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Many Holocaust Survivors find themselves in severe financial hardship. The harsh conditions their bodies experienced during the Holocaust have left them in need of expensive medication in their old age and it is not unusual for a Survivor to have to weigh up whether to pay for rent, for food or for their much needed medication. Add to that the worldwide financial crisis and now the war with Gaza and life has become quite desperate for some. Helping Hand Coalition want to give these precious Survivors dignity in their latter years and run a nationwide program to distribute supermarket vouchers and clothing, toiletries and other needed goods to ease the burden. Despite the continuous barrage of rockets into Israel every day, the HHC staff have continued to travel around the country visiting Holocaust Survivors and distributing humanitarian aid. In a recent trip to Ashdod and Ofakim, the HHC staff told us, “Both cities had been under incessant rocket fire for the first two months of the war, and even now sirens are a common sound to the survivors. So much joy and appreciation from everyone of them for receiving help in such troublesome times.” Holocaust Survivors receiving Supermarket Vouchers: SUPPORT HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS LIVING IN ISRAEL:

CANDLE ONE | JEWISH AND ARAB FOLLOWERS OF JESUS LIVING IN ISRAEL In Israel today, the followers of Yeshua (Jesus) are shining their light to the people around them - being a beacon of love, hope and peace. We want to celebrate some of the amazing ministries we work with in Israel - each one dedicated to being a witness to God’s miraculous presence. Pray for the Body of Messiah to grow in Israel among Jewish and Arab communities. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill them with everything they need to live out the Kingdom, especially in these difficult times. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 5:16 CANDLE TWO | HELPING HAND COALITION (HHC) Back in 2005, Andre and Bozena, the founders of Helping Hands Coalition were preparing the movie premier event of a film they had been working on about the life of a Holocaust Survivor. When the invitations, sent out to the community of Holocaust survivors living in Israel, were being turned down, Andre and Bozena were shocked to discover that it was because they couldn’t afford the bus fare. This experience was a turning point for Andre and Bozena as they dedicated themselves from that point to ministering to this forgotten group of very special elderly people. In addition to tackling the poverty issue, they were determined to bring dignity and love into the lives of these heroes while there was still time. PRACTICAL SUPPORT HHC distributes financial assistance, supermarket vouchers, food bags, winter essentials like blankets, electric heaters to Holocaust Survivors all over Israel MEDICAL ASSISTANCE HHC mobilizes volunteer optometrists to visit community centres to provide Holocaust Survivors with new glasses. Other medical aids including wheelchairs, crutches and walking sticks are distributed to those in need. SHALOM HOME EVENTS With loneliness and the sense of being forgotten being one of the big issues to address, HHC have established ‘Shalom Home’Events. These very special gatherings bring Holocaust Survivors from all over the land together to the HHC villa in Ceasarea to shower them with love and respect. YPMP has had the honour to attend and serve at several of these meetings and can testify to the incredible effect they have on the wellbeing of the Survivors who come. From the moment the coach drops them off at the door HHC staff and volunteers do everything in their power to make their visitors feel as welcome and special as possible. For a few hours the emotional and physical pain in their everyday lives is washed away and they experience a little bit of heaven. Talented musicians set the scene with beautiful life-filled music - this often breaks into dancing as the joy overflows. There are times of sharing both by HHC and the Holocaust Survivors who love the opportunity to be able to tell their story. Often, HHC facilitates Christians from overseas to come and meet the Holocaust Survivors and share something with them. This is especially poignant when they are German Christians who have discovered that Grandparents were involved with the Nazis during the second world war. The sharing of repentance and forgiveness expressed brings healing to the overseas visitors and to the Holocaust Survivors. Every Shalom Home event involves food which is always beautifully presented as a way of making the Survivors feel special and loved. The attention to detail is amazing and is so worthwhile when you witness the smiling faces of the Survivors Pray for the Holocaust Survivors living in Israel. Pray for the Shalom Home events that the love of God permeates every area of the gathering and touches their hearts. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 CANDLE THREE | DOR HABA : COMING GENERATION Birthed out of a Jerusalem based 24/7 prayer ministry, Dor Haba’s passion is to raise up worshippers from among Messianic Jewish and Christian Arab young people for a new generation. Every summer Dor Haba runs a camp for teenagers bringing Jewish and Arab teens together to build friendships across cultural divides while enjoying workshops on singing, song-writing, instruments, videography and photography, drama and dance. The connections and friendships forged will shape the Body of Messiah in Israel for years to come. These bonds are especially important during times of national crisis when these young people can demonstrate a better way: loving one another as brothers and sisters no matter what is going on around them. During the year, Dor Haba runs smaller gatherings in various places around Israel and also some in the West Bank among