We’re excited to tell you that we’re headed to a new location in Ethiopia again. We’ve been to this region before, but not this specific community with many Jewish people. The local government actually invited us to come and serve here. This area has seen a lot of deep hardship that has impacted people in many ways. We’re asking the Lord for His help and power as we care for their bodies and souls through the wonderful, Good News of Yeshua (Jesus)!

We will need significant prayer covering as this area is a stronghold against the simplicity of that Good News. Please cover us in prayer for protection, wisdom, and effectiveness. Please join us in prayer:

• You can 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.
• Here are detailed DAY-BY-DAY Prayer Points so you can pray along with us for this Outreach in a new location in Ethiopia, May 15–25:

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, May 7–Wednesday, May 14

• All preparations to come together and be fully in place, such as VISAS, medical supplies, Clinic readiness, team unity, and community relationships
• Protection, health, safety, and favor as our team and partners prepare and travel
• 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 the hearts to receive Him

Thursday, May 15

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

Friday, May 16

• All team members to arrive safely and easily settle into new lodgings, foods, and sleep schedules
• Team unity to begin to develop among the partners and team during the Erev Shabbat dinner and deepen throughout the week
• Each person to be personally prepared for the days ahead through a restful day, a good night’s sleep, along with spiritual preparation and insight

Saturday, May 17

• Safe travels by land and local air flight to the Outreach community
• The Lord to impart special wisdom and acute discernment for the Outreach leaders and our local partners throughout the week and beyond
• Local curiosity to produce a desire for care, comfort, and the Lord
• The Lord to surround us with angelic protection in every aspect

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, May 18–Thursday, May 22

Sunday, May 18

• As in every new location, pray with us that news about the Clinic would spread quickly so that many are drawn to receive not only medical care but also the Good News of Yeshua
• Favor from every leader and group in the community, including governmental, religious, and spiritual
• The Lord to move powerfully through the Gospel and the Holy Spirit
• Great effectiveness, order, and shalom as the Clinic opens today and continues throughout the week

Monday, May 19

• Effective medical and dental care and healing to take place, including supernaturally
• Everyone who attends the Clinic to receive and respond to spiritual care
• The Lord to give us wisdom, favor, discernment and protection regarding any unique factors regarding this new location, conditions, or timeframe
• Again, great favor with local authorities and the community: may they be abundantly blessed, seek the Lord, and extend blessing to their Jewish neighbors

Tuesday, May 20

• May many Jewish people and their neighbors continue coming to the Outreach throughout the week
• May the Lord use us, by His Spirit, to minister not only to physical needs, but to the spiritual and emotional needs in this community, which has experienced much hardship and trauma
• Spiritual resistance and strongholds to be broken here, so that the Good News of Yeshua can have a great impact this week and beyond

Wednesday, May 21

• 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
• Protection from the schemes of the enemy and openness to the Good News as we break new ground in this new community

Thursday, May 22

• A great last day for the Medical Clinic in which we can see as many as the Lord enables; may He minister to and heal the rest
• Safety taking down the Clinic, loading up, and transporting all the equipment, medical and otherwise
• The Lord’s protection as we pay the many local workers who help make the Outreach happen. May they be touched by the Lord’s love and salvation

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, May 22

• Safe travels home
• A special outpouring of grace for everyone who served by honoring the Lord and loving this new community through this Outreach  
• The Lord to continue working in the region, bringing a great movement of His Holy Spirit among these dear people
• Effective and timely follow-up to all who want to hear more about Yeshua
• The Lord to continue establishing His Kingdom in Ethiopia and developing healthy congregations

Let’s Pray

Lord, once again, You are commissioning us to reach out to the precious Jewish people of Ethiopia and their neighbors. Will You open their spiritual senses to receive full revelation of Yeshua as Messiah, Savior, and Lord? And would You also bring salvation, deliverance, and healing among people who have experienced so much loss and trauma? You alone can bring Your shalom. Please use us to do Your will in this new location. In Yeshua’s Name, Amen.

Jerusalem Day is coming up in Israel. Some people might ask, “So what? What’s so important about Jerusalem and what’s Jerusalem Day anyway?”  

What is Jerusalem Day?

When the modern State of Israel was born in 1948, Jerusalem was divided. Israel possessed only the western portion, and East Jerusalem, which includes the Temple Mount, was under Jordan’s rule. Jerusalem Day commemorates the day in 1967 when Israel emerged victorious from the Six-Day War, having won possession of East Jerusalem from Jordan. It was the first time in 2,000 years that Israel controlled an undivided Jerusalem.

What’s So Important about Jerusalem?

