THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL UPDATE

A Note from Jonathan Bernis

Shalom, my friend!

In whatever you’re facing today, I pray God’s strength and peace for you. 

There’s no greater promise we have from God . . . which was ultimately realized in the coming of His Son, Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah.

And I’m reminded, that no matter what we face – no matter what God’s people face – He’s close at hand to bring strength and peace. 

That’s why I’m hoping you’ll join with me and everyone at Jewish Voice as we pray for strength and peace in Israel. Based on the headlines below, we know there’s unsettling animosity against the Jewish people – both in Russia and in Israel.

We must stand together, remain watchful and vigilant . . . and ask God to strengthen His people, give them peace and change the hearts of their enemies.

And as you pray today, please continue to pray for the work and ministry we share at Jewish Voice. And pray for God to open more doors to share the Good News of Yeshua with the Jewish people.

Thank you for standing with us through your partnership.

To the Jew first and also to the Nations,

Jonathan Bernis

President & CEO

Jewish Voice Ministries International

Headline News

As Putin’s war sputters, anti-Semitism seeps into the Russian media

The Jerusalem Post reports that as Russia’s war in Ukraine begins to flounder, openly anti-Jewish rhetoric is entering the country’s mainstream media.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Russian President Vladimir Putin has, throughout his 22-year term, cracked down on the open anti-Semitism that nearly all of his predecessors had either encouraged, tolerated or ignored.

But now, openly anti-Jewish rhetoric is entering the country’s mainstream media, with a popular talk show host naming Jews on air as being insufficiently patriotic and a think tank accusing a prominent Jewish philosopher of siding with Ukraine out of greed.

The uptick in anti-Semitism adds to the forces that have caused tens of thousands of Russian Jews to leave their country since Putin invaded Ukraine. According to The Jerusalem Post, about 20,000 people, or 15% of Russia’s estimated Jewish population, emigrated from Russia to Israel this year alone. And authorities in Israel are preparing for many more now that Putin has begun drafting civilians for miliary service in Ukraine.

Updates from the Middle East

Hamas funneled terrorism funds through Gazans with Israeli entry permits

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) and Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) thwarted a Hamas terrorism financing scheme used to funnel money from Hamas in Gaza to fund terrorism in the West Bank and Turkey. Gazans entering Israel for humanitarian reasons or with work permits would deposit money in Israel. Then a group of student activists at Birzeit University in the West Bank would withdraw the money and send it to Hamas officials in Turkey. The activists were arrested in possession of credit cards with the illegal funds.

Two shootings carried out against Israelis in West Bank

Palestinian terrorism is on the rise around Israel’s Hebron area. Two weeks ago, Palestinians fired at a yeshiva (an Orthodox Jewish school) at the entryway to the Carmel settlement in the South Hebron Hills, injuring one of the students. And just last week, Palestinians shot twice at Israelis in the West Bank within a 24-hour period, as local leaders called on the IDF to do more to crack down on rising Palestinian terror.

Pray with Us This Week

Please pray with me for:

• God to continue to protect the innocent lives from the fighting in Ukraine and to bring a peaceful end to the invasion by Russia
• God to continue to uncover the plots and schemes of Israel’s enemies to prevent violence and save the lives of the Jewish people who are being targeted
• God to bring protection and safety to innocent people who are caught in the crossfire in a resurgence of violence by Palestinian terrorists
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• The Jewish people to recognize "Yeshua" as their Messiah

Join in RETURNing to the Lord in prayer and fasting . . .

Last week, here at Jewish Voice Ministries, we held our twice-a-year Week of Prayer and Fasting. I am inviting you into our focused theme of “Return.” It is a fitting focus as we just emerged from the Hebrew month of Elul and celebrated Rosh Hashanah. Elul is a season of teshuvah (repentance), which carries the invitation to return and draw near to God, to reflect personally on the state of our own souls and relationships with Him. It is a time of spiritual accounting in preparation for the fall Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah (also known as Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

We wanted to share with you the Scriptures and themes we meditated on and prayed into during our staff’s Week of Prayer and Fasting so that, in this season of the Fall Feasts, you can join in worship and personal reflection before the Lord, praying along the theme of “Return.”

