Are we in the End Times? What is God’s plan for the Jewish people? Do Gentile Believers have a role to play? Does understanding the Feasts of the Bible provide insight for our lives today? What is the significance of current events in Israel and the Middle East? How can I share the Good News with Jewish family and friends?

Each of these pertinent questions – and more – is addressed by the JVMI Speakers ministry. JVMI Speakers is part of the third element of our mission, which is to “engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people.”

The Body of Believers throughout the world is precious to the Lord. And God desires us to grow in knowing Him and what matters to Him. This includes the important aspect of understanding His heart and plans for the Jewish people and Israel.

Would you pray for our speakers and church engagement team as we seek to bring congregations into partnership with God in these areas?

Please pray for:

• An increasing desire among congregations to know and understand the Lord’s heart for Israel and the Jewish people
• Interest in Christianity’s Hebrew roots and the resurgence of attention on End-Time Bible prophecy to lead many to contact the JVMI Speakers ministry to learn more
• The safety, anointing and well-being of JVMI staff who travel to speak at churches, events and other gatherings throughout the country and around the world
• Pastors and others with spiritual influence to see the importance of understanding Israel and the Jewish people and invite our speakers to their church or community
• The opening of borders – both state and international – as well as churches so that speaking commitments already on our calendar for the next several months can take place safely and effectively
• Attendees of these events to be blessed and partner with Jewish Voice by going on an Outreach, giving, or praying for us
• Other creative and effective ways for Jewish Voice to engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people

We feel an urgency to see the Gospel proclaimed to the Jew first and see the world’s Messianic Jewish community grow. We know it is critical to both biblical prophecy and Jewish Voice’s ability to fulfill our mission that Gentile Believers understand the significance of Israel and the Jewish people. Thank you for joining us in prayer as we seek to engage the Church!

Let’s pray:

Lord, we have always been called to take the Good News of salvation to the Jewish people. But we also have good news for Gentile Believers and churches as well: news that will help them understand the whole of Scripture, see Your hand in biblical prophecy and current events, and find peace in troubled times. Please prepare the way for our speakers bearing Your message and use us to call the Church into understanding Your heart and partnering with You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Coming September 1, 2020!

A brand-new podcast from Jewish Voice:

A Jew & A Gentile Discuss

One is Jewish. One is Gentile. Both believe in Jesus. Ezra Benjamin and Carly Berna from the Jewish Voice team join up on a podcast to explore life, faith and current events from a biblical viewpoint. And with their different religious backgrounds, they’re going to disagree on some points.

You won’t hear this kind of thing in your church or Bible study. Nothing’s off-limits on A Jew & A Gentile Discuss.

You’ll:

• Hear straightforward and honest conversations from these two different perspectives
• Learn intriguing information about prophecy, events in the Middle East and more
• Enjoy special guests, surprising insights, and some of the amazing work God is doing around the world

In the first few episodes alone, they’ll:

• Tackle the differences between Messianic Judaism and Christianity, and
• Break down misconceptions and pre-conceived notions between Jews and Christians

Trust us – you won’t want to miss this podcast!

Sign up today to receive a launch reminder for A Jew & A Gentile Discuss – and get ready for some exciting conversations, beginning September 1 with a short introductory show.

You and I share an exciting vision: that “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). And everything we do together, as partners in ministry, is with that goal in mind.

It’s about the Gospel – introducing the Jewish people and their neighbors to Jesus, the Messiah. It’s the greatest and the most important way you can bless anyone.

And it has never been more important than it is now amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Of course, humanitarian works, like our Medical Outreaches, are critical. But without the Good News, these efforts make only a temporary difference.

That’s why ministry work among the Jewish people wherever they are around the world – is never a one-time event. We at Jewish Voice don’t feel called to short-term ministry.

