JEWISH

Oct2024

Prayer materials for October are reprinted from the ”30 Days of Prayer for Jewish People” prayer guide with permission from the Taipei Caring For Jewish Mission Association. We express our gratitude for their authorization.

Essential Course in Jewish Evangelism

Understanding Important Jewish Festivals

Do you want to share the gospel with Jewish people? First, we need to enter their world and learn to appreciate their festive culture. Jewish festivals are like a historical documentary, recording the faith and traditions of this ancient people. Understanding important Jewish festivals is the first essential step in Jewish evangelism, which will help us build friendships with Jewish people and bring us closer together!

“Shanah Tova” (Wish you a good year) and “l’Shanah tovah tikateivu” (May you have a good year and be inscribed in the Book of Life) are Hebrew greetings used by Jews during the New Year. During the New Year, Jews eat some seasonal foods, especially apples dipped in honey (for a sweet year).

Modern calendar date: October 2–4, 2024

Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly)

The day after the seven-day Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) ends is Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. In Israel and among Reform Jews abroad, these are celebrated together on the 22nd of Tishrei, while Orthodox and Conservative Jews celebrate them over two days. Shemini Atzeret is recorded in Leviticus 23:36, but Simchat Torah is not a biblical holiday. It first appeared in the 13th-century Jewish mystical text, the Zohar.

Modern calendar date: October 23–25, 2024

Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) ►Prayer Oct 24

The eight-day Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is when Jews light a nine-branched Hanukkah menorah. Hanukkah is not a festival required by the Torah. The only mention of Hanukkah in the Bible is in John 10:22: “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter.”

Modern calendar date: December 25, 2024–January 2, 2025

Jewish Calendar

7th Month

Tishrei

8th Month

Cheshvan

9th Month

Kislev

10th Month

Tevet

11th Month

Shevat

12th Month

Adar

1st Month

Nisan

2nd Month

Iyar

3rd Month

Sivan

4th Month

Tammuz

5th Month

Av

6th Month

Elul

Yom Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) ►Prayer Oct 14

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of all Jewish festivals. Jews believe that God opens the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah and closes it at the end of Yom Kippur, deciding each person’s fate for the coming year. Those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will especially repent to God during these days.

Modern calendar date: October 11–12, 2024

Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) ► Prayer Oct 19

On this day, Jews are to dwell in booths for seven days (Leviticus 23:34-43). Building a unique booth in one’s yard and having the whole family eat or sleep in it is the main feature of Sukkot. Sukkot is a festival of thanksgiving, commemorating God’s abundant provision during the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.

Modern calendar date: October 16–23, 2024
Scripture reading: Ecclesiastes

Purim ►Prayer Oct 29

Purim is not one of the Lord’s appointed festivals; this holiday originates from the book of Esther in the Bible. On Purim, everyone eats a traditional sweet treat called “Haman’s ears,” which is a sweet triangular pastry filled with poppy seeds, reminding people of how Queen Esther maintained her Jewish faith by eating vegetables in the palace.

Solar calendar date: March 13–14, 2025

Passover ►Prayer Oct 31

The story of Passover is recorded in Exodus, and the New Testament further points out that Jesus is the Passover Lamb. On this day, roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs are to be eaten (Exodus 12:8). For Jews, Passover is not only the most popular holiday commemorating Jewish liberation but also the continuation of Jewish identity.

Modern calendar date: April 12–20, 2025
Scripture reading: Song of Song

Pentecost ► Prayer Oct 33

According to the Pentateuch, the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week is the Feast of Weeks or Harvest Festival, called Pentecost in the New Testament. Pentecost combines two main events: bringing the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple, and the Israelites receiving the Torah from God at Mount Sinai after leaving Egypt.

Modern calendar date: June 1–3, 2025

Top 10 Countries with the Largest Jewish Populations

PrayerPrayer Oct 4

Footnotes and Reference from 30 Days of Prayer for Jewish People

Oct 2 | Jewish New Year

  1. High Holidays (or High Holy Days) refer to the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement in the month of Tishrei. The season of the High Holy Days begins on the first day of the previous month (Elul) for preparation and ends with the Eighth Day of Assembly (celebrating Simchat Torah) after the Feast of Tabernacles.
  2. Kasdan, Barney. 1993. God’s Appointed Times: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Celebrating the Biblical Holy Days. Messianic Jewish Publisher. p.65-66.

Oct 4 | Top 10 Jewish Worldwide Population

  1. Sergio DellaPergola. 2021. “World Jewish Population, 2021.” In The American Jewish Year Book, Volume 121. Edited by Arnold Dashefsky and Ira M. Sheskin. Cham, Switzland: Springer. pp. 313-412.
  2. Core Jewish population includes those who identify as Jewish through Jewish faith (including Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform), converts to Judaism and those who identify as Jewish ethnically and culturally but have no religious affiliation. (For more information, please visit the website of the Taipei Caring for Jewish Mission Association [Chinese only]: https://www.tcfjma.org/)

Oct 5 | Reform Judaism

  1. Hahn Tapper, Aaron J. 2019. Judaisms: A Twenty-First-Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities.University of California Press. 146.
  2. My Jewish Learning. “The Jewish Denominations.”
    https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-jewish-denominations/
  3. Jewish Virtual Library. “Reform Judaism.”
    https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/reform-judaism-2.
  4. Dowley, Tim. 2018. Introduction to World Religions. Edited by Christopher Partridge. Third Edition. Fortress Press. Kindle Edition. p.629.

Oct 7| Orthodox Judaism

  1. Hahn Tapper, Aaron J. 2019. Judaisms: A Twenty-First-Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities. University of California Press. p. 150.
  2. Karesh, Sara E., and Mitchell M. Hurvitz. 2007. Encyclopedia of Judaism. Checkmark Books. p. 369.
  3. Dowley, Tim. 2019. A Brief Introduction to Judaism. Edited by Christopher Partridge and Tim Dowley. Fortress Press. p.100.
  4. My Jewish Learning. “Orthodox Judaism.”
    https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/orthodox-judaism/
  5. My Jewish Learning. “The Jewish Denominations.”
    https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-jewish-denominations/

Oct 9 | Conservative Judaism

  1. Karesh, Sara E., and Mitchell M. Hurvitz. 2007. Encyclopedia of Judaism. Checkmark Books. p. 98.
  2. Dowley, Tim.2019. A Brief Introduction to Judaism. Edited by Christopher Partridge and Tim Dowley. Fortress Press. p.101.
  3. Karesh, Sara E., and Mitchell M. Hurvitz.p.99
  4. Karesh, Sara E., and Mitchell M. Hurvitz.p.98-99.

Oct 11 | Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

  1. Hahn Tapper, Aaron J. 2019. Judaisms: A Twenty-First-Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities. University of California Press. p.566.
  2. Kasdan, Barney. 1993. God’s Appointed Times: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Celebrating the Biblical Holy Days. Messianic Jewish Publisher. 78.
  3. Eisenberg, Joyce, and Ellen Scolnic. 2010. Dictionary of Jewish Words: A JPS Guide. Jewish Publication Society. Logos Edition. p.191.
  4. My Jewish Learning. “Yom Kippur 101.” https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/yom-kippur-101/
  5. Eisenberg, Joyce, and Ellen Scolnic. p.191.
  6. My Jewish Learning. “9 Things You Didn’t Know about Yom Kippur.” https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/9-things-you-didnt-know-about-yom-kippur/

Oct 13 | Who Is a Jew?

  1. Goldman, Shalom. 2018. “David Ben-Gurion Asks 51 Jewish Scholars: ‘Who Is a Jew?’” Tablet.
    https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/david-ben-gurion-who-is-a-jew.
  2. Weiner, Rebecca. “Judaism: Who is A Jew?” Jewish Virtual Library.
    https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/who-is-a-jew.
  3. Pew Research Center. 2013. “A Portrait of Jewish Americans, sidebar: who is a Jew.”
    https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/10/01/sidebar-who-is-a-jew.

Oct 15 | American Jews

  1. Author’s Note: At this time, the Dutch colony in Brazil had already been taken over by Portugal. With the royal families of Portugal and Spain united through marriage, many Jews, fearing the influence of the Inquisition, chose to flee Brazil. Given the Jews' ability to stimulate the local economy, the Dutch had adopted a policy of welcoming them.
  2. Sheskin, Arnold, and Ira Dashefsky. 2019. “United States Jewish Population, 2019.” In The American Jewish Year Book, 2019, Volume 119, edited by Arnold Dashefsky Ira M. Sheskin, 135–231. Cham, Switzland: Springer. P. 12-3
  3. Alper, Becka A., and Alan Cooperman. 2021. “Pew Research Center: Jewish American in 2020.” Pew Research Center.
    https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/05/11/jewish-identity-and-belief/.

Oct 16 | Feast of Tabernacles

  1. My Jewish Learning. “What happens in Synagogue on Sukkot.”
    https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/synagogue-on-sukkot/
  2. Goodman, Robert. 1990. Teaching Jewish Holidays: History, Values, and Activities. A. R. E. Publication. p.67.
  3. My Jewish Learning.
  4. Schorsch, Ismar. 2000. “The Seventy Bulls of Sukkot.” Jewish Theological Seminary. https://www.jtsa.edu/torah/the-seventy-bulls-of-sukkot/

Oct 19 | Canadian Jews

  1. Brym, Robert. 2022. “What the 2021 Census Reveals about Canada’s Jewish Community” The Canadian Jewish News. https://thecjn.ca/news/canada-jewish-census/.
  2. Posner, Menachem. “9 Facts About the Jews of Canada.” Chabad.org. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/5397916/jewish/9-Facts-About-the-Jews-of-Canada.htm.
  3. In 1791, Canada was divided into two parts: Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Upper Canada referred to the upper reaches of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes region; Lower Canada referred to the lower reaches of the river to the estuary. (Reference: https://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1791/1791-06-upper-lower-canada.html)
  4. Schoenfeld, Stuart. “Jewish Canadians.” The Canadian Encyclopedia.
    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jewish-canadians.
  5. Cohen, Sharonne. 2006. “Canadian Jewry.” My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/canadian-jewry/.
  6. Brym, Robert. 2022.
  7. Jewish Virtual Library. “Canada.”
    https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/canada.
  8. Cohen, Sharonne. 2006.

Oct 21 | Brazilian Jews

  1. Esse é o site oficial da Confederação Israelita do Brasil (CONIB). https://www.conib.org.br/
  2. World Jewish Congress. “Brazil.” https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/about/communities/BR
  3. Moraes, Marcus. 2016. “7 Things to Know about the Jews of Brazil.” St. Louis Jewish Light. https://stljewishlight.org/news/world-news/7-things-to-know-about-the-jews-of-brazil/.
  4. Author’s Note: The first group of American Jewish immigrants sailed from Recife to Dutch New Amsterdam, now New York City.
  5. US Department of State. “The JUST Act Report: Brazil.” https://www.state.gov/reports/just-act-report-to-congress/brazil/.
  6. Morae, Marcus. 2016.

