Arrows 2025 Jan 10 REVISED

 This article was flagged as Hate Speech by this platform, so I am removing my article. 

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Arrows from Zion 
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries

In Reuven Doron’s latest newletter “Come Jesus Come” he quoted Zechariah 10:1-12, but this portion (3-6) especially uplifted my heart: “For YHWH of hosts will visit His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His royal horse in the battle. From him comes the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together. They shall be like mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because YHWH is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame. I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; for I am YHWH their God, and I will hear them.”
     …. This scripture tells the Elect of God that (1) they cannot trust in man; (2) That the land is flooded with deceivers and false prophets who propagate delusions and lies, offering no comfort or healing. (3) That human governments, leaders, and institutions are too compromised and weak to offer real and lasting solutions to the world’s troubles. (4) That the House of Judah shall remain in war, yet prevail, as the entire Middle East shakes. And (5) that the House of Joseph & Ephraim, the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) among the nations, shall grow in power and in might as God’s purpose unfolds upon the earth. The fact is that, apart from the reality of the Kingdom of the God among the elect, the world that most people consider “home” is becoming more unstable and dangerous as we move further into the end of days.

2025 IN A SNAP | Regardless of efforts to project a bright and joyful view of 2025, we found that the caricature below best reflects the attitude of most folks who are awake, at least here in Israel…
   MINDSETS | The Lord told us that the “fields are white and ready for harvest” (John 4:35), and that we are to “… know the state of your flocks.” (Proverbs 27:23). So, what do we see around us here in Israel?
     It would help the intercessors to remember that the magnitude of the October 7 massacre that shocked our small Israeli society as a Tsunami of pure evil would be equivalent to the trauma of a terror attack on US soil resulting with about 40,000 Americans slaughtered, raped, mutilated, burned alive, tortured and kidnapped in one day!
Read excerpt of the newsletter on Reuven’s FB page, or subscribe directly to read the full newsletter, generally weekly.

Evan Santoro is the Shelanu TV station manager, also the son of Eddie & Jackie Santoro who discipled and mentored so many of the young ministers who are now in leadership positions in Israel. He comes from a spiritually rich legacy left by his dad, and which continues in his mom, Jackie, whose ministry letter is also in this issue, with news from Ahavat Yeshua congregation in Jerusalem. 
     As for Evan, he writes about Shelanu TV, “We are growing and being strengthened day by day and we have just begun to make a difference in the nation of Israel. All our social media channels are growing and as we continue to produce thought-provoking content in Hebrew, we are receiving more questions and comments about the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua.
     Israel is a hard and dry land, both physically and spiritually. It is not easy to talk about Jesus to Israelis and much of our efforts are met with hostility and anger: “Why are you trying to steal Jewish souls? Haven’t we already suffered enough in this name? Leave us alone and go back to your Christian God.”
These are just a few of the many responses we receive daily. We honestly believe, though, that every response, even if it is negative, is a seed being planted. It is our job to plant the seeds, and we leave it to God to cause the seed to grow in His perfect timing.
     Evan gives 4 examples of the Israel’s they have reached with the programming of Shelanu – a young visibly ultra-Orthodox man; a northern Israeli man who was from a Christian family, but it was not his hunger to learn more until he began viewing Shelanu programming; a 34-yr old man in one of the most ultra-Orthodox cities in Israel (Bnei Brak) who is eager to learn more despite the persecution if he is caught “interacting with "forbidden" stuff that is related to Yeshua, Jesus”; and someone from Facebook who thought we were the ultra-orthodox “messianics”  who do not serve militarily to protect Israel – but was excited to hear we were Messianic Jews who follow Yeshua – and do serve “in the IDF; many serve as officers, reservists, and commanders and serve many years beyond their mandatory service time. We contribute to the country and are committed citizens.”
     To support the Shelanu TV programming of Israeli Messianic congregations and ministries to the Israeli people IN HEBREW, https://www.shelanutv.com/donate

From Chaim Malespin of the Aliyah Return Center: “The difference between light and darkness, is that light gives. And darkness takes. At the ARC, that is what our aim is to be, is to be light. With God’s help and your help, we have been able to be true givers! …. Thanks to you, a week does not go by where the ARC team have not stopped giving! And this directly impacts the lives of so many in a time of dynamic transition…. Together we will continue to spread the light and dispel the darkness!  | Help us Build the Lighthouse | Emergency Aid & Give here
     1/5 Here are some prayer points for this week from The Faithful Galileans:
    Hamas released a video of Liri, one of the hostages that is still being held in Gaza. The authority and power of Hamas needs to fall in order for the hostages to come home. And the more they see Israel feeling pressure, the harder they become in their demands for a hostage deal. |   Continue to pray for wisdom for the government in regards to the Houthis in Yemen. | Please pray for the Government in Israel. Running a country that was before the war very disunited, to now fighting a war on seven fronts for their existence is not for the faint in heart! … that God would bring order to where there is chaos. | The Religious community in Israel. About 13% of the population in Israel is Ultra Orthodox. The situation with the community has become problematic as many of them live off welfare and were exempt from the army until recently. … please pray that this community would help carry their weight like every other citizen in Israel. | Also persecution from Religious groups. If you could also cover the ARC and TFG in prayer in regards to persecution from some of these ultra religious groups. They have been publishing slanderous accusations and harassing the work we have been doing, including our partners. This very stressful to deal with after being on the battlefield.

Ariel Hyde writes about the VIDEO Tree of Life Israel Ministries has just released: God is Drawing His Lost Lambs Back Home | God promised to cleanse His people from their filthiness and idols and that He would come live in their hearts. And we are excited to see this happening in the new discipleship group we’ve launched. Listen to our new podcast on your favorite audio platforms: On Apple, Spotify and on Amazon. Watch it on YouTube and Facebook. And please share this video on all social media outlets!

Aleksey Raihstadt of Beit Immanuel congregation in old Jaffa  | We cannot express enough how much your prayers and support has meant to us this past year. Because of your faithfulness, we have been able to share the love and truth of Yeshua in powerful ways. We ask that you continue to pray with us during this season:  For peace and safety in Israel, especially in areas impacted by recent rocket attacks.| Return of all the hostages.| For hearts hardened by pain to open to the truth of Yeshua.| For those who came to faith this year to grow strong and bold in their walk with Him. | May your new year of 2025 be filled with the joy, peace, and hope that only Yeshua can bring. Let us move forward together, shining His light brightly for the world to see.  In Messiah’s love, Pastor Aleksey Raikhstadt |       To support this ministry in Old Jaffa | Securely on PayPal | Securely by Credit Card

 Claude & Michelle Ezagouri of the Or B’Darki (Morning Star) Fellowship in Tiberias write an update first giving thanks “for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our meetings and for the healing of several of our brothers and sisters.” | Their Prayer requests | We decided to renew our contract for the rental of our our humanitarian store in downtown Tiberias. It has been a blessing to many people in the city and we want to pursue this project. . . . Please pray that there will not be any persecution from the anti-messianic zealots and that we will be able to organize everything in peace.| Please pray as are still waiting for the necessary funds from the Lord for the purchase of a room that would enlarge our premises. This room would be used by the youth who are in need of their own space.
     . . . . Because of the war the new budget is very severe and hard for the Israelis who will have to pay more for everything including electricity, local taxes, VAT tax, and of course everything at the supermarket while the salaries will remain the same. Besides, the budget doesn’t facilitate any growth of the economy, but on the contrary only economy contraction. Last year 70,000 businesses closed, and it is already forecast that many more will go bankrupt in 2025. We feel that these are the first economical pains before the end-time tribulations. However we know that our God answers our prayers and He is faithful to His promises for His people Israel.  We take this opportunity to thank you for your faithfulness and wish you a year of peace, of health and Yeshua’s inspiration in everything you undertake. | If you desire to support this ministry in the Galilee go to (OR B'DARKI) through PayPal

