The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts [Terumah]; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart is so moved… And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” 

The 19th reading from the Torah is named Terumah which is translated as “contribution” or “gifts.” It is found in Exodus 25:1-27:19. The first contribution recorded in the Torah is the terumah given by the people of Israel for the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The Mishkan, which later gave way to the Temple in Jerusalem, was the resting place for God’s Presence and was the central focus of Israel’s corporeal relationship with God. Three times a year, the Jewish men were commanded to ascend to Jerusalem for the three pilgrim festivals of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot (Deut. 16:16-17); and in the days of Yeshua, the population of Jerusalem would swell to six times its normal size during these special times! Even today, no other location is more sacred and central in Jewish life than the place where the Temple once stood. And perhaps no other subject in the Bible teaches more about the process of drawing near to God, the substance of prayer, and the atoning work of our Messiah than the Holy Sanctuary. 



With the exception of the tragic incident of the Golden Calf (chapters 32-33), the rest of the Book of Exodus is devoted to the preparations for and the construction of the Tabernacle. However, many Jewish commentators agree that the incident of the Golden Calf is not unrelated to the Tabernacle. In fact, the medieval Italian Rabbi, Obadiah Sforno (d. 1550), taught that the very construction of the Tabernacle was made necessary only because of the sin of the Golden Calf (Ex. 20:21, 25:9, 31:18). Harkening back to the Mount Sinai experience, he explains that the entire nation achieved such a level of prophecy that at that time, every Jew was worthy of housing the Divine Presence. But after the sin of the Golden Calf, Israel fell from their high level of spirituality, and it became necessary for Israel to host a “central” Sanctuary.

Sforno’s evaluation of the Israelite community’s status prior to the sin of the Golden Calf is similar to the New Testament teaching that each of us should be a “human sanctuary” of the Holy Spirit: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). According to the model of the Tabernacle introduced in Parshat Terumah and the teachings of the apostles, our personal temples contribute to a corporal sanctuary of God’s people (Eph. 2:19-22). 



In Exodus 25:2, God invites the entire nation of Israel to voluntarily contribute from their wealth and talents for the construction of the holy sanctuary (Ex. 25:2). Later in Exodus 36:3-6, the Torah states that the people were so anxious to have a share in creating a sacred space for God’s dwelling that those in charge of the work had to appeal to Moses to stop the people from giving! In response to the heartfelt and overwhelming efforts of the people (36:5), God stated his intended purpose: “They shall make a sanctuary for me – so that I may dwell among them” (25:8). Interestingly, the Hebrew does not say “among them” as most translations imply, but it says, ve’shachanti betocham, literally, ‘And I shall dwell within them.’ The implication is that God did not simply want to dwell in an inanimate edifice but within the hearts of the Jewish people.

Judaism has long taught that in the absence of the Holy Temple, there is always a sanctuary of sorts in our midst: “Every Jew should be a human temple. If he is holy, his personal temple is holy; if he sins, he contaminates it” (Scherman & Zlotowitz 1993, 569). In that regard, we recognize that every aspect of human life has the potential to be elevated and infused with holiness. In the days of the Temple, most of the offerings were served as food for the priests performing the services and the individuals drawing near for worship (1 Cor. 9:13). In the absence of the altar today, the Talmud teaches that a man’s table makes atonement (Hagigah 27a). That is to say that the centre of our conversations, our sustenance, and daily behaviour represent personal offerings of devotion and thanksgiving. In the same manner, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). He also wrote concerning the redemption that has been procured for us by the atoning death of Yeshua: “You were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20).



In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet warned Israel concerning the consequences of spiritual apathy, idolatry, and injustice: “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary?” (Ez. 8:6). Ezekiel spoke to a generation convinced that the Temple’s holiness, the habitat of God’s presence, would protect them from destruction and exile. However, Ezekiel stressed that the Divine Presence was gradually receding from the Temple. As we learn in Exodus 25-40, the Temple’s holiness was conditioned to the hearts of the people; when they lost their merit, it lost its holiness. Soon, the Temple would no longer be a temple, but merely a grand edifice, a shell devoid of sanctity. In this regard, Paul reminds all believers: “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Cor. 3:16). The question of whether we are temples is self-evident. The real question is, are we offering our bodies and livelihood as a living sacrifice, holy, and accepting to God? This, after all, is our reasonable service (Rm. 12:1-2).

Understanding Parashat Teruma - Bible Teaching with Batya Segal

Did you know that Parashat Terumah isn't just about gifts? Learn the connection between how giving 'stirred' God's heart to dwell amongst us. Click here!

Parshat Terumah: Is My Body a Temple? | Blog | Vision for Israel

“You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” 

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a precious and heart warming national holiday.

For eight days on the 25th day of Kislev (according to the Hebrew calendar), families and friends light up the candles of the Hanukkiah - a nine-branched candelabrum which is traditionally placed on the windowsill so passers by can see it, or outside of one's gate.

A popular, family-oriented activity many enjoy is walking around the old neighbourhood of Jerusalem and observing the lighting of the Hanukkah candles. What a sight to see the different and creative Hanukkiahs displayed on windows and outside the doors on the street in special wind-resistant glass boxes.

Although Hanukkah is not a biblical holiday, it is still observed by religious and secular Jews and is a great cultural opportunity for parties and celebrations as it brings much joy and warmth to the country during the cold and rainy winter season.

Families and friends light the candles together, sing traditional songs, eat sufganiyot (a round, deep-fried, jelly-filled doughnut) and other oil-based foods, spin dreidels, and play games.

Hanukkah is a joyous holiday whose origin story is one of a gruesome war, a valiant and impossible victory, and the miracle of the cruse of oil.

Hanukkah commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and the subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

With the reign of Antiochus IV, Jews were prohibited from practicing Judaism and were commanded to worship Greek gods.

When Antiochus IV invaded Jerusalem (168 BCE), killing thousands of Jews and erecting an altar for Zeus in the Holy Temple, a small group of Jews, known as Hasmoneans or Maccabees, revolted zealously to regain control of the Temple and Jerusalem.

After two years of warfare, they pushed out the Greek army - whose forces were much more powerful and well-equipped than theirs, as God almighty was on their side.

