But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Messiah may dwell in me.

Dear friends,

A few weeks ago, Aaron* and Shula* called us and gently asked if we had seen their request for help. Their son was about to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. A representative from the venue where the Bar Mitzvah was going to be hosted had called Aaron and said that no food would be served at the event unless he arranged the down payment. They were so surprised to find out that the manager of the venue would be so harsh. So in his despair, Aaron called us to see if we would help him again as we had helped their other son a few years before. Aaron was very embarrassed that he had to contact us again, but he did not want to disappoint his son on his happy day. Sadly, the request had simply not reached us in time.

We know Aaron and his family well. They have 5 children. Aaron suffered a severe head injury in a terror attack and lives with PTSD and memory issues as a result. Because of this, he did not remember to follow up with us until very close to his son’s Bar Mitzvah. We knew how difficult it was for them to make it financially and their daily life was a struggle, as Vision for Israel had been supporting the family for the last 8 years. 

We were happy to fill the gap and provide the funds for the Bar Mitzvah food.

We have a long list of families, like Aaron’s, who struggle with similar situations. Families turn to VFI daily for support, and many of them have special requests like this one. They may be facing an unexpected expense when they are already in a dire financial situation or have suffered from an act of terror or violence.

We feel responsible for the well-being of these families, and we build lasting connections with them. We want them to know that no matter how hopeless or dark things may seem, we are here to assist if we can. No matter what they are going through, Vision for Israel is a place of love and light for them. There is no shame, no embarrassment, and no judgment when they ask us for help. We are here to provide relief and comfort, knowing that their circumstances do not define who they are.

Our Aid to the Poor Fund exists to help families in times of crisis or special circumstances. The money for these acts of kindness comes directly from our partners. Because of this funding, we can provide more complete support for the people of Israel. 

There are always unpredictable situations in our lives, we are called to be an example for good work. All we have belongs to the Lord and therefore our responsibility is to be wise and hear the needs around us. We strive to be an uplifting and reliable force in the lives of those we help. 

Aaron and Shula had a good time celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of their second son. Our team at VFI was thrilled to be able to help, all thanks to the special funds we set aside for this kind of situation.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. — Galatians 6:9

When you donate, we know that you stand with us in our vision. Your gifts give us strength to give them hope, and together we help them through the crises and upheavals that they face. It is because of donors like you that these miracles can occur.

Your support means so much to us! Thank you for your consideration. You may donate here.

May the Lord bless and keep you, today and every day.

Your friends,
Barry & Batya Segal

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.

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?

Sometimes families come to us with unique needs and requests. We aim to help them all. Learn more about Aaron and Shula’s unique story, and how we helped.

The Power of God’s Work Through You | Blog | Vision for Israel

Dear friends,

Our purpose at Vision for Israel is vast. We aim to help our neighbours in many ways and ensure that our communities have what they need. Perhaps the most significant way that we help our communities is by acting as stewards between donors and recipients. This service is key to giving. Many people feel shame when they receive charity, while others feel proud and egotistical when they give. Our job is to facilitate a shame-free, modest exchange of aid. It is in this way that we best serve God.

This idea brought about a moving story I (Batya) once heard.

Yosef's father had a neighbourhood grocery store. He would make fresh yogurt to sell, and needed dozens of glass jars to put his yogurt in. Every day a man would come around selling jars, and Yosef's father would always buy from him, always making sure to pay a fair price.

One day, Yosef saw that the seller was walking up and down the street, collecting jars and putting them in his basket. This was the same basket of jars that he would bring to Yosef’s father to buy.

Yosef was so upset when he saw this, and said to his father, "I saw him pick up jars on the street and sell them to you." Yosef’s father silenced him and said, “Quiet, not now. Don’t speak". And Yosef went on to say, "But Abba (father) he is selling you something he found on the street."

When there were no people in the grocery store, Yosef’s father said to him, “My son, do not shame a man for his actions in public. He is doing what he can to survive, and this is how he makes his income. Everything is fine. I know where the jars come from, and I gladly give him the money. Never embarrass a person in front of others.”

The Jewish principle of Matan Baseter (giving in secret) fits this story perfectly. The Sephardic Jewish philosopher, Maimonides, is famous for articulating eight distinctive levels of charitable giving. Giving anonymously occupies a high position; the second level of giving is "where the donor doesn't know to whom he gives and the recipient doesn't know from whom he receives". 

The key to true, heartfelt giving is modesty. It’s important to be humble, and give of yourself without wanting praise or attention in return; we must do good for the sake of serving God and our communities. The second, and perhaps most important part of serving others, is ensuring that those you serve don’t feel embarrassed or subordinate.

Here at Vision for Israel, we facilitate Matan Baseter for our donors and communities. We act as the conduit for double-blind giving. You, our donors, are able to give freely and modestly, while our recipients don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed of their poverty.

God loves all his people equally. When you take the time to give modestly, you participate in Matan Baseter. The Bible says: 

The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.

Our status in life does not matter in the eyes of God. Remember this when you perform acts of service, and help those in need. As we say at Vision for Israel, all are equal, and all deserve dignity and respect. 

To give anonymously and participate in the Matan Baseter that we administrate, we have many opportunities to do so. You may find them here. 

May the Lord bless and keep you as you serve the needy.


Your friends,
Barry & Batya Segal

When performing acts of service, it’s important to make sure we do them for the right reasons. Our status in life does not matter in the eyes of God. 

Giving for the Right Reasons | Blog | Vision for Israel

Last month, our team at Vision for Israel hosted a Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebration for young adults who have suffered from terror attacks. By throwing a party, we allowed them to celebrate this major milestone when they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. Though they all have touching and tragic stories, one of the Bar Mitzvah boys, Ya’ir, had a story that stood out to us. He gave a speech at the President's house during the celebration. We wanted to share his story with you.

