Author: yelena

Afula, 16.02.2022

Soon we will celebrate the holiday of Tu B’Shvat (the 15^th day of the winter month, Shvat).

This is an odd holiday at first glance – it doesn’t seem connected with anything that the Creator commanded. But if we look more closely, we will see that this observance has spiritual layers which can add new depth to our faith.

We begin with something that the Creator commanded the people of Israel to do as soon as they reached the Land of Promise: they were to plant all kinds of fruit-bearing trees (Lev. 19:23-25). “Now when you enter the land and plant all kinds of trees for food….” When we come to this land, it is praiseworthy to plant it with edible growing things.

Planting is actually a godly occupation. Remember that the Creator Himself planted the Garden of Eden, before setting Adam there to tend and keep it. Everything connected with planting is holy. The Lord of all the earth asks His people, those who love Him, to behave as He does. Planting in the Land of Israel is one way we can fulfill the command, “You shall follow the LORD your God.” (Deut. 13:4)

Thus, when the Land of Israel yields produce, we offer up to Him some of it – the work of our hands. At least two Appointed Times are dedicated to this: “You shall keep the Feast of the  Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.” (Exod. 23:16)

Just as trees yield fruit, human beings also do. It is written in Deut. 20:19: “For is the tree of the field a human…?” But in the original Hebrew, this can also be read as a statement: “For the man is a tree of the field….” The second idea is confirmed by other Scriptures that use the same parallel. For example, the one who trusts the Creator “will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season….” (Ps. 1:3)

A tree is connected to the earth by its roots. Its survival is not guaranteed by its branches, leaves or fruit – only deep roots can nurture it, keep it stable in a storm, and give it long life. Where are your roots planted, and how deep do they go?

Prophecies about planting have an especially deep meaning for believers in the Creator who love the Jewish nation. GOD says that Israel in the last days “will rebuild the desolated cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.” And at that time, the LORD will be settling His returning people, giving them deep roots: “’I will also plant them on their land, and they will not be uprooted again from their land which I have given them,’ says the LORD your God.” (Amos 9:14-15)

The traditional sign that it’s time for Tu B’Shvat is the first blooming tree in the new growing season, which is the almond tree. This tree’s name in Hebrew is related to the word that means “diligent” or someone who puts “great effort” into their work. A Bible study on the almond tree will reveal its spiritual symbolism in the holy Lampstand (Exod. 37), the rod of Aaron (Num. 17), and the Creator’s “diligent watching” over His word to perform it (Jer. 1:11-12).

In addition to giving a tree to predict the approaching spring, the Creator also set apart a particular region as the place that will announce the end of Israel’s exile in the same way: “But as for you, mountains of Israel, you will grow your branches and bear fruit for My people Israel; for they are about to come. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you will be cultivated and sown.” (Ezek. 36:8-9) This mountainous region is today called Judea and Samaria, the heartland of modern Israel. Anyone driving through these areas can confirm that the once-barren mountains are literally bursting with growth and fruit – including vineyards that are winning international wine competitions! The word of our GOD stands forever.

But long before the awakening of the “mountains of Israel,” a longing arose among the exiled Jews in the 19^th century to return to the Land of their forefathers. They looked at the fruitful fields, orchards and gardens in Europe, Asia and the Americas… and they realized that they would only be satisfied by the fruits of their homeland… a place they had never even seen. These agricultural pioneers came to a land of dust, sand and swampy mud, and they began to plant things. On Tu B’Shvat in 1884, they planted 1500 fruit trees in the Galilee. Thus, every year from then until now, Jews of all ages across the country have planted new trees on the 15^th of Shvat.