After gaining control of the holy city of Jerusalem, the Jews found the desecrated Temple ransacked and destroyed.

Bit by bit and with great care, they rededicated the Temple to the Lord, with one of the Temple's daily rituals being the Menorah which was commanded to burn continuously before the Lord always:

"Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come." - Exodus 27:20-21

As the story goes, there remained only one cruse of oil which had not been defiled, containing enough oil to last only one night.

Yet, miraculously the one cruse of oil continued to provide oil lasting for eight nights, a sign of God's providence in the midst of darkness.

To this day, the Macabee's revolt is remembered by millions of Jews all over the world as an example of courage in the face of grave opposition.

The enemies of Israel were intimidating, using fear tactics to coerce them to serve other gods and forget their Jewish identity together with their calling to serve the one true God of Israel.

The Maccabees could have retreated back into the long shadows of intimidation cast by their oppressors, and yet they chose to advance upon darkness, armed with the truth, and reclaimed their rightful place in the presence of God in the Temple.

Unfortunately, the world we live in today offers us plenty of reasons to be anxious and intimidated. Wars and politics, inflation and sickness, ungodly morals plaguing the innocent, and a pandemic of the fear of men - are all looming in the background of our minds, stealing away our joy.

All this would leave us hopeless unless we put our hope and trust in God Almighty to fight our battles and give us strength to resist the enemy.

Yeshua commanded us to be a light to the world, understanding our place as sons and daughters of God, and giving us the confidence to face our daily fears head-on.

He not only commanded us to be bold for our own sake, shining forth His light but also for those who are locked in the chains of doubt:

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16

With Him, victory is guaranteed because Yeshua sits at the right hand of the Father - King over those who oppose Him and those who surrender with a humble heart.

The Temple is a symbol of our body, mind, and soul, which often becomes contaminated by the world and its ungodly ways, and the zealousness of the Maccabees is an example of how we should fight fear and rededicate our lives to God in holiness and purity of heart.

The Hanukkah story is a great reminder of how even though fear is great, the light of God in us is much greater and can defeat the darkness.

A traditional song sung during Hanukkah is called 'Banu Hoshech Legaresh', which means: we have come to banish the darkness.

It is sung around the luminous candles of the Hanukkiah, declaring we have come to banish the darkness with light and fire and that even though each of our lights illuminates little, together, we make a great light.

The last lyrics of the song are sung even more aloud as we command the darkness to flee from us (the light), singing it twice as it grows stronger in our hearts.

So how can we combat fear and darkness in our own lives? Especially when it seems like the darkness is so much greater than us.

By carrying the light of Yeshua in our hearts, a light so great it has the authority to banish the darkness and gives us strength to encounter any enemy standing in our way:

"When Yeshua spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12

Not only is Yeshua the light of the world, but he gave us the privilege of being a shining beacon of hope to all those in need of courage.

As we enter into the Hanukkah season, let us remember that with each day of Hanukkah, as we add a candle to the Hanukkiah, the light grows and becomes stronger, just as we do when we rely on the Creator, who, with His words declared light into the world.

From Barry and Batya and the Vision for Israel team, we pray your hearts be illuminated with God's joy, peace, and pleasant memories with your loved ones this Hanukkah season.

Hanukkah is more than just a fun Holiday to enjoy; it is an eight-day reminder of courage against fear. Step into the true meaning of the Festival of Lights!

Hanukkah - Let Your Light Shine!  | Blog | Vision for Israel

In Israel today, we commemorate the Day of Atonement as a Sabbath day, when the whole country ceases work, and the roads are empty of cars and closed for travel. It has such great cultural influence that even secular Jews keep the traditions of what is considered the holiest day of the Hebrew calendar.

Jews dress in white and gather to have a last meal (called 'se'uda mafseket') before fasting food and drink beginning at sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur till the setting of the sun the day after. As we prepare to receive this somber day, we pray special prayers of repentance at the synagogue and Wailing Wall, plead for forgiveness, and confess our sins.

Since the time of Moses, God made a way for the people to be reconciled to Him through sacrificing animals until blood more powerful than that of bulls or goats was offered, but that was yet to be revealed.

In the Old Testament, in the book of Leviticus, we read how God — through Moses — instructs the people to set aside a day in which they should fast and make sin offerings, purifying themselves before Him:

"Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God." – Leviticus 23:27-28

Atonement is the act of reparation for an offense or injury; in the case of the people of Israel, the High priest would first offer a sin offering for himself and his family:

"Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness." – Leviticus 16: 6-10

After he and his family purified themselves, the High Priest would then offer a second sin offering on behalf of the people - the blood of a goat:

"Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness." – Leviticus 16:15-16

Today, since there is no temple and no more animal sacrifices, Jews have found other ways of atoning for sin.

During the ten days between Yom Teru’ah (also known as Rosh Hashanah) and the Day of Atonement, thousands of Jews go to Jerusalem, pray at the Western Wall, and beg God for mercy while touching the original temple stones.

Another tradition includes swinging a chicken in circles around the sinner's head and transferring their sins to the animal — a process called 'kaparot', which means to atone. The chicken is then slaughtered and given to the poor.

Many people give charity as a money offering; men dip in the Mikveh to purify themselves, and others pray at the 'graves of the righteous', believing that the closer they are to great figures of faith, the more likely God is to hear them.

Jews living in Israel today care greatly to keep the commands of Yom Kippur and yearn for God's forgiveness with all their hearts.

Yet, the eyes of many of the Jewish people are veiled, unable to see that there is only one way in which they can truly be reconciled to God and that is through the atoning blood of Yeshua, their Messiah.

The scapegoat and the role of the high priest were a shadow, a precursor of Yeshua, as He is the scapegoat, taking on Himself the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21), and the High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) who stood in the gap on behalf of the people. 

It is only through the revelation of the saving power of Yeshua that anyone can experience forgiveness of sins.

Forgiveness is a precious gift, which sets the captives free from oppression, reconciles hearts, and heals the broken. 

Yeshua declared that He is the "way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6) and that no one comes to the Father but through Him.

Sin has ruled in the hearts of man since Adam first sinned in the garden of Eden, but when we receive Yeshua's forgiveness by accepting his ways and receiving the truth, we can truly become alive in Him and receive eternal life.

