmented and endowed with a unique atmosphere. Special melodies and liturgy are used, and the familiar prayers are supplemented with passages in prose and poetry extolling God for the divine gift of Shabbat and its delights. 

 At the major worship service on Saturday morning, a portion of the Torah (Parasha) is read aloud as part of a year-long cycle, supplemented by a passage from one of the prophetic books (called a haftarah).


Shabbat is more than just a day off from labor. It is also a day meant to illuminate certain key concepts in the traditional Jewish perception of the world.

Then you will keep the Feast of Shavuot to Adonai your God with a measure of a freewill offering from your hand, which you are to give according to how Adonai your God blesses you.

Shavuot occurs seven weeks after Passover and follows the counting of the Omer, which is a 49-day period between Passover and the Shavuot holiday. Therefore, Shavuot falls exactly 50 days after the first night of Passover and is traditionally observed on the sixth day of the Jewish month of Sivan. This year Shavuot will begin at sunset on May 16th and lasts until sunset the following day.


THE FEAST OF SHAVUOT, OR PENTECOST, IS KNOWN BY SEVEN DIFFERENT NAMES:

The Feast of Weeks (“Shavuot”) שבועות

The Feast of First Fruits - הביכורים

Feast of the Giving of The Torah - חג מתן תורה

The First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest ביכורי קציר חיטים

The Manifestation of the Ruach HaKodesh - הופעת רוח הקודש

“And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end.” Exodus 34:22

1. Shavuot This is the common name for this holiday; as it is written in the Scriptures:

“Then you will keep the Feast of Shavuot to Adonai your God with a measure of a freewill offering from your hand, which you are to give according to how Adonai your God blesses you.” (Deuteronomy 16:10)

2. Feast of the Harvest - חג הקציר

The holiday occurs during the harvest period, in the late spring and the beginning of the summer. This is a time when farmers celebrate the harvest of their crops. When the Temple was still in existence, farmers used to bring a special sacrifice to the Temple. This sacrifice, called “The Two Breads”, consisted of bread loaves baked from the first fruits of the wheat harvest, as stated in the Torah. The feast holds an agricultural nature, and thus it is emphasized in the Scriptures. 

3. The Feast of First Fruits - חג הביכורים

According to the Scriptures, Shavuot is one of the designated times for bringing the first fruits to Jerusalem. The first fruits were chosen from among the seven species that thrived in the land of Israel: "a land of wheat and barley and vine and fig and pomegranate, a land flowing with milk and honey." (Deuteronomy 8: 8)

4. Feast of the Giving of The Torah - חג מתן תורה

This name for the holiday is based on Talmudic sources, which claim that on the 6th day of the month of Sivan God gave the Torah to the children of Israel by the hand of Moses at Mount Sinai.

This holiday also commemorates the gathering of the children of Israel in preparation for the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

6. The First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest ביכורי קציר חיטים

“Also on the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work.” (Numbers 28:26)

7. The Manifestation of the Holy Spirit - הופעת רוח הקודש

“When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.” (Acts 2:1-4)



READING MEGILLAT RUTH (THE BOOK OF RUTH) ON SHAVUOT

Shavuot is observed around the world by listening to the 10 Commandments recited in synagogues and by staying awake through the night to read Scripture, especially the Book of Ruth. It is unclear exactly how the Jewish tradition of reading the book of Ruth on Shavuot developed. However, many believe that it has to do with the season when Shavuot occurs. It is widely speculated that Ruth came to settle in the Land of Israel around the time that the Feast of Shavuot is observed, one reason being that the story takes place during the harvest period. Many Jews also believe that Ruth’s acceptance by the Jewish people is symbolic of the Jewish people's acceptance of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Another reason why we read the book of Ruth during Shavuot is that in the story, Ruth took it upon herself to be united with Naomi and the Jewish people. Many also view the giving of the Spirit on Shavuot as a renewing or restoration of the true Scriptures.


Some particularly notable details in the text are the redemption of the land, concern for the stranger and the widow, strong family ties, feelings of obligation towards relatives, and the issue of marriage to foreign women. However, the common denominator in all of these seemingly unrelated themes is the attribute of loving-kindness. The deeds of the main figures in the Megillah are depicted in detail, with frequent emphasis on the fact that each of them acted with loving-kindness, within the letter of the law.