Leon Mazin of Return to Zion in Haifa writes their thanks “for your standing with us in faith and in our difficulties, and in our joy” and prays “for peace and well-being for you and your loved ones in the coming 2025.” Leon writes, “There were a lot of worries, the war, frequent attacks and need to run to bomb shelters, everlasting anxiety about the loved ones serving in the Army. …there are a lot of worries and concerns about our soldiers in general and about those who participate in direct fights with those “who wish us death”. Even if you do not know a victim personally you anyway know his relatives or friends. Everything is intertwined…. I ask you to pray for us in Haifa and for our daughter Congregations, Or Chai and Netzer ha-Galil, for believers in Yeshua in Israel, for our ability to stand in God’s peace and Yeshua Messiah’s testimony.”…. During 2024 we had three seminars for inner healing. It was the most highly sought topic. Our Youth conducted regular meetings, and we can see how stronger and bigger, and more consolidated they have become.
     ….Humanitarian projects. We keep providing hot meals to 58 - 60 elderly people on a weekly basis. ..for 3 – 4 days. Also, every week … we cooperate with the social workers of the Mayor’s Office to render assistance to certain groups of these people with food supplies during the National Holidays. The New Immigrants Project has reached hundreds of people. …But this year we have not just provided humanitarian aid to them, but we had a possibility to encourage them. Our humanitarian “Second hand” warehouse has operated full time…. it is in a bomb shelter, and we had to provide more space for the dwellers from the nearest blocks of flats during the attacks.
     We keep serving to children from the former CIS countries who come to Israel for medical treatment providing food supplies to them. There was much more – including the music and arts school that is also a ministry to families who cannot afford tuition, but not enough room to put it all here. Leon writes, “all the things we’ve done. .. the meaning is to serve our neighbors with the Grace of God and His Light! I kindly ask you to pray for us and stay with us in the ministry for the people of Israel. I again wish you a blessed year 2025, peace and God’s protection for you and your loved ones.|  Donations at this link.

From Kfar Saba, the HaMaayan congregation led by Tony and Orna Sperandeo, “The year 2024 allowed us to have a great outpouring of the practical & physical aspects of the Gospel and also the opportunity to minister to the spiritual & emotional needs of the people around us. We continued our monthly outreach to the needy in the streets of south Tel Aviv. We had a special Hanukkah/Christmas event, distributing gifts, clothes & meals to the homeless & needy. We invited them from the street, to our special celebration with our Indian/Sri-Lanken & Nepali communities. Many heard the God's message of Love & Hope for the first time.| We organized a Hanukkah celebration for 25 Holocaust survivors who live in our area. We have made a special 8-min video for them that's called "From Horror to Revival.” After viewing that, we continued with a craft workshop on this theme of revival & victory. They share with us how blessed & touched they are by our love & care for them & are looking forward to return for more workshops & activities. Please pray for spiritual revelation for each of them. To read the full prayer letter & enjoy their pictures, go to HaMaayan blog

Israel Pochtar of Voice of Judah Israel Ministries and Beit Hallel Congregations writes about an exciting project they are working on in purchasing a building to house their new Evangelism and Discipleship Center. The reality is that in Israel FEW congregations own their congregational building and because of their faith, this sometimes can lead to being kicked out of their rental! But this is exciting because it is also going to be used by other congregations for various events. The building they are in now has become too crowded: “Because of Israel’s war, our ministry is growing through continuous evangelism and humanitarian support. Our building has become a hub of blessing for thousands of people, with truckloads of supplies filling every available space. We are desperate for more room for discipleship to grow more leaders. Beit Hallel is a center for many congregations in Israel who arrive weekly to take essential supplies to their communities from north in Dan to Beersheba and southernmost Eilat. Our facility has so much humanitarian work that we can only squeeze in one weekly service on Shabbat.” That is a serious need for a ministry so focused on evangelism and discipleship! (Here is where to donate) Also watch this special video message Israel prepared about this important project.
     PLUS VIDEO Discovering the Depth of Genesis Through Hebrew | VIDEO A Christmas to Echo in Eternity: Words of Thanks from Our Jerusalem Evangelism

Tikkun Global sends this short message from Asher Intrater walking the halls of Israel’s Supreme Court with a message Praying for Righteousness and Justice | Also this longer VIDEO teaching The Work of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives | And an article from Guy Cohen The Land Rested

Avner Boskey of David’s Tent writes everything you didn’t know you need to know about the Islamic Caliphate in The collapse of the Caliphate |

Kobi & Shani Ferguson say you can either Read more or listen to this month's Maoz Israel Report article: "Shmuel is Hebrew for Samuel".

Michael Beener of Ir HaHaim (City of Life) congregation in Sderot writes aabout the camp they are doing for Messianic children who “have endured unimaginable hardships. The traumatic events of October 7 and the ongoing war have left deep scars, disrupting their sense of safety and childhood innocence. Many have experienced fear, loss, and uncertainty, and their young hearts carry the heavy burden of these turbulent times…. its first-ever camp for Messianic children, “Negev Camp”, held in a special location in the Negev Desert. Children from various Messianic congregations in the area gathered for an unforgettable time of worship, connection, and spiritual growth. Watch this VIDEO about our Negev Camp “We are witnessing how God is opening doors for their futures, and we feel deeply privileged to be part of this transformative journey.” Learn more here and please consider DONATING
     You can also help the ministry team supply “essential support to families facing the bitter cold in Sderot and the surrounding areas.” Read more here and please DONATE to help us help them
    Subscribe Here to get video updates of all this great ministry is doing!

Guy Cohen pastors the congregation Harvest of Asher in Acco and shares from a deep spiritual heart. I always enjoy his messages – like the 12/16 message on jealousy that ended with the word “We must be cautious not to fall into the trap of jealousy. Despite the physical or spiritual gifts and accomplishments of another, our hearts should be set on serving God as He leads and calls us as individuals.”
     As I wrote last week, Guy’s own mother recently passed into eternity. He just completed the seven days of mourning (sitting shiva) for his mother who passed on the first day of Hanukkah. Guy writes, “Hanukkah is a feast of light and joy. My mother's life reflected exactly that. She loved her family, to sing and to embrace and host others in her home. She was a person who loved and accepted everyone. I find comfort and joy in knowing that after over 3 months of suffering, she, during that time, came to know her Jewish Messiah and entered into the Light of the world.” Thank you LORD.
     Guy comes from a family of traditional rabbis in the very city his own Messianic congregation is located. The name is, the Harvest of Asher, and it is because it sits in the land that was allotted to the tribe of Asher. Guy continues his message for 1/5 with the blessings that were spoken over the tribe of Asher and related to the region he is now reaching out to with the good news of Israel’s Messiah. One is from Genesis 49:20, another from Genesis 30:12-13 and lastly from Deuteronomy 33:24. They indicate for the harvest of Asher “richness of bread” (“wheat was the currency and had value like gold has value”); “The word Asher in the Hebrew reflects the meaning of happiness and blessing. I see this as an implication from the beginning of Asher in the physical and spiritual as a place of happiness and blessing….and anointing”; lastly “let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil."  We see here a spirit of reconciliation which dwells in the oil of anointing over this area. Moreover, there is a greater calling for this area to fulfill the call of bringing the oil of the anointing in Yeshua's name throughout the region. I see growth and unity, many home groups, houses of worship and people joined together through the light of Yeshua offering the Bread of Life.”

