Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

We regret to inform you, our faithful supporters, that as of the end of this month we will no longer have a compassion project in Tel Aviv.  Our partners in Tel Aviv, Agape, are no longer continuing this work.  We searched for other partners, however, while we were searching God provided other opportunities to bring compassion to Israel.

Tzfat is a city on a hill with an elevation of 900 meters

As we close one project, we are opening several others.  Two weeks ago we announced the grand opening of our new compassion center in Nazareth Illit.  This week we opened what would have been our tenth compassion project in the town of Tzfat.  Tzfat is literally a city on a hill, and with an elevation of 900 meters, is the highest city in Israel.  You can read more about the rich historical significance of Tzfat on Wikipedia by clicking here.  Tzfat's population of 32,000 is 99% ethnically Jewish.

This week we also signed the lease on a new store front in Hadera.  We have been providing food cards (to purchase food at local stores) for 17 families in this city of 80,000 along the Mediterranean coast.  According to the welfare office, there are 12,000 needy families in this city.  With our new store front, we will be able to supplement our food distribution with the availability of clothing and other household items.  We will have the grand opening of the Hadera center after Passover.

The Compassion Team is responsible for all of Jacob's Hope's projects in Israel, but they are funded independently of Jacob's Hope.  Without their guidance and hard work, many of the opportunities we have to work with local congregations and municipalities would not be available.  It is important to us to have their oversight on the ground.  They are currently raising support for a second term in Israel, but we can't afford to have the work we began together in Israel be interrupted in order for them to return to the States for an extended period of time (to raise the support they need to live there).  Please prayerfully consider supporting this family directly at https://giving.ag.org so they can continue with this important work we have started together.

New Projects and Purim Celebrations!

Mishloach Manot

Jewish people around the world celebrated Purim, on Sunday February 24.  Purim is the Jewish holiday which commemorates the events found in the book of Esther.  It is tradition in Israel to dress-up in costumes and give gifts of candy or food and drinks called Mishloach Manot.  Along with our partners, Rivers of Living Waters, the Compassion Team of Jacob's Hope gave out 200 Mishloach Manot gifts to less fortunate children in the Northern Israeli cities of Karmiel, Hatzor HaGilit, Tzfat, Nazareth Elite and Akko. 

Hatzor HaGilit

While Judith and I were in Hatzor, we were able to see the small distribution center Rivers of Living Waters is currently running out of a small room in someone's apartment.  We got to hear about the needs in this city and the municipalities desire to bring our help to their town.  It is our desire to work with Rivers of Living Waters, and the municipality of Hatzor HaGalit, to find a larger location where we can make more items available and assist a greater number of people.  We were told that even those who live above the poverty line here, struggle to pay their bills and provide for their families.

Donated Building in Tzfat

We have just begun work in two other Northern cities, in partnership with Rivers of Living Waters.  In the town of Tzfat, the municipality has donated the use of a bomb shelter where we can distribute food and clothing.  Also in the town of Nazareth Elite, a building is being donated by a private citizen so that we can distribute food and clothing in that community.  We are currently working to renovate these buildings so be on the lookout for us to officially begin these new projects soon!

The Compassion Team is responsible for all of Jacob's Hope's projects in Israel, but they are funded independently of Jacob's Hope.  Without their guidance and hard work, many of the opportunities we have to work with local congregations and municipalities would not be available.  It is important to us to have their oversight on the ground.  They are currently raising support for a second term in Israel, but we can't afford to have the work we began together in Israel be interrupted in order for them to return to the States for an extended period of time (to raise the support they need to live there).  Please prayerfully consider supporting this family directly at https://giving.ag.org so they can continue with this important work we have started together.

Moving forward with our Eighth Project

Packing Bags for Distribution

As many of you may have deduced, Jacob's Hope has an eighth project in Israel. We have joined with "Love for the Needy," our partners in K'far Saba, to begin a food distribution in the city of Hadera.  Love for the Needy distributes bags of food to 17 families in Hadera and Jacob's Hope currently is supplementing these bags with "food vouchers" that can be used at a local grocery store to buy meat, fish and fresh produce. Additionally, we are working with a local congregation to find a small storefront we can rent, where we will be able to make clothing and household items available to the 12,000 people in this city living below the poverty line.  The total population of Hadera is 77,000, 99% Jewish and other non-Arab, and has a significant number of immigrants from Ethiopia.  

Last week I was able to help put together the bags for distribution and joined a small group to deliver some of these bags. We were invited in to the home of a Russian-speaking woman who's children were adults, but are not in the position to assist their mother financially.  This woman was being visited by her sister when we entered with the bags of food.  Although their Hebrew was still basic, we were able to communicate our concern for her welfare. Her sister sat and watched us quietly as we asked this women about her needs and offered to pray for her physical aliments. After we prayed, I looked up at the sister and saw she was crying. She was very touched and appreciative of the love and concern we showed for her sister. It means so much to these families to see that someone cares, and it gives them hope.

