ARTICLES

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.

When she was just 13, Natalia had to flee her home in Ukraine to escape the Nazis. As World War II raged, this young Jewish girl survived by working in a factory that supported the war effort. She eventually returned home.

In 2022, as Russian missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities and families were torn apart by violence, Natalia faced the unthinkable. After a lifetime spent recovering from the trauma of World War II, she was once again forced to relive its horrors as war returned to the very place where she had rebuilt her life.

She recalled, “A rocket hit our neighborhood in the middle of the night. The explosion killed over 30 people in my community.” Terrified, this elderly woman sought refuge in Israel, making Aliyah to become an Israeli citizen.

Yet as a frail senior who arrived with nothing, Natalia has had other battles to fight. At age 95, she must use a wheelchair to go outside. Because of her handicap, she had to find another apartment with an elevator. And in addition to needing help getting enough to eat, she also lacked basic furniture. Alone in a different country, where could she get help?

Thankfully, friends like you came to her rescue through CBN Israel. Caring donors are there delivering nutritious food, and she says these visits from our team mean as much as the aid itself. Donors also provided her with a special bed and essential furniture, to make her apartment feel like home.

Natalia exclaimed, “Thank you so much for your generous help. I have been overjoyed to receive the regular provisions of food and groceries, and I am so grateful for the furniture… Your kindness means more than you know!”

Your gifts to CBN Israel can be a blessing to Holocaust survivors like Natalia, and to refugees, single moms, terror victims, and others struggling to survive in the Holy Land.

And you can make a tremendous difference for those in need by providing hot meals, safe housing, necessities, and financial assistance.

Join us today in sharing God’s love and compassion with those who are hurting in Israel!

GIVE TODAY

“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.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Miketz (Genesis 41:1- 44:17). Read on Shabbat, December 20, 2025 / 28 Kislev 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. And behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass” (Genesis 41:1-2).

Parashat Miketz opens with a sense of timing that belongs to God alone. Joseph has waited in prison, forgotten by those he helped, until suddenly everything changes. Pharaoh dreams, and Joseph is summoned. What feels like delay is revealed to be preparation. God brings Joseph forward at precisely the right moment, not early and not late.

Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams with humility and clarity. He does not claim wisdom for himself but gives credit to God. Years of suffering have shaped his character, sharpening his discernment and strengthening his trust. In one day, Joseph moves from confinement to leadership, entrusted with responsibility over Egypt’s future. God uses hardship not to diminish him, but to prepare him for service that will preserve life.

This portion teaches that waiting seasons are not wasted seasons. Times of silence, obscurity, or frustration often shape us in ways that abundance cannot. Joseph’s faithfulness in hidden places becomes the foundation for his public calling. God sees what is unseen, and He remembers what others forget.

Life often brings moments when hope feels postponed. Prayers linger unanswered. Efforts seem unnoticed. Miketz reminds us that God is working even when nothing appears to be happening. He is arranging circumstances, shaping hearts, and preparing outcomes beyond our sight. Trust grows when we learn to wait with faith rather than despair.

Those experiencing blessing or success are reminded by Joseph’s story to remain humble and dependent on God. Wisdom and provision come from Him alone. Those in seasons of lack or uncertainty can find encouragement in knowing that God has not overlooked them. The same God who lifted Joseph from prison is able to bring clarity and restoration at the appointed time.

Take time this Shabbat to reflect on where you may be waiting for God’s timing. Offer Him your impatience and your hope. Look for ways to remain faithful in small responsibilities, trusting that God honors integrity wherever it is found.

Let your trust in His timing shape your actions and strengthen your sense of peace.

PRAYER
Lord, please teach me to trust Your timing even when I do not understand the delay. Help me remain faithful in every season and to recognize Your hand at work in my life. May my heart rest in Your wisdom and care. Amen.

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

“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.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Vayeishev (Genesis 37:1-40:23). Read on Shabbat, November 29, 2025 / 9 Kislev 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers. He was a youth with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father” (Genesis 37:1-2).

The opening of Vayeishev draws us into a family marked by love, rivalry, and fragile relationships. Joseph is young, gifted, and deeply loved by Jacob. His dreams hint at a future shaped by purpose and calling. Yet these very gifts stir resentment in his brothers. Their jealousy grows from quiet frustration to bitter anger, and what begins as a tension within the home becomes a plot that sends Joseph far from everything familiar.

Although Joseph’s journey begins with betrayal and loss, the narrative reveals that God is present even in painful moments. The dreams God placed in Joseph’s heart were not erased by hardship. Instead, the trials he faced would ultimately prepare him for the work God intended. His suffering was not meaningless. His story reminds us that God can work through circumstances that seem destructive to build character, deepen trust, and move His people toward their destiny.

This portion encourages us to consider how God might be working through the unexpected paths of our own lives. Times of disappointment, frustration, rejection, or confusion may feel like detours, but they can become seasons of growth. What looks like a setback may prepare the way for compassion, wisdom, and tools we will later need. When we cannot see the whole story, trust becomes our anchor.

Some may feel today as though they have been pushed into a pit or carried away to places they did not choose. To you, Joseph’s story speaks hope. God has not abandoned you. He is near, working quietly in ways that will one day be clear. And for those in peaceful or stable seasons, Joseph’s early story invites reflection on how we treat others, how we steward our blessings, and how we cultivate humility in times of favor.

As this Shabbat arrives, take time to reflect on the places where God may be shaping you through challenge or blessing. Look for signs of His work even in difficult moments. Then choose one act of kindness or faithfulness that reflects trust in His purpose. Let your life echo the truth that God remains present in every chapter, guiding all things toward good.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for being with me in seasons of joy and in seasons of hardship. Teach me to trust Your purpose when I cannot see the way ahead. Let my life reflect Your faithfulness as You work in every part of my story. Amen.

In a time of war and uncertainty, Israel’s most vulnerable are facing extraordinary challenges. Among them are members of the Deaf and hard of hearing community, who often live without the tools they need to stay safe, especially during emergencies.

When rocket sirens sound across the country, most Israelis hear the warning and run for shelter. But for those who cannot hear, the signal is invisible. Some rely on smartwatches or mobile apps, but even these alerts can arrive with critical delays. The risk is real, and for many, it is frightening.

At the same time, the community is working to preserve its history and identity. Many Deaf Israelis are Holocaust survivors or descendants of those who came to the land long before the founding of the state. Their stories are often overlooked. Now, thanks to friends like you, their voices are finally being heard.

Through the generous support of caring donors, CBN Israel and our local partners are helping document the stories of Israel’s Deaf community. These powerful testimonies are recorded in sign language and shared with younger generations and the wider public. The result is a living archive of memory, culture, and courage that strengthens the community from within.

Gifts from friends like you are also supporting practical solutions. Life-saving technologies are being explored and implemented to improve emergency communication. These tools help ensure that no one is left behind in a crisis. From wearable alerts to early warning systems, support from CBN Israel donors is helping save lives and restore peace of mind.

One community leader said, “We, the Deaf community, know what we need most. You believed in us and filled a space that had been empty for a very long time.”

Because of your compassion, those who once felt unseen can now feel valued, protected, and supported. Your gifts to CBN Israel also offer relief to Holocaust survivors, elderly widows, terror victims, single mothers, and many others.

Please join us in providing help and hope to the most vulnerable communities in Israel.

GIVE TODAY