God's Judgment on Hollywood? Reality Check on the Prophets Saying So. 
by Donna Diorio at https://figtreefruit-israelwatcher.blogspot.com/

Lastly from Jackie Santoro, Zion’s Glory and Ahavat Yeshua begins with a video of a young woman hostage that should have brought only joy, but the clear distress and fear of the girl has “once again pierced the heart of the nation” as Israelis saw “the reality of their intense suffering.” The cry has gone up: “Bring them home now! How long O Lord?” 
     Even as Jackie recounted the many sorrows, shock, trauma, and heartbreak, she also writes, “In the midst of those painful times, we did have many wonderful victories. Our army accomplished mighty exploits doing what no other army had even dared to imagine!  Our soldiers fought bravely and resolutely in every situation, knowing that they were coming against the face of evil itself and for the hostages they yearned to find and bring home. With supernatural bravery, they gave their all and indeed were able to rescue some, filling our hearts with joy. Intense sacrifices were made each day as the reserve soldiers left their homes, families and work to fight selflessly on the battlefield day and night.” 
     [DD: This is so true – and to the point of the reason I wrote that as believers in the nations begin to experience their own national distresses of the end times, that it is little Israel who are leading us in the way to deal with our distress, fear and pain: by trusting in God and in being the beloved of God.]          Jackie continues, “As hard as it was, Israelis remained optimistic, long suffering, hopeful, resilient, and amazingly humanitarian as some of the terrorists were actually cared for in Israeli hospitals, while our hostages continued to languish without food, medicine and sunshine. Many Gazan children have also been treated in Israeli hospitals. In spite of what Israelis endured, there were no hate protests against the Palestinians, no calls for the destruction of Gaza or Lebanon. We were fighting terrorists only.  No matter how our hostages were suffering, the families never screamed epithets at Hamas, as compared to the hateful and often violent anti Israel, pro Palestinian demonstrations around the world. Israelis love life. In this last year of struggle, there was a 10% increase in births!

      . . . . In spite of the immense difficulty of this year, I felt privileged and honored to be a part of this nation and to walk with my people through this time of suffering. … I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. God has called us to be a light shining in a dark place and I am grateful for this calling on our lives and the opportunity to be an encouragement to those around me. . . . Be encouraged and full of faith. His love never fails. "No eye has seen nor ear heard nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Cor. 2:9)  With love from Zion, Jackie Santoro”
     To support Jackie in her ministry, donate, and to receive her prayer letter email here   

Arrows 2025 Jan 10

This article was flagged as Hate Speech by this platform, 
so I am removing my article.
If you are interested in my content,
I would suggest you subscribe directly to my elist
@ArrowsDDiorio@protonmail.com

Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries

In Reuven Doron’s latest newletter “Come Jesus Come” he quoted Zechariah 10:1-12, but this portion (3-6) especially uplifted my heart: “For YHWH of hosts will visit His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His royal horse in the battle. From him comes the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together. They shall be like mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because YHWH is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame. I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; for I am YHWH their God, and I will hear them.”
     …. This scripture tells the Elect of God that (1) they cannot trust in man; (2) That the land is flooded with deceivers and false prophets who propagate delusions and lies, offering no comfort or healing. (3) That human governments, leaders, and institutions are too compromised and weak to offer real and lasting solutions to the world’s troubles. (4) That the House of Judah shall remain in war, yet prevail, as the entire Middle East shakes. And (5) that the House of Joseph & Ephraim, the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) among the nations, shall grow in power and in might as God’s purpose unfolds upon the earth. The fact is that, apart from the reality of the Kingdom of the God among the elect, the world that most people consider “home” is becoming more unstable and dangerous as we move further into the end of days.

2025 IN A SNAP | Regardless of efforts to project a bright and joyful view of 2025, we found that the caricature below best reflects the attitude of most folks who are awake, at least here in Israel…
   MINDSETS | The Lord told us that the “fields are white and ready for harvest” (John 4:35), and that we are to “… know the state of your flocks.” (Proverbs 27:23). So, what do we see around us here in Israel?
     It would help the intercessors to remember that the magnitude of the October 7 massacre that shocked our small Israeli society as a Tsunami of pure evil would be equivalent to the trauma of a terror attack on US soil resulting with about 40,000 Americans slaughtered, raped, mutilated, burned alive, tortured and kidnapped in one day!
Read excerpt of the newsletter on Reuven’s FB page, or subscribe directly to read the full newsletter, generally weekly.

Evan Santoro is the Shelanu TV station manager, also the son of Eddie & Jackie Santoro who discipled and mentored so many of the young ministers who are now in leadership positions in Israel. He comes from a spiritually rich legacy left by his dad, and which continues in his mom, Jackie, whose ministry letter is also in this issue, with news from Ahavat Yeshua congregation in Jerusalem.
     As for Evan, he writes about Shelanu TV, “We are growing and being strengthened day by day and we have just begun to make a difference in the nation of Israel. All our social media channels are growing and as we continue to produce thought-provoking content in Hebrew, we are receiving more questions and comments about the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua.
     Israel is a hard and dry land, both physically and spiritually. It is not easy to talk about Jesus to Israelis and much of our efforts are met with hostility and anger: “Why are you trying to steal Jewish souls? Haven’t we already suffered enough in this name? Leave us alone and go back to your Christian God.”
These are just a few of the many responses we receive daily. We honestly believe, though, that every response, even if it is negative, is a seed being planted. It is our job to plant the seeds, and we leave it to God to cause the seed to grow in His perfect timing.
     Evan gives 4 examples of the Israel’s they have reached with the programming of Shelanu – a young visibly ultra-Orthodox man; a northern Israeli man who was from a Christian family, but it was not his hunger to learn more until he began viewing Shelanu programming; a 34-yr old man in one of the most ultra-Orthodox cities in Israel (Bnei Brak) who is eager to learn more despite the persecution if he is caught “interacting with "forbidden" stuff that is related to Yeshua, Jesus”; and someone from Facebook who thought we were the ultra-orthodox “messianics”  who do not serve militarily to protect Israel – but was excited to hear we were Messianic Jews who follow Yeshua – and do serve “in the IDF; many serve as officers, reservists, and commanders and serve many years beyond their mandatory service time. We contribute to the country and are committed citizens.”
     To support the Shelanu TV programming of Israeli Messianic congregations and ministries to the Israeli people IN HEBREW, https://www.shelanutv.com/donate

From Chaim Malespin of the Aliyah Return Center: “The difference between light and darkness, is that light gives. And darkness takes. At the ARC, that is what our aim is to be, is to be light. With God’s help and your help, we have been able to be true givers! …. Thanks to you, a week does not go by where the ARC team have not stopped giving! And this directly impacts the lives of so many in a time of dynamic transition…. Together we will continue to spread the light and dispel the darkness!  | Help us Build the Lighthouse | Emergency Aid & Give here
     1/5 Here are some prayer points for this week from The Faithful Galileans:
    Hamas released a video of Liri, one of the hostages that is still being held in Gaza. The authority and power of Hamas needs to fall in order for the hostages to come home. And the more they see Israel feeling pressure, the harder they become in their demands for a hostage deal. |   Continue to pray for wisdom for the government in regards to the Houthis in Yemen. | Please pray for the Government in Israel. Running a country that was before the war very disunited, to now fighting a war on seven fronts for their existence is not for the faint in heart! … that God would bring order to where there is chaos. | The Religious community in Israel. About 13% of the population in Israel is Ultra Orthodox. The situation with the community has become problematic as many of them live off welfare and were exempt from the army until recently. … please pray that this community would help carry their weight like every other citizen in Israel. | Also persecution from Religious groups. If you could also cover the ARC and TFG in prayer in regards to persecution from some of these ultra religious groups. They have been publishing slanderous accusations and harassing the work we have been doing, including our partners. This very stressful to deal with after being on the battlefield.

Ariel Hyde writes about the VIDEO Tree of Life Israel Ministries has just released: God is Drawing His Lost Lambs Back Home | God promised to cleanse His people from their filthiness and idols and that He would come live in their hearts. And we are excited to see this happening in the new discipleship group we’ve launched. Listen to our new podcast on your favorite audio platforms: On Apple, Spotify and on Amazon. Watch it on YouTube and Facebook. And please share this video on all social media outlets!

