As September approaches, the coming school year is on the minds of many families and students. Other positive items on the national agenda include the coming fall holidays: Rosh HaShana (The Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).
Sadly, four terror attacks also occurred during August, collectively murdering three Israelis and leaving eight injured.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Supreme Court is set to debate the validity of a new and controversial bill which passed into law at the end of July. The problem? The new law in question is meant to curtail judicial overreach! This naturally raises some questions about conflicts of interest.
Another issue on the domestic front for Israel is the rising crime rates in the Arab-Israeli sector. More than twice the homicides – recently including two Arab politicians – have occurred already this year compared to this time last year, and many Arab Israelis report that they no longer feel safe in their communities.
There is much to be in prayer for. We ask that you intercede on behalf of Israel and Hope for Israel throughout the month of September.
PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR:
Judicial Reform and Societal Polarization
Israel has unfortunately returned to the polarized reality of the beginning of the year. On September 12, the Supreme Court will hear petitions against a bill limiting the use of the so-called “reasonableness” standard. However, the Court, whose authority will be checked if the bill goes unchallenged, is not in a position to offer objective judicial review. Should the court indeed vote the law “unconstitutional,” Israel will be at a judicial crossroads, with the executive and judicial branches of government pitted against each other.
Another serious issue highlighted by the continuing judicial reform controversy is the internal division and unwillingness to engage in genuine dialogue. The IDF remains deep in the controversy as many reservists continue to refuse volunteer service in protest of the judicial reform. Unfortunately, Israel’s enemies have noticed this. Iranian state media outlets routinely report Israeli “weakness” and gloatingly discuss the coming destruction of the Jewish State.
Israel desperately needs leaders who are willing to put aside their differences and work together for the good of the country.
Please continue to pray for:
- Peace, stability, and unity in the country
- Maturity in the Knesset and in the Supreme Court, and an immediate and mutual effort to find compromise.
- Israelis of all opinions to come together in supporting and defending their country
- The neutrality of the IDF
- God’s protection over and redemption of His people
Israeli Security and Terror
At the beginning of August, two terror attacks occurred back-to-back, within a space of 24 hours. A total of seven people were wounded. One of the terrorists was immediately neutralized, while police and security teams launched a manhunt for the second terrorist.
Two additional attacks the third week of August took the lives of three Israelis and left one seriously injured. The attacks both occurred in Palestinian areas notorious for past terror attacks.
In the first shooting, a terrorist opened fire on an Israeli father and son duo stopped in the Palestinian village of Huwara. Sadly, both men, residents of Ashdod, were killed, leaving behind a large extended family.
The second attack occurred near the city of Hebron in southern Judea and Samaria. The victims were a man and woman in their forties. The woman’s daughter was also present in the vehicle. The woman died of her injuries on site while the man was evacuated to a nearby hospital in serious condition.
Meanwhile, rumors fly as more details emerge on the US-Iran deal. As of right now, the US is set to release millions of dollars of frozen Iranian funds, with minimal oversight as to where the money is going. In exchange, Iran will release several American citizens currently being held as political prisoners by Tehran. Although Iran will be required to spend the US funds on humanitarian issues, the influx of cash will free Tehran to use its other assets differently; likely, it will funnel this money towards terrorism and nuclear development.
Please pray for:
- Protection and alertness for Israel's security forces as they do their job.
- Healing for those injured and comfort for bereaved families
- Wisdom for leaders and IDF top brass in responding to multi-front threats to Israel’s security, especially in light of division caused by the judicial reform
- A long-term solution to terrorism and Iranian influence in Judea and Samaria
- Wisdom to counter Iranian proxies on Israel’s northern border, such as Hizballah
- Revival in Iran and in all the Middle East, that people would come to know the God of Israel!
Israel on the International Stage
As a civil conflict in the Ethiopian region of Amhara – home to thousands of Jews – worsens, Israels is considering taking action to evacuate the region’s Jewish residents. Towards the middle of August Israel evacuated around 200 Israelis and non-Israeli Ethiopian Jews eligible for Aliyah – however, reports show that there are close 5,000 other applicants for Israeli citizenship still in the region. The Ethiopian Israeli community launched a protest to demand that the Israeli government take action to extract those eligible for Aliyah from the warzone.
Several prominent issue of anti-Semitism surfaced throughout August, including at American and Australian universities, where book lists included anti-Semitic reading material and a large percentage of Jewish students actively conceal their Jewish identity for fear of discrimination. Additionally, according to one report, a rash of bomb threats occurred at over 400 American synagogues.
Please pray for:
- Favor for Israel in international forums such as the UN
- A positive absorption process for new Ethiopian immigrants and safety for those still in the warzone.
- Safety for Jews still in the Diaspora
Arab Sector Crime Rate
Tragically, the number of Arab sector homicides so far this year is a record, standing currently over 120. The murder rate is already more than twice what it was last year at this time and continues to grow almost exponentially; there were nearly 40 murders in the last month, as opposed to less than 20 in the month preceding. Much of the problem stems from illegal arms networks, criminal activity and feuds. The government and police have both stated that bringing down Arab sector crime is a top priority during the coming year and convened a special session on the issue towards the end of August.
Please pray for:
- healing for those injured and comfort for families who have lost loved ones
- the prioritization of this issue and for a drop in Arab sector violence
- improved relations between the Arab sector and police.
Beginning of the School Year for Kindergarten Through 12th Graders
For schoolkids and parents, September hails the beginning of the school year after around two months of summer break. This is both a nervous and exciting time!