Though he is now 13, Ya’ir was injured in Sderot when he was 9. That day he went to a protected park in Sderot withhis mother and sisters. Ya'ir played with his friends in one area of the park while his sisters played in another area, and his mother sat with the other mothers. All of a sudden, a Code Red alarm sounded and all the children started running in panic. Because he was so young, Ya'ir didn't know what to do. He searched for his mother and could not find her. He began to cry, running everywhere to try and find her. Because of this, he did not have time to get into the mobile shelter. As he looked skyward, he saw the interceptions and heard the terrifying booms of the attack.

Although Ya’ir didn't suffer any physical harm, he was mentally injured. Any loud noise, like a plane in the sky or a motorcycle passing by, causes a stress reaction. He can’t shower without the door open, and can’t stay home alone because of his condition. Doctors believe that this is likely a case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

At first, Ya'ir's mother struggled to identify Ya’ir’s condition. However, after talking with her friends and hearing that their children suffered similar conditions after rocket attacks, she decided to get help for her son.

There were times before Ya'ir was injured that his mother went for a walk with the children where there wasn't a protected area. During these walks, if a Code Red siren sounded, Ya’ir’s mother would lay her children on the ground and lie down on top of them. Ya’ir will no longer go for these walks. His sisters are similarly hesitant, though they aren’t as traumatized as Ya’ir is. Not being able to find one’s mother in a time of crisis is truly traumatic.

Though Ya’ir’s story touched our hearts, it is unfortunately not the only such story we’ve heard. Thousands of children are terrorized every day by the violence and terror that surrounds Israel. Childhood wonder and freedom are being stripped away, as these children see how brutal and terrifying the world can be. Many of them are forced to grow up faster than they should.

Our mission at Vision for Israel is to protect as many of these children as possible. We have been providing mobile bomb shelters so that more people have access to protection. We offer food and financial support to families who have experienced terrorism. We even host Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations annually to ensure that these children have some happiness in their young lives.

All of the work that we do is made possible by you, our friends and sponsors. Without your regular donations and generous gifts, children like Ya’ir would define their lives only by violence, terrorism, and pain. Because of you, they can receive a bit of happiness and comfort despite what has happened to them.

As we enter 2022, please consider beginning or increasing your donation to Vision for Israel. It is because of our donors that we can support so many in need. If you wish to make a donation, you may do so here. We also accept Crypto, bank transfers, and many other alternative ways to donate.  

May we be able to continue our work into this new year, and may the Lord bless and keep you.


Your friends,
Barry & Batya Segal


Ya’ir has experienced incredible pain and suffering in his young life, but we were able to give him a Bar Mitzvah celebration. This is his story.

A Miraculous Milestone: Ya’ir’s Story | Blog | Vision for Israel

A Miraculous Milestone: Ya’ir’s Story

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

As the year comes to a close, it’s important to remember that our job isn’t finished. There is still time to help Vision for Israel make a difference in the community.

We believe in the transformative power of Yeshua’s love, and continue to work for the good of all into 2022.

This work has no end. Some of our friends and patrons have passed on to Yeshua’s arms this year. Even though their heart of flesh is no longer beating, their actions of making an impact in the lives of others will be remembered for many years. You can have the same lasting, timeless impact.

We are so grateful for the contributions you have made this year. Would you consider making another donation to Vision for Israel before the year is over? 

Your donations contribute to:


Backpacks and school supplies for children

Medi-cycles and ambulances for underserved areas

You have the immense power to make a difference in the lives of many people. Let us all have a heart of flesh as we reach out to bless others who have less.


“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Bring your heart of flesh into the new year, and contribute to Vision for Israel. 


Happy New Year!

The VFI Team


As the year draws to an end, there’s still time to donate to Vision for Israel and make a difference in the lives of so many people. Will you answer God’s call?

 Start the New Year with a Heart of Flesh | 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

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

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Dear Friends,

In today’s world, arguments and divisions are seen everywhere. They exist between believers of the same faith, people who work together, pray in the same synagogue or the same church, serve in the same army unit, attend the same school—even family members living in the same house.

Peace can be difficult to see sometimes. Though we trust in God to bring us peace, it is easy to get distracted by the pain and suffering that surrounds us. Often we lose sight of peace and instead find ourselves stuck in a place of distress.

The Lord knows our minds and hearts. He understands that to be human means that we will wander from His peace, and head into times of worry. Matt. 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life”. Yeshua knows that His words can bring us back to His peace.

We are called to replace anxiety with prayer and thankfulness:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.” 

“Through Him we also have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and boast in the hope of God’s glory. And not only that, but we also boast in suffering—knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.”

Here we see God’s promise—that our suffering has a purpose. The pain and anguish we face bring us perseverance and that same perseverance is required to have true faith in God. Our perseverance in all things will set us free, and bring us closer to Him.

While this perseverance is righteous, it sometimes feels at odds with our understanding of God’s peace. Therefore we must consider: “What does peace look like in a time of uncertainty, distrust, and insecurity; where will we find God’s peace in these dark times; and how does perseverance create peace here on earth?”

We must take an active role in our faith. We must persevere to create His peace here on earth, even when the world around us is anything but peaceful.

In Hebrew, the word for peace is “shalom,” and shalem (which has the same root letters as “shalom”) means “whole.” We are made whole when we have peace, and we have peace through faith in God, and our cooperation with His will here on earth.

For 27 years Vision for Israel worked with her partners to bring peace and wholeness to the disadvantaged and downtrodden in Israel. Those who have suffered from violence, hatred, abuse, and abject poverty.

