Listen as Batya breaks down the beauty of Parashat Yitro in Exodus 18:1-20:23. This section of the Torah speaks volumes about God’s love for his people, the miracle of Exodus, and how we came to receive the ten commandments. As a student of the Torah and a follower of Yeshua, Batya’s perspective provides new insight into our promises with God, and how to navigate hard decisions.

Parashat Yitro - Bible Teaching with Batya Segal

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?

This section of the Torah speaks volumes about God’s love for his people, the miracle of Exodus, and how we came to receive the ten commandments. 

Where Did We Get the Ten Commandments? | Blog | Vision for Israel

Parashat Yitro: Where Did We Get the Ten Commandments? 


“Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the first fruits of the crops you sow in your field...”

Shavuot is a special holiday for the Jewish people and is celebrated 7 weeks after Passover. This year it begins on the evening of Sunday, June 1st, 2025. According to Jewish tradition, it is the celebration of the time that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. 

According to the Bible, Shavuot is a time of harvesting the first fruits, counting the Omer, rejoicing before the Lord, and outpouring the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh). Knowing God’s word helps us discern between biblical commands and cultural traditions. There is value in learning more about the Jewish cultural customs, because we can connect on a deeper level with the Jewish people, understand the culture better, and differentiate between a custom versus a biblical command. 

Let’s start by looking at the rabbinical Jewish customs practiced during Shavuot. 

Eating dairy: One reason for this custom is the belief that the word of God is like milk that nourishes the soul. And since Shavuot is believed to be the day that the Jewish people received God’s word, we celebrate by eating dairy products. Another reason is that when the Jewish people received the Torah it is believed it was on the Sabbath, yet they were required to eat kosher. Since they weren’t able to do any work or slaughter animals, they just ate dairy on that day. Another explanation is that during this time of year, the female sheep give birth and their milk is abundant leading to eating more dairy than usual.

As the holiday approaches in Israel, you will see many cheesecakes and dairy delicacies in the bakeries, restaurants, and stores. It is also a rabbinical custom to celebrate Shavuot with two meals, first a dairy meal and after a few hours, a meat meal.

Reading the Book of Ruth: It is customary to read the Book of Ruth during Shavuot because it is a book in the Bible centered around harvest time. This book in the Bible is a great example of how the Jewish people were generous and left behind some grain for the poor to gather.

Ruth 2:2-3 - “And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.‘ Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.“


Leviticus 23:22 - “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.’”

Staying up all night studying the Torah: Why do some Jewish people stay awake all night studying the Torah on Shavuot? One reason is it’s a way to prepare yourself to receive the blessing of God’s word, just like Moses was prepared to receive the Ten Commandments. It is believed that because the Israelites were not prepared to receive the Torah, they fell into sin and created the golden calf. So now, some stay awake all night reading the Torah to make up for their ancestors’ sins.

Go to synagogue and hear the 10 commandments: Rabbis encourage every Jewish person, including children, to come to synagogue on the morning of Shavuot. It has even become a fun tradition to have an ice cream reception for the kids and a dairy reception for the adults after the service.

Shavuot is celebrated for 2 days in the Diaspora: Why do Jewish people living outside of Israel celebrate Shavuot for two days? Back in the old days news traveled way slower. So, by the time they got the word out from Jerusalem, people needed another day to celebrate. This tradition of a two-day celebration outside of Israel still happens today.


There are several other customs and traditions held by different streams of Judaism, but these are the most common. It is important to take notice that many of these customs are not found in the Bible. Now let’s take a look at God’s word to discover how He wants us to celebrate Shavuot.

Shavuot is one of three holidays commanded by God to come to Jerusalem and bring an offering to the Lord every year. Let’s open our Bibles to discover more about this God-commanded holiday. The Bible uses several different names for Shavuot, and the first one we will look at is ‘Festival of Weeks.’ The Hebrew word for ‘Shavuot’ means ‘weeks’, and this refers to the counting of the Omer for 49 days.

