ARTICLES

New Year’s Resolutions for 2026: How Can I Help Israel?

Posted on January 1, 2026

By Arlene Bridges Samuels 

New Year’s resolutions are nothing new. They can be traced back some four thousand years, when ancient Babylonians promised annually to pay any debts and honor their king. Nor is the custom of marking an event by dropping a “time ball” new. The first-time ball, installed at the Royal Conservatory in Greenwich, England, was something 19th-century ship captains set their navigational instruments to each day.

In the United States, efforts to set New Year’s resolutions are as famous as our iconic Times Square celebrations. 

Just before midnight on December 31, 1907, the very first ball dropped to welcome the New Year of 1908. The spectacle of fireworks had been banned, so New York Times owner Adolph Ochs conceived of the ball drop instead. The seven-hundred-pound ball was constructed with wood and iron and studded with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs. Yet the revelers standing in Times Square over a hundred years ago could not have imagined this year’s creation! It weighed 12,350 pounds (about twice the weight of an elephant), was covered with over 5,000 Waterford crystals, and was illuminated by an 32,256 dazzling LED lights.

In fact, the 2025 pyrotechnic display was a first for the Times Square Ball Drop and featured the late Ray Charles’s beloved rendition of “America the Beautiful.” After the midnight countdown on New Year’s Eve, a fantastic burst of red, white, and blue confetti covered revelers celebrating the coming United States Semiquincentennial. The momentous new year marks our nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence! In a grand collaboration between America250 (formed in 2016 to plan the nation’s 250th birthday) and One Times Square, the unforgettable moments will long remain in the memories of Times Square crowds and millions of viewers worldwide.

The years seem to come faster and faster, and 2026 is no exception. The 24/7 news cycle bombards us with devastating events near and far—and thankfully also awakens our hopes with good news. As we make and keep new goals, New Year resolutions help us personally. They also provide a valuable exercise to determine how we can have a helpful influence on others, our country, and our ally Israel. 

What follows is my curated list of New Year’s resolutions for Christians who ask, “What can I do or say to help Israel?” This selection offers choices for a New Year’s resolution to implement your support for Israel in 2026. 

A quote from Robert F. Kennedy’s 1966 address to South African youth provides a plan for personal and help-focused New Year’s resolutions: “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”

Together, the Christian community possesses abilities to “change a small portion of events” that are coming in 2026. In doing so, we honor the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus Who makes His eternal intentions clear in Jeremiah 31:35-36. This is what the LORDs says, He who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of armies is His name: “If this fixed order departs from Me,” declares the LORD, “then the descendants of Israel also will cease to be a nation before Me forever.”

It is never too late for any generation to befriend the Jewish state and Jewish people across the world in tangible ways. As we head into 2026, I have taken the liberty of curating an action list for your New Year resolutions to bless Israel. Research your own ideas or feel free to choose what resonates with you, then act on it.

Every Name Counts presents a meaningful volunteer opportunity: to be part of building a digital memorial organized by Arolsen Archives, the International Center on Nazi Persecution. Volunteering to help is simple. Arolsen Archives emails a list of Holocaust-era names that must be digitized on their easy-to-use document, then emailed back. The Center houses the most extensive documentation of victims and survivors following World War II, and much of the information still remains on paper notecards after eighty years. Allies founded the Arolsen Archives in 1948 after the Holocaust. Originally called the International Tracing Service, the organization officially changed its name in 2019 to Arolsen Archives. This change reflects not only its location in Bad Arolsen, Germany, but more importantly its purpose as an important, award-winning archive inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) “Memory of the World” register. Of note, Arolsen Archives is upgrading its digital resources to engage the Gen Z population to help. 

Genesis 123 Foundation (Genesis123.co) is a U.S.-based non-profit. Its purpose is to build bridges between Jews and Christians working together on special projects and outreaches in and for Israel. Some examples include providing hot soup and warm jackets for IDF soldiers and distributing children’s games to Israeli families now living in hotels due to the upheaval of the Hamas war.