By confessing our sins, we throw sin off the throne of our hearts and crown Yeshua as King of our lives, allowing His Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out — in our words, actions and intentions:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

Although in the past, forgiveness was given only on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), once a year, Yeshua, who sacrificed Himself to atone for our sins forever, made a covenant with Jews and Gentiles in his blood:

"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." - Matthew 26:28

Thank God He sent Yeshua, the Yom Kippur sacrifice who made a way for all to enter into right standing with God — being our scapegoat, our High priest, our redeemer, and our King Messiah.

This Yom Kippur, as we pray for the atonement of our sins before His mercy seat, let us remember our Jewish brothers and sisters who have not yet received Yeshua's free gift of eternal forgiveness.

Abba, Elohim — thank you for giving us your Son Yeshua, whose blood atones our sins. Forgive me today of my wrongdoing; create in me a pure heart so my life will be pleasing to you. I forgive those who have sinned against me and bless them in your name.

Please grant me the grace to live according to your holiness and open the eyes of Israel to see you as their redeeming Messiah.

 Amen, and amen!

Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) is a time of repenting and asking for forgiveness but do Jews know that the only way to forgiveness is through Yeshua?

Yom Kippur - True Repentance | Blog | Vision for Israel

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.’” 

Rosh Hashanah, which is celebrated on the first of the month of Tishri, marks the beginning of the Hebrew calendar. This special feast is mentioned in the scriptures as a holy convocation and a memorial of the blowing of trumpets.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.’” - Leviticus 23:23–25

On the first of the month of Elul, preparations begin for a period of special prayers in the synagogues. In the early morning hours, people gather in the synagogues to ask for forgiveness, for all the wrongdoings they have committed intentionally and unintentionally. 

Many Jews take their families on a special walk in the streets of Jerusalem, listening to the nostalgic melodies and pleasant traditional prayers emanating from the windows of the synagogues. 

Year after year, the people are taken back to their roots and reminded of the Jewish traditions they grew up with and the long history of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews who have prayed in Jerusalem for many generations.

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” – Isaiah 30:15

Rosh Hashanah is considered a 'Sabbath-rest'; for that reason, families gather around for a festive meal with relatives and friends as they light the candles and enjoy a meal comprised of foods that symbolize the new year:

Apples dipped in honey – for a 'sweet and happy new year'.

Round honey-covered Challah bread – the circular shape symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, as well as the crown of God.

Pomegranate – Its many seeds symbolize good deeds. When we eat the pomegranate, we say a blessing that our rights will be as many as the seeds of the pomegranate.

Fish – Blessing those in attendance to be 'the head and not the tail', and in the hope that the year will be as bountiful as the fish in the sea.


Another Rosh Hashanah tradition is that people bless each other with 'Shana tova umetuka' (a good and sweet year) or ‘Shana tova ume’vorechet’ (a good and blessed year). 

“‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets.” – Numbers 29:1

In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah (the 'head of the year') is also called Yom Teruah. The word teruah means "to make a sound”. For this reason, this special holiday is marked by blowing the shofar (a ram's horn) in synagogues in Israel and worldwide. 

In the Bible, the sound of a trumpet blast was used as a special call as a warning, a time of mourning or war, or on joyous occasions – to proclaim the beginning of a festive and joyful event.

“With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.” - Psalm 98:6

In Israel, the shofar is blown in the synagogue on Rosh Hashanah in a series of three types of blasts:

Shevarim — a series of three short wails

“Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,

At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.” – Psalm 81:3

In this instance, the sound of the shofar is a joyous one, declaring a time of new beginnings and joy, but Rosh Hashanah is not only about welcoming the new year – the shofar also serves as a call to repentance and forgiveness.

While most of the world celebrates their new year with fireworks, New Year’s resolutions, and counting down till midnight with a drink in hand, the biblical feast of the Hebraic new year is celebrated differently.

Rosh Hashanah also begins a ten-day period leading up to the holiest day of the Jewish calendar Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). On Yom Kippur, the priests would enter the Holy of Holies and repent on behalf of the people of Israel and ask that God would cleanse them of their sins. 

The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are dedicated to deep introspection, self-examination, and soul searching that results in repentance. 

As believers in Yeshua, we have confidence that our sins are atoned for and that we are made a new creation through His sacrifice.

“Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through the Messiah and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Messiah God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them; and He has entrusted the message of reconciliation to us. We are therefore ambassadors for Messiah, as though God were making His appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of the Messiah, be reconciled to God.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (TLV)

“Then I will give them one heart. I will put a new Spirit within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh…” — Ezekiel 11:19

Only through true salvation in Yeshua and a covenant between God and man can we stand before the King of Kings and be found righteous in the Messiah.

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah — not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” — Jeremiah 31:31-33

The true hope of Rosh Hashanah is the hope of reconciliation, gratitude for forgiveness, a covenant relationship with Yeshua, and the miracle of becoming a new creation.

As thousands of Jews gather to listen to the blowing of the shofar in the synagogues worldwide and in Israel, let it be a call to repentance, ushering in the days of great salvation and redemption.

And shout among the chief of the nations;

The remnant of Israel!’” — Jeremiah 31:7

As we say in Israel: May you be the head and not the tail and have a 'Shana tova u'metuka'! We have hope, peace, and love and wish you all a happy and blessed new year!

Rosh Hashanah is more than a festive holiday reminding us of new beginnings, it's an opportunity to reconcile with God and pray for salvation.

Rosh Hashanah - Covenental Reconciliation | Blog | Vision for Israel

Rosh Hashanah - Covenantal Reconciliation

And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. 

For this week's Torah portion, we will read Parashat Ekev from Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25, which means 'Because.'

In this parashah, Moses reminds the people of Israel of the covenant God made with them, the blessings they will receive by following Him, and the consequences they would bear if they forget the Lord, their God.

Before entering the promised land, God, in His great wisdom, made sure the people of Israel did not fall prey to their pride, thinking that their righteousness gave them possession of the land. 

But will they remember all His great blessings once they get to the land flowing with milk and honey? And what is the connection between God's covenant with the Israelites and Yeshua's sacrifice on the cross?

Let's explore this parashah and see how God views His covenant mercies, how Israel responded to it throughout their 40 years in the desert, and what we can learn today. 

