How You Can Pray for Israel as They Remember and Honor

Within just over a week’s time, Israel will observe three significant national holidays. Each one offers distinct opportunities to focus on key historical events that remain relevant today. They also provide us with the opportunity to pray. Here are the events and some ways to seek the Lord during each one.

Yom HaShoah / Holocaust Remembrance Day • April 13–14

On the 27th of Nisan, Israel observes its Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. There are many meaningful observations around the country, to remember not only the 6 million Jewish people who perished because of hate and antisemitism, but also to honor those who survived. Traditionally and most poignantly, at 10:00 a.m., a public siren sounds for two minutes. Everything halts. Drivers stop on highways, get out, and stand alongside their vehicles in silent honor until the siren ends. As I write this, real sirens go off in Israel almost daily, warning of incoming missiles from Iran or Hezbollah. We’re not sure if this longstanding memorial tradition can even take place this year. Pray for:

• Elderly Holocaust survivors who still live with deep grief and haunting memories. Pray also for the generations of their families that have been impacted
• The fresh grief of October 7 and the sense that it reopened a historical wound, along with the surge of global antisemitism. Pray for protection, and pray against fear
• All who are hurting and asking, “Why, God?” to come to know the salvation, deliverance, and comfort of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Yom HaZikaron / Memorial Day • April 20–21

This day is a time to remember soldiers who have fallen in battle, ever since Israel’s independence. Again, sirens traditionally sound, and silent remembrance ensues. It’s also a time to remember the victims of terrorism. Pray for:

• The families of those who have died protecting Israel’s right to exist, families of those who have died at the hands of terrorists, and all those who have survived these types of tragic events
• The whole nation, as they remember. In Israel, nearly everyone knows someone who has been killed in one of these ways
• Protection for those currently serving in the military

Yom HaAtzmaut /Independence Day • April 21–22

A week after Holocaust Remembrance Day and immediately on the heels of Memorial Day, Israel celebrates its Independence Day. This truly is a joyous, nationwide celebration. Israelis come together with military displays, gatherings of family, friends, and neighbors around food, and community parties and festivals. Here are some ways to pray this year:

• Wisdom regarding which of the usual celebrations should take place and for protection over those that do. War has made even the most mundane activities difficult and uncertain
• Gratitude for all the ways the Lord has protected and watched over Israel and continues to
• The global community to recognize Israel’s right to exist and thrive as a democracy

Let’s Pray 

Lord, may these observances reveal You as Israel’s protector and comforter. May the nation and its citizens put their hope in You and receive courage and confidence that You have a hope and a future for them, and for their nation. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Passover is one of the most important holy days of the Jewish year. It’s a holiday to travel home for, with generations of family and guests gathering for a traditional meal called a Seder. During the Seder, we use specific elements to recount God’s dramatic deliverance of our ancestors from enslavement in Egypt, following Scripture’s command to pass this vital history on throughout all our generations.

Here are six key reasons why Passover is so important.

1. God Delivered the Jewish People from 400 Years of Slavery

Four hundred years before the Passover, God saved the descendants of Abraham from a deadly famine by bringing them to Egypt, the only nation prepared with storehouses of food. By God’s sovereignty, Joseph, one of Israel’s 12 sons who was sold as a slave by his brothers, had risen to second in command over Egypt. When the Israelites faced starvation, Pharaoh welcomed them to Egypt because of Joseph. But after Pharaoh died, his successor put the Jewish people to work as slaves. They lived in bondage until God called Moses as His instrument to deliver them 400 years later – at Passover. “If God had not delivered us,” the Passover Seder says, “we would still be slaves.”

2. God Showed His Power Through the Miracles Surrounding Passover

Pharaoh recoiled at the idea of letting the enslaved Hebrews leave Egypt. If they departed, he would lose an enormous – and free – labor force. He refused to let them go and, in so doing, opened the door for God to reveal His power to all of Egypt. After each of Pharaoh’s obstinate denials, God brought a supernatural plague upon the nation of Egypt. From locusts to frogs, from boils to water-turned-to-blood, God displayed His power throughout the whole land of Egypt.

All who endured the plagues recognized that the God of Israel was mighty and determined to liberate His people. Israel, too, observed the God of their fathers intervene to rescue them. The miracles continued after their departure. When Pharaoh’s armies pursued, the Israelites walked on dry ground right through the middle of the Red Sea as the waters created a high wall on either side of them. Through the Passover and Exodus, the God of Israel was manifested and glorified for all to see.