Rather, much like the biblical model, we believe God has called us to build long-term partnerships around the world – to plant, support and come alongside local churches and Messianic congregations. And, through God’s blessing, to help grow these communities as vibrant witnesses for the transforming power of the Gospel.

Linking arms with other ministry partners and congregations helps cultivate each seed of faith sown so that it will eventually bear good, strong, vibrant fruit… especially in areas where there’s little or no knowledge of Jesus. Both in Israel and around the world.

This is a massive undertaking. And I believe it is one of the greatest ways to build God’s Kingdom this year.

Your help will make a big difference…

Even as I write, through your gifts, Jewish Voice supports some 300 other congregations and ministries around the world. This number includes work in Israel, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Russia, Poland, Argentina, United States, Mexico, Canada and more.

In fact, it costs over $3 million to support these ministries for an entire year. And I’m praying you can give a generous gift to help.

But more than that, let’s go even further…

This year, let’s grow the number of ministries and congregations that we support together.

This is a huge undertaking for Jewish Voice. But I’m sure you’ll agree … the potential for building God’s Kingdom is too great and too important to do anything less.

But we can only move ahead with this as the Lord opens doors. And as He provides through His people.

Thank you in advance. You will make such a difference!

“But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations””

Psalm 33:11 NIV

I’m thankful that despite all that is going on around us and even with news and events changing daily, we can put our trust in God – who does not change. We can take confidence in His words to us. As it says in Psalm 33, “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever.”

In Israel, coronavirus cases are on the rise again. With that reality, I’m sharing a variety of news stories – including hospitals filling up, Israel working on new fast-track virus testing to open up their airport, and an agreement with a U.S. biotech company to secure vaccines as soon as they are available.

Meanwhile, the government promised no closures in the coming days for gyms and tourist attractions, and summer camps and summer school will continue through the last scheduled day of August 6.

And if the pandemic wasn’t enough to contend with, on Monday, Israel Defense Forces had to thwart a Hezbollah terror attack near the border with Lebanon.

As always, there is much to be in prayer for concerning Israel and her people.

Coronavirus wards full at four of Israel’s largest hospitals

According to Israel’s Health Ministry, the coronavirus wards at four of the country’s largest hospitals are full, and a fifth is nearing capacity. Serious coronavirus cases are continuing to rise, putting a strain on the healthcare system.

The ministry said Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem was operating at 120% capacity, with its virus treatment department at 152% capacity. Also in Jerusalem, Shaare Zedek Medical Center wards were at 104% capacity and the virus department at 106%, the ministry said.

In Tel Aviv, the Ichilov Medical Center was at 104% capacity, with 110% for its virus department, and the country’s largest hospital, Sheba Medical Center, was at 99.56% capacity, with 90% of its virus department filled, according to The Times of Israel.

Israel planning to open fast-track coronavirus testing at Ben-Gurion Airport

Representatives of the Airports Authority, the National Security Council, and the Health and Transportation ministries met late last week to begin work on seeking a private company to hire to establish fast-track coronavirus testing labs at Ben-Gurion Airport, according to The Jerusalem Post.

The president of one of the companies interested in bidding to establish the labs explained how the process would work:

Israeli travelers would be screened at a drive-thru testing station 72 hours before their flight and receive the results on their mobile phone. If the test result is negative, the traveler would go to the airport and be given a second test. The results would be received upon arrival at their destination. Then they would be able to present two negative tests.

Foreigners desiring to enter Israel would be immediately screened when they arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport. Then they would enter isolation for approximately 24 hours to wait for their results. If the results are negative, they can continue their stay. If the test is positive, the visitor would remain in quarantine for 10-14 days.

Other countries that have opened their skies have similar systems in their airports. The goal is to begin the process to find the company to establish the testing labs in the next one to three weeks.

Human trials for potential COVID-19 vaccine could be held in Israel

After Jerusalem signed an agreement for purchase of a drug being developed as a COVID-19 vaccine, the CEO of the U.S. firm developing the drug says Israel could be used as a location for human trials.