Deuteronomy 16:9-12: ”Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the Lord your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you. And rejoice before the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites in your towns, and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows living among you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and follow carefully these decrees.“

In these verses, God commands the Israelites to count seven weeks (49 days) from the time the grain harvest begins and then to celebrate Shavuot by voluntarily giving an offering to the Lord. And then God commands us to rejoice in Him. What an amazing God we serve that he commands us to REJOICE in Him, as a way to celebrate this holiday! God also commands us to be together with family, friends, and many others as we celebrate. And lastly, he also wants us to remember the time the Israelites were in slavery in Egypt. It is good to remember what we once were... slaves to the Egyptians and slaves to sin. And yet, to also see where God has us now. He set the people of Israel free from Egypt. And he set us all free by the blood of Yeshua, so we are no longer called slaves, but called children of God! 

Now let’s look at two other names for Shavuot found in the Bible.

“Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the first fruits of the crops you sow in your field...” — Exodus 23:16a

The Festival of Harvest and the Festival of First Fruits are two other names for Shavuot. This verse shows us that Shavuot is about harvesting the first fruits. God wants us to celebrate the harvest season and taste some of the fruit he has produced in our lives. This holiday is really about giving thanks to the Lord for the “fruit” he had produces in our lives and His abundant provision.

In Number 28:26, God says, ”On the day of first fruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.“

He also commands us to give an offering of the new grain we produced, come together for a special meeting, and refrain from our regular work. So let's make a list from these three scriptures of the ways God desires for us to celebrate Shavuot. 

God's instructions on how He wants us to celebrate Shavuot:

Count the Omer for seven weeks (49 days) from Passover, and then celebrate Shavuot!

Celebrate with God by giving a freewill offering or a spontaneous gift in proportion to what He has blessed you with — God wants us to celebrate His provision for us by giving abundantly to others, as he has blessed us abundantly.

God also wants us to give an offering of our first fruits, which means to give God the first of what we produce, and putting Him first in our lives.

Rejoice before the Lord together with your family, friends, congregation, and others.

Remember God’s deliverance from Egypt for the People of Israel and deliverance for each of us from sin!

Lastly, we need to obey God’s commands, including celebrating this holiday in the way God commanded it.


Now that we have looked at several Old Testament scriptures, let’s zoom in a little more on some verses in the New Testament about Yeshua and the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:3-5 — “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The final name for Shavuot found in the Bible is Pentecost, meaning fifty. Pentecost is the 50th day of the counting of the Omer, and Yeshua’s followers were all together in one place when the Holy Spirit was poured out over them. On Shavuot, God gave his people the precious and powerful gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:1-4- “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

We can see that Yeshua’s followers also celebrated Shavuot because they were all together in one place. Can you imagine when the Holy Spirit was poured out and everyone began speaking different languages? Was everyone laughing and just full of God’s joy and peace?

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 — “But Yeshua has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Yeshua, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.”

Yeshua is the first fruit that was offered back to the Lord for the sins of the world. May we also surrender our lives to the Lord, and bear much fruit for Him here on this earth.

After studying God’s word together, we can see the differences between what God wants us to do in celebrating Shavuot versus all of the other additional customs added on by the Rabbis. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with eating dairy on Shavuot or staying up all night reading the Torah and the book of Ruth. But, it’s important to not just accept every Jewish custom, but instead to pray and ask God for wisdom and discernment, even in how to celebrate a biblical holiday.

So, as you celebrate Shavuot this year, we encourage you to read the word of God for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and your family on how He wants you to celebrate Shavuot. May we all rejoice in the Lord together!


From all of us at VFI, we wish you a wonderful and Holy Spirit-filled Shavuot!


Read more about Shavuot in these blogs:
The Feast of Shavuot: An Essential Reminder of God’s Faithfulness

Shavu'ot—Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

This Shavuot let us compare some of the rabbinical Jewish customs versus God's instructions He has given in the Bible about celebrating the holiday.