The ongoing work also brings peace and protection from rocket attacks in highly populated areas. As we pray for spiritual peace, we are also building physical protections with mobile shelters around areas of high conflict. Each mobile concrete shelter costs $12,000. As we continue to bring comfort to many who are struggling in other areas and walks of life here in Israel, our hope is for our friends and partners to participate in whatever way they can to restore the peace that passes all understanding. 

In times like the present, when we are all being greatly tested, we must persevere against darkness and create peace in our hearts. We must bring peace to our families, friends, and community. Today, as ever, we ask that you continue your partnership with us, as we persevere toward a more just and peaceful Israel—and bring Shalom to the world.


Serving with His Shalom,

Batya & Barry

Finding peace and faith is not always easy—we must try to bring our petitions to Him. Perseverance is the key to creating peace when we only see despair.

Our Search for Peace | 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

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

In March of 1988, there was a terror attack known as the Mothers' Bus Attack. Terrorists infiltrated the Egyptian border and managed to take over a bus that was transporting workers to work.

That day, Alon’s* father rode that bus as he did every day. But this time, his usual bus ride took a tragic turn. He was held hostage and was eventually murdered by the terrorists.

Alon’s father was his only parent when he died. His mother had died shortly before, after a long battle with cancer.

It seems symbolic that his father, who acted as both father and mother to his family, was killed on the Mothers’ Bus.

The hostages that did not perish said that Alon’s father was a hero, and sacrificed his life rescuing the women that were on the bus as the driver opened the doors and fled. His father was left alone to deal with the horror, and he acted nobly.

Alon’s father was far from being ready to die. He was just 39, towards the end of his doctorate studies in laser welding. Many of his co-workers said that he would be the next CEO of the company.

This and many other things didn’t happen. Alon and his brothers didn’t get to see their father advance in his career or see his children and grandchildren grow. Alon and his two brothers were very small at the time, and they lost the only remaining parent they had. They were left with no one and were put into foster care. 

The difficulties Alon faced after experiencing loss at such a young age, are exactly the same as the orphans included in the 2012 Compensation Law for Animosity Orphans. Yet he has not seen compensation through this law. 

The government was supposed to help and support the victims' orphans rather than create additional hardships. However, Alon was denied essential assistance from the state. In response, he turned to the court to seek protection under The Compensation Law for Animosity Orphans.

The state has failed to pay any sort of compensation to Alon.

Since the day of the terror attack, Alon has been living in a state of survival. The pain of losing his parents has only grown over the past 33 years. Losing both parents within six months of each other at such a young age is unbearable.

The crises that followed the attack were only made worse by the absence of his parents and lack of support. 8 years ago Alon lost the family he was building to a difficult divorce. The economic hardships that followed affect him to this day. He has suffered through layoffs, both due to Covid-19 and otherwise. 

No matter how old a person is, parental support (mental and financial) is necessary. Even when happy moments occurred in his life, he had no parents to share his joy with. He celebrated his bar mitzvah alone and has lived alone in the world since he came of age.

After filing an appeal to the authorities  7 years ago and being denied assistance, Alon had to take out loans over the years just to survive. With the Covid-19 pandemic, Alon is out of work and behind on loan payments. He cannot see his children regularly.  He has no car, and he has no ability to pay spousal support. 

We at VFI know that God would not leave his children in this situation, and we will not either. We are stepping in to help support Alon during this very difficult time. 

Alon’s battle will not bring his parents back. His tragedy of the past can become a victory of the present and the future. 

We want to be part of his victory story. Giving him the power and strength to become an overcomer.

Will you join our efforts to bring healing to a broken-hearted person?

Your monthly support will go a long way in helping people like Alon. 
Your contribution is greatly appreciated and needed.

*Name has been changed

Because of the Mothers' Bus Attack, Alon has suffered incredible tragedy and hardship in his life. Read his story here, and consider offering support.

Ongoing Tragedy for a Child of God | Blog | Vision for Israel

One who is full loathes honeycomb,
but to one who is hungry every bitter thing is sweet.

Dear Friends,

This verse really hits home as we prepare for the blessed time of Rosh Hashanah. As we begin the new year, we are challenged to reflect on the recent past, and refocus our minds and hearts on Yeshua for the year to come.

These divine words are about hunger in more ways than one. These words are about how we walk through life—about worldliness and knowing and walking with God.

They remind us of a simple fact: the truly famished man has not eaten all day long, and as a result, he is ready to eat anything. Even something which others might consider bitter is sweet to him. He will eat it, grateful for anything to help him with his hunger.

During the upcoming celebration of Rosh Hashanah, we bless each other to have a sweet year. On our tables, we have honey, dates, apples, pomegranates, and other elements to bless the coming of the New Year. All of these are symbols of the fruitfulness, sweetness, and blessings of the Lord in our lives.

Despite the challenges we are all facing in the world right now, and the worries and heavy hearts that can come with them, Rosh Hashanah reminds us to focus on sweetness, in our faith, and in our lives. 

There are many, of course, who are famished in the literal sense. With the post-Covid economic recovery interrupted by conflict, the threat of terrorism, and a welfare system that has been stretched beyond its limits—we must see this time as an opportunity to address both meanings of hunger for the hurting people of Israel.

We know God cares for the poor. In fact, the word “poor” is mentioned 198 times in the Bible, and the word “needy,” 39 times. There is a great promise for all of us who care for the impoverished. 

That’s why we’re raising money to provide gift cards to the needy people of Israel—so that they can fill their plates and stomachs—as well as their hearts, during this important season. Our goal is to assist 750 families who are falling below the poverty line. Each gift is $100. You can help by donating here: [link to donate page]. Please give as you are led to—every donation makes a difference.

Every day we remember those who are in need of encouragement, and we strive to be good ambassadors for the Lord’s faithfulness—especially during the High Holidays season. 