God's covenant with the people of Israel had numerous benefits. 

Although it would have been enough to be chosen by the God of the universe to be His people (Leviticus 26:45), God wanted to give His people a resting place from their enemies and bless them abundantly (Deuteronomy 7:12-13):

"And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you.״

God repeats multiple times in this parashah that if the people of Israel keep His covenant, He will remove their enemies from the land. They will find rest, enjoying the brooks, wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, olives, honey, and all manner of abundance, saying: "you will lack nothing."

But one request guarantees they will continue to enjoy all the benefits of the covenant in Deuteronomy 10:12-13:

"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?"

That might sound like a simple exchange — fear the Lord and receive the covenant benefits. 

Still, for some reason, the people of Israel often forgot the Lord their God, falling into the pitfall of pride, grumbling, disbelief, and rebellion.

Before making the journey into the promised land, God reminds His people through Moses how He forgave them every time they rebelled (as with the golden calf and at Massah and Kibroth-Hatta’avah).

Why? Because He made a covenant to be their God, and staying true to his character, in His great mercy, He forgave them when Moses asked for forgiveness on their behalf (Deuteronomy 9:25-28):

"So I lay prostrate before the Lord for these forty days and forty nights, because the Lord had said he would destroy you. And I prayed to the Lord, 'O Lord God, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin, lest the land from which you brought us say, "Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness."

Moses acted as a mediator between God and the people, asking God to remember the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and forgive the people for His name's sake.

He then warns them not to become conceited, thinking that God gave them the land because of their righteousness (Deuteronomy 9:4):

"Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, 'It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land".

The covenant God made with His people is the backbone of every fulfilled promise reflected in the sacrifice of Yeshua in the New Testament. 

Yeshua came to earth to die for a world He knew would rebel, betray, abandon and take His mercy for granted.

But because of the covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Yeshua considered it a joy to seal the covenant with His blood for the eternal forgiveness of mankind.

Yeshua is a mediator between God and the His people, just as Moses was.

When the people of Israel sinned, Moses would meet with God, asking Him to remember His covenant. Yeshua, making a covenant in His blood, served as the ultimate sacrifice.

From there, Romans 6:15-16 makes it clear that although we are forgiven through His covenant, we are not to use God's mercy as an excuse to sin:

"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?"

Just as God warned the people of Israel not to become conceited, Paul reminds the body of Messiah to obey God, not motivated by obligation but by grace and their desire to serve Him.

Although God's covenant is eternal and His love is everlasting, this should not be a reason to wrongfully take advantage of His kindness.

We are saved by God's grace, not our actions and works of obedience alone because God looks at the intention and motive of the heart.

Throughout history, the people of Israel forgot God and the covenant He made with them. They paid a terrible price for forgetting that every good thing they had was because of Him.

Can you recognize an area in your life where you stepped out of the bounds of God's covenant and into pride, stubbornness, or disbelief? 

Just as with the people of Israel, it is never too late to go to God's mercy seat, ask for forgiveness, and enter back into the safety of His protective covenant with you.

Yeshua made it possible for us to enter into this eternal covenant. Let us take advantage of it so we can walk in obedience and intimacy with Him and remember that we on our own possess no righteousness apart from what God Himself grants us through the covenant made in the blood of Yeshua.

Let's pray together: God, thank you for your covenant and unfailing love. Help me walk in obedience to your ways and give me the grace to continuously stay within the bounds of your everlasting promises to me.

In Parashat Ekev, God reminds the Israelites of the covenantal blessings and the consequences they will bear if they fall into pride and forget God.

Parashat Ekev - Covenantal Blessings | Blog | Vision for Israel

"When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said." 

For this week's Torah portion, we will be reading Parashat Matot-Masei from Numbers 30:2-36:13, which means 'Tribes-Journeys'.

In this Parasha, we will explore the 40-year journey the tribes went through in the desert, the importance of our vows, following God's instructions, and making sure our words match our actions.

At this point, the people of Israel are nearing the end of their 40 years of wandering in the desert and have gone through many tests and trials.

God used their time of waiting to enter the promised land as the perfect opportunity to prepare them to face their enemies - but not before they learned to walk in another level of obedience and integrity.

Here are three examples in which God teaches the people of Israel how their words, obedience, and actions go hand in hand with consequences, for better or worse.

The parashah starts with Moses' instructions to the heads of the tribes, explaining to them the importance of treating their vows to the Lord in reverence, taking extra caution to be fully committed:

"When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said." - Numbers 30:2

Often, words can be used casually and without much forethought of the potential consequences they might bring.

Moses was a mediator between God and the people, and God chose him as a mouthpiece to convey his will to the people — which is a great and powerful position to be in.

As a leader, he learned firsthand how important and influential his words were as he was not allowed to enter the promised land after rebuking the people at Meribah.

So it is no surprise that he teaches them one of the most important lessons: your words matter, whether that is an oath, correction, or guidance. If they are used carelessly, you risk making the holy and important things profane or even leading people astray.

Moses even gives examples of cases in which a person should be released from oaths and obligations. Thank God there is a solution even when we over-commit and bite off more than we can chew! 

God then commands the Israelites to go to war against the Midianites, who followed Balaam's advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord:

"So Moses said to the people, ‘Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the Lord's vengeance on them. Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.’"  - Numbers 31:3-4

Although they won the battle, they disobeyed God's instructions by taking women unto themselves:

"The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks, and goods as plunder. They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps."  - Numbers 31:9-11

Moses was angry since he gave them instructions, and they did not obey. He then instructed them to cleanse themselves after their disobedience. 

After some time, while dividing the plunder between the tribes, they understood their ways were not pleasing to the Lord and showed genuine remorse by collecting an offering to God:

"So we have brought as an offering to the Lord the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord."  - Numbers 31:50

God wanted to give the promised land in its entirety to the people of Israel. This battle acted as preparation grounds to see whether or not they would heed his instructions when fighting against the gentile nations who possessed the land or if they would fall prey to disobedience.

The Reubenites and Gadites decided they did not want to cross the Jordan into the promised land with their people and livestock. This angered Moses, who thought they did not want to go to battle and didn't mind leaving the difficult job of conquering the land to the rest of the tribes.