Palestinian young people - bringing Jewish and Arab teens together to bless and encourage each other. SUMMER CAMPS In addition to building bridges between Jewish and Arab Believers, there are so many testimonies from these annual camps of teens and young people re-dedicating their lives to the Lord or coming to faith for the first time. HEBREW & ARABIC WORSHIP Dor Haba encourages the young people they work with to write new worship songs. Local songs that speak to the hearts of the people. They are professionally recorded and shared with the Body of Messiah in Israel to facilitate indigenous worship. PRAYER & WORSHIP WATCHES Dor Haba mentors young children and youth in regular times of prayer and worship. YPMP was so inspired to see young kids running an hour long worship watch! Pray for the work of Dor Haba as they build bridges between Jewish and Arab young people. Pray for these friendships to remain strong in these difficult times. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. Psalm 133 CANDLE FOUR | HOPE : HOUSE OF PRAYER AND EXPLOITS - NAZARETH HOPE House of Prayer in Nazareth was pioneered by Rania to train up Arab young people and Arab women as intercessors for God’s purposes in the Land. Rania is also instrumental in bringing Arab and Jewish Believers together for prayer and prophetic events. Just over a year ago, Hope moved into new premises after outgrowing their previous location. From their new home Hope run regular prayer watches, conferences and training in prayer and healing. Rania is a prophetic voice in Israel and speaks around the world. A HIGHWAY OF WORSHIP An ancient prophesy in the book of Isaiah is mobilising an unlikely partnership of intercessors across the Middle East. According to Isaiah, there would be a time when Egypt, Assyria and Israel would be worshipping together, travelling freely between each others nations and being a blessing to each other and the whole earth. Inspired by these words, intercessors from Israel, Egypt and Assyria (located within modern day Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey), along with representatives from other Middle Eastern nations, have been meeting together for several years now to pray for the salvation of their nations, for reconciliation between their peoples and for a spiritual connection that would grow and mature. Houses of Prayer have been springing up throughout the region. A highway of worship to the one true God is being built. As wars and uprisings tear ancient civilizations apart, God is raising up a spiritual army to praise his name, proclaim his word and call his Kingdom into being. Pray for these Isaiah 19 Highway Houses of Prayer. Pray for the gatherings when intercessors from all over the Middle East can come together to pray for each other and their region. Pray for a breaking down of walls and true heart to heart connections. Pray for the building of a Highway of Worship between Egypt, Assyria and Israel! Pray for Rania and Hope as they intercede for God’s Kingdom in Israel & the whole Middle East. Pray for the Isaiah Highway Houses of Prayer throughout the Middle East. Pray that the spiritual tide of hate, murder and fear will be turned back by the strong right arm of Adonai Elohim Tsevaot - the Lord God of Hosts. Pray that a spiritual tide of peace, reconciliation and love will flood the world, invading the hearts and minds of all who dwell on earth. Deliver us from evil and may Your Kingdom come and increase! In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria... Isaiah19:23 CANDLE FIVE | LECH L'CHA : 3 MONTH DISCIPLESHIP COURSES When young Israeli Believers returned from a discipleship course overseas they wondered why they had to go overseas to study the Bible and work in English, a foreign language. Lech L’cha was birthed out of a desire to provide something locally in Hebrew where young people could come to immerse themselves in God’s word, in their own language, in the Land of the Bible. Lech L’cha run 3-month Discipleship Programs, young adults weekend Conferences, and Mission outreaches to the Nations. “Lech L’cha” (translated: “Go forth!”) the words God spoke to Abraham when He commanded Abraham to leave his home and go to Canaan (Gen. 12:1), and again when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac (Gen. 22:2). These words also remind us of the commandment Yeshua (Jesus) gave His disciples, saying: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matt. 28:19). “Lech L’cha” is therefore His commission to us all, to follow HIM. Lech L’cha’s mission is to make disciples who make disciples and multiply. They equip young Israeli Believers for life and ministry (in whatever vocation they may be called to) while keeping Yeshua at the centre of all they do. “We aim to help them become fully grounded in the Word of God and equip them for their own daily bible study; to learn to live the life of a disciple of Yeshua, which is also expressed in the lifestyle of evangelism; to be equipped for service in their local congregations, according to the gifting God has given them and His calling in their lives, and to grow as servants of the Lord.” “Lech L’cha was an invaluable experience for me at a very shaky time in my faith. I needed a serious pause after the army in order to be immersed in the Word and around strong believers all seeking the same fellowship and common desire: to know Yeshua. As a group it was fantastic to dedicate time together to grow as a team and individually in our faiths, encouraging one another. For me, it was Psalm 1 in action: delighting in God’s law and meditating on it day and night, like a tree firmly planted by streams of water. Lech L’cha for me represented coming to the water to receive biblical teaching, prayer, and worship in order to grow strong roots, building my faith on a firm foundation." — Miriam “Changed my life, I fell in love with God...”​ — Daria Pray for Lech L’cha as they build strong faith foundations in the young Believers. Pray faith grows deep roots in these young people and they will be vessels for God to use for His Kingdom in Israel. Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. Psalm 1:1-2 CANDLE SIX | ADONAI ROI : MESSIANIC HEBREW CONGREGATION Adonai Roi is a Messianic Jewish Hebrew speaking Congregation based in Tel Aviv. ‘Adonai Roi’ is Hebrew for ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’. It was founded by Avi and Chaya Mizrachi in the summer of 1996 with a few people meeting in a private home. As the Lord added to their numbers, the small group grew and into vibrant congregation in central Tel Aviv. WHAT ARE MESSIANIC CONGREGATIONS? "Messianic congregations are faith communities that stress the Jewish context of the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah. Messianic congregations often employ Jewish forms of worship, use Hebrew in their liturgy and stress the connection of Messiah to the Hebrew Scriptures. By enlisting as many of the features of the synagogue as are consistent with the Messiah’s teaching, Messianic congregations provide a familiar environment for Jewish believers and seekers, many of whom are intimidated, confused, or simply uncomfortable among the trappings of Christian churches. "Messianic Jewish families often turn to Messianic congregations because they help children understand what it means to be a Jewish believer in the Messiah, and help kids feel linked to a faith community larger than their immediate family. It would be easy for Jewish children to become disconnected from their Jewish heritage in a Christian church. "Messianic congregations also emphasize the celebration of the Jewish festivals, which often become an event for members of the wider Jewish community who do not know Messiah. These outreaches allow Jewish believers to talk with their fellow Jews and answer their questions about how a person can believe in Messiah Jesus and still be Jewish. Connection with Jewish life through their Messianic congregations helps ease such concerns." - from www.chosenpeople.com Pray they are places of real community and connections for Jewish Believers. Pray for their witness to the wider Jewish community ...the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Romans 9:4 CANDLE SEVEN | DUGIT : OUTREACH MINISTRIES During a visit to his sister in America, Avi was very surprised to discover that she had become a follower of Jesus. During the visit, Avi heard the Gospel for himself and decided to give his life to Yeshua, the Messiah. He was determined to return to Israel to share the good news with his fellow Israelis. After attending a Bible School in America , he returned to Israel to preach the Gospel. Today, under the umbrella of Dugit Ministries the Gospel is being shared through a coffee shop in the centre of Tel Aviv and a foodbank/clothing distribution centre. Many are welcome to come and freely ask questions about Yeshua/Jesus and see for themselves that Messiah has come! SHARING HOPE IN TROUBLED TIMES Avi shared with us recently that he had bought a wardrobe from Ikea. It was too big for him to put up alone so he had paid for Ikea’s assembling service. When the delivery arrived the man sent to help assemble it was an Arab Muslim. Despite all the trouble going on between Israel and Gaza, the men : a Jew and a Muslim, enjoyed pleasant conversation and built the wardrobe successfully. When they had finished Avi said, “You know, this situation that is going on, its not what is written in the Torah, in the Jewish scriptures.” The Muslim man agreed that neither did the Koran teach this. Avi then told him that there is a wonderful prophet called Yeshua/Jesus and he taught us to love one another. Here was a Jewish person sharing the Gospel with a Muslim person in the midst of a situation of war. In the end, Avi gave him some literature in Arabic and also a DVD of the Gospel of Matthew. The Arab man was delighted to receive the gift and thanked Avi. Avi was able to tell him that God loves him and if he has any questions to feel free to call, He left so happy that he was able to hear that there is hope for a better way. “In the midst of all this craziness, the harvest is ready,” shared Avi, “and there is a real opportunity to reach out with the hope of the Gospel .” Pray for opportunities to share the Hope of the Gospel with those in despair. Pray for divine appointments and dreams and visions of Jesus. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 CANDLE EIGHT | AYALA : BIBLE TRANSLATION Growing up in Israel, immersed in the Hebrew language, Ayala is using her gift of language to help translate the Bible into languages that do not yet have their own translation. After training with Wycliffe Bible Translators she was deployed to the Philippines where she has been working with local translation groups as an advisor and Hebrew expert. A few weeks ago, Ayala returned to Israel to get married. She is now working on future plans with her new husband to continue to serve as a translation consultant. Pray for Ayala and her local translation teams as they persevere to bring an accurate translation of the Bible to people groups that have never seen the Bible in their own language. Pray for Ayala as she settles into her new married life. Praise God, for her gift of translation and her heart to help minority language groups with their own Bible versions. Pray for the word of God to go out in more languages as a light to the world. I will also make you a light to the nations — so that all the world may be saved. Isaiah 49 We hope you are as excited an encouraged as we are to stand with these modern day candles - shining the light of Messiah in so many different ways. Light overcoming darkness. Keep them in your prayers! Thank you for journeying with us this year - we love sharing the stories of what God is doing in Israel.

Avi Mizrachi, is an Israeli evangelist and pastor with a passion to see his people come to know Yeshua as their Messiah. He has been serving the local Body of Messiah in Israel for over 30 years. He established Dugit, a Messianic Outreach Centre, which functions as a coffee shop in the heart of Tel Aviv where Israelis can drop in to find out more about Yeshua (Jesus). As Israelis began to come to faith, he started Adonai Roi (The Lord is my Shepherd) Hebrew speaking Congregation in Tel Aviv. Avi is involved in numerous conferences and ministries in Israel and around the world. Here is his story of coming to faith... “I was born and raised in a traditional Jewish family in Tel Aviv- Jaffa, and after graduating high school I served for four years in the Israeli Air Force. When I concluded my service in the early 1980s, I regret to say I was of the world and lost in sin. I had saved some money, so I decided I would go to America. My plan was to explore America—which for me, meant I would visit every disco and nightclub I could find—and then I would go to Las Vegas, gamble, and get rich! When I first arrived in America, I went to visit my sister and her family in Gainesville, Florida. Early Sunday morning, my sister woke me up. “What’s going on?” I asked. “I thought Sunday was a day of rest!” “Get up!” she said. “Come with us to church!” As it turned out, my sister and her husband had become born-again believers. When I resisted getting out of bed, she told me that it’s a nice church with a choir and a lot young people. So I got up and went to church for the first time in my life. For Jewish people, even walking into a church is a problem. Some big walls must be broken down before many Jewish people are open to even hearing about Yeshua. I sat in that pew with my sister and her husband and watched the Christians around me singing and worshipping God. I was touched and provoked to jealousy. But after the service was over, I was the first person out the door. Someone from the church called the house a couple days later and invited me to a weekend retreat. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go, but my sister said there would be basketball, fun and singles. So I decided to go. On the first night, a woman spoke of God’s love and grace, but also said we had all sinned and needed atonement so we can have a relationship with God— since the Temple in Jerusalem was no longer standing, there could be no more sacrifices for atonement for our sin. Which I knew was true. Then she talked about Jesus—Yeshua—as the lamb of God who came to came to take away the sins of the world. So there I was, a tough Israeli—four years in the Air Force— I saw that my sin had separated me from a holy God and I began to cry. As I opened my heart to Him, I felt a big hand took my heart of stone and gave me a new heart. There was such a peace in the room that I gave my life to Yeshua that night—and I was born again! And that was it for me! In a matter of months I went from tough Israeli with a heart of stone … to born again, baptized, got married, Bible Institute graduate, back home in Israel, sharing the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah with everyone who would listen. As you may have guessed, I never made it to Las Vegas. That is how Dugit Outreach Ministries started all those years ago. But the same fire, the same zeal, lives in me today to see the people of Israel saved from their sins!”

A brilliant initiative is spreading love from Germany to Israel. Holocaust Survivors in Israel are paired up with sponsors in Germany who want to help heal the darkness of the past. The Survivors receive regular letters and messages and gift parcels from Germany - helping to repair the past with love. “Even in the midst of the war, non stop mail, messages and emails for Victims of the Holocaust nationwide, thanks to the kindness of German sponsors, who are expressing their love and support to the survivors, with whom they are connected through the Sponsorship Program, in these difficult times.” - Helping Hand Coalition (HHC) Seb from HHC met with Ilyas, his wife Neliah and Svetlana who are part of the German friends Sponsorship Program. They are World War II refugees and now, for the second time in their lives, also refugees of the current war in Israel. Ilyas and Neliah’s tiny apartment in Sderot is located 150 metres away from the police station that was assaulted and destroyed by Hamas forces at the beginning of the ongoing war. They had to hide, terrified for 8 hours. After the October attack, for security reasons, they were evacuated by the Israeli army, although they did not want to leave their home. Thankfully, they are very well taken care of and have been placed together with many more residents of Sderot in Tel Aviv, where they are provided a free stay along with 3 meals a day. 28,000 residents have been evacuated from Sderot, with only around 6,000-7,000 residents that have chosen to not leave their city. Ilya, Neliah and Svetlana are once again war refugees after evacuation years ago from their cities in their childhood to survive and run away from Nazism. They are so grateful for the love and care they have received from the members of Helping Hand Coalition and from all their international friends. SUPPORT HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS LIVING IN ISRAEL:

270 young Jewish and Arab Believers, 13-18-year-olds, gathered for a week with 60 more (19-26-year-olds) joining them on the weekend for Dor Haba's summer youth conference "Fearless and Free." The heart of the conference was "to encourage personal encounters with the Lord, a lifestyle of intercessory prayer, the forming of key friendships that will foster unity in the body for years to come, and a space where they can use their gifts and talents to be a light for Yeshua. Over this week, they worked together on over 25 different Creative Projects in the areas of Music, Film, Photography, Art, Graffiti, App Development, Video Game Design, Dance, and Drama." According to Dor Haba, it was "an incredible time of growth in the areas of unity, intimacy with the Lord, leadership, and creativity." Watch this amazing recap video that was filmed and edited by film students at the conference: Every year, this conference provides an awesome opportunity for Believers from Jewish and Arab backgrounds, who often would never meet each other in their normal lives, to build friendships and bridge the cultural and political differences that divide their communities. Where the world preaches hatred and revenge, Yeshua (Jesus) calls us to love our enemies and our neighbours. Through engaging in creative projects that honour both the Hebrew and Arabic languages, and through building a foundation of worship and prayer together - deep friendships are formed and worldviews focused on the Kingdom of God. In Yeshua, there is forgiveness and peace and hope for the future as we work together in unity. "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility And Freedom!" Ephesians 2:14 The young people went out into the city of Netanya to perform music, dance, and theatre skits to encourage passers by with their message of hope. They also recorded new songs they had created in Hebrew and Arabic during the conference as well as music videos to share the message wider. One of the videos using a worship song called, "Not ashamed!" features Jewish and Arab kids coming together to sing and dance with joy. The message of the song is all about not being afraid to declare your faith in Yeshua. To the Jews who had believed him, Yeshua said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Yeshua replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:31-36 31 Keep praying for these young people that the truths God spoke to them will go deep and that this generation will truly be fearless and free as they live out their lives for God's Kingdom! If you would like to support ministry among young people in Israel you can DONATE HERE and note your gift is for 'Youth'.

"Thank you for these events. We need these kind of Shalom House events. These events, they touch our souls and they bring us life. Thank you so very much for these…” - shared by Rachel, a Holocaust survivor who made Aliyah (immigrated) from Ukraine many years ago. Every Shalom House event hosted at Helping Hand Coalition’s centre in Caesarea is a unique occasion. Up to 50 survivors of the Holocaust arrive each time from different cities in Israel, usually for a concert, for sharing stories and for an incredible time of fellowship. From the moment the Survivors arrive, they are showered with love and lifted up from the daily struggles of life. On one particular summer day, the international group, One Lev, performed for these dear elderly (LEV means heart in Hebrew). Filling the event with Middle Eastern, European, and American inspired music, the band took the survivors around the world with a message of Hope, Love, Peace and Joy. The excellent performance soon got everyone's hands clapping and feet tapping! When asked how he felt about playing at the Shalom House, the music group leader, Mikhail explained, “My heart is full of gladness and happiness to play for the survivors.” Before the performance, Helping Hand Coalition founders Andre and Bozena Gasiorowski, welcomed everyone and shared the vision of HHC. They introduced some of the special guests who shared stories and a beautiful atmosphere was created among the group with everyone really feeling like they had one heart. After the music, lunch was served and the Survivors were able to spend time sitting in the beautiful garden chatting and getting to know each other. "It is imperative that these dear Holocaust survivors are reached out to, helped, supported and lifted up as quickly as possible as they will be with us but for moments longer." shared Luke and Sarah Gasiorowski who help to manage these events. Your People My People have seen first hand, the wonderful effect these Shalom House events have on the Holocaust Survivors - lifting them up and showing them they are not forgotten. Each Survivor leaves the event with a spring in their step and a big smile on their face! If you would like to support Holocaust survivors in Israel and the work of HHC's Shalom House Events - you can DONATE HERE

The last time we were in Israel, we got to meet Eric, the outreach and evangelism director serving at Dugit's coffeehouse, HaOgen (The Anchor). Here is his story... How did the Lord lead you here to serve at Dugit Outreach Ministries? Well, funny story. I actually found Dugit before making Aliyah [immigrating]. So, when I came to Israel, I went to Tel Aviv and went looking for them. I loved their mission of being “fishers of men.” But after arriving in Tel Aviv, I spent about half an hour trying to find the place, and discovered I hated Tel Aviv—and wanted to get out of there! A year and a half later, I got a new job and found myself looking for an apartment in Kfar Saba (twenty minutes northeast of Tel Aviv). I had been in touch with a guy through a mutual friend back in Georgia, who offered me a room in his house even though we had never actually met in person. I agreed and so he sent his sister-in-law to pick me up and help me move. A few weeks later I was talking to my friend in Georgia, and shared with him that I was living with his friend. He told me that this friend is the leader of a congregation and that he is married to the daughter of Avi and Chaya Mizrachi from Dugit in Tel Aviv. Long story short, I met Avi shortly after, began dating his youngest daughter (who is now my wife), and joined the ministry. What do you like best about serving at Dugit? My greatest joy is working with the people. I get to be a fisher of men. I get to meet people from all walks of life, and to witness God’s redeeming power. How did you come to know the Lord? Growing up in a Jewish family in Georgia, my brothers and I were seen as “different” and we had to deal with a lot of antisemitism. Even though we tried to blend in the best we could, I was always proud of being Jewish and as a child dreamed of going to Israel at age 18 to serve in the IDF. But instead of the IDF, I chose competitive bodybuilding. This path led me into some dark times but looking back I can now say that God was already coming after me. He would place Godly men in my path at the gym who always encouraged me, were always full of joy, and always talked about Jesus. Since they were older, I wanted to be respectful and let them say what they wanted. Fast forward five years and I found myself on a surgery bed needing a hip operation. It turned out to be a birth defect that was exacerbated due to my heavy weightlifting and my heavier than average body weight. After the surgery, the first thing the surgeon told me was that I had the hip of a 90-year-old woman. If I continued doing what I was doing, I would need two hip replacements by the time I was 40. Suddenly I found myself in an identity crisis. For the past five years, my identity had been my appearance. I was known by my muscles and my success in competitions and in the gym. All my life I excelled in various sports—always earning first place or being the best at whatever it was I was doing. Now I was aware of my limits, recognized that my strength was not like it was, and realised I had to reevaluate the direction of my life. Then one of these men from the gym came to mind. I had this overwhelming feeling that I needed to reach out to him. It had been about 6 years since I last saw him in the gym and wasn’t sure if he even remembered me, but something led me to send him a message anyway. He responded and asked to meet with me that evening. As we sat together, he began to share with me the goodness of God in his own life and the way God filled the role of a loving father—something he didn’t have through his childhood or youth years. And then there came this moment for me, as I sat across the table from this grown man with tears in his eyes, and I became jealous of what he was telling me. How can he speak of my God this way as if he knows more about him than I do? Isn’t God for the Jews, and Jesus for the Christians? He looked at me sitting there, pondering these things, and told me that I could have it too. I asked him, “How?” He began to share who Jesus is, what He did for us, and told me that if I repent and believe in Him, I could also enter into this relationship with Him. And so that night I decided to follow Yeshua. ________ Eric along with other Dugit staff reach out to Israelis with the hope and peace of Yeshua (Jesus) through a coffee shop ministry in the centre of Tel Aviv. If you would like to support this ministry DONATE HERE and note your gift is for "Outreach".

3,000 Holocaust Survivors in Israel will be able to watch the moving story of 'The Hiding Place' by Corrie Ten Boon re-told through dance. Ballet Magnificat, a professional dance company from the USA will perform this true story during the week of Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day. The story takes place in Nazi-occupied Holland in 1944, at the height of the Holocaust. Two Christian sisters Corrie and Betsie, search for ways to help their Jewish neighbours, life-long family friends who are threatened with deportation to the Concentration Camps. The Ten Boon family builds a secret hiding place in their home and their neighbours find security with them. Tragedy strikes when the Ten Boons are raided by the Nazis and transported to Ravenbruck Concentration Camp to face struggles far exceeding their wildest imagination. "Choreographer Jiri Sebastian Voborsky unveils this heroic story with a great level of drama, passion, pain, yet joy, and ultimately hope. He brings before the audience the challenge to believe the unbelievable– the power of forgiveness." We pray that the Holocaust Survivors will be blessed by these special performances and as they experience the beauty of the music and ballet they too would find their pain replaced with healing and begin to understand the power of forgiveness to set them free. ________ If you would like to help Holocaust Survivors in Israel you can DONATE HERE and note your gift is for Holocaust Survivors.

Did you know that the character of Paddington Bear was inspired by Jewish refugee children arriving at a British train station as they fled the Holocaust? "A Bear Called Paddington" was published in October 1958. The author, Michael Bond, based the character of the now famous bear, on a memory of children arriving at Reading train station during World War 2. The young refugees wore labels around their necks to identify them and each carried a small suitcase. Bond transferred this memory into the image of a small bear sitting on his suitcase in Paddington Station with a note saying "Please take care of this bear" hung around his neck. The holocaust link goes further. In the story, Paddington befriends Mr. Samuel Gruber, the owner of an antique shop on Portobello Road in London. Mr. Gruber is an elderly Jewish man who escaped the Nazis from Hungary. Bond based the character of Gruber on his first agent, a German Jew who Bond said, "was in line to be the youngest judge in Germany, when he was warned his name was on the list, so he got out and came to England with just a suitcase and £25 to his name." When the Paddington 2 movie hit the screens in Israel in 2018, the voice of one of the characters was played by Nechama Rivlin the late wife of former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. And did you also know that the voice of Paddington in the Ukrainian version is Volodymyr Zelensky, who used to be a comedian and actor before he became President and is also Jewish. In April this year, the Israeli government published figures stating 161,400 Holocaust survivors are living in Israel today (2022): victims of antisemitism during the Holocaust period. The average age of Holocaust survivors is 85 and a half years old, with 31,500 over the age of 90 and more than 1,000 over 100 years old. Over the past year, 15,553 survivors died in Israel, an average of more than 42 a day. Among those living in Israel, 63 percent were born in Europe: Eastern European countries of the former Soviet Union, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Czechoslovakia and France. An additional 18.5% of survivors are from Morocco and Algeria, where they suffered discrimination and harassment under the Nazi-allied Vichy government. A further 11% are from Iraq, survivors of the Farhud pogrom of June 1941. Seven percent are from Libya and Tunisia, countries that during the Holocaust passed racist laws against Jews and imprisoned their communities in labour camps. Some of the Jewish community were also sent to Italy’s Giado concentration camp in Libya. They survived Concentration Camps and ghettos, lived under false names, went into hiding, or worked in forced labour, sometimes alongside their parents. According to a Survivors’ advocacy group, of Israel’s 161,400 Holocaust survivors, roughly one in three lives in poverty. Though most survivors receive government stipends, it is often not sufficient to meet financial needs, especially with soaring costs for rent and expensive medication needed for ailing bodies still suffering trauma inflicted during the Holocaust years. Many depend on food donations organized by Israeli charities and are forced to make heart-breaking choices between paying their rent or buying much needed medication. Your People My People is honoured to support an amazing ministry in Israel run by a family passionate about bringing hope and dignity to these remaining survivors in their last days. From distributing food vouchers, organising new eye glasses, dental treatments and mobility aids, to running events aimed at pouring love upon these special souls, Helping Hands Coalition is making a huge difference in the lives of Holocaust Survivors in Israel. We have known this family and organisation for many years and have seen first hand the cloud of heaviness lifting from the Survivors as they experience Helping Hand Coalition's 'Shalom House' events. Join us in blessing Holocaust Survivors living in Israel today - you can support them HERE

Arab and Jewish women sharing God's heart, together! Earlier this year, during a time of instability in Israel that was filtering down into the Body of Messiah, a group of women came together in Nazareth to pray, worship and spend time together. God had been speaking to some of the leaders about coming together in true unity, resisting accusations against one another and bringing security to the land. Messianic Jewish and Arab Christian leaders met at HOPE’s (House of Prayer and Exploits) new prayer centre in Nazareth to enjoy this time with each other and to press in to what God is doing in the land. Messianic worship leader, Karen Davis from Carmel Congregation near Haifa led the first worship session declaring that fire would burn through each one and consume every stronghold - an army of women being raised up in the land! As host, Rania Sayegh, an Arab Christian and pioneer prayer warrior welcomed everyone and posed the question: “How can we work with the Holy Spirit to heal the land?” She shared how God could use the unity between Arab and Jewish women like a spiritual secret weapon. Many years ago, God spoke to Rania saying, “When the women rise up in the land, there will be security in the land.” Just as in the Book of Judges, when the prophet Deborah arose, there was security in the land. (Judges 5:7). Rania shared a picture of each woman having keys that open doors of blessing for the earth. “We are keepers of the doors,” she shared, “It is our responsibility. We need to look at the circumstances around us and ask God what He is doing. Our last fight will be against the spirit of accusation.” Rania’s words were powerful because recent deaths on the Israeli and Palestinian ‘sides’ have led to deep division even in the Body of Messiah with differering political points of view causing pain and offense. The Believers need to be able to rise above political storms and be the carriers of God’s higher perspective bringing love, forgiveness and reconciliation - pouring Holy Spirit balm over tense emotions. “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:7-8). Rania encouraged the women leaders to let their love be constant - even in times of suffering. To love one another despite circumstances needed to be a priority. She quoted Corrie Ten Boom, “There is no panic in heaven.” Messianic teacher, Orna Grinman also shared from the Book of Ruth, when Ruth tells Naomi, “Don’t entreat me to leave you!” Orna explained that the Hebrew word for “entreat” means to wound. She is saying that Naomi would wound her by insisting she leaves. The same Hebrew word root is found in the word for intercession. Every time we are wounded, shared Orna, we look for someone to blame, someone to hook it on. Our tendency is to focus on the wound but in God’s Kingdom, we can look at the wound and then turn it into intercession. When we get hurt, she continued, we can ask God where He is in this wound, in this situation. Is He above it, beneath it or in this wound? By cleaving to Naomi, Ruth received a place in the home of the Kinsman Redeemer. Sometime after this gathering, a smaller group of Jewish and Arab ‘Deborah’s’ travelled together to Bethlehem on a prophetic journey of healing the land. Inspired by the story of Ruth and her journey to Bethlehem, nine women gathered for lunch and prayer and broke bread together. They prayed for peace and love among both peoples and declared prophetic words over the land. Rania described it as a real netting together of hearts in unity and love - the love of the Believers one for another will release the heart of God for the region! Let’s join our prayers with these women that God will take their unity and bring security to the Land. _____ Can you support the work of the House of Prayer in Nazareth. DONATE HERE

At the end of June, 230 Jewish and Arab youth took part in the Dor Haba Summer Camp. Four days of meeting with the Lord and with each other. “We witnessed His love, healing, forgiveness, unity, and creativity break out in our hearts and lives once again.” shared Tal, the Director of Dor Haba. During the camp the teenagers took part in various creative workshops in addition to spending time worshipping and praying and of course breaking down barriers and becoming friends across cultural and political divides. In the music workshops, teenagers prepared to lead worship and prophetic intercession for the whole gathering. It was amazing to see 14, 15, 16 year olds taking the lead in bringing their peers into the presence of God each meeting. The youth attending the dance, drama and film workshops worked together on a music video to the song, “Awake My Soul”. They came up with the storyline and ideas themselves and were excited to produce something together, as young Jewish and Arab Believers, that shared about their faith and hope in Jesus. On the third day, everyone went out onto the streets of the city of Netanya for an outreach. The art students who had been making original jewellery and writing scriptures to go along with each piece, went “treasure hunting”: as they walked around they asked the Lord who to give the jewellery to. This led to many conversations with people on the board-walk about their faith and the unity that Jesus brings between them. Those who did the dance workshops performed in several places along the promenade by the beach and those who had been working on music also played and sang worship songs in various locations. Many Israelis stopped to listen and even joined in. One local resident commented that they, “brought life back to the board-walk” and one of the worship teams were even invited to play in a cafe. After the outreach, all 200 or so teenagers ,with the helpers and leaders, returned to the camp venue to share their experiences. There were so many encouraging testimonies and this led into a powerful time of worship. At the end of the meeting the host on stage said there was time for one last testimony. A 16 year old girl came up to the microphone and shared how she had been severely depressed for two years, and had almost taken her life the day before the camp started, but she decided to go to the camp and give God and life, “one last chance.” She ended up giving her life 100% to Yeshua (Jesus) and getting filled with the Holy Spirit. She was glowing and had such a huge smile on her face, a genuine smile that her friends had never seen before. Her testimony led to 23 others coming up one by one, confessing that they too have struggled with suicidal thoughts, depression and anxiety. The whole room began sobbing quietly and turning to each other to receive prayer. Many were set free - it was a powerful time. “You could sense the power of death just breaking in the whole room,” shared Tal, “as young people began giving their fears and hopelessness to the Lord and repenting. Then, one by one, they began coming up to the mic (over 35 youth), praying and interceding for salvation and healing in their generation.” We pray that these teens will continue to push deeper into the Lord and that the friendships they built with each other will be an encouragement now they are back in their own homes and congregations. DONATE >>

Lech L'cha discipleship ministry has just began a really special programme with a new bunch of recruits. The 3-month residential course usually includes plenty of hiking in the land of the Bible - visiting sites from the Old and New Testaments - but for the first time, Lech L'cha will be hiking the Israel Trail. The Trail, known in Hebrew as Shvil Yisra'el is a hiking path crossing the entire length of the country beginning in the north at Dan near the Lebanese border and ending in Eilat on the Red Sea at the southern most tip of Israel. A whopping 1,015 km (631 miles) which takes an average of 45-60 days to complete. National Geographic listed it in their 20 most "epic trails." It is described as a trail that "delves into the grand scale of biblical landscapes as well as the everyday lives of the modern Israeli." The Lech L'cha staff spent a lot of time praying and planning this new course and are really excited to see how God will impact the lives of these young people as they hike through the Land. At the beginning of the course, everyone participated in team building activities and orientation at the Lech L'cha house, to get to know each other and then had a two week preparation time before beginning the hiking trail. They began in the most northern part of Israel and will trek all the way to the most south tip. Pray for this new group embarking on their Lech L'cha discipleship journey - that they would meet with God in new and deeper ways and understand the fullness of their identity in Him. Pray also that the Bible will come to life as they visit the places where it happened and the truths will take deep root. Pray also for the Lech L'cha staff as they lead this new style of discipleship journey - give them vision, wisdom and discernment and bless them as they invest in the coming generation. If you want to walk some of the Israel Trail when visiting Israel, markers with three stripes (white, blue, and orange), are painted on rocks and trees along the route - check out more info here: http://theintexperience.com/ Since January 2016, the Israel National Trail can be explored on Google Street View. Can you help support this discipleship group? DONATE HERE and note your gift is for Lech L'cha.