Returning to the Lord Myself

 “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40).

Lord, show me, show us, any ways that we have gotten off track in our love for You, our thinking, our relationships with others, or in our focus or affections. We want to be whole-heartedly Yours.

Calling Israel and the Jewish People to Return to the Lord

“Therefore tell the people: ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Return to Me,” declares the Lord Almighty, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty’” (Zechariah 1:3).

Adonai Tzevaot, Lord of Hosts, give us opportunities and boldness to call Your people back to You, and Lord, prepare their hearts to hear You calling and respond.

Calling the Church to Return to God’s Heart for Israel and the Jewish People

“But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always” (Hosea 12:6).

Lord, our hearts are grieved at the many ways Your body has turned against and even persecuted Your Jewish people over the centuries. May the Church repent and receive Your heart for Your people, extending kindness, seeking justice where wrong has been done, and sharing Yeshua (Jesus) with humility and love.

Calling the Nations and the Jewish People in Them to Turn to the Lord

“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him” (Psalm 22:27).

Lord, may every Jewish person, every person on Earth, and every tribe, tongue and nation, have the opportunity to hear of You and turn to You. The day will come when all the families of the nations will worship You together. Until then, we pray.

Calling the Lord to Return and Dwell with Us Forever

“He who testifies to these things says, “’Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Lord, we are committed to occupying until You come, loving one another and taking the Good News of salvation to the Jewish people and their neighbors. But oh, Lord, how our hearts long for Your return! We join in with the cry of our brothers and sisters over the centuries and throughout the world today, saying, “Yes, come, Lord Jesus! Come!” In His name, we pray, AMEN.

Thank you for joining us in these prayers. It is very meaningful and sacred for us to be connected with you in this way.

THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL UPDATE

A Note from Jonathan Bernis

Shalom, my friend!

I pray God’s blessings over you. And I also pray that no matter what you’re facing right now, you will respond like the Psalmist who says, “Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray.” (Psalm 5:2 NIV)

Wether you’re experiencing an overwhelming burden, a personal crisis or even a challenging decision amid uncertainty – cry out to God for help. 

The greatest hope we have is that God hears the cries of His people. And that He is in control of every situation. He wants you to call to Him. He’s eager to hear from you. 

And as you pray today, please continue to pray for the work and ministry we share at Jewish Voice as well as the news headlines shared below. Pray for God to open more doors to share the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus) with the Jewish people in poverty stricken and wartime communities around the world.

Thank you for standing with us through your partnership.

To the Jew first and to the Nations,

Jonathan Bernis

President & CEO

Jewish Voice Ministries International

Headline News 

Aid and Supplies Desperately Needed in Decimated Towns Near Kiev 

Ynet News reports that the initial rush of private donations have drastically plummeted alongside frigid temperatures in Kiev. Concerns are rising as winter approaches for Ukrainian Jews. 

Many Jewish households – especially the elderly Jews – are becoming increasingly nervous about how to cover basic costs as energy prices rise across Ukraine and as the winter months approach.

According to Ynet News, there is a growing need for the more than 37,000 Jewish households across Ukraine at a cost of nearly $3 million a month. [2] 

Jewish Voice Ministries alongside the lifesaving financial support from our partners, continues to help provide relief through local churches and Messianic Jewish congregations in Kiev.

To aid in the relief of Ukrainian Jews in His name go to www.jewishvoice.org/ukraine today.

Updates from the Middle East

Defying Warnings, Jews Embark on Ukraine Pilgrimage

Thousands of Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jews have vowed to brave the dangers of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and make a pilgrimage to the city of Uman during the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. The vows come after multiple warnings from Israeli officials about the dangers and risks of visiting an active war zone. It is estimated that over 30,000 visitors, mostly from Israel, typically visit the city of Uman and the burial place of Rabbi Nachman, the 18th-century founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement.