Oct 22 | Hoshana Rabbah

  1. Zwebner, Dovi. “Hoshanah Rabba.” Sefaria.
    www.sefaria.org/sheets/16895?lang=bi
  2. BBoard of Jewish Education. “Hoshanah Rabba explained for kids.”
    https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/explained-for-kids/jewish-year/hoshana-rabbah-explained-for-kids
  3. My Jewish Learning. “What is Hoshanah Rabba?”
    www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hoshanah-rabbah
  4. Chabad.org. “Hoshanah Rabba.”
    www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/757453/jewish/Hoshana-Rabbah.htm
  5. The Rabbinical Assembly. 2003. “Supplement For Festivals — Hoshana Rabbah.”
    www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/jewish-law/holidays/sukkot/or-hadash-hoshanot.pdf. p.212-213.

Oct 23 | Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

  1. Goodman, Robert. 1990. Teaching Jewish Holidays: History, Values, and Activities. A. R. E. Publication. p.81.
  2. Chabad.org. “What Is Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah?”
    https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4464/jewish/What-Is-Shemini-Atzeret-Simchat-Torah.htm
  3. Goodman, Robert. p.81.

Oct 24 | Hanukkah

  1. My Jewish Learning. “The History of Hanukkah.”
    https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-history/
  2. Krasne, Ellie. 2020. “Hanukkah, Made in the U.S.A.” The Heritage Foundation.
    https://www.heritage.org/religious-liberty/commentary/hanukkah-made-the-usa

Oct 26 | Purim

  1. My Jewish Learning. “Purim in the Community.”
    https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/purim-in-the-community/
  2. Chabad.org. “How to Celebrate Purim.”
    https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1362/jewish/How-to-Celebrate-Purim.htm
  3. Shurpin, Yedhuda. “The History and Meaning of Hamantaschen.” Chabad.org.
    https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/2872815/jewish/The-History-and-Meaning-of-Hamantaschen.htm
  4. Freeman, Tzvi. “Do I have to get drunk on Purim?” Chabad.org.
    https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1146095/jewish/Drinking-on-Purim.htm
  5. Zaklikowski, Dovid. “Why Wear Purim Costumes.” Chabad.org.
    https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1456808/jewish/Why-Wear-Purim-Costumes.htm
  6. Freeman, Tzvi. “Do I have to get drunk on Purim?” Chabad.org.
    https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1146095/jewish/Drinking-on-Purim.htm

Oct 28 | Passover

  1. Author's Note: In the Jewish tradition, a new day starts at sunset. For example, while the 14th of Nisan falls on April 5th in the Gregorian calendar, it technically begins at sunset on April 4th.
  2. Author’s Note: After Israel was exiled to Babylon, they were influenced by its culture and changed some of the Jewish calendar month names to Babylonian names (see Nehemiah 2:1, Esther 3:7).
  3. Chabad.org. “Passover 2023 (Pesach).”
    https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/jewish/Passover-2023-Pesach.htm
  4. SOnline Video. 2016. “How to Set the Seder Plate for Passover.” My Jewish Learning.
    https://youtu.be/r37_hNy9A1A.
  5. Seitz, Abby. “10 Passover Customs from Around the World.” My Jewish Learning.
    https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/10-passover-customs-from-around-the-world

Oct 30 | The Day the Torah Was Given

  1. c.f. Exodus 34:22, Leviticus 23:15-21, Deuteronomy 16:9-10
  2. Rich, Tracey R. “Shavuot.” Jewfaq.org.
    https://www.jewfaq.org/shavot.
  3. Rich, Tracey R. “The Counting of the Omer.” Jewfaq.org.
    https://www.jewfaq.org/counting_the_omer.
  4. Rich, Tracey R. “The Counting of the Omer.”
  5. Rich, Tracey R. “Shavuot.”
  6. Altein, Boruch. “The Shtei Halechem (Two Breads).” Chabad.org.
    https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2599670/jewish/The-Shtei-Halechem-Two-Breads.htm.
  7. Chabad.org. “What is Shavuot.”
    https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/609663/jewish/What-Is-Shavuot-Shavuos.htm

The Distance
Between Us and the Jews

By H Liao

01Oct

In the past two decades, some Chinese-speaking Christians have begun to show concern about the salvation of God's chosen people. They not only emphasize the importance of blessing Israel but also hope to restore Jewish roots, observe Jewish festivals, and observe the Jewish calendar. Blessing Israel is not wrong, but Genesis 12:3 also mentions that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." It's clear that besides giving and receiving blessings to our own people, we must also consider how all peoples on earth can be blessed through us. How can these Jewish people be blessed through us? The answer is to share the gospel of the Messiah with them, for Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Restoring Jewish roots doesn't mean completely becoming a Jew. The purpose is to better understand the Jewish background of that time, thus helping us contextualize our understanding of the Bible. As for Jewish festivals, they include many complex rituals, mostly derived from Jewish law, such as the Mishnah and the Talmud. For Gentiles, we don't need to deliberately observe Jewish festivals, as Peter said: "Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." (Acts 15:10-11) Peter's mention of the "unbearable yoke" alludes to Jewish law. Therefore, understanding Jewish festivals is mainly to provide us with more dialogue space when preaching the gospel to Jews, and to make them jealous, as Paul argues in Romans 11:11, "Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious."

Note: This article is taken from the editor's note in "30 Days of Prayer for the Jews."

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, may You prepare our hearts to view Jewish culture in an appropriate way. In the coming 30 days, we ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in faithfully committing to pray for the Jewish people. We beseech You, God, to let Chinese Christians scattered around the world encounter Jews, not only sharing God's love with them but also becoming good witnesses in their lives, bringing them the gospel of the Messiah. May the Holy Spirit work wonders in the hearts of the Jewish people, leading Jews worldwide to turn to the Lord and recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah they have been waiting for. May our prayers be presented before You like incense, and may all glory and praise be given to You, our loving Father! We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

The Beginning of Repentance and Renewal

Jewish New Year

By Rev. Tsai

02Oct

“Shanah Tova” (Have a good year) and “l’Shanah tovah tikateivu” (May you be inscribed [in the Book of Life] for a good year) are Hebrew greetings used by Jews during the New Year. During the New Year, Jews eat some seasonal foods, especially apples dipped in honey (for a sweet year).

The Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) begins on the first day of the month of Tishrei in the Jewish calendar and lasts for two days. The Hebrew meaning is “the beginning of the year.” Although the New Year holds a significant place in Jewish life, the Hebrew Bible doesn’t record this festival. Instead, it designates the first day of the seventh month as the Feast of Trumpets. It wasn’t until the publication of the Mishnah (the first compilation of oral law) in the early third century that the term “Jewish New Year” appeared.

Traditionally, the Jewish New Year is associated with God’s creation of the world, and repentance and renewal are the themes of the High Holy Days (High Holidays or Days of Awe). The Talmud mentions that those whose names are not written in the Book of Life, if they sincerely repent before God during these days, their names will be inscribed. Since this day is also the Feast of Trumpets, the sound of the shofar (ram’s horn) is the most prominent feature of the festival. Through four different shofar blasts, it especially gathers the people and reminds them of God’s arrival and judgment. Jews have a tradition on this day called “Tashlich” or “Tashlikh,” where they walk to a river, tear off a piece of bread, and throw it into the river, symbolizing casting away their sins.

An 8th-century Jewish literary work (Ma’aseh Daniel, The Acts of Daniel) mentions that in the future, the Messiah will heal all sick Israelites through the sound of the shofar, those who are asleep will awake from the dust, and gather the Israelites before him. In fact, Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 in the New Testament remind us that on the day of the Lord’s return, He will gather His people through a cry and the sound of a trumpet, even bringing the saints who have fallen asleep before Him. Will Jesus return on the Feast of Trumpets? No one knows, but the shofar blast of the Feast of Trumpets reminds us that the Lord will surely return, and all people will face the final judgment.

Note: The High Holy Days refer to the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement in the month of Tishrei. The season of the High Holy Days begins on the first day of the previous month (Elul) for preparation and ends with the Eighth Day of Assembly (celebrating Simchat Torah) after the Feast of Tabernacles.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask You to help the Jewish people, as they celebrate the New Year, to rethink their relationship with You through the sound of the shofar. We beseech You to open the eyes of the Jewish people, to see that this festival is not just a traditional Jewish New Year, but to stir their hearts to thirst for Your Word rather than emphasizing the Oral Law. Just as Ezra led the people of Judah to read the Torah on the Feast of Trumpets and helped the people understand its meaning. We ask that Your Holy Spirit speak directly to the Jewish people, that they will be willing to listen to God’s voice, and come to know and respond to the true Lamb of God who can write their names in the Book of Life. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

New Life in the Lord

Testimony of a Jewish Friend

By Y Lan

03Oct

Ukrainian Jewish missionaries, Mr. And Mrs. I.B., had been preaching the gospel to their fellow countrymen in Odessa before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they had the opportunity to hold an evangelistic gathering for the Jewish New Year in a park near Odessa. Many people responded positively to the gospel message, including a Jewish man named Lev. In early 2020, when I.B. first met Lev, he eagerly invited the missionary to his home and carefully listened to his sharing about the gospel and Jesus’ salvation. Lev, a former mechanical engineer, asked I.B. to pray for his health and for his son Vadin, who struggled with drug addiction. Later, Lev happily told I.B. that the rabbi had referred Vadin to a nearby Christian rehabilitation center, and he had overcome his addiction successfully. As a result, Lev believed that God is real and answers prayers.

Thank God, Lev attended another evangelistic gathering and was challenged by the gospel message. He told I.B. that he wanted to start following Jesus and reading the Bible. The missionary shared with him from Romans 10, which says that if you believe in your heart, you will be justified; and if you confess with your mouth, you will be saved. Especially, one must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead. Lev felt that this described his situation, so he confessed his sins, repented, and believed in Jesus as his Redeemer!

Please pray especially for Mr. and Mrs. I.B.’s follow-up and discipleship with Lev, hoping that his new life in Christ will grow and become mature.

Note: This article is based on the testimony of the I.B.’s (reprinted with the author’s permission).

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the openness of Ukrainian Jews to the gospel. We ask that in the midst of suffering and war, they may look up to You even more earnestly. When it seems there is no hope, may they find eternal hope in Messiah Jesus. We pray for Jewish refugees who have fled to Israel or neighboring countries. Please help them to look up to the God who led their ancestors out of slavery in Egypt, and trust in the Lord who is the author and finisher of faith. We ask that You continue to do great things among Your people (Psalm 126), so that they may experience Your abundant grace and power in body, mind, and spirit! We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Do All Jews Live in Israel?