"Loving-kindness" stands at the centre of the Book of Ruth.

Naomi cares for her daughter-in-law Ruth, and Ruth cares for her mother-in-law Naomi. In the relationship between Boaz and Ruth, it is also felt that each of them is acting out of loving-kindness to one another. Even linguistically, the importance of kindness in the book of Ruth is prominent. The word "chesed" (kindness) appears three times in the Megillah, and each time it is connected with a blessing from God. The trust and bond reflected in the relationship between Ruth and Naomi is a symbol of the love between the Jewish people and the Gentile believers who love and connect to the Jewish people--those who follow the Jewish Messiah and love the God of Israel.

Ruth’s character is also a beautiful picture of how the Gentile believers within the Body of Messiah are connected to the Jewish people.

The Feast of Shavuot is a time to rejoice over the first fruits that the Lord has produced in our lives. It is also a time to celebrate the incredible love and grace God has given us in choosing to call us His people. We have the Holy Spirit as the ultimate Comforter, and we have a powerful bond--the friendship between Jews and non-Jews.


“Ruth replied, ‘Do not plead with me to abandon you, to turn back from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.’"

Watch Batya & Barry's special Shavuot message!

Shavuot occurs seven weeks after Passover and follows the counting of the Omer--a 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot. This year Shavuot begins at sunset on May 16th.

The Feast of Shavuot | Blog | Vision for Israel

The Feast of Shavuot: an Essential Reminder of God’s Faithfulness

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

820 families received financial aid from VFI thanks to our generous supporters. Among those receiving aid were: terror survivors, lone soldiers, families in need (lots of single-parent families!), Holocaust survivors, and new immigrants from Ethiopia. The VFI team distributed the aid via mail, at the Millennium Centre and by giving in capsules in centralised locations.

The VFI team was busy giving food and toiletries baskets to hundreds of families in need in Jerusalem and the surroundings. The families expressed their deep gratitude. The recipients of aid range from singles to families with many children. There are single parents, elderly, new immigrants, those who are suffering from health problems and are unable to work, and some who have lost their jobs due to COVID.

Packing Food Baskets at the Millennium Centre

Our team has been packing food baskets for hundreds of families. We try to get those baskets out as soon as we humanly can. The baskets are divided into 2 kinds: for families with up to 7 members and a larger basket for families with more than 7 members.

We love our soldiers and appreciate their sacrifice for keeping our land safe. As a token of appreciation, we gave 300 soldiers goodie bags (Mishlo’ach Manot) for Purim. The goodies were given to soldiers in select units in the south of Israel in cooperation with Yachad Lema’an Hachayal.

Due to COVID restrictions, Purim parties were very limited this year. We were able to sponsor a Purim party for children with special needs and purchased 30 pizzas for the school. We hope that next year we can all go back to celebrating like we used to.

We have partnered with the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims, and have run an initiative to fund panic button service (they require a subscription service to operate) in the homes of Holocaust survivors. So far, we’ve enabled about 800 Holocaust survivors to call immediately for help (doctor or ambulance) in any case of distress—24 hours a day, 365 days a year—whether living alone in their homes, or in sheltered housing.

We raised funds to purchase three new ICU beds for use during the height of Coronavirus, for three very deserving hospitals throughout northern and southern Israel. The cost of both bed and mattress was about USD $30,000, but the real-life impact of each of these units has been immeasurable.

Laptop for Bar-Mitzva to a Terror Survivor

Nadav lost his father in a terror attack in 2014. He and his four siblings were in the vehicle when a terrorist opened fire on their car on their way to the Seder meal. The children witnessed their father in his last moments. We have supported this family for several years with financial aid and with gifts for the children’s bar/bat mitzvahs. Recently Nadav celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, and we gave him a brand new laptop. 

Over the last 3 months, our efforts have been focused on providing basic essentials and gift cards to families in need. Here, some highlights from our recent activities.