Lufthansa Becomes First Airline to Adopt IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism

The German Lufthansa airline announced last week that it would adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA’s) working definition of anti-Semitism, holding that hatred toward Israel is anti-Semitic. The announcement comes after the airline barred a large group of Orthodox Jewish passengers from boarding a flight back in May, resulting in a firestorm of outrage from Jewish people in the United States and across Europe.

THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL UPDATE

A Note from Jonathan Bernis

Shalom, my friend!

Much like the Psalmist, I find myself being moved by gratitude right now, even in the midst of terrible anti-Semitism I see on the news – because I know “the LORD is good and His love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1)

And I pray that you, too, will experience the goodness of God and His love in your own walk of faith.

Don’t ever forget that YOU can be His expression of goodness and love wherever you are today. In fact, all of us at Jewish Voice, and the Jewish people we serve worldwide, experience God’s goodness and love through your prayers and generosity.

That’s simply the power of God in our lives – using all of us to build His Kingdom and bring His presence to others. It’s amazing. And I’m grateful for your obedience.

Please continue to pray for the Jewish people – for their ongoing safety, for God to open their hearts to receive the Gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) and for our ministry in Israel and around the world.

Thank you again for standing with us through your partnership.

To the Jew first and also to the Nations,

Jonathan Bernis

President & CEO

Jewish Voice Ministries International

Headline News

Jewish Man Murdered by Muslim Neighbor in France

Ynet News reported late last week that a Jewish man was murdered by a Muslim neighbor in northeast Paris.

Initial reports indicated that the suspect, Mohamed Dridi, turned himself in to the French police – claiming that the victim, Eyal Haddad, allegedly owed him $100 and didn’t return the debt.

Later, Dridi confessed to murdering Haddad because he was Jewish.

The National Bureau of Vigilance against Antisemitism (BNVCA) released a statement to the press, stating: “The murder took place on August 20 in Longperrier, a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department. According to our information, the assassin smashed his victim's skull with an ax and then burned his face (so the victim wouldn’t be identified) and even began to bury the body.”

While the investigation is still ongoing, the BNVCA asked for these facts to be examined, considering the anti-Semitic character of the crime.

Updates from the Middle East

Israel Buys Refueling Tankers That Will Help It Attack Iran's Nuclear Sites

As a nuclear deal between Iran and the United States continues to be negotiated against Israel’s recommendation, the Israel Air Force has signed a contract with Boeing to purchase four multi-mission KC-46 refueling tankers in a deal valued at $927.5 million. According to Israel’s Defense Minister, Benny Gantz, “The refueling aircraft that are being purchased, along with the procurement of an F-35 squadron, helicopters, submarines and advanced munitions will enable the IDF to meet its security challenges both near and far.”

Deadly Danger: Israel Warns Against Travel to Ukraine’s Uman as Pilgrimage Nears

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has intensified its calls for Israelis to avoid traveling to the Ukrainian city of Uman this Rosh Hashanah, warning worshipers that visiting would pose a “real and immediate risk to lives” in light of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The city of Uman, which is the burial site of the 18th-century founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement, Rabbi Nachman, normally attracts some 30,000 visitors, most of them from Israel, over the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

You have been praying with us for the Lord to open doors to new locations, and He has once again answered! This month we will be ministering in a lush green urban community in Southern Ethiopia. Some of the Beta Israel Jewish people there reached out to the Messianic Jewish congregation in Kechene (an area in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), interested in learning more about what they were teaching and doing. This established a connection and created an opportunity for us to take a full-scale Medical Outreach to this new area.

We are expecting the Lord to do great and mighty things on this Outreach. A key prayer is that He would answer the interest and inquiries of the Jewish people in this area not only with information and medical aid but with spiritual revelation and supernatural healing.

