ARTICLES

Freed Hostages: The Media’s Best Factual Source

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Last Friday, twenty freed hostages sat down with families and friends for their first weekly Shabbat since terrorists kidnapped them and forced them into the tunnels of Gaza. Amid joy, tears, and shock, familiar customs and rituals gradually returned. Candle lighting, the reciting of ancient Hebrew prayers, and favorite dishes served with fresh ingredients filled the evening. Surreal conversations began to replace memories of darkness and deprivation as survivors struggled to recount their harrowing captivity.

Mainstream media would do well to pay close attention, as if they were sitting at those Shabbat tables or in a courtroom listening to witnesses whose testimony of evil is undeniable. For the past two years, mainstream outlets have launched a dangerous kind of journalism across cyberspace and its allied social media platforms.

I have named this phenomenon rogue reporting. The word “rogue” can have many meanings, but here it describes those who misuse their position or authority with destructive results. Rogue reporters chose to promote lies from Hamas, the aggressor, over facts from Israel, the victim. Their decisions helped spread a violent cancer of Jew hatred that has now metastasized across the world.

As more truths emerge from freed hostages and their families, will the media listen? Will they choose reliable sources such as the survivors themselves, Israeli leaders, and the IDF? Or will they continue to echo terrorist propaganda? Will they repair their platforms by returning to facts and integrity? Will they consult Christian media outlets that have long recognized the difference between good and evil?

This article touches on only a few stories among many. Will mainstream media share them widely and acknowledge the damage caused by giving credibility to terrorist lies?

Survivor stories are difficult to hear, but facts must rise above falsehoods. Each survivor endured unique cruelties, and nothing can erase their suffering and inhumane treatment, whether they were freed earlier or among the most recent group of twenty living hostages.

Rom Braslavski, a religious Jew, is piecing together two lost years. When he first saw his little brother, he did not recognize him, remembering him still as a boy. Among his many sorrows, Rom was devastated to have missed his brother’s bar mitzvah.

Like Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s cruelty defied comprehension. Rom survived in almost total isolation, sustained by the psalms he had memorized long before. At times, he was confined near the bodies of those who had perished. Chained inside a small cage for months, he endured agonizing pain in his hands and feet. When terrorists demanded that he convert to Islam in exchange for more food, Rom summoned the strength to refuse.

Upon arriving at the hospital after his release, he put on tefillin, small black leather boxes containing Scriptures, bound to his head and arm as a symbol of devotion to God. His family shared that he now prefers to be outside, looking at the sky. Supporters from around the world are sending him photographs of their own sky views as tokens of solidarity and hope.

Rom’s reliance on the psalms in such torment reminds us that Judaism formed the cradle of Christianity. The Old and New Testaments are one sacred book. God spoke through Jewish scribes who wrote and preserved the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, and Jewish believers added twenty-seven books that became the New Testament. Rom’s faith amid suffering stands as a message for all believers. Without Judaism as God’s chosen foundation, Christianity would not exist. God’s unconditional love is a gift to both Christians and Jews who seek Him with repentant hearts through the Messiah, despite our human failures and flaws.

Another story that shocked Israel and its supporters involved Evyatar David. Hamas forced him to dig his own grave for a propaganda video after starving him nearly to death. So emaciated that his ribs and shoulders protruded, Evyatar’s image was used to pressure Israel. When the filming ended, the terrorists finally gave him food. A few days after his release, a photo showed Evyatar playing his guitar with friends as the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea. The twenty-four-year-old Israeli was once again surrounded by freedom, beauty, and music.

Many other accounts reveal both cruelty and courage. Elkana Bohbot was shackled in darkness for most of his captivity and lost all sense of time. His mother said that at one point, he asked his captors for a needle, thread, and scrap of fabric so he could sew a teddy bear for his young son Re’em. When Elkana arrived at Sheba Medical Center, he carried the handmade toy into a tearful family reunion.

Matan Angrest suffered psychological torment as his captors lied about his family and “treated” his severe hand injuries without anesthesia. Terrorists also deliberately starved hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, boasting about turning their captives into “poster children of skin and bones.”