As they assured him they would fight with their fellow Israelites until all the other tribes had received their inheritance, Moses reiterates just how critical it is that they follow through on their obligation before the Lord:

"Then Moses said to them, ‘If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him— then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the Lord...but if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.’"  - Numbers 32:20-27

Moses considered it a sin against the Lord if the Reubenites and Gadites did not fulfill their promises before God and urged them to take it seriously, reminding them that their own actions would hunt them down if they did not follow through.

Moses recorded all the places the people of Israel stopped along the way to the promised land and reminded them to continue serving him with reverence and obedience as he has taught them in the desert for 40 years:

"On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.’"  - Numbers 30:50-53

The common thread weaved through this parashah is just how important our words and actions are to the Lord and how when we choose to submit our ways to the Lord, He will bless our steps, but when we step out of His will, we are not able to reach the promised land, the inheritance God ordained for us.

The people of Israel are an example to us today of how to walk with integrity and not compromise, how to repent when we have gone astray and how to consider our steps carefully before we take them. We all act hastily sometimes and pay the consequences, but God is gracious to forgive us our sins as we repent and turn from our ways.

As we reflect on Parashat Matot-Masei, we thank God for teaching us how to walk with integrity in our words, actions, and commitments.

Let's pray together:
"God, please teach me how to use my words wisely and be intentional about my commitments and actions. Guide me in your ways so that I will walk in your will so I can serve you faithfully."

In Parashat Matot-Masei, the people of Israel are tested and tried in preparation to enter the promised land - but it is not without a price.

Parashat Matot-Masei | Blog | Vision for Israel

If only you would listen to God’s voice this day, and not become hard-hearted like the people at Merivah, like that time at Massah – in the desert, when your ancestors tried Me; and tested Me, though they had seen what I wrought.

Sh’lach-Lecha (“Send away”) is the 37th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and covers Numbers 13:1-15:41. The title is taken from the first word of the imperative that appears at the beginning of the parashah in verse 2 when God says to Moses: “Sh’lach-lecha” / Send away.”

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” — Numbers 13:1-2

Every so often, the content from the weekly Torah portion, as well as the liturgical contents of the synagogue service, not to mention the teachings of the New Testament intersect. Every Friday evening before sunset, synagogues conduct a special liturgical service to welcome the Sabbath called Kabbalat Shabbat, lit. the Welcoming of the Sabbath. The service is joyful and musical in nature, as the congregants progress through melodic renditions of Psalms 92-100 which begin with the introduction, “mizmor shir l’yom ha’Shabbat – A psalm, a song; for the Sabbath day” (Ps. 92:1).

The service actually begins with Psalm 95 before making its way back around to chapter 92 by the end of the service. Psalms 95:1 encapsulates the grandeur of the evening: “Come, let us sing joyously to the LORD, raise a shout for the rock of our salvation!” The prayer continues, and although it is sung with adulation, it concludes with a warning and reminder of the suffering that ensued for Israel in the wilderness:

For forty years I was troubled by that generation, and I said, “These are a people whose hearts have gone astray, they do not know My way,” so, in anger, I swore that they would not enter My rest. (Ps. 95:8-11)

The context of verses 10-11 is established in this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Sh’lach-Lecha. Numbers chapters 13-14 recount the story of the twelve spies who were sent by Moses to reconnoitre the Promised Land on behalf of the Israelites. According to the narrative, twelve of the truly great leaders of the nation, one from each tribe, went to survey the Land – and came back with a report that demoralized the people and caused them to lose faith in their ability to occupy their God-given inheritance. As a result, the entire generation was condemned to death in the Wilderness and Israel’s entry into the Land was delayed for almost forty years.

In synagogues around the world, as Jews gather to hear this story read publicly in the ceremonial reading of the Torah on Shabbat morning, they are also reminded of the harrowing consequences the incident of the Twelve Spies has played throughout Jewish history. According to Rabbinic tradition, the Israelite’s refusal to enter the Promised Land occurred on Tisha b’Av, a day on the biblical calendar that would later become the anniversary of the destruction of both the First and Second Temple, as well as later tragedies that would befall the Jewish community until the present day.

In Psalm 95, the psalmist describes the people’s failure to enter the land metaphorically as their refusal to enter God’s “rest.” This description presents many questions, among them: What was Israel’s true destination in the Wilderness? And from where did the psalmist derive his parallel association of the Holy Land and rest?

In Numbers 10:33, we read that at the start of their departure from Mount Sinai, the Ark of the LORD went before the people on a three-day journey to “seek for them a resting place.” When we read this passage in context, we find that perhaps the most incredible aspect of the wilderness journey was that God was already traveling ahead of the people seeking menucha (a resting place). The word menucha, “rest” more accurately means comfort. In fact, in Jewish tradition one of the names of the Messiah to come is Menachem, which means ‘comforter’ – ‘the provider of rest.’

Psalm 95 describes the pinnacle of the journey from God’s perspective in the first person, “menuchati – My rest.” When we consider the narrative of the Twelve Spies in light of the journey’s beginning in Numbers 10, we begin to understand the people’s folly. The Hebrew word for searching is latur (to search/tour). Ironically, both the description of God going before the nation to find rest and the spies’ reconnaissance of the Promised Land are classified by the same word (Num. 10:33 to Num. 13:17). In essence, God was already “touring” ahead of the people to find the resting place so that He could gather and comfort His people quickly. Ultimately, the grievous sin in Parshat Shelach stems from a lack of faith i.e., trust in God. The people did not trust in the work that God had already done for them, and in determining to ‘latur’ for themselves, they became overwhelmed by what they saw with their own eyes (Num. 13:33).

At the beginning of Numbers 14, we read that the people lamented all that night over the spies’ report and plotted ways to subvert Moses and return to Egypt. Sadly, the next day when the people realized that they had made a mistake, they wanted to re-enter the Promised Land and fight the Amalekites and the Canaanites. But it was too late. God did not go with them. And many Israelite men fell at the sword. Hence, in the parallel account of Psalm 95, the psalmist urges his audience, “hayom, im b’kolo tishma'u – Today, if you hear God’s voice...”.