Below are more specific prayer requests so you can know how to intercede day by day, beginning now. Also, please sign up on our 24-7 Prayer Watch schedule to commit to a specific time during the Outreach dates when you can cover us in prayer from home.

Thank you for joining us in prayer for this Southern Ethiopia Medical Outreach, September 15–25. Please pray for:

Wednesday, September 7–Wednesday, September 14 | Ezekiel 38:7

• All permissions to be in place and all preparations completed
• The Lord to clear the spiritual atmosphere and establish His warring angels along the travel routes and Clinic and lodging sites, enabling the Good News to impact the region deeply
• The power and presence of God to permeate every aspect and moment of this Outreach from beginning to completion
• Ongoing favor and good relationships with local, regional and national leaders and agencies

Thursday, September 15 | Psalm 121:1

• International partners to be prepared for this Outreach, both practically and spiritually
• Safety and protection today as they begin their travels and throughout the week in all areas of health and well-being
• Protection for all families, homes, and everything that pertains to our staff and partners while they are away on the Outreach
• Negative and timely Covid-19 tests at every necessary checkpoint
• Deep unity to develop quickly among the team members; may it be sustained throughout the Outreach

Friday, September 16 | Psalm 133:1

• Everyone’s luggage and JVMI equipment to arrive at the right time and place in perfect condition
• Good rest and great fellowship upon arriving in Ethiopia, including a meaningful Erev Shabbat dinner together
• That many locals hear of the Outreach and come, especially since this is a new area

Saturday, September 17 | Psalm 54:4

• Safe travels during the 8-hour road trip to our lodgings in Southern Ethiopia
• Knowledge, wisdom and discernment in all aspects of this trip for our Global Outreach leadership team
• Grace and favor in all the last-minute details and set-up that need to be fully completed by now in preparation for the Clinic opening tomorrow. Pray also for the Zehra Kids Program
• Another night of good rest and smooth adjustments to the culture, food and time change

Sunday, September 18 | Jeremiah 29:13

• A successful Clinic opening today, with many people coming and treated on this first day
• The power and presence of God in the Spiritual Care Ministry tent and upon the congregational leaders and others ministering there so that many people are drawn to faith in Yeshua (Jesus)
• Comfortable weather throughout the week as well as grace over those who will travel long distances on foot to receive care

Monday, September 19 | John 7:38

• The morning prayer and devotional times to be a Spirit-filled launch into each day for the team
• Blessings upon the Living Waters team with favor and open doors throughout the community so they can share the Good News as well as distribute LifeStraw® water filters
• Each team member to make the most of every opportunity to minister out of the fulness of the fruit and gifts of the Spirit

Tuesday, September 20 | Isaiah 11:6b

• The Lord to appoint, equip and anoint an excellent Zehra children’s ministry team who will experience unity in love and purpose
• Great joy and receptivity to the program, not only by the children but their families as well, as they encounter the “Prayer and Friendship with God” curriculum based on the Shema
• Many little ones to be transformed by love and big truths, coming to know the Lord deeply for themselves

Wednesday, September 21 | Psalm 57:9

• A wonderful worship service this evening which blesses the Lord, revitalizes the Outreach Partners and continues to push back the schemes of the enemy
• The healing virtue of Yeshua to continue to be released throughout the week for all who come in need of a touch from Him
• A good night’s rest to prepare for the last day of the Clinic on Thursday

Thursday, September 22 | Philippians 4:6–7

• The ability to see and serve as many people as possible during this last half-day of the Clinic
• The Lord to bring peace, order and even miracles of healing in the Clinic lines
• Shalom and safety as local workers are paid and the Clinic equipment is packed up
• Protection as the Outreach team leaves the area and travels several hours to where they will spend Thursday night

Friday, September 23 | Psalm 126:2–3

• Continued safety during the long road trip to Addis Ababa
• Celebration, fellowship and great testimonies of God’s faithfulness during Erev Shabbat dinner
• Confidence and evidence that the Lord has heard the prayers of each one for this Outreach and that He is pleased by their ministry

