This is an especially meaningful time in the Jewish year. We are in the middle of commemorating the biblical Fall Feasts. It started with Yom Teruah — also known as Rosh Hashanah — the start of the Jewish new year, which we just celebrated.

Now, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, is upon us. It’s the annual Day of Atonement when God covered and removed the sin of Israel. It’s the perfect reminder that Jesus our Messiah became our complete atonement through His death and resurrection.

And then five days later, we celebrate Sukkot — a time of rejoicing in God’s provision for Israel throughout history — from sustaining the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years to providing for His people at harvest time. And, as Believers, the celebration includes our thankfulness for God’s ultimate provision, Jesus.

Out of your gratefulness for God’s provision through the amazing gift of His Son, I’m asking you to send a gift to further demonstrate your heart and compassion for the Jewish people.

Not only will you help meet the urgent needs of vulnerable Jewish people around the world, you’ll make it possible for these men, women and children to hear about the hope that can only be found in Jesus the Messiah!

In addition, when you give today, your gift will double in impact — up to the match amount — through the $141,000 Matching Challenge provided by generous ministry friends.

Thank you so much for joining in Jewish Voice’s Operation 1226 this week. As you pray for Jewish people, Israel and the work of Jewish Voice, know that the Lord hears, and your prayers truly matter. And we are grateful.

Please watch a short video message from Eric Pires, Director of Global Outreach at Jewish Voice, as he shares what the Lord has placed on his heart and prays.

“Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.”
Psalm 5:2 (NIV)

Shalom, my friend. 

Right now, we need to pray fervently. 

As you’ll read below, the violence along the Gaza Strip continues to escalate as Hamas continues to bankroll protestors and rioters to lash out in violence along the border. And with the nuclear threat of Iran reaching a fever pitch, it’s no exaggeration that Israel – and the entire world – are at-risk.

So please join me and all of us here at Jewish Voice Ministries International in praying for God’s wisdom, grace, intervention and protection. 

ISRAELI OFFICER SHOT BY HAMAS TERRORIST SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES WHILE GAZA RIOTS CONTINUE

Border Police officer Bar-el Shmueli died earlier this week from the gunshot wounds inflicted on him by a gunman during the Gaza border riots on Saturday, August 21. 

The Jerusalem Post reported that Shmueli was shot by a Gazan gunman while he had taken up a firing position on the northern Gaza perimeter fence. Rioters had amassed on the border barrier and had flanked Shmueli’s fence firing position. 

Shmueli reportedly had switched out positions with another officer before the incident happened. According to The Jerusalem Post, Officer Shmueli was a 21-year-old native of Beer Yaakov, central Israel. 

The gunman that mortally wounded Shmueli has yet to be identified. And the IDF has accused Hamas of organizing the riots and has laid responsibility on the Gazan terrorist organization.

Over the last weekend, The Times of Israel reported a continued escalation of rioting along the Gaza Strip – where Officer Shmueli was shot and killed.

While the IDF increased security along the Gaza-Israeli border, hundreds of rioters were reportedly burning tires and hurling explosive devices toward the fence.

The “night confusion units,” so named by demonstrators, behind the border riots do not officially tie themselves to Hamas, though their activities could not take place without the approval of the terror group that rules the Strip, according to The Times of Israel.

The “units,” which are affiliated with various terror factions, have said that the nightly riots on the border will continue until the end of this week.

In the past, Gazans involved in such activities have burned tires, hurled explosive devices and played fake rocket alert noises to confuse Israeli residents living near the border and harassed soldiers guarding the border.

In response to Saturday’s riots, as well as two fires sparked in southern Israel by balloons carrying incendiary devices launched from Gaza, the IDF overnight Saturday-Sunday struck a Hamas military compound used for training and weapon production and the opening of a “terror tunnel.”

The Times of Israel also reported that the clashes came despite Israel on Thursday easing some of its restrictions on trade and movement, allowing additional goods and materials to enter Gaza. 

IRAN IS 2-MONTHS AWAY FROM A NUCLEAR BOMB, U.S. AND ISRAELI OFFICIALS DISCUSS “PLAN B” IF PEACE TALKS FAIL

The Jerusalem Post reported a warning from Defense Minister Benny Gantz — “Iran is only two months away from acquiring the materials necessary for a nuclear weapon.” 