Aleksey Raihstadt of Beit Immanuel congregation in old Jaffa  | We cannot express enough how much your prayers and support has meant to us this past year. Because of your faithfulness, we have been able to share the love and truth of Yeshua in powerful ways. We ask that you continue to pray with us during this season:  For peace and safety in Israel, especially in areas impacted by recent rocket attacks.| Return of all the hostages.| For hearts hardened by pain to open to the truth of Yeshua.| For those who came to faith this year to grow strong and bold in their walk with Him. | May your new year of 2025 be filled with the joy, peace, and hope that only Yeshua can bring. Let us move forward together, shining His light brightly for the world to see.  In Messiah’s love, Pastor Aleksey Raikhstadt |       To support this ministry in Old Jaffa | Securely on PayPal | Securely by Credit Card

 Claude & Michelle Ezagouri of the Or B’Darki (Morning Star) Fellowship in Tiberias write an update first giving thanks “for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our meetings and for the healing of several of our brothers and sisters.” | Their Prayer requests | We decided to renew our contract for the rental of our our humanitarian store in downtown Tiberias. It has been a blessing to many people in the city and we want to pursue this project. . . . Please pray that there will not be any persecution from the anti-messianic zealots and that we will be able to organize everything in peace.| Please pray as are still waiting for the necessary funds from the Lord for the purchase of a room that would enlarge our premises. This room would be used by the youth who are in need of their own space.
     . . . . Because of the war the new budget is very severe and hard for the Israelis who will have to pay more for everything including electricity, local taxes, VAT tax, and of course everything at the supermarket while the salaries will remain the same. Besides, the budget doesn’t facilitate any growth of the economy, but on the contrary only economy contraction. Last year 70,000 businesses closed, and it is already forecast that many more will go bankrupt in 2025. We feel that these are the first economical pains before the end-time tribulations. However we know that our God answers our prayers and He is faithful to His promises for His people Israel.  We take this opportunity to thank you for your faithfulness and wish you a year of peace, of health and Yeshua’s inspiration in everything you undertake. | If you desire to support this ministry in the Galilee go to (OR B'DARKI) through PayPal

Leon Mazin of Return to Zion in Haifa writes their thanks “for your standing with us in faith and in our difficulties, and in our joy” and prays “for peace and well-being for you and your loved ones in the coming 2025.” Leon writes, “There were a lot of worries, the war, frequent attacks and need to run to bomb shelters, everlasting anxiety about the loved ones serving in the Army. …there are a lot of worries and concerns about our soldiers in general and about those who participate in direct fights with those “who wish us death”. Even if you do not know a victim personally you anyway know his relatives or friends. Everything is intertwined…. I ask you to pray for us in Haifa and for our daughter Congregations, Or Chai and Netzer ha-Galil, for believers in Yeshua in Israel, for our ability to stand in God’s peace and Yeshua Messiah’s testimony.”…. During 2024 we had three seminars for inner healing. It was the most highly sought topic. Our Youth conducted regular meetings, and we can see how stronger and bigger, and more consolidated they have become.
     ….Humanitarian projects. We keep providing hot meals to 58 - 60 elderly people on a weekly basis. ..for 3 – 4 days. Also, every week … we cooperate with the social workers of the Mayor’s Office to render assistance to certain groups of these people with food supplies during the National Holidays. The New Immigrants Project has reached hundreds of people. …But this year we have not just provided humanitarian aid to them, but we had a possibility to encourage them. Our humanitarian “Second hand” warehouse has operated full time…. it is in a bomb shelter, and we had to provide more space for the dwellers from the nearest blocks of flats during the attacks.
     We keep serving to children from the former CIS countries who come to Israel for medical treatment providing food supplies to them. There was much more – including the music and arts school that is also a ministry to families who cannot afford tuition, but not enough room to put it all here. Leon writes, “all the things we’ve done. .. the meaning is to serve our neighbors with the Grace of God and His Light! I kindly ask you to pray for us and stay with us in the ministry for the people of Israel. I again wish you a blessed year 2025, peace and God’s protection for you and your loved ones.|  Donations at this link.

From Kfar Saba, the HaMaayan congregation led by Tony and Orna Sperandeo, “The year 2024 allowed us to have a great outpouring of the practical & physical aspects of the Gospel and also the opportunity to minister to the spiritual & emotional needs of the people around us. We continued our monthly outreach to the needy in the streets of south Tel Aviv. We had a special Hanukkah/Christmas event, distributing gifts, clothes & meals to the homeless & needy. We invited them from the street, to our special celebration with our Indian/Sri-Lanken & Nepali communities. Many heard the God's message of Love & Hope for the first time.| We organized a Hanukkah celebration for 25 Holocaust survivors who live in our area. We have made a special 8-min video for them that's called "From Horror to Revival.” After viewing that, we continued with a craft workshop on this theme of revival & victory. They share with us how blessed & touched they are by our love & care for them & are looking forward to return for more workshops & activities. Please pray for spiritual revelation for each of them. To read the full prayer letter & enjoy their pictures, go to HaMaayan blog

Israel Pochtar of Voice of Judah Israel Ministries and Beit Hallel Congregations writes about an exciting project they are working on in purchasing a building to house their new Evangelism and Discipleship Center. The reality is that in Israel FEW congregations own their congregational building and because of their faith, this sometimes can lead to being kicked out of their rental! But this is exciting because it is also going to be used by other congregations for various events. The building they are in now has become too crowded: “Because of Israel’s war, our ministry is growing through continuous evangelism and humanitarian support. Our building has become a hub of blessing for thousands of people, with truckloads of supplies filling every available space. We are desperate for more room for discipleship to grow more leaders. Beit Hallel is a center for many congregations in Israel who arrive weekly to take essential supplies to their communities from north in Dan to Beersheba and southernmost Eilat. Our facility has so much humanitarian work that we can only squeeze in one weekly service on Shabbat.” That is a serious need for a ministry so focused on evangelism and discipleship! (Here is where to donate) Also watch this special video message Israel prepared about this important project.
     PLUS VIDEO Discovering the Depth of Genesis Through Hebrew | VIDEO A Christmas to Echo in Eternity: Words of Thanks from Our Jerusalem Evangelism

Tikkun Global sends this short message from Asher Intrater walking the halls of Israel’s Supreme Court with a message Praying for Righteousness and Justice | Also this longer VIDEO teaching The Work of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives | And an article from Guy Cohen The Land Rested

Avner Boskey of David’s Tent writes everything you didn’t know you need to know about the Islamic Caliphate in The collapse of the Caliphate |

Kobi & Shani Ferguson say you can either Read more or listen to this month's Maoz Israel Report article: "Shmuel is Hebrew for Samuel".

Michael Beener of Ir HaHaim (City of Life) congregation in Sderot writes aabout the camp they are doing for Messianic children who “have endured unimaginable hardships. The traumatic events of October 7 and the ongoing war have left deep scars, disrupting their sense of safety and childhood innocence. Many have experienced fear, loss, and uncertainty, and their young hearts carry the heavy burden of these turbulent times…. its first-ever camp for Messianic children, “Negev Camp”, held in a special location in the Negev Desert. Children from various Messianic congregations in the area gathered for an unforgettable time of worship, connection, and spiritual growth. Watch this VIDEO about our Negev Camp “We are witnessing how God is opening doors for their futures, and we feel deeply privileged to be part of this transformative journey.” Learn more here and please consider DONATING
     You can also help the ministry team supply “essential support to families facing the bitter cold in Sderot and the surrounding areas.” Read more here and please DONATE to help us help them
    Subscribe Here to get video updates of all this great ministry is doing!