The CBN Israel Resilience Center is a timely addition in 2025 for many thousands of Israelis suffering traumas, shock, and living in survival mode even after the war. The Resilience Center’s hub matches patients’ needs to a pool of counseling professionals for both adults and children—psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and social workers, as well as financial and parenting coaches. Although the Israeli government provides private therapy for direct victims, their families and friends need counseling as well. The Resilience Center is also available to and focused on the faith community, which is struggling with the aftereffects of war and in need of spiritual encouragement.

https://cbnisrael.org/2025/04/23/cbn-israels-resilience-center-helps-trauma-victims-2/

On social media, be sure to comment whenever you read or hear lies about Israel. Be civil, make certain your facts are correct, and avoid accusations and name-calling. 

Pray for Israel, its leaders, and its citizens. International Christian Embassy Jerusalem hosts the weekly Isaiah 62 Global Prayer Gathering online.

Sign up for a tour to Israel. Root & Branch Tours offer a new, hands-on tour where Christians harvest olives in Israel and interact with IDF members, hostage families, and survivors. Their projects blend Christians from all over the world with Israeli Jews in a powerful demonstration of unity, symbolized by the ancient olive trees they harvest together. Root & Branch is an enactment of Romans 11 that Christians are grafted into the covenant God made with the Jewish people: that the Root supports the Branch.

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. Make a financial contribution that champions the soldiers of the IDF and cares for their needs as they protect the State of Israel, democratic values, and Western civilization. FIDF is the official organization authorized to collect charitable donations for the IDF in the United States. 

Enjoy an inspiring 2026 with successful New Year’s resolutions that bless and strengthen you, your family and friends, the United States, and Israel! Remember, silent voices accomplish nothing. Make yours heard with actions that speak louder than words.

Our CBN Israel team sends our warmest wishes and prayers for a blessed 2026.

Prayer Points:

  • Pray for Israelis enduring ongoing traumas. 
  • Pray with thanks for thousands of Christians who came to Israel on solidarity tours.
  • Pray for the fine organizations on this New Year’s list.
  • Pray for the wisdom and safety of Prime Minister Netanyahu.

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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Community Support and Resilience Center

Posted on December 31, 2025

Imagine living in a country whose very existence—and yours— is constantly threatened. For generations, Israel’s people have faced persecution, tragedy, and danger. In fact, a staggering one third of all Israelis live with some form of anxiety or trauma-related distress.

The horrors of the October 7th attack by Hamas only intensified the trauma—followed by the ballistic missile attacks from Iran. How can any nation recover from so much terrorism?

Thankfully, friends like you were there through CBN Israel. Because they understand the escalating mental health needs on the ground, CBN Israel launched the Community Support and Resilience Center. Using innovative strategies, the center is designed to help residents not only cope, but to truly heal and rebuild their lives.

And it marks a significant milestone for the ministry’s work in the Holy Land. The center serves as a crucial network for counseling professionals, as well as individuals seeking help. Through workshops, seminars, and public events, it will facilitate training on essential self-care strategies, stress reduction, coping skills, and processing devastating events.

As the demand for professional counseling has overwhelmed government and healthcare systems, you are providing assistance at the community level to those who are still waiting. For those who are grappling with dark memories and loss, caring donors are giving them, as the ancient promise in Jeremiah 29:11 says, “a future and a hope.”

And your gifts to CBN Israel can offer a lifeline of hope in even more ways. You can bring groceries, financial aid, safe housing, and more to those in crisis.

Please join us as we reach out and care for others!

GIVE TODAY

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Jerusalem: The City of Promise

Posted on December 30, 2025

By Stephen Faircloth

Jerusalem stands at the center of the biblical story more than any other city. From the moment King David established it as the capital of his kingdom, it became the spiritual and political heart of Israel. Across centuries, Jerusalem shaped the faith, hopes, and identity of the Jewish people, and later became central to the story of Jesus and the birth of the church.

The city’s beginnings stretch back more than four thousand years. Jerusalem first grew around the Gihon Spring, a vital water source that sustained life on the eastern hill of the city. This original settlement, later known as the City of David, was the stronghold David captured from the Jebusites. It was here that Jerusalem took its first steps toward becoming the city God chose for His name to dwell.

Under Solomon, Jerusalem expanded northward. He built the Temple, his royal palace, and the administrative center of the kingdom. With the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C., refugees streamed south, and the city spread onto the western hill. King Hezekiah enclosed this area with a wall to protect Jerusalem from invasion. Portions of that wall remain visible today, silent witnesses to the city’s growth and vulnerability.