Israeli digital creator Yael Levontin described Hamas’s inhumanity as “the horror that defied humanity.” She wrote, “Because the terrorists burned bodies, tore people apart, and left behind only ashes and bone, Israel had to do something it had never done before: summon archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority, experts in ancient civilizations, to help identify the murdered.” One archaeologist explained, “We can recognize bones that are thousands of years old by texture and shape. But this was different. Bone fused with metal, plastic, teeth, and ash. This is not science. It is agony.”

Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and their allies have descended into a hatred that thrives on crimes against humanity.

After reading many hostage stories, I am compelled to suggest this: rogue reporting should be recognized as a modern form of complicity, an accessory to crimes against truth and humanity. Will mainstream media turn away from their Nazi-like adherence to Hamas propaganda that has endangered Jews worldwide?

On October 7, 2023, the terrorists gleefully recorded their atrocities on body cameras. Now, we have the testimonies of survivors who lived through the horror. Their stories are not joyful, but they are essential. They must be heard.

As Christians, we must commit ourselves to truth. We are called to pass on verified facts, not propaganda. We have our own trustworthy Christian media sources such as CBN News, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, AllIsrael.com, The 700 Club Israel, The Watchman with Erick Stakelbeck and Yair Pinto, Boots on the Ground at TBN, and Amir Tsarfati at Behold Israel.

Proverbs 12:22 reminds us, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.” May we be those truth-tellers who honor God by speaking facts, not falsehoods.

Our CBN Israel team invites you to join us in prayer and to share this message widely.

Prayer Points:

  • Pray for the recovery and healing of all freed hostages.
  • Pray for families still waiting to receive the bodies of their loved ones.
  • Pray for wisdom for Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump.
  • Pray for Christians to stand boldly for truth in every arena of life.

Arlene Bridges Samuels is the weekly feature columnist for CBN Israel since 2020. Working on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as their SE Regional Outreach Director for nine years, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as the Leadership Outreach Director part-time for their project American Christian Leaders for Israel. Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, is published at AllIsrael.com and The Jerusalem Connection, and has traveled to Israel since 1990. By invitation, she attends Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summits as part of Christian media worldwide. In 2024, Arlene and her husband Paul co-authored Mental Health Meltdown: Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental Illnesses. www.TheMentalHealthMeltdown.com.

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Jezreel Valley: Where God Sows

By Stephen Faircloth

Stretching like a green ribbon across northern Israel, the Jezreel Valley has long been one of the most beautiful and strategic landscapes in the land. Its name means “God sows,” and its fertile soil still lives up to that name today. For centuries, the valley has been the crossroads of nations and the setting of some of Scripture’s most decisive moments.

The Jezreel Valley lies between the mountains of Samaria to the south and the hills of Lower Galilee to the north. To the west, Mount Carmel rises toward the Mediterranean; to the east, the land drops toward the Jordan Valley. Rich soil, abundant springs, and natural routes made it a place of both blessing and battle. Whoever controlled Jezreel controlled a major artery of trade, travel, and influence throughout the ancient world.

Because of its location, the valley became the stage for several major biblical events. Here, Deborah and Barak defeated the armies of King Jabin and his commander Sisera (Judges 4-5). On the slopes of the nearby Hill of Moreh, Gideon and his three hundred men routed the Midianites (Judges 6-7). Centuries later, King Saul and his sons fell to the Philistines in this same valley (1 Samuel 31). Each of these moments reminds us that victory and defeat are not determined by human power, but by trust in God.

The Jezreel Valley also teaches us something deeper about God’s character. Its very name, “God sows,” points to His faithfulness and provision. Like a farmer who plants seed with purpose, the Lord plants His people and His plans in the soil of history. Even when wars and droughts sweep through, His purposes take root and bear fruit in their time.

Today, standing on the overlook above the valley, you can see fields stretching as far as the eye can see—fields that still testify to God’s ability to bring life and abundance to the land He promised. What was once a place of bloodshed and conflict now thrives with harvest.

The Jezreel Valley reminds us that God is still at work sowing seeds of redemption and restoration in the world and in our own lives. The soil may not always seem ready, and the process may take time, but He remains the faithful Sower who brings forth life from what once seemed barren.

