ARTICLES

Across Israel, hunger threatens thousands of people—families with children, refugees, elderly Holocaust survivors, and in recent years, Gaza war victims. So how can anyone feed such large numbers of vulnerable Israelis? 

Thankfully, friends like you have been part of the solution. Through the support of caring donors, CBN Israel has forged a vital partnership with Leket—a food rescue organization that combats food waste, and delivers nutritious meals nationwide to those in need. Donors even supplied them with a 15-ton truck—capable of transporting over seven tons of food daily, five days a week, to feed multitudes in Israel.

Leket Israel was founded over 20 years ago, and has grown into an amazing outreach. CEO Gidi Kroch shares, “Over 160 people work with us, and we rescue about 35,000 tons annually of food—most of it fresh produce, with about 3,000 tons being meals we rescue. We work with 800 farmers and farms all over Israel, and we have 120 suppliers or donors of food, including catering services.”

Even during the war, volunteers have helped with harvesting on farms, giving them a new appreciation of the land. Kroch adds, “The statistics are staggering—we’ve had 100,000 volunteers, especially in these last years of the war, with many up in the North.”

The concept behind Leket is an ancient biblical one of gleaning. God commanded His people to leave a small part of their fields to be picked by those who were poor. Today, farmers may have produce that is perfectly healthy, but not the right size or shape for what their buyers want. Instead of discarding it, they can donate it to Leket and feed hungry families.

Kroch concludes, “We’re so pleased and happy to be able to do this with CBN support… thank you!” And your gifts to CBN Israel can also provide safe housing, financial assistance, and other essentials to those in crisis.

Will you join us today in this important mission?

GIVE TODAY

By Stephen Faircloth

The Western Wall is the last visible remnant of the great platform that once supported the Temple Mount, the place where the people of Israel gathered to worship the Lord. In the first century, this wall faced the city of Jerusalem and served as a gateway between everyday life and the presence of God. Pilgrims walked the streets below and ascended through its gates to appear before the Lord in His house.

In the days of the Temple, the Western Wall was not itself a holy site. It was a structure that upheld something greater. Yet after the Temple’s destruction, when access to the sacred courts was taken away, this wall became a place of longing. What once supported worship became a place where worship continued in the only way still possible, through prayer, tears, and hope.

Today, the Western Wall stands as a powerful reminder of what was lost and what still remains. Jews from around the world come to stand before these ancient stones, pressing written prayers into the cracks, lifting whispered cries to God. It functions as an open-air synagogue, a place where grief and faith meet, where sorrow over destruction is joined with trust in God’s promises.

Walking along the length of the Wall reveals layers of history and devotion. Beneath the city streets, tunnels follow the hidden portions of the wall, exposing massive stones laid during the time of Herod the Great. These stones remind us of human effort and grandeur, but also of how fragile even the greatest works can be. Nearby, fallen blocks lie where Roman soldiers hurled them down during the destruction of Jerusalem. The broken pavement beneath them bears witness to judgment, loss, and exile.

And yet, prayer did not end. Faith did not vanish. God was not defeated by destruction. The Western Wall teaches us that even when the visible structures of our faith collapse, our relationship with God can endure. When access is taken away, longing deepens. When certainty is shaken, prayer becomes more honest.

The people who come to the Wall today are not simply remembering the past. They are expressing a deep hope that God still hears, still sees, and still remembers His people. The Wall stands as a testimony that God’s presence is not confined to buildings, and that His covenant faithfulness outlasts stone and mortar.

For believers, the Western Wall invites us to ask where we go when life feels broken. Where do we turn when what once gave us security is gone. Do we withdraw in despair, or do we press closer to God with humble hearts.

The stones of the Western Wall remind us that God meets us not only in glory, but also in loss. He listens not only in celebration, but also in lament. And even in ruins, He calls His people to pray, to hope, and to trust that redemption is still possible.

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.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Vaera (Exodus 6:2-9:35). Read on Shabbat, January 17, 2026 / 27 Tevet 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“God spoke to Moses and said to him, I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I was not known to them” (Exodus 6:2-3).

Parashat Vaera marks a turning point in the story of redemption. God reveals Himself more fully to Moses and declares His commitment to deliver Israel from slavery. Though the people are discouraged and Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, God remains steadfast. He repeats His promises and reaffirms His covenant, reminding Moses that liberation is rooted not in human strength but in divine faithfulness.

The plagues that follow are not random acts of power. They are signs meant to reveal who God is and to expose the emptiness of false authority. Each plague confronts Egypt’s confidence and challenges its gods. At the same time, God is shaping Israel’s identity, teaching them to trust Him even when deliverance seems slow or costly. Redemption unfolds step by step, often amid resistance and uncertainty.

This portion speaks to seasons when progress feels stalled and hope feels fragile. Moses struggles with self doubt. The people grow weary of waiting. Yet God continues to act, revealing His presence and power in ways that cannot be ignored. Vaera reminds us that God’s timing is purposeful, and His promises remain firm even when circumstances appear unchanged.

Some may be facing obstacles that seem immovable or voices that resist change. This portion encourages perseverance rooted in trust. God sees the full story when we see only a moment. Others may be witnessing small signs of movement after long waiting. Let these moments strengthen your faith and remind you that God is at work even when the process feels slow.

As this Shabbat arrives, take time to remember where God has already revealed His faithfulness in your life. Speak gratitude for past deliverance, even as you wait for new freedom. Choose one way to trust God more deeply this week, whether through patience, prayer, or obedience. 

Let your heart rest in the truth that the God who appeared long ago still acts with power and mercy today.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself as faithful and strong. Help me trust Your promises when the path is difficult and the outcome unclear. Strengthen my faith as I wait for Your deliverance, and let my life reflect confidence in Your redeeming power. Amen.

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!

GIVE TODAY

By Stephen Faircloth

Rising from the northeastern edge of the Jezreel Valley, Mount Tabor stands alone, its rounded shape visible from great distances. Unlike the surrounding hills, it rises abruptly from the valley floor, its steep slopes leading to a broad plateau at the summit measuring roughly one thousand meters by four hundred meters. This solitary mountain marked the meeting point of the tribal territories of Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali, placing it at both a geographic and symbolic crossroads within ancient Israel.

Mount Tabor entered the biblical story most clearly during the time of the judges. Deborah and Barak gathered the Israelite forces on this mountain before facing the Canaanite army led by Sisera, the general of Jabin king of Hazor. The choice of Tabor was strategic. The steep slopes limited the effectiveness of Sisera’s iron chariots, which required flat terrain to maneuver. From this elevated position, the Israelites descended to meet the enemy, turning the landscape itself into an instrument of deliverance. The victory celebrated in Judges 4 and 5 became a testimony to how God used both faith and geography to bring freedom to His people.

Beyond military strategy, Mount Tabor may also have held religious significance. Biblical passages suggest that the mountain was associated with worship and pilgrimage, which may explain why the tribes gathered there before battle. It was a place where allegiance to God was affirmed before action was taken. In this way, Mount Tabor functioned not only as a stronghold but also as a place of decision, where trust in God preceded victory.

In later centuries, Mount Tabor continued to play a role in the region’s history. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, it served as the site of several conflicts. Josephus records that he fortified the mountain during the First Jewish Revolt against Rome, recognizing once again its defensive advantages. Even in these later struggles, Mount Tabor remained a place where power, resistance, and survival intersected.

Christian tradition eventually turned its attention to Mount Tabor as well. From an early period, some believers identified it as the possible location of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The Gospels describe the event as taking place on a very high mountain but do not name it. Early sources, including quotations preserved by Church Fathers such as Origen and Cyril, associate the Transfiguration with Mount Tabor. If this tradition reflects material from the late first or early second century, it shows how early Christians sought to anchor moments of divine revelation within the physical landscape of the Holy Land.

At the same time, not all early Christian pilgrims treated Mount Tabor as a sacred site. Writers like Eusebius and the Bordeaux Pilgrim do not single it out in their accounts. This suggests that while the tradition existed, it was not universally emphasized in the early Byzantine period. Over time, however, devotion grew, and today a church crowns the summit, marking the mountain as a place of reflection and remembrance.

Mount Tabor reminds us that God often meets His people in elevated places, both literally and spiritually. It was a mountain of battle, of worship, and possibly of revelation. Whether in moments of conflict or moments of glory, it stands as a reminder that God acts within real places and real history. The same God who brought victory through Deborah and Barak, and who revealed His glory to the disciples, still calls His people to trust Him when standing at the heights of decision and faith.

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.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Shemot (Exodus 1:1-6:1). Read on Shabbat, January 10, 2026 / 20 Tevet 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household” (Exodus 1:1).

The book of Exodus begins by naming the people of Israel. Though generations have passed and circumstances have changed, God remembers them by name. What starts as a list of families soon turns into a story of growth, oppression, and suffering. The Israelites multiply, and fear grips the Egyptians. Slavery replaces hospitality, and harsh labor becomes daily life. Yet even in affliction, God’s promise continues to unfold.

Parashat Shemot reminds us that God’s purposes are often advancing quietly beneath visible hardship. The cries of the people rise from the brick pits to heaven, and God hears them. At the same time, God begins to prepare deliverance through unexpected means. Women such as Shiphrah, Puah, Jochebed, and Miriam act with courage and compassion. A child is hidden, saved, and drawn from the water. Redemption begins not with power, but with faithfulness in small acts of obedience.

Moses grows up caught between two worlds. He knows both privilege and pain, belonging and exile. When he flees to Midian, it appears as though his calling has failed before it begins. Yet God meets him in the wilderness, where a burning bush reveals divine presence and holy purpose. God sees suffering, remembers His covenant, and declares His intention to rescue His people.

This portion speaks to seasons when life feels heavy or direction unclear. God is not absent in times of hardship. He is attentive to every cry and mindful of every name. Even when deliverance seems distant, God is already at work, shaping hearts, preparing leaders, and aligning events according to His timing. Faithfulness in obscurity becomes the soil from which freedom will grow.

Some may feel weighed down by circumstances that seem unchanging. Let this portion remind you that God sees and hears. Others may find themselves in positions where small choices carry great weight. Like the midwives of Egypt, acts of courage and integrity matter deeply to God. Every faithful response participates in His unfolding plan of redemption.

As this Shabbat arrives, take time to reflect on where God may be calling you to trust Him in unseen ways. Notice the quiet moments where obedience is possible. Speak gratitude for His presence, even when answers are not yet clear. Let your life testify that the God who calls His people by name remains faithful in every generation.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for knowing me by name and for hearing every cry of my heart. Teach me to trust You in seasons of waiting and to walk faithfully in small acts of obedience. May my life reflect confidence in Your presence and Your redeeming power. Amen.