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The Divine Diversity of Israel Through Operations Moses, Joshua, and Solomon   

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has faced accusations about conducting a genocide against Gaza’s Palestinian Arabs. This apartheid accusation, which has been around for decades, includes a favorite lie: that the Jewish population is all white and oppressive. Whether you’re traveling to Israel or viewing online photos, let your eyes tell you the truth about Israel’s diverse citizenry.

A case in point is that upwards of 170,000 Ethiopian-Israelis can be found among Israel’s current population. This inspiring Ethiopian statistic reflects a singular fact: Israel is the only nation in the world that has transported black Africans to freedom instead of to slavery. Allow that fact to sink in—and pass it on, if you will.

In 1973, Israel’s Chief Sephardi Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ruled that Ethiopian Jews were, according to Jewish law, “Sons of Israel” (Bnei Israel). Facing religious persecution and oppression at home, these Africans began the perilous 2,000-mile trek to Israel in relatively small numbers—numbers that ballooned in the early 1980s with Israeli-initiated airlifts undertaken in response to the thousands of Jews dying along the way. What factors drove them to first undertake their dangerous walks through hostile territories?

Similar to all Jews, in the global diaspora Ethiopians held Judaism in their hearts. Their Judaism harkened back to their belief that the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon resulted in a son, their ancestor Menelek I. Their tradition says that King Solomon gave Menelek a Torah scroll instructing him to teach Ethiopians about biblical Judaism. You may be inclined to dismiss the story, but facts on the ground in Ethiopia prove the ancient Jewish practices in their culture called Beta (House of) Israel.

Encyclopedia Britannica affirms their Jewish Torah culture in Ethiopia. With a Bible and prayer book written in Geʿez—an ancient Semitic language of Ethiopia—they observed the Sabbath, circumcision, synagogues with priests (kohanim) of the villages, offered animal sacrifices, and kept some of the major Jewish festivals. They followed Jewish dietary laws as best they could despite generations of Ethiopian poverty and famine in that nation.

Danielle Mor, a vice president at the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), explains that Ethiopian Jews were among the most ancient Jews in exile. “They are actually believed to be from the tribe of Dan, exiled by the Babylonians.” She further observes that, living in Ethiopia’s northern rural, mountainous region, they were “cut off from the rest of the Jewish world [and] followed more ancient, biblical traditions, not the traditions of the last 2,500 years.”

Fighting famines and persecution in Ethiopia under dictator Mengistu Hail Mariam—and longing for their homeland, Israel—the Ethiopian Jews first headed north to neighboring Sudan. It was not an easy journey. Suffering from starvation, dehydration, and violence meant Ethiopians died by the thousands. Yet the group maintained its cultural determination to reach their ancestral homeland. Thousands of Ethiopians walked into Sudan. They were then housed in strained, sometimes violent conditions in refugee camps.

Israel, learning of the vast number of deaths, decided to get involved. In 1984-1985, the Ethiopian Jews’ dangerous foot journey was transformed into Israeli flights. Via Operation Moses—the first of three clandestine military undertakings—Israeli pilots airlifted an estimated 7,000 Ethiopian Jews from Sudanese refugee camps to Israel. But leaks and political pressure forced Sudan to end the lifesaving airlift prematurely, leaving many people stranded.

In 1985, the U.S. launched Operation Joshua to evacuate the Ethiopian Jews remaining and bring them to safety in Israel. Three countries cooperated in the complex covert logistics: Israel’s Mossad, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and Sudanese State Security. However, this enterprise, too, came to a halt when leaks about Operation Moses became public knowledge and Sudan was pressured by Arab countries to stop.

Operation Solomon, the third masterful operation, was carried out on May 24-25, 1991. Launched to airlift Jews threatened by an escalating civil war in Ethiopia, this remarkable 36-hour enterprise is considered one of the most extraordinary rescue efforts in modern history.

Thirty aircraft were utilized for Operation Solomon, including the Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules. Seats were removed to maximize passenger capacity and plastic sheeting was laid down for improved hygiene and disease prevention. One El Al 747 airlift set a world record: 1,122 passengers—and the miracle of two babies born during the flight.