The dichotomy between these two parallel accounts is emphasized in the words ‘day’ and ‘night’. Just as the Torah says that the people cried all that night, they did so because they refused to hear the voice of God when He was present in the day. The details of this subtle contrast are not to be overlooked. In Jewish thought, day and night are prophetic illustrations of redemption and exile. Night represents the darkness Israel suffers in severance from God while day represents the light enjoyed by being in proximity to God’s countenance. When the story of the Twelve Spies is taken as the catalyst of Jewish exile – the forerunner of the many disasters that befell Israel on Tisha b’Av, the poetic contrast makes sense: The ultimate redemption that finally sees Israel and humanity reconciled to God can be described altogether as Day!

In the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews makes an object lesson of this parallel and quotes the passage in Psalm 95 to expound on the lessons found in Parashat Shelach. In his rich midrashic interpretation, the apostle manages to tie all these elements together to illustrate the idea of God’s redemptive work through the theme of Shabbat:

God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

There remains [then] a Sabbath rest for God’s people; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:7-11)

For the sake of brevity, we have only included these verses to illustrate the topic. But please take the time to investigate the entirety of Hebrews chapters 3-4 for the full effect. For example, in Hebrews 3:12-19, the author admonishes his audience to avoid the sin of an unbelieving heart, referring to the generation that perished in the wilderness. Furthermore, he frequently quotes Psalm 95 directly as the source text for his argument and makes use of the psalm’s imagery in saying, “So long as it is called Today [hayom], encourage one another every day so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (v. 13).” The apostle’s argument is masterful and brilliant and enunciates the fact that Shabbat is not merely a weekly occurrence, but a foretaste of something much greater.

In Hebrews chapter 3, The writer compares entering the Promised land to entering faith in Messiah. We could say that both Messiah and the entrance into the land came as the culmination of the covenant promises. Both Messiah and the entrance into the Promised Land require faith and obedience. Thus, the writer begins his discourse by pointing out that the first and most obvious lesson in Parshat Shelach is that falling short of God’s rest is the result of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19). Furthermore, the rest to which Hebrews refers to is the same rest described in Numbers 10 and Psalm 95. With that in mind, the author presents a profound observation of God’s work at creation:
Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has declared, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'”And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world! (Hebrews 4:3)


Just as Numbers 10 describes the Ark of God going before the nation to find a resting place, the writer of Hebrews describes God’s work as having been finished since the creation. This can be a puzzling statement if little thought is given, but it comes to life when we consider the source text forming the crux of his argument.


When the psalmist alludes to God’s rest, there is only one ‘rest’ belonging to God mentioned in Scripture – His rest at Creation. Thus, the apostle recounts the Creation narrative and points out that according to the simple meaning of the text - the rest that the people were supposed to enter - really began on the first Sabbath after the six days of God creating the Universe; and since God did not resume creating after His rest on the eighth day, His eternal Shabbat is still waiting for all those who choose to listen to His voice, so long as it is called ‘today.’


In a similar vein, the Prophet Isaiah says: 

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon". (Isa. 55:6-7)

This Friday evening, as our people sing the words of Psalm 95 in synagogues around the world, let us also join them in considering the lessons of this week’s Torah portion, determining to remove the barriers in our own hearts that prevent us from truly and fully entering God’s comfort.

Shabbat Shalom

Parashat Shelach is not just a story of fear and its dire consequences to the people of Israel but of how choosing to trust brings about God's promises.

Parashat Sh׳lach Lecha | Blog | Vision for Israel

Parashat Sh׳lach Lecha: Choosing the Good Report 

Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hasho’a in Hebrew) commemorates the genocide of six million European Jews at the hands of Nazi Germany between 1941 and 1945 and is commemorated one week after Passover. This year it’s on 28 April.

In Israel, a siren is sounded on this day throughout the country in memory of those who lost their lives. Cars stop in the middle of the highway, and bypassers stand still in solidarity so that the world will never forget or repeat the horrors of the Holocaust. 

Today, there are nearly seven million Jews who live in Israel. After World War II, many Holocaust survivors made Aliyah (immigrated) from Europe. With broken but hopeful spirits, they risked the dangerous journey through the Mediterranean Sea by ships to the shores of Israel as pioneers, rebuilding Israel as their new home. Even then, many ships were returned to Europe or refugee camps in Cyprus since Israel was under the British mandate.

Some might wonder why so many Jews stayed in Europe during the rise of the Nazi regime in 1933? And why, knowing persecution was imminent, did they not flee to Israel?

The Jews of Europe were stuck between a rock and a hard place, and the reality was much more dangerous and complex than one might assume. 

With the growing popularity of the Nazi party and the rapid increase of anti-semitic crimes, the Jews in Germany feared for their safety. Although all would agree that their circumstances were dire, no one could have predicted the unimaginable terrors that lay ahead.

As racial tension and pressure in Germany began to mount, more than 90,000 German and Austrian Jews fled between 1933 and 1939 to neighboring countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, and Switzerland. For the most part, these countries opened their doors to fleeing Jews and brave gentiles hid Jews in their basements, attics, floors, and closets. 

In the aftermath of the Kristallnacht pogroms (pogroms against the Jews carried out by the Nazi party) on the 9th-10th of November 1938, more than 100 Jews were murdered, and 30,000 Jewish men were imprisoned in concentration camps. Thousands of Jews attempted to flee the very next day. With Germany stripping German Jews of their German citizenship in 1935, immigrating to different countries became near impossible without proper documentation.

Spain permitted entry to almost 30,000 Jewish refugees, primarily from 1939 to 1941. Approximately 300,000 Polish Jews, nearly 10% of the Polish Jewish population, fled German-occupied areas of Poland and crossed into the Soviet zone between 1939 and 1941.

Tens of thousands were deported to Siberia, Central Asia, and other remote areas. After the German attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941, more than a million Soviet Jews fled eastward into the Asian parts of the country. 

Countries such as France, Belgium, and the Netherlands took in 30,000 each, and the United States accepted 102,000, the most of all countries. 

Although many Jews did make it to other countries, many were turned away at the border, and some who came by ship were not even allowed to dock. Imagine arriving at the border of a country that might be your only hope of survival, only to be turned back, doomed to almost certain death.

Jews looking for safety did not initially set their hopes on returning to Israel as one would expect. Israel, then ruled by Britain, took in 55,000 but limited the number of refugees they were willing to accept. 

