The Bridge

Gratitude and Grace on Memorial Day

ccourtney — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:39:52 +0000

Dear Friend of Israel,

Memorial Day weekend can be a time of mixed feelings. On the one hand, it’s the unofficial beginning of summer, an auspicious time to look forward to months spent outside with family and friends. On the other hand, for those mourning the loss in war of a close relative or loved one, there is a deep and personal sense of grief, mingled with feelings of patriotism and profound pride for their service.

Everyday Diversity in Israel

ccourtney — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:03:09 +0000

Israeli author Diana Bletter offers a moving look at the amazing and peaceful diversity she experiences daily in Western Galilee, Israel:

Meals with Meaning

ccourtney — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:28:42 +0000

Fellowship-sponsored Carmei Ha'ir soup kitchen feeds all who come through their doors, AND they deliver 250 hot meals to needy elderly every day, provide 1,400 sandwiches each morning to children in 47 schools throughout Jerusalem, and distribute food baskets to families in need.

Israeli Exhibit Opens at the Louvre

ccourtney — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:49:13 +0000

The first official Israeli exhibit will debut at the Louvre Museum in Paris tomorrow – a 1,700-year-old mosaic discovered in Lod, Israel.

The impressive artwork was discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority during an archaeological excavation in 1996 and fully excavated and removed in 2009. The well-preserved mosaic floor measures about 180 square meters and includes detailed pictures of mammals, birds, fish, plants, and merchant vessels.

A Small Gift, A Huge Difference

ccourtney — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:51:20 +0000

For the past four years, The Fellowship has supported Afikim, a group of eight centers that help impoverished families by providing after-school programing for at-risk kids as well as training for their moms and dads in parenting, home-management, and vocational skills. The Fellowship also provides these needy families with food cards to ensure that the children are receiving proper nutrition.

Destitute Family Encouraged by Fellowship Donors

ccourtney — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:24:53 +0000

Manyak (14), Victoriya (11), and Georgy (10) live in a ramshackle cottage on the outskirts of a town in Russia. They barely have any furniture, and their main source of food is a nearby vegetable garden. There is no indoor plumbing, so they must use an outhouse. The children love to read, but they cannot afford books and there is no library nearby.

Prayers for Oklahoma Tornado Victims

ccourtney — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:12:06 +0000

In response to the devastating tornado system that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, yesterday killing at least 51 people and destroying countless neighborhoods, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sent a letter to President Obama, offering support and condolences:

Monday Devotional: To Kindle a Soul

ccourtney — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:21:50 +0000

“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.’”—Numbers 8:2

The IDF's One-Armed Warrior

ccourtney — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:44:20 +0000

Just another reason we love the Israel Defense Forces:

When a suicide bomb ripped through a pizzeria in downtown Jerusalem in 2001, killing 15 and wounding 130 more, 13-year-old Izzy Ezagui, who was visiting from America, found his calling.

My Spiritual All-Nighter

ccourtney — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:35:30 +0000

For the Shavuot (Pentecost) holiday, which was celebrated worldwide this past Wednesday, I decided to go with my family to Jerusalem. Although we moved away from Jerusalem three years ago to less-populated and nature-oriented northern Israel, my heart still remains in Jerusalem. Prior to each holiday my soul yearns to return to this city that has always been at the center of religious experience.

A Free Shavuot Bible Study

ccourtney — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:48:17 +0000

Today is the second day of Shavuot, the Jewish holiday celebrating Moses receiving the Torah from God at Mount Sinai. Among the many traditions for celebrating this holiday, Jews read the book of Ruth on Shavuot.

To help you better understand the significance of Shavuot, known as Pentecost to most Christians, we have prepared a free downloadable Bible study on the book of Ruth.

Yael Visits Fellowship-Sponsored Soup Kitchen

ccourtney — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:21:44 +0000

Yael Eckstein recently visited the Fellowship-sponsored Mana Hama soup kitchen in Ashdod, Israel, to help serve and encourage the many people who visit this important facility.

The Importance of Doing

ccourtney — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:48:01 +0000

It has been 50 days since Passover began. Fifty days since the children of Israel walked free from Egyptian bondage. In that time, they have been pursued by soldiers only to be redeemed by God at the shores of the Sea. They have grumbled and groused and thought about turning back. They have been protected by a pillar of fire and been provided food and water through miracles. And they have been led by the Prophet – the Law-giver.

The Passover Haggadah tells us:

B ’chol dor va’dor chayav adam lirot et atzmo k’ilu hu yatza mi mitzrayim.

Israel's Poverty Rate Highest in Developed World

ccourtney — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:50:15 +0000

Findings from a new study reveal the great need among Israel’s poor – and underscore why The Fellowship’s work is so important.

Israel is the most impoverished of the 34 economically developed countries, with a poverty rate of 20.9%, according to a report released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on Wednesday.