Here are some reasons why the city of Jerusalem is such a vital part of Jewish faith and history:

• Jerusalem is the holiest site of Judaism and Christianity
• Jewish tradition holds that Jerusalem is the site of the ancient Garden of Eden, where God first began His relationship with mankind
• Mount Moriah is within Jerusalem and is where Abraham bound his son Isaac for sacrifice before the Lord intervened, providing His own sacrifice of a ram caught in a thicket
• David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel’s united kingdom, and it remained the capital of Judah after the kingdom was divided in two
• Jerusalem is where the First and Second Temples were built, making it the epicenter of Jewish religious life
• The Jewish people were commanded to observe three of the annual feasts by making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
• Jesus taught and healed in Jerusalem

Jerusalem is also where:

• Yeshua (Jesus) sacrificed His life as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
• Jesus was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to Heaven
• The Holy Spirit was given to Believers at Shavuot
• The Third Temple will be built
• Yeshua will return when He stands on the Mount of Olives
• Yeshua will rule and reign in the Age to Come
• The center of life will be in the Age to Come, when God Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and we will live with Him in completeness and peace forever
• And Jerusalem is where God has chosen to put His name

God Has Put His Name in Jerusalem

Of Jerusalem in particular, the Lord speaks repeatedly of it being the specific place where He has “put His name.”

“But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for His dwelling. To that place you must go” (Deuteronomy 12:5).

“…Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name….” (1 Kings 14:21).

Did you know that God’s name is physically in Jerusalem as well as spiritually and symbolically? Jerusalem sits amid hills and valleys that, when seen from above, resemble the Hebrew letter Shin, which resembles a W. A Shin has long been representative of God because it is part of the Hebrew spelling of one of His names, God Almighty, or in Hebrew, El Shaddai. God has placed a symbol of His name — a Shin — in the very topography of Jerusalem. His name dwells in Jerusalem, just as He said in Scripture.

Special to God

The Bible tells us that the Jewish people, the Land He gave them, and Jerusalem are all special to God. In the book of Deuteronomy, He calls Israel — the Jewish people — His “treasured possession” and his “inheritance.”

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6, emphasis added).

“For the Lord’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance” (Deuteronomy 32:9, emphasis added).

Deuteronomy reveals that the Land of Israel is important to God as well, describing it as “a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.” (Deuteronomy 11:12 NKJV, emphasis added). 

Yerushalayim

The Hebrew word for Jerusalem is Yerushalayim. It’s created by combining aspects of two other words. Yerush means “inheritance or possession,” and Shalem means “whole, complete, or peace.”  Jerusalem is the centerpiece of God’s inheritance and possession — Israel, and it is the epicenter of the completion of God’s redemption plan for mankind and the fulfillment of His promised peace in the Age to Come. Jerusalem is special to the Lord. Jerusalem belongs to Him and to His treasured inheritance of a people. So, it’s fitting that we as Believers in Yeshua — Jewish and Gentile alike — share in the joy of the day commemorating the day in 1967 when a united Jerusalem came under Jewish rule after such a long, long history of being governed by so many foreign nations.

Jerusalem Day 2025

Jerusalem Day this year begins at sunset on May 25 and ends at sunset on May 26. It gives us a special occasion to praise God for returning to His people the city where He has put His name. It’s a highlighted opportunity to pray for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Join us in praying for:

• Peace in Jerusalem and all of Israel, according to Psalm 122:6
• Jewish people in Israel and worldwide to recognize Yeshua as the promised Messiah prophesied about in Isaiah 55 and throughout the Hebrew Scriptures

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure’” (Psalm 122:6).

If you want to learn more about the Six-Day War, how it started, and an eyewitness account of it by the wife of Jewish Voice founder Louis Kaplan, here is some additional reading for you:

The War That Won Jerusalem

Jerusalem Day – She Was There

Jerusalem Day Prayer for Israel

Fresh Prayers for an Unchanging Vision

So much is changing these days in the world around us. At Jewish Voice Ministries International, these changes only serve to make us even more steadfast in fulfilling our God-given purpose. In changing times, our reason for existing remains the same — to transform lives and see all Israel saved, according to Romans 11:26.

The ways we pursue this mandate are also the same. We have three key approaches: We proclaim the Gospel, the Good News of salvation through Yeshua (Jesus), to the Jewish people first. We also seek to grow the Messianic community around the globe. And we work to engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people.

Here are some ways you can pray for us as we continue to hold the same values and pursue the same vision in fresh ways for a new season. Help us do the Lord’s work by joining us in the work of prayer.

As we proclaim the Gospel to the Jew first, pray that we can:

• Focus missionally on strategic Jewish population centers
• Build outreach models that will shape future generations of believing communities
• Continue to break new ground among unreached Jewish people groups around the world

May we also:

• Communicate timeless truths regarding Israel and the Jewish people through cutting-edge media vehicles
• Engage the attention and touch the hearts of young adults for God’s Jewish people around the world
• Provide connection points for them to put understanding and passion into action in joining us to reach Jewish people and their neighbors

Ask the Lord to help us grow the Messianic Jewish community:

• Intercede for breakthrough in key locations where we’re praying for God to move in big ways
• Pray as we seek to engage and launch new leaders into Jewish ministry through innovative programs, resources, and training
• May we continue to mentor and help support ministry programs through indigenous leaders
• Pray for physical centers and locations that will become hubs for expanding ministry and influence

Pray with us as we seek to engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people. May we:

• Be a resource for the Church, locally and globally, in understanding God’s plans and purposes for His people
• Increase understanding regarding the history, impact, and current firestorm of antisemitism, including its satanic source
• Encourage the Church in how to counter hate with programs such as Love Your Jewish Neighbor
• Equip and engage churches and Believers in fervent, effectual prayer, not only for Jewish Voice Ministries but for Israel’s salvation and for the Jewish people around the world

Let’s Pray

Finally, pray with us for great, great faith — faith to take hold of God’s promises and believe Him for Israel’s blessing, consolation, and salvation. Pray for continued confidence that He is and will use us in the answers to those prayers.

