Packing Hope into 1,300 Backpacks

Saturday, 30 August 2025

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”

Psalm 82:3

Dear Friends,

This August, our team set out across central Israel with a simple mission: to place a brand-new school backpack in the hands of every first-grader in need. Thanks to your generosity, 1,300 children began the school year with not only the supplies they need, but also the reassurance that they are seen, valued, and loved.

In the city of Lod, we met Golda — a grandmother raising her three young grandchildren. Her life has been marked by unimaginable loss. Two years ago, Golda’s youngest daughter, Aya, was murdered while pregnant with her fourth child, in a brutal act witnessed by her own children. The children’s father, already raising them alone, passed away earlier this year from a broken heart over the loss of his wife. Now, Golda carries the weight of their care on her own shoulders.

When we handed her grandson a new backpack, Golda’s eyes filled with tears. She told us how the children are receiving therapy and trying to rebuild a sense of normalcy. Something as small as a backpack, she said, is “a joy and a hope” for her family.

Friends, this is the kind of impact you make possible. Your gifts enable us to serve families from every background — Jewish, Christian, Muslim — with the love of God in practical ways. Whether in moments of tragedy or times of joy, your generosity brings light into the darkest of places.

Please help us continue reaching Israel’s most vulnerable children with hope, dignity, and the love of Yeshua. Visit our website to give today.

Thank you for standing with us, and with families like Golda’s, in this holy work.


With gratitude,

Barry & Batya

“And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

Matthew 18:5

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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Vision for Israel
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Hazon Le’Israel
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Vision for Israel is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity. All contributions designated for specific projects shall be applied to those projects, and we may assess up to 20% to be used for administering the gift. Occasionally, we receive more contributions for a given project than can be wisely applied to that project. When that happens, we use these funds to meet a similar pressing need.

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