Guy Cohen pastors the congregation Harvest of Asher in Acco and shares from a deep spiritual heart. I always enjoy his messages – like the 12/16 message on jealousy that ended with the word “We must be cautious not to fall into the trap of jealousy. Despite the physical or spiritual gifts and accomplishments of another, our hearts should be set on serving God as He leads and calls us as individuals.”
     As I wrote last week, Guy’s own mother recently passed into eternity. He just completed the seven days of mourning (sitting shiva) for his mother who passed on the first day of Hanukkah. Guy writes, “Hanukkah is a feast of light and joy. My mother's life reflected exactly that. She loved her family, to sing and to embrace and host others in her home. She was a person who loved and accepted everyone. I find comfort and joy in knowing that after over 3 months of suffering, she, during that time, came to know her Jewish Messiah and entered into the Light of the world.” Thank you LORD.
     Guy comes from a family of traditional rabbis in the very city his own Messianic congregation is located. The name is, the Harvest of Asher, and it is because it sits in the land that was allotted to the tribe of Asher. Guy continues his message for 1/5 with the blessings that were spoken over the tribe of Asher and related to the region he is now reaching out to with the good news of Israel’s Messiah. One is from Genesis 49:20, another from Genesis 30:12-13 and lastly from Deuteronomy 33:24. They indicate for the harvest of Asher “richness of bread” (“wheat was the currency and had value like gold has value”); “The word Asher in the Hebrew reflects the meaning of happiness and blessing. I see this as an implication from the beginning of Asher in the physical and spiritual as a place of happiness and blessing….and anointing”; lastly “let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil."  We see here a spirit of reconciliation which dwells in the oil of anointing over this area. Moreover, there is a greater calling for this area to fulfill the call of bringing the oil of the anointing in Yeshua's name throughout the region. I see growth and unity, many home groups, houses of worship and people joined together through the light of Yeshua offering the Bread of Life.”

God's Judgment on Hollywood? Reality Check on the Prophets Saying So. 
by Donna Diorio at https://figtreefruit-israelwatcher.blogspot.com/

Lastly from Jackie Santoro, Zion’s Glory and Ahavat Yeshua begins with a video of a young woman hostage that should have brought only joy, but the clear distress and fear of the girl has “once again pierced the heart of the nation” as Israelis saw “the reality of their intense suffering.” The cry has gone up: “Bring them home now! How long O Lord?”
     Even as Jackie recounted the many sorrows, shock, trauma, and heartbreak, she also writes, “In the midst of those painful times, we did have many wonderful victories. Our army accomplished mighty exploits doing what no other army had even dared to imagine!  Our soldiers fought bravely and resolutely in every situation, knowing that they were coming against the face of evil itself and for the hostages they yearned to find and bring home. With supernatural bravery, they gave their all and indeed were able to rescue some, filling our hearts with joy. Intense sacrifices were made each day as the reserve soldiers left their homes, families and work to fight selflessly on the battlefield day and night.”
     [DD: This is so true – and to the point of the reason I wrote that as believers in the nations begin to experience their own national distresses of the end times, that it is little Israel who are leading us in the way to deal with our distress, fear and pain: by trusting in God and in being the beloved of God.]          Jackie continues, “As hard as it was, Israelis remained optimistic, long suffering, hopeful, resilient, and amazingly humanitarian as some of the terrorists were actually cared for in Israeli hospitals, while our hostages continued to languish without food, medicine and sunshine. Many Gazan children have also been treated in Israeli hospitals. In spite of what Israelis endured, there were no hate protests against the Palestinians, no calls for the destruction of Gaza or Lebanon. We were fighting terrorists only.  No matter how our hostages were suffering, the families never screamed epithets at Hamas, as compared to the hateful and often violent anti Israel, pro Palestinian demonstrations around the world. Israelis love life. In this last year of struggle, there was a 10% increase in births!

      . . . . In spite of the immense difficulty of this year, I felt privileged and honored to be a part of this nation and to walk with my people through this time of suffering. … I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. God has called us to be a light shining in a dark place and I am grateful for this calling on our lives and the opportunity to be an encouragement to those around me. . . . Be encouraged and full of faith. His love never fails. "No eye has seen nor ear heard nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Cor. 2:9)  With love from Zion, Jackie Santoro”
     To support Jackie in her ministry, donate, and to receive her prayer letter email here   

God's Judgment on Hollywood? Reality Check on the Prophets Saying So.

God's Judgment on Hollywood? 
Reality Check on the Prophets Saying So. 

I see a lot of people on social media commenting that the Pacific Palisades fire in California is God's judgment. I haven't seen my followers claiming such things in my news feed, thankfully and I would rather not see that.

When catastrophe strikes it is not the time to start pointing a finger and crying that the judgment of God has fallen. It is not Judgment Day yet! That is when God will judge the works of everyone. 

In the verse of Isaiah 54: 17 that I use a lot, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD" 

The prior verse 16 says: "Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc." 

To me that says God has satan and his demonic fallen legion on a leash. They are allowed - like in the book of Job - to traffic in the areas of a person that have not been perfected in God. Those are the places that the enemy of our souls has legal access to bring catastrophes and evil into. 

Just before Yeshua/Jesus laid His life down as a sacrificial lamb, He told His disciples that satan was coming - but had NOTHING in Him. This is what He was talking about: Yeshua had NO AREAS within Himself that the devil had legal access to enter and bring catastrophe of evil upon Him. The rest of us have those areas and that is why the description of the body of Messiah/Christ in the last days is "as a Bride without spot or wrinkle" - so purified that we also will have NOTHING in us that gives demons legal access to traffic. 

Hard to imagine, I know. I have never had even the hope that it could be the case - not just for me, but for any of us! But lately in the scriptures, the Holy Spirit has been opening my eyes little by little to God's plan to do that work in us - in a world of gross darkness He is purifying us. I began to get this a few weeks ago as I read Revelation 11:1-13. Read it. When I did, my eyes flew open to the possibility of us being what is spoken of in the symbolism of "the two witnesses." I immediately thought of Ephesians 2:15, of how God was going to make two "one new man" in Messiah. God is going to join Messianic Jews and Gentile Christians into such a unity we will move together as one in Christ. Like the "two witnesses."

The whole passage of Revelation 11:1-13 is bursting with a description of a bride who is without spot or wrinkle, and in the end, like Yeshua/Jesus, laying down her life. Like Jesus did, not life taken from him, but laid down. It will appear to the people on earth rejoicing their deaths that the haters of God won, but then after 3 1/2 days lying dead in the streets of Jerusalem, God will call them to rise from the dead and come to Him. They will be resurrected like Yeshua/Jesus was in the eyes of all. 

Now I will take 2-steps back because I know that was a lot to take in. This is why Jesus says we should not be pronouncing the fires in California as the judgment of God, from Luke 13:1-5 

1 At that time some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this way? 3 No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 

Be careful about proclaiming that God's judgment has befallen someone. Do you think people living in Pacific Pallisades were worse sinners than Americans in every state? Jesus says the point when we see such things is to repent of OUR OWN SINS, not to feel self-righteous about the sins others are experiencing calamity for. 

No matter how righteous you think you are, you have sinful impurity in you too and it gives satan legal access to sift you like wheat. That was the point of Job's experience. He was righteous, but he had things in Him that were not pure that even he didn't realize. His friends were much worse. Their self-righteousness was a stench in God's nose, but He still told Job that the remedy to his woes was to pray for his fair-weather friends. Let that be a warning to us all.