Together, we are seeing the Lord do miracles. Thank you for your prayers!

The Voice of the Lord

This spring, as our Jewish Voice Ministries staff sets aside a week for prayer and fasting, our focus is: The Voice of God. There are so many opportunities and options before us that we need the mind of the Lord, His timing, and guidance, in every detail. We invite you to join us in meditating on the Lord’s voice and praying for us as a ministry, that we would hear and obey.

As we have pondered the Scriptures below and others, our hearts have been drawn to marvel at the Lord’s diverse methods of expression and His personal interaction with His people, whether individually or collectively. We encourage you to look up these references and pray along with us. May you truly hear from the Lord as you do.

Deuteronomy 6:4–6 | SHEMA: Hear and Obey

Lord, may Your people, the Jewish people, know that You are One, and hear and obey You. May we at Jewish Voice, as well as our partners, also hear what You are speaking to us in this season and respond with whole-hearted obedience.

1 Kings 19:11–13 | The Voice of the LORD is a Gentle Whisper

May we not assume what You will sound like or what You will say. May we truly quiet ourselves and listen for Your voice amid the chaos and confusion all around us.

John 10:27 | “My Sheep Hear My Voice”

Thank You that You are our Good Shepherd, and we are Your sheep. We can be confident that You speak to us. May we, in response, be diligent to follow Your leading.

Job 37:2–5 | The Voice of the Lord Thunders

May we listen to You attentively and marvel at Your ways, even when You do things we don’t understand or fully comprehend.

Revelation 1:15 | The Voice of the Lord is as the Sound of Many Waters

Yeshua (Jesus), You are the source of living water. May we hear the life-giving flow of Your voice as You speak to us through Your Word and Your Spirit.

Psalm 29:3–11 | The Voice of the Lord is Powerful and Majestic

Lord, Your Voice speaks with power and majesty. When You speak, things happen on the Earth and in the Heavens. May You, as our King who is enthroned forever, speak blessings of peace and strength to Your people.

Let’s Pray

Lord, just as we at Jewish Voice are seeking to hear Your voice with clarity and obey it faithfully in this season, we pray for Israel and all the Jewish people around the world to hear You. We also pray for our partners. May they too know and hear Your voice in their own lives. Speak guidance, direction, and words of hope and healing over them and their families. Command the enemy to flee and doors to open. At Your voice, may chains break and lives be transformed. And may we all raise our voices in praise to You, O Worthy One who is enthroned! In Yeshua’s name, AMEN

We are so excited to be in South Africa! We’re about to begin our first full-scale Medical Clinic there. Although our Africa team is already on site preparing, our Outreach Partners and some of our staff are still traveling as this email arrives in your inbox.

We know excitement is not enough for a successful Outreach. That’s why your prayers are so important.

Ways to Pray

Here’s how you can pray focused prayers that hit the mark for this ground-breaking Outreach to the many Lemba Jewish people in this new-to-us area.

• Use these detailed DAY-BY-DAY Prayer Points to pray along with us throughout the week
• Commit to a specific time slot to pray from home during the Outreach.  SIGN UP on our Prayer Schedule, referring to the dates below.

Here are some things you can pray for us about this Outreach in

Dikgale, South Africa | March 27 – April 6

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, March 26

• All preparations to be fully in place, such as VISAS, medical supplies, site readiness, team unity and community relationships
• Protection, health, safety and favor as our team and partners prepare and travel
• 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 27

• All Outreach team members, partners and their luggage to arrive safely and on time
• Each participant to lay aside thoughts of what the week will look like and seek the Lord for how He plans to use them
• Quick adjustment to the new surroundings, food, culture, and time zone

Friday, March 28

• Unity and fellowship to be established and grow as the team and partners enjoy a wonderful Erev Shabbat meal together tonight
• A clear and inspiring welcome meeting
• A fantastic night’s sleep in preparation for an active week

Saturday, March 29

• A meaningful Shabbat service in the morning that will bring shalom and orient everyone’s hearts for the week
• Successful, clear, and anointed Clinic and Spiritual Care Ministry orientations today
• God’s angel armies to push back the forces of darkness, enabling the seeds of the Good News to go deep into good soil and bear lasting fruit throughout the week and beyond

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 30

• The Lord to hand-pick the local workers who will work alongside us in unity; may their lives also be touched by the Lord
• A sense of anticipation, hope, and trust in the Lord as the Clinic opens for a half-day today
• May the community not only hear about the Outreach but come in large numbers starting today and continuing through the week
• The Lord to give our team wisdom and discernment regarding any local factors that we may need to navigate

