March 2021 Personal Letter

FROM SARAH, OUR SABRA
ON THE GROUND IN ISRAEL

Dear Friend,

Greetings to you from the Holy Land. In last month’s letter, I told you about my personal season of transformation in 2020 after Covid-19 halted almost all my work and ministry. I underwent a process, searching my heart and praying that God would reveal His will for my life so that I could know my role in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20).

I explained how God had previously put into place a grass-roots local believing community and sent young, new Israeli Believers (“Believers” is short for “believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah”) to us. Growing up here in Israel with so few Believers and surrounded by such opposition to my faith, I could hardly believe the openness I was seeing. I want to remind you that all things are possible (Luke 1:37). Let me do that by sharing the stories of these young, new disciples of Yeshua.

We in Israel who follow our Messiah suffer from persecution by other religious groups. Because these groups wield power in the Israeli government, we are persecuted by the authorities as well. I have, therefore, changed the names of those reporting these stories.

NETA

Neta, a young adult from a kibbutz in the northern part of Israel, grew up in a very secular part of society. As a young child, she recalls, she always “knew” that there was an entity she called “the universe,” and she prayed to it.

A young Christian man from Colombia came to the kibbutz and fell in love with Neta. He told her about Jesus (Yeshua), but coming from a Jewish home, she was not interested. They dated for some time until he went home. After he left, she felt drawn to what he had told her and decided to learn more about Yeshua.

Her online search yielded videos in Hebrew about Yeshua (like this one: https://youtu.be/5UG1BewWd74). One day while she was sitting in a playground in Tel Aviv, Neta prayed that God would give her a New Testament. After praying, she noticed a pile of books on the bench where she was sitting. The bright blue book that caught her attention was a New Testament. Over the next few weeks, God kept reaching out to Neta, answering her prayers in little, “supernatural” ways. She quickly came to faith in Yeshua, and we began discipling her. Neta’s family is not excited about her faith but does not oppose it. She continues to pray that they will also come to faith in Yeshua.

LIYA

A few months after she came to faith, Neta met up with her best friend from her army service days. Neta told Liya about Yeshua, and Liya, who confesses that she has always been looking for God, began reading the New Testament to learn about Yeshua. Liya took some time to consider what she was being told. She had been involved in eastern religions, but as she prayed, she felt that she was learning the truth when she was reading and hearing about Yeshua. When Liya told her mostly secular family and long-term boyfriend that she had become a Believer, they turned against her and got into massive arguments.

Her family told her she was being brainwashed and joining a cult. They found videos and stories online that shone a very negative light on Messianic Judaism (we have such persecution in Israel). Liya is very close to her family, and their reactions broke her heart.

As I discipled Liya through this beginning season of faith, I was struck by the huge price her decision to follow Yeshua was exacting upon her life … and at such an early stage! She is a student and lives at home. Thus, she has no other option but to continue living in this hostile environment. Yet, she holds to her faith!

BARAK

Barak is a wonderful young man who heard about Yeshua during his army service. One day, he met a young woman and was instantly attracted to her. She was the daughter of some prominent Messianic leaders here in the Land and told him that she could not date him, explaining about her faith in Yeshua.

When Barak heard about this Yeshua, he wanted to know more. He says that he always remembers himself, even as a young child, praying to God whom he, like Neta, called “the universe.” It took Barak several years to fully come to a transformative faith in Yeshua, accepting Him not only as Messiah but as Lord of his life.

Barak’s religiously observant Jewish family opposes his faith. Yeshua told us that “…everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).

Barak has had to count the cost, but has become increasingly stronger in his faith through consistent discipleship and a heart that hungers for the Lord. He deeply longs for his family and friends to come to faith. The Disciples mentored other disciples; perhaps Barak will too.

DAN

Barak told his friend Dan about Yeshua. Dan’s difficult family background had pushed him into drugs, searching for solutions to his pain. Dan wanted to accept Yeshua but was not sure, as his family also cautioned him against it. Finally, Dan made the choice not to come to the congregation and walked away from Yeshua.

ROI

Roi only recently joined our community. A young Israeli who just found Yeshua, he says he has always “been drawn to the Cross.” This is an odd statement given that Roi comes from a Jewish religious background and his family wants to hear nothing about Yeshua. Roi is a Sabra — born and raised in Israel. An online search netted him videos that explained salvation, making him eager to learn more and grow in his newfound faith.

AVISHAI

Avishai’s story is one of the more amazing ones. He was born to a Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) family in Jerusalem, one of 11 children. His strict, rabbinical upbringing allowed only Jewish studies. Avishai remembers always being afraid — fear of not doing enough, fear of missing the mark, fear of authority, panic at the thought of God’s opinion of him.

One day, Avishai walked past a Messianic congregation and heard their singing. He entered and watched as they worshiped, dancing and clapping. He couldn’t help being amazed at the immense joy he saw on their faces as they worshiped.

Sometime later, a young housekeeper came to clean their home. She was dressed in Haredic clothing and was, in fact, from Romania. When Avishai asked her why she was dressed like this even though she was not Orthodox, she shared with him about Yeshua. (Some Believers keep Old Covenant laws regarding diet, etc. to express their love for Christianity’s Jewish roots.)