Top 10 Countries with the Largest Jewish Populations

By Rev. Tsai

04Oct

Do all Jews live in Israel? The answer is no. Since the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE, Jews have been scattered around the world. Although many Jews have settled in Israel since its establishment in 1948, there are still many Jews living abroad.

According to the 2021 World Jewish Population Statistics by Sergio Della Pergola of Hebrew University, the current global core Jewish population* is 15.1662 million.

*Core Jewish population includes those who identify as Jewish through Jewish faith (including Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform), converts to Judaism and those who identify as Jewish ethnically and culturally but have no religious affiliation.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we place Your people, Israel, in Your hands. In the past, their ancestors were scattered among all nations because of their disobedience to Your commandments. Today, more than half of the Jewish population still lives outside the land of Israel. We ask that You stretch out Your mighty hand and use Christians around the world to pray for the salvation of the Jews. Especially raise up Chinese Christians worldwide, moving them to go out of their churches and live out the gospel with local Jewish people. May the Jews see Your love through Chinese Christians and be willing to accept Messiah Jesus as their Savior, turning back to God once again. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do:Reforming Tradition

Reform Judaism

By Rev. Tsai

05Oct

Jewish denominations are not as complex as Christian denominations. The emergence of Jewish denominations was initially a faith reform movement in response to social changes, which then became independent sects. The differences between denominations are mainly in their interpretation and loyalty to tradition and oral law (Halakha).

The Jewish Reform movement was a product of the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah) in Central and Western Europe in the late 18th century. This movement originated among German Jews in the early 19th century, mainly in response to the rapid changes in thought, knowledge, politics, and society brought about by the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. This movement had a significant impact on Jews at the time. To adapt to the new era and integrate into the new culture, many people abandoned their long-held religious customs and culture. However, from the perspective of Rabbinic Judaism, there was a great contradiction between faith traditions and their modern lifestyle, and even the long-inherited rabbinic system was on the verge of collapse.

To prevent Jews from being assimilated into the society of that time, some Jewish reformers like Abraham Geiger claimed that modern people should no longer accept the revelation and constraints of the Torah. They encouraged changes in religious rituals and worship, abandoned dietary laws, and translated Hebrew prayers into local languages. They also agreed to intermarriage with Gentiles, and in some places, Sabbath gatherings were changed from Saturday to Sunday, with choirs and organs allowed in synagogues. During gatherings, congregants could freely choose whether to wear prayer shawls or kippahs, and men and women could sit together.

The first Reform Jewish synagogue was established in Hamburg, Germany in 1818, after which Reform synagogues were successively established in Germany and other parts of Europe. Reform Judaism flourished in the United States, especially welcomed by German Jewish immigrants who could integrate into American life and culture. They ordained the first female rabbi. Today, some Reform Jews have restored traditional customs and rituals, emphasize women’s rights, support the LGBTQ+ movement, and are more willing to engage in interfaith dialogue.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that You remove the exaltation of human reason among Reform Jews influenced by the Enlightenment and western cultures, as well as their hearts that cherish freedom and resist constraint. We ask that God illuminate them with Your word, so that they may truly know You in their hearts, genuinely fear and obey You, and not violate biblical truth while valuing women’s and human rights. When they engage in dialogue with the church, may the Holy Spirit personally touch them and open the eyes of their spirits, removing the veil from their faces, so that they may acknowledge Jesus as the only begotten Son of God and experience His atonement for saving faith. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

God’s Daughter, the New Camilla

Testimony of a Jewish Friend

By Y Lan

06Oct

I’ve known my Jewish friend Camilla for over 15 years. When Camilla moved from a city in the east coast to the west, a Jewish believer introduced her to me. From the beginning of our acquaintance, I’ve always encouraged and helped her from a very practical perspective. As a single mother, Camilla was very troubled by her younger daughter Jay’s extreme rebelliousness, but she still did everything she could, working various jobs to let Jay to receive the best education. Thank God, Jay is a young professional and married with children, and her relationship with her mother has been restored. She always takes good care of her mom. Camilla is a member of a Reform synagogue and has an avoidant attitude towards my faith and testimony.

During the pandemic, Camilla and I consistently studied the Bible via mobile phone. When we reached Matthew chapter 16, where the apostle Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah, I asked her if she wanted to invite Jesus Christ into her heart. She said, “I’m ready!” So, following me word by word over the phone, we prayed. We confessed our sins, asked for the Lord Jesus’s precious blood to cleanse her sins, and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. After I prayed in the name of Jesus, the Messiah and Redeemer of Israel, she joined in saying, “Amen!” I told her, “You are now a daughter of the Heavenly Father.” She responded, “Daughter of God, the new Camilla.”

I had been witnessing to her for a very long time and often thought about giving up. I never imagined that during the pandemic, I would lead her in a prayer of commitment over the phone. I deeply felt the Holy Spirit’s wonderful work. Looking back, all the patience and waiting were worth it!

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask that You make the Jewish people thirst for You, willing to know You and submit to You. May the Holy Spirit work mightily, giving them a hunger for Your word, allowing their hearts to be constantly touched by Your word, and enabling them to see Messiah Jesus in Your word - the God who came from heaven to earth to seek us. Lord, we pray that the Jewish people will be willing to be found by You, no longer hiding from You like Adam and Eve did. We ask that You make them turn back to You with all their hearts. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Upholding Tradition and Law

Orthodox Judaism

By Rev. Tsai

07Oct

Strictly speaking, Orthodox Judaism is not a denomination, nor is it a product of the Jewish reform movement. It refers to a group of Jews who firmly adhere to Rabbinic Jewish traditions and beliefs. As the call for reform in Judaism grew louder, a movement to maintain orthodox faith also emerged. However, neither side acknowledges itself as a denomination of Judaism. When Jews who wanted reform were labeled as Reform Judaism, those who insisted on orthodox faith naturally became known as Orthodox Judaism.

Orthodox Jews believe that the oral law and Torah were given only to Jews. Therefore, all Jewish laws are the result of direct or indirect revelation from God, and Jews have the obligation and responsibility to live according to rabbinical interpretations and authoritative legal codes. They have great respect for rabbis and place high importance on religious education, especially day schools where Jewish traditions can be learned.

Due to the emergence of the reform movement, Orthodox Jews had to face the influence of the world. Different groups have different views on whether to accept or reject the world while maintaining the authority of Jewish law. Modern Orthodox, originating in Western Europe, can accept social diversity while adhering to traditional Jewish law and endorsing secular studies. Liberal Orthodox, which appeared in the 1990s, is more willing to allow women to take leadership positions in religious affairs compared to Modern Orthodox.

Another faction, the Ultra-Orthodox or Haredi Judaism, completely rejects modernization. Men’s distinctive black hats and hairstyles, and women’s modest clothing are typical markers. They strictly observe Jewish law and completely isolate themselves from all external matters and non-Jewish groups. Today, modern technology, especially the internet, is a big challenge for them, as more and more young people are unable to resist it. The Hasidim, originating in Eastern Europe, also belong to the Ultra-Orthodox. They are divided into different factions internally and incorporate Jewish mysticism into their faith. Usually, an influential rabbi leads the entire community.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we believe that these Orthodox Jews have zeal for God, but not according the Truth. Because they do not know the righteousness of God but seek to establish their own, the community does not submit to God’s righteousness. We pray that You remove the fat from their hearts, let their eyes see God’s righteousness, their ears hear the gospel of Christ, and their hearts understand the truth of the Holy Spirit. Help them turn back to the true God again, rather than turning to rabbis. We pray that God will speak to young Haredim through the internet, allowing them to know salvation through gospel websites and accept Jesus as their Messiah. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Joseph Comes to Faith from an Orthodox Background

Testimony of a Jewish Friend

By Y Lan

08Oct

Joseph grew up in an Orthodox family in England. Like children in the Jewish neighborhood, he would go to the synagogue on Jewish New Year, Day of Atonement, and other important festivals. On Sundays, he attended Hebrew and basic Judaism classes (Cheder) run by the synagogue for children. During weekdays, he participated in Jewish youth activities (Habonim), and had his Bar Mitzvah at 13. His father was a Holocaust survivor, one of the few who came out alive from both Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, and later came to England as a refugee.

God’s hand indeed guided young Joseph. When he traveled to Canada, he was invited to attend a local Baptist youth group where he first heard about Messiah Jesus. Later, at the University of British Columbia, he was invited to a student life meeting and was amazed to hear the speaker Josh McDowell quoting Messianic prophecies from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Subsequently, he went to Southern California to attend a Christian leadership training, although he didn’t fully believe yet. The meeting began by mentioning the need for a clean life, which wasn’t a problem for Jews (as they fast and confess sins every year on the Day of Atonement); then it talked about becoming revolutionaries to make the world better, but reformation must start from within. Amazingly, Joseph stood up during the meeting, willing to let God enter his life and accept Messiah Jesus as his Redeemer. Many years later, Joseph’s faith has grown, and he is more convinced that God is real!

Note: This article is excerpted and translated to Chinese from “The Unusual Suspects” with the author Richard Gibson’s permission.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that You will enable the Jewish people to see You, the living God, and Your forgiveness and salvation through others sharing the gospel or their personal Bible reading, and amidst their culture, traditions, and history. We pray for their eyes to be opened by You, to accept Jesus as the Messiah, have their sins forgiven, and their hearts circumcised in Christ. We ask that You allow them to experience Your forgiveness at any time, not having to wait until the Day of Atonement to confess their sins. May they feel true peace in the Messiah, with all burdens lifted, and enjoy true freedom in the Lord. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

The Cautious ModeratenBetween Tradition and Modernity

Conservative Judaism

By Rev. Tsai

09Oct

As the Jewish reform movement was in full swing, many European Jews couldn’t identify with the extensive changes of the Reform movement, leading to the emergence of Conservative thought in the mid-19th century. Zachariah Frankel, once a member of the Reform movement, became the leader of the Conservative movement. In 1854, he became the president of the first Conservative seminary, promoting Conservative educational ideas. One of the mottos of the Conservative movement is “Tradition and Change”. Frankel emphasized that Conservatives must be faithful to the tradition and practice of Jewish law, and when facing the challenges of modernization and changing Jewish law, they must first consider historical precedents and the hearts of the Jewish community. Thus, Conservative Judaism was born in the late 19th century as a movement to accommodate modern culture without surrendering “the weighty matters” of Jewish Law.