Monday, March 31

• New partners to feel equipped and encouraged during the First-Time _Outreach Partner meeting tonight
• This first full day of the Outreach to go smoothly and, more importantly, be effective in treating bodies and transforming lives through the Good News of Yeshua
• The Zehra Kid’s Program to be ideally situated, fully staffed, and incredibly fruitful in drawing children and teens to God

Tuesday, April 1

• May the Spiritual Care Ministry be busy throughout the week with healings, deliverances, and salvations as the Lord moves in power through His Word and the Holy Spirit
• Spiritual anointing and physical stamina for those ministering in that area
• The new well Jewish Voice Ministries will drill to serve the community and be a source of fresh water and community health and well-being

Wednesday, April 2

• The medical and dental volunteers to provide effective medical and dental care; and for the Lord to bring healing, including supernaturally as a testimony of His power and love
• May the evening worship time with a South African worship leader be filled with the presence of the Lord, bringing renewal and refreshment to all team members
• May the Lord Himself be glorified by the worship and may the forces of darkness flee in response to Him being lifted high

Thursday, April 3

• On this last day of the Medical Clinic, which is only a half day, may those in greatest need of medical or spiritual care either be seen or spontaneously healed
• Safety in taking down and packing up the Outreach tents and equipment Calm to prevail as our staff pays the local workers; along with the financial benefit, may they also (and more importantly) leave with great spiritual blessings because of being exposed to the Good News and the ministry of the Holy Spirit

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, April 4

• A sacred and welcome Shabbat at the end of a week of ministering out of love
• Joyous and inspiring testimonies as each participant reflects on and shares about all the Lord has done during the week
• May each one sense the Lord saying to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Saturday, April 5

• The Jewish people of this community to be profoundly blessed because of the Outreach and recognize it as evidence that the Lord sees and values them
• May they also have an enlarged sense of the significance of their Jewish identity and live it out with intention
• That the rest of the community would begin to see their Jewish neighbors as people not just to be tolerated but valued and appreciated. May they learn about the Lord’s heart for the Jewish people in a meaningful way and take it to heart themselves

Sunday, April 6 and beyond

• Safe travels home
• A special outpouring of grace for everyone who served by honoring the Lord and loving the Dikgale community through this Outreach  
• Effective and timely follow-up to all who want to hear more about Yeshua as the Lord continues to establish His Kingdom in South Africa and develops healthy congregations, including here
• The Lord to continue working in this Limpopo Province of South Africa, bringing a great movement of His Holy Spirit among these dear people that spreads to other areas

Let’s Pray

Lord, we have asked, sought, and knocked for years, praying to do a full-scale Outreach in South Africa. You, and You alone, have opened the doors. Help us walk through them in awe and humility, completely trusting in You to do miracles, signs, and wonders everywhere we turn. Help us to love the wonderful people of Dikgale and see their lives changed by Your love and power. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Do you have an event that changed your life? Something that altered your whole trajectory, marking life in terms of Before and After for you? Many of us would say that coming to believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah is the most significant watershed moment in our personal lives. What about your family’s story? Is there something in the history of your ancestors that changed the course for future generations?

Passover was a defining moment in Israel’s history. The Children of Israel had been in slavery for hundreds of years when God delivered them by His mighty hand. He liberated the people He had chosen to be His own, calling them out of slavery to the land He had promised their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“This is a day you are to commemorate,” He said in Exodus 12:14. “For the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord — a lasting ordinance.”

Passover was such a momentous event in the history of Israel that the Lord commanded us to observe it every year throughout our generations as one of His moadim — His “appointed times.” Thousands of years later, we still do.

We observe Passover with a Seder, which means “order.” A Passover Seder is the carefully arranged service, set around a table, that commemorates the Passover and Exodus from Egypt. To guide us through the Seder, we use a Haggadah, a printed program outlining the retelling of our liberation. The word Haggadah means “telling,” a key element of our Passover celebration in obedience to the Lord’s command to tell our children its meaning. (See Exodus 12:24–27.)

The Lord commanded only a few foods for the Passover: roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8). Jewish tradition has expanded the Passover Seder to include meaningful symbolism that highlights the telling of our deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

In each of the biblical feasts the Lord instituted for Israel, there is a prophetic picture of future events in God’s larger redemptive plan. Passover reflects the images of Yeshua, who, thousands of years later, would become the sacrifice to deliver us from sin. The Seder elements point to Yeshua, even though the Jewish sages who added them didn’t believe in Him. Here are some of the ways we see Jesus in the Passover Seder.

The Lamb

The 10th and final plague God sent on Egypt was the death of the firstborn of every household. God told the Children of Israel how to be saved from the judgment of death. They were to kill the sacrificial lamb at twilight and paint its blood on the doorframes of their homes. That night, the Angel of Death would pass over every home under the covering of the blood, and spare those inside from death.