Blessed is he who considers the poor;
 The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

Through God and through prayer, we can turn life’s bitterness into sweetness. We pray that we may all remain famished for God’s love, and never stop hungering for Him.


Under His Wings,


During the blessed time of Rosh Hashanah, we are challenged to reflect on the recent past and refocus our minds and hearts on Yeshua for the year to come.

Time to Turn Bitterness to Sweet | Blog | Vision for Israel

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We have arrived at the month of Elul, which begins on August 9, 2021. The arrival of Elul signals the end of summer, where one sees the first signs of autumn clouds in the sky. This is the 12th and final month of the Hebrew calendar.

The month of Elul is a time of self-observation and preparation for the new year. Jewish tradition directs us to self-examination at this time of year, to understand what we want to change, and create a new reality in our lives.

This is a time when every person should reflect on what’s in their heart. In doing this, we can review our actions over the past year, pay attention to our mistakes, and draw conclusions concerning the future. This internal critique is called "Illul" in Aramaic (therefore the name Elul).

In Hebrew, the acronym for Elul (אלול) is Ani l'dodi vedodi li, or, "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3). This verse from the Song of Songs has a flow of something eternal. "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine"—it goes on because it has no end.

Each person who believes in the Scriptures and lives a life of faith knows that a life full of spiritual abundance requires constant contemplation. On a daily basis, we all are searching deeper into our souls, not just once a year. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart... And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

But even if we do this every day of the year, Elul is a good time to stop and see how we can improve our relationship with God, with our friends, and those around us.

At Vision for Israel, we take this special time to examine ourselves and ask how we can improve and expand what we started doing 27 years ago. It has been because of you, our faithful and trustworthy friends, that we’ve been able to bless so many. 

Emergency and disaster relief; aid for the poor and needy, Holocaust survivors, victims of terror and their families; and help for all those in the land who are suffering—this is the work the Lord has called us to do, and we are eternally grateful for the blessings and partnership you have entrusted us with along the way.

As you consider your support to Vision for Israel, this month is a wonderful time to begin your monthly giving. Each of you gives us the strength, in prayers and support, to help us increase and expand our activities. Just as there are cycles in the year, we urge you to support Vision for Israel regularly, with any monthly amount you can afford. 

With options for one-time or monthly gifts, you can provide a basis of support to sustain our far-reaching ministry—and make an indelible mark on the world, in whichever way God has called you to.

Our dear partners, we at Vision for Israel are lifting you all in our prayers, especially at this time, that the Lord will keep you, protect and preserve you, give you good health, and bless you with all blessings from above.

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion” 

May the Lord bless and keep you.

In His Service,
Barry & Batya 

The month of Elul is a time of self-observation and preparation for the new year. Jewish tradition directs us to self-examination at this time of year.

A Time of Renewal | Blog | Vision for Israel

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Dear Friends,

As you have undoubtedly heard, Israel has been under attack. For those of us living in Israel, rocket attacks from Gaza are not uncommon—but the scale, severity, and range of targets involved in these latest attacks has truly been unprecedented.

As of last Monday night (10 May), we are in a state of emergency and escalation in the area surrounding Gaza and the south as a whole. The towns of southern Israel, over 30 of them, including the cities of Sderot, Ashkelon, and Ashdod have been suffering for 20 years from rounds of rocket fire and terrorist incidents of intrusion attempts, incendiary balloons, anti-tank fire, and more—but the current round is extreme in its abilities and quantity. Over 3,200* missiles have been fired so far at the southern, coastal, and central regions in Israel.

Innocent civilians’ lives are in danger.

Once a siren is heard, there are only 15-45 seconds (depending on where the target is) to enter a protected area. It is not much time. If people are in a public area—on their way to work, to shop, or take their kids to school—they need a shelter nearby to enter and protect their lives.

We are being urgently asked to help and provide lifesaving equipment designed for these emergencies, to provide public protection; mobile shelters, emergency locking systems, and bomb blast doors.

Gershon Franko, a 56-year-old man lost his life as a direct hit from a rocket shot by the terror group Hamas; he had nowhere to go and there was no public mobile shelter near his place. He was murdered simply because he had nowhere to run and hide.

During the year the public shelters must remain clean so in time of emergencies, they can be used and protect civilians in their cities. That is when the “Gate Keeper” system was also added to the mobile shelters.

The mobile shelter "Gate Keeper" system—is an automatic open and lock system installed in a network of portable bomb shelters that are placed throughout the cities, which unlocks and opens automatically in times of emergency.

Quite literally, it’s a matter of life and death for all peoples of Israel.

Please join us as we are reaching out to the cities in the southern region of Israel with whatever you are able to donate in order to save the lives of innocent people during these horrific rocket attacks.

As a partner in our mission with Vision for Israel, we pray that those of you with the means to do so will listen to the call to give and donate towards this project.

Together, we will weather this storm and come back stronger—in our faith and our love for one another. 

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Barry and Batya 

*The numbers of rockets are changing hourly. This is the number as of the writing of this publication.

Rocket attacks from Gaza are not uncommon—but the scale, severity, and range of targets involved in these latest attacks has truly been unprecedented.

A Desperate Plea from Southern Israel | Blog | Vision for Israel

Open your mouth, judge righteously, plead the cause of the poor and needy. 

The number of people living in poverty in Israel is alarming. It was a problem before the Coronavirus, but as the economy slowed—the effects have gotten even worse. And while recovery is well on its way for many, the poorest of the poor will continue to struggle for relief for the foreseeable future.

On 12th April, we met with the social welfare department for the Municipality of Jerusalem. We were shocked at their statistics:


60% of the population in west Jerusalem lives below the poverty level

80% of the East Jerusalem population lives below the poverty level

90% of the children of East Jerusalem live in poverty

The situation with war and terrorism in our region is similarly heart breaking.

