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Saving Lives By Renovating Bomb Shelters

Recently, a team of CBN Israel volunteers went up north to the Galilee region to renovate a bomb shelter. Days later, attacks between Israel and Hezbollah suddenly intensified into an all-out war—making the need for these protective shelters even more urgent.

Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, is based in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel—and it has an arsenal of 150,000 rockets, missiles, and drones aimed at the Jewish state. The terrorist organization has fired more than 8,000 rockets at Israel up until this current escalation.

And yet, many public bomb shelters in Israel desperately need repair. Due to years of neglect and disuse in calmer times, the plumbing needs to be fixed to make the bathrooms functional, and these safe places must be made ready if residents take refuge for extended periods of time.

Thankfully, friends like you were there, through CBN Israel’s partnership with Tenufa Bakehila. This group rehabilitates housing for underprivileged families—and since October 7, they have been renovating public bomb shelters in marginalized communities.

Meanwhile, 6 miles south of Lebanon’s border, the Israeli town of Hatzor Haglilit had dodged rockets and shrapnel for 11months. And now, they were under direct attack. But when they asked Tenufa Bakehila to help protect its 12,000 residents, their budget had just run out.

However, the next day, caring donors provided the funds to renovate their shelter! Plus, CBN Israel volunteers assisted in painting and repairing this shelter, located beneath an apartment building with 16 families. It will serve them and others nearby without shelters.

Residents thanked CBN Israel, and the mayor exclaimed, “The work you are doing here is not a luxury item. It is life-saving! With these renovations, we can stay here if needed for days.”

This is just one way your gifts to CBN Israel can offer crucial help to vulnerable Israelis. You can also bring food, housing, and essentials to others in need.

Please join us in reaching out to victims of war and terrorism!

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Victim of Terrorism: Anatoly and Luba’s Story

Victim of Terrorism: Anatoly and Luba’s Story

Anatoly and Luba left Ukraine years ago and moved to Sderot in southern Israel, where they lived with their four children. Although they became accustomed to sporadic rocket fire from Gaza, the attacks of October 7 felt different.

Luba heard a whistling sound, and Anatoly shouted, “Run!” The family rushed into their safe room just seconds before a Hamas rocket crashed into the adjacent bedroom. “My husband had to force the door to open—and then this sharp, black smoke. The kids were scared, I was shaking all over,” Luba told us. Although no one was hurt, the apartment was badly damaged, and their belongings were destroyed.

They were evacuated to temporary housing for seven months, living out of boxes and sleeping on air mattresses. The government repaired the damage in their apartment, but all their possessions were ruined. Luba worried, “The children’s beds, the furniture—it was a big expense. How would we pay for it?”

Fortunately, friends like you came to their rescue through CBN Israel. Sometime earlier, as a recent immigrant, Luba had been in counseling with Rina, a local ministry partner of CBN Israel, who helped her adjust to Israel’s culture.

Rina contacted CBN Israel about Luba’s plight. Donors provided funding to restore her children’s room, buy needed furniture, give them a new computer, and make their place feel like home again. “It felt wonderful, knowing there are people who care,” said Luba. “Your help is a big bright light in this situation.”

And your gifts to CBN Israel can make life brighter for many other victims of the war—plus single moms, desperate refugees, and aging Holocaust survivors. Your support can bring them hot meals, financial aid, and trauma therapy. In addition, you can help deliver important news and documentaries from the Holy Land to the world.

Please be a part of blessing Israel and her people!

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Holocaust Survivor: Michael’s Story

Jerusalem Central Town is a non-profit organization and a very special local partner with CBN Israel. They provide a safe home for people aged 80 and over—all of whom survived World War II and the Holocaust. And Michael, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, is their chairman and advocate.

Most aging members of this wonderful organization are poor, and often living with deteriorating health. Sadly, the government doesn’t provide all their needs—especially their need for walkers, wheelchairs, and special medicines. With minimal resources, many can only afford the most basic essentials. Michael was desperate to find help for these people.

And CBN Israel was there for these precious seniors. Michael met with the head of our Holocaust survivor department and shared the difficulties these residents have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic—including intense loneliness, lack of support, and some even dying alone.

Right now, their most pressing need was for walkers—and we delivered them. Thanks to friends like you, they have the freedom to walk again—even to use the restroom by themselves. And when the lockdown is lifted, they can enjoy strolling outside to parks, or to visit neighbors. Michael was delighted, saying, “I’m so grateful to CBN Israel donors, who care so much…”

CBN Israel is also bringing much-needed aid and God’s love to others who are vulnerable, including terror victims, refugees, and hurting families.

Your support is urgently needed, and can provide food, shelter, financial assistance, and more to those in need—while sharing what God is doing in the Holy Land through CBN News and our documentaries.

You can make a difference for so many—please consider a gift today!

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Hani and the Children’s Club

He never imagined it might come to this. As a child, Hani loved the sense of camaraderie he found at the local children’s club in Jerusalem’s Old City. In fact, he and his friends who still live nearby reminisce about the good times they had enjoyed in this place of friendship, learning and laughter. Today an accomplished handyman, when Hani learned that the facility housing the club had fallen into disrepair, he was delighted to be asked to help make the needed fixes. 

His memories of this special children’s club are pretty much in keeping with what goes on there today. Arabic-speaking children from diverse backgrounds—both Muslim and Christian—look forward to the weekly gatherings, where they play games, sing songs, and hear Bible stories about Jesus. The group’s founders recognized that consistent, long-term relationships and providing for tangible needs really do help foster a sense of community among families, many of whom suffer from poverty and other issues.

When the children’s club, a partner of CBN Israel, needed to make a number of vital repairs to their facility, the support of friends like you made it possible to complete these necessary projects. We also provided new equipment to the children’s club, plus an extra season of CBN’s animated Bible series, Superbook, in Arabic for the kids.

And as it turns out, Hani’s skilled hands were there to lovingly provide the labor for a community center that had made such a difference on him as a child. “We have to do good,” Hani exclaimed. “God wants us to express His love and goodwill to everyone, especially those in need.” 

Your support can be a vital lifeline to families and communities in need—including lonely refugees, terror victims, Holocaust survivors, single moms, young children, and so many others who desperately need our help. 

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COVID-19 Food Distribution

With the outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting economic downturn, a new threat arose all throughout Israel: the threat of hunger. Large segments of the population have struggled with having enough to eat, and CBN Israel’s food distribution programs have seen the needs firsthand. 

Many Israeli seniors, including Holocaust survivors, live below the poverty line, and can hardly afford basic necessities. Often, they don’t have family or anyone to care for them. Added to that, they are isolated and alone from the lockdowns and restrictions and left to fend for themselves. 

Plus, thousands of families have been hurt severely by the pandemic—with great numbers laid off from work or needing to stay home with their children due to school closures. Families already grappling with poverty suffered even worse effects, while others suddenly couldn’t make ends meet for the very first time. How would they survive this crisis? 

Thanks to friends like you, CBN Israel has been there for seniors and families across the nation—providing food packages, food vouchers, and other vital aid. In fact, since the outbreak began, CBN Israel has distributed record amounts of groceries and basic relief to the hurting. 

We are also helping Israel’s vulnerable with financial aid, housing, and much more—both now and beyond the pandemic. Your support can be a critical lifeline in giving compassionate relief to those who are living week to week in the Holy Land. 

Arik, the head of CBN Israel’s family department, has witnessed how much a bag of groceries can mean to those in need, and says, “Together, we can make such a difference in people’s lives. Please join us in blessing Israel and her people during this season.” 

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