John the Immerser announced Yeshua as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29, 36). The apostle Paul identified Jesus as “our Passover,” sacrificed to save us from death — the price of sin. (See 1 Corinthians 5:7 and Romans 6:23).

“Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch — as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

— 1 Corinthians 5:7

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in [Messiah] Jesus our Lord.”

— Romans 6:23

Three Pieces of Matzah

We use three pieces of matzah, or unleavened bread, during the Passover Seder.  These three are stacked and kept together. In Jewish tradition, rabbis teach that they represent Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the fathers of the faith. Some rabbis say they represent the kingly line of Israel, the priestly line, and the people of Israel. For Messianic Jewish Believers, the three pieces of matzah can also be seen as the three expressions of the one God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yeshua came from Heaven to Earth to be “God with us” and bridge the gap between sinful humanity and God the Father. This becomes even more significant later in the Seder as the middle piece of matzah is broken, hidden away, and then returned.

Matzah

Matzah is unleavened bread. To make these large sheets of cracker-like flatbread, the dough is uniformly pierced before baking. In the oven, the matzah acquires spots of brown or black. When looking at the middle piece of matzah, with its lined piercings and its browning resembling bruises, it’s easy to see a picture of the Messiah who was pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and by whose stripes we are healed. (See Isaiah 53:5.)

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

— Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

— Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

Afikomen

Early in the Seder, we break the middle piece of matzah in two. The leader takes the larger piece, called the afikomen, wraps it in a cloth, and hides it in the house. Later, children search for the hidden afikomen. The Greek word afikomen generally means “coming after” and is typically interpreted as dessert. However, some biblical scholars believe there is reason to think it can also mean “I came.” The Seder is not complete until the afikomen is returned. When the children return it to the table, the host rewards them with a prize. Then, all at the table partake of the afikomen matzah again.

Like the afikomen, Yeshua’s body was “broken,” wrapped in grave clothes, and “hidden” away in the grave for three days. He returned victorious having won our redemption from slavery to sin. He then ascended to the Father and remains hidden away until His return when He will usher in the Age to Come and the fullness of God’s ultimate redemptive plan. At that time, our reward will be complete as we live for eternity with Him in His glorious kingdom.

Jesus in the Passover Seder

It's not surprising that God Almighty would place pictures of His forthcoming Messiah in the appointed times that He commanded ancient Israel to observe. From the foundation of the Earth, He knew humanity would need deliverance from sin, and He wove hints of His large-scale redemption plan throughout Israel’s history and the pages of Scripture. What is astonishing is that even some of the traditions added by Jewish rabbis and sages, who did not believe Yeshua was the Messiah, also points to Him as such.

The Lord is faithful and committed to showing Yeshua is the Messiah, and He longs for all Jewish people to come to know Him. For ancient Israel, He placed imagery of the Lamb of God in the Passover observance. For us today and all generations to come, He also oversaw the addition of new traditions that point to Yeshua as the Messiah.

Jesus in the Passover Seder — what a marvelous testimony to God’s power, intention, and love.

To learn more about Passover, to watch Rabbi Jonathan show you how to host a Seder meal, and download a free guide, visit jewishvoice.org/passover-2025

Passover is a one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates God’s mighty hand in delivering the children of Israel from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. For Messianic Jews, Passover is a time to remember and declare the wonders of Passover and also commemorate the gift of God’s grace in sending His Son Yeshua (Jesus) to deliver us from slavery and sin.  As the apostle Paul writes, Yeshua is our Passover lamb. Messianic Jews rejoice in the astonishing symbolism of Yeshua throughout the Passover celebration.

Passover is also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Passover Seder includes a special holiday meal. As commanded by God in Leviticus 23, Jewish people and Messianic Jews abstain from eating any yeast―or leaven―products during the week of Passover. Traditional Passover foods include roast lamb, beef brisket, matzah ball soup, fancy vegetables, and matzah kugels. And of course, there are delicious desserts, all made without using any yeast.

Whether you are Jewish or a Christian discovering your Jewish roots of New Covenant faith in Yeshua, we know the planning of your Passover meal is important. So, we’ve collected some recipes from our staff and put together a Passover menu and recipes for you to enjoy.  Chag Sameach! Happy Holiday.

1. Passover Beef Brisket

This recipe is a collaboration of memory and research. All but a few details were submitted by Angela Smith, Executive Assistant and Jewish Voice employee since 2009. Angela learned the recipe from a roommate’s mother who now lives in Israel.

• Begin the night/day before.
• This recipe adds uncooked rice for the final 20-30 minutes of cooking time for “something out of this world!”
• If you prefer not to use the wine, see the Marinade instructions for how to substitute.