 

2025 Jan 3 Arrows | A Pivotal Year

 

A Pivotal Year: It's not business as usual

Listening & Hearing

by Donna Diorio

My intention with taking off the week of Christmas was not for cooking, or cleaning, or present shopping and wrapping. I didn’t have to do any of that but I did feel a great need to hear from God about the year ahead and I have been listening.
     I have no grand statements to make about the coming year except that I sense deeply it will be a pivotal year … in its own way for the Church in the nations as pivotal as 2024 has been for Israel with strong testing of our faith.
     My main concern  – as always – is the coming together of the Church in the nations with the Messianic body in Israel. I think some Messianic Jews who do not live in Israel probably take exception to me speaking of that coming together leaving them out of the picture, but really it is not leaving them out. It is just that the unity God seeks from the Church is specifically oriented to what He is doing in Israel to restore Jews to relationship with Him through faith in Yeshua. It is a work that the whole world will marvel over as the testimonies of more and more Israeli Jews coming to faith. It has to be so, the Bible tells us so: “You will not see Me again until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”  Israel’s only HaTikvah: The Hope is in Messiah Yeshua. The Israeli Messianic Jews declare Him, and we aid them in prayers and finances. It is that simple.
     For the past 23 years and 4 months I have been producing a Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries, then a few years into that I began the shorter version Arrows from Zion where I paraphrased from the prayer letters of the Israeli ministries. In the past ten years I have began to add more and more of the background information I have learned along the way. Finally in the last several years I began writing cover stories - articles from the insights God has given me as I did this work.
    There have always been battles connected with doing these prayer summaries – believers who did not think it was important at all to know about the body of Messiah in Israel. I have suffered from continual technical troubles, censorship, and interference with sending and receiving emails. It is hard to be a 1-person ministry. I just had to double down and power through whatever difficulties arose. Time has become another issue as I have grown older. It is much harder on me to stay at the computer for as many hours as it takes each day. I want to do more writing, and I do, with acute awareness that I still have to compile & edit the prayer letters each week by my self-imposed deadline of emailing by Friday.
     All that was in my mind in deciding to take a week off over Christmas to hear God’s direction for me on how to make all that work for me. I have heard a lot from the LORD over these days - refreshing things and encouraging things. Alas! No step by step instruction on how to do easier all I want to do, but a certainty that the prayer letters are to go on and so is my own writing. My INSPIRATION in life, for serving God is lifted each and every week by reading the ministry letters of the Israeli Ministries. I cannot help but be spiritually touched deeply by them each and every week.

One sure thing I have heard from God this week for myself and also from others who are hearing the same thing is that in 2025 we need to “lean in” to God. And just to underscore the point, yesterday I was looking for a graphic to illustrate leaning in. Nothing was really suitable until finally I changed my search words finding Michelangelo’s masterpiece from the Sistine Chapel. 
   Jarringly for the first time EVER I saw that it was God that was leaning in to touch man and Adam was laid back, not leaning in at all!  I knew that was the perfect illustration for what God was saying to me. He has always been the One who leaned in earnestly to touch us, and we have been lackadaisical. I posted the graphic online yesterday and this morning Tony ran in from seeing it excited because he for the first time also saw it clearly how God leaning in to man, not man leaning in to God. 

     That’s what God wants from us in 2025: to lean in earnestly to Him this year.  He will direct our paths from there – whatever the year holds, He will guide us through if we will just lean in to Him.  

Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries

Sally Shiff of the HaMaayan congregation in Kfar Saba did not take off last week and kept up her daily information going out. Even more than the news links, videos that Sally sends, what I most appreciate are her personal observations and emotions that she shares each day of this most trying period of Israeli history. From her Christmas Day and First Day of Hanukkah comments: “Only 5 times since 1900 has Christmas and Hanukkah coincided!... Coinciding the two holidays with one "Light" - Yeshua Ha Mashiach, Jesus the Savior of the world!!!” She added that “Outside of Israel, a dreidel has 4 letters indicating " great miracle happened there."… only in Israel are the letters changed to say "A great miracle happened here."  Then adding: “May another victory soon take place and ransom the captives that were stolen 445 days ago. Ransom the captives stolen from understanding God's love through Yeshua out of the hands of the devil.”
     Sally writes on 12/27, “Our guilt in this war was how we as a nation turned away from God and His relationship. Our promise from God is His abiding love for us. He will judge us, He will heal us, He will restore us. Pray for our eyes to open and see His abiding love. Pray that as a nation, we will repent and return once again to His love and Lordship. Our people are looking at eternity square in the eye with Covid first, and now this horrible war. Pray that it’s enough for eyes and hearts to open.”
     Then on 1/1/2025, “The year 2024 is now behind us with 2025 ahead. Only God knows what this year will bring, and I am so glad it is in HIS Hands. As I sit here with my cup of coffee and my faithful pup by my side, I only have gratitude for all that He has done this past year. Filled with highs and deep lows from the war and its devastation, who would have ever thought that in one year, Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria have fallen. Even though Hamas and Hezbollah are trying to hang on, their operatives, infrastructure and weapons have been greatly depleted.” Amen. Thank you Sally for helping us to process all that you, our brothers and sisters in Israel are living with daily.

From Chaim Malespin of Aliyah Return Center, “The world often says, “What if…,” but men and women of faith say, “Even so….” This is what a young believer in Israel shared with me the other day, and it was very encouraging! In a world that is shaking and where the future is unknown, we can easily fall into worry and fear. It is like building our house on sand. However, when we build our house on the rock—on God’s truth—even if the wind and rain storm against us, we will stand strong. King Solomon truly struck gold when he wrote in Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” To do this is to walk by faith.  In this war, we see only dimly—a tiny picture of what is happening—compared to our Heavenly Father. Sometimes, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around some of the things that have happened in this war and in nations around the world. And you know what? That’s okay. This is when I can let faith take over… even so.

     I really appreciated Chaim’s sharing about how it came about that God stirred the hearts of Jewish journalist Theodor Herzl and British Christian pastor Wilhelm Hechler to work together towards God’s promised restoration of the Jewish homeland, the State of Israel. It is a story every Messianic Jew and Gentile Christian should learn from, because just as God stirred Jew and Gentile in the physical restoration of Israel, so it is and will be the same in the spiritual restoration of Israel to their Messiah.      Also as Chaim rightly noted, “Zionism is often misunderstood as something evil or colonialist, but this could not be further from the truth. Zionism, the dream of the prophets, is about standing with God’s promises and participating in the fulfillment of biblical prophecies—the return and restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland. I am a living testament to this.”  (Write and ask for his article, A Journalist and a Pastor because it will help you and others see our future together in Yeshua.) “Please consider partnering with our work, or even a single donation now – a donation to help us transform lives in Israel.”

On my Fruit of the Fig Tree blog: Listening intently before the New Year 2025
Some of the other things that I have been reflecting on during my week off from Israel Prayer.

From Tikkun Global, watch this video teaching from Asher Intrater on The Divine Dance that will “help us understand how to interpret the history of Israel’s punishment and restoration and the parallel between exile/return and the death/resurrection of Yeshua. The divine dance between Israel and the nations is central to God’s eternal plan. He is in the process of creating a perfect world with perfect people…. The miracle of being grafted together and having a shared identity is expressed through the parable of the olive tree. As we embrace this unfolding mystery we receive life, blessings, anointing for both Jew and Gentile, Israel and the nations.
     Plus these going back thru Dec to 12/18 Missile Shrapnel in the Yard & Making Waves in History by Hannah Tekle, Tents of Mercy congregation |Christmas in Magdeburg | The recent terror attack at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany is despicable.| VIDEO: Arise, Shine!  | Light Shining in Darkness by Asher Intrater  12/22 Controversy in the Middle East by Asher Intrater | Restoring Relationships | VIDEO of a beautiful session of unity with Arab Christians | 
     MONTHLY PDF Israel’s Restoration Magazine | Subscribe | Download December 2024 “Miracles and Wonders? Israel at War” | Download January 2025 Who’s Jealous? | Revised and updated book: Alignment by Asher Intrater 

In Reuven Doron’s 12/13 report which can be read in full on Facebook, is Unto Us. “The Spirit of God placed more than 300 Messianic prophecies throughout the pages of the Hebrew Bible over the course of thousands of years of inspired writings. From Genesis chapter one onward, the wonder of God’s Messiah, the Son who is the Creative Word of the Father, shines through every page. He revealed to us the mysteries of His origin, His nature, His purpose, His motives, His plans and His warfare. He also embedded in the Scriptures profound details concerning the time, the place, and the circumstances of His arrival to earth to accomplish the central and everlasting heart of His labors - His eternal sacrifice.
    “….Perhaps the pinnacle of Micah’s message appears in chapter six, saying, “With what shall I come before YAHWEH, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will YAHWEH be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul (child sacrifice and abortion)? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does YAHWEH require of you. But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Simple and to the point.