During Operation Solomon, doctors and paramedics were on hand for malnourished Ethiopians, providing water and food. A summation from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that the operation’s execution was flawless: planes took 14,087 Ethiopian Jews from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Israel in one weekend. Once, 25 planes were in the air simultaneously, including planes chartered from Ethiopia’s state airline.

So, when you hear cries of “apartheid in Israel,” or “genocide,” or “lack of diversity”—that’s nothing but propaganda! Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics recorded that between 1980 and 1992, Israel repatriated upwards of 44,766 Jewish Ethiopians. History books, websites, social media, and videos are replete with diverse facts and stories of Israel’s decision to airlift black Ethiopian refugees to their homeland.

In fact, Israel is alone in its dedicated, complex efforts to rescue Africans instead of enslaving them. The United States and Great Britain, for example, cannot make such claims, since their horrific slave trade lasted for several hundred years. Mercifully, both countries long ago abandoned the deadly slave trade, yet true freedom remained ahead in slow legal and activist advocacy for equality.

The Ethiopian Jews’ transition into Israel was indeed complicated and challenging for both Israelis and Ethiopians. As an example, the first years of integrating Ethiopians—who had lived in huts with no electricity—into contemporary Israeli society meant teaching them how to turn on a stove and perform other tasks required for living in a modern culture. Israelis had to make their own adjustments regarding the culture of Ethiopians. Israel, though, has made frequent transitions—receiving people making Aliyah from nations such as India, China, Mexico, and South America—each bringing their own unique cultures.

In frequent trips to Israel, I have met and talked with many wonderful, exceptional Ethiopian citizens. Among them was Shlomo Molla, former deputy speaker of Israel’s Parliament Knesset, who in 1984 arrived in Israel barefooted. Today, Ethiopians serve in the Israel Defense Forces and attend Israel’s Ono College, which champions multiculturalism and where they earn degrees for prestigious positions as attorneys and in the tech sector.

Israel’s enemies have no regard for Psalm 34:13— Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. I encourage you to put these facts in your truth-telling toolbox and pass it on as one way to oppose lies by expressing your support for Israel.

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you to join us in prayer this week: 

  • Pray for those blinded by hate to open their eyes to truths about Israel’s diversity.
  • Pray for lingering challenges for Ethiopians to gain added influential roles in Israel.
  • Pray for Ethiopian families grieving for deceased family members among the IDF.
  • Pray for all Ethiopian family members still in Ethiopia who await their Aliyah.

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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Bomb Shelter Restoration

The world watched nervously as news stories showed Iran’s missile attacks on Israel. But the town of Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, was on the frontlines.

An Iranian rocket hit the area, destroying hundreds of homes. Thankfully, one apartment building with 18 families was spared. However, when they all rushed to the bomb shelter, they discovered that it was in disrepair. There was a foul odor and the staircase was broken, with no railing, making it unusable for the older people to go downstairs into the shelter.

With the danger of missile attacks still looming, these families urgently needed to find safety.

Thanks to the generosity of caring friends like you, CBN Israel was able to partner with Tenufa baKehila, or “Building Hope.” This organization is on a mission to repair shelters across the Holy Land.

Building Hope’s director, Gabi Nachmani, had his team work quickly to fix the damage, including installing a safe railing. He said, “Hopefully, by the end of the day today, it’s all going to be painted and clear. The stench is going to be out, and people can come and stay here.”

Gabi added, “It was so easy to work with CBN. … We have the same biblical mission—to strengthen Israel, and make sure that the Jewish people are thriving.”

And the daughter of an elderly resident said gratefully, “It will be a lot safer for my mother to get to the bomb shelter. She can hold on to the railing. Even getting out of the shelter was hard for her without this railing. Thank you so much for helping!”

Her mother was also thrilled by the new safety features, saying, “This is so touching—thank you! I would kiss your hands for doing this work!”

Your gifts to CBN Israel can do so much, as many still suffer from the effects of war and terror. You can provide nutritious meals, housing, trauma counseling, financial aid, and more.

Please help us make a difference at this crucial time!

GIVE TODAY

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Chorazin: A Warning in the Ruins

By Stephen Faircloth

Perched in the hills just north of Capernaum, the ruins of Chorazin overlook the Sea of Galilee. Though this ancient village is mentioned only briefly in the Gospels, it holds a sobering place in the story of Jesus.

Jesus once pronounced a severe rebuke over Chorazin, along with Bethsaida and Capernaum, because despite witnessing His mighty works, the people refused to repent (Matthew 11:21–24; Luke 10:13–16). It is a reminder that spiritual privilege does not guarantee spiritual transformation. The land between these villages formed the heart of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, where miracles and teachings unfolded almost daily. Yet familiarity bred indifference.

Unlike Capernaum and Bethsaida, Chorazin sat back from the shoreline. While it was removed from the fishing trade of the lake, it was renowned for producing exceptional wheat—a detail preserved in ancient rabbinic writings. Archaeological discoveries confirm that Chorazin was a vibrant Jewish community, beginning in the first century A.D.

Most of the ruins visitors see today date to later centuries. The basalt synagogue at the village center, possibly constructed by the third century, reflects the classic Galilean synagogue style seen in places like Capernaum. Worshippers would ascend a broad southern staircase—facing Jerusalem—to enter the hall. Inside, benches formed a U-shape around the room. Carved basalt stones, though difficult to shape, were decorated with symbolic motifs.

Among the most striking finds is a basalt chair called the “Seat of Moses.” According to tradition, this was where teachers of the Law would sit to instruct the people (see Matthew 23:1–2). The chair bears an Aramaic inscription honoring the benefactor who donated it and praying that he would have a share among the righteous. Beneath the later synagogue floor, archaeologists have uncovered signs of an earlier public building—perhaps the synagogue where Jesus Himself taught.

In homes nearby, excavators have found ritual baths, stone vessels, and other artifacts that reveal a community concerned with purity and devotion. And yet, Chorazin still fell under Jesus’ judgment. The people saw, heard, and experienced much—but their hearts remained unchanged.

Chorazin warns us that it is possible to be surrounded by spiritual opportunity and still drift into complacency. It challenges us to consider: Are we responding to what God has shown us, or merely observing it from a safe distance?

Where has God been at work in your life? Have you grown familiar with His blessings without letting them transform you? What would it look like to respond with repentance and renewed faith today?

Stephen Faircloth serves as President of CBN Israel, where he is passionately committed to supporting the nation and people of Israel. He leads a broad range of advocacy efforts and humanitarian initiatives that bring practical aid and lasting hope to some of Israel’s most vulnerable—terror victims, Holocaust survivors, refugees, and families facing deep poverty.

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Weekly Devotional: When Living Water Flows

Have you ever watched a dry landscape come alive when water begins to flow? In the middle of a barren desert, a single spring can transform everything it touches. What was once cracked and lifeless suddenly bursts into green, lush growth. Water doesn’t just improve the land—it changes its very nature.

During the Festival of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, Jesus stood before the crowds and declared, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38 NKJV).

This vivid image would have resonated deeply with His listeners. They understood that wherever living water moved, it turned dead places into oases. Jesus was describing what happens when a person truly believes in Him and abides in Him. A heart connected to Christ becomes a wellspring of life and blessing to the world around it.

Today, we need to ask ourselves: What does our spiritual landscape look like? Are we channels of life-giving water, or are we blending in with the dryness around us? Does our presence refresh and renew others, or leave them unchanged?

Jesus made it clear: authentic faith is never stagnant. When we trust and obey Him, the result is unmistakable—living water flows from our lives into a thirsty world. That water is His Spirit working through us, producing love, joy, hope, and truth that cannot help but spread.

It’s easy to blame the culture, politics, or entertainment industry for the moral and spiritual drought around us. But Jesus suggests we first look inward. If we are connected to Him, then transformation should begin with us. The evidence of our faith is that the places around us begin to look different—like desert soil touched by rain.

Water brings life. It always has, and it always will. When His living water flows through us, it revives what is withered and gives hope where there was none.

So take a moment to consider: Is the river flowing from you? Is it saturating your family, your workplace, your community with the life of Jesus?

PRAYER

Father, let Your living water flow through me. Fill me so completely with Your Spirit that my words and actions refresh and restore those around me. May my life bring life to others, for Your glory. Amen.