3. God Reaffirmed His Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

For generations, slavery was all the Jewish people knew. They were born into bondage and died in bondage.  When God stepped in to liberate them as a people, He made it clear that He had not forgotten them. The God of Israel was faithful to keep His covenant with their father, Abraham. He would not forsake His promise. God’s intervention to free the descendants of Abraham showed them that they were still His people, and He was still their God. He raised them up from a subjugated people and reminded them that He called the Jewish people to specific purposes and an everlasting covenant.

4. God Called the Jewish People Out to Give Them a Land of Their Own

Our ancestors didn’t know where they were going, but they knew their God had set them free. He had promised to give them “a good and large land” in which to dwell as a nation (Exodus 3:8 TLV). No longer would they serve Pharaoh. They would live in the Land given to them directly by God. Israel was on her way to a homeland of her own. The impact of that land grant reverberates through the centuries, standing strong and true despite various exiles and dissenting opinions, even today. Passover opened the door to receiving the Promised Land.

5. God Established a Watershed for the Jewish People and an Inheritance of Faith to Pass On

Passover is known as the watershed event in Jewish history. It was a turning point, a defining moment for the Jewish people. Everything changed for us with Passover. God rescued, preserved, and called us out to be His people in our own land. Immediately upon our ancestors’ departure from Egypt, He instituted the Feast of Passover as an everlasting memorial to the astounding feat of our deliverance. God set an annual appointment for Israel to intentionally remember what He had done for us in the Passover and Exodus. Thousands of years later, we commemorate this and tell our children, passing on a legacy of faith in the one true God, just as He commanded us.

6. God Revealed a Prophetic Glimpse of the Promised Messiah’s Sacrificial Death

By God’s sovereign design, the Feasts of Israel established in Leviticus 23 contain a prophetic shadow of God’s redemptive plan for mankind. Within Passover is the picture of the Messiah’s death to deliver us from the bondage of sin.

The final plague in Egypt was that the firstborn of all households would die. God revealed to the descendants of Abraham the one way they would be spared: They were to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and brush its blood on the doorframes of their homes. Only then would the Angel of Death pass over their homes and spare their firstborn.

First Corinthians 5:7 (TLV) tells us that “Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.” Yeshua’s (Jesus’) blood, shed on Passover, covers our sin as the lamb’s blood covered the doorframes of Israelite homes in Egypt. As the lamb’s sacrificial death saved the Children of Israel from physical death, Yeshua’s sacrificial death on our behalf – when received in faith – delivers us from the bondage of sin and eternal death.

The Importance of Passover

Every Passover, Jewish families come together to remember and teach the next generation about the pivotal event that delivered us as God’s people. When Messianic Jews observe Passover, we also celebrate Yeshua and pass down to our children the magnificent connection God designed into Passover, which reveals the eternal deliverance He provided as God’s promised Messiah.

Passover is a holiday of utmost importance to Jewish people. It is also relevant to non-Jewish Believers because it reveals that the Bible – from Genesis to Revelation – is one continuous account of God’s relationship with mankind and His redemptive plan. Jesus is in Passover, and all who believe in Him for eternal life can celebrate its significance and find Him within it.

The Importance of Praying for Leaders

March is a very busy month for Jewish Voice Ministries, especially in Africa. Right now, we are completing our Southern Ethiopia Medical Outreach. Immediately after it, we have a large leadership event in Ethiopia, followed by another, smaller one in Zimbabwe.

We appreciate your prayers, especially for all the leaders involved. As you intercede for leaders, your prayers also influence their communities and those they lead.

Here is how you can pray.

Medical Outreach in Southern Ethiopia

• Pray for the last day (tomorrow), for those who have been leading, and pray rear guard prayers, covering the Outreach’s fruitfulness
• Pray for the congregational leaders who will conduct follow-up after this event. May it be timely and effective as they make connections with those who have expressed interest in learning more about Yeshua (Jesus)
• Pray for the Lord to plant a congregation in this area, as there is none. Pray He will also appoint and anoint those who will lead it

Ethiopia Leadership Event

• Pray for powerful messages and ministry at this event
• Include Rabbi Jonathan Bernis and other speakers in your prayers as they minister to over 2,000 leaders
• Pray for the Holy Spirit’s power and amazing Kingdom unity among the leaders attending — about 10 percent of whom will be Messianic Jewish, while the others will be leaders from Christian churches

