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? 

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?” 

The nation of Israel and the Jewish people find themselves still in the thick of war after nearly 6 months of battle. And yet, we have seen the strength and resilience of the Lord in the Jewish people as we continue to live each day and not back down on fighting the enemy. 

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 Iran 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

What comes to mind when you think of the word 'orphan'?

You might think of a lonely child in an orphanage praying for a place to call home, barefoot and dirty children begging for food on the roadside, or a young and unprepared mother leaving her baby in the hands of strangers.

What you probably didn't envision is a beautiful queen draped in the finest of robes and feasting in a royal banquet hall with a king.

I'm sure Queen Esther herself could never have imagined that one day, an orphan like herself would go from the slums of Susa in Persia (modern-day Iran) to saving all exiled Jews from India to Cush (part of modern-day Africa).

Her brave and courageous actions have been commemorated throughout all generations and since then have become a Jewish national holiday called Purim.

On Purim, the story of Esther is read in the synagogues, and gift baskets filled with hamantaschen, baked goods, snacks, wine, and groggers are given to neighbors, friends, family, and loved ones. Children and adults dress up in original costumes and creative masks in honor of Queen Esther, who hid her Jewish identity, and people party and dance into the night.

But before we skip to her triumphant ending, the beginning of Esther's life was no fairytale:

“And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.” – Esther 2:7

Esther was an orphan girl living in exile in Susa. She didn't have much, but what she did have was beauty.

As King Xerses had banished Queen Vashti for her refusal to join him at his royal banquet, he set out to find a young and beautiful young woman in her stead. Soon, she was taken to the royal palace together with many other young virgins to compete for the chance of becoming queen.

Esther found favor with everyone who laid eyes upon her. She underwent months of beauty treatments, ate special food, and was given seven female attendants to serve at her beck and call. Out of all the lovely young women, King Xerses chose Esther and crowned her as queen.

If you thought that was her happily ever after, think again--a sinister danger was lurking beneath the surface in the form of a power-thirsty and influential man named Haman.

Haman was infuriated with Esther's uncle, Mordecai, who would not bow down to honor him as he passed at the city gate. So, he convinced King Xerxes to decree all Jews to be killed. 

Upon receiving this dire news, Esther had a decision to make--would she expose her identity to save her people? Or would she continue to hide to save her own skin?

"Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the King, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." - Esther 4:15-16

An orphan child is miraculously elevated to a position of power and wealth only to come face to face with one of Jewish history's most critical moments. 

Most would dismiss this orphan girl as powerless to save her people, who could be wiped out on a whim of a temperamental and merciless government official and the seal of a king's ring.

The early days of Esther's hard life prepared her to become a woman of brave character and great wisdom -- noble enough to risk her own life to save her people.

Where is God in all this? Was He blind to the evil plan threatening to demolish His people?

Although God is not clearly referred to by name in the book of Esther, His presence shines through and through.

What does the Bible say about the orphan and the fatherless?

God’s word is very clear that His heart goes out to the orphan and the fatherless and that He is there to defend them from all harm and see that they have everything they need.

He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. – Deuteronomy 10:18

Yeshua cared for the orphan, the widow, and the lowly; in fact, His life and ministry were dedicated to uplifting the downtrodden, and He performed many miracles to prove it.

He resurrected a widow's only son being carried out the city gate to be buried (Luke 7:11-17), honored and encouraged those living in poverty (luke 6:20-21), and taught His disciples to live out their faith in acts of service as in James 1:27:

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Clearly, Esther did not forget where she came from, and she stepped out in courage and fought for the rights of the powerless and the oppressed. Risking her own life, she exposed her Jewish identity to King Xerxes, pleading with him to spare her and her people and put an end to the evil plans of Haman.

Does that sound familiar? Yeshua did the same for us. Taking on the role of a humble servant kneeling before a powerful king, He too fought to cancel the enemy's plans when He pleaded to God the Father to forgive us our sins. 

Or as the psalmist Asaph says in Psalm 82:2-3:

"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

The story of Esther comes to prove that no matter what unfortunate circumstances distress your life, there is a hero inside of each and every one of us; and that the 'widow and the orphan' are not second-class citizens but strong and resilient individuals that, given the opportunity, have the ability to rise up in the face of dire circumstances with courage some could only dream of having.

Just as Yeshua and Esther remembered the downtrodden and powerless and fought for their case -- so must we. Purim is a time of celebrating victory over evil, from which we still benefit today. However, we must also remember that the poor are still with us.

Every day, children are still abandoned by their parents, a spouse might suddenly lose their husband or wife and poverty still weighs heavy on the lives of hard-working families.

Purim is an opportunity, not just to celebrate the heroic acts of Esther and the eternal forgiveness of Yeshua, but also to give gifts to the poor.

The Jewish people call this tradition in Hebrew 'Matanot L'evyonim', which means gifts to the poor. Anything from giving in a financial way or donating in other means is an excellent way to fulfill this heartfelt Purim tradition.

It is good to remember the exemplary acts of Yeshua and the courageous actions of Queen Esther. 

You and I might not have been born with royal blood by birth, but through Yeshua, we possess a nobility that comes from within. And that nobility? That can save the world.

As we say in Hebrew, Mishenichnas Adar marbin b’simcha—When the month of Adar begins, our joy increases!

Wishing you a Happy Purim!

The story of Esther comes to prove that no matter what dire circumstances distress one's life, there is a hero inside each and every one of us.

How an Orphan Turned Queen Saved a Nation | Blog | Vision for Israel

How an Orphan Turned Queen Saved a Nation

International Women's Day celebrates women from all over the world, of all ages and races, for their historical, cultural, and political achievements. It's a day in which the world unites to appreciate and admire the honorable women in their life and an opportunity to strengthen and uplift each other. 

On the official International Women's Day website, their slogan stands proud:

Celebrate women's achievements. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

In Israel and many other countries, women enjoy the benefits of equality and use their God-given skills and giftings to better the world. But there are also many countries where women's rights are still trampled, and unfortunately, they are seen as 'less than'.

What does the Bible say about the worth of a woman? What is God's view of women compared to the world's view?

Let's start from the beginning, with the first woman God created - Eve.

God created man and placed him in the garden, with all types of greenery and animals to have dominion over. Yet still, the man was alone. God determined that man needed a companion in Genesis 2:20-23:

The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man's ribs and closed up the area with flesh. And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him. And the man said:

"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman,'
for out of man she was taken.“

Throughout time, many have taken scriptures out of context and believe that God created Eve as a slave to be dominated for her disobedience and ruled over as punishment. 

But those were not God's intentions for Eve's destiny at all; in fact, quite the opposite. Eve was created in the image of God, taken from Adam's rib so that he could have a partner and a companion. 

Perhaps Matthew Henry, a minister of the 16th-17th century, describes God's intentions for women best when he said:

“The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”

God's loving character always has been and always will be central to the object of His creation - Eve, and every woman after her is no exception. It should be through the lens of His truth that we see ourselves and the women around us. 

Many would automatically remove Eve from the list of honorable women since she fell into temptation, but God does not 'cancel' a woman for her mistakes. A woman's worth is not based on her achievements or actions; if so, not one woman would be worthy.

Instead, her worth is as a cherished daughter of God who shines His character, as Proverbs 31:10 says:

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies."

Throughout the bible, God chose many women to be beacons of light in their generation and be an example for their peers - the judge and prophetess Deborah was one of them.

We are first introduced to Deborah in the book of Judges, the only recorded female judge, and prophetess in the bible:

"Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided." - Judges 4:4-5

At that time, Israel did not yet request to be ruled over by a king like the rest of the nations, so they relied on judges and prophets to know the will of God. In all of Israel, no one could be found as wise or powerful as Deborah, and the people sought her to hear the will of God.

Receiving a word from the Lord, Deborah sent Barak, leader of the Israelite armies, to battle against Sisera, promising that God will give them into his hands. Knowing God's favor was with Deborah, Barak refused to go without her, as he replies in Judged 4:8-10:

Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go."

"Certainly, I will go with you," said Deborah. "But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him."

Deborah's authority was so commanding that even a powerful man such as Barak knew that Deborah accompanying him meant God would be with him as well. 

God's favor was with Deborah, and He gave the Israelites victory and delivered their enemies into Deborah's hands. Another courageous woman crucial to Israel's victory was Jael, a tent-dwelling woman whose shrewdness sealed their victory.

As Barak scattered Sisera and his army, Sisera sought to hide in Jael's tent. She gave him food and drink and covered him with a blanket as he fell asleep exhausted. While he slept, she took matters into her own hands (literally) and ended his life with a tent peg. 

It took a strong woman to lead an army and another strong woman to end the war. As written in the song of Deborah in Judges chapter 5, Deborah and Jael will go down in history as brave leaders whom God trusted with the destiny of His people. They are not just examples of bravery but, more than anything, an example of favor with God and man.

There are many more great examples of strong women in the Bible, some whose history-changing actions are recorded and many who are not.

Women have had more opportunities to carry out their God-given talents as the world progresses and have shown great strength in the face of adversity.

At Vision for Israel, we meet such women every day. Whether they are single mothers, sacrificing all for their children, survivors of terror attacks, or holocaust survivors - their strength is acknowledged.

It takes much to remain strong and base your worth on God's truth in a world full of societal pressure. The world's truth is objective, ever-changing, and sometimes completely unattainable.
God's truth is unbiased, never changing, and based on grace and not one's strength or merit.

His love and appreciation are not given or taken based on a woman's achievements or accolades, which come and go — neither on her mistakes, past shame, or current struggles.

A woman's worth is based entirely on never-changing truth - the Father's eternal love for His daughters.

God does not 'cancel' a woman for her mistakes. A woman's worth is not based on her achievements or actions; if so, not one woman would be worthy.

A Woman’s Worth in a Biased World | Blog | Vision for Israel

Teachings

Aid to the Poor in Israel

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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