In Europe, although close to 30,000 Jews were accepted into Switzerland, approximately 20,000 were turned away at the Swiss border.

The famous St. Louis ship carried 937 Jews seeking refuge in Havana, Cuba, but only 28 were allowed to disembark. The ship then tried its chances with the United States and Canada with no success, finally returning to Europe to disperse the people between the countries. 

At a certain point, escape became near impossible after the war began on September 1, 1939. With lack of funds, burdensome immigration bureaucracies, and lack of efficient communication or transportation - families were trapped and forced to watch as evil approached.

What transpired after these events was a nightmare no one could have foreseen. Millions of Jews were taken to ghettos, concentration camps, and death camps scattered on European grounds. The option of escaping was only by death.

Unfortunately, the world is nowhere near done with wars and persecution. Yeshua warns us that the end of days holds many challenges:

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name." (Matthew 24:6-9)

According to the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency's Antisemitism Report for 202, the year 2021 was "the most antisemitic year in the last decade". The report found that the average number of antisemitic incidents reported in 2021 was more than ten per day, with approximately 50% of attacks occurring in Europe.

Unfortunately, anti-semitism is not a thing of the past. As the world becomes progressively worse, Jews living in the diaspora will have to make the difficult – yet not unfamiliar – decision to flee again. 

Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, more than 3.4 million Jews have made Aliyah to Israel. 

With the recent Russia-Ukraine war, over a million Ukrainian refugees fled to neighboring countries, and thousands of Ukrainian Jews made an emergency Aliyah, seeking refuge in Israel. 

How can Israel prepare for the waves of immigrants bound to come from the nations when wars escalate?

New immigrants go through many hardships and challenges as they charge forward with courage to begin again in a different culture.

At Vision for Israel, we know just how important it is to receive our Jewish brothers and sisters with open arms. That is why we donate household goods such as fans to combat the Israeli heat and provide food baskets and backpacks for their children.

Acclimating to a different country is made easier when the local body of Messiah rallies around in support, practically and emotionally. Serving them allows us to hear their stories and hardships and encourage them along the way.

As believers, we should pray for the Jews whom God calls back to Israel to receive the grace to uproot and make their home in the land. Let us not forget to lift up the Ministry of Interior, which accompanies the families and aids them in the transition.

The first Holocaust survivors to make it to the shores of Israel could never have imagined that one day, millions more would follow in their footsteps. Their bravery and courage serve as an example for new immigrants to believe that they too will successfully triumph over the hardships of immigration.

Their testimony is a fulfilment of prophecy, as we read in Ezekiel 37:4-6:

“Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor the survivors who journeyed to Israel and made it the incredible nation it is today.

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?

Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hasho’a in Hebrew) commemorates the genocide of six million Jews and how Israel has rebuilt itself as a nation since then.

Holocaust Memorial Day - Always Remember, Never Forget | Blog | Vision for Israel

Holocaust Memorial Day - Always Remember, Never Forget

Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, "These are the words which the LORD has commanded you to do..."

Join us for this week's reading of Parashat Vayakhel, which means 'to assemble/congregate'. We will take a look at God's desire to dwell amongst us in the book of Exodus (35:1-38:20). We’ll discover the link between God's commandment to rest, the building of the Tabernacle, and how Yeshua paved the way to make His home within us (Acts 1:4).

In this Parasha, God asks Moses to assemble the people of Israel to receive instructions for building the Tabernacle. A tent of meeting in which God would speak to Moses and communicate His will to the people. Moses is asking them to contribute free will gifts to build a very special tabernacle for God’s glory. Skilled and anointed craftsmen are called to complete the work of the tabernacle.

The Parasha starts with a very important commandment in Exodus 35:1-3. Moses assembles the people and instructs them about the holiness of the Sabbath and commands them to limit their work to only six days a week:

"Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, "These are the words which the LORD has commanded you to do: Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day." 

After 400 years of slavery in Egypt, the people of Israel didn't know how to trust God to provide for them. They were crushed beneath the heavy hand of labor, and rest was a foreign concept, not in line with their deeply engrained slave mentality.

Collecting Contributions for the Tabernacle

God desired to dwell amongst His people, to become their home and be their God. Although the people of Israel were no longer slaves in Egypt, they were also not yet in the promised land. God's solution for this in-between period was to build a tabernacle. The tabernacle was a 'tent of meeting' where He would meet with His people and speak to Moses.

The people of Israel were then asked to contribute to the building of the tabernacle, each according to the generosity of their heart in Exodus 35:4-8:

"Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense."

Soon enough, the contributions came flooding in. People gave their jewelry, precious wood, fine linens, spices, oils, and more.

The people of Israel responded to God's invitation with open hearts and generosity. The abundance of free will gifts was so plentiful that Moses had to instruct the people to stop giving since they collected enough!

No house can be built without capable builders to faithfully lay down the foundations and fill its interiors. God then calls Bezalel, a skilled craftsman, to build his dwelling place in Exodus 35:30-33:

“See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft.”

Betzalel was called to use his skills to build the tabernacle in all its splendor - but he didn't work alone. God also put His spirit in other skilled artisans to complete the work. Paying attention to every detailed instruction, they sewed curtains from fine linen, crafted the ark of the covenant, and overlaid furniture with gold. Together they used their hand and God-given gifts to serve and fill God's dwelling place with every precious thing.

If there was only one place in which God would meet with His people in the past, Yeshua was about to change that forever. After He went to the cross, forgiveness for all was available, and sin could no longer separate God's children from Him. Through this act of redemption, the Holy Spirit could now dwell in every willing heart. 

While Yeshua appeared to the disciples for 40 days after His resurrection, He left them with this comforting gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:

"And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss." - Acts 1:4

The people of Israel will never again be limited to a physical tent to meet with God as Yeshua decided to make His home in us - an eternal dwelling place within the hearts of His children to guide, comfort, and encourage them.

From the dawn of time, God desired to dwell amongst His people and give them rest. At the assembling of the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai God gave instructions. He reminded His children just how important it was to rest on the Sabbath and keep it holy - keeping them safe from ever returning to slavery again.

He then desired to build a tabernacle, a place where He could dwell amongst His people. No longer a seemingly aloof or distant God but a God who desires nearness with those He loves— comforting a people wandering in the desert, searching for a home.