Conservative Jews emphasize that Judaism has been developing gradually in history to meet the needs of different eras. To adhere to Conservative ideas, they specifically set up an institution to discuss, adjudicate, and establish guidelines for controversial laws. Like Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism flourished in America. The first Conservative seminary was established in New York in 1887. Rabbis trained in the seminary hoped to set an example for the large number of Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century, helping them integrate into American society. By the 20th century, Conservative Judaism had gained a foothold among second and third-generation Eastern European Jewish immigrants.

The most controversial innovation of the Conservative movement was perhaps the 1950 ruling allowing driving to synagogue on the Sabbath. They take an equal stance on women’s status, allowing men and women to sit together during gatherings so families can sit together. They later began to admit women to Sunday religious classes and Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Conservative Judaism ordained women as rabbis in 1983, and in their 1998 prayer book, they included the names of female patriarchs (Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel) in the prayers for the first time. Conservative Judaism has consistently opposed intermarriage with Gentiles. Regarding LGBTQ+ issues, they initially held an opposing stance, but after entering the 21st century, they became willing to accept LGBTQ+ individuals into their theological seminaries.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, may You have mercy and illuminate the minds and thoughts of Conservative Jews. While they are devoted to the Torah and Jewish law, they are open to adapting in response to the challenges of modernization. We pray, Heavenly Father, that when they face the dilemmas of the times, they will no longer rely on human wisdom to make decisions, but that they will have spiritual discernment to understand their limitations. We earnestly ask You, Heavenly Father, to raise up Christian friends of Conservative Jews to be witnesses through their lives, truly becoming the light and salt of the Christian faith. Let Conservative Jews see that God is still doing new things in different generations, so they may come to admire the life of Christians. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Ruta No Longer on the Fence

Testimony of a Jewish Friend

By Y Lan

10Oct

My Christian friend Lydia and Jewish friend Ruta are in-laws, so I often have the opportunity to share the gospel with Ruta alongside Lydia. Ruta’s late mother was very strict, eating only kosher food at home. She escaped just before the Holocaust was happening, and this background had influence on Ruta to some extent.

Ruta had an “all roads lead to Rome” view on religion, so she would attend church events, Alpha courses, and end-of-life care courses, as well as weekday worship services and lunches. What moved her most was in the fall of 2022, when the church celebrated its 40th anniversary and four people were baptized. She was touched by the message that day and deeply moved by the fellowship of the congregation. I wrote to her saying that this was because Messiah Jesus was among us, making our fellowship special.

Thank God, at the end of April 2023, Ruta went with me again to attend a gospel song concert by Helen Shapiro, a Jewish gospel singer who had come to faith in the Messiah. Ruta and Helen were born in the same year, so there was an extra sense of closeness. Four years ago, Helen wanted to lead Ruta in a prayer of commitment, but Ruta slipped away. Ruta told me that if she believed in Jesus, her mother would turn in her grave in protest. But this time Ruta didn’t leave. She told Helen, “I’m waiting for God’s prompting.” Helen replied that if she clearly understood salvation, she could pray the prayer of commitment, because human emotions are sometimes fickle. At that moment, Helen led Ruta in a prayer of confession and salvation, and I promised Helen that I would follow up and disciple Ruta in Bible reading.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray for Your special protection over newly believing Jews, who often face great opposition, especially from the Jewish community or family. We ask You to give them wisdom, courage, and the power of the Holy Spirit to resist all attacks from the evil one. We pray that You open doors for believing Jews, allowing them to settle in communities of the Christian faith. As some church traditions or worship styles may be unfamiliar to Jews, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide Jews to focus on You and Your word, allowing believing Jews to feel unity in the Lord (Ephesians 2:14-22) and grow stronger together with other members in the body of Christ. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

The Holy Day of Seeking God’s Forgiveness

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

By Rev. Tsai

11Oct

The tenth day of the seventh month (Tishrei) in the Jewish calendar is Yom Kippur (Leviticus 23:27), the holiest day of all Jewish festivals. Jews believe that God opens the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah and closes it at the end of Yom Kippur, deciding each person’s fate for the coming year. Those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will especially confess to God during these days, hoping to have their names recorded through good deeds. Therefore, Jews call these ten days the “Days of Awe.”

Since the destruction of the Temple, rabbis of the late first century decided to replace sacrifices with prayer, repentance, and good deeds on Yom Kippur, a practice that continues to this day.

How Jews Observe Yom Kippur:

1. Fasting and afflicting the soul: On this day, except for the young (those who haven’t had their Bar/Bat Mitzvah), pregnant women, and adults who can’t fast due to health reasons, everyone else must fast for 25 hours, refraining from drinking water, working, bathing, entertainment, using cosmetics and skincare products, etc.

2. Wearing white: Traditionally, synagogues are decorated in white, and people wear white clothes symbolizing purity, but avoid wearing leather products (in early times, wearing leather indicated a certain economic status).

3. Earnest prayer: The focus of Yom Kippur rituals is centered on the synagogue, with a total of 5 gatherings. Most Jews spend the day in the synagogue, and even those who don’t usually attend synagogue will come. The Jewish day begins at sunset, and the first gathering starts with the melody of the Kol Nidrei prayer (Aramaic for “all vows”). Yom Kippur prayers focus on confession for the entire Jewish community and inner reflection, asking God to forgive the mistakes of the past year, so that the names of the entire community will be written in the Book of Life for the coming year.

4. Lighting memorial candles: Before the Yom Kippur fast begins, each family gathers for a meal and lights candles called Yahrzeit to remember deceased relatives. Afterwards, they also enjoy a light meal to break the fast.

Today, many secular Jews in Israel don’t observe Yom Kippur, but all Jews in the country avoid driving. Interestingly, Yom Kippur has become the best day for cycling.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that You help Jewish people and their communities to understand the grace of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, rather than repeatedly going through a series of religious ritual prayers every year, trying to have their sins forgiven by God and their names written in the Book of Life through their own good deeds. We ask that as Jews confess and repent, You speak directly to their hearts, helping them understand that forgiveness of sins means being freed from the bondage and dominion of sin. We earnestly ask You to open the spiritual eyes of the Jews to recognize that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who offered Himself as a propitiation for the sins of all people in the world, to manifest God’s love. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Rev. Moshe Radcliff

Testimony of a Jewish Friend

By Y Lan

12Oct

The late Rev. Moshe Radcliff was born in Vienna, Austria in 1930. Although his parents were not observant Jews, his father occasionally took him and his brothers to the synagogue. In the winter of 1938, sensing the Nazi persecution of Jews, his parents resolutely moved to Sydney, Australia. His father continued to take the brothers to the synagogue for the sake of tradition. However, God had a different plan for Moshe. From a young age, he was often gripped by big questions like “Who is the God we worship?” and “Why are we, as God’s chosen people, persecuted?” He never truly read the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) but always believed that the Bible and God were real, a belief that caused deep conflict with his secular family.

In his reckless youth, he enjoyed the pleasures of sin. To avoid bullying at school, he accepted Christians’ invitations to attend meetings regularly. His rabbi rarely taught him God’s word from the Hebrew Scriptures but instilled in him a contempt for Jesus Christ! On Yom Kippur in 1950, he fasted as usual but knew deep down that God was too holy and his sins could not possibly be forgiven. This troubled him greatly, even causing insomnia. Once, he accidentally entered a building and was greeted by a Chinese officer from The Salvation Army, who grabbed Moshe’s shoulders and said, “Young man, you’re looking for Jesus!” He invited Moshe to read the Bible together, telling him there’s no forgiveness of sins without Christ. Thank God, at the end of February the following year, during fervent prayer, Christ illuminated Moshe. He no longer resisted the Holy Spirit’s prompting, his heart completely melted by the Lord’s love, and he knelt in submission, calling Jesus Lord and Savior!

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray for the nearly 50% of Jewish atheists and agnostics. Whether they have family members who died in Holocaust concentration camps or have experienced concentration camps themselves, causing them to shut God out of their hearts, we ask that You make the Jews remember the God who was with them in tribulation and look up to seek You! We pray that You reveal Yourself to them, whether through the Bible or through others sharing the gospel, so that they will not quench or resist the prompting of the Holy Spirit, but be willing to submit to the God who made a covenant with them, resolving to build a personal relationship with You and faithfully follow the Messiah Savior. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Is It Blood or Faith That Determines Identity?

Who Is a Jew?

By Rev. Tsai

13Oct

The term “Jew” only appears in the New Testament. In Hebrew, it’s “Yehudi,” which is the “Judahite” in the Old Testament (Esther 9:30). From the literal Hebrew meaning, the root of “Jew” is Judah, Jacob’s fourth son, also referring to Judah’s descendants. During the kingdom period, it referred to the people of the southern kingdom of Judah, including the tribes of Benjamin and Levi. After the exile, whether returning or dispersed, Jewish people were called Judahites (Jews). Who is a Jew? The Bible presents several situations: 1. Paternal lineage; 2. Conversion to Judaism (Esther 8:17); 3. Having a Jewish mother and observing Jewish law (Acts 16:1-3).

As history progressed, coupled with large-scale Jewish dispersion, secularization, and intermarriage with other ethnicities, defining who is a Jew has become a problem to this day. Even Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, wrote to 51 Jewish scholars with academic leadership in 1958, hoping to solve the problem of identifying the Jewish identity of those returning to Israel, but still didn’t get a satisfactory answer.

So, let’s ask the question: Who exactly is a Jew? According to Jewish law, Halakha, anyone whose birth mother is Jewish or who has formally converted to Judaism is considered a Jew. Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism believe that if either parent is Jewish and the child is raised in a Jewish household, they are considered Jewish. According to Israel’s Law of Return, every Jew has the right to immigrate to Israel and become a citizen, but those who change their faith will no longer have Jewish status. In other words, for most Jews, when they become Christians, they are no longer considered Jews.

Identifying Jews is also a thorny issue in statistics. The well-known Pew Research Center divides American Jews into: 1. Those who have Jewish faith and identify themselves as Jews; 2. Jews without religious faith but who state they grew up in a Jewish cultural background or have Jewish parents. The US Jewish demographic study conducted by Brandeis University also utilizes these two criteria from the Pew Research Center for identification.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, to this day, the identity of most Jews remains inseparable from Judaism, and even Jews returning to Israel cannot become citizens without the approval of the Chief Rabbinate. Moreover, many Jews abandon their faith and identify themselves as Jews by maintaining Jewish culture. We earnestly ask for Your grace and mercy on Your chosen people, opening their hearts to understand that true identity comes from God, not through the decisions of Orthodox rabbis. We pray that You help all Jews remove the burden of Judaism, open their hearts to know the salvation of Messiah Jesus, and become “true Israelites.” We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

May All Israel Quickly Follow the Redeemer

Israeli Jews

By Y Lan

14Oct

Since Israel’s establishment in 1948, there are now nearly 7 million Jews, ranging from ultra-Orthodox to very secular, as well as Jews who have returned from around the world, forming a diverse small global village. They hope to move towards preserving individual roots without losing cultural characteristics.