Saturday, September 24–Sunday, September 25 | Romans 10:1

• The Jewish members of this community to have not only learned about Jesus but come to know Him personally during this week
• Anointing for timely and effective follow-up for Ethiopian congregational leaders as they reach out to those interested in hearing more
• Safe travels home for all national and international Outreach Partners, with full hearts prepared to testify of God’s goodness manifested during this Outreach

Let’s Pray

Lord, the lushness of this region speaks to Your life-giving abundance. Would You also manifest an abundance of supernatural miracles and eternal life through this Outreach in this vibrant region? Our hearts cry out to see salvations and transformed lives among the Jewish people and their neighbors. Thank you for leading us to this new location and for bringing about abundant new life in Yeshua. In His name, we pray, Amen.

After 10 years of conducting Medical Outreaches in Zimbabwe, we returned to the region where it all began, a place called Mberengewa. One of the highlights from this outreach was the Zehra Kids Program which ministers to children about their shared identity and heritage in Yeshua.

Because of You

Over 2,700 Zimbabwean children, many of whom are Lemba (Jewish), learned about Jesus through biblically-based lessons and activities. Of the 48 people who wanted to be immersed (baptized) as a testimony of their new faith in Jesus, six were from the Zehra Kids Program.

Indigenously Led

A vital component of sharing the Gospel in other countries is nurturing new Believers to take up the calling to reach their own people. On this Mberengwa Outreach, we were thrilled to see the first Zehra Kids Program entirely led by an indigenous Zimbabwean team.

Answered Prayers

We often pray for young people and Messianic Believers from Israel to catch the vision of the work we do. On this Mberengwa Outreach, a group of young adults, some of whom are second, or third generation Jewish Believers, joined us from Israel to serve alongside the Lemba leaders in the Zehra Kids Program. Two answered prayers!

All of this was possible because of your prayers and financial support. Thank you!

Just look at all the good you accomplished in Mberengwa!

• 7,630 Patients Treated
• 2,757 Children Ministered To
• 200 Family LifeStraw Water Filters Given
• 1,093 People Received Dental Care
• 934 Eyeglasses Distributed
• 54 Minor Surgeries
• 2,950 People Heard the Gospel
• 121 People Received Yeshua, 59 of whom are Jewish
• 185 People Requested a Visit to Learn More about Jesus

THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL UPDATE

A Note from Jonathan Bernis

Shalom, my friend!

I’m so grateful for your prayers and support on behalf of this ministry and the Jewish people.

As you know, only God can effectively combat the anti-Semitism and hatred against the Jewish people that we’re seeing in Israel and around the world.

In fact, one of the greatest hopes we have is that God hears the cries of His people. That no matter what any of us might be facing, He is in control to move and act according to His plans.

That’s why I hope you’ll continue to pray for the Jewish people – for their ongoing safety, for God to open their hearts to receive the Gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) and for our ministry in Israel and around the world.

Thank you for standing with us through your partnership.

To the Jew first and also to the Nations,

Jonathan Bernis

President & CEO

Jewish Voice Ministries International

Headline News

German Guard Detained for Hitler Salute to Israeli Athletes Visiting Munich Memorial

The Times of Israel reported last week that a German security guard had been arrested for making a Hitler salute in front of a group of Israeli athletes visiting a memorial to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.

According to German police reports, the 16 athletes from the Israeli European Championships team were visiting the Olympic Park in Munich when the banned gesture was made.

Police immediately arrested the suspect, a 19-year-old from Berlin. And as reported by The Times of Israel, he has been banned from all further European Championships events.

The arrest comes at a sensitive time, with Munich hosting the European Championships ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Olympics massacre in 1972, in which 11 Israelis were murdered.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also further inflamed the situation during a visit to Berlin last week.

According to The Times of Israel, President Abbas failed to condemn the massacre and instead compared crimes committed against the Palestinians to the Holocaust.