Are there areas in your life that feel dry or uncertain? Trust that God is still planting and working. The same Lord who sowed His promises in Jezreel is sowing His purposes in you.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.

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Weekly Devotional: The Wisdom of Reverence

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

We usually equate wisdom with our capacity to understand knowledge. Knowledge equals wisdom. Some may add that wisdom is the proper application of knowledge.

When we hear the word fear, we often think of being afraid, of danger or punishment. Yet the Bible uses the phrase fear of the Lord very differently. It is not about terror but about reverence. True wisdom begins when we recognize who God is, who we are, and live in humble respect before Him.

In Scripture, the fear of God is closely linked to love for God. The two are inseparable. To fear the Lord is to take Him seriously, to love, trust, and obey Him fully. Deuteronomy reminds us, “Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only” (Deuteronomy 6:13). In the same passage, it commands us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:5). To love Him is to obey Him, and to fear Him is to walk in that obedience.

Abraham demonstrated this kind of reverent fear. When he obeyed God’s command to offer Isaac, the Lord said, “Now I know that you fear God” (Genesis 22:12). Abraham’s reverence was proven not by words but by faithful obedience. Fear of the Lord is not dread; it is devotion expressed through trust and action.

Our culture values knowledge and self-reliance, but the Bible teaches that wisdom begins not with intellect but with humility before God. We gain true understanding when we acknowledge His authority, trust His Word, and live according to His commands.

To fear God is to walk closely with Him, to value His will above our own, and to find joy in following His ways. This kind of fear brings peace and blessing, not anxiety. It teaches us that wisdom grows out of a heart that honors Him first.

Do you approach God with awe and reverence? Are there areas of your life where you rely more on your own understanding than on His Word? True wisdom begins when we surrender our pride and walk in humble obedience before the Lord.

PRAYER

Father, teach me what it means to truly fear You. Help me to honor You with my thoughts, choices, and obedience. May my reverence for You lead me to live wisely and walk in Your ways each day. Amen.

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Torah Reading Devotional: Parashat Bereishit (בְּרֵאשִׁית) “In the Beginning”

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8). Read on Shabbat, October 18, 2025 / 26 Tishrei 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2).

These opening words confront us with mystery and majesty. Before form and structure, God’s presence hovered in the darkness. Creation begins not with chaos subdued but with God speaking life into the void. The act of creation is not only about what came after but about the One who gives order, light, and purpose where none existed.

The narrative continues with days of separation: light from darkness, waters above from waters below, and land from sea, as God names and calls each into being. With each day, God surveys what He has made and affirms it as good. Humanity enters as the crowning act of creation, formed in God’s image, given dignity, purpose, and responsibility. Genesis presents a world designed for relationship, stewardship, and sacred order.

When we look at the world, we see both beauty and brokenness, harmony and chaos. This portion reminds us that God’s voice is powerful enough to bring order from confusion. We who are made in His image carry the call to reflect His creativity, compassion, and care. The world is not an accident of chance but the work of a Creator who shaped it and entrusted it to us.

Perhaps there are moments when your life feels empty or uncertain, when purpose seems distant and your spirit hovers over what feels formless. Remember that God’s Spirit hovered over the chaos too. Even then, He was present, shaping, speaking, and bringing life where there was none. And if you find yourself in a time of clarity and peace, do not forget the foundation. All that is good flows from the God who spoke in the beginning.

Let this week be one of renewed wonder. Take time to notice creation around you: the sound of the wind, the rhythm of the sea, the laughter of a child. Each moment points back to the Creator. Let your actions reflect His purpose by cultivating peace, restoring what is broken, and caring for what He has made.

PRAYER
Lord, renew in me a sense of awe for the world You have created. Help me live as one made in Your image, tending to what You have entrusted to my care. May my life reflect Your order, beauty, and purpose. Amen.