Israel wants to present an image of being strong and independent in all aspects. Especially in the past 15 years, rapid advances in technology, biomedicine, and defense have brought economic prosperity. However, this has also led to soaring prices, with Tel Aviv being one of the most expensive cities. Unfortunately, the city has become the capital of homosexuality, and it might turn into the center of the Middle East. These groups have the potential to spread their views and practices more widely.

Thank God, the number of Messianic Jews has gradually increased to around 30,000, establishing about 300 congregations. Many are involved ministering to homosexuals, the homeless, drug addicts, and unwed pregnant women. In Israel, Messianic Jewish congregations are experiencing rapid multiplication. They cooperate with each other, with worship services often having simultaneous interpretation in English, Hebrew, Russian, Amharic, Arabic, etc.

Over the past 7 years, Israeli believers who have served in the military, whether overseas or locally, have actively engaged in leading their compatriots to faith. The gospel ministry to Israeli soldiers has also benefited from the Israel Defense Ministry’s more open attitude towards different Jews joining the military (including Messianic Jews). Believing soldiers can host their comrades on the Sabbath, allowing those serving in the military to experience spiritual and physical renewal. Another important ministry is caring for and leading Holocaust survivors to know Jesus. Though challenging, we pray for God’s grace. Additionally, literature publishing ministry is an integral part of evangelism and helping Jewish believers grow.

When talking about Israel, it’s not just referring to the country of Israel. According to biblical context, Israel can refer to the entire Jewish nation or the land, as well as the prophecies of Messiah Jesus in the Old Testament (Isaiah 49:3). We earnestly pray that the God who made a covenant with Israel will open the eyes of the Jewish people living in Israel to recognize that Messiah Jesus is the one who redeem Israel. He is the true light of the world. We believe in worshipping the God of Israel, and we hope that all Israel will quickly follow their Redeemer - the Holy One of Israel!

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that You will help the Jews of Israel understand the Father’s heart and turn to the Lord. “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.” (Deuteronomy 30:6) We ask that You not only give the Israelis a physical sign of the covenant but also open their hearts to accept Messiah Jesus, receiving a circumcision not performed by human hands (Colossians 2:11), and experiencing new life and living a new life in Him. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!

The Most Favored Country for Jewish Immigrants

American Jews

By Rev. Tsai

15Oct

Besides Israel itself, the place with the largest Jewish population is the United States. In 1654, 23 Jews of all ages fled from the Dutch colony in Brazil to New Amsterdam (now New York City) to escape persecution from the Spanish Inquisition. They became the first group of Jews to immigrate to the New World of America. Gradually, more Jews immigrated from Europe to the United States, mostly settling in big cities along the east coast and then throughout America.

Jewish immigration to the United States can be divided into 4 phases: Sephardic Migration (1654-1810), German Migration (1810-1880), Eastern European Migration (1880-1930), and Modern Migration (1930-present). The mainstream Jewish culture in the United States comes from German (Western European) and Eastern European Ashkenazi Jews (with ancestors from Western, Central, Eastern Europe, and Russia). Since 1930, there have been Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Hungary, Cuba, Central and South America, the Arab world, Iran, and even Israel.

According to 2020 statistics, there are about 5.8 million Jewish adults and 1.8 million children in the United States. Key statistics include:

1. 27% of Jewish adults in the U.S. consider themselves atheists or agnostics, rising to 40% for those under 30.

2. About 19% of American Jews believe Jewish identity is tied to Judaism, while 10% consider Judaism very important.

3. About three-quarters of American Jews believe in God or a supernatural power in the universe, with 26% believing in the God of the Bible and about 50% believing in other spiritual forces.

4. Due to America’s racial diversity, there’s an increasing trend of Jews marrying people of different ethnicities and faiths.

5. After the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, there have been more incidents of attacks on Jews across North America. 75% believe anti-Semitism in the U.S. is higher than 5 years ago.

6. About 930,000 Christians in the U.S. believe they have Jewish heritage.

Note: In the seventeenth century, the Dutch colony in Brazil had been taken over by Portugal. Due to the marriage alliance between the Portuguese and Spanish royal families, Jews feared the influence of the Inquisition and chose to flee Brazil. As Jews could boost the local economy, the Dutch had a policy of accepting Jews at that time.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, the United States is the country with the greatest number of diaspora Jews in the world. Many Jews, due to secularization, are not firm in their Jewish faith, and inter-racial and inter-faith marriages have relatively increased. We earnestly pray that the Lord will help Christians in the United States see opportunities to share faith and life with them, especially helping Christians married to Jews to witness Christ through their lives to their spouses. We pray that the Lord will use Christians in the workplace to boldly share testimonies and the gospel with their Jewish colleagues, breaking down their prejudices against Christianity and allowing them to experience the power of Christ’s salvation. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!

Thankful for God’s Abundant Provision

Feast of Tabernacles

By Rev. Tsai

16Oct

The 15th day of the 7th month in the Jewish calendar is the Feast of Tabernacles, when Jews are to dwell in booths for seven days (Leviticus 23:34-43). Building a unique booth in one’s yard where the whole family eats or sleeps is the main feature of the Feast of Tabernacles. Holding the lulav bundle and etrog (Leviticus 23:40) and waving them in the directions of east, south, west, north, up, and down while worshiping God, and reciting the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), symbolizes whole-hearted worship to God. Some synagogues or Jewish community centers build booths that replace family-style booths, where everyone celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles together.

For Jews, the Feast of Tabernacles is a time of thanksgiving, commemorating God’s abundant provision during Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Staying in the booth where one can faintly see the moon and stars through the roof reminds contemporary Jews of their connection with God and nature. The Feast of Tabernacles strengthens the Jewish community consciousness, especially when eating together in the booth. The 12th-century Rabbi Maimonides mentioned that the Feast of Tabernacles reminds Jews to live humbly even in times of abundance and to correctly view their values. Additionally, when Jews gather, they read Ecclesiastes, which mentions the vanity and brevity of life, and the temporary nature of the booth reminds people that nothing is eternal.

According to Numbers 29:12-34, a total of 70 bulls were offered as burnt offerings during the Feast of Tabernacles. The Talmud mentions that the 70 bulls represent the number of nations, and the sacrifices were to atone for the nations before God, so that God’s protection would come upon the world. But after the destruction of the Temple, Israel could no longer atone for the nations, thus losing God’s protection. Through the atoning sacrifices, rain would also fall on the nations. As the number of bulls sacrificed each day decreased, Rabbi Rashi, who witnessed the Crusades, believed this symbolized the destruction of the nations, thus bringing comfort to the Jews who were facing persecution at the time. Rabbi Ismar Schorsch of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York mentioned that early Jewish exegetical literature, the Midrash, recorded that these bulls were prepared for the nations, to allow them to dwell peacefully in the world. The rabbi believed that God’s peace cannot be divided; if it is not shared with others, no one will receive it.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that You will help Jews to think more about the meaning of God’s presence as they celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Although the Temple was destroyed by the ancient Romans and sacrifices cannot be offered, You have long ago atoned for the world through Your only begotten Son, breaking down the dividing wall. We earnestly pray that You will reveal to the Jews that Your only begotten Son has become flesh and dwelt among us. We pray that God will help the Jewish people see God’s glory through Jesus, helping them to come out of the historical trauma of anti-Semitism and receive complete healing through the precious blood of Jesus. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!

Yacov’s Journey of Discovery

Testimony of a Jewish Friend

By Y Lan

17Oct

I first met my Jewish friend Yacov at the annual conference of Messianic Jews in the UK. Yacov’s parents were Jewish, but they were not observant Jews. His mother’s family chose to assimilate into the Church of England rather than going to the synagogue to hide their Jewish identity. Thanks to his father’s influence, Yacov was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth in South Africa. Sadly, his parents divorced when he was very young, and he moved with his mother from South Africa to England, subsequently attending a boarding school of the Church of England and later studying law at Oxford University.

During university, Yacov was invited to attend a Christian student fellowship meeting. At that time, he only remembered the speaker mentioning a personal relationship with Christ. It wasn’t until he read John Stott’s book “Basic Christianity” that he understood why Jesus had to die and the true meaning of His resurrection. After weighing and calculating the cost of following Jesus, Yacov prayed to God on February 3, 1996, willing to accept Jesus as his personal Savior.

Thank God, there were also people in Yacov’s family who followed Jesus Christ. Through this relative, he met Rev. Richard Gibson and joined the Messianic Jewish fellowship he led. In the fellowship, Yacov learned that Jewish festivals such as the New Year, Feast of Tabernacles, and Hanukkah all point to Jesus Christ. Especially after reading the testimony of Stan Telchin, a Messianic Jew, in the book “Betrayed,” he believed more deeply that apart from Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews, there was no one else worth following!

Note 1: This article is excerpted and translated from “The Unusual Suspects” with the author Richard Gibson’s permission.

Note 2: The long-awaited Messiah of the Jews - Jews are taught that Jesus is not their Messiah and are forbidden to read the New Testament.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that You will not let Jews fear contacting the Christian faith due to anti-Semitism. Instead, may they find eternal refuge and true rest in Christ by believing in Jesus, discovering the roots of their Jewish identity, and deeply grounding themselves in Christ. We pray that Jewish believers in Christ will not wander aimlessly, wasting time and opportunities, but will have fellowship and connect with other members of the body (including Gentile believers), and zealously spread the gospel, unafraid of witnessing to their own people. May they grow together in the Lord, attaining the fullness of Christ. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!

May the Lord’s Love Melt the Hearts of French Jews

French Jews

By Y Lan

18Oct

Paris, France, has long been known as the city with the largest Jewish population in Europe. However, over the past 20 years, due to the dwindling number of Holocaust survivors and the impact of anti-Semitism, the Jewish population in France has sharply decreased from 800,000. The current Jewish population in Paris is about 357,000, with 40,000 Jews in Lyon. French Jews are very integrated into French culture; for them, their primary identity is French, and Jewish second. Therefore, Paris does not have obvious Jewish neighborhoods like London; the Jewish area in Paris might only be one or two streets. Additionally, Jews are scattered throughout various districts of Paris, each district having their small hubs with synagogues and learning centers. This is helpful for evangelizing to French Jews because if sharing the gospel is unwelcome in one district, one can move to another place to carry on the work.

France’s top comedians and artists are Jewish. They respect traditional values, especially the older generation, who are serious about and value traditions. Jews in the medical, political, business, and legal fields are also recognized as top talents in their industries, bringing prosperity to various sectors. The current rise in anti-Semitism is mainly caused by a small group of radical Muslims, who may be Muslim radicals who immigrated to France from Islamic countries, rather than originating from France itself. In fact, French Jews have a relatively high level of acceptance in France.