Impact Report—April 2021 | Blog | Vision for Israel

“...I will turn their mourning into joy;
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.”

Recently we got to know the Shavo family. Boaz, the father, is 60 years old today. He can’t work due to his medical condition. 

In 1996 he was ambushed by radical terrorists and they stoned him. In self-defense, he responded by shooting at the ground to drive them away and one of the terrorists claimed that he got injured. This led to over 15 years of legal battles resulting in very big financial distress. But that was far from the end of the tragedy. 

Boaz then lost his wife and three of their children in a separate terror attack in 2002. Thankfully Boaz and four of his children survived. His son Asael tells a powerful story: 

“In the year 2002 a terrorist broke into our house and shot to death my mother and three of my brothers. I was shot in my right leg--three bullets left me severely wounded. My leg was amputated afterward. I was nine years old. My family went through a terrible trauma; our house was burnt down, I spent two years in the hospital following that terrible night.”

A few years ago, Boaz who was a medic, was called to a terror attack site, where he discovered that his son’s friend’s parents were murdered. 

 At the Shiva, he was trying to bring light, hope, and faith.

“My message is that the people of Israel are overcomers and are not afraid. In my case, they wanted to destroy my family—and still, I rose up again, despite the ongoing pain and difficulty. They murdered my wife and three children, but 4 survived, and after remarriage, we have triplets and the house is full of light. We adopted a son 7 years ago and truly there is a lot of joy. I always ask myself, what would Rachel want me to do? The drastic change between the life I had to the new life is hard, there is no school that teaches that.”

According to him, coping is difficult but you must get up on your feet.

“I relive the attack all the time. Every little event startles me. [When] I’m on a trip up north, I remember where my son hiked. My dear ones were born in Itamar and were murdered there, and I also buried them there. But we move on, that’s the answer. To raise a family and more families and more children, because the People of Israel is alive.”

Boaz is proud to tell his son’s Asah’el extraordinary success story, who was severely injured in the terror attack and lost his leg.

“He was 9 years old at the time, and he took control of himself. From the day that he woke up in intensive care, he always told me, dad, I want to do everything by myself. I told him, but you don’t have a leg. He insisted on jumping on one leg. 

Today he is a grown man. But in the first few years, I accompanied him every day with a lot of difficulties. Sometimes I carried him in my arms until he learned how to walk. Today he is an exceptional swimmer and also a basketball player in Israel’s Disabled Team and he represented Israel in the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics (2016).

Today it doesn’t bother him, he feels like he has 2 legs. He has fun, works, and teaches swimming. He finished his bachelor’s degree in Phy Ed at Wingate. He teaches children to swim and he managed to teach a girl who didn’t want to get out of a wheelchair to swim. I know that the whole subject of terror attacks still hurts him, but he goes on. That is the hope and that is the continuity.”

Boaz is such an inspiration to us—having lived through tragedies that most of us will never experience, yet keeping an optimistic and positive outlook on life. He has no income due to his injuries from the terror attack. Yet he now finds himself with a huge debt. We at Vision for Israel want to help alleviate some of this debt. Will you join us and help Boaz and his family get out of this huge debt?

VFI is supporting the family to cover their balanced debt of $65,000. Will you consider helping us to present them with a financial gift?

Learn more about Boaz here:
https://youtu.be/wkZMuZ7XGqw


Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 

Recently we got to know the Shavo family. Boaz, the father, is 60 years old today. He survived several terror attacks and can’t work due to his medical condition.

Impact Story: Fighting Terror Through Incredible Hardship | Blog | Vision for Israel

Impact Story: Fighting Terror Through Incredible Hardship

“Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

This year, Yom Ha'atzma'ut (Israel’s Independence Day) will be celebrated on April 15. According to the Jewish calendar, it's on the 5th of Iyar.

 As you may know, the state of Israel was established 3 short years after the Holocaust ended—and it is no coincidence that we celebrate our independence 1 week after Yom Hasho'a (Holocaust Remembrance Day), and both are commemorated soon after Passover. On Passover, we celebrate the fact that we were set free from slavery in Egypt, and on Yom Hasho'a we remember the atrocities that were done to the Jewish people in Nazi Europe. Yom Ha'atzma'ut is preceded by Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance of our fallen soldiers).