Zimbabwe Leadership Event

• Pray for a smaller but important leadership event in Zimbabwe. May those attending be built up and encouraged as leaders and strengthened as disciples and disciple-makers

Let’s Pray 

Lord, You are the Good Shepherd, and throughout Scripture, You teach and give examples of good leadership. Please bless those leading each of these events and those attending. May each one be strengthened in their leadership and encouraged in their roles and spheres of influence. You are building Your body of Jewish Believers and their neighbors in Africa, and we bless You for how You will grow and use these leaders. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

We often see the Lord show up in mighty ways when we break new ground, enabling significant and powerful ministry in new locations. That’s why we’re excited to visit another new city in Ethiopia next week for our first Outreach of 2026: a full-scale Medical Clinic.

We’re bringing a large team of Outreach Partners from several nations, a team we pray God will use in big ways to bless the Gefat Jewish people of this region with medical and spiritual care.

As always, we know the enemy will work to prevent the Lord’s precious Jewish people and their neighbors from being born again. We ask for your prayers to go before us and accompany us day by day.

Only the Lord, in answer to faithful prayers, can make a deep impact with the Good News that is so desperately needed. We’re blessed and grateful that you are covering us in prayer for protection, wisdom, and effectiveness. Thank you. Your prayers make such a big difference.

Please join us in prayer in the following ways:

• Use these detailed, day-by-day Prayer Points to follow the needs each day throughout the Outreach – and pray!
• Commit to a specific time slot to pray for us from home during the Outreach.  SIGN UP on our Prayer Schedule, referring to the dates below

Daily Prayer Points for a Medical Outreach in a New Location in Southern Ethiopia

March 5–15, 2026

Before the Outreach

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

— Isaiah 40:3 NKJV

Wednesday, February 25–Wednesday, March 4 Ÿ Isaiah 40:3

• All preparations  – including VISAS, medical supplies, accommodations and site readiness – to come together and be fully in place in good time
• Great team unity and excellent community relationships
• Spiritual forces of darkness to flee, making way for the King of Glory to come with salvation, healing, and deliverance as the Lord prepares the spiritual atmosphere and hearts to receive Him

 Thursday, March 5

• Protection, health, safety, and favor as our team and partners prepare and travel
• Favor with all flights, and that passengers and luggage arrive on time and in good condition
• Each person involved to prepare their heart to serve during the Outreach and get a sense of the Lord’s desire for them

Friday, March 6

• Unity among all team members – JVMI staff, medical and dental professionals, Ethiopian staff, local congregational members, and international Outreach Partners – to begin strong and continue that way throughout the week
• Favor and grace regarding the accommodations for our very large team of Outreach Partners
• Easy acclimation to the time zone, local food, and lodging

Saturday, March 7

• Favorable, mild weather (it will be springtime and may be warm)
• Protection from illness, accidents, and any other maladies, under the caring and healing hand of Yeshua (Jesus)
• Again, please pray for the physical and spiritual protection of the whole team and their families, including the Zehra Kids Program team. Ask God to keep them healthy, safe, and protected from any challenges or distractions that may arise as they serve
• Team trainings and set-up that will take place today

During the Outreach

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,”

— Luke 4:18

Sunday, March 8

• Word of the Clinic to spread quickly so that many are drawn to receive not only medical care but also the Good News of Yeshua
• The Lord to move powerfully through the Gospel and the Holy Spirit
• Great effectiveness, order, and shalom as the Clinic opens today, and ongoing throughout the week
• Spirit-led collaboration in the Spiritual Care Ministry between local Believers and Outreach team members

Monday, March 9

• Effective medical and dental care and healing to take place, including supernaturally
• The Lord to give us wisdom, favor, discernment, and protection regarding any unique factors regarding this new location, conditions, or timeframe
• Great favor with local authorities and the community; may they be abundantly blessed, seek the Lord, and extend blessing to their Jewish neighbors
• Protection from the enemy’s schemes and openness to the Good News as we break new ground in this new city

Tuesday, March 10

• The Lord to open wide doors of opportunity and remove any obstacles from other religions and belief systems that are not Gospel-centric
• Strength, unity, and seamless collaboration between Global Outreach staff, the Zehra Kids Program team, Outreach Partners, medical professionals, local volunteers, and indigenous leadership
• The Zehra program to have a lasting spiritual impact on the young people it serves, and that, as God grows the program, it will bear the fruit of strengthened faith, deepened Jewish identity, and a commitment to sharing the Gospel with others
• The many young Jewish Believers who will be serving as Outreach Partners to have meaningful encounters with the Lord and the local Jewish community.  May their hearts be touched, receiving clarity regarding His calling on their lives