There are a lot of Catholics in France. Thank God, French Jews are quite accepting of the Catholic Church. There was once an ultra-Orthodox rabbi who entered a Catholic church and was moved by the atmosphere inside, which later became the beginning of the rabbi’s journey to faith in Christ. However, despite evangelical Christians’ efforts to stand with Jewish communities against anti-Semitism, some Jews still feel uneasy when they see large crosses upon entering churches. May God help us to clearly communicate the gospel of the Lord Jesus and fully demonstrate His true love when evangelizing to French Jews!

Note: Part of the information in this article is from an interview with A.V. in Paris.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the seemingly more open attitude of the French Jews towards the salvation and gospel of the Messiah. We pray that they may see the love of Jesus, who was crucified for all humanity, rather than being entangled in the history of the Church and the complex emotions between Jews and Christians. May the self-sacrificial love of the Messiah melt the hearts of the French Jews, leading them to open their hearts to believe in Jesus, be baptized in His name, and join a church. We ask You, God, to prevent the terrorist attacks that radical Muslims seek to incite, as they have already caused great harm in the past. Please stop such tragedies from happening again. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!

The Country with the Fourth Largest Jewish Population

Canadian Jews

By Rev. Tsai

19Oct

Canada is the country with the fourth largest Jewish population. According to preliminary results from Canada’s 2021 census, there are about 395,000 Jews. Canada is primarily composed of English and French cultures, thus creating a Jewish community different from that in the United States..

The history of Jews coming to Canada can be divided into the following periods:.

French Colonial Period: In the early days, Canada was a French colony. Louis XIV specifically legislated to limit entry to only Roman Catholics..

British Colonial Period: In the mid-18th century, the French and Indian War broke out. After France’s defeat, its colonies were occupied by Britain. Subsequently, Jewish merchants and soldiers came to Canada, mainly Sephardic Jews (with ancestors from Spain and Portugal). In 1768, they established Canada’s first synagogue, Shearith Israel, in Montreal. In the late 18th century, Jews began to settle in Quebec City and other parts of Lower Canada, gradually moving to Upper Canada, and built a synagogue in Toronto in 1856.

Eastern European Immigration Period: From 1880 to World War I, persecution of Jews in Europe intensified, and many Eastern European Jews fled to Canada. Even some American Jews immigrated to Canada..

Post-WWII Immigration Period: After World War II, 40,000 Holocaust survivors came to Canada. Additionally, thousands of French-speaking Jewish immigrants left North Africa in the 1950s and settled in the French-speaking areas of Montreal and Quebec City.

Currently, nearly half of Canadian Jews live in Toronto, about a quarter live in Montreal, Vancouver accounts for about 6%, Ottawa and Winnipeg each account for over 3%, and Calgary accounts for 2%..

Canadian Jews are more conservative and traditional than American Jews, with 40% belonging to Orthodox Judaism, 40% to Conservative Judaism, and only 20% to Reform Judaism. Canadian Jews place great importance on children’s education and have close ties with Israel. Although Canadian Jews also face the challenge of intermarriage with non-Jews, the intermarriage rate is much lower than in the United States (35% vs. 54%).

Note: In 1791, Canada was divided into two parts: Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Upper Canada referred to the upper reaches of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes region; Lower Canada referred to the lower reaches of the river to the estuary.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray especially for Canadian Jews. Although they value their Jewish identity and tend to be more conservative than American Jews, we pray that the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts, allowing them to first develop a favorable impression of the gospel. At this moment, we pray for Chinese Christians in Canada. The main cities where Chinese people live are similar to where Jews reside. We earnestly pray that the Lord will raise up Chinese Christians to pray for the salvation of Jews, and we ask the Lord to give them courageous hearts to witness Christ’s love to their Jewish colleagues and friends, leading these chosen people to truly encounter the Messiah. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!

A People Bearing Scars

British Jews

By Y Lan

20Oct

There are nearly 290,000 Jews in the UK, with about 180,000 in London. Manchester is the second largest city for Jewish community, with about 30,000, followed by Leeds with about 8,000. Scottish Jews are mainly in Glasgow, totaling less than 6,000, with a trend of moving to London due to family and work reasons, jokingly referred to as the “Exodus.”

The statistics of Jewish population are sometimes not very close to the actual situation because secular Jews may not be registered with synagogues. Ultra-Orthodox Jews or Haredim (refer to the content on October 7) in the UK are growing rapidly at a rate of 5% per year, while other Jewish populations are declining at a rate of 0.3%. The rapid growth of Ultra-Orthodox Jews is due to their high birth rates. I know an elderly Ultra-Orthodox Jewish friend who is the eldest of 17 siblings. She acted as a mother figure caring for her siblings, as her mother was often in poor health due to frequent childbirth. To evangelize to this growing group of Jews, in addition to not presenting the gospel message as a religion but as a message of hope from the Bible, it would be greatly beneficial to understand Yiddish, as it is the common language used by this group.

Methods of evangelizing in the big city of London include: door-to-door evangelism in Jewish areas, street surveys , distributing leaflets at subway or railway stations, with leaflets designed to address Jewish needs . Sometimes mission organizations cooperate to organize debates (public debates between credible Messianic Jews and non-believing Jews), gospel concerts (inviting Messianic gospel singers), testimonies of Messianic Jews on radio and multimedia, or evangelizing to New Age Jews. These strategies can be creatively adjusted according to local conditions.

Due to the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, especially in France, there is an increasing number of French Jewish immigrants in London, as well as many Jews from Israel. They tend to be more secular and fond of Eastern religions, or do not follow any faith at all. Encouragingly, many Messianic Israelis have also moved to the UK, participating in evangelizing to Israeli Jews in diaspora, especially those interested in the faith. My Messianic Jewish teacher, Martin Goldsmith, once told me, “Jews are a people bearing scars.” Therefore, they are in greater need of the salvation and complete healing of Messiah Jesus.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we earnestly pray that You will help Jews not to treat their traditions, oral laws, and rabbinical teachings as authoritative, to be observed like God’s word. Instead, may they return to the Bible and examine whether these traditions and teachings are consistent with biblical principles. We pray that God will help them not to blindly adhere to rituals and regulations while being atheists or agnostics. We ask God to help them see this contradiction and, through reading Your word, be illuminated and have their spirits turn back to You. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!

Jews Fleeing Persecution

Brazilian Jews

By Rev. Tsai

21Oct

Brazil is the country with the tenth largest Jewish population, currently about 90,000, the second largest in Latin America after Argentina. Although Brazilian Jews make up only 1% of the total population, they are quite active in all levels of society. Professor Anita Novinsky of the University of São Paulo once said, “Brazil was created by Jews!”

To escape the Spanish Inquisition, Jews came to Brazil as early as the 16th century. By 1645, there were about 1,500 Jews in Brazil, forming a complete Jewish community. When Dutch forces took control of parts of Brazil and accepted Jewish immigrants to the colonies, Jews were able to flourish in business. Later, when Portugal took over Brazil, anti-Jewish persecution intensified, and many Jews chose to flee Brazil. After Brazil’s independence in 1822, Jewish communities were re-established. During this time, Jews from Morocco, Germany, and some Sephardic Jews immigrated to Brazil. Between 1926 and 1942, over 50,000 Jews entered Brazil, mainly from Eastern Europe.

Brazilian Jewish communities are mainly composed of Ashkenazi Jews of Polish and German descent, forming the mainstream Jewish culture in Brazil. Additionally, Brazilian Jews include Mizrahi Jews from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Morocco (with ancestors from North Africa and the Middle East) as well as Sephardic Jews. Currently, half of the Jewish population lives in São Paulo, about 33% in Rio de Janeiro, and about 8% in Porto Alegre in the south.

Jews in Brazil enjoy freedom of religious life. Currently, the largest Jewish denominations in Brazil are Conservative and Reform. The Congregação Israelita Paulista in São Paulo is the largest synagogue in all of Latin America. In Recife, northeastern Brazil, there is the historic site of the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue, the first synagogue in the Americas.

Recently, due to Brazil’s economic recession, urban violence, and government corruption, many Brazilian Jews have immigrated to Israel seeking a better quality of life.

Note: The first group of American Jewish immigrants sailed from Recife to Dutch New Amsterdam, now New York City.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we place the Jews of Brazil in Your hands, asking the Lord to open up opportunities to hear the gospel in their free environment. We thank You for Your grace, as evangelical Christians in Brazil are experiencing significant growth. We earnestly pray that these Christians will be willing to share the gospel with Jews in various settings. We ask the Lord to use Chinese Christians who have immigrated to Brazil, whether through cultural or economic exchanges, to seize opportunities to befriend Brazilian Jews and witness to the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Although Brazil’s political and social situation is currently unstable, we pray that God will use Christians to be the light of the world, making Jews admire and recognize that Jesus is the source of true light, finding peace in Him. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!

Praise God,Pray for the Rain of Grace

Hoshana Rabbah

By Rev. Tsai

22Oct

The Gospel of John mentions “On the last and greatest day of the festival” (John 7:37), referring to the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles - Hoshana Rabbah, which literally means “Great Salvation” in Hebrew. Rabbis consider this the last day of judgment, until the end of this day, God may change the verdict for everyone for the coming year. Although this day is important, work and normal activities are still allowed, unlike the Sabbath where all work must cease.

The Talmud records that rabbis view this day as a mini Day of Atonement, with the entire Jewish community subject to God’s judgment. Ultra-Orthodox Jews cite the Midrash to explain why Hoshana Rabbah is a mini Day of Atonement: “God told Abraham, if your children do not receive atonement on New Year’s Day, it will be given on the Day of Atonement; if not on the Day of Atonement, then on Hoshana Rabbah.” On this day, all Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118) and seven Hoshanah prayers must be recited, which is why it’s called Hoshana Rabbah. Additionally, the congregation must circle the bimah (similar to the pulpit, where one leads the service or where the Torah is read) seven times and complete the Hoshanah prayers. After the procession, there’s a special ritual of beating willow branches on the ground until the leaves (representing sins) fall off, to rid of any remaining sins that might affect God’s decision to bring rain. Some synagogues stay up late studying Torah on this night, especially reading the last book of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy, to fully understand God’s love and commandments. After midnight, some synagogues deliberately recite Psalms, and the synagogue manager may even distribute apples to everyone attending the gathering, for them to take back and eat with honey in their own sukkah or tents (symbolizing a sweet year).