Commanded or Customary? | Blog | Vision for Israel

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place... Who knows whether you have attained royal status for such a time as this?” 

As the holiday of Purim approaches, all of us can relate to how the Jewish people must have felt during the time of Esther in the Bible. Haman and many others had planned to destroy the Jewish people, and this is exactly what Hamas, Hezbollah, and all the enemies of Israel want to do to the nation of Israel. And yet in the book of Esther, God had a sovereign plan to deliver His people and make a way for the Jewish people to fight and defeat our enemies. Today, all of us living in Israel and those praying around the world, are pressing into the Lord to see Him do it again. We pray, “Lord, come fight for your people, protect and shield them from the enemy, and deliver Israel and the Jewish people again!”

As the Jewish people celebrate Purim this month, on the 14th of Adar, we remember the story of God delivering the Jewish people from imminent destruction in the ancient Persian Empire. This holiday is named after the word "pur" (lots), for the lots cast by Haman who was the prime minister under King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), to determine the day he would exterminate the Jews. This story, encapsulated in Megillat Esther (Book of Esther), showcases themes of courage, faith, and God’s divine orchestration.

The Story of Purim: Courage and Providence

The Purim narrative highlights Esther, a Jewish girl who becomes queen and conceals her Jewish identity. Her cousin Mordecai refuses to bow down to Haman, which incites Haman's wrath. Haman persuades the king to sign an edict to annihilate the Jews. The story unfolds as Mordecai discovers a plot against the king. Mordechai encourages Queen Esther to rise up to defend the Jewish people by telling her that she has come to her royal position for such a time as this. Esther bravely calls a fast for 3 days and risks her life to approach the king to expose the plot against the Jewish people. She reveals her Jewish identity, and God turns the story around. The story culminates with the king ordering Haman's execution, Mordecai being elevated by the king, and a new edict written, allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies. In the end, God gave the Jewish people victory over their enemies, and they celebrated with great feasting and joy! 

“On the 13th day of the 12th month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them.” - Esther 9:1-2

Traditions of Purim: Joy, Memory, and Generosity

Purim traditions are designed to celebrate God’s miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people and to instill the story's lessons throughout generations. Some of these traditions include:

Megillah Reading: During the public recitation of the Book of Esther in synagogues, it is customary to drown out Haman's name every time he is mentioned with noise made by groggers or boos. This symbolized the eradication of evil.

Mishlo’ach Manot: Sending gifts of food to friends and Matanot La'Evyonim (giving gifts to the poor) emphasizes the importance of community and charity during this holiday. One of the most iconic items that is included in the Mishlo'ach Manot is Hamantaschen, a triangular cookie that is typically filled with a sweet filling such as dates or poppy seeds. 

Purim Spiel: Theatrical presentations retell the Purim story, and often use humor and satire.

Dressing up in costumes and masks: The costumes symbolize the hidden miracles of the Purim story and Esther's concealed Jewish identity.

Tzedakah: The Essence of Purim and Vision for Israel's Work

“to have them celebrate annually the 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” - Esther 9:21-22

Tzedaka, the act of giving to the poor and the less fortunate, is a Purim cornerstone. Vision for Israel extends this biblical principle throughout the year, providing essential aid to those in need across Israel. In light of this Purim, we invite you to celebrate this holiday by giving gifts to the poor in Israel. To learn more about our work visit our projects page.

Antisemitism Today: The Shadow of Haman in Modern Times

The eerie resemblance between Haman and Hamas is not lost on contemporary observers. Just as Haman cast lots to annihilate the Jewish people, Hamas launched an attack against Israel on October 7th, the day of Simchat Torah, seeking our destruction. 

But it didn’t end there. Following the attack and the subsequent war in Gaza, we are seeing a rise in antisemitism around the world today. This is a grave concern and we must learn from history.

