The statement below is from Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, an affiliate organization of Jewish Voice. Our organization agrees with the statement made below, and adopts it as our stance.

 On behalf of the UMJC, its member congregations and ministries,

We are grieved and outraged by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and the deaths of many other victims of racially motivated violence. We are moved to declare our solidarity with brothers and sisters in the black community. You are right to demand recognition as full, respected members of a free society. We hear your lament that injustices caused by systemic racism are no longer tolerable. We grieve with you as you recall the suffering of too many heartbroken families torn apart by repressive, unrelenting crimes of racial hate. We honor your continued calls for genuine justice, liberty and equality.

Yeshua our Messiah, quoting the Torah (Lev. 19:18), called us to love our neighbors as ourselves; but a man trying to justify himself asked him, “and who is my neighbor?” Yeshua proceeded to tell the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37), making clear that our obligation to love others extends far further than the boundaries of our own tribe or people.

We know this story and principle well, but how well do we implement it in our lives and in our congregations? Do we love in words only, or also in deeds?

We call on our fellow leaders in the Messianic Jewish community to reach out proactively to black church leaders, activists, organizers, and business leaders in our local communities. Now is the time to offer our listening ears, our feet, and our financial resources to support them in their time of grief and in their calls for justice, accountability, and reform. 

We are also moved to call for a time of introspection and repentance. We must all search our hearts in the sight of our almighty God and ask, “Have I stood idly by the blood of my neighbors? Do I bear in my heart any unconscious residue of racism? Have I ever responded in fear when love was called for instead?” 

As we listen and learn from our brothers and sisters in the black community, and from people of color within the Messianic Jewish community, we commit to honor one of the Torah’s weightiest commandments: “Justice, only justice, shall you pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20)

- UMJC Executive Committee

Long ago, if you asked a Jewish mystic about tikkun olam, he might tell you stories – beautiful stories of an inverted tree, suspended between heaven and earth, its roots drawing God’s goodness like sap that flows through the trunk and into the branches that stretch into our world. He might tell you a story of vessels so full of divine light that they burst and spread sparks across the earth. The mystic might say that it is up to each of us to repair the world (tikkun olam) by gathering these sparks.

In another time and place, you might speak with a Christian nun in her convent. She tells you of the struggle to find God’s justice in a changing world, not just criminal justice but justice for the poor – social justice. As you sit together, faces glowing with the colors of stained glass, she might tell you of her work among the poor. The nuns work to feed the hungry, but they also fight to improve lives of workers locked in dark factories with putrid air. They fight to change the oppressive structures that trap people in a cycle of poverty. The gospel is not just a comforting message but the power to change lives, she says.

In a place closer to home, these traditions converge. Black-skinned pastors march for the right to be treated as human beings in the country where their relatives were slaves. They are joined by rabbis carrying Torah scrolls who march because after thousands of years they still remember that they were slaves in Egypt. They march together because the soil of our nation cries out for justice, from the cotton fields worked by slaves with bloody hands to the trails marched by indigenous people driven from their homes. They march for people still trapped in a cycle of poverty and still denied justice.

“Legs are not lips and walking is not kneeling. And yet our legs uttered songs. Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying.”¹

Of course, neither of these traditions are creating the concept of justice out of whole cloth. They call back to the origin story of Genesis, a story of glorious creatures crafted from dust, a story of sin and banishment. They amplify the cry of the prophets to turn back to God, not by grand shows of religiosity but by properly treating those made in the image of God. They echo the teaching of a rabbi from Galilee that the poor and disabled were not born into such circumstances as a punishment for sin but as an opportunity for redemption. He radically included women, foreigners, criminals and sinners. He continued the prophetic tradition of a Day of the Lord that is far off and a work for justice that is needed now.

If we dismiss discussions of social justice as simply the talking points of a certain section of our political spectrum, we miss an opportunity to work toward the malchut hashamayim (Kingdom of Heaven). As a community that draws wisdom from both Jewish and Christian traditions as we seek to follow Messiah, we must lead the way in answering the prophetic call for justice.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Last week was Shavuot/Pentecost – a time of celebration and a time to reflect on our faith. At the same time, we continue to deal with the pandemic and other tragic events that are headlining the news.

We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit across Israel, the United States and our world. So many are hurting. There is anger. Fear. Despair.

It is more important than ever to be witnesses for Jesus our Messiah – as the verse says above – to the ends of the earth. And that starts in your home and your community. Love and encourage others. Offer hope. Share your faith. And be in prayer.

There are some interesting developments in the news this past week related to Israel. Please read about them below and continue to lift all of this up to our Lord.