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Tears of Gratitude as Israel Welcomed Its Freed Hostages

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

I confess, I am a woman who rarely cries. But October 13, 2025, was different for me. It was a historic day with modern Israel in their ancient land and every living hostage freed after two long years in Israel’s longest war. It was a moment to release my pent-up tears of joy as a Christian Zionist, an American, a columnist, author, and advocate for our irreplaceable ally Israel for 25 years. October 13, 2025, will endure in world history, engraved in the hearts of every Israeli and in those of us who recognize God’s sovereign hand in world affairs.

Although I was not on the ground in Israel, I was there in spirit and with rapt attention. Watch parties took place throughout the country, and 400,000 Israelis stood all night in and around Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, anxious that Hamas might cruelly change its mind at the last moment. Through media coverage, I witnessed the truth, beauty, and reality of prayers answered from millions of Christians standing united with the Jewish community around the world.

As vehicles carrying the freed hostages passed out of Gaza, members of the Israel Defense Forces lined the roads holding high the familiar blue and white flags of their nation. They stood both in celebration and in solemn remembrance of 915 fallen soldiers and thousands more who were injured while defending their homeland. Seven hundred twenty-eight days of captivity had come to an end through close collaboration between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose strategies advanced the President’s peace plan to its next stage.

After traveling by vehicle and then by helicopter, the freed hostages, viewed as precious cargo by the entire nation, were received at three hospitals specially prepared for their arrival. Crowds gathered, sang, and cheered as the hostages walked into freedom. At the same time, President Trump landed in Israel for a four-hour official visit before continuing to Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, to sign the peace declaration. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to attend, but he declined because it was Simchat Torah, “the joy of the Torah.” It was on Simchat Torah in 2023 that Hamas had viciously attacked Israel along the Gaza border.

When President Trump arrived at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed him warmly. President Trump first met with families of the kidnapped, the wounded, and those bereaved by the October 7 attacks. He listened with compassion in the Chagall State Hall, whose walls display Marc Chagall’s magnificent tapestries depicting the story of Israel, ancient and modern. The meeting reflected deep empathy in a setting that has rarely hosted such personal and emotional moments.

Later, President Trump stepped to the podium in the Knesset to a long and enthusiastic standing ovation. I found myself applauding along with the crowd as a trumpet fanfare sounded and cheers filled the chamber. He waved toward the balcony where his daughter Ivanka sat beside her husband Jared Kushner, one of the peace agreement’s key architects. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and other U.S. officials sat nearby.

Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Knesset, presided over the gathering, which was filled with applause and repeated standing ovations. In his remarks, Ohana described President Trump as “a giant of Jewish history, that Cyrus the Great would be the only parallel.” He added, “We do not need appeasers; we need more leaders who are brave. We need more Trumps.”

Introducing Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ohana praised him for “making the hard decisions.” Netanyahu responded by calling Trump “the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House. There is no match for Trump.” In his address, President Trump declared, “This is the historic dawn of a golden age in the Middle East. We are giving thanks to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

When the reunions of freed hostages with their families began circulating in the media, I cried again as I watched their embraces, shouts, and prayers of thanksgiving. Yet I also grieved for the families who lost loved ones in the Israel Defense Forces, for those who were severely injured, and for civilians murdered on October 7 or who died during captivity. Psalm 34:18 offers a profound way to pray for them and for all of Israel: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Each of the twenty reunions, and all those that came before, stand as a testament to the endurance of Israel and the steadfast friendship of the United States under Donald J. Trump. Before Bar Kupershtein was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, his father, Tal, suffered a stroke that left him in a wheelchair. He held on to one goal: to stand and embrace his son when Bar came home. On October 13, 2025, Tal rose from his wheelchair and fulfilled that dream. The family of Segev Kalfon did not know he had survived until February, when another released hostage told them. Even then, they could not be certain until October 13. Their reunion erupted in tears, joy, and gratitude.

Amid the joy sweeping through Israel, a shadow remains. Hamas delayed the release of twenty-eight bodies of hostages who had died in captivity. Their claims that they cannot locate all the bodies may be another cruel manipulation meant to prolong the pain. Only God knows the truth. May He show mercy in the months ahead. And may we as Christians fulfill our calling as true friends of Israel, our spiritual homeland, trusting in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus.

Our CBN Israel team invites you to join us in prayer for Israel amid both joy and sorrow.