In 586 B.C., the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, carrying the people of Judah into exile. When the exiles returned, they rebuilt a smaller city focused again on the eastern hill. During the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, Jerusalem remained modest in size, but its spiritual significance endured.

The city expanded once more during the Hasmonean period in the second century B.C. New walls followed earlier lines and incorporated older fortifications. By the first century B.C., another wall enclosed the northern market area. This was the Jerusalem known to Jesus. The city revolved around two focal points: the Temple Mount to the east and the magnificent palace of Herod the Great to the west.

Jerusalem reached its greatest size shortly before the First Jewish Revolt. Rome crushed the rebellion in A.D. 70, destroying the city and tearing down its walls. The devastation was so complete that Jerusalem’s footprint shifted north and west in the centuries that followed.

The Old City we see today reflects later Roman and medieval periods rather than the Jerusalem of the Bible. Byzantines, Muslims, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans, and British rulers each left their mark. Yet beneath these layers lies the city that shaped Scripture and faith.

Jerusalem reminds us that God works through real places and real history. Though the city has risen and fallen, its calling endures. It stands as a testimony that God’s purposes are not erased by destruction or time. The city of promise continues to point beyond itself to the faithfulness of the God who chose it.

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: Trusting God’s Timing

Posted on December 29, 2025

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God” (Luke 2:25-28).

Simeon spent his life waiting. Scripture describes him as righteous and devoted, a man shaped by hope and sustained by promise. He longed for the Consolation of Israel, the redemption God had spoken of through the prophets. He did not know when it would come or how it would unfold, but he trusted the God who had spoken.

Unlike our world of instant results and quick answers, the Christmas story unfolds slowly. It is rooted in waiting. God’s promise of redemption was spoken generations before Simeon was born, and still he waited. His faith was not defined by speed or certainty but by trust. Waiting did not weaken his devotion. It refined it.

When Simeon finally held the infant Jesus, he understood something profound. He would not live to see the full scope of God’s salvation. He would not witness the miracles, the cross, or the resurrection. Yet he rejoiced. Holding the child was enough. He had seen the beginning, and that assured him the rest would surely follow.

Simeon’s joy reminds us that God’s redemption is bigger than any single life or moment. It does not center on one person’s comfort or fulfillment. God’s salvation was coming for Israel and for the nations. Simeon recognized that he was part of a story far greater than himself, and he embraced his role with gratitude rather than disappointment.

We often approach faith with expectations shaped by immediacy. We want answers now. We want change quickly. When God’s promises seem delayed, we grow restless or discouraged. Simeon shows us another way. He waited with hope, trusted without seeing the end, and rejoiced when he glimpsed God’s faithfulness.

Christmas invites us into that same posture. Like Simeon, we may not see the full fulfillment of all God’s promises in our lifetime. Still, we are called to trust, to hope, and to remain faithful in our waiting. God is always at work, even when the story is only beginning.

Are we willing to trust God when we only hold a piece of the promise? Are we content to play our part in His redemptive plan, even if we do not see its completion? Simeon teaches us that patient faith is not passive. It is active trust rooted in confidence that God keeps His word.

This season reminds us that redemption often begins quietly, in small and unexpected ways. When we wait with hope, we learn to recognize God’s faithfulness and rejoice in His unfolding plan.

PRAYER
Father, waiting is difficult. Being patient challenges us, but we know that You fulfill Your plans and promises. So, we choose to trust and submit to You obediently to play whatever role You have for us for Your glory. Amen.

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Bethlehem: Where Promise Became Flesh

Posted on December 23, 2025

By Stephen Faircloth

Bethlehem is forever linked with Christmas as the place where Jesus was born. Angels announced His arrival nearby, shepherds hurried through the night, and the long-awaited Messiah entered the world in humility. Yet by the time of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem already carried centuries of history that shaped the meaning of that holy night.

The village first appears in ancient sources as early as the fourteenth century B.C. in the Amarna Letters, when it was a small Canaanite town. Long before it became associated with bread or shepherds, its name reflected its early pagan past. Over time, Bethlehem became woven into the story of Israel and into the purposes of God. It was the hometown of David, Israel’s greatest king, and the place where the prophet Samuel anointed a young shepherd as God’s chosen ruler.