Wednesday, March 11

• Patients to be drawn to the Spiritual Care Ministry after they’ve proceeded through the Clinic, and for those providing that care to be prepared to pray for, minister to, and facilitate breakthroughs in every situation they encounter
• The Holy Spirit’s anointing on the Living Waters team as they take Family LifeStraws ® and water education into the Jewish community. May they leave an eternal impact in the community through salvations, love, and provision
• Spiritual strength and stamina for our team, renewed by intimacy with the Lord, and daily prayer and worship times together
• Salvation, healing, and deliverance as the Word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit go forth in great power!

Thursday, March 12

• The ability to see everyone the Lord has for us on this last Clinic day
• Supernatural healing for those who don’t make it into the Clinic
• Safety as the Clinic closes and is packed up, and local workers are paid. Pray they come to know Yeshua!

After the Outreach

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of [Messiah] Jesus.

— Philippians 1:4–6

Friday, March 13

• Pray for rain as the Outreach closes – it is much needed amid harsh drought conditions, and rain often provokes the sense among the people that the Lord is responding to their need
• Prayers once more for flights, passengers, and luggage as they travel from the Outreach location back to the capital
• Continued healing, salvation, and testimony of all the Lord did – even though our team will leave, may the Lord continue working by His Spirit
• A restful Erev Shabbat, accompanied by many praises of the Lord’s goodness, and an assurance of His “well done, good and faithful servant” over each participant

Saturday, March 14 and Beyond

• Safe travels home for all local and international participants
• The Lord to continue working, bringing a great movement of His Holy Spirit among the Jewish people and their neighbors in Southern Ethiopia
• Effective and timely follow-up with all who want to hear more about Jesus
• The Lord continue establishing His Kingdom in Ethiopia, developing healthy, theologically sound congregations. This is a key and ongoing request!

Let’s Pray

Lord, the Jewish people here are persecuted and must live outside the city. But You have put them on the hearts of Jewish Believers in the region, who believe You will enable a new congregation to be planted here. We are so excited to join them in sharing Your love and blessing them with care. Help us and all who partner with us to be a light of Your love and blessing. Bring salvations, healings, and freedom. May this area of Ethiopia be impacted for years to come with the clear Gospel witness of Yeshua! In His name we pray, Amen.

Purim is next week, and that means it’s hamantaschen time.

Hamantaschen (pronounced hah-men-tah-shen) are triangular treats with a delicious filling peeking through the center. You start with a circle of dough, add a dab of filling to the center, and then fold the edges inward to form a triangle, pinching the corners together.

If you know the story of Purim, you may recognize a key figure hiding in the name of this holiday food: Haman. Hamantaschen is a Yiddish word, and “haman” refers to wicked Haman, who conceived a plot to annihilate the Jewish people living in ancient Persia. “Taschen” means “pockets.” Thus, these traditional Purim treats are “Haman’s pockets.”

Some say “pockets” refers to the way the cookies hold the filling, while others say these cookie pockets represent Haman’s evil in that he used money from his own pockets to bribe the king to sign the death decree against the Jewish people.

The triangular shape also holds symbolism. Some say it resembles Haman’s three-pointed hat, and others suggest it represents the fathers of Judaism – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Curiously, in Israel, this treat is sometimes called oznei Haman (oz-nay hah-man), or Haman’s ears.

Traditional hamantaschen are cookies with a poppy seed filling, but the possible variations are nearly endless. And you don’t have to restrict yourself to desserts. You can make savory hamantaschen for delicious appetizers or kid-friendly snacks.

Why not plan a day of Purim fun with the kids or grandkids this year?

Purim is the most festive of all the Jewish holidays. That’s because Mordecai, after the Jewish people were saved from destruction, commanded the Jewish people to celebrate the victory with feasting and rejoicing.

Here are a few ways you can celebrate Purim with your children or grandchildren.

The Purim Story. Brush up on the Purim story and share it with your loved ones. See “Setting the Stage for Purim.”

Purim Coloring Collection. For a fun Purim activity, download our Purim coloring pages. For a small gift in support of the ministry, you get 10 different designs. Once you download them, you can print as many as you need, as often as you like.

Have a Hamantaschen Lunch. Use the recipes below to make easy hamantaschen with no-fuss dough made from refrigerator pie crust or croissant dough.

