This endeavor is the first ever of its kind for Jewish Voice in Poland.

And it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time . . .

This year marks 80 years since Nazi forces invaded Poland, that resulted in torture, death and many more gruesome actions against the Jewish people in Poland that common decency prevents me from even describing in writing.

We must seize this precious moment in history!

Poland has such a rich and vibrant Jewish history. And it was nearly erased by Hitler and his evil regime. Today, a Jewish heritage still remains.

This Festival brings more opportunity to celebrate the miracle of God’s work among His people. And it also shares the life-transforming message of Jesus, and the truth of His Messiahship!

Through dance and song, the Gospel will be demonstrated in word and power.

Thousands of Jewish people will experience what the Scriptures describe: “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16 NIV)

We must do everything we can to ensure as many Jewish people as possible in Poland encounter Jesus the Messiah.

And there’s no better time. Our Hear O’ Israel! Festival of Jewish Music & Dance is scheduled for December 13-23, 2019, during the season of Chanukah – a season of God’s presence and miracles.

That’s why I’m writing to you now to ask for your help in making a difference in eternity in such a practical and special way. I’m praying you’ll give quickly and generously.

For just $40, you can give one Jewish person the once-in-a-lifetime, eternity-changing opportunity to experience and encounter Jesus.

A group of Jewish Voice partners has put together a $100,000 Matching Grant to DOUBLE every dollar you give between now and July 31. That means, every $40 you give will give two Jewish people this incredible experience.

Whatever you can give by July 31 will DOUBLE through the $100,000 Matching Grant.

When you send a gift of any amount today, we’ll send you a special Hear O’ Israel bookmark, that includes the words of Deuteronomy 6:4 in gold foil on the front, as a thank you for your support.

If you can send a gift of $100, we’d like to bless you with the bookmark, our Hear O’ Israel journal and our Hear O’ Israel plaque. The journal will be especially meaningful with 400 pages where you can record your personal thoughts, Bible study notes or prayer requests.

The Hear O’ Israel plaque would make an inspiring addition to your house decor, sharing the words of Deuteronomy 6.

These are small tokens of our appreciation for you and your generosity to help more Jewish people experience and encounter Jesus, the Messiah, through our Hear O’ Israel! Festival of Jewish Music & Dance in Poland. 

The green and white bus that arrived on Tuesday of the Clinic week held about 60 Beta Israel from the city of Birra, situated on top of the mountains outside Ambo Meda. These people couldn’t afford to use public transportation to make the trek, and it was just too far for them to walk. It would have taken a couple of days to get to the Clinic on foot, and, frankly, “a lot of them wouldn’t have made it because of their illnesses” said Ezra Benjamin, Vice President of Global Outreach at JVMI. The Outreach team expedited service to these busloads of patients so they wouldn’t have to wait in the hot sun all day long.

God has called JVMI to go “to the Jew first,” as Romans 1:16 describes, and the Beta Israel are the reason we went to Ambo Meda. As always, we were thrilled to also treat their neighbors in the region. As we intentionally bring our Medical Outreaches to places where Jewish people live, we bring blessing to the entire area. And this adds a vital element to our ministry.

From disdain to respect

Many of the Jewish people living in Ethiopia endure prejudice and persecution from their neighbors. In some places, they are forced to live outside the larger communities because of centuries-old hatred and superstition held by the general public. Jewish people are often denied the services and resources available to other citizens. When we go to an area, the broader population sees that they are blessed with humanitarian aid from our Clinics specifically because of the Jewish people. This fact confronts anti-Semitic attitudes and elevates the Jewish people in the public’s opinion. In Ambo Meda, we met a man who experienced the difference first hand.

He was a Jewish police officer, and despite his authoritative role in the community, he endured the sneers and contempt of prejudiced others. Toward the end of the Clinic, he told us, “Before Jewish Voice came, I used to walk down the street, and people would call me accursed. Now, they call me sir.”

God is transforming lives

Seeing lives transformed is at the heart of Jewish Voice’s purpose. God touched hearts in the Ambo Meda community and changed mindsets held about the Jewish people. He also enabled us to treat a record number of patients during the 2019 Ambo Meda Medical Outreach in Ethiopia – 17,787. And we did so with the smallest team we’ve ever taken. God showed us that He is faithful to take what little we have to offer and multiply it like loaves and fishes to accomplish His purposes. 

And He used the prayer and financial support of people like you to help make it happen. Thank you.

Points for prayer

Please keep the Jewish people of the Ambo Meda area in your prayers. Please pray for:

• Anti-Semitic strongholds to be entirely broken there

• New Believers and others in the area to respond well to follow-up efforts conducted by Believers from Messianic congregations located in other parts of Ethiopia
• Relationships to form and people’s hearts to open to the Good News of Yeshua

Yeshua (Jesus) said that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). When He said this, He was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 in which Moses shared with Israel God’s words about why He provided them with manna.

The Jewish Feast of Shavuot (SHA-voo-ote) celebrates God’s gifts of both food and His Word. Shavuot is one of the biblical Feasts that God commanded Israel to keep annually. It is the last of the spring Feasts and usually falls in May or June on the Gregorian calendar. This year, Shavuot begins at sunset on June 8.

Feast of Weeks, Pentecost

Shavuot is also called the Feast of Weeks as its date is determined by God’s instruction to count seven weeks from the Sabbath after Passover. Because this marks 50 days, Shavuot is also known as Pentecost, from the Greek word meaning 50. 

In giving the Torah to the Israelites, God distinguished them as His own people. He revealed Himself to them through His instructions and called the Jewish people into a closer relationship with Him. In receiving His Word, Israel received not only the Torah but God Himself as they committed to follow His commands.

A prophetic picture in Shavuot

As with all the Jewish Feasts, Shavuot contains a prophetic picture of a future biblical event. Acts chapter 2 describes the fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks’ foreshadow as it recounts the giving of the Holy Spirit to dwell inside Believers. 

The Holy Spirit first came on the Shavuot after Yeshua’s death and resurrection, when Jerusalem was filled with people from around the world making their harvest offerings. On that day, as Believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began speaking in tongues they had not known before. Travelers miraculously heard their own language spoken by Galileans. Peter stood up with the other disciples and explained that Yeshua is the Messiah who died and rose from the grave. More than 3,000 came to faith that day.

Physical provisions

Shavuot was one of three Jewish Feasts in which every physically able Jewish male was required to give an offering of the first fruits from their harvest. For these pilgrimage feasts, Jewish men traveled to Jerusalem to bring their gifts to the Temple. This firstfruits offering is in thanksgiving to the Lord for providing food. Giving from the first of the harvest also demonstrates trust that God will continue to provide.

Spiritual nourishment

Shavuot is also a time when Jewish people commemorate the giving of the Torah (TORE-ah). Fifty days after the Hebrew slaves left Egypt, they found themselves at the foot of Mount Sinai while Moses met with God on the mountain. There he received the Torah, meaning “instruction or law,” from God.

Sustenance through the Spirit

Through this gift, God provided His instruction in a new way – writing His word on our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:33) to teach and guide us into all truth (John 16:15). The Holy Spirit is God’s presence with us, giving us life and sustaining us with power to live according to His ways.

The Hebrew word for feast is moad (MO-ed), which means “appointed time.” God set the Jewish Feasts as His appointed times to meet with Israel throughout the year. At Shavuot, we center our thoughts on gratitude for God’s physical provisions of food, spiritual nourishment through His Word, and the sustenance of His Spirit. May we draw near to Him in thanksgiving, praise and a new appreciation for these gifts.

Romans 8:10, 2 Corinthians 3:17

Jewish Voice Ministries International’s (JVMI’s) Congregation and Leadership Development team stepped in to make school a safer place for the Jewish children of Ambo Meda. Partnering with the Bet Avraham Messianic Jewish Congregation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we constructed a fence ‒ made using 500 sheets of aluminum ‒ around the school to protect the children from various threats. The wall was built in just a few weeks thanks to the immense help of people from the local community who donated their labor. 

We also want to thank you for your support. Because of your help, these children can now learn in peace. 