Bethlehem’s importance came in part from its location. Situated along the central hill country route that ran north to south through Judah, it lay just south of Jerusalem and north of Hebron. Roads from east and west converged there, making it both accessible and vulnerable. Because of this strategic position, kings fortified Bethlehem, and later Herod the Great built his palace fortress Herodium just to the east, guarding the approaches from the Judean wilderness.

The fields around Bethlehem were familiar with conflict and courage. To the west lay the Elah Valley, where David faced Goliath and where Philistine forces threatened Judah’s heartland. At times, enemy garrisons even occupied Bethlehem itself. These struggles help explain why David longed so deeply for peace and why Bethlehem carried the memory of both danger and deliverance.

Bethlehem also stood at the center of God’s unfolding redemption. In its fields, Boaz met Ruth, whose faith and loyalty would place her in the lineage of David and ultimately of Jesus. In a home there, Samuel poured oil over David’s head, marking the rise of a shepherd king. Centuries later, another King would be born in the same town, fulfilling the words of the prophet Micah that from Bethlehem would come a ruler whose origins were from ancient days.

By the first century, Bethlehem was a small village overshadowed by nearby Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary arrived because of the census, there was no royal welcome. Early Christian tradition remembers Jesus’ birth taking place in a cave, a common feature of hill country homes. Families often used natural caves as shelters for animals, with living quarters above or beside them. In such a setting, surrounded by feeding troughs, the Savior entered the world quietly and without display.

After the Jewish revolts against Rome, Bethlehem’s population changed dramatically. Jews were expelled from the region, and the Romans built a pagan shrine over the cave remembered as Jesus’ birthplace. Yet even this attempt to erase memory failed. In the fourth century, Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of the Church of the Nativity over the traditional site, preserving the place Christians still visit today. Later rebuilt under Emperor Justinian, the church stands as one of the oldest continuously used Christian sanctuaries in the world.

Bethlehem reminds us that God often chooses small places to accomplish great purposes. From a village shaped by roads, conflicts, and shepherds came both Israel’s beloved king and the Savior of the world. At Christmas, Bethlehem invites us to remember that God’s redemption does not arrive with power and spectacle, but with humility, faithfulness, and quiet obedience.

In the town of David, hope was born. And through that child laid in a manger, God stepped into history to bring light to the world.

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: Heaven’s Song, Earth’s Hope

Posted on December 22, 2025

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:8-14)

At Christmas we love to sing about the angels. We know the familiar words, we hum the familiar melodies, and we lift our voices with “Glory to God in the highest.” Yet the wonder of this moment is easy to pass over if we do not pause and listen carefully to what heaven actually proclaimed.

The angels did not appear in palaces or to the powerful. They came to shepherds, working men on the night shift, watching over their flocks in the fields. The announcement of the Messiah was delivered first to people the world often overlooks. That alone reveals the heart of God. When God drew near in Jesus, He did not begin with the impressive. He began with the humble.

Luke tells us the shepherds were terrified as the glory of the Lord shone around them. Their fear makes sense. The sudden brightness, the heavenly messenger, and the weight of holiness all felt overwhelming. But the first words from the angel were not words of judgment. They were words of comfort: “Do not be afraid.” God’s nearness was not meant to crush them. It was meant to bring them joy.

The angel called the message “good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” That phrase is easy to read quickly, but it is a sweeping declaration. The birth of Jesus was not good news for a small circle of insiders. It was the announcement that God’s favor and mercy had moved toward the world. The Savior was born, and His coming would touch every nation, every class, every kind of person, and every broken place.

Then comes the angels’ song: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” God’s glory and human peace are linked here. When God is given His rightful place, when His reign is welcomed, peace begins to take root on earth. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict and strife. It is the wholeness God intends, peace that heals, restores, reconciles, and makes new.

The sign given to the shepherds is just as striking as the song. They would not find a child in a royal court, wrapped in expensive fabrics. They would find a baby wrapped in simple cloths, lying in a feeding trough. The King arrived in humility. God stepped into history without spectacle, yet with unstoppable purpose. The shepherds were invited to see with their own eyes that God’s salvation had come near.

This is why the angelic proclamation still matters. It tells us that God is not distant. He is involved. He sees the suffering of the righteous and hears the cries of the afflicted. His mercy is not scarce, and His goodwill is not limited. In Jesus, God has drawn near to show us His heart, to reveal His will, and to bring hope into the real places where we live.