 But how did the modern state of Israel come to be? Here’s a look at a few of the key events.



During the First World War (1914–18), an Arab uprising against Ottoman rule and the British Empire's Egyptian Expeditionary Force under General Edmund Allenby drove the Turks out of the Levant during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. Israel was part of that region.



 In Palestine, the Balfour Declaration of "national home for the Jewish people" was to be established alongside the Arabs who composed the vast majority of the local population. The British controlled Palestine for almost three decades, overseeing a succession of protests, riots, and revolts between the Jewish and Arab communities. 

 During the Mandate, the area saw the rise of two nationalist movements: the Jews and the Arabs. Intercommunal conflict in Mandatory Palestine ultimately produced the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine and the 1944–1948 Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine. 

 The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was passed on 29 November 1947; this envisioned the creation of separate Jewish and Arab states operating under economic union, and with Jerusalem transferred to UN trusteeship. Two weeks later, Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech Jones announced that the British Mandate would end on 15 May 1948. On the last day of the Mandate, the Jewish community there issued the Israeli Declaration of Independence.

Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.

On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the Israeli Declaration of Independence, formally declaring the establishment of the State of Israel. David Ben Gurion was the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organisation, Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, and soon to be the first Prime Minister of Israel. He declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel, to be known as the State of Israel, which would come into effect on termination of the British Mandate at midnight that day.

Within a few hours, at midnight, the new state of Israel was facing its first war as an established state. The War of Independence broke.


 The first deaths of the war occurred on 30 November 1947 during an ambush of two buses carrying Jews. There had been tension and conflict between the Arabs and the Jews, and between each of them and the British forces since the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the 1920 creation of the British Mandate of Palestine.

 As a result of the war, the State of Israel controlled the area that UN General Assembly Resolution 181 had recommended for the proposed Jewish state, as well as almost 60% of the area of Arab state proposed by the 1947 Partition Plan, including the Jaffa, Lydda, and Ramle areas, the Galilee, some parts of the Negev, a wide strip along the Tel Aviv–Jerusalem road, West Jerusalem, and some territories in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria regions), Transjordan took control of the remainder of the former British mandate, which it annexed, and the Egyptian military took control of the Gaza Strip.

 Around 700,000 Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes in the area that became Israel, and they became known as Palestinian refugees in what they refer to as the Nakba ("the catastrophe"). In the three years following the war, about 700,000 Jews emigrated to Israel. Around 260,000 Jews moved to Israel from the Arab world during and immediately after the war. They were either fleeing due to rising antisemitism or expelled. 

“I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” 

How is Independence Day celebrated in Israel?

 The official “switch” from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut takes place a few minutes after sundown, with a ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem in which the flag is raised from half-staff (due to Memorial Day) to the top of the pole. 
 The president of Israel delivers a speech of congratulations, and soldiers representing the Army, Navy, and Air Force parade with their flags. In recent decades this small-scale parade has replaced the large-scale daytime parade, which was the main event during the 1950s and ’60s. The evening parade is followed by a torch lighting (hadlakat masu’ot) ceremony, which marks the country’s achievements in all spheres of life.

 Other than the official ceremonies, Israelis celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut in a variety of ways. In the cities, the night-time festivities may be found on the main streets. Crowds will gather to watch public shows offered for free by the municipalities and the government. Many spend the night dancing Israeli folk dances or singing Israeli songs. During the daytime, thousands of Israeli families go out on hikes and picnics.

 Army camps are open for civilians to visit and to display the recent technological achievements of the Israeli Defence Forces. Yom Ha’atzmaut is concluded with the ceremony of granting the “Israel Prize” recognising individual Israelis for their unique contribution to the country’s culture, science, arts, and humanities.

 In closing, friends, we ask that you join us in prayer that God will continue to bless the land and people of Israel, and that He watches over her—particularly in the coming years of conflict.

Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’

This year, Yom Ha'atzma'ut (Israel’s Independence Day) will be celebrated on April 15. According to the Jewish calendar, it's on the 5th of Iyar.