In the days of the Messiah, when Israel will be fully redeemed, remarkable trees will spring up along a river that flows out from the holy Temple (Ezek. 47). “And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the Sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.” (v. 12) This new Garden of Eden will be for all the nations, and those who love the God of Israel “will stream to it.” (Isa. 2:3)

Being among planted trees is a fascinating experience for the senses. You can hear the rustling of the leaves in the wind, and it sounds like a song or a prayer. Some Scriptures hint that the trees and other growing things really are capable of giving thanks to the Lord of all the earth (see Isa. 55:12). According to Psalm 148, we are urged to join the trees, and all created things, in universal praise to our Maker!

In that context, the following story from the Holocaust may not be so strange as it might first sound.

A young girl in one of the concentration camps told an older woman, “I know I’m about to die, and I accept that as God’s will. Before I came here, I was pampered and didn’t take spiritual things seriously. But, do you see that tree over there?” She pointed to a tree growing outside their hut. “It has been my very best friend during my time here. I have talked with it lots of times when I was lonely.”

Her friend looked at her, wondering what to say. “Did the tree answer you?”

“Yes, it did,” said the girl thoughtfully.

“What did it say?” the woman asked with real curiosity.

“It said, ‘I am here… I am here… I’m alive, with eternal Life.’”

I close this letter with a prayer that the Lord and Maker of Heaven and Earth will plant within us eternal Life, through His living Word, so that we will be the tree whose “leaf does not wither” (Ps. 1:3).

Be blessed from the Most High in Zion and Jerusalem

Mordechai ben Yakov

I humbly and proudly want to tell you about Sabra’s activities in the last two months: Hanukkah events, activities with Holocaust survivors, about Aliyah and immigrants, and of course the ever-expanding activities in Jerusalem.

Hanukkah: In schools and boarding schools

During Hanukkah, we helped the schools and boarding schools where we support the celebration of Hanukkah, the holiday of light. In a little gifts, we delight the children with donuts and lighting the candles. The Representatives from the Afula Municipality have participated in these events, praising Sabra and the donors,  when one of the representative told the children about the donors, that they deserve all the praise and blessings. The rush was big from one place to another, from school to school, from boarding school to boarding school. As we hurry up from place to place, one verse runs through my head “… how great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts deepened …” (Psalm 92: 6).

In one school, I have already shared about the subject of first grade kindergarten to many of you.

On January 3rd, we will be at the second M/N/ school which we also helped with the renovation of the classrooms and we will write more about it during the month of January 2022.

Holocaust survivors in Jerusalem and Afula

We visit the houses of the Holocaust survivors in Afula and gave the donated menorah and the candles. Our visits was encouraging and so important especially the attention we gave to each of them. Some of them we gave warm socks (at present, the righteous women knit socks in Finland and some are already on the way to Israel. We will distribute itto the Immigrants and to Jerusalem).

In Jerusalem we are helping about 85 Holocaust survivors, with food stamps, visits, and slowly gain their trust, (For Holocaust survivors, the story is complex and not everyone is “open” to tell their story or even meet strangers, working with them must be slow with a lot of patience. I personally knew this Up close in light of the experiences of my parents and grandparents.

Two of the Holocaust survivors whom we met were dressed up in clothes not warm for the winter, so we bought them some clothes.  Both  were so happy for our regular visits and for the helpful gifts.

Regarding the meetings of our representative and the girls in Jerusalem – Hannah continues to meet and help.

Committee for Holocaust Survivors

For the first time in Afula, the Afula municipality, headed by the mayor, decided to set up a special committee for Holocaust survivors, as the bureaucracy is complicated, and more and more survivors leave their homes for the health and old age, lack of money to buy food, house heating, etc. I was asked by the deputy mayor to lead the committee in Afula and help. I expressed my consent, and indeed last weekend was the first conference for Holocaust survivors and I presented from the experience that Sabra experienced to the work plan for 2022 and how we can help (we will need your prayers), these people are dwindling before our eyes so at least we can share a few things and little happiness with them.

Let us not forget to continue regularly to help the Holocaust survivors by supporting the medicines they need, the medical equipment to transport them to the hospitals, and the clinics27th of January is the national day of the Holocaust. We like to give them extra attention on this day. Please pray for this.