Prayer Points:

  • Pray with thanksgiving for the twenty freed hostages.
  • Pray for families still grieving and waiting for the return of their loved ones’ remains.
  • Pray for supernatural wisdom for President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu in Phase II of the peace plan.
  • Pray for the families of the 915 IDF soldiers who gave their lives for their nation.
  • Pray for the physical and emotional healing of injured IDF members.
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Healing Hearts After Horror

For former hostages and their families, the nightmare began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists crossed the border into Israel and abducted dozens of innocent civilians. In the days and weeks that followed, their lives were consumed by fear, anguish, and desperate hope.

Some families received the heartbreaking news that their loved ones had been killed and their remains discovered in Gaza. Others experienced the emotional return of relatives through hostage releases, but even in those moments of joy, the pain and trauma remained.

Today, many of these families continue to face an uphill battle toward emotional recovery. But thanks to friends like you, they are beginning to find comfort, support, and a path forward. Through the generous giving of valued donors, CBN Israel and our trusted local partners are providing therapeutic retreats for former hostages and their loved ones, giving them space to breathe, reflect, and begin healing.

In the quiet beauty of Eilat, surrounded by desert mountains and the Red Sea, these families are welcomed into a safe and nurturing environment. With the help of professional therapists, trauma counselors, and social workers, each retreat offers guidance and care for 25 to 30 participants at a time. Away from the pressure of daily life, they are able to process their experiences and connect with others who understand their pain.

Along with emotional support, these retreats also provide practical assistance, including legal guidance, financial advice, and career support. These vital resources help families navigate the challenges they now face, while working to prevent a widespread mental health crisis across the country.

Because of the compassion of caring friends like you, these survivors and their families are finding light in the darkness. One father, his voice filled with emotion, shared, “This retreat has been so meaningful. I am so grateful to those who helped make it possible.”

Your support of CBN Israel can bring hope, healing, and tangible help to many still recovering from the trauma of that tragic day. Thank you for standing with the people of Israel when they need it most.

Please join us today in bringing healing, help, and hope to those who need it most.

GIVE TODAY

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Pool of Siloam: Washed and Made Whole

By Stephen Faircloth

Hidden beneath the streets of ancient Jerusalem lies a place that once shimmered with life and purpose, the Pool of Siloam. Resting at the southern end of the City of David, this pool was fed by the Gihon Spring through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a remarkable channel carved through solid rock. For centuries, it served as both a practical and spiritual landmark for the people of Israel.

In 2004, archaeologists rediscovered the Pool of Siloam while workers were laying a new sewage line. What they found was extraordinary: broad steps descending into a vast pool where pilgrims once gathered. Its design reflected both the rhythm of the seasons and the faith of a city that depended on God’s provision for every drop of water.

In the days of Jesus, the pool was far more than a public water source. It was a place of cleansing and preparation. Pilgrims on their way to the Temple immersed themselves there to become ritually pure before offering worship.

It was also the setting of one of Jesus’ most memorable miracles. When He healed the man born blind, He told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeyed, and his eyes were opened (John 9:7). That moment turned the pool into a symbol of spiritual sight and renewal, a place where obedience met transformation.

During the Feast of Tabernacles, priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and carry it to the Temple, pouring it out as an offering before the Lord. This act was both a prayer for rain and a declaration of trust in the God who sustains life. It was likely during this feast that Jesus cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). The true source of living water was standing among them, offering refreshment for the soul.

The Pool of Siloam reminds us that God still calls His people to come and be washed, to step into the waters of His grace and find renewal. Faith is not simply knowing where the water is but walking into it and trusting the One who makes us whole.

Are there areas in your life where you need God’s cleansing and renewal? The same Jesus who told the blind man to wash still calls us to come to Him today. His living water restores sight, refreshes the spirit, and brings life to what has grown dry.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.

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Weekly Devotional: Learning to Live the Word

“Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

True discipleship is more than belief; it is a life devoted to learning, living, and teaching the truth of God’s Word. In both Hebrew and Greek, the word disciple literally means student. 

