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

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

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

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

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

Shalom, my friend. 

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

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

ISRAELI BORDER POLICE OFFICER SHOT BY HAMAS TERRORIST

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

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

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

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

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES TARGET HAMAS WEAPONS SITES

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

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

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

FOURTH WAVE MARKS RECORD FOR COVID-19 INFECTIONS

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

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

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

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

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

Let us pray together

Please pray with me for:

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

Thank you so much for participating in Jewish Voice’s Operation 1226 this week. As you join with us in praying for Jewish people, Israel and the work of Jewish Voice, know that your prayers truly matter, and we are grateful.

Please watch a short video message from Jonathan Bernis, President and CEO of Jewish Voice, as he shares what the Lord has placed on his heart.

Rosh Hashanah, the first of the Jewish Fall Feasts, begins September 6 at sunset. This feast is widely celebrated among the Jewish people as the Jewish New Year. It is also called the Feast of Trumpets, where the blowing of the shofar signifies a wake-up call for repentance and restoring our relationship with God.

After Rosh Hashanah, there are other important Jewish Feasts on the calendar:

Yom Kippur: The holiest day on the Jewish calendar — a day of somber reflection in which we seek atonement for our sins before the Lord. This has been a dark year for so many — this will be a wonderful opportunity to seek assurance of His loving kindness towards us.

Sukkot: A time to remember the Lord's constant presence and provision for the Israelites in the desert following their exodus from Egypt. Sukkot also celebrates looking ahead to when Yeshua (Jesus) returns to regather His elect from the four corners (Matthew 24:31).

And then we celebrate another important event as winter approaches:

Chanukah: An eight-day holiday to commemorate the rededication of the Temple and the miracle of the oil for the lampstand lasting eight days. These Festivals have a special place in the lives of Jewish people throughout history. They’ve been a light of restoration and hope through the ages. And they can be for you today. My second reason for writing is to ask you to send a gift during the Jewish holidays — a gift that will help share the light and hope of Jesus the Messiah with Jewish people.

There’s no better way to demonstrate your heart and compassion for Israel and the Jewish people than to bless them with the Good News of eternal life. You'll help us earn the right to share that life-transforming message through providing physical care. When you give, you’ll also help meet our goal of raising $419,400 between now and the end of Chanukah!

No matter when or how much you give, your support will provide:

• Much-needed medical, dental and eye care for Jewish people in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe
• Resources and critical support to Holocaust survivors, immigrants and other Jewish people in need in Israel
• Outreach through our partnerships with Messianic congregations and ministries helping Jewish people around the world
• Opportunities to share the hope of Jesus the Messiah with Jewish communities in remote and desolate areas around the world

What a difference you can make through your support!

As you receive this email, we are on the threshold of our Jewish Voice Ministries staff Week of Prayer and Fasting, August 30 to September 3. This year, we have invited you to join us by participating in Operation 1226, an initiative to fill the week not only with our staff’s prayers but with those of our partners as well. You can learn more and sign up to participate.

Each year, our staff takes two weeks, one in the fall and another in the spring, to spend extended time together in worship and prayer. We praise the Lord for what we’ve seen Him do in the previous months and intercede for current projects, initiatives and upcoming Outreaches. We pray for you, our partners, and for others who minister alongside us. We also fast together as we seek His face and “inquire of the Lord,” as Scripture exhorts us, for the future. It’s a time of personal refreshment, corporate encouragement, and revelation and enlightenment as the Lord meets with us in powerful ways. 

As we approach this fall’s week with the Lord, we feel a particular sense of urgency and desire. In addition to participating in Operation 1226 and praying with us, here are some ways you can pray for us:

• That we come into the Week of Prayer and Fasting with hearts prepared to meet with the Lord
• That we experience the Lord’s presence  in each worship and prayer time and the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit  flow freely
• For each team member to hear from the Lord for themselves personally, regarding their unique ministry roles and for the ministry as a whole
• For a corporate witness among our leadership and other team members regarding what the Lord is saying to us in this season – and even for breakthrough in some of the things we’ve been waiting on Him for
• That the Lord would deeply affect us, speak to us, and profoundly prepare us for the assignments He has given us: to proclaim the Gospel to the Jew first, grow the Messianic Jewish community, and engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people

Let’s Pray
Lord, we are deeply aware that we need You and can do nothing apart from You. We know that in these weeks of worship, fasting and prayer, You make Yourself known in ways that envision, embolden and empower us for the seasons ahead. May this time be transformational as we place our trust and faith in You for the days and years to come beyond this Week of Prayer and Fasting so that we will be ready – a people prepared – to be who You call us to be, to go where You say to go, and to do all You call us to do! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

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

Shalom, my friend. 