This parallel highlights the enduring struggle against antisemitism and the importance of unity, resilience, and vigilance in safeguarding Jewish lives and heritage against modern threats. Let us raise our voices against antisemitism and stand together with our Jewish brothers and sisters.

God’s message through the Purim story is that when His people stand in courage and trust in Him, He will deliver His people from the hands of their enemies. This holiday also serves as a call to action in today's world, reminding us of the importance of standing against oppression, supporting one another, and fostering a community bound by generosity and love. God's message through the book of Esther remains ever-relevant, and now more than ever, for Israel as we find ourselves still at war.

Today, with many enemies surrounding Israel on all sides, we look to the Lord who is our deliverer and shield. He will protect and fight for His people. We expect to see Him do miracles and He will receive all the glory and honor for faithfully protecting His people and nation. 



Learn more about this joyful holiday in these blogs:
Purim—The Victory of God’s People

How an Orphan Turned Queen Saved a Nation

Explore the legacy of Purim, from its ancient origins and traditions to modern significance, The Jewish people’s resilience, and the fight against antisemitism. 

Purim: A Celebration of Deliverance | Blog | Vision for Israel

“A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak..”

There is a time and a season for everything. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. In Israel on Yom HaShoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day, the entire nation takes two minutes to be silent. At 10 am, a siren rings throughout every city in Israel for two minutes. Israelis stop and stand in silence, and even pull over on the side of the road, to silently honor their fellow Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust and those who survived the horrors. If you have ever been in Israel during this time, it is truly a powerful moment of silence. 

This year, Holocaust Remembrance Day starts on April 23rd at sundown and ends on April 24th at sundown. Israel takes this day seriously and considers it a day of sorrow as they remember the 6 million Jews who endured such cruel torture and death during the Holocaust. Israel not only commemorates this day with a moment of silence but also with ceremonies of leaders speaking about the truths of the Holocaust.

The official national ceremony is held in Jerusalem at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance center. Every year they choose 6 Holocaust Survivors to hold a torch to represent the memory of the 6 million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. There are also many ceremonies honoring the Holocaust Survivors still alive today. An estimated 123,000 Holocaust Survivors are living in Israel today. 

This year marks 80 years since the Nazi regime was defeated in April 1945. We mourn the devastation of the Holocaust, but we also rejoice that God established Israel as an independent Jewish state in 1948, three years after the Holocaust ended. This year Israel will celebrate its 77th Independence Day on April 30th. Even in all of this sorrow, let us remember that God is faithful to destroy Israel’s enemies and help the Jewish people possess the land of Israel!

“For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.” – Psalm 37:9

This year, just like last year, Israel is in a place of mourning and heartache daily due to the Iron Swords War that continues, with no end in sight. And, even still, the nation takes time to honor those that suffered during the Holocaust. All the more, it is vital for us to remember how these wicked ideologies rapidly escalated to mass murders. And we pray this will never happen again!

It is important to take time to be silent, to remember, and to pray, however, we cannot just remain silent. We need courage from the Lord to speak against antisemitism and speak up for the Jewish people.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” – Proverbs 31:8

Now more than ever, it is important to remember what happened during the Holocaust. But, what exactly are we remembering? We are mourning the innocent lives of millions of Jews and many others who were brutally and systematically murdered. We remember the unbelievable evil and hatred towards the Jewish people that we still see in the world today. 

We also remember the ones who risked their lives to save hundreds or even just one precious life. We remember the ones that bravely stood up against the regime, and fought for the innocent. And we pray that God will give us the courage to stand up for righteousness in the face of evil, especially during this current war Israel is in.

Antisemitism on the Rise Since October 7th

The hatred of Jews is not a new thing. We see it throughout the scriptures in the Bible, especially through Pharaoh in the Book of Exodus and Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews in the Book of Esther. However, God can give us the courage to stand up against the enemies of the Jewish people, just like He did for the people of Israel in Egypt, and Esther and Mordecai.