If God announced His peace to shepherds in the dark, He can speak peace into our darkness too. If the first Christmas began with fear that turned into joy, then our own fear can be met by the same grace. The angels’ words remind us that in the birth of Jesus, God is with us and for us. Therefore, we have hope.

PRAYER
Father, thank You for drawing near to us in Jesus. Let the song of heaven shape our hearts this Advent. Help us to receive Your peace and to extend Your goodwill to those around us, especially those who feel overlooked or far from You. May our lives proclaim what the angels sang: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace. Amen.

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The Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah, Brightly Shines

Posted on December 18, 2025

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Dedication and Lights, began this year under both joy and sorrow. On the first day of Chanukah by the Sea at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, more than a thousand people gathered to celebrate. The theme was “light overcoming darkness,” marked by family festivities, music, food, and a five-foot-tall menorah. But just as candles were being lit, gunfire shattered the air.

Two attackers, reportedly inspired by Islamic State ideology, opened fire on the crowd, killing sixteen Jews and injuring forty others. Australian police quickly neutralized the father, while a courageous bystander, Ahmed al-Ahmedi, tackled the son and seized his rifle, preventing further deaths. Ahmed, a Muslim, risked his life to defend Jewish celebrants, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. His father, Mohamed, later said, “My son is a hero. He served in the police. He has the passion to defend people.”

Though the Jewish community grieved deeply, their spirit was not broken. Refusing to surrender to fear, local leaders carried on with the celebration the following day. The menorah was lit once again. The crowd sang traditional songs in Hebrew and English, joined together in the Australian national anthem. Rabbi Yossi Shuchat addressed those gathered, saying, “Yesterday was a tragic event, which words cannot explain. Darkness cannot continue where there is light.”

The rabbi also retold the ancient story of Hanukkah and the miracle that gave it meaning. More than two thousand years ago, the tyrannical Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV sought to eradicate the Jewish people and outlaw their faith. A small band of Jewish fighters known as the Maccabees rose in defiance. Though vastly outnumbered, they fought with divine strength and won. In 174 B.C., they reclaimed Jerusalem and the desecrated Temple, rededicating it to the God of Israel. This act of courage and faith inspired the Feast of Dedication, known in Hebrew as Hanukkah.

Today, Hanukkah still symbolizes the triumph of faith over oppression. Its eight nights recall how a single cruse of pure oil, enough for one day, miraculously burned for eight days in the restored Temple. That miracle continues to echo across the centuries, reminding both Jews and Christians that God’s light can never be extinguished by human hatred.

As Israel faces ongoing threats, the ancient meaning of Hanukkah feels especially relevant. Since the attacks of October 7, 2023, anti-Semitism has risen sharply around the world. Israel’s soldiers, often called the modern Maccabees, continue to defend their homeland on multiple fronts. Just as the Maccabees once faced the armies of Antiochus, today’s Jewish defenders stand against those who seek once again to erase their people from history.

For Christians, Hanukkah carries profound meaning as well. The Gospel of John records that Jesus Himself celebrated the Feast of Dedication. “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade” (John 10:22-23). Earlier in the same Gospel, Jesus declared, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12). His presence in the Temple during Hanukkah was no coincidence. He embodied the very light that the menorah represents.

When Christians remember that their Savior observed Hanukkah, they gain a deeper understanding of how their faith is rooted in Judaism. The word “Hanukkah” means to dedicate or to renew. That same spirit of renewal applies to every believer’s life, calling both Jews and Christians to stand together against darkness with courage and faith.

The Embassy of Israel in Washington recently shared an uplifting glimpse of this season’s celebrations in Jerusalem. In the Western Wall Plaza, a monumental bronze menorah more than six feet tall and weighing nearly a ton stands as a symbol of light, resilience, and unity. The menorah was lit each night by different representatives, including hostage survivors, bereaved families, wounded soldiers, police officers, ambassadors, and IDF troops. As an orchestra played, Isaiah 51:11 came to life: “And the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and they shall come to Zion with song.” The verse carries added meaning this year, as Israel welcomed home the last remaining hostages released from Gaza in October.