     We pray that the Spirit of God which is in you and in all who are in Messiah, brings forth this heavenly life in us; a life that instinctively gravitates towards justice; loves mercy; and embraces humility as a rule of life. Nothing else matters much in the big scheme of things.” For the rest of Reuven’s Dec 23^rd report, read it online here.
     “Thank you for upholding our people, our family, and our work in your prayers. We are grateful for those who are able to financially share in our labors during this season of war and of harvest. The needs are substantial, as are the opportunities to serve the Lord, and this link offers tax-credited giving possibilities. Email us for additional information and for other giving options.”

Evan Levine who directs HaTikva (The Hope) Project, writes, “Fifteen years ago, Evan sat in the homes of struggling widows and families in Israel, listening to their stories and offering hope in any way he could. That’s when HaTikva Project was born—a simple response to the physical, financial, and emotional needs of the brokenhearted, rooted in the love of Yeshua. It wasn’t long before Evan and Elisa saw a deeper need: affordable dental care | Families were in pain, unable to pay. With Elisa’s dental expertise, a vision was born—clinics providing high-quality care at a fraction of the cost while offering love and dignity to every patient…. Years later, the need for adoption and foster care became apparent to Evan. His own mother’s adoption shaped his life profoundly, inspiring him to act when he saw the crisis in Israel—thousands of abortions but only a handful of adoptions each year. HaTikva Families began, advocating for family-based care and walking with adoptive and foster families every step of the way.
     “Then came October  7th | In one of Israel’s darkest moment, HaTikva Prohect sprang into action. Pivoting to address war trauma, displacements, and urgent, unimaginable needs. The War Relief Fund became a lifeline for individuals and families, providing counseling, shelter, and hope.”
     Be a Comforter of Zion with us by donating to our ability to relieve and bless Israelis - believers and those who are not yet believers. Donate here.

 
From Pastor Israel Pochtar of the Beit Hallel congregation in Ashdod and Voice of Judah Ministries: Salvation in the City of the Great King - Hanukkah and Christmas Evangelism Praise Report! | and Discover Why Our New Discipleship and Evangelism Center Matters | Read this powerful testimony of healing and faith in the Beit Hallel congregation | Read Jerusalem: God’s Wall of Fire and the Fulfillment of Prophecy
     DONNA: Pastor Israel Pochtar is an Evangelist, but in Israel even with a strong evangelistic gift and calling, he cannot only act as an evangelist going all over Israel just preaching evangelist events. Ministry in Israel demands more from the 5-fold ministry callings (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers). Israel Pochtar is a good example of a minister who has stepped into all 5 of the ministry callings in order to reach the people in his area, even the apostolic role as he has birthed new congregations out of his own congregation in Ashdod. His congregation is mostly Russian and Ukrainian — Jews. He is doing whatever is called for to build up new believers in Israel in strong faith. It is a blessing to carry an anointing as an evangelist as Pastor Israel does, and even more of a blessing that God has given him the understanding to develop himself and others to walk in the other 5-fold ministry callings. In America we might be able to only develop one calling, but in Israel there is more need for all the callings to be developed for the sake of people responding to the call of the Holy Spirit to receive Yeshua. I thought it was a good point to emphasize, especially as we read about the 560-non-believers from his area who responded to the evangelistic call. Those must be developed into a strong faith and this is what Pastor Israel’s heart is set to do. It’s not just off to the next town for him.

From the Fields of Wheat Katzir (Harvest) Camp, Please watch this video with Eitan and Joel from the 2024 Hanukkah Youth Camp giving a brief message. They write, “We want you to know our extreme gratefulness for an awesome year together. So many lives have been touched, especially faithful soldiers and spiritually hungry youth.” You can give to help them cover all the remaining costs here. 

Avner Boskey, David’s Tent, writes on 1/1/2025  Making the Caliphate great again “The world is witnessing the rise of radical jihadi Islamic nations and terrorist groups” PAY ATTENTION. We need to know:  ‘the Islamist Caliphate.’ What is that movement? What is its history? What are its tactics today and what will it look like tomorrow? Is this coming Caliphate a threat to the inhabitants of the world – whether Christian, Jewish, Hindu or secular? The next newsletters will present some answers to these questions.
     Also from 12/26 “| As wars and rumors of war shake the planet, we are bombarded with battle statistics and facts about roiling riots. Yet at the same time we find it hard to grasp what really is going on. We know more but we understand less. Are there any keys to making sense of fast-moving developments and catastrophic changes? Here are two helpful keys” in Staging ground for Gog and Magog

Evan Thomas of Beit Asaph writes about the restorative spirit the holidays brought back to them: “It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the photos of destruction and the terrible statistics provided daily by news agencies, but it really ‘hits home’ when you look up from the pulpit during your Shabbat service and see young Max sitting there with his head bandaged. Max’s army unit was attacked as they were preparing to pull out of Gaza, and several of his comrades were killed or injured. Pray with us that the surgeons will be able to save his left eye! He has just turned nineteen and was baptized a few months ago prior to his call-up. Increasingly, we notice more young men who have lost limbs in the battlefield. What a price they have paid!
     “Nevertheless, we press on with the tasks at hand with communities to teach and counsel, and a center to build in the heart of the city of Netanya. This week will mark the end of a series of workshops to train a small team of leaders for the emerging Beit Asaph Hadera congregation. In early January, Lev and Evan will ordain them in the presence of the members of both communities, launching them for the work of the Gospel in our neighboring city. Please uplift this ‘early-years daughter congregation’ in your prayers.
     “Meanwhile, we are about to set the starting date for the internal construction of the new center. God has blessed our fundraising and we will enter this stage of the project with all the monies needed. Once again, our members were exemplary in their giving, as were you all! Thank you, thank you! As we enter the new year Lev will oversee the construction while Evan continues with the task of the raising the second 50% of the purchase price. We so value your prayers for these undertakings.” There were many more things to share, but we must keep this as few pages as possible.

From Gil Afrait and Moti Cohen at Tiferet Yeshua in Tel Aviv, “As we find ourselves reflecting on this extraordinary past year, we realize that it has been the most difficult and traumatic year of our lifetimes, physically and emotionally. At the same time, as a congregational ministry, we have felt God's faithfulness to be "very present" in our trials, and it has been one of our most fruitful years as we continued in the good work He called us to.  The nation of Israel was built through the hard work of dedicated Jewish pioneers who answered the call God put in their hearts at the end of the 20th century to restore their ancient homeland. It was through their hard work and dedication that God established the modern state of Israel. Today, God is raising up spiritual Jewish pioneers to labor towards the spiritual restoration of Israel in the Land. At Tiferet Yeshua, that is our call and commitment. With the close of 2024, we want to take a moment to recognize the amazing fruit of our labors by God's grace.
     Despite difficulties of living through a year of war in Israel, God has graciously blessed and increased our congregation and ministry: we are amazed and grateful…and determined to continue strong in 2025! We invite you to join us in this important work in Israel in the new year. Your financial partnership will help us continue sharing the good news in Hebrew every week, discipling Israeli seekers and new believers, shining the light of God's love to our city, and building the body of Messiah in Israel in 2025. Give Today.