The Palestinian Presidency later addressed the comments after they attracted a wave of international furor and claimed President Abbas had merely intended to highlight Israeli “crimes.”

Updates from the Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister to U.S., Europe: Walk away from Iran talks or look weak

Last week, Israel’s Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, told officials from the U.S. and Europe that the West will look weak if it doesn’t stop nuclear talks with Iran now. The Prime Minister’s remarks came just days after Iran responded to what was meant to be a final text of a renewed nuclear deal.

Russian Jews head for Israel as Kremlin targets Jewish Agency

According to Israeli government figures, 20,246 Russians emigrated to Israel between January and July 2022, with a spike from February to March – following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The scale of the emigration seems to have taken the Russian authorities by surprise and may have prompted retaliation by the Kremlin. Recently, the Russian Justice Ministry requested the liquidation of the Moscow branch of the Jewish Agency for Israel, a non-profit organization that helps foreign Jews looking to move to Israel.

Pray with Us This Week

Please pray with me for:

• God to protect the innocent lives from the fighting in Ukraine and to bring a peaceful end to the invasion by Russia
• God to surround His people in Israel, who are constantly facing threats and violence from surrounding enemies
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize "Yeshua" as their Messiah

This may seem like an odd request – but we’d like to ask you to pray for prayer! More prayer and more “pray-ers,” meaning more people praying. We are building a global community that will pray faithfully for Jewish Voice Ministries and the work God has called us to. This work involves bringing the Gospel to the Jewish people, growing the Messianic Jewish community, and engaging the Church regarding Israel and the Jewish people.

Will you pray with us for more prayer? Here are things the Lord is leading us in and how you can participate and pray:

Vision: Our long-term vision is for a Jewish Voice global prayer network of those who will pray around the clock for God’s City, Israel — His Land and His people, wherever they are in the world.

• Please pray for the Lord to strategically develop this and enlist those who will catch the vision to pray with us for Israel and His people around the world

24-7 Prayer Watch: Along those lines, we now have the Jewish Voice 24-7 Prayer Watch, where our partners can commit to a time to pray for us from home.

• Pray for many pray-ers to commit to cover us and Israel in prayer regularly from home by making a commitment on the 24-7 Prayer Watch. Learn more here: 24-7 Prayer Calendar

Onsite Prayer: We invite trusted, dedicated intercessors who live in the Phoenix area to come and pray onsite at our headquarters. It cultivates the presence of the Lord here and encourages them in knowing how to pray.

• Please pray for more of those trusted, dedicated pray-ers in the Phoenix area who will commit to come and pray onsite for Jewish Voice Ministries and the work we do

Prayer Initiatives: We are so excited by your response to our recent prayer initiatives, including Operation 1226 and Moving Forward: 55 Days of Prayer. Only eternity will reveal all the answers to the thousands of prayers you, our partners, have prayed for.

• Please pray for the Lord’s leading in launching more initiatives that focus prayer on specific targets related to our shared mission and encourage our partners as we call on the Lord together

Online Prayer Meetings: Last but not least, we have begun to hold online prayer meetings on the Zoom webinar platform so that you, our partners, can hear real-time prayer briefings from our leaders and take that information into prayer. These have been energizing and effective, and we plan to do many more. Our next time together is Thursday, August 25. Please register here to join us.

• Please pray for us as we plan, coordinate, and facilitate these strategic prayer webinars; and for many people to join us each time and be encouraged and mobilized in prayer

Let’s Pray!

Thank you for your consistent commitment to pray, and to pray for more prayer. 

Lord, we are passionate to see Your plans and purposes for Your Chosen People and for Your body, both Jew and Gentile, fulfilled. We want to partner with You, Lord, through prayer, and we know we need others to come alongside us in that vision. We ask You to inspire many, many thousands of people around the world to join us as an energized, faithful and effective community of praying Believers, calling on You day and night to see those purposes come to pass. In Yeshua’s Name, AMEN.