History offers yet another remarkable Hanukkah story. In 1917, during World War I, British forces liberated Jerusalem from the Muslim Ottoman Empire after four centuries of occupation. The victory took place during Hanukkah, from December 9 to 17. On December 11, British General Edmund Allenby entered Jerusalem on foot out of reverence for the Holy City, ending the Ottomans’ rule and freeing the city from devastation. The Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs later called it one of the great salvation moments of Jewish history, ranking it alongside Hanukkah and Purim.

Hanukkah, which ends this year on December 22, remains a festival of courage and light. Its message is timeless: darkness may strike suddenly, but light always prevails. As Psalm 27:1 reminds us, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

In this season of miracles, may every candle lit on the menorah remind us that the same God who strengthened the Maccabees still strengthens His people today. The light that began in Jerusalem continues to shine across the world, calling all who believe in Him to stand firm, to act with compassion, and to be bearers of hope.

Our CBN Israel team invites you to reflect on this verse spoken by King David: “You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light” (2 Samuel 22:29).

Prayer Points:

  • Pray for the safety of Jewish communities worldwide during Hanukkah observances.
  • Pray for the families grieving the loss of loved ones in the Bondi Beach attack.
  • Pray for churches and pastors to speak biblical truth with courage and to stand in solidarity with Israel.
  • Pray with gratitude for the hero who stopped the attack and saved lives.

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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Victim of Terrorism: Sonya’s Story

Posted on December 17, 2025

Victim of Terrorism: Sonya’s Story

Sonya has known hardship her entire life. Born in Romania, she and her family were forced to flee on foot to escape violent pogroms. They crossed dangerous borders and endured many trials before finally reaching safety in Israel in 1948, where relatives who had immigrated earlier welcomed them.

Now 87 years old, Sonya lives in Bat Yam with her only daughter, who helps care for her due to ongoing health challenges. Years ago, Sonya fell and broke her hip, leaving her with limited mobility. That injury now affects nearly every part of her daily life.

Her apartment had long needed repairs, but she did not know where to turn for help. Then, during the recent war with Iran, her city was under direct threat. “It was very scary,” she recalled. “The only thing we could do was pray for God’s protection. We could hear the explosions nearby.”

Because of her condition, Sonya was unable to evacuate to a safer location. “CBN offered to evacuate us, and we wanted to, but it was hard, since I cannot move around easily,” she explained. In the face of fear and isolation, Sonya and her daughter were left to wait and hope.

However, they are very thankful that friends like you were there for them. Through the loving support of CBN Israel donors, Sonya and her daughter received nourishing meals and groceries to sustain them during the crisis and in the months that followed.

Caring partners also helped repair their home, restoring safety and security to their living space. Sonya said with deep gratitude, “This apartment has had problems for years, but we never knew who to turn to for help. You came and made it easier for us.”

Your generous gifts to CBN Israel can make a real difference in the lives of people like Sonya. Elderly widows, Holocaust survivors, and victims of war and terror can receive the help they desperately need.

Please join us in showing compassion and bringing hope to some of Israel’s most vulnerable in their time of greatest need.

GIVE TODAY

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The Palace That Could Not Stop the Messiah

Posted on December 16, 2025

By Stephen Faircloth

On the western edge of Jerusalem’s Old City stands Jaffa Gate, the traditional entry point for travelers arriving from the Mediterranean coast. Just inside the gate rises the impressive Citadel known today as the Tower of David. Despite its name, the structure has no historical link to King David. Its foundations instead preserve stories of kings and kingdoms that shaped the world Jesus entered.

The Citadel occupies the highest point of ancient Jerusalem during the late Old Testament and the first century. The city’s northern approach was its most vulnerable side, protected only by a shallow natural ditch. Because of this, the defensive wall turned sharply eastward at this point, making the location strategically crucial.

Herod the Great understood this well. When he remodeled Jerusalem as the jewel of his kingdom, he built his palace here, overlooking the Temple Mount. To guard the northern flank, he constructed three massive towers: Phasael, named for his brother; Mariamne, for his beloved Hasmonean wife; and Hippicus, honoring a close friend. The base of one of these towers still forms the core of the present “Tower of David.”