Help for the needed

At the same time every week, we continue to help the needy  with rich food packages: meat, vegetables, fruits, sweets for children, and of course on Hanukkah the food packages were much fuller to celebrate the Feast of Light, each family has its own sad situation, there were families whom could not even pay the electricity bill.

Unusual event

A new immigrant from Belarus whom just divorced had a nine-year-old boy and one-and-a-half-year-old baby.  About a week ago, a fire broke out their apartment. They survived from the fire, but they have no place to lay their heads down. That evening, the deputy mayor of Afula picked up the phone and asked if we could help them for few days with give shelter in Sabra. They lost almost everything. We have to help them. Please pray for them.

To you my dear friends I thank, pray and congratulate you for giving this generous hand. It’s not taken for granted. It is all by the grace of heaven and to you who obey the divine command and help.

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for them for what they have done.”

Proverbs 19:17 Be blessed from above

Mordechai ben Yakov
Director Sabra Foundation

Thoughts about the Generous Donations from Believers

The Sabra Fund has been in operation for over 20 years now, in full partnership with believers in the Creator from around the world. They live in every possible corner: Indonesia and Papua in the East; Australia and New Zealand in the South; the European countries in the North; and Canada, the USA and Brazil in the West.

I am often asked by Israelis: What is the motive of all these different believers for sending donations and other kinds of participation in this holy work? And I of course explain: the Lord of all the earth directs His people to open their hands and hearts to the people of Israel, following the different ways for expressing generosity that the Creator has given us in the Scriptures.

When we the staff at Sabra hear new requests and pleas from the needy, the impoverished schools and boarding schools, and the Holocaust survivors, I and my colleagues often hesitate. Isn’t it “chutzpa” to again send out a letter asking for yet additional donations for these needs? The answers generally come during our visits to these places that we are helping.

One of those pivotal examples came up on December 28, just a few days ago. The Sabra staff were invited to visit a school in Afula that we have been helping in various ways. That same day, there was also a visit from city officials, accompanied by an inspector from the Education Ministry, to check on the quality of education in the kindergarten and first grade classes.

In this particular school, Sabra has been helping with renovations, new furniture, and reorganization of the learning environment. It has been a multifaceted effort, which includes shared areas for the children in these two grades, such as a hall for games, creative arts and group activities. Its purpose is to give both the kindergarteners and the first-graders a gradual transition to more serious school-level studies.

The inspector and city officials were dumfounded when they saw this innovation. Their eyes showed their excitement at the array of activities, spread out and nicely organized in a newly renovated space… including a sign displaying a Bible verse (in Hebrew and English) that instructs us to give to others.

One incident that touched my heart was watching these small children learning how to pray. They recited the prayers with such innocence and faith. At the end, they prayed a blessing on “the good people from the faraway lands” who were so helpful to their school. You can imagine how those pure blessings from young voices went straight to my heart.

On the way back to the office, I said to myself: This is the answer to my hesitation! Is it not a godly privilege to take part in this kind of effort?

Especially now, as we come to the beginning of 2022, I pray that the Creator and Lord of all the earth will give us another year of blessing, with the privilege of giving a helping hand to His people in Israel.

I close with the heartfelt prayer that the Creator will give each of you, dear participants, robust health, prosperity, and more of the wonderful Light of His Spirit to guide and encourage you and all those around you.

Be blessed from the Most High God,

Mordechai ben Yakov

07-12-21 Afula-Israel

My dear beloved brothers and sisters

I would like to share and update you as our partners in prayers and offerings, about the work Sabra is doing among the needy in Israel.

Helping the schools, boarding schools, holocaust survivors and other issues, such as people in need.

Boarding school near Gaza.