Leon Mazin of Return to Zion Center in Haifa sends a report for the youngest of their 3 congregations in Northern Israel, Or Chai Congregation, led by Dmitry Lutarevich. The congregation is in a suburb of Haifa called Kiriat Haim and it opened one week after the Hamas war broke out! Leon writes, “Regardless of all the difficulties coming from the war they have been serving very actively to the people who live in Kiriat Haim and the neighboring suburbs and have achieved good results.” Dmitry writes, ““The situation in the Fall was not easy due to multiple rocket attacks but we continued to carry out our Shabbat services on regular basis, as well as weekly prayer meetings and home group gatherings. Several times we had to move the bomb shelter during Shabbat services and prayer meetings because of the rocket attacks. The office room which is the bomb shelter came in handy.”
     Dmitry writes for the time the congregation has existed – since Oct 12, 2023 – the have had water immersions for 10 members, 3 married couples included in that number. Demitry writes, “October 14 is a heartening day for us because it is our birthday. We celebrated our first-year anniversary with a journey to Jerusalem. We are thankful to our God the Father for His mercy and love to us as He’s been protecting and blessing us through the whole year. With love in Yeshua, Dmitri Lutarevich, Leader of Or Chai Congregation 

Avi Mizrachi wrote two touching ministry letters for Dugit. The first includes a short video that “will let you see what we see, and I pray it will bless and encourage you to see the hand of Yeshua at work. ” He wanted to share his heart about “the many things God is doing in Israel and has accomplished through DUGIT with your help this past year. . . . I believe God has brought us together for such a time as this.
     Then a week later Avi wrote about the reality of living in a situation where at any time they have to gather the family and run to the bomb shelter. “Every Israeli has a bomb shelter. This is our reality. . . . It has been a roller coaster here in Israel. We live continually under the threat of another rocket attack—perhaps even another massive invasion…. I feel for the parents, even my own children with my grandchildren, who try to calm their young children as they put them to bed at night, not knowing if they will be jarred awake and forced to run for safety before morning. Thankfully, as believers, we know the peace that passes all understanding. I can only imagine what it must be like for those who do not know the Lord.
     “Recently, as I have begun praying about what our Heavenly Father would have us do in the year ahead, I find that it is difficult for me to think much farther than the next week—there are so many hurting people, so many needs, so much to do, and so many who have not heard the Good News of Messiah. I am learning that planning ahead in times of war is almost impossible. Things change so rapidly these days that now our daily goal is simply to meet as many of the needs that we encounter as possible and to care for as many people as possible. When we see a need, we try to meet it—and as the Lord provides, we will continue to meet as many needs as there are financial resources.     “….Today, may I ask you to continue to pray for peace and the safety of the people and nation of Israel? And will you also ask the Lord if you can be part of what He is doing in Israel by supporting Dugit Outreach Ministries? As the Lord puts this ministry on your heart, all I ask is that you obey Him. Donate here.

My friend Ronit Bender writes about the dismal outlook for the remaining hostages and recalls “the vision the Lord gave me in the beginning of the war: on October 7th 2023, there I saw Yeshua [Jesus] walking into a dark tunnel, shining His light. All around Him were dead bodies. At the time I saw that vision, we knew nothing about Hamas tunnels and was sure the hostages will be back in a week or two. I believe many had an encounter with the Lord who took them Home in His Mercy. Their families are so heartbroken, as most or all do not know the Lord at this time. Please pray for these families to receive their loved ones back alive or for burial here in Israel that they can have closure and the Lord can begin the process of healing them. They all need His hope and Light in their lives.
     She also tells about a precious time with her younger, half-sister recently. They rarely see each other because her sister lives in Italy with her husband and son. She wrote, “As a widow with my small family scattered around the world, this short visit was like honey to my spirit, but for you, it's a prayer issue: ALL my family needs Yeshua. Please continue to pray for the Lord to reach them in their places that they would embrace their Messiah.” She also shares about her health club trainer asking about faith and Yeshua. And she sends this from Australian Pastor Margaret Court who has produced two short videos (here and here)on anti-Semitism which she highly recommends.  

From Carolyn and Richard Hyde of Heart of G-d Ministries, “we rejoice in deep times of worship, more Gates assignments in the Land, plus divine appointments on the streets as well as mentoring more young adults, which is a real privilege! Also I've had dreams of travel, so we're planning a journey in March to Germany, UK & Ireland plus TX and FL in May. And suddenly I'm being flown out of Zion for the last week of December for a Gates assignment in Houston, TX!” (She’s back in Israel now).
     Highlights: ministering online to another group of MBB, Muslim background believers | Altar of Prayer Watch | After leading worship for a wonderful group in Jerusalem, a young woman and I went to the streets for my AOP Watch. During one of many divine appointments, an Orthodox Jew asked the intercessors online, "Why do you care about us?" The answer made her cry with joy as they shared their deep love for her and all Israel because of their deep love for the G-d of Israel! | Prayer Walking The Gates of Zion | The meeting at Re'im, site of a New Age fest where 364 youth were massacred last Oct. 7, was historic as it was the first time a large, diverse group of Israeli Jewish and Arab congregational and ministry leaders gathered to repent for idolatry and occult in the Land, crying for mercy. We expect to see Adonai usher in a great harvest in the coming days. | Also A vision of the Waters 

Guy Cohen, at Harvest of Asher in Acco, who for 3 months watching over his mother in the hospital wrote, “It is painful to watch a loved one laying in a sick bed and often brings us to tears, crying before God for His mercy. We may find ourselves conflicted - somewhere between faith and what you see in front of you with your human eyes. I have the faith and trust in Yeshua to know that He can bring complete healing to the sick…. Yet, Yeshua who is the source of life, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega, stood in front of the cave where Lazarus lay for four days…. All this so that God would be glorified and the people would know that He had sent Yeshua.
     There are many people in the congregation in need of healing. Like Yeshua, we lift our eyes to Abba, proclaiming that He would move in a might way, sending His healing to all those in need. We thank you for being part of this call to God for the  healing and restoration of His people.
     12/26 Our sincere condolences to Guy Cohen and his family as he wrote simply that his mother Ruthie was “in our Father’s hands in His glory.” Comfort Guy, O Abba, as only You are able. Also we lift our prayers for those others in his congregation in great need of healing, including a baby who has been struggling with high fever, diarrhea and breathing problems. Also P. who after a recent successful operation is still suffering from extreme unexplained pain. Arise O Lord!

From Yonatan Arnold and Stefan & Keren Silver of Kerem-El (God's Vineyard) Congregation in Haifa write, “We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your faithful prayers and support for the ministry of Kerem-El during 2024, and we look forward to having you stand with us in the coming year too, in all the Lord has in store.” The congregation has just finished “completing the series titled "By Way of Reminder" (from Paul in Romans 15:15), we spend several weeks focusing on the Fall Feasts of the Lord and their wonderful significance for us as followers of Yeshua today, and the hope they fill us with from the future they point to. In November we began teaching the book of Exodus, Exodus - from Bondage to Liberty  continuing where we left off from the life of Joseph at the end of Genesis. So far we've gotten through the first two chapters and have already gleaned so many riches and gems. Also holding special worship nights. One “hosted about 80 youth representing over a dozen congregations all over Haifa, and from Netanya in the south to Karmiel in the north. They all joined together to praise and worship the Lord. We want to see the youth in the area get to know each other better and form bonds as many go to the same schools but sometimes do not know about each other.” Plus other events.
     Would you prayerfully consider partnering with Kerem-El in 2025? | We'd be honored to have you become part of our family of partners and join with us in blessing Israel, especially during these challenging times. If you would like to
     Would you prayerfully consider partnering with Kerem-El in 2025? | We'd be honored to have you become part of our family of partners and join with us in blessing Israel, especially during these challenging times. If you would like to give towards the general ministries of Kerem-El. If you would like your gift to go to a specific cause or need, please add a designation note with your donation. We would greatly appreciate your support. Donations can be made in various ways, including online giving as a tax-deductible donation in the U.S. Here are More Giving Options