Kid Friendly Hamantaschen Snacks

Sweet & Fluffy Hamantaschen

Ingredients

• One package of refrigerated croissant dough
• Filling Options:
  • Jam – traditional hamantaschen filling is poppy seed, fruit jam, or preserves
  • Chocolate Spread, such as Nutella
  • Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Fluff
  • S’Mores – chocolate spread and marshmallow fluff filling, topped with a crushed graham cracker sprinkle
  • Cinnamon Marshmallow Fluff – add a dollop of marshmallow fluff and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon sugar
  • Easy Candy Fillings: Pinch your hamantaschen corners around a mini peanut butter cup, Rolo, or Junior Mint candy

Instructions

• Form hamantaschen triangles according to Dough Instructions below, using 1/2–3/4 teaspoon of total filling
• Bake in a 375°F oven for 10–12 minutes or until crust is lightly golden brown

Taco Hamantaschen

Ingredients

• 1 package of refrigerated pie crust dough (2 crusts)
• 1 cup ground beef
• Taco seasonings to taste
• Egg wash – 1 beaten egg, set aside
• Topping Options:
  • Sour Cream
  • Shredded Cheese
  • Salsa
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Guacamole
  • Diced Scallions

Directions

• Cook 1 cup of ground beef in a pan, breaking apart into small pieces, until no pink shows
• Drain fat from the pan
• Return meat to the pan, and stir in taco seasoning to taste until well mixed
• Form hamantaschen triangles according to Dough Instructions below, using 1/2–3/4 teaspoon of ground beef as filling
• Bake in a 375°F oven for 10–12 minutes or until crust is lightly golden brown
• Top as desired

Pizza Hamantaschen

Ingredients

• One package of Refrigerator Pie Crust (2 crusts)
• Pizza or marinara sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Your favorite Italian herb/seasoning, such as oregano, basil, garlic, or parsley

Instructions

• Form hamantaschen triangles according to Dough Instructions below, using 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of sauce topped with a small cube of mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with your favorite Italian seasoning
• Bake in a 375°F oven for 10–12 minutes, or until crust is lightly golden brown

Dough Instructions

For Pie Crust Dough: Remove the dough from the refrigerator about 10–15 minutes before unrolling it so it doesn’t crack. Unroll the dough and lay it flat on a cutting board or counter. You may need to lightly flour your surface to prevent sticking.

For Croissant Dough: Keep it refrigerated until right before using so it doesn’t get too soft to handle. Unroll the sheet of dough and gently press the existing perforations together to create a continuous piece of dough.

Cut 3-Inch Circles

• Use a 3-inch circular cookie cutter (or a jar, glass, or lid) to cut close circles from the dough. Gather the dough scraps into a ball, then roll it out to 1/8–inch thickness for cutting more circles. You may need to lightly flour your rolling surface and rolling pin to prevent sticking.
• Place circles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Forming the Triangles

• Spoon 1/2 to 3/4 of a teaspoon of filling onto the center of a dough circle. Don’t overfill to keep the corners from popping open during baking

• Method 1: Fold one-third of the circle edge onto the filling. Repeat twice to create a triangle, overlapping the dough at the corners. Brush the top of the dough with egg wash
• Method 2: Brush egg wash around the outer edge of the dough circle. Lift the dough in one spot and pinch it together to form a corner of the pocket you’re creating. Repeat twice to create a triangular pocket around the filling. Brush the top of the dough with egg wash

Healing for Israel  

The last hostage is home and laid to rest, and for the first time since 2014, there are no Israeli citizens held captive in Gaza. I have heard it said by former hostages, and even members of the Messianic Jewish community in Israel, that the nation would not truly begin to move forward from October 7th until all the hostages were home. That time has come.

But what does moving forward look like, after such trauma — personal trauma, trauma in families and communities, and trauma that has held a nation captive for over two years? Israel needs healing. For some, that process may come quickly. For others, perhaps most, the process will be long.