A Hard-Fought Victory | Blog | Vision for Israel

Israel's Independence: A Hard-Fought Victory

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.

This year, Passover falls on the eve of March 27th. It is the one Old Testament feast that perhaps most particularly points to Yeshua. This is the feast of Redemption and we celebrate it for 7 days. Yeshua is our redemption. He redeemed us out of a life of bondage to sin and brought us into freedom in Him. It was also the evening of Passover that Yeshua had His last supper, the Passover Seder, with His disciples and that was the night He was betrayed.

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” - Luke 22:14 – 16

On the very first Passover, God commanded the children of Israel:

“This day is to be a memorial for you. You are to keep it as a feast to Adonai. Throughout your generations you are to keep it as an eternal ordinance. For seven days you are to eat matzot, but on the first day you must remove hametz from your houses...” - Exodus 12:14-15a

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord...

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  - Exodus 14:10, 13 – 14

On the morning of Passover eve, all the leavened food items are burned in a ceremony called “Bi’ur Chametz.” Leavened food (chametz) is considered a corrupting influence—a hidden uncleanness that manipulates purer elements and sin. Spiritual leaven is like an evil impulse within us that corrupts and sours our soul. We must put it away from us and sanctify ourselves.

Get rid of the old chametz, so you may be a new batch, just as you are unleavened—for Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast not with old chametz, the chametz of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened bread—the matzah of sincerity and truth. - 1 Cor. 5:7-8

The Seder is the centrepiece of any Passover experience. A Seder is a festive meal that takes place on the first night of the holiday. Family and friends join together to celebrate. The word Seder means “order,” and the Passover seder has 15 separate steps in its traditional order. During the Seder, we read the Passover Haggadah, which guides us through those steps.

A blessing is recited over wine in honour of the holiday. When the seder falls on a Friday night, this version of the Kiddush is recited for Passover and Shabbat. When the seder falls on a Saturday night, as it does this year, we continue with a special version of Havdalah. The wine is then drunk. A second cup is then poured (but not yet drunk).

Participants wash their hands without a blessing in preparation for eating the Karpas.

A vegetable (usually parsley) is dipped in salt water and eaten to remind us of the tears that the people of Israel shed when they were slaves in Egypt.

The middle of the three matzot on the table is broken into two pieces. The smaller part is returned to the pile, the larger one is set aside for the afikoman, wrapped in a cloth napkin, and hidden until later in the Seder (see below).

A retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the first Pesach. This begins with the youngest person asking The Four Questions, a set of questions about the proceedings designed to encourage participation in the seder.

Participants wash their hands again, this time with a blessing, in preparation for eating the matzah.

HaMotzi is the blessing over the bread at the beginning of the meal. Since it's Passover, this blessing is recited over the matzah.

A blessing specific to matzah is recited, and a bit of matzah is eaten. 

A blessing is recited over a bitter vegetable (usually raw horseradish mixed with grated beets; sometimes romaine lettuce), and it is eaten. This is a reminder of the bitterness of life as slaves.

The maror that fills the koreich sandwich is dipped into Charoset, a paste made of dates, nuts, and wine—whose consistency is reminiscent of the clay our ancestors used in Egypt to manufacture bricks.

A festive meal is eaten. There is no particular requirement regarding what to eat at this meal (except, of course, that chametz cannot be eaten). Often, the meal begins by eating a hard-boiled egg, which is a symbol of mourning, in remembrance of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

The piece of matzah set aside earlier is eaten as “dessert,” the last food of the meal. Different families have different traditions relating to the afikoman. Most commonly, the adults hide it and the children have to look for it. The child who finds it gets a prize or monetary gift. Some families have the children hide it, while the parents have to either find it or ransom it back.

The third and fourth cups of wine are poured, and Birkat HaMazon (Grace) is recited.

The standard group of psalms that make up a full Hallel is recited at this point. A blessing is recited over the last cup of wine and it is drunk.

Teachings

Barry & Batya Talk about Shelters with Sid Roth

Thursday, 16 December 2021

Are you willing to bless Israel, make a difference in the lives of people, and partner with God's plan for restoration of the land of Israel?

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