Recently, an annual conference was held in Paris to gather and speak with hundreds of European Jewish doctors about making aliyah (immigration to Israel) and bringing their expertise to the land. The MedEx conference brought trained medical workers in a variety of fields together from France, Belgium, Germany, and other neighboring countries. At the conference were eleven medical institutions like Hadassah Medical Center and other well-known facilities. At the conference, over 50 applications were given to start transferring their licenses to be approved in Israel.
For years now, Israel has faced a doctor shortage which mostly affects the towns away from the center of the country—like in the Negev and in the Golan Heights. Co-founder and chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Tony Gelbart, said that this year’s MedEx conference shows the dedication of the doctors who choose to move to Israel. “These future Olim,” he said, “bring not only exceptional professional expertise, but also a profound sense of purpose. Their impact is already being felt across Israel’s healthcare landscape from north to south, and we look forward to assisting many more physicians from all over the world to integrate in the near future.”
Pray that these doctors interested in making aliyah would bring their expertise to aid those suffering from the shortage of doctors in Israel. Please pray that all in Israel would receive the medical care they need.
There is an urgent need for more soldiers to enlist in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) due to the prolonged, multifront war. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir recently said, “I am not dealing with political or legislative processes—I am dealing with multifront warfare and defeating the enemy. In order to continue to do that, the IDF needs more soldiers immediately.”
He wants to move legislation forward in three ways. He suggests the first is to lengthen mandatory military service for men to 36 months. In August 2024, it was shortened to 30 months, and the first group of shortened service is being enlisted in January 2027, creating even more manpower shortage and more burden on those in reserves. The second is to require reserve duty to be extended for longer times depending on operational needs. The third method would be to increase the numbers of drafts, focusing on ultra-orthodox recruitment. Currently, there are around 80,000 ultra-orthodox men between the ages of 18–24 that should have enlisted. The ultra-orthodox prioritize Torah study above enlistment and request the government to respect these wishes. It is a sore spot for the nation, as secular young adults serve while religious ones do not serve. This will be a major issue in the upcoming elections.
Please pray for Israel’s standing and reserve army to remain strong and alert and that the right solutions to their manpower shortage would be found.
Recent reports say that Israel set up a secret military base deep in the Iraqi desert. The site was a Saddam Hussein-era, one-mile-long landing strip hidden in a valley. The secret desert post was activated before the war started but with knowledge and protection from the US. Its purpose was to support the air campaign against Iran. On the base were search-and-rescue teams who could respond quickly if a pilot ejected from his plane and needed to be found quickly. There were also commando forces trained and ready within enemy territory. The military post was nearly exposed when an Iraqi shepherd noticed unusual activity, including helicopter flights. Iraqi forces were sent to investigate but were pushed back by Israeli airstrikes.
Please pray for Israel’s safety during global covert missions.
As we prepare to celebrate Shavuot (“Feast of Weeks” in English or “Pentecost” in Greek) later this month, we will remember and rejoice in God’s faithful work and provision of the first fruits. While Israelis and Jewish people honor the Lord for the first of the harvest, believers in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah also rejoice for the spiritual field in which God, the Lord of the harvest, has called us to sow and serve. Many seeds have been sown in the past weeks, months, and years of war. We have seen some fruit already—with souls saved, and lives and families transformed. Yet, we continue to encounter many more people hungry for answers. Here are some of their stories.
Renewing Former Conversations
One of our staff writes: “About a year ago, I had shared my testimony with Tamar (name changed). But not until the beginning of the recent war did she call to say she needed a break from all of the darkness and wanted to hear more about Jesus. She said that when we last spoke, she sensed there is light in Him. We have now been reading one of the gospels together and she seems very close to believing in Jesus.”
Please pray Tamar will come to know Him in a deeply meaningful way, and for wisdom for our staff member as she studies the Scripture with her.
Sharing Truth in Bomb Shelters
Even in bomb shelters, God opens doors. Recently, while taking refuge in a town in the Negev, one of our ministry staff had the opportunity to speak with a rabbi about faith and the promises of God. These moments remind us that even in darkness, His light continues to shine. We know that although it is hard, even the highly religious can come to recognize and follow Jesus.
Pray for this rabbi and for others who are religious like him, that their eyes may be opened to who Jesus is and their hearts may receive Him.
Witnessing to Former Hostages
Recently, one of our Israeli ministry staff members and his wife went to hear a former hostage give a speech (name withheld for privacy). The young man was held captive by Hamas for two years, one week, and one day. He was tortured in their terror tunnels, subjected to horrific conditions, and suffered cruelty that no human should endure. Our staff writes:
During his testimony of suffering and torture, he shared how he found faith in God in the tunnels. He said even in the darkness, he wanted to shout aloud the “Shema Yisrael” proclaiming God is Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4). His faith was what helped him survive.
What he did not know is that during the days that the hostages were held captive, our “Or HaGalil” (Light of Galilee) congregation in the city of Nahariya prayed not only for the release of the hostages, but also that the Lord would give the hostages special light and comfort in the midst of their hardship. Our prayer came from Psalm 32:7, “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah.”
I had hoped for an opportunity to tell this former hostage that we had prayed for him and the others. After he spoke, I patiently waited for a chance to privately greet him. When the opportunity came, I introduced myself and first told him that in Nahariya, a huge billboard was posted with all of the hostages’ names and photographs, and I would pray for those hostages. He said he heard of the billboard in Nahariya. Then in that moment, I told him that our Or HaGalil congregation was a Messianic congregation of Jewish people and Gentiles who believe in Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah of Israel. I told him that we prayed for the Lord to be his light in the midst of darkness and prayed Psalm 32:7. Graciously, this former hostage thanked me for the prayers.
Please join me in praying for him—that he will remember our encounter as he heals from the torture he suffered, and that both the message of Yeshua and the seed of faith will continue to grow in his heart.
Fellowshipping with Iranian Believers
Recently, there was a night of prayer and testimonies called “Jesus in Israel and Iran,” where our Israeli team member shared stories of God at work in Israel while on a panel side-by-side with two formerly Muslim, now-saved, and Israel-loving brothers in the Lord from Iran and Saudi Arabia. The evident fellowship, compassionate care, and miraculous stories prove that the gospel is alive and well, and that the light of Jesus is shining brightly in Israel and the Middle East!
Many people’s eyes have been opened to misconceptions of Israel and to opportunities for prayer and witness. Believers testified how love, unity, and peace is solely possible through Jesus, our Prince of Peace!
Please pray for continued opportunities for our Israeli ministry staff to encourage Iranian believers and other Muslim-background believers, and vice versa. Pray for the love of Jesus to continue to cross boundaries where no one expects, and for truth and salvation to shine in splendor in Jewish and Gentile hearts!
Praying Together
As Shavuot approaches, pray with us over the spiritual harvest fields in Israel. Pray for God to cause the gospel seeds to grow, to establish new believers with the Scriptures and discipleship, and to continue to soften hearts and bring us divine appointments.
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N Cooke2022-02-17 14:55:552026-03-20 17:04:22Reaching the Hard-to-Reach