Today, let’s pray for healing. And let’s make it an ongoing part of our prayers for Israel and the Jewish people. Even the Jewish people who don’t live in Israel have been deeply impacted by the events of October 7. They need healing as well. Here are some ways we can pray:

• The healing of broken hearts and crushed spirits. That the Lord will help people begin to rebuild their lives, even if their former lives seem shattered beyond repair – Psalm 34:18
• Believers in Israel to receive healing from the God of all comfort and be sources of comfort for others who have also lost so much – 2 Corinthians 1: 3–5
• The many ministries and congregations that you help support through Jewish Voice Ministries. Many of them offer powerful help to hurting Israelis through biblical counseling, various forms of therapy, and creative arts ministry. They also help rebuild lives through tangible and financial resources, as well as support in navigating the practical realities of tragedy and transition – Philippians 1: 3–6
• The Lord to protect His people from further harm, and also from living in fear – Isaiah 41:10
• The Lord’s compassion to move mightily throughout Israel, bringing salvation and healing of every kind – Matthew 9:35–36
• All Israelis – the Jewish people and their neighbors – to come to know and trust in Jesus, Yeshua, who Himself suffered great pain and rejection, but also took our pain, suffering, rejection and sin upon Himself on the cross for our sakes – Isaiah 53: 3–4

Let’s Pray 

Oh, God of all comfort, be with Your Jewish people in Israel —and their neighbors — as well as the Jewish people around the world. Even though terror and evil have come against Your people, You declare that You are the One who restores them to health and heals their wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). Reveal Yourself not only as Healer, Protector and Messiah, but as Savior as well. May You mend broken hearts, make lives new, and spring up true hope that is grounded in You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Prayers to Scatter Antisemitic Enemies

We knew it would be there, but still, it overwhelmed us. Antisemitism, that is. When we attended the AmericaFest convention late in December, we knew we would encounter those who were indifferent to what God’s Word says about Israel, who espoused Replacement Theology, or were even downright antisemitic in their beliefs. We had great conversations with folks of all persuasions. Still, we truly were taken by surprise over how pervasive antisemitism is today, specifically among those who call themselves believers or are part of present-day conservatism in America.

We gave you an update and some prayer requests coming from the conference in the last Prayer Points email, but we continue to feel the weight of what we saw and heard. It’s a weight of responsibility we feel to be a voice on this issue, especially to the Church, and to GenZ, who are getting their news from social media. For those who are young Believers in Jesus, we encountered many who are biblically illiterate and seemingly discipled by strident and highly influential voices in the media whose messages go against the truths in God’s Word. It’s raised our awareness and broken our hearts.

Today, one day after the 2026 International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we’re continuing to say, “Never again!” and putting out a call for prayer in this area. Please join us!

Please Pray: 

• Leaders of churches, ministries, seminaries, and Bible schools to receive revelation — not from popular opinion, but from the simplicity and truth of God’s Word — regarding Israel and the Jewish people. That they would, in turn, seek to teach, equip, and inspire others
• GenZ Believers to become biblically literate, discerning the spirit of truth from the spirit of error, and grow into devoted disciples and communicators regarding God’s heart for His people
• Quick exposure of lies on social media and that they are replaced with the truth
• God to turn back the rising tide of antisemitism among not only liberal factions but also conservative movements in America
• The Lord’s guidance for Jewish Voice Ministries as to how to be a beacon of truth on these issues and for divine opportunities to lift our voice effectively. Lord, help us!
• That the allegiance of believers worldwide would be to Jesus (Yeshua) and the power of the Gospel, not to any other movement or philosophy

Thank you for your prayers! 

We believe we are on the verge of a mighty move of God in the U.S. and around the world, and that Satan is influencing this rise in antisemitism because he knows his time is getting shorter. Let God arise, and His enemies be scattered!

It may sound like an obscure little holiday to Gentile Believers, but Tu B’Shevat holds significant meaning for Jewish people. Tu B’Shevat is the Jewish New Year for Trees. Its literal meaning is “the 15th of Shevat,” indicating a date on the Jewish calendar. The month of Shevat falls in late January or early February on the Gregorian calendar.

This New Year for Trees is rooted in the Torah’s command not to eat fruit from a new tree for three years (Leviticus 19:23). To observe this commandment faithfully, ancient rabbis set Tu B’Shevat to mark the “birthday” for all trees. Tu B’Shevat became a holiday after a Jewish teacher in the early 1890s took his students on a tree-planting excursion in Israel. At that time, the Land wasn’t called Israel but was part of the Ottoman Empire. The practice of planting trees on this date caught on and became an annual tradition among many groups, as it remains today.

Planting trees in Israel for Tu B’Shevat reinforces our connection to the Land, whether we live in Israel or in the Diaspora. Jewish people worldwide send donations to organizations that plant trees in the Land, beautifying it and increasing Israel’s fruitfulness. The prophet Ezekiel foretold that Israel’s desolate land would become lush again, and that is the case since Israel’s rebirth as a country in 1948. (See Ezekiel 36:34–36.)