A disciple is not merely a follower but one who studies with purpose, seeking to understand and apply God’s instruction. Ezra gives us a timeless model: he studied the Word, obeyed what he learned, and then taught it to others. This is the heartbeat of genuine discipleship.

Many people today think of discipleship as simply following Jesus, but biblical discipleship involves intentional learning. Knowledge and obedience are inseparable. Study leads to doing and doing leads to teaching. Without study, our faith risks becoming shallow or emotional, guided more by feeling than by truth.

Some believers worry that deep study might replace spiritual passion, but in Scripture the “heart” is not just the seat of emotion; it is the center of understanding and decision. To love God with all our heart, soul, and mind is to engage our whole being in knowing Him.

The more we study and internalize His Word, the more we learn to love Him rightly and live as He calls us to live.

Jesus said, “Everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). To be like Jesus, we must be taught and transformed by His words. He also said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Love for Christ is revealed not in sentiment but in obedience.

Ezra reminds us that true discipleship begins with setting our hearts on the Word. When we study deeply, live faithfully, and teach boldly, we continue the pattern Jesus gave His followers: to make disciples, not just converts. To make disciples, we must first be disciples.

PRAYER

Lord, help me to hunger for Your Word and to study it with a devoted heart. Teach me to live out what I learn and to share it faithfully with others so that my life may reflect the wisdom and grace of my Teacher, Jesus. Amen.

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Torah Reading Devotional: Parashat Sukkot (סֻכּוֹת) “Dwelling”

This week’s Torah reading is the holiday portion for Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot (Leviticus 22:26-23:44; Numbers 29:12-28). Read on Shabbat, October 11, 2025 / 19 Tishrei 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and you keep My rules and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit” (Leviticus 26:3-4).

God promises blessing in the land when His people live in obedience, not as a condition of earning love but as the natural fruit of covenant faithfulness. The rains fall in their season. The harvest flourishes. The land responds to faithful stewardship. During the festival of Sukkot, Israel dwells in temporary shelters, remembering their reliance on God’s provision. The promise of rain and harvest reminds them that blessing is never to be taken for granted.

The reading for this Shabbat celebrates God’s sheltering presence and His provision during the wilderness journey. It reminds us that life itself is lived under His covering, and that the blessings of land, food, and security are gifts that call for gratitude and obedience. The festival invites each generation to pause, dwell, and remember dependence even in times of plenty.

Throughout life there are seasons of plenty, seasons of need, and seasons of waiting. God’s promise remains that when we walk in His ways, life will grow even in unexpected places. Obedience and trust invite His rain, both physical and spiritual. When we lose sight of this truth, we risk taking His provision for granted or turning to lesser sources of strength. Sukkot calls the heart back to dependence, reminding us that God alone is our shelter, our provider, and the one who sustains all things.

Those enjoying a season of abundance are called to guard their hearts against complacency. Let gratitude shape your attitude and generosity define your response. Those facing challenge or uncertainty can hold fast to the assurance that God has not turned away. His word still brings rain to the dry places. And for anyone standing between those extremes, faithfulness in the present moment becomes the seed of future blessing.

Take time each day, whether sitting beneath the sukkah or pausing in a quiet place, to reflect on God’s faithfulness. Notice the blessings that surround you, even the small ones that often pass unnoticed. Offer Him thanks. Choose one way to respond in obedience and generosity from what He has given you. Let your gratitude and your actions declare that your trust is in the Lord who provides rain in its time.

PRAYER
Lord, help me to live in dependence on You. Teach me to walk in Your ways so that Your blessing may flow in my life. May my gratitude and obedience reflect Your goodness and faithfulness. Amen.

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Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions: Twenty Years of a War Aimed at Israel’s Elimination

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

The acronym BDS, meaning Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, has become a symbol of destruction for Israel and the global Jewish community. While the movement claims to advocate for Palestinian rights through economic, academic, and cultural boycotts, it is in reality a modern form of antisemitism. Its ideological roots are connected to the same hatred that once drove Nazi and Muslim Brotherhood extremists, and its influence continues to grow.