Because you’re a true friend and partner who is willing to pray fervently and give generously in support of Israel and the Jewish people, I’m hoping I can count on you again. As I write, we’re seeing a significant escalation of tensions in Israel – with hostilities from Hezbollah along Israel’s northern border, and more activity from Iran. 

Please join with me and all of us at Jewish Voice Ministries International as we continue to pray for God’s intervention, peace and the safety of God’s people. 

HEZBOLLAH CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR LARGEST ROCKET ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL SINCE 2006

Last Friday morning, the sirens in northern Israel came to life as a barrage of rocket fire was launched from Lebanon. Israeli residents within communities near Israel’s northern border were forced to take shelter from the attack.

When the dust settled, The Times of Israel reported there were no casualties from the 19 rockets. We are grateful for the Lord’s protection in this situation.

The Hezbollah terror group claimed responsibility for the attack – the largest in scale since 2006. The Jerusalem Post also reported that Hezbollah released a statement claiming the attack was in response to the Israel Air Force airstrikes carried out early Thursday morning after Palestinian operatives fired three rockets towards the northern city of Kiryat Shemona on Wednesday.

The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) had initially retaliated Wednesday by firing some 100 artillery shells towards the launch sites and later carried out airstrikes.

According to The Times of Israel, Friday’s attack included ten rockets that were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, six that landed in open territory and a final three rockets that failed to clear the border and landed in Lebanese territory.

No one is eager for there to be any additional escalation of hostilities – potentially leading to an all-out war. 

According to The Jerusalem Post, Brig. Gen. Ran Kohav, of the IDF, told reporters that “No side wants war but, on the other hand, we will not accept that this continues: that every two to three weeks there is firing towards the North.”

The Times of Israel also reported that the Hamas terror group expressed its “full support” for Hezbollah’s decision to launch rockets at the “Zionist enemy,” saying, “The battle with this enemy must remain an open one until [Israel] disappears.” 

Currently, Israel has conveyed to Lebanon via United Nations peacekeepers that it could intensify its response if calm is not returned to the border.

ATTEMPTED HIJACK OF THE ASPHALT PRINCESS TANKER THWARTED BY CREW, U.S. AND OMANI WARSHIPS

Early last week, according to The Times of Israel, five or six Iranian gunmen attempted to take control of the Asphalt Princess tanker and divert its course to the Islamic Republic.

As the Iranian operatives stormed the tanker, reports indicate the crew quickly sprung to action and sabotaged the ship’s engines so that it could not move any further.

The gunmen fled the ship once US and Omani warships arrived at the scene. None of the crew was injured in the hijacking attempt.

The Times of Israel last week indicated that no one has taken responsibility for the brief seizure, which underscored mounting tensions as Iran and the United States seek a resolution to their standoff over Tehran’s tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

This attempted hijack comes on the heels of another incident two weeks ago when a suspected Iranian drone attack on Israeli-linked Mercer Street tanker left a British national and a Romanian dead. 

Such an attack, according to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, is an intentional, “destabilizing action of Iran.”

Ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan also said concerning the attack, that this is another opportunity for Security Council members to identify the “pivotal role the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has played in sowing violence and destruction in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world.”

ISRAEL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS BRIEFS AMBASSADORS OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL – CALLING ON THEIR SUPPORT TO STOP IRANIAN TERROR AND AGGRESSION

According to the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defense Benny Gantz and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid hosted ambassadors of United Nations Security Council member countries for a briefing in Jerusalem last Wednesday (August 4, 2021). 

This briefing is part of the larger national effort of the State of Israel to call on the international community to condemn and stop Iranian terror and aggression in the region – sparked specifically by the recent Mercer Street tanker attack and the attempted hijacking of the Asphalt Princess.

Following the briefing, Minister Gantz and Minister Lapid issued a joint statement:

“During the past week, Israel has acted in all possible diplomatic and security channels in order to call on the international community to set clear boundaries for Iran and to cease its aggressive conduct. The Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized to the ambassadors that Israel will maintain the right to act independently in the face of any attack or threat to its citizens and sovereignty. They further stressed that the recent attacks are not part of a local or bilateral conflict – rather that this is an attack on the international community, and that the community should treat it as such and respond. Such action requires unity within the international community, and action may be taken through the UN Security Council or any other international framework that will hold Iran accountable for its actions.”

Minister Gantz also emphasized, “The Iranian people are not our enemy. The Iranian regime is threatening us and sparking a regional arms race.”

Let us pray together

Please pray with me for:

• The ceasing of hostile escalations between Hezbollah and Israel 
• Protection for Israeli families and residents along Israel’s northern border 
• God’s intervention in the midst of the diplomatic discussion about Iran and their destabilizing effect on Israel and the world
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah