JCF Newsletter—October 2020
God’s Word is not through with us
From the “Testament and Death of Moses” attributed to Luca Signorelli and Bartolomeo della Gatta, around 1482 and located in the Sistine Chapel, Rome.
In Deuteronomy 34, Moses dies and is buried by God outside the land of Canaan. But God allowed one final mercy to Moses, when He let Moses climb Mt. Nebo and look over upon the land. Moses could see the land, but he would not touch it. Moses’ life work had been bringing his Hebrew people to this point in history, but he would not get to experience their joy of entering the land.
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A word from yoni gerrish
Since early March, those of us who work in tourism in Israel have been hit hard by Covid-19. All of JCF’s biblical study tours have been canceled until some point next year. Our hope is that skies and hotels will open up again sometime early next spring but the reality is that an entire year of income or more has been lost for many different people who are associated with the industry. Fortunately, here in Israel, we can qualify for unemployment through the national insurance program, and this financial assistance is provisionally slated to continue until the middle of 2021.
In the Palestinian sector, however, there is no such government assistance. The survival for anyone connected to tourism is simply left up to fate. During the past decades we have forged many friendships and contacts as a result of JCF’s Biblical Study Tours. This includes friends, some who are followers of Jesus, who own or manage gift shops and restaurants in Bethlehem and Jericho. A large percentage of people in these districts depend solely on tourism for income, and there is a growing sense of desperation.
Starting in September we began helping several of these families with basic assistance for food. The cost of vegetables, fruit, and grain products can be cheaper in the West Bank, so a $100 can truly help a family. If you would like to help these families keep food on the tables, you can contribute to JCF’s charity fund. Thank you.
Yoni Gerrish, JCF’s Israel Director and Biblical Study Tours (BST) Director
As mentioned above, Israel tourism travel has been suspended due to COVID-19 since this past spring. We are hopeful that 2021 will usher back tourism to Israel. For more information on future JCF Study Tours, here.
Here is the latest on Israel and COVID-19:
Israel to start COVID-19 vaccine human trials on Nov. 1. Here.
Ban on foreigners entering Israel to be eased. Here.
Israel's new coronavirus czar a lockdown hawk. Here.
Government decides to reopen synagogues on Sunday, but shops to remain closed. Here.
Virus test positivity rate drops to 1.8%, the lowest level in Israel since June. Here.
Yoni Gerrish teaches on the biblical background of Shemini Atzeret, an 8th day commemoration after the Feast of Tabernacles. Narkis St. Congregation Bible Study—October 10, 2020
Download narkis Street Congregation’s
bible readings for 2020-21
Every Shabbat morning, the Narkis Street Congregation in Jerusalem reads the weekly Torah portion (Parashat haShavuah) from the five books of Moses, accompanied by a passage from the Prophets (Haftarah). A similar tradition was observed by Jesus and his early followers (Luke 4:16-17; Acts 13:15; 17:2) and continues to be a part of contemporary Jewish practice. We have added New Testament readings which complement the Torah portions. We have included Christian holy days to celebrate Jesus the Messiah, our spiritual center. Download, here.
Jcf charity report: Your Gifts Helped these Ministries, Individuals, and Families from July to September 2020
Due to the impact of COVID-19, many members of the Bet El Ethiopian Messianic Congregation in Jerusalem are having increased financial difficulties. JCF gave $1,487 to help cover essential expenses for families and individuals.
Little Hearts Preschool is a unique preschool where Jews, Arabs, and the nations come together to form a unified community in Messiah. During the COVID-19 crisis, the school was shut down for almost three months and many families have not returned to school even after they reopened. JCF contributed $3,000 towards paying some of their basic bills.
The Rembrandt family are believers living in Jerusalem who have struggled with finances since COVID-19’s outbreak. JCF helped cover part of their son’s school tuition at the only Messianic school in Israel ($1,223).
Lily is a Russian Israeli single mother with four children. She is the director of a local organization that helps battered women within the Body of Messiah. Her daughter, Donna, recently needed urgent dental surgery with two years of orthodontic treatment. JCF is helping cover a small portion of the costs ($750).