“My understanding is that Israel is under some significant challenges with respect to the prevalence of COVID, and it would present an opportunity to perhaps do the registration study in Israel, combining that data with other countries as well,” Arcturus Therapeutics CEO Joseph Payne told Israel’s Channel 12 news, referring to the Phase 3 human trials.

“It’s key that you have the study in a place where there’s a substantial amount of COVID present so that you can more quickly prove your vaccine works,” Payne said.

Arcturus Therapeutics and Duke-NUS medical school, a collaboration between Duke University and the National University of Singapore, announced last week that clinical trials were approved in Singapore for their LUNAR-COV19 vaccine candidate, according to The Times of Israel.

“Preclinical studies on LUNAR-COV19 have shown very promising findings, including the possibility that a single dose of this vaccine may be sufficient to trigger robust and durable immune responses,” said Professor Ooi Eng Eong, Deputy Director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Program at Duke-NUS.

Let us pray together

Join me in thanking God that His plans stand firm forever. We can trust our Lord completely as we bring our requests to Him. Please pray with me for:

• Wisdom for Israel’s government in light of the increase in coronavirus cases
• The approval and advancement of effective new technologies to help fight the pandemic and save lives, including development of a vaccine against coronavirus
• Protection from terrorist groups like Hezbollah and others who seek to harm Israel and the Jewish people
• Jewish people to seek their Messiah Jesus and put their trust in Him

Consider a generous gift

Thank you for praying with us for Israel and the Jewish people. You can also show your support with a financial gift.

Your generous gift will meet urgent needs for the most vulnerable Jewish populations in Israel – who are suffering even more because of the pandemic. You’ll help come alongside Holocaust survivors, recent immigrants, widows, orphans and others who struggling with even basic necessities.

Your support today will also be used to reach the “Lost Tribes of Israel,” who are scattered around the world, with humanitarian aid, clean water and medical, dental and eye care.

Meeting physical needs opens the door to share the love and hope of Yeshua (Jesus) with Jewish people, bringing spiritual healing to hurting hearts.

Your gift will also help engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people through our publications and social media presence, leadership training and more.

Thank you for your support

Thank you for being a faithful supporter of Jewish Voice and for your love for the Jewish people in Israel and around the world. I’m grateful for your partnership.

Let us continue to trust our Lord – His plans stand firm forever, through all generations. I hope that both encourages and comforts you today.

The Jewish people have endured intense tragedies over their history as a collective, though now scattered, people. Defeats, captivities, and persecutions are all across their timeline as God’s Chosen People. While various calamities have fallen on different Gregorian calendar dates, it’s astonishing that, when translated to the Jewish calendar, many catastrophic events in Israel’s history occurred on the same Jewish date – the ninth day of the Hebrew month Av. Tisha B’Av means the ninth of Av, and it is a day of mourning for Israel and Jewish people everywhere.

Tisha B’Av begins at sunset on July 29, 2020. Mourning includes fasting from food, water and activities representing ease and luxury. Expressions of grief include abstaining from bathing/washing, using perfumes or colognes, intimacy, wearing leather shoes and sitting comfortably for part of the day.

Mourners also avoid engaging in business, greeting others, giving gifts, idle talking and leisure activities. Synagogue services include the reading of kinot, traditional poems inspired by Jeremiah’s book of Lamentations.

According to Jewish tradition, one biblical event starts off the list of tragedies occurring on Tisha B’Av. It is believed that the 12 spies sent from the wilderness to scope out the Promised Land returned on Tisha B’Av. Ten spies gave a frightful report and persuaded the Israelites to disbelieve God and not trust Him that they could take the Land He’d said He would give them. As a result, the original generation who left Egypt would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. The Israelites remained in the wilderness 40 years until everyone over 20 years old at the time of the spies’ report passed away.

Other tragic events that have occurred on Tisha B’Av include: