ARTICLES

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35). Read on Shabbat, March 7, 2026 / 17 Adar 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“The LORD said to Moses, whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you. Behold, My angel shall go before you” (Exodus 32:33-34).

Parashat Ki Tisa contains one of the most dramatic moments in Israel’s wilderness journey. While Moses is on the mountain receiving instruction, the people grow restless and form a golden calf. Fear and impatience lead them to seek a visible substitute for God’s presence. The scene reveals how quickly trust can falter when waiting becomes difficult.

Yet this portion also reveals the depth of God’s mercy. Moses intercedes for the people, pleading that God remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead of abandoning Israel, God responds with compassion. Though discipline comes, the relationship is not destroyed. The covenant endures because God chooses mercy alongside justice.

Later, Moses ascends the mountain again and encounters God in a powerful moment of revelation. God proclaims His own character, declaring that He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in steadfast love and truth. This description becomes one of the most important declarations about God’s nature in all of Scripture. Even after failure, God invites His people back into relationship.

Ki Tisa reminds us that spiritual life often includes both failure and restoration. Like Israel, we may struggle with impatience, doubt, or misplaced trust. We may attempt to fill silence with substitutes rather than waiting faithfully. Yet God does not withdraw His mercy when we turn back to Him. His compassion remains stronger than our weakness.

Some may be carrying regret or disappointment in their spiritual journey. This portion offers hope that restoration is possible. Others may be walking in renewed clarity and commitment. Let this reading inspire humility and gratitude, remembering that faith is sustained by God’s grace rather than human perfection.

As this Shabbat begins, reflect on where patience and trust are needed in your life. Bring your failures honestly before God, and receive the mercy He freely gives. Choose one step that renews your devotion, whether through prayer, reconciliation, or renewed obedience. Let your heart rest in the truth that God’s compassion is greater than our mistakes.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your compassion and patience. When I grow weary or lose my way, draw me back to You with mercy. Help me trust Your presence even when the path is uncertain. May my life reflect gratitude for Your steadfast love and faithfulness. Amen.

As Israel faced an intense war with Iran and daily missile barrages, her most vulnerable citizens were in grave danger. In cities like Bat Yam, sirens sounded with little warning, giving residents barely a minute to reach a bomb shelter. For elderly Holocaust survivors, that short window of time can mean the difference between life and death.

Ninety-year-old Sonya, a Holocaust survivor from Romania, lives alone in Bat Yam, a coastal city frequently targeted by missiles. When the war erupted on the morning of February 28, Sonya found herself running to the nearest shelter again and again. In one single day, she attempted to reach safety eight times.

But because of serious mobility issues, Sonya could not move fast enough. Each siren left her vulnerable and afraid. The danger was real, and she knew she could not manage alone.

Sonya had been helped by CBN Israel before, so she reached out once more, hoping someone would answer. Because of caring friends like you, help came quickly.

CBN Israel mobilized immediately. Our team arrived in Bat Yam, assessed her situation, and evacuated Sonya to a safer location in Netanya where she could rest without the constant fear of incoming rockets. For a woman who had already survived the horrors of the Holocaust, donor support provided peace of mind during yet another time of war.

Across Israel, elderly survivors and vulnerable residents are facing the same terrifying reality. Many cannot reach shelters in time. Many have no one to help them.

Because of the generosity of compassionate partners, CBN Israel is on the ground, rescuing those at risk and providing tangible hope in life threatening moments.

Please join us in standing with Israel and protecting her most vulnerable in their time of urgent need.

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By Stephen Faircloth

Many visitors to the modern State of Israel assume that the country’s current borders match the land described in the Bible. In reality, the geography of biblical Israel does not perfectly overlap with the modern nation. Even within Scripture, the boundaries of Israel shift during different historical periods.

For example, the Bible describes Israel at times as extending east of the Jordan River into the region of Gilead. Meanwhile, the far southern area of what is now modern Israel, stretching beyond the Beersheva basin toward the Gulf of Eilat, lay outside the central territory of biblical Israel. In biblical times, this area was known as the Wilderness of Zin and the Wilderness of Paran.

Yet this wilderness still played an important role in the story of God’s people. According to Numbers 13:21, it was from this region that Moses sent the spies to explore the Promised Land. In that sense, Moses stood in territory that today belongs to the State of Israel, though he had not yet entered the land promised to the people of God.

Modern place names can add to the confusion. Take the Negev as an example. Today the term often refers to the broad desert stretching south from the Hebron hills to Eilat. In the Bible, however, the Negev more specifically described the Beersheva basin and the southern edge of the hill country. Understanding these differences helps travelers better appreciate the landscape through which the biblical story unfolded.

One of the most striking features of this region is the Zin Valley. The riverbed running through it is usually dry, yet springs near the ancient Nabatean site of Avdat supply water throughout the year. In a land known for its harsh desert terrain, such sources of water were vital.

It was in this wilderness setting that a pivotal moment in Moses’ life occurred. In Numbers 20, the people of Israel cried out for water during their desert wandering. God instructed Moses to speak to the rock so that water would flow. Instead, in frustration, Moses struck the rock. Though water came forth, Moses’ disobedience carried consequences. God told him that he would not enter the Promised Land but would only see it from afar (Deuteronomy 34).

Water in the wilderness meant survival. Shepherds who guided their flocks through these barren landscapes had to know where water could be found. Their animals depended completely on them to locate hidden springs in a seemingly lifeless land.

Later desert dwellers such as the Nabateans mastered this same skill. Their capital at Petra became a center of trade partly because they developed advanced systems for collecting and storing precious water. Along the desert trade routes between Petra and the Mediterranean port of Gaza, Avdat served as one of their important stations overlooking the Zin Valley.

The Wilderness of Zin reminds us that even barren places can become settings for God’s work. The desert exposed the needs of the people of Israel and revealed the importance of trusting God’s guidance. In seasons when life feels dry and uncertain, the Lord remains the One who provides water in the wilderness and direction in unfamiliar terrain.

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.

Kibbutz Nirim was a peaceful community near Gaza’s border. But that changed when Hamas violently invaded on October 7 two years ago. Adele, a longtime resident, recalled the horror her family faced during the brutal onslaught:

“My three grandchildren were on that bed, and we told them, ‘Hide under the blanket. You’re going to hear a loud noise. Don’t come out from under the blanket, no matter what happens.’” Her son-in-law raised his gun, waiting until he saw the safe room door handle move—then he kicked open the door and shot the terrorist who was standing there.

On that day, she saw homes torched and in ruins. Five kibbutz members were murdered, and five hostages taken, with two killed in Gaza. Since then, residents were displaced, living as refugees in their own land…until now. 

Despite the trauma they experienced, Adele and many of her neighbors are returning to Nirim. They are committed to this once vibrant farming village of around 500 Israelis, including 130 children. But they faced big challenges. Hamas had destroyed so many buildings—including the community center, main kitchen, and the kibbutz store. How could they start over?

Thankfully, friends like you were there. Through CBN Israel, donors built them a new community center, with a dining hall, kitchen, and a grocery store. Life has gone from dark silence to the sounds of children playing, and meals being prepared in the new kitchen.

As more residents come back, having a central hub for fellowship has been a true blessing. Adele says, “Thank you for being such loyal friends!” And Michal, another resident, adds, “None of this could have happened without you believing in us and loving us… Thank you!”

Your gifts to CBN Israel can bless war victims with food, safe lodging, trauma therapy, and more—while providing ongoing aid to hurting families and the elderly.

Please join us as we stand with Israel’s people at this crucial time!

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By Arlene Bridges Samuels

The world’s population now exceeds eight billion and continues to grow. In the Middle East alone, seventeen Arab nations account for more than 515 million people. By contrast, Israel has just reached a population of about ten million, including a Jewish majority of slightly more than seven million.

Yet this small nation, the world’s only Jewish state, faces intense international outrage over its policies concerning Judea and Samaria. That fury persists even though this region is the very terrain where Abraham walked, where King David ruled, and where Israel’s prophets proclaimed God’s word. Many of the world’s 193 nations are not merely criticizing policy decisions. They are attempting to dictate Israel’s future and, in some cases, to deny its right to exist.

The Bible’s narrative makes clear that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob established eternal promises connected to both the Jewish people and the land of Israel. Through the Jewish people, God transmitted the Scriptures and His redemptive plan to the world. Israel is the birthplace of the Christian faith. Judea and Samaria form the core of that biblical inheritance. No other nation holds that spiritual birth certificate.

Why, then, has there been such international uproar over recent decisions by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset?

As in any democracy, Israel’s policymaking process includes vigorous debate. In July 2025, 71 of the 120 Knesset members voted in favor of a declaration supporting increased Israeli sovereignty in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley. The declaration affirmed that this region is the historic, cultural, and spiritual homeland of the Jewish people, where the foundations of Jewish faith and identity were laid. It referenced ancient cities such as Hebron, Shechem, Shiloh, and Beit El as living expressions of continuous Jewish presence, not mere archaeological relics.

That same month, the Knesset passed a preliminary reading of opposition bills seeking to extend Israeli legal sovereignty to Judea and Samaria. Though contentious, the measures advanced for further deliberation in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The proposed language stated that the law, jurisdiction, administration, and sovereignty of the State of Israel would apply to Judea and Samaria.

Criticism intensified again on February 9, 2026, when Israel’s security cabinet approved measures to strengthen administrative and legal oversight in the region. These measures removed bureaucratic barriers to land purchases, allowing Israelis to buy property in areas long restricted under older legal frameworks. The stated goal was to normalize civilian life for more than 500,000 Jewish residents of the heartland.

To understand Israel’s reasoning, historical context is essential. Following the 1948 War of Independence, Jordan controlled Judea and Samaria from 1948 to 1967. During that period, Jordanian law prohibited land sales to Jews. After neighboring Arab states launched the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel regained control of the territory and reunified Jerusalem. However, many of the Jordanian legal structures remained in place for decades. The recent Knesset actions seek to address those outdated laws and align governance with Israel’s sovereignty as a Jewish state.

International reaction has been swift and severe. Jordan’s Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs warned that silence toward Israel would replace international law with what it called the law of the jungle, where the strong devour the weak. Yet historical memory complicates such claims. After 1948, Jordan controlled the region from Jenin to Hebron and Jerusalem’s Old City, expelling Jewish residents and barring Jews from praying at the Western Wall. During its rule, fifty-eight synagogues were destroyed or desecrated, and the ancient Mount of Olives cemetery was vandalized.

In 2026, Arab states have condemned Israel’s administrative decisions as a dangerous escalation and a threat to Palestinian self-determination. Hamas denounced the move as a violation of international law. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation accused Israel of targeting Palestinian existence and legitimate rights.

Yet Palestinian political history reveals deep contradictions. In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza, evacuating 8,000 Jewish residents. In 2007, Palestinians elected Hamas, which constructed an underground tunnel network estimated between 350 and 450 miles in length. Previous Palestinian leaders rejected multiple offers for statehood. The rise of Hamas entrenched a leadership committed not to coexistence but to confrontation.

Today, some Palestinian representatives promote a proposed 162 article draft constitution, describing their vision as democratic and based on rule of law and human dignity. However, Middle East scholar Bassam Tawil has noted that while Palestinian leaders often deny Jewish ties to the land and envision a Jew free state, more than two million Muslim Arabs live peacefully as citizens within Israel. Although Palestinian authorities pledged to reform the pay-for-slay program, financial rewards to terrorists and their families reportedly continue, with stipends reaching as high as 3,000 dollars per month in an economy where the average salary is about 1,000 dollars.

Tawil has described the proposed constitution as dangerous and delusional, arguing that Palestinian leadership has not reconciled itself to Israel’s right to exist or abandoned its long-standing goal of eliminating the Jewish state.

For many believers, the issue ultimately returns to covenant. In Genesis 15:18, God declared to Abram, later named Abraham, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.” That promise forms the biblical foundation for Jewish connection to the land.

Israel’s policies in Judea and Samaria are debated fiercely on the world stage. Yet the deeper question remains whether historical reality and biblical continuity will be acknowledged or denied. In a region crowded with nations and populations, Israel stands alone as the seat of the biblical heartland.

Our CBN Israel Team welcomes you to pray with us this week.

Prayer Points:

• Pray that Christians and Jews will stand united behind Israel as it updates outdated legal frameworks in Judea and Samaria.
• Pray that believers will educate themselves and others about the biblical and historical significance of the heartland.
• Pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s strength, safety, and wisdom.
• Pray for peace and for solutions that uphold Israel’s security and future. 

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.

At 84 years old, Golda has endured a lifetime marked by hardship and loss. Born during World War II, she lost her father in the battle for Leningrad and barely survived the chaos that followed. Her mother, sick and destitute, carried two small children through hunger, bombings, and the devastation of war.

“The sadness of war never really left us,” Golda recalls. “My mother was always worried about how to feed us. She lost everything, even the photographs of my father.”

Years later, Golda immigrated to Israel, hoping for a new beginning. Life was difficult, but she found strength in her faith and her new home. “In Ukraine, I was bullied for my name, Golda,” she says softly. “Only in Israel did I finally feel I could be myself.”

Now a widow living alone, Golda’s challenges have only grown with age. Her small apartment was once flooded, leaving her without a working washing machine for years. She washed her clothes by hand, struggling daily with loneliness and physical pain.

When CBN Israel learned of her situation, friends like you made it possible to bring help and hope. Through the support of generous donors, Golda received a new washing machine and essential repairs to her apartment. “I’m so happy,” she says with a smile. “It’s wonderful. Something so simple has made such a difference.”

Today, in a nation still recovering from war, Golda treasures the kindness shown to her. “It is very hard to be alone,” she says. “At my age, attention and kindness mean everything. Thank you for caring.”

Through CBN Israel, you can touch the lives of elderly Holocaust survivors and widows like Golda. Your gift provides food, home repairs, and comfort to those who feel forgotten. Together, we can remind them that they are loved and never alone.

Please stand with the people of Israel today and bring hope to those in need.

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Just as Israelis were finally emerging from the trauma of COVID, they were suddenly thrust into the horrors of the October 7 terrorist attacks—and the war with Hamas and Hezbollah. Since then, the nation has been running on adrenaline, with families still in shock and survival mode.

And with the war winding down, most Israelis will face complex emotional, psychological, and financial challenges in adjusting to a “new normal.”

Thanks to caring donors, CBN Israel is addressing the nation’s need for healing by opening a “resilience center.” Manager Yonathan Ameida, who is also a clinical psychologist and pastor, observed, “Many resilience centers exist around the country. But we understood that after the war, the need for these was going to skyrocket.”

The CBN Israel Resilience Center will serve as a hub that matches patients’ needs to a pool of counseling professionals, including psychologists for both adults and children, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, social workers, and financial and parenting coaches.

While the government does provide therapy for direct victims, often the victims’ family members, such as the families of hostages, are outside the loop. The Resilience Center can fill that gap for them, by reaching people who are not eligible for government therapy programs.

And since the war began, donors have already created trauma recovery groups through CBN Israel, and offered courses and private counseling. The Resilience Center will be doing that same work, but on a much larger scale, as well as offering support for the therapists themselves.

Plus, Almeida plans to assist the faith community, saying the war brought up spiritual questions for everyone about why this happened—even many believers, whose faith has been shaken.

He sums up the center’s mission, saying, “People can begin to think coherently again….We are here to help them find an explanation that will give them peace, and give them new tools.”

And your gift to CBN Israel can offer compassionate relief to hurting Israelis in other ways, including hot meals, shelter, and basic essentials.

Please help us bring healing to those in crisis! 

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Life in Israel can be difficult, especially for vulnerable elderly citizens who struggle just to get through each day. For many, the burden of aging is made even heavier by the reality of not having enough to eat.

Nearly one in four seniors in Israel faces food insecurity. Without access to regular, nutritious meals, many experience a decline in health that leads to additional medical expenses. These added costs only deepen the hardship for those already living on the edge.

Many of these individuals are elderly immigrants or Holocaust survivors, living alone in low-income housing. Some are disabled or isolated, with no family nearby to support them. Their government stipend often barely covers rent and medication. Food becomes one of the first things they are forced to sacrifice.

Thanks to compassionate friends like you, help has arrived. Donor support of CBN Israel allows us to work with trusted local partners to deliver hot, nourishing meals directly to elderly men and women who need them most. Prepared meals are collected from kitchens that would otherwise discard the leftovers. After being safely stored overnight, they are delivered the next day to senior centers and residential facilities across the country.