Ingredients

• 5-7 pound boneless beef brisket
• 1-2 cups Chardonnay wine
• 1 package of Lipton Kosher Onion Soup Mix
• 1 24-oz bottle of kosher ketchup (Hunts is certified Kosher)
• 5 cups uncooked rice

Marinade

• Place ½ cup of Chardonnay in each of two plastic zipper bags*
• Add half of soup mix to each bag
• Seal bags and mix the contents together until evenly blended
• Cut brisket into two pieces and place one half into each bag of marinade. If there is not enough marinade to cover the meat, you can add more wine, seal the bags, and massage the contents until thoroughly covered.
• Marinate overnight, 12 hours or more
• *If you prefer not to use the wine, you can replace it with the ketchup – half a bottle in each bag – and just not add the ketchup later when the recipe calls for it

In a slow cooker**

• Place marinated meat and marinade in a slow cooker
• Add Ketchup
• Cook 6-8 hours on Low setting

**For conventional oven: place meat, marinade, and ketchup in a deep roasting pan. Cover, and bake in a 275-degree oven for 6-8 hours.

Add Rice

• For the last 20-30 minutes of cooking time.
• When meat is tender and falling apart, add 3.5 cups uncooked rice to the pot. Cover and cook for another 20-30 minutes until rice is fully cooked but not overdone.

2. Vegetable Kugel

Submitted by Elisangela Bernis, wife of Jewish Voice President and CEO, Jonathan Bernis. Jonathan’s mother, Fayanne, passed this family recipe on to Elisangela.

Ingredients

• 4 Matzos
• 2/3 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped onion (more if you like a lot of onion)
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 6 eggs
• 3/4 cup finely chopped flat parsley
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Grease a 2-quart baking pan
• Break matzos into pieces about the size of a quarter. In a large bowl, soak matzah pieces in water until soft. Squeeze water from matzah (this takes just a few moments) and return matzah to a dry bowl
• Sauté onion and celery in 1/3 cup oil until soft. Add mushrooms, sauté until they are soft. Add vegetable mixture to matzah
• Wipe out your cooking pan, and add the remaining oil. Heat until oil is hot, then add carrots. Sauté for 4 minutes, and add zucchini. Sauté until all are soft. Add carrots and zucchini to the matzah mixture
• Stir in eggs, parsley, salt, and pepper
• Pour into prepared pan
• Bake 30 minutes until brown on top

3. Sweet Apple-Raisin Kugel

Contributed by Sarah Weiner, former JVMI employee and editor of Jewish Voice Today magazine. Makes 12 servings.

Ingredients

• 12 oz. wide egg noodles kosher-for-Passover
• 4 apples, cored & thinly sliced (4 cups)
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 4 T. melted butter
• 2 c. apple juice
• 3/4 c. raw sugar
• 2 T. cinnamon
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1 c. raisins (pref. golden)
• Opt. 1/2 c. chopped nuts

Directions

• You can generally find “Kosher-for-Passover” noodles made from matzah flour at Passover time in most grocery stores. They are a bit heavier, so be sure to compensate with moisture in your recipes. Cook noodles according to directions, drain and pour into a greased 3 qt. glass baking dish. Toss gently with melted butter.
• Whisk together the eggs, apple juice, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix with apples and raisins and pour into the baking dish with noodles. Toss gently.
• Cover dish with foil and bake at 350 F. for 45 minutes.
• Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack 30 minutes. Serve warm, although some enjoy it at room temperature or cold right out of the refrigerator.

4. Roasted Sweetened Carrots

Submitted by Rabbetzin Sandie Zimmerman, wife of Rabbi Jack Zimmerman, Senior Rabbi of Tree of Life Messianic Congregation, and Jewish Voice staff member since 2004.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sliced Carrots(you can cut them in angled slices or lengthwise)
• 2 TB Melted Butter
• 1/3 cup Maple Syrup
• Sage
• Sea Salt
• Pepper

Directions

• In a mixing bowl, drizzle melted butter over sliced carrots and toss until evenly coated
• Drizzle Maple Syrup onto carrots and toss again
• Spread Carrots on a baking sheet
• Sprinkle with sage, sea salt, and pepper to taste
• Bake in a 400F oven for approximately 20 minutes, turning occasionally and carefully watching to prevent burning

5. Roasted Asparagus

Submitted by Rabbetzin Sandie Zimmerman, wife of Rabbi Jack Zimmerman, Senior Rabbi of Tree of Life Messianic Congregation, and Jewish Voice staff member since 2004.

Ingredients

• One Bunch of Asparagus
• 3-4 TB Ranch Salad Dressing or other creamy salad dressing
• Sea Salt
• Pepper
• Ideas for Optional Extras
• French’s French Fried Onions
• Pine Nuts
• Almonds
• Walnuts

Directions

• Trim bottoms of asparagus spears to remove tough, white ends
• Place salad dressing and asparagus in a zipper bag and toss until evenly coated
• Spread Asparagus on a baking sheet in one layer
• Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper to taste
• If desired, sprinkle one (or more) of additional items such as French Fried Onions or nuts
• Roast in a 400F oven for about 7 minutes or until al dente
• You must keep an eye on them so they do not burn!

6.Passover Pecan Bars

Submitted by Elisangela Bernis, wife of Jewish Voice President and CEO Jonathan Bernis.