Avishai wanted to know more about God’s free gift of salvation and found a way to connect with a congregation. He left his home and began to live a secular lifestyle. He eventually came to a living faith in Yeshua. He relates the amazing love that he found among the Believers and no longer lives in constant fear.

One day Avishai asked God for a miracle — a believing wife — not thinking it possible. Nonetheless, the Lord sent into Avishai’s pathway a young woman from Hungary who was raised as a Believer. They fell in love and now have a beautiful, young daughter. Avishai has no formal education to help him earn a living for his wife and child. He also has no contact with his family. They will not see him or even speak to him due to his new life.

Many new Believers in Israel face being cut off from their families, friends, and the lives they knew growing up. Some are actively persecuted. Such shunning is a high price to pay. These young men and women face choices that are similar to those of the first Messianic disciples 2,000 years ago.

Yeshua told them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate [or honors above Me] his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:25–27).

I hope that hearing these new Believers’ stories convinces you that God is always working to bring about His salvation in people’s lives, even when it seems impossible. A common thread in these young people’s quests is a thirst and search for God long before anyone mentions Yeshua to them.

We also remember Yeshua’s example in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13): God does not ask us to pre-judge any to whom we sow the seed of faith. Our work of the Kingdom is to emulate God, who desires ALL to come to living faith in His Son, Yeshua. To this, I can testify that “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) and exalt HIM for His salvation and incredible work in our midst here in Israel today.

Im tirdefu lada-at oto —
“Press on to know HIM!” (Hosea 6:3 NLT),

Sarah Liberman

P.S. Do you have a special testimony of leading someone to faith? Please write and tell me your story. I would love to read it!

: With Great Expectation

In March, we usually take our Spring Tour. While we grieve at not being in our beloved Israel right now, we look forward to October and walking again where Messiah lived, taught, and overcame death. Our travel manager, Sandra, has been working diligently on moving everyone’s spring reservations to the fall — a bit of a project. When we get the “all clear” for our Fall Tour, we’ll proceed full steam ahead.

To reserve your spot on our next tour, please contact Sandra at 214-696-9760, travel@levitt.com, or levitt.com/tours. She’ll help turn your dream pilgrimage into reality.

Our Jewish Roots TV programs in March

We’ve been walking through challenging days apropos America’s political realm. Heated debates in Washington couple with families torn apart because of differing viewpoints to produce ongoing days of unrest. The beginnings of our country were comparable.

In our newest series Faith of Our Fathers, you will learn how the U.S.A.’s foundations were firmly grounded in Biblical principles. Our nation’s founders yearned to ensure that Godly precepts reigned in the new land. Individuals whose faithful lives contributed to the building up of national Israel inspired America’s Founding Fathers to carve out a modern yet Godly nation in the New World.

Dr. Jeffrey Seif focuses on these visionaries of faith. Christian historian David Barton presents original source documents that chronicle many Founding Fathers’ Christian beliefs and monumental efforts to anchor this nation to belief in the God of Israel.

The dramatic re-enactments of our historic characters in Faith of Our Fathers were taped in the Dallas area. Typically a mild time of year, the days of the shoot were uncharacteristically frigid. What you can’t see on camera are the strategically placed gas space heaters (there weren’t any electrical outlets). Stylist Belin Parks inched too close to one of those heat sources and caught her boots on fire!

What is Faith?

The Lord called many people in the Bible (like Abram, Noah, and David) to move toward a future that could not be seen. Trusting in the Word of God became the cornerstone for the Hebrew people and was valued by many who created a nation in the New World.

Faith by Trial

Times of testing prove that neither personal ambition nor comfort are goals for a life of faith. Our examples are Noah, the ark builder, and Zerubbabel, rebuilder of the Temple. The Mayflower brought pilgrims like William Bradford who sought their own “promised land” in the New World. Despite challenging circumstances, they based their colony on a Biblical lifestyle.

Faith in the Unseen

Even though someone’s faith may be small, it can grow into something spectacular. Columbus, whose name Christopher means “Christ bearer,” heard the Holy Spirit speak and encourage his four voyages to the New World. Historical records reveal his devotion and desire to serve the Lord.

Faith Upon Which to Build a Nation

Biblical accounts of Israel becoming a nation in the Promised Land inspired America’s founding fathers in creating a new nation. They believed that the Bible was the Word of God and the ultimate source for establishing faith and righteousness.

Passover and the Easter Connection (a special Passover program)

Dr. Jeffrey Seif relates how the Passover, the Crown Jewel of the Jewish Feasts, connects to the Christian celebration of Resurrection Sunday/Easter by considering the foods on the Seder plate and in discussions with David & Kirsten Hart.

On our weekly OJR program, you may have noticed we spend very little airtime asking for funds. We devote most of our time to sharing “the Good News through the eyes of the Jews.” This ministry intends to persevere until Messiah returns, and we rely on your faithful giving and generous one-time gifts. From the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate you.

Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim! —
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!” (Psalm 122:6),

David & Kirsten

P.S. Be sure to catch our FREE social media programs. Kirsten and Andrea (from Berg Productions) host a shopping segment that features products available at store.levitt.com. If you want to support this ministry and pick up some unique Bible teaching materials and Israeli products, shop with us on your favorite platform! Here’s a YouTube link: youtu.be/rvj1zRQ822Q