The Hoshanah prayers mention: “A man will sprout like a shoot, and his name is Shoot, this is David. Those buried in the dust, arise! Those sleeping in the earth, awake! Rejoice! ... All people will call him king.” Due to mystical influences, Messianic prophecies appear at the end of the prayer. Unfortunately, influenced by modernism, this Messiah does not refer to the Redeemer, but to all good people working together to welcome the coming of God’s kingdom.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we earnestly pray that You will help Jews understand again the true meaning of atonement, rather than trying to influence God’s decision to bring rain through rituals of atonement on Hoshana Rabbah. The Bible clearly states that if they carefully listen to God’s commandments, love Him and serve Him with all their heart and soul, He will send rain in its season. We pray that You will allow Jews to draw water joyfully from the wells of salvation, and hope that they will know that the source of this salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ, for in Him there is an inexhaustible fountain of life and rivers of living water. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!

An End and a Beginning

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

By Rev. Tsai

23Oct

The day after the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles is Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (22nd and 23rd of Tishrei). Today, Reform Jews in Israel and abroad celebrate together on the 22nd of Tishrei, while Orthodox and Conservative Jews celebrate over two days. Shemini Atzeret is recorded in Leviticus 23:36, while Simchat Torah is not a biblical holiday, first appearing in the 13th century Kabbalistic (Jewish Mystic) text, the Zohar.

Shemini Atzeret is an independent holiday between God and Israel. According to Numbers 29:36, only one bull is offered on Shemini Atzeret, representing Israel. Jews abroad may choose to continue dining in their sukkah, but no longer need to wave the lulav and etrog in praise to God. As Jews pray for rain on the previous day (Hoshana Rabbah), on Shemini Atzeret they declare the beginning of the rainy season in their prayers and continue these prayers until Passover.

Simchat Torah, means “Rejoicing in the Torah” in Hebrew. Since the time of Cyrus the Great of Persia, Jews gradually returned to Palestine to rebuild the Temple and settle, but a group of Jews remained in Babylon. Over time, each region developed its unique Jewish faith culture. Jews in Palestine read the Torah in a three-year cycle, while Babylonian Jews did so annually.

Before Simchat Torah existed, Palestinian Jews would have a celebratory meal every three years upon completing the Torah reading cycle, while in Babylon it was annual. After the destruction of the Temple, with the codification of the oral law in the Mishnah, the Palestinian Jewish community gradually declined, and the Babylonian Jewish faith community became the main leadership. Subsequently, the celebration of completing the Torah reading cycle became annual. On this day, Jews embrace the Torah scrolls and celebrate the completion through singing and dancing. They also read the last part of Deuteronomy (Deut. 33:1-34:12) and the first part of Genesis (Gen. 1:1-6:8), linking to the beginning of a new reading cycle.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, whether it’s Shemini Atzeret or Simchat Torah, when Jews celebrate these two holidays, we earnestly pray that You will help them return to the teachings in the Bible. True observance of Shemini Atzeret is not just praying to God in traditional formalities, but each person simply praying to You and experiencing Your faithfulness. We earnestly pray that the Lord will help Jews to take every word of the Bible seriously, not only reading the words of the Torah weekly but also valuing the other books of the Old Testament. When reading the Old Testament, may they see that all the Messianic message points to Jesus, and that only Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!

Reclaiming the Temple,Restoring Sacrifice

Hanukkah

By Rev. Tsai

24Oct

The eight-day Festival of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, usually falling between late November and late December. Hanukkah is not a holiday required by the Torah, and the only mention of it in the Bible is in John 10:22: “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter.”

The story of Hanukkah is similar to Purim, commemorating a historical event from the 2nd century BCE. In the 4th century BCE, Alexander the Great swept through Asia Minor, Persia, and the Middle East. To exert political influence, he vigorously promoted Hellenization policies in various places. After Alexander’s death, his territory was divided among four different rulers. The Seleucid dynasty under Antiochus ruled over Israel, inheriting Alexander’s governance style, forcing all people to be Hellenized while gradually depriving Israel of its religious and political rights. By the 2nd century BCE, during the reign of Antiochus IV, Jews were forced to abandon their faith, and pigs were even sacrificed in the Temple. At this time, many Jews compromised or were martyred. Thus, the High Priest Mattathias and his eldest son Maccabee led an uprising against Antiochus’ army and reclaimed the Temple. When they wanted to restore sacrifices, they found only enough oil for the Temple menorah to last one day, and making more oil was time-consuming. Surprisingly, the oil burned for 8 consecutive days, and later generations set these 8 days as Hanukkah to commemorate God’s presence. By the early third century, the Mishnah had records of Hanukkah but mentioned no regulations or customs. Later, the Talmud recorded the Hanukkah event and how to light the menorah for this holiday.

Jews light a nine-branched Hanukkah menorah (hanukkiah) during these days, with one candle called the Shamash (servant light) and the other eight representing the eight-day miracle. They light two candles on the first day, three on the second, until all nine are lit on the eighth day. Additionally, there’s a Hanukkah dreidel with four Hebrew letters, a toy reminding of the eight-day miracle. For most American Jews, Hanukkah is an important day. As it is close to or overlaps with Christmas, friends exchange gifts, and even the White House lawn sets up a large menorah to celebrate Hanukkah.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, from the history of Hanukkah, we see that Jews once again suffered persecution for their faith and rose up to resist. We thank God for allowing them to continually experience Your miracles in difficult times, seeing Your hope and true light in darkness. We pray that God will remind Jews when celebrating Hanukkah not just to gather and light menorahs, enjoying the festive atmosphere, but to reflect on how God’s salvation has never abandoned them throughout history. We earnestly pray that the Lord will help Jews understand that Jesus is the true light from God, prepared for all people, not only illuminating Gentiles but also the glory of Israel. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!

Laurence Enlightened and Purified

A Jewish Friend’s Testimony

By Y Lan

25Oct

I met my Jewish Christian friend Laurence at a gospel meeting during Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) in 2012. At that time, he had only been a believer for a few weeks, and the friend who led him to faith invited him to join our meeting. He met this friend in the park. At the time, Laurence was walking with crutches due to an amputation, strolling around the park’s pond when he encountered this Christian couple who shared the gospel with him. Laurence felt struck to the core on the spot, hearing that God had prepared salvation to relieve him from the burden of sin. With tears streaming down his face, he prayed a prayer of confession and salvation with the couple. Later, they brought Laurence to the Hanukkah meeting, helping him better understand that Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

In his younger years, Laurence was injured while playing for the local Jewish soccer team. In addition to a knee ligament injury, multiple failed surgeries eventually led to the decision to amputate. However, amputation did not solve the problem, and the second half of his life continued to be filled with pain. After coming to faith in middle age until now, his journey of following the Lord has been quite bumpy due to the pain. However, when I was doing one-on-one discipleship training with him and we studied Genesis 22, he was particularly moved by God’s Word. I said, “God did not even spare His only Son Jesus, letting His Son give up His life for our sins. He spared Abraham’s son but gave up His own Son.” Laurence was so touched that his eyes welled up with tears. We pray that God’s word will continue to train him and help him grow in Christ. It is not easy for Jewish people to come to faith, but it is equally important to help them persevere in faith and have fellowship with other believers.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask that You help Jewish people be willing to listen to Your admonition and turn back to You. Help them understand that it is only in Messiah Jesus that they can be in God’s kingdom. Even though they are physically in Israel, if they do not accept Jesus as the Messiah, they are still outside of God’s kingdom. We pray that they will not be constantly distracted, but will love and serve You single-mindedly. Help them cling to You even more tightly in times of trouble, and become members of the body of Christ, with the courage to be baptized without being hindered by family opposition. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen!

Hidden Redemption

Purim

By Rev. Tsai

26Oct

Purim is not one of the appointed feasts in the Torah (Leviticus 23); this holiday originates from the book of Esther in the Bible. Similar to Hanukkah, it primarily commemorates a historical event during the period of exile. According to the book of Esther, the 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar in the Jewish calendar are the days for celebrating Purim (Esther 9:21). To align with the spring equinox, the Jewish leap year always has two months of Adar, and Purim is held in the second Adar. Most Jewish people celebrate Purim on the 14th of Adar, but Jerusalem celebrates on the 15th, based on Esther 9:18-19. Therefore, cities that are still surrounded by walls celebrate on the 15th (also known as Shushan Purim).

For Jewish people, Purim is a joyous holiday with four main commandments to observe:

1. Go to the synagogue to listen to the reading of the book of Esther. Whenever Haman’s name is read, people should spin their graggers (noisemakers) or stomp their feet to make noise to erase Haman’s name.

2. Give to those in need.

3. Send at least one basket filled with food and fruit to a friend.

4. Host a feast at home and invite friends to participate.

Additionally, on Purim, everyone eats a traditional sweet treat called “Haman’s ears” (hamantaschen), which is a sweet triangular pastry filled with poppy seeds, reminding people of how Queen Esther maintained her Jewish faith by eating vegetables in the palace, just like Daniel. On this day, people revel and get drunk at feasts. The Talmud mentions: “A person must drink on Purim until he cannot distinguish between ‘Blessed be Mordecai’ and ‘Cursed be Haman.’”

Another highlight of Purim is that both adults and children dress up in various costumes or wear masks. In synagogues, most Jewish people dress as biblical characters, while secular Jews dress up as if attending a masquerade ball. This custom primarily alludes to the miracle God performed on Purim, as “God’s miracles are hidden in ordinary events.” Just as the entire book of Esther does not mention God, His salvation for Israel is hidden within it.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, although Purim is a festival of revelry and drunkenness for Jewish people, we pray that You will help them once again face the power of Your salvation, rather than hiding it or spending the day in revelry and drunkenness. Lord, open their eyes to understand what Isaiah said: “Your teachers will no longer hide themselves; your eyes shall see your teachers.” This teacher refers not only to God but also to His beloved Son Jesus. We again humbly ask God to soften the hearts of Jewish people, so they no longer hide behind masks. When they are willing to truly come to Jesus, God’s salvation will surely come to them, and they will see that Jesus Christ is the manifestation of God’s salvation. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen!

The God Who Surprised Rosamund

A Jewish Friend’s Testimony

By Y Lan

27Oct

I met my Jewish Christian friend Rosamund at a Jewish evangelism summer school in London, where she came with her family to share her testimony . Rosamund came from a Reform Jewish background (refer to the content on October 5th) and didn’t think much about religion. She enjoyed Hebrew and going to the synagogue with her father on Friday evenings, but had little exposure to Christianity and found the Christian faith dull. During her high school and college years, Rosamund began searching for God, reading books on Buddhism and Hinduism, and observing strict fasting and prayer on Yom Kippur at the synagogue, but she didn’t find God in these places.