Israel has been battling in this current war for about a year and a half, and we have seen the hatred towards the Jewish people not only on Israel’s borders but all around the world. Since the war began, we have seen antisemitism increase around the world, especially in the United States. 

Antisemitic protests flooded college campuses around the USA, traveling Israelis encountered terror attacks and threats around the world, and much more. From October 7th, 2023 to October 2024, there were over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the United States. This is the largest number of antisemitic incidents within one year. 

Another aspect of antisemitism is the very act of trying to deny or lessen the reality of the atrocities during the Holocaust. Today, many are trying to limit the amount of education about the Holocaust in schools by enforcing laws and fines. Political leaders are twisting the truth and changing what is communicated about the Holocaust at museums and exhibitions. And many political leaders are rejecting the importance of remembering what happened in the Holocaust. 

The very act of misrepresenting historical facts about the Holocaust and hindering communication and education about it is antisemitic. So, what can we do to help fight against antisemitism?

Our first response is to pray. Pray for the protection of the Jewish people around the world and the nation of Israel. Another way to take a stand against antisemitism is to speak the truth about what happened during the Holocaust. The systematic murder of 6 million Jews, which was about 1/3 of the Jewish population at the time, is incomprehensible. And yet, we need to comprehend that the Holocaust really did happen. 

Another way to fight antisemitism is to ask God for the courage to speak up when we see and hear hatred against the Jewish people. God may have placed you in a job, position, or place to be able to speak His truth, bring about change, and help protect his people. 

Another practical way to fight antisemitism is to stand with the Jewish people in their suffering. Let us mourn for the ones we lost, but also pray for those who have endured the Holocaust and are still alive today. If you have the opportunity, you should sit down with a Holocaust Survivor and serve them in some way. And maybe you will even hear some of their heart-wrenching stories and can comprehend just a small part of what they suffered. Many of these resilient Holocaust Survivors still have nightmares of the horrors they and their loved ones suffered through.

Let us express our love and support to the remaining Holocaust Survivors still with us today. VFI has been able to support Holocaust Survivors for many years hosting many special events for them to connect with other survivors, and just to bless them! If it’s in your heart to financially support Holocaust survivors, click here to donate.

Since the Iron Swords War began on October 7th, 2023, about 1,200 Israeli civilians died, 251 people were kidnapped, and over 800 soldiers and police have lost their lives. In this last year and a half, about 80,000 Israelis left Israel, and only 30,000 returned and another 30,000 were new immigrants. We can see there is a deep fear in the people for many reasons, but one could also be the trauma their ancestors suffered during the Holocaust. 

Today, the Jewish people are suffering from trauma along with economic difficulties due to the war. There are still rockets and missiles being fired at Israel on a daily/weekly basis from Gaza, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Iran. 

So, this Holocaust Remembrance Day, let us take a moment of silence to honor those who have been lost in the Holocaust and those who have endured until today. And let us also remember those currently battling through the trauma of the war that Israel is still fighting. Take action today by standing with VFI as we support Holocaust Survivors and help Victims of Terrorism overcome trauma.

Let us not become weary in doing good to the Jewish people. Don’t give up standing with the Jewish people, especially during this war! And don’t give up praying for the people of Israel: Holocaust Survivors, October 7th Survivors, freed Israeli hostages and those still held hostage, Israeli soldiers and their families, and many more!

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

God, give us the wisdom to know when to be silent and when to speak, and help us not give up fighting for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel!

This Holocaust Remembrance Day let us remember the horrors of the Holocaust, speak up against antisemitism and continue to stand with the Jewish people.

Never Again is Now: Holocaust Remembrance Amid Rising Antisemitism | Blog | Vision for Israel

Never Again is Now: Holocaust Remembrance Amid Rising Antisemitism

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Parashat Yitro: Where Did We Get the Ten Commandments?

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

The Miracle of Exodus

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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