Rivers of Living Water

This is an excerpt from a newsletter we received from our partners, Rivers of Living Waters.  We work with them in Ma'alot and Karimel:

Dear brothers and sisters in Messiah, shalom from "Rivers of Living Water, Israel"

You all probably know about the war that our nation went through. In all these events that have happened for the last month we can testify of the supernatural protection and faithfulness of our God. He is still the Mighty God of Israel! More than 1000 rockets were sent to the central and southern cities and settlements in Israel: especially to Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beer-Sheva and even Tel-Aviv area. All this time as a congregation we were standing in prayer, holding special prayer meetings, people were led by the Holy Spirit to come to the church every day and intercede before the Lord in such a critical time. Many miracles happened. God literally protected His people.

Passover Outreach in Karmiel

As the war situation came to the end we held a special outreach (food project) where about 200 unbelievers came. We ministered to these people through songs, poems, testimonies, prayed for them, comforted them, shared God's love, care and peace that only God can give even in the midst of the storm. Many were touched and drown closer to God; some opened their hearts to receive Yeshua as their Messiah. How good is our God! We thank all our friends and partners for supporting the work of the Lord, especially “Tikvat Yakov” [Jacob's Hope] Organization for donating funds for this project.

In this time we feel such an urgency to intensify prayer and intercession for the salvation of people in Israel for them to realize that the only hope in this life is the Lord, for the eyes to be opened and the veil to be removed from the hearts that they may see their Messiah Yeshua. For that purpose November, 30th we had a 12-hour prayer marathon. It was like a chain of believers (each one praying for an hour)....

School Supply Initiative

Our compassion center in K’far Saba recently reached out to the absorption center in Ashkelon where a number of Ethiopians have arrived in recent months. Absorption centers help new immigrants get on their feet in Israel, often providing temporary housing and Hebrew classes as well as other forms of assistance.

Our partners, “Love to the Needy,” was able to provide backpacks and school materials to the children of these new immigrant families in Ashkelon.  In the coming months, we are looking to contribute to this initiative, helping needy families in Ashdod, K’far Saba and Maalot, by providing school bags, notebooks and writing tools to ensure their financial needs do not hinder their children’s education. The compassion we are able to share with these needy people is not only making an impression on them, but also on those who work in agencies, like the absorption centers and municipalities, who work with those in need.

The following was compiled from two letters sent to our partners Love to the Needy, from the Ashkelon absorption center.

To those who give through Jacob’s Hope, love to the needy:

Immigrant families living in Ashkelon came to Israel from Ethiopia in recent months. Most of these families are large families living on assistance from the Ministry of Absorption. These families are facing many economic difficulties: buying medicines, compulsory education, rent and payments, electricity, water and gas, food and clothing while supporting their families that remain in Ethiopia...

...We thank you heartily and welcome this initiative and the substantial donation - school bags, notebooks and writing tools. Everything was distributed to children for the opening of academic year and you made these families very glad. It is very difficult dealing with immigration and adjusting to life in Israel.

Thank you for caring and for your involvement in the community.

Ashkelon Absorption Center

How Can You Help?

We still need to raise another $1,000 in monthly commitments in order to reach the modest budget that was set for our living expenses in Israel. Please pray about making a monthly financial commitment so we can continue to do this work in Israel.  

Click here to make a financial commitment to our work in Israel.

Chag Sameach!

That's Hebrew for happy holidays! As Jewish people around the world celebrate their redemption from slavery and bondage in the land of Egypt and Christians celebrate their redemption from the bondage of sin in the resurrection of the Messiah, I would like to remind everyone of the unique work we are doing in the Land of Israel.
We are opening compassion centers where the needy people of Israel can come for food and clothing, donated by Christians around the world, without the pressure of religious persecution. Although we believe the way to eternal salvation is through the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus), and desire that all people would take part of that salvation, we do not believe in coercing others or forcing our beliefs on them.
We believe in sharing the love Yeshua demonstrated while on Earth to all people, planting the seeds of love if you will, and allowing God's Holy Spirit to work within the hearts we touch. We have a special desire to show this love to the Jewish people from which the Messiah and salvation came to all people. We target areas with many needy Jewish people, but we do not close our doors to other cultures or faiths, such as Sudanese refuges, Christians or Muslims.
We currently have six compassion centers in Israel with a desire to open more, but we need your help to continue the work we started. Please consider supporting our work in Israel by donating at this link:
CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Purim Outreaches

Last month we had three outreaches to children and their families as Israel celebrated Purim, from the book of Esther. These outreaches were in the Northern Israel cities of Akko, Maalot and Karmiel, in partnership with Rivers of Living Water. We were very encouraged by the considerable turnout as we were able to touch the lives of many needy children and adults.

Youth from the local congregations performed and mishloach manot, gifts of sweets, were given to 200 children. Most of the people who attend these outreaches are not believers in Yeshua, Jesus, but they were all touched by the performances and kindness shown by their hosts from Rivers of Living Waters. They are asking questions and receiving salvation through Yeshua because of your prayers and financial support. Please continue to pray for the people here in Israel, and for those who are sharing God's love throughout the Land of Israel.

Next month we will have more outreaches for Passover in Akko, Mallot, Karmiel and Kiryat-Shmona, as well our normal monthly distributions and a special Passover food distribution in Tel Aviv. You can support these ministries by clicking here to donate.