The generosity of caring donors has made it possible to serve thousands of meals each week, four days a week, throughout the year. These meals provide more than nutrition. They offer comfort, dignity, and the reassurance that someone cares.

Your support can also reach others in crisis across Israel. Jewish families returning to their ancestral homeland, single mothers raising children on their own, and those recovering from the trauma of war and terror are receiving critical help because of your compassion. 

Please join us today in bringing hope to those who need it most.

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Luba had high hopes for a better future, as she and her husband Yevgeny left Ukraine and immigrated to Israel in 2010. This fitness trainer and mother of two had overcome a number of challenges to make a home for her family. And then, Yevgeny relapsed back into drug addiction.

It took its toll on her kids. “He was very aggressive, and would verbally attack me and my children,” Luba recalled. “My youngest started having hysteria attacks, where he would become unresponsive. My oldest was constantly stressed—she didn’t want to see or talk to him.”

Soon, Yevgeny’s addiction worsened. When he lost his job, he deserted his family, taking whatever items he could. “He started taking things from home—my jewelry, even my wedding ring,” Luba cried. “With the war, I couldn’t find work.  It got so bad, I didn’t have enough money to pay for electricity or buy food.” Feeling alone and ashamed, she struggled for months.

Yet when a church friend pointed her to CBN Israel, friends like you were there for her. “I felt like I did not deserve it—but they helped me, and it was quick,” she exclaimed. “I could finally pay off debts, and they brought us food. It’s winter, and I couldn’t dry the children’s clothes. To my surprise, they bought me a dryer!” She added, “Your organization makes a big difference. You don’t leave people behind, or leave people hungry. Now I know everything will be alright!”

Your gifts to CBN Israel can help so many desperate Israelis survive and move forward with emergency aid, food, housing, and finances. You can extend hope to thousands!

And your support can offer life-giving assistance to more single moms like Luba, as well as Holocaust survivors, terror victims, and refugees.

Please join us in blessing Israel’s people today!

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This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27). Read on Shabbat, December 27, 2025 / 5 Tevet 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself” (Genesis 44:18).

Parashat Vayigash opens with a courageous moment of approach. Judah steps forward, no longer speaking with fear or resentment, but with responsibility and humility. He offers himself in place of Benjamin, willing to bear the cost so his brother and father may be spared. This act of self-giving love marks a turning point in the story of Joseph and his brothers. What was once marked by betrayal now becomes shaped by repentance and mercy.

As Judah speaks, Joseph can no longer restrain himself. The walls of secrecy fall, and reconciliation begins. Joseph reveals his identity and speaks words that reshape the past: God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. In that moment, years of suffering are reframed within God’s greater purpose. Pain is not denied, but it is redeemed. God’s hand is seen not only in rescue, but in the long road that led there.

This portion teaches that reconciliation often begins when someone chooses to draw near rather than withdraw. Healing requires honesty, courage, and a willingness to take responsibility for others. Judah’s transformation shows that people can change, and that repentance opens the door for restoration. Joseph’s forgiveness reminds us that God’s purposes are larger than the harm done to us, and that grace can rewrite the story.

Many of us carry unresolved tension, broken relationships, or lingering guilt. Vayigash invites us to step forward rather than hide. God meets us when we approach with humility and truth. Drawing near does not erase the past, but it allows God to bring healing into what was once fractured. Even long separated family members can find reunion when hearts are softened.

Those who are in positions of strength or authority can learn from Joseph’s response. He chooses mercy over revenge and provision over punishment. Those who feel burdened by regret can learn from Judah, whose willingness to sacrifice becomes the pathway to forgiveness. God honors both repentance and grace, using them to bring life out of brokenness.

As this Shabbat arrives, consider where God may be inviting you to draw near. Perhaps it is toward a difficult conversation, a long-avoided apology, or an act of forgiveness. Trust that God is present in these moments. Let your approach be marked by humility, truth, and hope, believing that God still works through reconciliation to preserve life and restore relationships.

PRAYER
Lord, give me courage to draw near where I have held back. Teach me humility, compassion, and truth. Help me trust that You are at work even in painful histories, bringing healing, reconciliation, and new beginnings. Amen.