Surprisingly, Rosamund met a Christian friend in her college dormitory who told her about the Christian faith. The Christian friend explained to Rosamund that she would one day have to stand trial before God and give an account of her life. Rosamund felt as though she had been cut deep inside by these words, knowing that there were things in her life that were not acceptable to a holy God. From Ecclesiastes 7:20, she learned that there is not a righteous person on earth; from Zechariah 13:1, “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity,” she learned that God Himself has prepared a fountain to cleanse sin; from Isaiah 53:5, she learned that the Messiah “was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” When she read Jesus Christ’s genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew, she became more convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and realized that the New Testament was for Jewish people. Afterwards, Rosamund prayed for Jesus to enter her heart, and her life was completely changed!

Note: This article is excerpted and translated from “The Unusual Suspects” with the author Richard Gibson’s permission.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we now pray for the salvation of Jewish people using Isaiah 62. We ask God to remove the veil from their faces so they can see God’s salvation in the Scriptures. Especially give them the courage to read the New Testament without prejudice, but with their spiritual eyes opened by God to understand that Jesus has fully fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah in the Scriptures. May Jewish people experience the joy of salvation by recognizing Jesus as their Messiah, with a fountain of joy springing up from their hearts. May they not only be the chosen people, the holy people, but also the redeemed of the Lord, able to sing a new song to Jehovah and sing songs of salvation. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen!

The Jewish Theology of “Eating”

Passover

By Rev. Tsai

28Oct

The story of Passover is recorded in Exodus, and the New Testament further points out that Jesus is the Passover Lamb. On this day, roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs are to be eaten (Exodus 12:8). According to Leviticus, Passover begins on the evening of the 14th day of the first month (Abib). The 15th is the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:5-6), and the festival is to be observed for 7 days (2 Chronicles 35:17). During the exile period, Passover was observed for 7 days (Ezekiel 45:21).

For Jewish people, Passover is not only the most popular holiday and the birth of the Jewish nation, but also the continuation of Jewish identity. Today, Passover begins on the 15th of Nisan and lasts until the 22nd, a consecutive 7-day festival in Israel, while Jews scattered around the world celebrate for 8 days. Passover is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals, but since the destruction of the Temple, sacrifices can no longer be offered, so the Passover Seder (family meal) has become the main event.

Preparing for the Passover Seder is quite complicated. After sunset on the 14th, each household must conduct a thorough cleaning to remove all leavened food. The Seder begins after sunset on the 15th, and the entire dinner process has 14 steps, recorded in a booklet called the Haggadah, led by the host of the dinner. A special plate is placed on the table, containing foods that symbolize the origins of Passover: unleavened bread, commemorating the hasty departure from Egypt; a roasted egg, representing the cycle of life; bitter herbs, symbolizing slave life; parsley, the arrival of spring; lettuce (or celery), the bitterness of slavery; charoset (a paste of fruits and nuts), representing the mortar used for brickmaking during slavery, with its sweetness symbolizing the taste of freedom; a lamb shank bone, representing the Passover sacrifice; and salt water, symbolizing the tears and sweat shed during slavery.Additionally, there are 4 cups of wine, corresponding to the 4 promises of God’s redemption of Israel in the Torah.

Jewish people in different regions have different customs. For example, Yemenite Jews do not use a Passover plate, while Moroccan Jews use a plate made of reeds. Persian and Afghan Jews lightly hit each other’s backs with scallions or leeks, symbolizing the whipping during slavery in Egypt.

Note: After Israel was exiled to Babylon, they were influenced by its culture and changed some of the Jewish calendar month names to Babylonian names (see Nehemiah 2:1, Esther 3:7).

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, about three-quarters of Jews worldwide observe Passover. We ask that You help Jewish people, when observing Passover each year, not to simply carry out a routine religious dinner or tradition, but to see the meaning of God’s redemption of Israel during the dinner process. May the Holy Spirit open the hearts of every Jewish person to truly understand that Jesus Christ is the Passover Lamb prepared by God to save all who believe in Him. We pray that God will help Christians understand the connection between Jesus and Passover, and be willing to share God’s plan of redemption with their Jewish friends. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen!

Jack Responding to Jesus’ Knocking

A Jewish Friend’s Testimony

By Y Lan

29Oct

My Jewish friend Jack knows many Christian friends. Since his good friend Hermis passed away, I have been regularly taking him to Sunday worship. Although he comes to church with me and sometimes brings his Hebrew prayer book, I’m not sure about his faith in Jesus and his commitment. Jack’s lifelong dream is to be a concert pianist, and he’s still working towards it. I often call him my “music dictionary.” His sister and brother-in-law are also musicians. His brother-in-law was once critically ill and nearly died, but my former colleague prayed fervently for him and he was healed. However, he forgot about God afterwards. Jack, on the other hand, is willing to attend our Jewish festival gospel gatherings..

During a Passover gospel gathering in 2016, Jack was present. I sat in the front, and he was in the back. It was a panel discussion, with both Jewish and non-Jewish believers as speakers, discussing questions designed around Jesus being the Passover Lamb. We often sense the grace of God’s presence in such gatherings. After the meeting, Peter, one of the speakers, told me that Jack was nodding vigorously during the meeting and suggested I ask him about his thoughts..

I called Jack and asked directly, “Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah?” I also added, “I deeply understand that Jewish people face a lot of pressure when believing Jesus is the Messiah.” He replied, “I’m convinced Jesus is the Messiah, but I’m keeping a low profile and not proclaiming it everywhere.” Jack attends church gatherings very regularly. I sincerely hope his faith is rooted in Jesus Christ and His word, and that he will take the further step of baptism.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask that You help Jewish people not to be satisfied with just occasionally going to the synagogue to recite prayers and read portions of the weekly Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Please make them eager to know God’s will, rather than reading the Hebrew Bible without understanding what God is really saying. We pray that God will soften the hearts of Jewish people, making them willing to listen to the gospel and biblical truth explained by believers. We ask You to change their hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, making them willing to listen, stirring their hearts to become good soil where the truth of the gospel can take deep root, sprout, and grow healthily. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen!

The Day the Torah Was Given

Pentecost

By Y Lan

30Oct

According to the Torah, the fiftieth day after the Sabbath of the Passover week is the Feast of Weeks, also known as the Harvest Festival, and referred to as Pentecost in the New Testament. This is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals ordained by God. For modern Jews, Pentecost (or Shavuot) is a two-day holiday (starting from the evening of Sivan 5 until the evening before Sivan 7). For Jews in Israel, however, it is observed for one day (ending the evening before Sivan 6).

Shavuot combines two main religious events: bringing the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple, and the Israelites receiving the Torah from God at Mount Sinai after leaving Egypt. Before Shavuot, 49 days need to be counted, a process called Counting the Omer (Omer is a unit of volume, Exodus 16:33), with the fiftieth day being Shavuot. Although the Bible starts counting from the Sabbath of the Passover week, the first and eighth days of Passover are also considered Sabbaths, which has led to many disputes about the calculation method. Initially, the Sadducees’ interpretation was followed, but after the destruction of the Temple, the Pharisees’ interpretation was adopted, starting the count on the second day of Passover. The purpose of counting the Omer is to remind the Israelites of the connection between Passover and Shavuot, as redemption would be incomplete if they only escaped slavery in Egypt without receiving God’s Torah.

Shavuot celebrations are primarily centered around synagogue rituals. Traditionally, the Book of Ruth is read on this day because the story takes place during the barley harvest. Another custom is participating in an all-night study session of the Torah in the synagogue. During Shavuot, Jews are required to eat at least one dairy meal. This is generally seen as a reminder of God’s promise of a “land flowing with milk and honey.” Some also believe this tradition stems from the fact that on Shavuot, the Jewish ancestors first received the dietary laws from God, necessitating the separation of meat and dairy. Additionally, each family bakes two challah loaves. These are thought to symbolize either the two tablets of the Ten Commandments received by Moses or the dual nature of the Torah, including both the Written and Oral Torah. Most importantly, the Torah represents the covenant between God and the people of Israel, symbolizing the spiritual “marriage” between God and the Jewish people.

Note: See Exodus 34:22, Leviticus 23:15-21, Deuteronomy 16:9-10.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, whether it’s Passover, Pentecost (Shavuot), or the Feast of Tabernacles, they all belong to the agricultural calendar and are statutes proclaimed by God at Mount Sinai. For the Israelites who had not yet entered Canaan at that time, they had to receive God’s commandments by faith and see God’s promises for the future. We pray that God will personally teach Jewish people to reconsider their true relationship with You when celebrating Shavuot, not adhering to rituals and regulations, nor spending it in eating and drinking. Lord, please give Jewish people a soft heart, like the disciples who were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, to once again submit to God’s sovereign power and the revelation of the Holy Spirit, willing to confess with their tongues and believe in their hearts that Jesus is their Messiah. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen!

Josie Walking Through the Valley

A Jewish Friend’s Testimony

By Y Lan

31Oct

On Christmas Eve 2015, I was invited to celebrate at a Chinese sister’s home. Just before leaving, I suddenly received a call from my Jewish friend Salina, asking me to visit her good friend Josie who had just been discharged from the hospital. Josie was suffering from depression due to fears of cancer recurrence and often had suicidal thoughts. I had been accompanying her through her emotional ups and downs. She liked coming to my home for meals and meditation. Sometimes I would read the Bible and explain it to her. She and her husband Drew (from a Catholic background) also continued to attend my painting class at church. They lived right across from the synagogue, and when Josie was in better health, she often engaged in the synagogue’s charitable work. She was a traditional Jew who believed that Jews don’t believe in Jesus.

Josie was enthusiastic about helping others. I asked her to be a helper at the Jewish festival gospel gathering dinners, hoping she would listen to the gospel message before the meal. She often intentionally or unintentionally hid in the kitchen, busy with work, so I would pull her out of the kitchen to listen to the message. During the Pentecost (Shavuot) gospel gathering in 2019, she heard the message delivered by Pastor Mike Moore. Afterwards, the pastor counseled her and invited her to pray, accepting Jesus into her heart. After the gathering, I drove her home. As soon as she entered the house, she said to her husband, “I think I have pledged my soul to Jesus.” Previously, when Josie was sick, I visited her in the hospital and gave her a large-print Bible. She told me that she had felt Jesus come to her bedside. I think all of these were preludes to her willingness to accept the Lord Jesus into her heart. Josie is still battling depression, but as long as she is willing to come before the Lord often, her burden will always be lighter.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that You will keep Jewish people from following the trends of the New Age movement. Keep them away from fortune-telling, divination, astrology, and Eastern religions, for these are not pleasing to God! We ask God to protect them from falling into the snares of darkness, making them willing to look up to You. When they feel there is almost no way out, may they open their mouths to cry out to You, remembering You, the God who has cradled them since ancient times, and commemorating Jehovah who created them and led them out of Egypt. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen!

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