Ingredients

Crust

• 1 cup matzo cake meal
• 1/2 cup matzo meal
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ground toasted pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large egg white
• Cooking spray

Filling

• 1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 5 large egg whites
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup flaked sweetened coconut
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• CRUST: Lightly spoon matzo cake meal and matzo meal into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine first 6 ingredients (matzo cake meal through salt), stirring with a whisk. Cut in 6 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 1 egg white, stirring just until moist. Coat a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Press mixture into an even layer in the pan. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool 15 minutes.
• FILLING: Combine first 8 ingredients (brown sugar through egg) in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Stir in coconut and pecans. Pour over the prepared crust. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until set. Cool to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Cut into bars. Makes 48 bars.

7. Matzah Toffee

This popular dessert was submitted by a number of Jewish Voice employees, so it must be a winner!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (not margarine)
• 1 cup sugar
• store-bought matzah
• 1 bag (2 cups) semi-sweet (or bittersweet) chocolate chips

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Completely cover 10 x 15 jelly roll pan with one layer of broken matzah pieces
• Put butter and sugar in a small pot over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently
• Boil for three minutes, stirring constantly
• Evenly pour mixture over matzah
• Bake for 12-15 minutes until toffee is golden brown and bubbly
• Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips
• Wait two minutes, then spread melted chocolate evenly over top
• Put pan in freezer for 20 minutes
• Break toffee into pieces, and enjoy!
• Store in plastic bag in refrigerator or freezer

8. Yummy Charoset

Former Jewish Voice Publications Editor Sarah Weiner contributed this delicous Passover Charoset (khar-O-set) recipe, and we think you’ll love it. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

• 4 red apples, finely chopped
• 2 t. honey
• 2-3 T. kosher wine (or Concord grape juice if preferred)
• Cinnamon to taste
• Optional: 1/4 c. chopped raisins and/or 2 T. chopped walnuts

Directions

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, cover & refrigerate. It will turn brown.
• I make huge amounts of charoset for the entire week of Unleavened Bread. My son would even take it to school every day for lunch with his matzah & Seder guests always left with a bowl.

9. Veggie Paté

This recipe makes a wonderful spread for matzah, and was contributed by Elisangela Bernis, Jonathan’s wife. Jonathan’s mother, Fayanne, passed this family recipe down to Elisangela.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 3 tbsp margarine
• 3 hard-cooked eggs
• 1/4 lb walnuts
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions

• Sauté mushrooms and onions until golden brown
• Process all in food processor
• Serve with matzah bread

10. Passover Matzah Pizza

Elisangela Bernis shares this favorite for breaking the matzah monotony. This familiar recipe is a good snack when you are running out of menu ideas in the middle of the week.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce
• 2 matzo crackers
• 1 pinch garlic salt
• 1 pinch dried oregano
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
• Spread marinara sauce on the pieces of matzo. Sprinkle garlic salt and oregano over the tomato sauce Cover with cheese, tomato slices, and olives. Place pizzas on cookie sheets
• Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), or until cheese has melted

11. Passover Rolls

Messianic Jewish evangelist and friend of Jewish Voice, Ronna Mathetes, contributed her favorite recipe for Passover Rolls from her Mom, Rena.

Ingredients

• 2 cups matzo meal
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup oil
• 4 eggs

Directions

• Combine meal, salt and sugar
• Bring oil and water to a boil. Add to matzo meal mixture
• Beat in eggs one at a time
• Let mixture stand for 15 minutes
• Oil hands with cooking oil so the dough doesn’t stick, then shape rolls
• Place on a well-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown

12. Matzah Ball Soup

Submitted by Rebbetzin Sandie Zimmerman, wife of Rabbi Jack Zimmerman, Senior Rabbi at Tree of Life Messianic Congregation and Jewish Voice staff member since 2004. Sandie doesn’t use written recipes but cooks from memory using recipes handed down to her from her and Jack’s grandmothers. This recipe admittedly uses some estimated or generalized measurements, estimated times, and a lot of “to taste.” That’s just how it is with some of the best cooks!

For this traditional Passover soup, you’ll need to begin the day before.

Ingredients

Broth

• Water
• Kosher whole chicken (or pieces) – Kosher tastes so much better
• 2-3 Whole or halved carrots
• 2-3 Whole or halved stalks of celery
• Turnip, cut into approximately 4 pieces (optional)
• Parsnip, cut into approximately 4 pieces (optional)
• Fresh Dill
• Kosher Salt
• Kosher Pepper
• Organic Chicken Broth (to have on hand in case you don’t get enough broth from the cooking, remembering that the matzah balls will absorb some of it)

Matzah Balls

• Mazto Meal
• Seltzer water
• Vegetable Oil
• Eggs

Directions Day Before:

Broth

• In a Dutch oven, place olive oil, whole or halved carrots, whole or halved celery, parsley, garlic, and dill to taste. Sauté vegetables for 3-4 minutes but don’t let them burn
• Fill the pot ½ way with water
• Add a whole chicken. You can also use chicken pieces equivalent to a whole chicken
• Slow cook for 8 hours
• Chicken will be falling off the bones
• Remove good chicken pieces and reserve for another use
• Strain broth into a clean container. Let cool, then refrigerate overnight
• If needed, add organic chicken broth to stretch your yield of broth
• Discard bones and strained solids