On April 13, we attended the Memorial Remembrance service at the Knesset for the fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks. There we learned of a mother who had a dream at 5:16 AM that her son had been killed and died in battle with the Golani Brigade. Soldiers came to her house later that day to inform her of the tragic news.

I (Barry) had to wipe away the tears from my eyes and face with my face mask. I always forget to bring a tissue. It's only human to weep with those who weep.

My friends, we desperately need to help the suffering in Israel and we need your help to do it. Thanks to your amazing support, the work we do is purpose-driven and directly impacts our brothers and sisters in need. Whether it’s providing meals for poor children in east Jerusalem, or giving comfort to lone soldiers and victims of terror.

Together, we can rebuild Israel and the Middle East. We can make a difference.

Thank you for all you do in supporting our mission.


In His Service,

Barry & Batya


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 labour 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 Organization, 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.

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 being 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” recognizing 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.’

The number of people living in poverty in Israel is alarming. It was a problem before COVID, but as the economy slowed—the effects have gotten even worse.

Are Things Changing in Israel? | Blog | Vision for Israel

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

They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”

Dear Friends,

On 26 March 2021, NASA announced that the earth is completely safe from any potential calamity-causing asteroid for the next 100 years. The 100 foot long 9943 Apophis asteroid will fly by the earth on 13 April 2029. It will be within 20,000 miles above the surface of the earth and we will all be able to see it visibly without binoculars and telescopes. This should allay us of any fears of an asteroid striking the earth and ending life as we know it. 


However, a far greater calamity faces us on earth in the not-so-distant future—the next war in the Middle East. This next war or coming wars, will not be like anything we’ve seen before, and it’s been weighing heavily on my heart.

For the last several years, Iran has been in fast-forward motion to obtain nuclear weapons. News agencies have under-reported this, and have minimized the significance of the shadow wars that have been taking place between Israel and Iran behind the scenes. 


Nevertheless, despite all of these events, the pieces of the biblical prophetic puzzle are fitting into place quickly for a soon coming war. I dare not predict dates and rarely has anyone ever prophesied a war ahead of time as it certainly comes upon us when we least expect it. 

The facts on the ground are just a few items of what will take place. The next war against us will be a multi-front attack from potentially the following: Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syria, the Houthis in Yemen, pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip—and add to that the unknown possibilities of Turkey and Russia’s involvement. 


This war will be devastating in many respects since Israel’s present enemies claim to have an arsenal of around 150,000 missiles, both short and long-range, not to mention the new generation of drones used in warfare. It is reported by Israel’s generals that between 1,000 to 2,000 missiles will be launched against Israel daily. 

Add to this the growing alliance between President Putin in Russia, Turkey’s President Erdogan, and Iran’s Jihadist leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and it looks more and more like the formation of nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38; the war of Gog and Magog. 



In the last few years, Israel has flown over 1,000 sorties to bomb missile-producing factories in Syria and Iraq financed and instigated by Iran—not to mention other areas unknown to us over the last 10 years. Whether from Israel or a combination of nations involved, cyber warfare has been going on back and forth between Iran, Israel, and the West. The mantra from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the IDF, and other western and Middle Eastern nations whom Iran is against has been, “We will not allow Iran to achieve nuclear weaponry.” Something is bound to happen.


During this coming summer, Israel will be preparing again for war—as it has been doing in the north of Israel for the last couple of years due to rising tensions on the Syrian and Lebanese border. The IDF will have a month-long large-scale exercise take place inside and outside of Israel’s borders. It is said to be the largest military exercise ever and will stretch the capabilities of Israel’s special forces, the Air Force, the Navy, and both regular and reserve soldiers. 

As mentioned in the Israeli press, the month-long exercise will include a multiple-front battle scenario where the north, south, Judea, and Samaria are all in play—a worst-case scenario for the IDF. 

This conflict will place civilians as the target. They will be in the frontlines. Our plan to use all resources to help save lives, and to support and embrace survivors in times of great need. 


At Vision for Israel, we can participate in Israel’s defence in this hour of great need. As we have said many times before, “When a crisis comes, it's too late to prepare.” We must take a holistic approach to increase our awareness and preparedness. 

Our small fleet of donated ambulances and medi-cycles for first responders and medical personnel has already responded to over 27,000 emergency calls—most of them tending to wounded persons, both Jewish and Arab.


Vision for Israel also continues to purchase medical beds for critical care units in hospitals, medical emergency kits for doctors in the field, and a state-of-the-art blood bank vehicle that is currently being built in the US, to be shipped to Israel. 


We are assisting those suffering from various types of PTSD, and children and single mothers who have suffered from domestic violence—not to mention the high rate of unemployment because of Covid-19. I finally understand the words of Yeshua when he said, “The poor will be with you always.”


NOW is the time to prepare! Now is the time to build up the necessary resources! Now is the time to order and purchase! Now is the time to get people back on their feet after the multiple lockdowns and thousands of deaths because of the pandemic. 

As the Israel Defence Forces are preparing, so too Vision for Israel is making a clarion call to all of you; Let us prepare and build up the arsenal for giving in a time of need. In this, they will see our love to provide an avenue of hope and deliverance from the Lord Himself.



Together we can bring hope and make a difference!  

All donations will be going to help save lives and restore the spiritual and physical needs of the people in Israel. 

In His Shalom,

Barry & Batya 

“‘Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.”

Iran has been in fast-forward motion to obtain nuclear weapons. Shadow wars taking place between Israel and Iran behind the scenes have been minimized.

A New Turning Point | Blog | Vision for Israel

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Dear Friends,

We come to you with blessings and Passover greetings as we find ourselves peeking into springtime, and glimpsing an end to this challenging season.

And while that end may seem near, there is still much work to be done—beyond the immediate health concerns, Israel remains in a state of economic uncertainty as many households struggle to make up for an extended period of lost wages, missed opportunities, and not enough assistance to go around.