Just like the people of Israel contributed their own possessions to build a tabernacle, we treat our hearts the same - a place worthy of the Holy Spirit. The generosity of their hearts to contribute to the building of the tabernacle paints an inspiring picture for us today to offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).

Each person has been given talents and skills to serve with build God's kingdom in creative ways. Just as Bezalel was anointed to build the tabernacle, we too are called to volunteer our gifts and work with our hands and serve.

As we reflect upon this Parasha, we thank God for giving us rest and gifting us with the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. God, please cleanse our hearts and fill us anew with your goodness. Help us be faithful with the skills you have given us to build your kingdom today.

To hear Batya’s teaching about Parashat Vaykehl, click HERE.

God desired to dwell amongst His people. They did not yet have a home or land. God's solution for this in-between period was to build a tabernacle. 

Parashat Vayak’hel—God’s Eternal Dwelling in Us | Blog | Vision for Israel

Parashat Vayak’hel—God’s Eternal Dwelling in Us

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

Israel and the world have entered into this new year of 2022 continuing to battle with the world pandemic of the Coronavirus and the new variant breakouts. And yet, we hear the Lord calling us to be like a tree, looking at our deep roots and recognizing our identity through Him. The healthy roots are supporting the tree and the branches are bearing good fruit. 

Beginning on the night of January 16th, Israel will celebrate Tu BiShvat, also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, which means the ‘New Year of the Trees'. Israelis commemorate this day by focusing on planting trees. In the late 1800s, Jewish pioneers who immigrated to Israel started to plant and build the land. Later in the early 1900s, the Halutzim (pioneers) began planting Eucalyptus trees in the Hula Valley to help stop Malaria. Today, there are tree-planting events every Tu BiShvat, where over a million Israelis participate in planting new trees in the land of Israel. 

The barren land of 2000 years is now a land of planted fruitful trees and flowers. Walking in the marketplaces and grocery stores, you will see lots of fresh and dried fruit with all kinds of natural nuts.  

In the diaspora, they couldn't buy fresh fruits in this season so they celebrated Tu Bishvat by eating dried fruits. This became the symbol of the holiday now even in Israel. 

Throughout the Scriptures, man is considered as a tree planted by streams of water that bears fruit. If in the Scriptures we are likened to a healthy tree, what fruit do we give? This means that we as humans have the choice to bear fruit. The role of a tree is to provide fruit and bring life. Therefore, if we are to be like a tree, then we are called to bear fruit in the spirit that brings life represented to us in the scriptures: The symbol of a good tree who is bearing good and healthy fruits is a symbol for us to be in good spiritual place in order to bear good spiritual fruits. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against these things there is no law.”

Trees do not eat the fruits they produce, but instead, they produce fruit and vegetables to give to humans and to animals for their daily and physical existence. The seeds of the fruits are also reproduced and fertilized, which multiply and produce even more fruit. In fact, the root of the word fruit in Hebrew (P'ri) is also the word for being fruitful: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth..." (Gen. 1:28a).

“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”(Luke 8:15)

Like trees, humans have also been blessed to give of themselves to others and cause constant reproduction.

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.” (Isaiah 44:3-4)

During this time at Vision for Israel, we are helping others recognize their abilities to bear fruit and equipping them with the tools they need to recover through our various therapeutic workshops. As we provide tools for their recovery, they are able to continue to bear fruit and be like a tree planted by streams of water. We are thankful for friends like you, who give of your fruits, so we are able to produce even more fruits to continue blessing those around us!

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” — Psalms 1:3

Now more than ever, God is inviting us to partner with him in planting His seeds of love into the hearts of His people. We pray that for such a time as this, God will plant you in the rivers of His living water to be like a mighty oak tree of His righteousness on display for HIS splendor!

“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” — Isaiah 61:4

This Tu BiShvat let's take a deeper look into the Bible to discover what it means to be like a tree planted by streams of water that bears fruit.

Like A Tree Planted by the Waters – Tu BiShvat | Blog | Vision for Israel

Like A Tree Planted by the Waters – Tu BiShvat

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

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

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?

Teachings

Parshat Terumah: Is My Body a Temple?

Friday, 24 February 2023

Hanukkah - Let Your Light Shine!

Friday, 9 December 2022

Yom Kippur - True Repentance

Tuesday, 4 October 2022

Rosh Hashanah - Covenantal Reconciliation

Saturday, 24 September 2022

Parashat Ekev - Covenantal Blessings

Saturday, 20 August 2022

Parashat Matot-Masei

Saturday, 30 July 2022

Parashat Sh׳lach Lecha: Choosing the Good Report

Saturday, 25 June 2022

Holocaust Memorial Day - Always Remember, Never Forget

Wednesday, 27 April 2022

Parashat Vayak’hel—God’s Eternal Dwelling in Us

Saturday, 26 February 2022

Like A Tree Planted by the Waters – Tu BiShvat

Friday, 14 January 2022

Barry & Batya Talk about Shelters with Sid Roth

Thursday, 16 December 2021

Parashat Vayechi—Teaching Blog

Wednesday, 15 December 2021

A Reflection on The Yom Kippur War of 1973

Saturday, 30 October 2021

Celebrating Sukkot With Joy!

Friday, 17 September 2021

We Remember, We Keep, We Bless

Thursday, 24 June 2021

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

Friday, 14 May 2021

Israel's Independence: A Hard-Fought Victory

Friday, 9 April 2021

Passover—A Celebration of Freedom

Friday, 19 March 2021

Purim—The Victory of God's People

Monday, 22 February 2021

What is Tu-Bishvat?

Friday, 22 January 2021

What is Hanukkah?

Thursday, 10 December 2020

What is Kristallnacht?

Friday, 13 November 2020

Coming Home—to a Brand New Life

Friday, 23 October 2020

What are the Jewish Autumn Holidays?

Friday, 28 August 2020

Tisha B’Av: Remembering the Loss of Zion

Thursday, 23 July 2020

Download the VFI News App!

Get the Latest News & Updates

Stay on the pulse. Receive the latest stories and updates from Israel. Support us in prayer!

Stay Engaged

Quick Links

Get Involved

Get In Touch