Please watch this message from Ezra Benjamin, Vice President of Global Outreach at JVMI:

June 1‒7 Prayer for Israel

Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day

Jerusalem Day (beginning at sundown June 2) celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem under Israeli control. Prior to the Six-Day War in 1967, Jordan controlled East Jerusalem containing the Old City and the Temple Mount. When Jordan attacked, wanting to seize West Jerusalem as well, Israel defended and won the eastern portion of the city. It was a brief but fierce war in which 777 Israelis lost their lives and thousands more were injured.

Father, thank You for giving Jerusalem back to Israel. Please protect Your holy city and those who dwell there. Protect Jerusalem from her enemies, from violence and those who wish Israel harm. Bring peace to the city where You have chosen to make Your name dwell (2 Chronicles 6:6). Let not the holiday go by with only historical, archeological or political commemoration. May the festivities of Jerusalem Day be filled with thanksgiving to You, O Lord, for Your faithfulness and holiness in returning Jerusalem to Israel. 

June 8‒14 Prayer for Israel

Shavuot

The Jewish Feast of Shavuot begins at sundown June 8. It is an “appointed time” in which Jewish people commemorate God’s giving of the Torah. Messianic Jewish Believers also celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit who was given on Shavuot after Yeshua’s (Jesus’) resurrection.

Thank You, God, for wanting to meet with Your people and for commanding the Feasts. Thank You for giving us Your instruction. Thank You for the Torah, the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Covenant. Thank You for the Word Himself, Yeshua (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit given on Shavuot. Create in all Israel a hunger for Your Word, Lord. As Israel celebrates the Torah on Shavuot, cause individuals to make connections between Scripture’s Messianic prophecies and Yeshua. And bring them to faith in Him.

June 15‒21 Prayer for Israel

Terrorism

Unfortunately, terrorism is a part of life today. And Israel faces more than her share because of the hostility that neighboring Arab nations and Palestinians living in the Land hold toward her. Terrorist organizations encourage and often incite violence against Israelis.  

Father, Israel has many enemies living at and within her borders; please protect her from terrorists. Please comfort those who grieve loved ones slain or injured by terrorists.  Deliver perpetrators into the hands of law enforcement, and thwart any violent plans of those who hate Israel. Bring an end to the terrorist organization program that pays monthly stipends to families of those who commit terrorist acts against Israelis. And, Lord, please change the hearts of terrorists. Save them out of their upside-down mindset that believes their evil is good. Bring them to salvation in Yeshua, for only through Him will their lives be transformed and terrorism cease. 

June 22‒28 Prayer for Israel

Israel’s Youth

There’s no doubt these are difficult and troubled times for teens everywhere. Temptations are abundant as the boundaries of acceptable activities and behavior continue to be pushed further away from biblical values. Youth everywhere need prayer. As we lift up the country of God’s Chosen People in this prayer series, we remember Israel’s teens and adolescents.

Father, protect and guide Israel’s young people. Shield them from temptations to engage in unhealthy behaviors. Guard them against developing harmful habits. Steer them away from those who would have a bad influence on them, and keep them from reckless and wanton lifestyles. Lead them to people who are honest and upright, wise and good. Make wisdom desirable to them. Help them to manage the turbulent emotions of youth in healthy ways. Ignite in them an interest in You. God, reveal Messiah to Israel’s youth.

June 29‒30 Prayer for Israel

Israel to come to know the Messiah

Jewish people throughout the world experience a longing to immigrate to Israel. God is fulfilling His promise in Isaiah 11:12 to gather Israel from the four corners of the Earth and bring them “home” to Israel. This doesn’t mean it’s always easy for these people once they move to Israel. Help is available, but a myriad of factors influence the degree of assimilation reached by immigrants. And they all need Yeshua (Jesus).

Lord, thank You for doing just as You said You would. You have drawn and continue to gather Your people from throughout the world to fill the Land of Israel. Father, please also draw these immigrants to Your Son, Messiah Yeshua. Help recently arrived immigrants to settle in. Use any hardships or challenges in their assimilation to draw them to You. Regardless of how long ago they moved to the Land, open immigrant hearts to Yeshua. May their hunger to be “home” in Israel expand into an intense desire for You and a longing to see the Messiah. Show them He has come and He is Yeshua.