The BDS movement will not dissolve on its own. Hatred of this kind tends to intensify and spread. After decades of anti-Israel slander, BDS has succeeded in orchestrating a vast international disinformation campaign that mirrors the propaganda strategies of the Nazi era. Scripture, both Old and New Testament, reaffirms God’s enduring love and purpose for His Jewish people. Yet in these deeply troubling times, believers must be vigilant, responding with prayer, truth, and action for the land that gave us both our Scriptures and our Savior.

BDS was cofounded in 2005 by Palestinian activist Omar Barghouti, who united 146 Palestinian organizations under a shared resistance banner. Born in Qatar in 1964 to Palestinian parents, Barghouti grew up in Egypt, studied at Columbia University, married an Arab-Israeli citizen, and later attended Tel Aviv University. Highly educated and articulate, he has been embraced by many in academic and political circles, including some Christians and Jews who fail to recognize the movement’s underlying hostility toward Israel’s existence.

Following Hamas’s massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, BDS experienced a surge in global support. Millions joined or endorsed its rhetoric, echoing chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” This seemingly poetic slogan is, in fact, a call for Israel’s annihilation, since the river is the Jordan and the sea is the Mediterranean, encompassing all of Israel’s land.

New forms of BDS activism appear constantly, spreading like toxic weeds through social media, academia, and the arts. One of the latest examples is the “No Music for Genocide” campaign, a boycott movement among musicians protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza. Hundreds of artists have signed on, amplifying a message that isolates Israel culturally and psychologically.

Attorney Lana Melman, CEO of Liberate Art and author of Artists Under Fire: The BDS War Against Celebrities, Jews, and Israel, has described the “No Music for Genocide” initiative as a deliberate psychological weapon designed to make Israelis feel isolated and abandoned. She points out that such efforts are largely symbolic. “It doesn’t cost the signatories much since tiny Israel makes up only 0.12 percent of the world’s population.”

Melman also referenced the Trump administration’s peace plan, welcomed by Israel and several Arab nations, observing that true concern for Palestinians would involve urging Hamas to embrace peace rather than perpetuating violence. “I’m not holding my breath,” she adds.

The world saw BDS’s moral bankruptcy clearly after October 7, when Palestinian terrorists recorded their own barbaric acts against Israeli civilians. Despite overwhelming evidence of these atrocities, nations such as France, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom have rushed to recognize a Palestinian state, ignoring both the motives of the murderers and the chaos their actions are fueling at home.

During Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, a terrorist attack in Manchester, England, left two Jewish worshippers dead and four injured. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the act as “vile” and expressed solidarity with Britain’s Jewish community. The attacker, a 35-year-old Syrian named Jihad al-Shamie, had been granted British citizenship as a child yet turned that gift into a weapon of hate.

As darkness gathers on the horizon, it can be tempting to despair. But believers are called to stand firm, guided by the eternal truth of Scripture. Zechariah 12:3 warns us of a day when “all the nations of the earth are gathered against” Jerusalem, yet God promises that those who try to move His immovable rock “will injure themselves.”

Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch Christian who sheltered Jews from the Nazis and endured concentration camps herself, offered a profound reminder: “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” We too must remain steadfast, trusting that God’s light is ahead and His purposes unshakable.

Our CBN Israel team invites you to stand with us in prayer and to share this message as a voice for truth and faith in support of Israel, our spiritual homeland.

Prayer Points:

  • Pray for President Trump’s wisdom as he advances his 20-point peace proposal.
  • Pray for the total release, alive and deceased, of all hostages.
  • Pray for evangelicals worldwide to boldly share truth whenever possible.
  • Pray for discernment to recognize truth and resist media deception.

Arlene Bridges Samuels is the weekly feature columnist for CBN Israel since 2020. Working on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as their SE Regional Outreach Director for nine years, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as the Leadership Outreach Director part-time for their project American Christian Leaders for Israel. Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, is published at AllIsrael.com and The Jerusalem Connection, and has traveled to Israel since 1990. By invitation, she attends Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summits as part of Christian media worldwide. In 2024, Arlene and her husband Paul co-authored Mental Health Meltdown: Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental Illnesses. www.TheMentalHealthMeltdown.com.

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