By Stephen Faircloth

In the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar, on the seventh day, during the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, his captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, arrived in Jerusalem. He set fire to the Temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and every important building in the city. The destruction was total. Jerusalem was left in ruins (2 Kings 25:8-9).

Tisha B’Av, meaning “the ninth of Av,” is recognized as the most sorrowful day in the Jewish year. It is a solemn fast day that remembers not only the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, but also centuries of suffering and loss endured by the Jewish people.

Although rooted in the Bible, the observance of Tisha B’Av is established through Rabbinic tradition. It concludes a three-week period of mourning that begins with the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, marking the breaching of Jerusalem’s walls, and culminates in the fall of the Temple.

Jewish tradition holds that both Temples were destroyed on the exact same Hebrew date, though they fell nearly 650 years apart. The First Temple, constructed by King Solomon, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The Second Temple, rebuilt after the Babylonian exile and later enlarged by King Herod, was razed by the Romans in 70 A.D.

But the tragedies tied to Tisha B’Av extend far beyond ancient ruins. Over the centuries, this date has come to symbolize the collective grief of a people who have endured exile, persecution, and displacement again and again.

Some of the darkest moments in Jewish history coincided with Tisha B’Av:

• The expulsion from England in 1290 was decreed on this day.
• In 1492, Spain’s Alhambra Decree gave Jews until the end of July—Tisha B’Av that year—to leave the country or face forced conversion or death.
• Pogroms, massacres, and the horrors of the Holocaust have also become part of the broader legacy remembered on this day.
• In 2005, the Disengagement from Gaza, which saw thousands of Jewish families uprooted from their homes, concluded just as Tisha B’Av ended.
• On October 7, 2023, over 1,200 Israelis were murdered in a Hamas-led massacre, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

A story often shared to capture the emotional depth of Tisha B’Av involves Napoleon Bonaparte. While passing through a Jewish village in Europe, he heard sobbing from a nearby synagogue. Curious, he looked inside and saw men and women sitting on the floor, dimly lit by candlelight, reading from ancient texts and mourning.

Perplexed, Napoleon asked what tragedy had just occurred. His advisor explained that no new disaster had taken place. Instead, the Jewish people were observing their annual day of mourning for the destruction of their Temple—events that had taken place nearly two thousand years earlier.

Moved by their enduring devotion, Napoleon reportedly said, “A people who mourns for their Temple for so long will surely be rewarded with its restoration.”

Today, the observance continues much as it has for centuries. The Book of Lamentations is read aloud in synagogues, often in a dim setting that reflects the solemnity of the day. Traditional customs include sitting low to the ground, refraining from greetings, and fasting from food and drink for 25 hours. In Jerusalem, thousands gather to walk along the Old City walls, honoring the memory of what was lost and hoping for what is yet to come.

Tisha B’Av is not only a day of sorrow but also a testament to the Jewish people’s resilience and unwavering hope. It reminds us that even in the ashes of history, faith endures.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, where he is dedicated to supporting both the nation and the people of Israel. He leads advocacy and humanitarian efforts that deliver practical aid and lasting hope to vulnerable groups, including terror victims, Holocaust survivors, refugees, and families in crisis. Before assuming this role, Stephen helped launch an initiative that brought Christian groups such as pastors, churches, students, and youth to the Holy Land, enabling them to experience Israel and encounter their faith where it began.

After nearly two years of ongoing war, life remains uncertain for many families across Israel. Though the headlines may fade, the daily struggles of vulnerable communities persist. In cities like Beersheva, where missile attacks have struck hard in recent months, countless people are still trying to recover.

Among those affected most are single mothers, elderly widows, refugees, and those living with the scars of war. And with jobs lost and schools repeatedly disrupted, many parents continue to face impossible choices, especially when it comes to putting food on the table for their children.

But because of caring friends like you, they are not facing this hardship alone. Thanks to the compassion and generosity of donors, CBN Israel’s food distribution team continues to partner with local ministries across the country to deliver groceries and hygiene items. In Beersheva, mobile distribution centers are set up to meet families right where they are, bringing practical help and renewed hope.

Mariana Gol, who leads a local aid group, described the impact donors are making. She said, “Because of everything our families have been through over the past two years, we are trying to support and encourage them. And CBN Israel continues to bring food and essentials for them. Some have not been able to work during the war and found themselves in an even greater economic struggle.”

Your gift makes it possible for families who have endured trauma and displacement to receive the urgent care they need. Your support helps restore dignity by providing food, clothing, housing, financial aid, counseling, and compassion.

Please join us in standing with Israel’s most vulnerable people and showing them that they are not forgotten.

GIVE TODAY

By Stephen Faircloth

Nestled along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, the ancient village of Capernaum was once a quiet fishing town that became a pivotal center for Jesus’ ministry, where He taught His fellow Jews and performed many remarkable miracles.

Although largely unknown in earlier historical records, Capernaum bursts onto the biblical scene in the Gospels as a place of extraordinary significance. Apart from Jerusalem, no other location is mentioned more frequently. Referred to by Matthew as Jesus’ “own city” (Matthew 9:1), it became His home base during His Galilean ministry, a hub for healing, teaching, and transformation.

Here, Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the paralyzed, and restored the broken. He taught in the synagogue, even honoring the faith of a Roman centurion who had helped build it (Luke 7:5). In Capernaum, divine power met human need on a daily basis.

Modern archaeological discoveries have brought new depth to our understanding of this sacred village. Excavations have revealed first-century homes built in a clustered courtyard style known as an insula, where multiple generations lived and worked around shared space. These homes help us visualize Gospel scenes: friends lowering a paralytic through a roof, neighbors crowding doorways to hear Jesus speak, meals shared in intimate settings.

The synagogue standing today, made of bright limestone, was likely constructed centuries after Jesus walked its streets. But beneath its foundation, black basalt stones hint at an earlier structure, possibly the synagogue where Jesus Himself once read and taught. Nearby, under a modern church, lie the remains of an ancient house that transitioned into a place of worship by early Christians, possibly the very home of Simon Peter.

While time has worn away the original walls, the message of Capernaum remains: God stepped into ordinary places. He didn’t choose temples of grandeur, but village homes and fishing docks to unveil His glory. He moved into the rhythms of daily life, healing, teaching, forgiving, and calling people to follow Him.

Capernaum invites us to see our own spaces, our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods, as potential places where heaven still touches earth. The same Jesus who walked through its dusty paths walks with us today, desiring to heal, to teach, and to dwell among His people.

Where has Jesus made His home in your life? Are you open to Him working through the everyday spaces around you? What would it look like for your home or community to become a modern-day Capernaum, a place of healing, hope, and holy presence?

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.

By Stephen Faircloth

High above the barren shores of the Dead Sea, the rocky plateau of Masada rises like a sentinel in the desert. Though it receives barely an inch of rain each year, Herod the Great transformed this remote outcrop into one of the most impressive fortress-palaces of the ancient world.

Herod spared no expense. He built two palatial complexes, one cascading dramatically down the northern slope, the other on the western side. Both contained storerooms, living quarters, Roman-style bathhouses, and lavish decorations fitting for a king. Ingenious channels and cisterns captured scarce rainfall, storing millions of gallons of water. Even in the wilderness, Herod ensured he could enjoy pools and gardens.

Yet Masada’s fame does not rest on Herod’s luxuries. Its name is forever tied to the First Jewish Revolt. According to Josephus, Jewish rebels known as the Sicarii sought refuge on Masada after Jerusalem’s destruction. When the Roman Tenth Legion laid siege and finally breached the fortress, they discovered the defenders had chosen death over slavery. Though historians debate the exact details, the story endures as a haunting symbol of desperation, courage, and loss.

Archaeology confirms the presence of those rebels. Herod’s opulent rooms were repurposed for survival. A donkey stable was converted into a simple synagogue, where fragments of scrolls were discovered. Some contained portions of Scripture, others preserved Jewish writings such as Ben Sira. Even in their final days, these men clung to the Word of God as their anchor.

Masada is a place of contrasts. It tells of human ambition in Herod’s stone palaces. It speaks of human defiance in the rebels’ last stand. And it whispers of faith in the scrolls left behind, even as hope seemed lost.

The lesson of Masada is clear. Human fortresses, no matter how strong, cannot ultimately save us. Walls crumble. Armies march. Even the most secure refuge can fall. But Scripture reminds us of a greater truth: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Unlike Masada, His protection never fails.

Trusting in God as our true refuge means more than just calling on Him in times of crisis. It is choosing daily to lean on Him instead of our own strength, to surrender our fears instead of building walls around them, and to let His Word be the anchor of our hearts. Where Masada crumbled, God’s presence remains unshakable.

Where do you look for safety when life feels uncertain? Are you building your own fortress, or are you learning to rest in God as your refuge?

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.

Have you ever paused to consider why God moved Abraham from the bustling cities of Mesopotamia to the relatively undeveloped land of Canaan? Or why the prophet Samuel always returned to Ramah to judge Israel? Or why Paul remained in the pagan city of Ephesus for more than two years during his missionary journeys?

There’s a common thread woven through these stories—geography. All of these places were positioned at strategic crossroads of the ancient world.

Canaan, for example, wasn’t just a piece of land; it was the land bridge connecting Africa and Asia, situated between the superpowers of Egypt and Mesopotamia. It was the physical and cultural intersection of nations, commerce, and influence. To live there was to live where the world passed by.

Samuel’s hometown of Ramah was another strategic location—set at the junction of key trade and travel routes through the hill country of Israel. By basing himself there, he remained accessible to the people. Israel could hear the Word of the Lord at the center of their daily movements.

Paul chose Ephesus, a major city in the Roman Empire and home to the famous Temple of Artemis. Positioned along critical trade routes, it welcomed merchants, travelers, and worshipers from across the empire. Instead of avoiding the cultural noise of a pagan city, Paul met it head-on—with truth, boldness, and the gospel of Jesus.

These were not random places. God’s positioning of His people was deliberate. He placed them at physical and cultural intersections—crossroads—so their lives could influence as many others as possible. Their mission was not only to obey Him, but to reflect His glory in full view of the world.

That calling hasn’t changed. God still places His people at crossroads today—places of influence, connection, tension, and opportunity.

Maybe your crossroads is a busy workplace, a diverse neighborhood, a university campus, or an online community. Wherever He has placed you, your presence has purpose.

You are not where you are by accident. The question is—will you live obediently at your crossroads? Will you be faithful where the world intersects with your life, shining His light and declaring His kingship?

PRAYER

Father, open my eyes to the places where You’ve positioned me. Help me not to shrink back from influence, but to live boldly and obediently, reflecting You in the crossroads of my life. Amen.