Herod was a master builder, and this palace was among his grandest creations. Colorful stone inlays decorated its walls. Two large pools shimmered inside its courtyards. The complex included the Caesareum, honoring Caesar Augustus, and the Agrippeum, for Augustus’s trusted general Marcus Agrippa. All of it was supplied by an aqueduct originating south of Bethlehem.

And it was here, in this lavish stronghold of earthly power, that Herod likely questioned the magi who arrived asking, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2). The contrast could not be sharper. A tyrant on a throne of stone. A newborn King lying in a manger. Two kingdoms crossing paths in one city.

After Herod’s death, Roman governors used the palace as their Jerusalem headquarters during major festivals. Scripture refers to it as the praetorium, the place where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate. Mark calls it “the palace,” and John mentions the lithostratos, an inlaid pavement that fits perfectly with Herod’s richly decorated floors. The earliest Christian pilgrims followed a path beginning near this palace as they traced Jesus’ steps to the cross.

This means the same palace complex that framed the earliest threats against Jesus at His birth also framed the final judgments against Him at His death. Herod sought to destroy the Christ Child. Pilate condemned the Christ King. The Tower of David, standing between Bethlehem and Calvary, quietly anchors both stories.

But the Christmas message breaks through even these somber walls. Earthly rulers build fortresses to secure their power. God establishes His kingdom through humility, vulnerability, and love. No tower can prevent His arrival. No empire can hinder His purpose.

Herod tried to eliminate the newborn King. Rome tried to silence the crucified King. Yet from a manger and from an empty tomb, God declared once again that no earthly throne can stand against His salvation.

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: Redeemed for His Purpose

Posted on December 15, 2025

“Just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient times—Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, would serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days” (Luke 1:70-75).

When the people of Israel lived under Roman rule and occupation in the first century, they wrestled with a painful question: If the Lord is faithful, how could His chosen people be subject to a harsh, foreign empire? Rome’s idols and pagan worship filled the land. Roman soldiers patrolled the streets. Judea felt the weight of a kingdom that did not honor Israel’s God.

Different Jewish groups searched for explanations. Some believed that compromise with Rome dishonored God and that resistance was the only righteous path. Others called the nation to repentance, insisting that spiritual renewal and returning to God would bring divine intervention. What united them all was a shared longing for redemption. They hoped for the day when God would act decisively, rescue His people, and restore their ability to worship Him freely.

This longing appears in Jewish writings from the period. In fact, one ancient poet cried out on behalf of Zion, urging her to remove injustice, cling to righteousness, and wait for the fulfillment of every prophetic promise. Redemption, in his mind, was not abstract or merely personal. It involved real deliverance from real oppressors and the restoration of proper worship.

The same hope fills the prayer of Zechariah in Luke 1. He celebrates God’s covenant mercy, God’s promises to Abraham, and the coming rescue that would free Israel from fear. Redemption, for Zechariah, meant more than liberation. It meant being able to serve and worship God in holiness and righteousness. Freedom was not for self-indulgence. It was for faithful devotion.

This is consistent with the entire biblical story. When God redeemed Israel from Egypt, He did not simply free them from Pharaoh. He freed them so they could serve Him. “The children of Israel are servants to Me,” the Lord said in Leviticus. True redemption always leads to devotion. It is release from bondage so that we may gladly embrace His rule.

In the New Testament, Jesus and later Paul announce that God’s promised redemption has arrived. Through Jesus, the kingdom of God has drawn near. But this kingdom—this redemption—does not mirror earthly politics. It is not seized with swords or sustained through national power. It is received through surrender. It advances when God’s people place His will above their own and embody His righteousness in the world.

We often speak of salvation in terms of personal freedom, and there is truth in that. Christ frees us from sin, shame, and death. Yet Scripture reminds us that God always frees for a purpose. We are redeemed so that we may serve and worship Him. We are liberated so that we may submit joyfully to His reign. Someone always sits on the throne of our hearts. Redemption trains us to enthrone God there, not ourselves or any earthly power.

When we choose humble obedience, God’s redemptive power moves beyond us and into the lives of others. Through yielded hearts, His light breaks into dark places. Through willing servants, His kingdom draws near.

This is the nature of true redemption: not merely freedom from something, but freedom for Someone.

PRAYER

Father, You have redeemed us so that we may serve You. Teach us to lay down our self reliance and take up joyful obedience. May Your mercy, power, and kingdom shine through our lives today. Amen.

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