Please pray for:
- Protection over children as they return to school
- Peace for parents, especially those sending kids to school for the first time
September Holidays
September is home to three major Biblical holidays: Rosh HaShana (The Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles). These three holidays emphasize the relationship between God and man on an individual basis as well as between a person and their neighbor. At a time when Israel is facing incredible internal pressure, these holidays are exactly what the Israeli public needs.
Please pray for:
- Safety for worshippers throughout Israel over the holiday season
- A return of unity between Israelis
- For Israelis to find their Messiah, Yeshua
HFI Prayer requests:
We continue to prayerfully seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance to implement a renewed vision. Please join us in praying for:
We continue to prayerfully seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance to implement a renewed vision. Please join us in praying for:
Moran
Last month, Moran and his family were on a busy but fruitful ministry trip in the States. They were blessed to spend time with extended family and dear friends as well! This month, Moran is grateful to have time in the office with the staff, especially as the NerYah youth group starts their yearly calendar. At the end of the month, he will travel to Cyprus where he will lead the ministry’s “Cyprus Greece” Tour! This tour will continue into the first week of October. Moran’s youngest two children are going back to school, and his oldest continues to work after graduating high school.
Please continue to pray for:
- Wisdom regarding the various aspects of the ministry that he oversees.
- Guidance and inspiration as he writes his weekly Scripture commentaries.
- Protection & blessing over his family, especially his youngest two who are returning to school this month.
- A fruitful & blessed Cyprus Greece tour, which will also take place during the Sukkot holiday.
HFI Staff & Board Members
Please pray for:
- Blessing over our staff & board members who devote time and energy to executing our vision for the ministry
- Protection over their families while they serve
- Wisdom for the board members as they make decisions that impact the ministry in tangible ways
- Our US representative Bill Katz as he drives and flies thousands of miles every week to speak on behalf of Hope for Israel,for health & traveling mercies, protection over his wife and daughter while he is traveling, and for fruitful meetings and speaking engagements
Threefold Vision for Empowering the Future Generation of Believers
Please pray for:
- Wisdom for the staff as they continue this year’s program
- Unity in the hearts of the team
NerYah Youth Group:
As the summer concludes, we are able to reflect with thankfulness on the many different activities we offered for the youth, including Bible study mornings and our annual summer trip for believing teens, which we held this year in the Carmel Mountains around the city of Haifa. The youth loved this trip! They also continued to visit us at our office during their free time, allowing us to continue building relationships with them. One teen was baptized in late August and invited one of our youth coordinators to be present, showing how highly the believing youth regard our team.
Please pray for/that:
- A smooth entry into the office for our new NerYah coordinator – please also pray that God would bless her with the tools and wisdom that she will need for the job.
- Please continue to pray that God would lead the right volunteer youth leader to NerYah for the coming year.
- The opening school year and our Beginning of the Year party, scheduled for September 7th
- God would prepare the hearts of the believing youth for the coming year and to receive the content we have prepared for them
- For an additional male counselor for NerYah
Believing Soldiers:
A couple different soldiers stopped by this month to hang out and one of them expressed a desire to volunteer and work with the soldiers, since she feels how much our program has impacted her! After distributing summer packages to the soldiers, we were touched by the messages we received thanking us for our work! One said,
“Tell the whole team how heartwarming it is receiving these gifts!”
Please pray for:
- Continued spiritual, physical and mental strengthening for the believing soldiers as they fulfill their various jobs.
- The security situation as the holidays approach – that the Lord would continue to protect our soldiers and that the security situation would be stable.
- For leaders, male and female, who truly care and believe in the importance of investing in soldiers during their service
Post-Military & University Students
Many soldiers were released in the last year and we are working on contacting them and offering post-release counselling on university studies, resumes, and more. We are holding a get-together for them this month during which we will explain the services we offer during this new stage in their lives. In parallel, our university students finished the last academic year, including their final projects and exam! Thank you for praying for them throughout the last year.
Looking forward to the coming academic year, please pray for:
- That the students would have a restful and refreshing summer break and that they would feel renewed.
- Blessing over the coming academic year 2023-2024
- Wisdom and direction for newly-released soldiers and that our counselling program would be able to support them.
- Wisdom and guidance for us as staff in planning the get-together for the released soldiers/veterans.
- Wisdom for us (students’ program staff) in directing the second year of our scholarship volunteer program, especially in placing the students in the correct volunteer roles
- For the first meeting with our scholarship students, which is scheduled for the beginning of October.
HFI Media Projects
Our various media projects keep people connected to HFI and help educate people about Israel's spiritual and historical significance. In a day and age where many people oppose Israel, we see advocating for Israel, and for what the Word of God says about Israel, as top priorities.
Please pray for:
- Strength and wisdom for our media team as they continue to produce new content for our website, email and social media.
- A video crew that we can work with in Israel to generate new content
- Creating a grassroots movement of Israel advocacy via YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram
- Informative & interesting articles and other original material that will educate our audience and encourage their spiritual development
- Insight and efficiency in updating our website and messaging; that God would provide the right website designer
- Insight and wisdom to offer Scripture-based answers to those who oppose Israel; that God would use our content to change peoples’ hearts and minds!
Tours
One of the main objectives of our tour operation is to cover ministry overhead, so that a higher percentage of donations can go to projects. We are heading into a busy season over the next few months, so we would appreciate prayer for smooth operations, and good clear communication among our team.
Please continue to pray for:
- wisdom for Moran as he continues to make challenging decisions regarding the tour operations.
- the 2024 EXPERIENCE ISRAEL TOUR to continue to fill up! We are on our way to another SOLD OUT tour in March 2024!
- For a full 2024 calendar, which we are on our way to achieving
Ministry Finances
God has been so faithful in providing for the ministry's operating and project costs! We ask that you pray that He will continue to do so, and that we will be able to bless more Israelis than ever!
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