Praise God that we manage good to help the boarding school, and we can bring a light to the lives of the girls, whom experienced terrible things in their life. For their recovery, they needed special rooms for therapy. Sabra was able to help to renovate these classes. We are very aware; we can do this because of your prayers and offering. (Soon we will give you more details)

School in Afula Ellit

In this school we were able to help renovate the school library, and develop the new kindergarten, (we have informed about this project in our previous prayer letter.) It was really touching to see the little children playing in the new renovated classes playground. Also, we were able to help buying new furniture. The principal was very grateful and happy. He is very aware to the fact that you make it  all possible!

School  in Afula Givat HaMore

In this school, we were able to help  to renovate and develop class rooms for the children of the first class. (Soon we will send you a detailed report about it)

Hanukkah “the feast of light”

 Sabra was able to help celebrate this festival of lights much more than the years before.

Hanukkah in the boarding school Afula Ellit.

We felt so blessed when we saw the happy faces of the children, while we visit the different groups, living in their unit with their teachers and their mentors. We visited the groups together with the principal and the main Rabbi of Afula. We brought them Sufganiyot (jelly doughnut) for each of them and a little gift. It was a real feast. The Rabbi said to me; “I was so happy to have the opportunity to bring the children closer to the Creator”. It was touching to see, how excited they were to light the candles. They were singing: each of us a little light and together, all of us a solid strong light”. I have a great hope that you continue to pray for these wonderful children. And God give answers to your request and questions!

To bring light and love from you to the holocaust survivors.

My dear beloved brothers and sisters, we must not forget that the holocaust occurred 76 year ago. If a person is between 80 and 90, you can imagine what each they had in that time.

The time that is stolen from them and the traumas they experienced and still felt till today. We are happy to be able to comfort them a little and too warm their heart and their feet!!! We celebrated Hanukkah in a nursing home in the North of the country and , we brought Sufganiyot (jelly doughnut) and a package with warm socks, a nice card with blessings. And some of them asked me from who they received it? And I answered them: From good wonderful believers, who love the God of Israel”.

Holocaust survivors in Jerusalem.

Also in Jerusalem, we visit a nursing home. We went to visit holocaust survivors in their homes. It was so touching to see the smiles on their faces when we gave them the gift: warm socks, a little menorah, candles in different colors, a nice card with blessings and your love for them. Some of them received it with tears in their eyes, some with happiness, one of them said: how great is the Lord!

“I feel so strong, we are partners in this holy work in our prayers and deeds.”

Celebrating Hanukkah with holocaust survivors in Sabra house.

 On the 29^th of November and the second day of lighting the candles in this 8 days feast of light and wonders, we had a joyful Hanukkah celebration with the holocaust survivors in Afula.  Early in the morning the team was already busy with all the preparation to give the guests a wonderful time, and to forget a little of their problems and sadness. The tables were festively covered, and the team was excited to receive these wonderful guests. We were happy to welcome a very special man who was playing the violin and pan flute. We felt so privileged that he gave his time and talent to give a little light to the holocaust survivors. From the beginning there was a very warm and special atmosphere. You could feel the holiness in the air. Everyone felt it. For example: the widow of our beloved holocaust survivor Salomon, who passed away 6 weeks ago. She didn’t want to come. She was very sad but did not smile. Yet, during the celebration she asked me if she may say something. She told us with tears in her eyes, how her heart was lifted up by the touching music and warm atmosphere.  Also our Faina, 2 weeks ago she was in the hospital, because she had fallen on the street and her head was badly hurt. Her condition is deteriorating. Also she told us she was so happy with the evening. The director of the Aliyah and absorption department participates with us in this celebration. She blessed the people.  

It was a very intensive week, but I am so thankful we could bring a little light in the heart and lives of the children on the boarding school, the schools, holocaust survivors, the needy families. More and more we receive request for help from different parts of the country. Please don’t stop to pray for us. 

May our great God bless you and your family abundantly. Thank you so much for your love for Israel and for being a partner in this holy work that is given for Sabra to do.

In the Name of the Lord we will do and succeed together!

Your brother in faith.

Mordechai ben Yakov