SAUDI ARABIA VIEW OF ISRAEL SHIFTS DRAMATICALLY

For decades, the Arab world maintained an intense hostility toward Israel along with a widespread belief that “Palestine” must be liberated at all costs. But this belief is changing in Saudi Arabia.

“Today, the public is informed. There is a deluge of opinions against the Palestinian cause,” explained Saudi writer Abdulhameed Al-Ghobain in an interview this month with BBC Arabic, according to Israel Today.

And concerning how Saudi Arabia views its relationship with Israel, Al-Ghobain said, “It is no longer just public support for normalization and building ties with Israel. Our public has turned against the Palestinians in general.”

This is a dramatic change that seems to stem from strategic national interests becoming the top priority for Saudi Arabia.

“It is in our strategic interest, and in keeping with our future economic interests, to maintain real relations with Israel,” says Al-Ghobain. “Israel is an advanced country and we can benefit from it.”

It comes down to many in the Arab world realizing what many in Israel have said all along: a Palestinian state, especially one heavily influenced by Hamas, will only further destabilize the region.

For the past nine weeks, as the coronavirus upended the world with fear, stay-at-home mandates, financial loss and isolation, we’ve turned to Scripture for the hope we each need to endure rough times. The world is opening back up at last after the global pandemic. People are emerging to resume life, perhaps somewhat timidly, and wondering how we will fare as things work their way back to “normal” – whatever that will look like now. We still need God’s hope – every day.

Some common themes ran through these nine weekly devotional series, all written by different Jewish Voice staff members. Through these varied voices, God encouraged us to find hope amid trials by:

• Giving thanks, being grateful, and searching for joy
• Remembering our great salvation and the sacrifice of Yeshua (Jesus) for us
• Praising and worshiping God
• Fixing our eyes on Jesus and dwelling on the good
• Looking to the ultimate fulfillment of our hope – the great future that awaits us in heaven
• Lifting our eyes off ourselves and reaching out to serve others – by praying for others, extending grace and searching for ways to encourage and bless others.

All of these bring hope and joy into our experience. They lift our spirits and refocus our hearts on the good that is all around us, even in the midst of suffering, hardship or tedious waiting.

We learned a lot over the last nine weeks as each author presented devotions from different books of the Bible. Here’s a brief review of some of the strength-giving, hope-inducing truths brought to light.

Hope from the book of Jeremiah

From Jeremiah, we saw that even when everything seems dark, asleep or dead, God is attentive and ready to accomplish His promises. We learned that we can cling to God’s unchanging character even amid drastically changed circumstances. We found hope in the reassurance that God can and will visit us in our personal “prisons,” be they our homes, anxieties, loss or our awareness that we’ve been living far from Him.

Hope from the book of Exodus

Through Exodus, we learned that we can rest in the fact that even when we feel lost, God knows the way, and He offers guidance through difficult times. We take hope that, though we are susceptible to placing our hope in false things, God is faithful and continues to reveal Himself as worthy of our trust and hope. We saw that living with an intentional awareness of His presence brings us joy, hope and peace.

Hope from the book of Revelation

We found Revelation filled with hope for both our heavenly future and today. We saw that we need not fear because Jesus is our hope and encouragement, and He has already overcome. We overcome by His finished work on our behalf and proclaiming what He’s done in our lives. We experience victory and lifted spirits when we worship God and hope when we fix our eyes on the fullness of Heaven awaiting us.

Hope frOm the book of James

James invited us to see trials and hardships as opportunities to grow closer to God. We were reminded that wisdom is ours for the asking and that patiently enduring trials produces blessing. We saw how a time like this can show us what is essential and to let those things push aside the non-essentials of life. We were encouraged to look for joy.

Hope from the book of Philippians

From Philippians, we learned that abiding in Messiah empowers us to experience the life-giving fruits of His Spirit in all situations. We saw that no circumstance can remove us from God's love and, in clinging to it, it is powerful enough to sustain us amid suffering. We find peace and joy in casting our concerns on God and dwelling on His good gifts, and we can rejoice that God uses even the most difficult times to advance His Good News.

Hope from the book of Isaiah

Looking at the book of Isaiah, we see that though God’s timetable for resolving our trials may be different than ours, He is trustworthy. God promises to provide for us, guide and strengthen us. He uses the fires of purification to remove worthless things from our lives to make room for the good He wants to bring. God invites us to rest in Him, recognizing that our deepest needs can only be satisfied in Him.