Trees, in general, symbolize life, strength, and abundance. But what does the Bible say about trees? Looking at trees in Scripture, we see specific trees and their usefulness. We also see trees used as metaphors, in worship, parables, and prophecy. Join us as we explore trees in the Bible, and discover their spiritual significance for your own life.

Trees at the Beginning

The Garden of Eden contained many trees, but two stood out for their significance. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was the one tree God forbade Adam and Eve to eat from. He said it would bring death. Satan deceived Eve, telling her God lied about the tree and its fruit wouldn’t harm her, but would actually do her good. Eve ate. Adam ate. And sin entered all mankind – from then to now to the end of the age. There was another tree in the Garden, one that promised life rather than death. Lest Adam and Eve eat from this Tree of Life and live forever in their fallen state, God expelled them from the Garden.

References: Genesis 2:9, 3:22–24.

Uses of Trees in the Bible

Food

God created fruit-bearing trees to provide food for mankind.

References: Genesis 1:11–12, 1:29, Deuteronomy 20:19.

Building

Trees provide wood for building things. We can assume that early tent dwellings used branches as poles to support the coverings. Noah’s ark was made of gopher wood. The Ark of the Covenant was made of acacia wood, covered in a gold overlay. Specific trees are mentioned as being used to build King David’s house and the First Temple.

References: Exodus 25:10, 2 Samuel 5:11, 1 Kings 6, Isaiah 60:13.

Fire

Without explicitly saying it until Psalm 120, it’s a given that tree wood was used to make fires throughout biblical history. Firewood enabled cooking and provided warmth.

References: Genesis 19:3, Exodus 12:8, Psalm 120:4, Proverbs 26:20, Mark 14:54.

Homes for Birds

The birds of the Earth find their rest, their home, and their nesting places among the trees.

References: Psalm 104:17, Matthew 13:31–32.

Beauty

Beauty is part of God’s nature, and He loves to make things beautiful. Trees beautify the Earth He gave for us to dwell in.

Reference: Leviticus 23:40, Ezekiel 31:19.

Shade, Rest, and Hospitality

Trees provide shade, offering a comfortable place to find rest or practice hospitality by entertaining guests.

References: Genesis 18:4, Zechariah 3:10.

Worship & Offerings

Wood was used to make burnt offerings to the Lord, even before the Tabernacle. Noah offered a burnt offering after the flood. God tested Abraham by asking him to make a burnt offering of his own son, Isaac, stopping him at the last moment and providing a ram instead. In the wilderness, one of the freewill offerings the Israelites made toward building the Tabernacle was acacia wood. God instructed the Israelites to bundle branches from three species of trees as part of worship during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). At Yeshua’s (Jesus’) “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem days before His crucifixion, worshipers laid tree branches in the road before Him and shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

References: Genesis 8:20, 22:2–14; Exodus 29, Exodus 25:1–8, Leviticus 1, 23:40, Mark 11:8.

Idolatry

Trees were also used for idol worship. Israel and Judah set up altars on “high places” under trees where they made sacrifices in disobedience to God. Tree wood was also used to carve idols, which God explicitly forbade in the second commandment.

References:  1 Kings 14:22–23, Isaiah 44:14–20, and Exodus 20:4.

God’s Blessing & Judgment

God used trees and their fruitfulness as ways to communicate His pleasure with or judgment on His people or other nations. During times of blessing, trees bore bountiful fruit. In times of judgment, God struck trees with barrenness or brought plagues to destroy them. One of His Last Days’ judgments on the Earth will be that one-third of the Earth’s trees will be burned up.

References: Ezekiel 34:27, 36:30, Exodus 9:5, 10:5, Leviticus 26:20, Jeremiah 7:20, Revelation 8:7.

Execution

Trees were used as instruments of execution – hangings and, in Roman times, crucifixion by “hanging on a tree.” The Roman executioner’s stake that Yeshua died on is also referred to as a tree.

References: Genesis 40:19, Acts 5:30, 10:29, 13:29.

Praise

Scripture speaks about Creation praising and worshiping God. Psalm 148 calls upon the heavens, planets, Earth, and animals to praise the Lord. Other verses directly mention trees praising God, rejoicing, singing, and clapping their hands in response to God’s goodness and deeds.

References: Psalm 96:12, Isaiah 44:23, 55:12.