Matzah Balls

• Follow the directions for making matzah balls listed on the matzo meal packaging to make the size and number of matzah balls you desire, BUT substitute seltzer for the water. It makes the matzah balls nice and fluffy
• Moisten hands with cold water, and shape pieces of matzo ball mixture into balls of the desired size, usually a little smaller than a ping-pong ball, but this is up to your personal preference NOTE: Keep in mind that the smaller the matzo balls they more quickly they’ll absorb the broth once added to the soup
• Place matzah balls on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper, and refrigerate overnight so that they hold their shape

Directions Serving Day – No more than three hours before serving

• Remove broth from the refrigerator. Fat will have separated to the top. Skim and remove fat
• Place broth in pot or Dutch oven
• Add fresh, sliced carrots
• Season to taste with: fresh dill, kosher salt and pepper
• Bring soup to a boil
• Add Matzah balls. You can do this ahead and let them sit for a while, but don’t add them any earlier than three hours before serving so they don’t get too mushy
• Reduce heat to simmer soup. Cover and cook for 30 minutes until matzah balls are soft and fluffy

13. Nana’s Matzo Brei (Fried Matzah)

Submitted by Roz, a Yiddishe Momma who knows Yeshua. Roz is the mother of former JVMI employee Sarah Weiner. Serves Four.

Matzo Brie, also called Fried Matzah, is a Passover breakfast staple. It is basically matzah and egg fried together. This traditional dish is great anytime, but everyone really looks forward to Matzo Brei during Passover. You may add a little cinnamon to the egg batter for extra flavor, or get really creative and fry with onions, green peppers, or scallions.

Ingredients

• 4 Sheets of Matzah
• 4 eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Butter or margarine for frying

Directions

• Break the matzah into pieces in a bowl. Cover with water for a minute. Then squeeze out the water.
• In another bowl, beat egg with salt and pepper to taste and add to matzah and toss to coat. Be careful not break down the individual pieces you do not want it to be a batter!
• Heat frying pan with butter or margarine. Pour mixture into the pan. Brown one side, break up and turn, until entire batch is golden brown.
• Serve with sugar, honey, or preserves.

The First Thing – Uniting in Prayer to Oppose Antisemitic Hate

The Jewish festival of Purim is this week. This remarkable true story of God’s behind-the-scenes sovereignty and protection of His people is told in the Book of Esther. It recounts a devious plot of antisemitic hatred and how one woman’s courage helped save her people in a time of crisis.

All around us, we see evidence of hatred toward Jewish people. We want to be brave and have influence too, like Esther.

But what can we do? The first thing we can do is pray. And, as we pray, we can ask the Lord to show us how He wants us to act and respond.

Here are some ways you can pray right now:

Jewish Voice Ministries’ Southern Ethiopia Medical Outreach, in its last couple of days. Ethiopian Jewish people have long experienced antisemitism and, at times, very real and harmful persecution, including physical violence. Pray for the Lord to use Jewish Voice’s ministry there to have a lasting impact, bringing the salvation, love, and shalom (peace) of Yeshua (Jesus) not only to the Jewish people but to their neighbors as well.

Our Upcoming Outreach in South Africa. May we develop and, by God’s grace, sustain favorable relationships with those in authority at every level. May Jewish hearts be open to the Gospel, and others be open to learning more about God’s love and plans for the Jewish people. Watch for our next Prayer Points email, which will have more details on how to pray.

Love Your Jewish Neighbor. JVMI launched Love Your Jewish Neighbor in response to the extraordinary rise of antisemitism since October 7th. Love Your Jewish Neighbor equips followers of Jesus and churches with spiritual and practical tools to actively combat antisemitism. Rooted in Jesus’ teachings, the mission is to put love into action and stand with our Jewish neighbors locally and worldwide. By embodying love and compassion, we aim to build bridges of understanding through education and storytelling. You can learn more at loveyourjewishneighbor.com. Here’s how you can pray for this movement:

• That it will have real and positive impact and be a blessing to the Jewish people
• For wisdom regarding new strategies and avenues of influence as Love Your Jewish Neighbor reaches out to educate and inspire
• That more churches will be educated on antisemitism and why it’s important to stand with our Jewish neighbors and pray for them
• For fruitful partnerships with like-minded organizations
• That allies to the Jewish people would become more courageous and visible in their local communities, letting their light shine through acts of love in Yeshua
• That many would visit the loveyourjewishneighbor.com website, become educated, make use of the resources, and make a real difference in the lives of Jewish people they know

Let’s Pray

Lord, You had Your hand on Esther all along. When the time came, she had to make a choice: whether to act or not act. Thank You that she rose to the occasion. May we seek You, trust You, and do the same through our prayers and actions, for such a time as this! In Yeshua’s name, AMEN.