But thanks to our wonderful supporters like you, hundreds of families all over the country have just received financial aid from VFI. Among them were: terror survivors, lone soldiers, families in need (including many single-parent families), Holocaust survivors, and new immigrants from Ethiopia and other nations.

The Passover financial vouchers were distributed in several ways to make sure we can reach more people, by post, by hand at the Millennium Center, and by giving in capsules at centralized locations—and while doing so, met many people with heart-breaking stories. Some had suffered trauma while witnessing terror attacks, some are single mothers with health issues. But what they all had in common was a desperate need for help and deep gratitude for the work we are doing.

Here's a story of one of the families:
Keren is a single mother of three children. She lives in a rented apartment and pays full rent. Her children are in daycare. She works at a clothing store and doesn't earn enough money to cover the family's expenses. Since the corona crisis, she was on unpaid leave from work for 5 months. Needless to say, the financial aid she received from VFI was lifesaving.

Would you help us carry on this blessing for others in need, just like Keren?

Consider giving today! Please click the button below to give to this important cause.

Our first Passover in Moscow was in 1990. We were a group of Israeli believers who came to celebrate Passover with the young adults in the Jewish community. Barry and I (Batya) were with our baby Ariel at the time. 

On the evening of Passover, the excitement reached its peak. This was the first time that the Jewish community of Moscow had received permission from the communist government to celebrate in a public gathering. We did not know how many local Jewish people from Moscow would attend the Passover Seder.

We arrived at a place that looked like a makeshift synagogue in a small room that could accommodate an estimated maximum of 60 people. There were long benches and rickety tables covered with a plastic table cloth. The area outside was derelict and deserted. 

The place was packed with over 100 people. We joyously handed out packs of chocolate and dates among them so everyone could have some.

When the time for the meal came after the second cup, we were waiting and hoping the meal would be served. We waited and waited—but no meal was coming. 

Passover with no proper meal to complete the Passover celebration. Our hearts went out to these people. We were disappointed and could not believe that all those who participated are going to leave the Passover the same way they came to the event—hungry.

All of us felt overjoyed. Emotionally it was a significant experience, to be in a historical event but physically, a tremendous pang of hunger, without the food that is customary during the Passover meal. Thinking back, I was glad we had handed out the chocolate and dates and told myself it was a pity we didn’t bring more to share with these people. After all, it was their only food during this Passover Eve.

This experience in Russia stayed strong in my memory, understanding and experiencing that many are lacking what we take for granted.

Vision for Israel is determined to help as many people as possible to have a real meal on their table. No one who celebrates the Passover should ever have to leave the table with hunger pains as those people felt that Passover Seder in Russia.

Blessing to all of you, our dear friends, and Happy Passover!

Shalom,
Barry & Batya 

We come to you with blessings and Passover greetings as we find ourselves peeking into springtime, and glimpsing an end to this challenging corona crisis. 

We’re Making a Difference! | Blog | Vision for Israel

Everyone in Israel remembers the deadly attack in south Mt. Hebron in the Adora settlement in 2002. Two terrorists infiltrated the settlement on a Saturday morning, dressed in IDF uniforms and armed with M-16 rifles, and killed four people.

We met Shiri Shefi at the Bar Mitzvah celebration we hosted at the Millennium Centre in December 2020, when her son was celebrating his Bar Mitzvah.

Shiri Shefi who was then a 27-year-old mother of three small children ages 5, 4, and 14 months, lost her eldest daughter, Daniel. She now recounts the moments of horror and says; “To this day, even 19 years later, I sense Daniel everywhere. In the difficult moments, when everything closes in, I feel her hovering over me and pulling me out. Then I [thank God] for both the good and the bad. There is strength at the end of the day, even though the pain cannot be erased.”

“Daniel wanted to go to the synagogue with my husband. A month and a half earlier she celebrated her fifth birthday. I remember that because she wore the same clothes to go to the synagogue, I still remember her telling me, “Mom, just a minute”, as she just wanted to finish watching some kids’ show on TV. And as she was saying those words, I saw a man in my living room wearing IDF uniform with a long M16 and a bulletproof vest, standing at the door and starting to shoot. I yelled at him; “what are you doing?!!” and for a moment I didn’t realize what was happening since we had soldiers in our settlement and I hadn’t yet realized this was an attack. He started shooting and from that moment I acted automatically. I went into the adjacent kids’ room, shut the blinders, switched off the TV, shut the door, and hid Daniel and Eliad under the bed, and asked them to be silent, and with my little son Uriel, I went under the other bed. After a few moments, I turned to the children to see what was happening. I saw that Daniel and Eliad were injured, I did not understand what was happening with them. Everything happened in a matter of seconds and all that while I’m hearing rifle shots continuing inside the house.”

In those moments Shiri still did not know Daniel was gone, despite whispering to them to check if everything was okay with no answer. She thought they did not answer because she had told them to be quiet. At some point, when the firing subsided, Shiri started thinking about how to alert that they suffered an armed attack.

“As I was thinking how to get to my cell phone I heard Daniel’s last breaths and I realized that she is not among the living anymore. As if God was telling me that I cannot touch her as she is no longer mine”, she says. “I quietly called Eliad again and he did not reply and I thought that they are both not alive anymore and that it’s just me and Uriel.”

Shiri managed to get to the MIRS device, and at that moment a neighbour from an adjacent settlement called and asked if everything was ok, in reply Shiri said: “The kids are dead.”

“I recall telling the neighbour that if God wasn’t there to help, how could she do anything to help?”
The call was cut off and Shiri tried to call the police station in Hebron where her husband, both her brothers and brother in law worked. “I spoke to the diarist and yelled to him that the children are dead.” He did not understand what I was talking about because the news about terrorists had not reached them yet. My brother who was there grabbed the phone and told me enforcement was on the way, and I replied that the children were already dead.”

