People most often think about Heaven when a loved one passes or perhaps when attending a funeral.  As they contemplate what comes next, many are influenced by Hollywood or a book or perhaps someone’s account of a near-death experience.  But God’s Word reveals an amazing ‘journey’ for believers from physical death through to, “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Pe 3:13)

As the children of Israel struggled in the 1930’s in the face of violent hatred, so The Friends of Israel was birthed in response to provide solidarity and relief. 85 years on and the struggle continues for the “apple of God’s eye”. Whether it is the deep rooted divisions within, or dissenters & destroyers on every side, Israel still has a challenging journey ahead before her deliverance will finally come.

We live in a world where hatred is growing at an exponential rate. AntiSemitism is often referred to as “the oldest hatred”, but would you recognise it if you saw it?

When people speak of ‘heaven’ , they may have a wide range of thoughts in mind. Some may be influenced by people’s reported experiences , or cultural responses to grief or even,Hollywood’s ‘theology’ of the afterlife. Even among Jewish people there is no consensus on the actual existence or substance of ‘heaven. The Talmud speaks of Olam Haba' (the world to come) with some thing akin to the Garden of Eden restored, while others say ‘heaven’ is more allegory than a real place.

“We remember” is the slogan we are encouraged to publish on Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) in an effort to keep the memory of this horrific chapter of history alive.

The Christmas story is a familiar one to us. It culminates with the birth of our Saviour in the little village of Bethlehem of Judea, which had a population of around 300 at the time.

Why Bethlehem and not a seemingly more suitable site for Jesus' entry into this world?

In this special Christmas devotional from Jim Showers, executive director of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, learn more about the significance of the house of bread—Bethlehem—as you prepare your heart and mind for the celebration of Christ's birth this year.

As we approach Christmas and celebrate the birth of Messiah Jesus, I wonder if our view of the baby Jesus restricts our understanding of Christ’s sufficiency for all believers. Jesus did not fit with Jewish expectations because they anticipated a conquering king, whereas Christians may neglect this aspect of His identity by focusing on His humiliation on earth.

There is a destiny and destination revealed throughout history for humanity and nowhere is that idea more apparent than in the unfolding drama of the Jewish people.