His warning to a gathering of 60 ambassadors in Tel Aviv late last week comes as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and U.S. President Joe Biden restored intelligence ties on Monday and, according to The Times of Israel, were working to develop a “Plan B” if the stalled talks between Washington and Tehran regarding a fresh Iran nuclear deal sputter out.

While the specifics of what “Plan B” could entail haven’t been publicly outlined, The Times of Israel indicate that Israeli officials have signaled a need for a credible military threat to deter Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons.
Gantz’s comments joined a flurry of threats by Israeli defense officials toward Iran in recent days, including Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, who told reporters last week that the military was preparing plans and funding for a potential military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“We are allocating resources in order to strengthen our ability to act against challenges in the region, chief among them Iran,” Gantz said.

ISRAELI OFFICIALS ISSUE SUPPORT FOR U.S. FOLLOWING ISIS-K SUICIDE BOMBING IN KABUL

Following ISIS-K’s claims of responsibility for the bombings near Kabul airport that killed over 70 civilians, 28 Taliban members and 13 US troops, Israeli officials announced their support for the U.S. and condolences for the tragic loss of life.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett commented on the suicide bombing on Thursday night via Twitter: “On behalf of the people of Israel, I share our deep sadness over the loss of American lives in Kabul. Israel stands with the United States in these difficult times, just as America has always stood with us.”

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid also offered his prayers on Twitter: “I am shocked and saddened by the horrific terror attack in Kabul. The prayers of the people of Israel are with the families of the civilians and soldiers who were murdered today. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in the fight against terrorism.”

COVID BOOSTER AVAILABLE WHILE 4TH WAVE CONTINUES IN ISRAEL

The third coronavirus vaccine shot is available in Israel for anyone who has been fully inoculated for at least five months, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz told The Jerusalem Post at a press conference on Sunday. 

According to The Jerusalem Post, two million Israelis have received the booster shot. And those who have received the booster, or have recently been vaccinated, will be exempt from isolation when they arrive from abroad.

“There is some improvement in morbidity, but it is too early to talk about the end of the fourth wave,” Horowitz said at the press conference.

“There is room for optimism, but we have no certainty that the slowdown will continue,” Horowitz continued, adding that in spite of the difficult situation, “in close cooperation with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, we are maintaining a balanced and responsible approach. We value life above all, but do not forget that restrictions and closures have very severe consequences.”

Starting on October 1, The Jerusalem Post reported, only those who have received the second dose within the last six months, who have received a third booster shot, who have recovered within the last five months or who have recovered and received one shot will be eligible for the Green Pass, which grants access to several activities and venues.

Over the past week, more than 100,000 shots were administered per day on weekdays, mostly boosters, but also first and second doses.

So far, some 5.95 million Israelis have received at least one shot, and 5.46 million have received at least two.

At last count, there were 726 coronavirus patients in serious condition on Sunday, the most since March. Last week, the number of coronavirus patients in serious condition fluctuated between 680 and 700.

ISRAELI ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER PARTS OF VILNIUS SYNAGOGUE DESTROYED BY NAZIS

According to Ynet News, after a 6-year dig, Israeli archaeologists have uncovered remains of an old synagogue in Lithuania’s capital of Vilnius destroyed by Nazi forces during World War II. 

The excavation managed to unveil the Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) and the Bimah (raised podium) that were part of the famed Great Synagogue.

Ynet News reports that the magnificent Great Synagogue of Vilna is the oldest and most significant symbol of Lithuanian Jewry. Like most of the Jewish cultural centers in Lithuania, the Great Synagogue was destroyed during the Holocaust. The remains were later demolished by the Soviet authorities, and a modern school was constructed on the site.

The archeology dig was organized by Israel Antiquities Authority's Dr. Jon Seligman who visited Vilnius a few years ago as part of a heritage trip and was inspired by the idea of revealing and discovering what was left of the compound and the synagogue.

“When we arrived to excavate the Aron Kodesh and the Bimah, from which generations of Jews read the Torah scroll for 300 consecutive years, it became clear, unfortunately, that the core of the synagogue had been greatly damaged by Soviet destruction,” Seligman noted.

Let us pray together

Please pray with me for:

• God’s protection in the hostilities currently erupting along the Gaza Strip while Hamas continues to target the Jewish people with their hatred and violence
• God’s love and grace to be with people and families who’ve lost loved ones in the violence along the Gaza Strip and in the evacuation of Afghanistan
• God’s wisdom to be evident as Israeli and U.S. officials continue peace talks to prevent nuclear weapons production in Iran that would threaten Israel, countries throughout the Middle East and the world 
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah
   

Your prayers make a difference, and we are grateful. Thank you so much for participating in Jewish Voice’s Operation 1226 this week as together we pray for Jewish people, Israel and the work of Jewish Voice.