When police forces arrived at the scene together with Yaakov, Shiri's husband, a cry came out of Shiri’s throat: “I'm sorry I could not save the children; Daniel and Eliad are dead.”

“Eliad survived,” Shiri says. “When I was in the ambulance they brought him to me to see that he was alive. He was injured in the ear and head but thank God he was alive.”

“We had two more children later, Noya and Guy. It was difficult looking for a home to live in. Eventually, after several attempts, we decided to live in front of the sea in Ashkelon, after trying dozens of apartments. We are like the sea—sometimes calm and quiet and sometimes raging. What goes on with our emotions is very difficult because something was taken from our soul, which will always be missed and always be painful—it cannot be explained.”

 “At the end of the day, with all the pain involved we have no other country,” Shiri says. “When Daniel was born we added the name Bat-El to her name. She is named after my late father-in-law which I never got to know, so we added the name Bat-El to hers. After she died, we wrote on the tombstone: "A land flowing with milk and honey." Honey (דבש Dvash in Hebrew) is an acronym for Daniel, Bat-El, and Shefi. Even with all the difficulty, we see the best in the Land,” she concludes.


Two terrorists infiltrated south Mt. Hebron in the Adora settlement in 2002 dressed in IDF uniforms and M-16 rifles and killed 4 people. This is Shiri’s story.

Terrorism—and Its Deep, Personal Toll | Blog | Vision for Israel

“Is not this the fast that I choose: ...to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”

There are exactly 30 days from Purim to Passover, and these two holidays have always held a special relationship. 

We commemorate Purim by reading the Megillah—telling the story of an anonymous orphan who became the queen of Persia. It’s the story of an attempt to exterminate a whole people—perpetrated by a hater of the Jewish people, who was serving as the king's advisor. 

We commemorate Passover by reading the Passover Haggadah—telling the story of Exodus, and how the Jewish people went from being slaves in Egypt—rejected and humiliated—to become God’s chosen people. 

Presently, we live in a time of bondage—a dark night of the soul. And while it may be comforting to distract ourselves from the burden, we cannot forget that these times of restriction—these opportunities for more fervent prayer and self-reflection—are important to our understanding of what freedom truly is. Light is best appreciated from the dark, and freedom is cast in more obvious contrast by the pressures of bondage and restriction. 

God’s word has a lot to say on the subject. We invite you to dwell on this passage, taking it fully to heart.

“For freedom Messiah has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Jews around the world open the reading of the Hagaddah (re-telling of the story of the exodus from Egypt) by declaring in Aramaic: Ha lachma anya di achalu avhatana b’ara d’mitzrayim..., which includes the line “All who are hungry, come and eat!”. In Hebrew lachma anya is the bread of the poor, the bread of affliction.

It is a beautiful gesture that expresses one of the core values of this holiday: everyone, especially aiming to the poor – no matter one’s income level – deserves to celebrate being free at Passover.


“This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. All those who are hungry, let them enter and eat. All who are in need, let them come celebrate the Passover. Now we are here. Next year in the land of Israel. This year we are enslaved. Next year we will be free.” - Passover Haggadah

There is so much to hope for—in the coming months, and in the many years ahead as we continue to bless Israel and her people with the love of Yeshua. 

The Vision for Israel team is busy in the coming weeks, distributing essential aid for Passover to hundreds of families in need, as well as to those who were affected by acts of terror, single parents, new immigrants, lone soldiers, and Holocaust survivors.  The aid will be given in several locations in Jerusalem and the surrounding cities. We will also extend our hands to the southern and central regions of Israel.  

Our goal is to reach 1,000 families (an average of over 4,000 people) to provide them with essential supplies for Passover, the total sum of which will cost about $100,000. 

As we all look forward to the Passover, let’s take the opportunity to bless those who are hungry. After all, it is God’s desire for us to care for them. 

Will you help us continue this joyful work setting the oppressed and the needy free? Your continued support means the world to us, and to all the dear people of Israel who depend on the blessings we have been able to distribute, thanks to you.

“He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.”

The reading of the Hagaddah begins by declaring in Aramaic: Ha lachma anya..., which includes the line “All who are hungry, come and eat!”.Lachmaanya is the bread of affliction.

God Will Set Us Free Again | Blog | Vision for Israel

GOD’S SAVING WORK—AS TOLD IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER

As the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.

Dear Friends,


As you may know, the holiday of Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Adar in the Jewish calendar, which is usually during February or March. This Year, Purim lands on 26 February.

It is one of the most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar, and it commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from the brink of extermination.

Some of the ways we mark the holiday are: reading and hearing the Book of Esther together, acting out the story of Purim, eating sweets and traditional baked goods, dressing up in costumes, giving donations to the poor, and sending out goodie baskets to family and friends.

Every year, around the time of Purim, Vision for Israel reaches out to many underprivileged people as well as hundreds of terror victim families to warm their hearts with joyful events. We provide activities for the children and families, and give them a day full of pleasant, stress-free experiences.

In Israel today, there are tens of thousands of families who suffer from severe anxiety due to terror attacks, survivors of the Holocaust, people who are in great distress. Some of them are injured physically, and some are injured emotionally. The events that we host for them are sometimes the only times they’re able to leave their homes and be around people without extreme anxiety. These special events of Purim parties have been a fundamental gift to put a smile on their faces.

We have been in this pandemic crisis for over a year, unparalleled in our generation. At the same time, it is increasingly clear to us that our joy does not come from mass gatherings and celebrations—happiness and contentment come from our relationship with God Himself.  Within us lies the power to enhance the atmosphere around us, and amongst our family members.