Hope from the book of Romans

Romans teaches us that God is a God of hope, able to fill us with all joy and peace as we believe and trust Him. Through Romans, we saw that God’s hope sustains our faith by grace and despite our circumstances. We discovered that we can choose hope over despair because we serve a promise-keeping God. We learned that hope is even stronger when it is braided together with joy, patience and prayer.

Hope from the book of Ephesians

Ephesians reveals that God’s deep love for us is the same amid difficulty as it is during ease. We see that His will is for us to rejoice, pray and give thanks. We were encouraged to clothe ourselves now with the Word and His spiritual armor in preparation for when unsuspected battles for our peace or focus come. We see that our worth is grounded in Jesus, who is the awesome, powerful ruler of all things.

Hope from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah

These books show that God has hope for us today, the near future and eternity. The strength of our hope rests in God’s faithfulness, and even in seasons of waiting, we can live with expectant hope for the good future He is even now working to produce. We were reminded that opposition will come, but as we build our lives on God, seek His Word and use the tools He’s given us, we rest on an unshakeable Rock.

Taking hope with us every day

These truths are not just for times of world crisis. They will help us get through personal crises, both major and minor. The hope we discovered over these past weeks is hope that we can – and need to – carry with us into each day. The Scripture is full of God’s hope, joy and peace. Stay in it. Go to it often, searching for Him and His goodness. As you do, you will discover deeper layers of His trustworthiness, His love and His power to see you through all things with joy. May you carry His unshakeable hope with you each and every day.

Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It was fifty days after God had delivered the Israelites from slavery to Egypt, calling them out to be a nation of His own. When He gave them His Law, He drew them deeper still into relationship with Him. The people of Israel received His Word and committed to following Him. As we receive God’s Word, we receive Him.

Scripture tells us that the Word of God is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12) and is infused with His Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16a). Through it, we get to know our God. His Word sees into our souls, delivering hope, redemption and spiritual food to sustain and mature us. It teaches us how to walk in the newness of life He has given.

God’s Word:

• Instructs us how to live lives pleasing to God (2 Timothy 3:16b, Hebrews 11:6)
• Conveys His love for us (Romans 5:8, Ephesians 3:17–19)
• Strengthens us by reminding us of His power within us (Philippians 4:13)
• Lifts our spirits when life is hard, reminding us that He has overcome the world (John 16:33)
• Assures us that He has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11)
• Encourages us that He makes all things beautiful in time (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and turns all things good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28)

For Believers, Shavuot is also a celebration of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit, poured out on early Believers on the Shavuot after Yeshua’s death and resurrection (Acts 2). Since that day, God gives His Holy Spirit to dwell within each person who accepts Jesus as the promised Messiah, placing their faith in His sacrificial death for our sins and His resurrection from the dead (Romans 10:9).

The Hebrew for the Holy Spirit is Ruach HaKodesh. The New Covenant uses the Greek word paraclete, which means “called to one’s side.” It indicates that the Holy Spirit is our helper and comforter, our advocate and intercessor.

The Holy Spirit comes alongside us and is active in our lives, working in a variety of ways.

The Holy Spirit:

• Is our teacher, guiding us into all truth (John 16:13)
• Is the guarantee of our inheritance, a pledge given on the promise that we are sealed eternally as belonging to God (Ephesians 1:13)
• Testifies that we are children of God such that we can call Him “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15–16)
• Reveals what God has given to us so that we can come to know the fullness of life in Messiah (1 Corinthians 2:12)
• Intercedes for us, helping us learn how to pray as we should and intervening on behalf of our weakness (Romans 8:26–27)
• Empowers us with the strength to do God’s will (Galatians 5:16)
• Bears beautiful fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22–24)

Through God’s Word and His Spirit, we have unending access to His presence, wisdom, and transforming power. Shavuot, for Believers, celebrates each of these magnificent gifts.

This Shavuot, set aside some time to reflect on and thank God for the priceless gifts He has given to you through the Scriptures and His Spirit dwelling inside you.

Shavuot marks the end of a season of anticipation. It is a harvest festival and one of three pilgrimage feasts of the Jewish year. For such holidays, each physically able, adult Jewish male was to travel to Jerusalem to present his offering. In the case of Shavuot, he offered the first of his barley harvest.

Jewish tradition teaches that God gave the Torah (the Law) to His people at Mount Sinai on the date of Shavuot. The Israelites had been freed from 400 years of slavery as a people. They traveled through the Middle Eastern desert on their way to a Land they’d never seen with a God they were getting to know in a whole new way. Their time in the wilderness must have been filled with anticipation. What would the coming days bring?

Then, God called them to gather at the base of Mount Sinai, and He showed Himself in thunder, lightning and smoke. When Moses came down from meeting with Him, he brought God’s Torah, or instruction. Through it, God revealed Himself to the Israelites and set them apart as His own people. It was a day that changed their relationship with Him.

The Hebrew word “Shavuot” means “weeks,” and so, the holiday is also called The Feast of Weeks. In Leviticus 23, God told the Israelites that when they settled into the Promised Land and had produced crops, they were to begin observing the Feast of Shavuot. Its date was figured by counting seven Sabbaths plus one day – or 50 days – from the day after the Shabbat that follows Passover (Leviticus 23:15–16). Once observance began in Israel’s history, each year, as the counted days passed, God’s people anticipated both the new harvest and their journey to the holy city to present their offerings.

Today, Shavuot is a time of celebrating the gift of the Torah. Many Jewish people stay up all night reading it with family and friends. When Shavuot morning dawns, they pray together and read the Ten Commandments.

In the biblical Feasts, God placed pictures of future events related to His plan to redeem the world.  After His resurrection and before His ascension to Heaven, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the empowering that would come to them when God gave the Helper Jesus had mentioned. Day by day, they counted and waited, not knowing exactly what was next. Then, God imparted the Holy Spirit to them. On that miraculous day, they spoke in languages they didn’t know, and 3,000 people were saved.

What the Christian church knows as Pentecost (“pente” meaning 50), happened on Shavuot – 50 days after Jesus was raised from the dead. It was the fulfillment of God’s promise through the prophet Jeremiah to write His Law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:32) and, through Ezekiel, to put His Spirit within us (Ezekiel 36:27).

When God first gave His Torah, He wrote it on tablets of stone. On Shavuot in the first century, He wrote it on our hearts by giving His Spirit to live inside those who believe in Jesus. And it changed our relationship with Him. He no longer resides in pillars of fire and cloud or dwells in a physical Temple. He has made His home in our hearts – He is always with us, never to leave us.

As Believers, Shavuot offers us the opportunity to celebrate both God’s Word and His Spirit. Through both gifts, we can know our God. His Word reveals who He is, and His Spirit guides us into all truth (Hebrews 1:1–2, John 16:13). And there remains much to anticipate in our daily relationship with God as we engage with Him through these two tremendous gifts.

This is an urgent call to prayer for an amazing event, coming up immediately!

This year, we experienced a Passover like never before. The whole world was behind closed doors, praying for protection from a “plague.” As a result, Believers have been connecting globally through technology to worship, pray, seek the Lord and declare the Lord’s blessing over their cities and nations.

But what’s next? The Lord spoke to Rabbi Jonathan Bernis regarding Shavuot and Pentecost’s significance, which are next on God’s timetable for this year. He laid an idea on Rabbi Jonathan’s heart for an extraordinary television and streaming event – one that could draw Believers together, turn attention to the Lord in seeking Him for unity and revival, and stir the Church toward God’s heart for Israel.

As Rabbi Jonathan contacted friends to see if they were interested in participating, he was overwhelmed by their enthusiastic responses and the sense that this is from the Lord. This special event, A NIGHT OF PROMISE, will air Friday and Saturday evenings, May 29 and 30, on networks and stations across the US and beyond — and will be streaming on Facebook and other platforms.

We feel the weight of this potent opportunity, and we are filled with expectant anticipation for how the Lord will use it at this appointed time.

Will you join us in interceding? Please pray before the event; pray when you tune in, and pray “rear-guard prayers” afterward. This is an enormous opportunity!

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT…

• There is a unique worldwide call from the Lord in this season, coinciding with the convergence of Shavuot and Pentecost

• God is calling the Body to unity and revival

• He desires to impart greater understanding and opportunity across the global Body of Believers regarding standing with Israel

• As we come together and answer His call, He is pouring out His Spirit

. . . PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR:

• An anointing from the Lord on this event and everyone participating
• Protection from the spiritual battle over this initiative that is seeking to help people understand and partner with God's heart for Israel and the Jewish people
• Special protection in the areas of communication, equipment, technology, relationships and health
• Every aspect of the event to come together perfectly and accomplish God’s will
• Unity of the Spirit among everyone involved, leading to unity throughout the Body
• Many people to be blessed and drawn deeper into partnership with God's heart for Israel
• God to ignite revival across the globe
• An outpouring of tangible support that will deeply impact Israel as Believers worldwide answer the call to bless in this time of need

We pray:

LORD, the world is full of division and fear, but Your righteous plans and beautiful promises remain the same. Would You continue calling the Body to attention through this season and this event, to look to You for an outpouring of Your Spirit? May we trust in You, love one another, and partner with You in Your love for the Jewish people and their neighbors in Israel. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.