Please watch a short video message from Paula Walberer, Prayer Program Supervisor at Jewish Voice, as she shares what the Lord has placed on her heart.

How often do we meet with God in prayer and let Him set the agenda for our time with Him? 

We quickly come to the Lord when we have a need or experience trouble. We pour out our hearts to Him, bringing our burdens and praying for others. These are all right and valid reasons to draw near to God, and Scripture directs us to do so. (See Hebrews 4:16, James 5:13, Psalm 31:9, Psalm 62:8, Matthew 11:28, 1 Peter 5:7, James 5:16.) But what about when God wants to direct the conversation?

It’s exciting that God wants to meet with us. The Scriptures listed above are just a sampling of His invitations to be with Him. When it comes to letting God take the lead in our time with Him, the biblical Feasts that He commanded for Israel offer us annual opportunities. They allow us to meet with the Lord in “appointments” where He has selected the topics.

The Hebrew word for Feast is moad, meaning “appointed time.” God called the Jewish people to connect with Him on these occasions for remembrances, celebrations and special observances. He calls us to be with Him, remember what He has done for us and give attention to His holiness.

There are three Fall Feasts: Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Here, we share a bit about each Feast, provide Scripture readings and offer some thoughts to help you spend meaningful time with God during each one.

Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah

Yom Teruah means “day of blowing” in Hebrew. The Bible says little about this Feast of Trumpets, as it’s called in English. God’s commands in Leviticus 23:23–25 simply instruct us as the Jewish people to blow the shofar as a memorial, do no work, hold a sacred assembly and present an offering. The shofar, made from animal horns, was blown to announce gatherings, begin worship and engage in battle. Simply stated, it was a call to attention.

Over time, the sages of Israel came to believe that God created the world on the date of Yom Teruah, and thus Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, became associated with the Feast. Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year.” At Rosh Hashanah, and leading up to it, Jewish people the world over focus on self-examination, repentance and returning to God as we seek His favor for the New Year. Tradition teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, God pronounces a judgment on each of us regarding the coming year. Ten days later, on Yom Kippur, He is said to seal that judgment, and during the days between, He may change an unfavorable ruling and seal us for a good year. Therefore, they are days of increased attention to making amends and returning to right standing with God.

Messianic Jews also celebrate Rosh Hashanah in connection with our people around the world. We have a confidence in the efficacy of our repentance as we call on our Messiah Jesus.

Personal Reflection for Rosh Hashanah
Reading:  Leviticus 23:23–25, 1 Samuel 12:20, Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:23–24
Meet with God About:  Returning and Listening to Him

Reflect On:     

• Returning your attention to His ways and desires for your life
• Repenting of wrongdoings and returning to Him from the places where you have strayed
• Recommitting yourself to follow and remain near to Him in the next year

Reflection Questions:

• What does God want to call your attention to at this time? 
• What returning is He inviting you to do? 
• What does He want you to focus your attention on in the coming year?

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year. It is the Day of Atonement, and in biblical times, it was the one day each year when the High Priest put on special garments and brought the blood of sacrifices into the Holy of Holies. There he sprinkled the blood on the Ark of the Covenant to atone for his and Israel’s sin. 

Yom Kippur is a solemn day observing God’s commandments to do no work and to “afflict ourselves.” For 25 hours, we fast from food, water and various pleasures or luxuries. We give our time and attention to God’s holiness and purity, denying ourselves for the sake of seeing Him more clearly and worshiping Him more fully.

As Believers in Jesus, we give thanks for the complete atonement we have through Jesus’ sacrifice and the eternal sealing that is given to us in the Holy Spirit.

Reading:  Leviticus 23:26–32, Hebrews 4–10
Meet with God About:  Worshiping and Praising Him

Reflect On:  

• God’s holiness and purity
• The cost of your sin (innocent blood)
• Jesus, your high priest, who cleanses you from sin through the sacrifice of His own blood

Reflection Questions:

• In what ways do you not honor God’s holiness as you should?
• How can you cultivate a deeper awe of God?
• What does the connection between Yom Kippur and Jesus’ work of atonement tell you about the Lord? 