Our challenge is to assist at least one thousand families in the time between this Purim and Passover, with a financial gift of £112.

Will you help us bless these families? Will you show your love to these people—the way God showed His mercy to Esther, and delivered the Jewish people from peril?

For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honour. Esther 8:16

The holiday of Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Adar in the Jewish calendar.  It is one of the most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar.

Deliverance is Coming—Just in Time for Purim | Blog | Vision for Israel

Deliverance is Coming—Just in Time for Purim

I called on Your name, O LORD, From the lowest pit. You have heard my voice:  “Do not hide Your ear From my sighing, from my cry for help.”

Dear Friends,

January 27 was International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is an important date in world history, and of course, very close to our hearts.

There are 179,600 Holocaust survivors living in Israel today, 17% of them are over 90 years old. 850 of them are 100 years old or older!

And as with any aging cohort of individuals, Coronavirus has hit them hard. About half of those who are 75 and older that have been infected with COVID, are also Holocaust survivors. And unfortunately, over 900 survivors have already died from COVID-19.

We work tirelessly to help the survivors who are still with us now, but it’s been a difficult year. These brave souls spent their childhood in ghettos, and they are no strangers to isolation. But in their advanced age, being distant from their families, the memories coming back to them bear a striking resemblance. Those who persevere serve as a powerful example to us all.

Margarita (95) was born in Ukraine. When the Nazis invaded, she was a youth. She narrowly escaped with her family—walking to Siberia while battling fear, cold, hunger, and the threat of bombings.

At the end of the war, Margarita settled in Moscow where she spent most of her adult life. When she was 31, her husband died in an accident.

At 70, she made Aliyah with her daughter. But when her daughter died 4 years ago, Margarita was left alone in the world. 
"I have no family left anywhere," she said with pain. She lives in a public housing apartment in Tel-Aviv, without an elevator. She struggles to go up the stairs, so she has been stuck at home for 4 years. The loneliness is suffocating, and hurts more than anything else.

Because of our deep love for people like Margarita, we have dedicated our efforts to providing support—especially in times like these. That’s why we’ve been raising funds to supply panic buttons to isolated Holocaust survivors. 


The monthly cost of the service to operate panic buttons is £7.50.

Our aim is to cover this lifesaving support for the most vulnerable—so for the 550 survivors most in need of support, it will cost us £49,500.

As faithful supporters of Israel, we look to you to help us complete this important mission. Your help would be a Godsend to Holocaust survivors—and may indeed make them CoVid survivors as well!

May the Lord bless and keep you.


You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is an important date in world history, and close to our hearts.  There are 179,600 Holocaust survivors in Israel today, 

They Survived the Holocaust—Now They’re Facing Covid | Blog | Vision for Israel

They Survived the Holocaust—Now They’re Facing CoVid

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

When we do our outreach, we are constantly interacting with recipients of our aid. This woman wished to remain anonymous but was willing to share some of her story with us. Adi* described her situation as desperate. She and her husband had found themselves in a difficult financial crisis after he’d lost his work as a bus driver, and she was left to care for the family through her work in a child care facility.

Their expenses remained the same: rent, utilities, food, and everything else it takes to raise a family and run a home—but their income became significantly restricted. Adi had become extremely anxious trying to figure out how to address the huge debt they accumulated. Even with the direct financial aid we offer at Vision for Israel, it wasn’t clear to her how to proceed.

Thankfully, we were able to offer them financial counselling services through our trusted non-profit partner, which combined with the aid itself to help make a much larger positive impact. Not only did they receive the money to give them a boost out of their situation, but the financial tools to use it wisely on their limited income.

At Vision for Israel, we aim to give all families in need the tools to fight their hardships, so they can have hope for a better future, and be better prepared for the road ahead. So we’re enrolling up to 120 households in a special programme that consists of 10 one-on-one, in-depth meetings with a qualified financial consultant. When they complete the course, the couple will receive a financial gift of $1000 to start them off strong.

Will you help us rescue the poor in Israel—giving them a chance to stabilise their families and dig themselves out of the hardships of the pandemic?

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

Adi described her situation as desperate. She and her husband had found themselves in a difficult financial crisis after he’d lost his work, and she was left to care for the family through her low-income work.

Impact Story: A Gift of Counsel | Blog | Vision for Israel

On a dreary day, the morning of the 7th light of Hanukkah, during a very dark year—the light was rekindled in our hearts. 
We chose Hanukkah to celebrate bar and bat mitzvah with these sweet children from terror survivor families because what better time to shine a light through the darkness?

Each year, we at Vision for Israel organise a moving, meaningful, and unforgettable event. 48 boys and girls came to the Millennium Centre for a theatrical guided tour.

Below is an abridged version of the letter we received afterward:

“I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude on behalf of the representative organisation and its members, to Vision for Israel, headed by Batya and Barry Segal, for your contribution to the success of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah 2020 event for children affected by acts of hostilities.

At the Bar and Bat Mitzvah event, 48 orphaned children, bereaved siblings, disabled children, and children of disabled parents, who were hit by missiles and Qassam rockets in the Gaza surroundings and southern Israel. Children who have lost their families, parents, and siblings in the various deadly attacks have participated in this celebration with us.

This project is an exciting, powerful, and unforgettable experience for families and children, especially this year in light of the Corona crisis, where children who reached their bar/bat mitzvah age do not get to experience and celebrate an exciting event that is so important to them.


Helping Holocaust Survivors

By bringing survivors together, we can bless them with fellowship and community—while also caring for their material needs.

I have no words to express my appreciation for this unforgettable event! Your choice of interesting and varied programmes is exceptional, but this one surpassed them all. The goodwill, the lavish hospitality, the programme, everything contributed to a very successful event!

~ Dolly and Larry, Holocaust Survivors

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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