What Is Shavuot?

ccourtney — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:46:28 +0000

Shavuot (pronounced "sha-voo-OHT") is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the single most important event in Israel's history: the giving of the Torah (the first five books in the Hebrew Bible) to Moses at Mount Sinai. This year Shavuot starts tonight at sundown and finishes at sundown on May 16.

Helping a Single Mom Feed Her Children Both Body and Soul

ccourtney — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:55:11 +0000

Yemima, a 35-year-old single mother in the central Israel town of Pardes Chana, is raising her three children on a meager salary of $900 a month. Yemima does not receive any money from the government and is committed to working hard for her income, yet too often she is forced to decide between buying food for Shabbat (Sabbath) or paying the electric bill.

Ancient Mosaic Discovered in Southern Israel

ccourtney — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:57:51 +0000

People don’t often get very excited about a floor. But when it’s 1,500 years old and decorated with a beautiful mosaic of peacocks, doves, wine jars, and grapevines, it’s a different story.

During recent excavations for a highway in southern Israel, archeologists uncovered such a floor on a site that was presumably part of a village on an ancient road that went north from Beersheba.

Happy Hummus Day!

ccourtney — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:55:42 +0000

Today is the second annual International Hummus Day, a holiday created to bring people together – especially those in the Middle East – around a yummy, healthy food.

Monday Devotional: Wings that Fly

ccourtney — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:25:09 +0000

“Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families.” —Numbers 4:2

Seeking Comfort in Israel’s Natural Springs

ccourtney — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:47:13 +0000

As temperatures in Israel have climbed past the 90s, many people are either nesting within their air-conditioned homes or searching for some cool outdoor comforts. I prefer cooling off outside in whatever refuge from the heat God has blessed me with. One of my favorite places to seek shelter during Israel’s long summer months is in the water of an ice cold spring.

Ancient Quarry and Key Discovered in Jerusalem

ccourtney — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:47:01 +0000

As often happens in Israel, during recent excavations for a new road, some significant archaeological finds were discovered:

Archaeologists working in Jerusalem have discovered a 2,000-year-old stone quarry, along with an iron key and masonry tools dating to the same period, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday.

Israelis Celebrate Yom Yerushalayim

ccourtney — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:03:29 +0000

On Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) yesterday thousands of people gathered at the Western Wall for special morning prayers and then celebrated throughout the Holy City the reunification of Jerusalem during the Six Day War in 1967. Here's a look at how Israelis celebrated:

"If I Forget You, O Jerusalem . . . "

ccourtney — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:01:07 +0000

Dear Friend of Israel,

The story of the return of Jerusalem to Israeli control – a miraculous, joyous event remembered today, Yom Yerushalayim or Jerusalem Day – is one of the most compelling in Israel's history.

Even after the formation of the state of Israel, the fate of Jerusalem was still very much in question. In the war that followed Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, Jordan had seized control of and annexed the eastern part of the city, including the Old City.

A Christian Reflects on Jerusalem Day

ccourtney — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:34:32 +0000

It seems odd to be grateful for the outcome of a war fought in six days on foreign soil four years before my birth. But when I recently saw Jerusalem Day approaching on my calendar and read again about the miraculous military victory that reunited the Holy City under Israeli rule, a victory celebrated on this modern Israeli holiday, I felt a surprising swell of gratitude.

Young Sisters Receive Much-Needed Necessities

ccourtney — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:30:03 +0000

One-year-old Evelina and her two-year-old sister Milana live with their parents in one room of a three-room apartment that belongs to their grandmother. Their grandmother occupies a second room and other relatives – parents and their three children – live in the third.

The families in the crowded apartment live in a state of constant conflict, creating a hazardous and unhealthy environment for Evelina and Milana. There are often quarrels – even calls to the police – and all five of the children are not allowed to play together.

Bibi in China

ccourtney — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:52:13 +0000

Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu embarked on an official five-day visit to China, a trip intended to boost trade between the two nations.

During his first day, he visited a technology fair in Shanghai (see above) and met with Israeli businesspeople who have interests in Shanghai.

Jerusalem in 30 Seconds

ccourtney — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:19:25 +0000

As Israel prepares to celebrate Jerusalem Day this Wednesday, let's reflect on the beauty and wonder of this Holy City:

Monday Devotional: Torah in the Desert

ccourtney — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:55:15 +0000

“The LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: ‘Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one’.” —Numbers 1:1–2

Yael Visits New Housing at Fellowship-Funded Boarding School

ccourtney — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:28:26 +0000

Yael recently visited Ohr Simcha’s new family-style housing units that were built by The Fellowship. Each unit houses 12 boys who live as part of a real family with a mother, father, and their biological children.

An IAF Pilot Reflects on His Last Flight

ccourtney — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:57:47 +0000

Reuven Ben-Shalom, a retiring Israeli Air Force pilot, wrote a poignant article for The Jerusalem Post reflecting on his 26 years with the IAF. Here’s a portion:

The variety of missions was unbelievable. One day we flew an incubator with a newborn, and the next we searched for a pilot who ditched off the coast. Some operations took months of planning and training, while others were planned and executed overnight.