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Faith in Action: How American Christians Can Stand with Israel Today

By Dani Naveh, President & CEO, Israel Bonds

A few weeks ago, as I was in New York, Facetiming with my three children in Israel—our family routine whenever sirens go off alerting people to rush to nearby bomb shelters—our worst fear came true. An Iranian missile struck our family home. Through the phone, my wife and I heard an explosion too loud to be in the distance. Our children, though shaken, survived, but as they left the shelter, they witnessed our house and yard engulfed in flames.

It is during these challenging times that I am reminded that true friendship is not merely spoken, it is demonstrated. Soon after I made my way to Israel to be with my children, I received meaningful messages from my friends at CBN—phone calls and emails of support. My family’s home was in ashes, but our spirits were intact.

The bond between Christians and Jews, forged through spiritual kinship, is more vital today than ever before. Israel is facing a battle on multiple fronts, but in our darkest hours following the horrific day of October 7, we have also seen the brightest lights—many of them coming from our Christian brothers and sisters across the United States.

As the President and CEO of Development Corporation for Israel/Israel Bonds, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand this outpouring of support not only in words and prayers, but in meaningful action. Since the attacks of October 7, individuals and institutions have invested over $5 billion globally in Israel through Israel bonds. And a growing share of these investments has come from Christian supporters who understand that supporting Israel economically is one of the most concrete ways to stand with the Jewish people, and secure Israel’s future.

On May 10, 1951, in New York’s Madison Square Garden, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion launched this extraordinary initiative with a simple but powerful idea: allow friends of Israel, wherever they may live, to invest in her future. Seventy-four years later, Israel Bonds continues to offer that same opportunity—not just to invest in a bond, but to invest in a nation, a people, and a promise. Since that historic day, Israel Bonds has generated over $54 billion in sales from around the world.

For many Christians, this commitment to Israel stems from deeply held beliefs. As Psalm 122:6 commands, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure.’” But prayer must be accompanied by action. In the Book of Ruth, we find a moving declaration of loyalty from Ruth, a non-Jewish Moabite woman, recently widowed, to her mother-in-law Naomi: “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” That enduring message of solidarity has echoed across generations and faith traditions. Today, it resonates once again.

I write not only as the leader of a financial institution but also as someone who has lived through decades of Israeli history. I served in government as an Israeli cabinet minister during years when peace felt within reach and during times when war knocked on every door.

In recent months, I’ve traveled across the United States, meeting with Christian pastors, lay leaders, business executives, and families. Many have asked me: What can we do for Israel right now? My answer is always the same—continue to pray, continue to speak truth, and when you are able, invest in Israel’s future. Buying an Israel bond is not only a smart financial decision—it is a deeply spiritual one. It is a tangible declaration that you stand with Israel not only in words, but in deeds.

Israel Bonds is not a charitable contribution. It is a smart financial investment, backed by the full faith and credit of the State of Israel. But more than that, it is a moral investment—one that allows individuals to stand on the side of life, democracy, and shared values. As talks of ceasefires and peace unfold, the fight for Israel’s future continues, supported by communities around the world.

Let us walk this path together, in covenant and in courage. Join us. Invest in Israel. Not for politics. Not for headlines. But for hope, for peace, and for a future rooted in shared faith.

As Psalm 133:1 says: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” May our unity be not only in spirit, but in action.

Dani Naveh is President and CEO of the Development Corporation for Israel/Israel Bonds. Since 2021, Mr. Naveh has steered the organization to record-breaking sales. Under Mr. Naveh’s leadership, Israel Bonds has brought in unprecedented support, raising over $5 billion in investments since October 7, 2023. Mr. Naveh previously served in various governmental roles including as Israel’s Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Minister of Health and Cabinet Secretary. After his tenure in government, Mr. Naveh transitioned to the business sector, leading major financial groups like Clal Insurance and founding ventures in medtech, insurtech, and fintech.

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American and Israeli Eagles in the Storms of Life

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

The American bald eagle—renowned as one of the world’s most iconic birds—serves as a powerful symbol of courage and resilience. When storms brew overhead, unleashing thunder and lightning, eagles do not retreat to safety like many other birds. Instead, both males and females fly straight into the heart of the tempest.

Their extraordinary ability to harness the wind’s power propels them higher than usual, lifting them into calmer air. From this vantage point, their view is clearer, and their flight becomes smoother. Rather than evading storms, eagles confront them head-on. In much the same spirit, the responses to the recent, catastrophic Guadalupe River storm in Texas—along with Israel’s Operation Rising Lion and the United States’ Operation Midnight Hammer—vividly exemplify the resilience and strength embodied by eagles.

The aftermath of the deadly flood that began in the dark, early hours of July 4th is heartbreaking. At this writing, at least 110 people have lost their lives, and 171 remain missing.

Residents of the usually scenic Texas Hill Country are no strangers to flooding—hence the region’s reputation as “Flash Flood Alley”—but this deluge defies description. Reports indicate that the National Weather Service (NWS) issued timely warnings. Janice Dean, Fox News senior meteorologist, posted on X: “There were warnings. The NWS offices were staffed. It came overnight on a holiday weekend in a flood-prone area. A worst-case scenario in terms of timing and magnitude.”  

Yet even amid this unprecedented disaster, critics have found ways to politicize the tragedy, blaming President Trump for events beyond any human control. In a particularly egregious example, Texas pediatrician Dr. Christina Propst posted a cruel remark claiming that flood victims, including children, were Trump supporters who got “what they voted for.” After immense backlash, Blue Fish Pediatrics in Houston rightly terminated her employment. When a pediatric physician expresses such hatred toward children, it underscores how damaging political agendas can become when they eclipse basic compassion.

Despite the politicization of this heartrending disaster, countless workers and volunteers—like eagles flying into the storm—are placing themselves in hazardous areas to help those in need. With support from Texas National Guard helicopters and U.S. Coast Guard airlifts, volunteers have responded in an inspiring outpouring of compassion. The world is witnessing Americans aiding one another on rescue missions large and small, with teams trekking through rough terrain to deliver help wherever possible. The Mountain Mules, who famously navigated treacherous mountain passes in western North Carolina to deliver supplies after Hurricane Helene, are now on the ground in Texas, leading the way once more.

Isaiah 40:31 offers a perfect prayer for everyone affected by the Texas river tragedy: But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  

Other symbols of eagles flying into a different kind of storm are the American and Israeli pilots whose courage deserves the world’s applause.

Their successes in the storms of war are nothing short of remarkable. The U.S. and Israeli Air Forces have flown with precision into enemy territories over Iran and its proxies. Despite differing opinions about these operations’ outcomes, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been at least temporarily restrained from unleashing its campaign of terror against the wider world. The Islamic regime remains focused on its long-standing goal: re-establishing a caliphate to impose cruel Shia religious oppression.

Though the current conflict is called the Twelve Day War, Iran effectively launched hostilities in 1979 by capturing and holding U.S. Embassy staff as hostages for 444 days. After overthrowing the Persian government, the Shia ayatollahs began oppressing their own population and arming terror proxies to attack Israel. In reality, the so-called Twelve Day War could more accurately be called the Forty-Six Year War. It began in 1979—and, as history and Scripture remind us, it has not yet ended.

Since declaring its modern independence in 1948, Israel—now 77 years strong—has brought immeasurable blessings to the world through her remarkable innovation, resilience, and perseverance. God’s promise in Amos 9:15 remains clear: “I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them.” His promise is permanent, with no future exile or relocation.

Nevertheless, choosing to trust our faithful Father God is often difficult amid storms of lawlessness, antisemitism, and national disasters at home and abroad. While Israel and Middle East turmoil dominate headlines—much of it filled with distortion—the lawlessness and disinformation are not only antisemitic but also deeply anti-Christian.

Today, an estimated 340 million Christians face widespread persecution. Nigeria, known as “the world’s center of Christian martyrs,” has seen at least 52,250 Christians murdered over the past 14 years, according to the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law. Hatred against Jews continues to escalate worldwide in many forms. Since October 7, 2023, at least 17 synagogues have been targeted by arsonists, and countless acts of hatred and intimidation against the Jewish people have continued to surge.

President Trump responded swiftly, signing a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County and offering these words of support: “God bless all of the people who have gone through so much.” He plans to visit Texas as early as tomorrow (Friday), provided his arrival does not disrupt recovery efforts. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed solidarity, stating: “My wife Sara and I and all of Israel are praying for the Great State of Texas. Israel knows disaster—we’ve lived through war, fire, and flood. Dear friends, we stand with you!”

As a Christian community, we must uphold Israel in prayer and provide tangible support through trusted Christian and Jewish organizations. Let us draw inspiration from the eagle—soaring above storms—and strengthen our resolve to stand with Texas and Israel alike.

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you to join us in prayer for rescuers in Texas, that they might “soar on wings like eagles.”

Prayer Points:

  • Pray for families in shock who have lost loved ones and friends.
  • Pray for strength for all rescuers and compassionate providers.
  • Pray for donations to meet needs of victims who have no homes.  
  • Pray for the restoration of kindness among those who are hard-hearted toward Israel, Jews, and persecuted Christians.

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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Bringing Hope to Missile Strike Survivors

In Bat Yam, a coastal city south of Tel Aviv, terror struck an entire neighborhood when an Iranian missile destroyed a residential building. Hundreds of residents were displaced. It was a direct hit which obliterated that building, and damaged nearby buildings for blocks, making them unlivable.

One frightened survivor recalled the horror, saying, “The building was shaking, and I was holding the door shut. And it felt like the door would fly out.”

Since the beginning of the war with Iran, Israel faced relentless missile and drone attacks, leaving communities in a state of upheaval and despair. With so many people left homeless and traumatized, where could they turn for help?

Fortunately, friends like you came to their rescue, through CBN Israel. Thanks to the support of generous donors, a bus arrived in Bat Yam to take the elderly, Holocaust survivors, and those with disabilities to safer places, including temporary shelter in a hotel.

And in the wake of the attacks, their gifts helped to launch a trauma hotline, offering counseling, comfort, and hope to those reeling from loss.

At a time when it seems that so many forces in the world are aligning against Israel, it means a great deal to the Israeli people to know caring partners are standing with them. And your support can convey volumes to those who are hurting.

You can be there for terror victims with hot meals, safe lodging, professional trauma therapy, and encouragement. And you can bring ongoing relief to refugees and new immigrants, single moms, Holocaust survivors, and others in need.

Please consider a special gift to support those in crisis across the Holy Land!

GIVE TODAY

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Magdala: Faith by the Lake

By Stephen Faircloth

Nestled along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, just a few miles north of Tiberias, the ancient settlement of Magdala offers a remarkable window into Jewish life during the time of Jesus. Known by multiple names—Magdala or Migdal Nunaya in Hebrew and Aramaic, and Taricheae in Greek and Latin—this city played a central role in the economy and culture of the region.

Greek sources called it Taricheae, meaning “factories for salting fish,” a reminder that everyday labor and community life were part of God’s provision. The bustling harbor connected smaller villages, including Capernaum, to wider trade networks, illustrating how God often uses ordinary places to accomplish extraordinary purposes. When the Gospels describe Jesus arriving by boat in the region of Gennesar, He likely stepped ashore in Magdala’s thriving port.

Though tradition has long identified Magdala as the hometown of Mary Magdalene, there is no conclusive historical proof of this connection. Still, her life shows how God can redeem any story, and how an encounter with Christ transforms us from the inside out.

Modern excavations have brought Magdala to life in vivid detail. Archaeologists uncovered streets laid out in a precise grid, elegant homes with expertly cut stone, intricate mosaic floors, and fine pottery and glassware—all signs of a prosperous community. Many of these homes contained private ritual baths (mikva’ot), even though the Sea of Galilee was just steps away. This dedication reveals how seriously the people of Magdala took purity and devotion, weaving faith into the fabric of daily life.

Among the most significant discoveries is Magdala’s ancient synagogue—one of the earliest ever found. Though modest in size, it was rich with spiritual meaning. The main hall was ringed with benches, frescoed walls, and mosaic floors. At its center stood a beautifully carved stone, likely supporting the sacred Torah as it was read aloud. The carvings include the seven-branched menorah from the Jerusalem Temple, reminding worshipers that even in Galilee, their faith was anchored in God’s promises and presence.

While the Gospels do not specifically mention Jesus teaching in Magdala, He traveled throughout Galilee, proclaiming the Kingdom and opening the Scriptures in synagogues just like this one. It is entirely possible—perhaps even likely—that He stood in this very space, reading and explaining the Word of God, calling people to repentance, hope, and new life.

Magdala is a powerful reminder that faith is not reserved for holy places alone. It flourishes in workshops, fishing boats, kitchens, and markets—wherever people choose to honor God with their lives. Like the men and women of Magdala, we are called to integrate worship into our work, to pursue purity of heart even in ordinary routines, and to welcome Jesus into every corner of our day.

Are there areas of your life where you have separated faith from daily tasks? What would it look like to invite Jesus into your own “harbor,” your own “workshop,” and live every moment for His glory?

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Weekly Devotional: Set Free to Serve the King

“Let My people go, so that they can serve Me” (Exodus 7:16).

Freedom captivates every heart. From the earliest stories of humanity, the longing to be free has shaped our dreams and driven our pursuits.

The Exodus stands as one of history’s most powerful accounts of liberation—God Himself intervening to rescue His people from centuries of bondage. This narrative was so revolutionary that slaveholders in America once distributed Bibles that deliberately omitted the book of Exodus, fearing its impact on the enslaved.

Today, as followers of Jesus, we often speak about freedom in Christ. We celebrate that we have been delivered—freed from sin, shame, and spiritual death. But what is this freedom ultimately for?

Scripture makes it clear: God doesn’t simply set captives free so they can wander aimlessly. He delivers us to belong to Him, to worship Him, and to serve His purposes. True freedom is not the absence of all restraint; it is the joyful surrender of our lives to the One who made us.

When Moses demanded the Israelites’ release, he wasn’t asking Pharaoh to let them do whatever they pleased. God’s purpose was specific: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.” This was a call to leave the false gods of Egypt behind and to become wholly devoted to their Redeemer and King.

Even Jesus taught more about servanthood than self-determination. He warned that every heart is committed to something—either God or a rival master. In His kingdom, freedom is found in willingly taking the posture of a servant, trusting that God’s rule leads to life, peace, and purpose.

Today, we still face the same choice. We are offered freedom—but it is not freedom for our own agendas. It is freedom to love, worship, and serve the King who reigns forever. How will you use the liberty you’ve been given?

PRAYER

Father, I offer You my heart and my will. Teach me what it means to be truly free by serving You alone. You are my King, and I long to live for Your purposes today. Amen.

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Does the Cyrus Cylinder Hold Hope for the Jewish Community in Iran?

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

The Islamic Republic of Iran is home to some 10,000 to 15,000 Jews, who remain as the modern remnants of ancient Jews captured in Jerusalem and forcibly deported to Babylon in 587/586 B.C. While it’s not common knowledge, even now Iran’s Jewish population is the second largest in the Middle East after Israel. Also not well known is the existence of the Cyrus Cylinder, an archaeological treasure dating from the sixth century B.C. and displayed in London’s British Museum.

Discovered in Babylon (modern-day Iraq) in 1879, the clay cylinder draws a straight line from ancient Persia to Jewish people and their history with inscriptions from King Cyrus. In part, Cyrus observes in the cuneiform text, “I took up my lordly abode in the royal palace amidst rejoicing and happiness. … My vast army marched into Babylon in peace; I did not permit anyone to frighten the people.”

Scholars often call Cyrus’s decrees for the Jews the “first charter of human rights.” Cyrus, a pagan king, allowed all the people he conquered—including Jews—to keep their religions and cultures. Today, in exploring the destiny of modern Iranian Jews we find another Middle Eastern set of complicated facts and questions.

Let’s take a moment to revisit the 70-year Jewish exile in Babylon. The annals of biblical and archaeological history recount Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Solomon’s Temple and eventually the rise of Cyrus the Great in 539 B.C. Why is Persian King Cyrus described as “great?” Apart from his military achievements, tolerant rule, and political astuteness, God tapped this secular ruler to liberate the Jewish exiles by repatriating Jews to their homeland.

Some 50,000 exiled Jews undertook the grueling 900-mile journey to Jerusalem. Most remained behind, however, possibly because many felt they were too old, or they preferred their good lives in Cyrus’ kingdom. The prolific prophet Isaiah mentioned Cyrus by name in Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1—some 150 years before Cyrus freed and financed not only the return of the Jews but also the wherewithal to rebuild the second Temple!

Cyrus’ words are not only inscribed in the Cyrus Cylinder but also in Ezra 1:2-3 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.”

This link gives added historical insights: [view here].

In modern times, millennia after the human-rights King Cyrus, the Islamic Regime conquered what was called Persia in 1979 and rebranded the country with its Shia Islam. Its apocalyptic ayatollahs are bent on welcoming the so-called Twelfth Imam to rule the world in the end times, an oppressive, one-sided religious governance. Their theology is light years away from the freedom-loving historic King Cyrus.

That said, surprisingly the Jewish community has lived a somewhat unrestricted life under the Islamic Regime. With 30 synagogues, Jewish schools, youth sports, kosher butcher shops, restaurants, and a matzah factory, Jews are an official religious minority and hold one seat in the Iranian parliament. Nevertheless, with upwards of 100,000 Jews living in Iran in 1979, numerous individuals and families fled to Israel and the United States before and after the revolution in waves of mass immigration.

The continuation of comparative calm for the Jewish community is now highly questionable since the Twelve Day War started on June 13. The Iranian Jewish community’s concerns are multiplying by the day. The Regime is arresting dozens of Jews, and some are held without any outside contact. Detainees include rabbis and other Jewish leaders amid a sobering headline in Israel’s Ynet Global News: “Anyone Can Disappear.”

The Regime is focusing right now on Jews with relatives in Israel. The Persian Human Rights News Agency HRANA mentions a November 2011 law that had already restricted family ties between Israeli and Iranian Jews. The Iranian Parliament banned Iranian Jews from travel to Israel. The punishment is up to five years in prison and passport ineligibility. A leader in the Tehran Jewish Association commented anonymously, “We’ve seen limited summonses during previous crises, but the current scale is unprecedented and has raised serious concerns about the psychological and social well-being of our community.”

As the world’s largest sponsor of terror, the Islamic Regime has a track record of fostering horrific evil outside its borders. But it also holds another world record: the second-highest number of executions inside Iran, according to Amnesty International. Only China outpaces Iran in that regard. I daresay all Iranians are aware of the prisons, public hangings, and hateful cries against Israel and the United States even now—in their parliament and funerals after their recent widespread losses in weapons, nuclear sites, and leadership.

I am puzzled now about the Islamic Regime’s leaders amid their war losses. When I recall the total defeat of Japan and Germany in World War II, I have concluded that Iran’s culture is so vastly immersed in cruelty and domination that it has transitioned into more than its Shia Religion. It is a literal Religion of Evil. They will not give up. Even now.

The 2,700-year-old Jewish community is walking an incredibly fragile tightrope. Some diaspora Iranians tend to think Iran’s Jews voicing support for the Regime is a survival strategy. On the other hand, the Central Jewish Committee of Tehran states that “Judaism is a religion, not a political ideology,” adding that Iranian Jews are completely separate from the Zionist (Israel) regime.

Yasmin Shalom Mottahedeh, an Israeli who made Aliyah in the 1980s, put it this way in an interview a few years ago: “The country can never be empty of Jews. It’s a community that has survived since the Babylonian exile after the destruction of the First Temple.” Yasmin concluded, “Jews have had the opportunity to leave, but those who are there have chosen to stay for a reason.”

It is impossible for us to know or understand why every Jew did not flee Iran both leading up to and following 1979. But we do know that the Islamic Regime is a deadly one. Prayers for the Iranian Jews are necessary, as the oppressive leaders attempt to rebuild the country by murdering anyone who stands in their way, Jews and non-Jews. And the ultimate prayer: That all Iranians will rise in freedom to rebuild their beautiful Persian country.

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you to join us in prayers for Iranian Jews by reflecting on King Cyrus’ quote in Ezra 1:3—“And may their God be with them.”

Prayer Points:

  • Pray the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will reveal His fullness to the Jews of Iran.
  • Pray that God’s heavenly armies will surround the Iranian Jewish families with safety.
  • Pray that the Islamic Regime will release the Jews they arrested back to their families.
  • Pray Iranian Jews will not suffer the evils leveled against Israeli Jews on October 7, 2023. 

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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