The weeklong celebration of Sukkot—the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths)—will be starting soon...but for the poor people in Israel, this will not be a time of joy and happiness. Tragically, for thousands and thousands of poor Jewish people—young and old alike, but especially the Holocaust survivors—hunger is a reality of daily life. And at a special time like this, it hurts even more.
 Holocaust survivors receive meals thanks to your help as a member of the Jerusalem Prayer Team. |
The world continues to do nothing to respond to the rising tide of anti-Semitism. The curse and judgment of Almighty God has been pronounced on every nation that does not bless Israel in this crisis moment.
Will you stand in the gap for Israel today? The prophet Isaiah wrote of hearing God's question: “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Isaiah answered, “Here am I, send me.” What will your answer be today?
The Feast of Sukkot is first mentioned in the scriptures at Sinai with the giving of the Law in Exodus 23:14-16 as the Feast of Ingathering. It was to be celebrated after the children of Israel entered the Promised Land at the end of the year after gathering the fruits of their labors from the field, as one of the three times in the year when all males were to come and appear before Yahweh God to worship Him. The customs ordained by God for the Feast of Sukkot were established during the Israelites’ wilderness journey when they dwelt in “booths” (sukkot).
During this harvest festival, many people sleep in small booths to remember the wandering of the Chosen People through the wilderness...and they celebrate with feasting for a full week...but for the hungry of Israel, this is no time of joy. Instead, they wonder why they have to go to bed hungry every night...why others enjoy special meals and fun things to eat...why they are left out. Poverty and hunger are very real threats to many Jewish children today, as well as to many elderly Holocaust survivors.
As a young Jewish child, I lived in poverty in the projects. I would go to the dump to look for food. I had a stick to dig through the garbage and fight off the rats that were competing with me for the food. I know firsthand how painful it is to go to bed hungry. I will never forget the pit the Lord lifted me out of—thus the reason I care so very much for the suffering, impoverished, and forgotten Jewish refugees in Israel. Jesus said, “I was hungry and you fed Me...What you do for the least of these you have done for Me.” What will you do for Him today?
Today, I'm asking you to help provide special Sukkot meals for poor families in Israel. We can turn their hunger and sadness into joy and celebration. We can help make this special time of year happy and meaningful for the poor and hungry of Israel. We can reach out to them in the love of God.
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