Miracles

God led the Israelites to freedom into the Sinai Desert, where they soon discovered there was no water. He showed them His power by having Moses throw a tree into the bitter waters of Marah, and they became sweet and fit for drinking. Yeshua cursed a barren fig tree one day, and the next day the disciples passed by it again; it was completely shriveled from the roots up, revealing to them His divine power.

References: Exodus 15:25, Mark 11:20–22.

Prophecy

God used the analogy of a tree to describe a judgment He was going to enact against Egypt. He also used the tree to foretell that His promised Messiah would come from the line of King David, from the tree or trunk of Jesse.

References: Ezekiel 31, Isaiah 11:1.

Metaphors

A Flourishing Life

Wisdom, righteousness, fulfilled desire, and wholesome speech are called “trees of life” for a person.

References: Psalm 92:12, Proverbs 3:18, 11:20, 13:12, 15:4.

Security and Fruitfulness in the Lord

The person who trusts in God is like a tree planted by a rich source of water, having no cause to worry in drought. Likewise, the righteous person will be like a tree planted near rivers, producing bountiful fruit and vibrant leaves.

References: Jeremiah 17:7–8, Psalm 1:3.

Hope for Personal Revival

Job, in his despair, contrasted his life to a cut-down tree, saying that at least the tree has hope of sprouting new shoots of revival.

Reference: Job14:7

The Bible also uses trees to represent such things as long life, Israel’s fathers, Israel’s beauty, a shaking heart, a shaking judgment from God, and countries. God says that He is like a green cypress tree and Israel’s fruit is found in Him.

References: Isaiah 65:22, Hosea 9:10, Hosea 14:6, Isaiah 7:2, Isaiah 34:4, Ezekiel 31:4, Hosea 14:8.

Spiritual Fruit

One of the best-known biblical metaphors involving trees is that of spiritual fruit. Yeshua likens people to trees when saying that a tree is known by its fruit. He contrasts Believers as good trees bearing good fruit with unBelievers as bad trees bearing bad fruit. James addresses unwholesome speech as a fruit from a different kind of tree, a fruit that should not come forth from Believers. The gospel of John describes Jesus as the true vine and Believers as the branches. He explains that the gardener prunes healthy vines (and by implication trees) to help them produce more fruit. Similarly, God uses life’s challenging circumstances to “prune” us, thereby strengthening our faith and producing more fruit that points the world to God. The apostle Paul describes this spiritual fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

References: Matthew 12:33, Matthew 7:17–18, James 3:8–12, John 15:1–8, Galatians 5:22–23.

Faith

Yeshua compared our faith to a tiny mustard seed. Though it is small, it produces a tree that bears much fruit and blesses other living things. A little faith, He indicated, goes a long way. It can move mountains, work wonders, and glorify Him to the world.

References: Matthew 13:22.

Israel and the Church

One of the most overlooked metaphors among Christians pertains to the Church’s relationship to Israel, the Jewish people. The apostle Paul describes Israel as a natural olive tree and Gentile Believers in Jesus as grafted-in branches from a wild olive tree. He commands the grafted branches not to boast as if they replaced or are better than the natural branches, because the very tree itself is Israel. He goes on to say that God is able to graft back in natural branches that were broken off for unbelief. A few verses later, he reminds the Roman Believers that the gifts and callings of God – in general and specifically to Israel as His covenant people – are irrevocable.

References: Romans 11:16–24, 11:29.

Parable for Identifying Signs of the End Times

Yeshua said no one knows the day or the hour of His return, but He used a parable to teach us how we could know the season. He said we can tell what season it is by how the fig tree looks. When its leaves are new, we know that summer is near. In the same way, when we see the things He described to them about the Last Days, we know His return is near.

Reference: Matthew 24.

A Tree at the End

The Tree of Life appears again in the book of Revelation. The angel to the Church of Ephesus received the Lord’s word that to those who overcome, the Lord will allow to eat from the Tree of Life in “the Paradise of God,” in the New Jerusalem. This exquisite tree will reside on either side of the “river of water of life” flowing out of the Temple, and will bear 12 different fruits, yielding fruit every month. Its leaves will be for the healing of the nations. The Tree of Life is part of the glorious future that awaits Believers in Yeshua.

 References: Revelation 2:7, 22:2, 14.

From the beginning to the end, the Bible is filled with references to trees. This makes the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat – the New Year for Trees – even more significant. So, the next time you’re outside, take a moment to enjoy the beautiful trees around you and reflect on how God speaks to you through His marvelous Creation – from Genesis to Revelation.