“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
3 John 1:2 (NIV)
Shalom!
Weeks ago, before the words “coronavirus,” “pandemic” and “social distancing” became part of our daily language, you could turn on the news at any time and hear what was going on in Israel. Now, everyone is so focused on their own slice of the world that Israel barely gets a mention.
We at Jewish Voice are still paying close attention to Israel and what is happening there. Last week, before the start of Passover, Ezra Benjamin and Carly Berna, two of our Jewish Voice staff members, conducted video interviews with four people very familiar with Israel to get an inside look at the situation.
I strongly encourage you to watch these interviews and learn what is taking place in Israel so you know how you can be praying for the Jewish people in this time of great turmoil - and great opportunity.
Here are some quick introductions to the people you’ll meet in these interviews:
TAMAR, ISRAEL PROGRAM MANAGER FOR JEWISH VOICE MINISTRIES
Tamar has served as our program manager for Israel for three years and has lived in Tel Aviv. She shares about the strict regulations Israelis are living under currently due to COVID-19 and how it compares to what she experienced while living in Israel.
Tamar also explains how the Jewish perspectives on the importance of life have led to such strict rules being put in place and contributed to Israel’s very low death rate.
RABBI STEWART AND CHANTAL WINOGRAD, FOUNDERS OF REACH INITIATIVE, A MINISTRY TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
The Winograds share about the impact of their ministry to Holocaust survivors in Israel – how they meet important physical and spiritual needs through home visits, weekly home group Bible studies, Jewish holiday feast celebrations, and more.
They explain how the lockdown has changed how they are able to minister and also created a greater spiritual openness among some of the Holocaust survivors. The Winograds also share specific prayer requests and offer the encouragement they’ve found in the midst of this challenging time.
YOEL SHOSHANI, MINISTRY LEADER IN ISRAEL AND BOARD MEMBER OF FIRM (FELLOWSHIP OF ISRAEL RELATED MINISTRIES), A JEWISH VOICE MINISTRY PARTNER
Yoel talks with us from his home, on lockdown, just outside Jerusalem. He shares in more detail how the restrictions are affecting day-to-day life for his family and other Israelis. Yoel also shares his thoughts on how families will celebrate the Passover Seder, specifically about the challenges for grandparents who are in the high-risk group for COVID-19.
He also offers the perspective of how this time provides a unique opportunity for Believers to share their faith through simple actions and to be a light to others.
