Greetings and blessings, my beloved friends around the world, who love the God of Israel and the people of Israel. Warm greetings from the hills of Galilee in the Land of Israel.
Partners in Building the Future of Israel’s Children
Prayer, encouragement, education and deeds of mercy as the new school year approaches
“And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
Isaiah 54:13, KJV
An Update from Our Shared Work
Soon we will publish a broader report on what Sabra is privileged to do in Israel through your prayers, help, encouragement and partnership. This work does not belong to one person or one organization. It is carried out together with faithful friends around the world who carry Israel in their hearts and turn their love into prayer, relationship and deeds of mercy.
In this update we are focusing on projects for children and schools. This is one area within the wider work that Sabra carries out in Israel.
The Children Are on Holiday, but Fear Does Not Always Leave with Them
Israel’s children are now on summer holiday after a difficult and unsettling year. Imagine a child waking from deep sleep to the sound of a siren. Some run to a protected room inside the home; others must go outside and reach a public shelter one or two hundred metres away. In many families a parent is serving in the army or the reserves, while the parent at home tries to protect and calm the children even while carrying fear of his or her own.
The siren ends, but the child’s heart does not always return to sleep. Some wake at every sound, struggle to concentrate or carry their fears in silence. Within one or two months they will return to school and will need more than books and supplies. They will also need nourishing food, a safe and stable environment, emotional support and the knowledge that someone sees them.
Sabra’s Vision: A Bridge of Prayer, Love and Mercy
Our partnership does not begin with a financial contribution, and it does not end with one. It begins with a praying heart, a listening ear, a word of encouragement, a community that opens a door and a person who chooses to carry responsibility together with us.
Some take part through prayer, encouragement and sharing the message. Others create relationships, open doors or contribute to a project. Every form of partnership matters. We are not merely asking you to help us do something in Israel; we are inviting you to do it together with us.
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
Amos 3:3, KJV
The Projects We Will Focus on for Children and Schools
A Hot School Meal Children from families facing financial hardship receive a nutritious meal five days a week, including meat or fish, side dishes, salad and fruit. One meal costs €5.80, approximately US$6.60; the monthly cost for one child is €130.50. A child who is not hungry can learn, concentrate and feel equal among classmates.
- Schoolbag, Supplies and Textbooks A complete schoolbag, including the required supplies and the textbooks purchased through the school, costs €75. For the child, this is more than a collection of items. It is a dignified beginning and the assurance of entering the classroom prepared.
- Supporting Children in Boarding Schools and Residential Care We help provide activities, special events and holiday gatherings that give children in boarding schools and residential care a sense of home, joy and belonging. A small event can carry a great message: someone sees me, thought of me and has not forgotten me.
- Educational and Biblical Activities We encourage reading and studying the Tanach, Bible quizzes and celebrations of the biblical feasts. Our purpose is to strengthen identity, roots, love for the people and the land, and a living connection with Israel’s heritage.
- Building a New Classroom A fully equipped portable classroom costs €20,500. Last year, with God’s help and the partnership of our friends, we completed one classroom. This year, God willing, another will be established. It is an investment that can serve hundreds of children for many years.
- Professional Emotional Support Professional teams provide conversations, exercises and practical tools for children dealing with fear, anxiety and sleep difficulties. Timely support can keep a child from carrying an unseen wound alone for years.
- School Uniforms A school uniform reduces visible differences and gives a child dignity and belonging. No child should feel inferior because of the financial situation at home.
How Can We Take Part Together?
We present the costs in a spirit of responsibility and transparency, so that every person and community can understand the practical needs and choose the form of partnership that is right for them: prayer, encouragement, sharing the information, creating relationships, opening doors or contributing to a project close to their heart.
First, we need your prayers: for children carrying fear, for military families, for teachers and professional teams, and for wisdom to direct every form of help to the right place at the right time. We regard every form of partnership, and every contribution entrusted to us, as a precious responsibility, and we remain committed to responsible, honest and transparent service.
My Prayer and Blessing
“The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.”
Psalm 128:5, KJV
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, protect the children of Israel. Calm their hearts when the sirens sound, restore peaceful sleep and heal the fears and wounds that cannot be seen.
Strengthen the children whose parents are serving in the army. Protect their families, and give wisdom and strength to the teachers, school leaders, counsellors and professional teams who care for them.
Provide food for the hungry child, books and supplies for the child who lacks them, suitable clothing for the one in need, and a safe and stable environment for every child who longs for protection and warmth.
Bless our friends around the world who pray, encourage, open doors, build relationships and take part through their contributions. Guard their homes and families; bless their children, their communities and the work of their hands.
Let them know that their prayers are heard, their words bring strength, and that every way in which they take part, through prayer, encouragement, opening doors or contributing, touches the lives of children, families and schools in Israel. Make us all living bridges of prayer, love and mercy between the nations and Zion.
For further information, focused prayer, opening a door in your community or partnership in one of the projects: sabrafund@gmail.com
May the blessing of the Most High rest upon you, your families and your communities.
From Sabra House, the House of Good Deeds, in the Land of Zion and the city of Jerusalem.
With the blessing of the LORD,
Your brother in Israel,
Mordechai ben Yaakov