Sukkot

Sukkot is the only Feast in which the Lord commands us to rejoice. It is a seven-day festival celebrating God’s provision for our ancestors in the wilderness. It includes the Lord’s command to build and live in temporary shelters for seven days. These “booths” (which is the meaning of the word sukkot) are to remind us of how our ancestors lived in tents for 40 years. He sustained us in a desolate desert with miraculous food, water and clothing and footwear that did not wear out.

We take our meals and entertain guests in our sukkot. Through roofs made of loosely arranged natural vegetation, we look up to the night sky and remember God’s faithfulness in keeping His promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens.

Sukkot is also called the Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles and is a harvest Feast. It celebrates and makes an offering from the first produce of autumn’s final harvest. Sukkot decorations center on a bountiful harvest and turn our attention to how God has provided for us today.

Reading:  Leviticus 23:33–43, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 121:7–8, Psalm 16:11
Meet with God About:  Rejoicing and Thanking the Lord
Reflect On:     

• God’s provision in your life 
• His protection of you
• The gift of His presence 

Reflection Questions:

• How did God provide for or protect you today?
• How does His presence strengthen and bless you?
• What will you rejoice over today?

Blessed holidays to you!

Thank you again for joining with us in prayer during Jewish Voice’s Operation 1226 this week as we pray for the Jewish people, Israel and the work of Jewish Voice. We can’t go without prayer, and we treasure yours.

Please watch a short video message from Troy Wallace, Vice President of Congregation & Leadership Development at Jewish Voice, as he prays and shares what the Lord has placed on his heart.

We are grateful for your prayers. Thank you so much for participating in Jewish Voice’s Operation 1226 this week. Your prayers for the Jewish people, Israel and the work of Jewish Voice truly make a difference.

Please watch a short video message from Ezra Benjamin, Vice President of Global Ministry Affairs at Jewish Voice, as he prays and shares what the Lord has placed on his heart this week.

“The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Proverbs 15:29 (NIV)

Shalom, my friend. 

As I write to you this week, my heart is heavy with the loss of life and the escalation of hostilities with Hamas in Gaza, and the violence and uncertainty in Afghanistan. But the one thing that remains clear for every single Believer in Jesus: We must pray. 

So please join me and all of us here at Jewish Voice in watching the situation unfold in the days and weeks ahead and in praying fervently for God’s grace, intervention and protection. 

ISRAELI BORDER POLICE OFFICER SHOT BY HAMAS TERRORIST

Since the outbreak of rocket fire from Hamas in early May, indirect negotiations have been ongoing. But despite the “talks,” the violence has continued — and it appears a ceasefire is no longer on the table. 

According to The Jerusalem Post, on Saturday, during a violent riot along the Gaza perimeter fence, Border Police officer Bar-el Shmueli was shot in the head by a Hamas terrorist who approached his position and shot Shmueli with a handgun.

At the time of this writing, officer Shmueli had undergone several operations at Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba and was in critical condition, intubated and sedated.

The IDF said in a released statement, “The Hamas terrorist organization continues to lead the Gaza Strip towards terror while exploiting the civilian population.”

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES TARGET HAMAS WEAPONS SITES

Following a day of violence when the Israeli Border Police officer was shot in the head, The Times of Israel reported that Israeli airstrikes hit four Hamas weapons storage sites in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF said it hit four sites used by the terror group to produce and store weapons. During the strikes, Palestinians directed heavy machine-gun fire at Israeli aircraft over the coastal enclave. A number of homes and vehicles in Sderot were hit by the gunfire and suffered damage.

Despite the heightened tensions and machine-gun fire on Sderot, no change in safety instructions were issued to Israeli residents of the area.
The Times of Israel also reported that IDF sent reinforcements to bolster their presence along the Gaza border in anticipation of continued violence.

FOURTH WAVE MARKS RECORD FOR COVID-19 INFECTIONS

The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday that the COVID-19 booster shot is now available to Israelis aged 30+.

As of Monday, almost 10,000 new cases were reported. Officials hope the booster shot will help slow the wave of new infections. 

At last count, Israel had more than 72,000 active cases — marking an increase since the beginning of June. 

At the peak of the third wave last winter, there were more than 88,000 active cases. Since the pandemic began early last year, more than one million Israelis have been infected.

Of those tested on Monday, 6.63% tested positive, marking a record in the fourth wave.

Let us pray together

Please pray with me for:

• God’s protection in the hostilities currently erupting along the Gaza Strip while Hamas continues to target the Jewish people with their hatred and violence
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah