newsletter

Dear Blessing Israeli Believers Friends and Partners,

Truly a new stage of birth pains and troubles have hit the Promised Land. This letter will identify some of those difficulties and heavenly responses we can take in hand. I like the old saying “Born again Christians are like tea—the hotter it gets—the better we are!”

April 30, 2025 Yom HaZikaron—The Day of Remembrance is a solemn day of remembering the fallen soldiers who paid the ultimate price to defend modern Israel. We lived in Israel and experienced this special day. Cemeteries are full of loved ones missing their beloved sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers.

May 1, 2025 was Yom Hatzmaut—The Day of Independence is of great celebration of Israel’s Independence which of course was marked by the War of Independence where tiny Israel miraculously defeated five Arab countries that attacked the fledgling little country. However, this year the planned ceremonies were much subdued by the lingering sadness of October 7, 2023 and the many hostages still in Gaza—many of whom are deceased.

And this year, those who hate Israel chose to pour salt in the wound by trying to burn Israel to the ground on The Day of Remembrance. Radical muslim arsonists set fires to heavily wooded forests near some of the most heavily traffic roadways in Israel—even close to Jerusalem. This caused precious Israelis to abandon their cars on the road and flee for their lives! Fires raged across Israel and yet Hallelujah—Christians all over the world (including us) cried out to the Lord of Israel Messiah Jesus—and He answered!

Many nations sent fire-fighting helpers and equipment to Israel and then—oh Hallelujah—It began to rain across Israel! All glory and praise to our Savior Jesus who answers the prayers of those who love His people, Israel. At the time of this report fires are increasingly under control—and there is another significant reason this and other threats are not even more devastating. Another special group is standing with and praying for Israel.

Our Bibles speak of a seed of righteousness the Lord of Hosts (Sabaoth—Tsavaot) would leave in Israel just before His return to Jerusalem. We call them “Israeli Believers in Messiah Yeshua” (Jesus). They are a primary preserving influence in Israel until the coming of Messiah back to Jerusalem! Hence, our ministry Blessing Israeli Believers.

Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:
“Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
The remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,
Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”
And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed,
We would have become like Sodom,
And we would have been made like Gomorrah.”
Romans 9:27-29

As I mentioned there are things we can do to be part of the Lord’s preserving plan for Israel during this difficult time. Since He has raised up the Israeli Believers in Messiah Jesus for this purpose—why not prayerfully and financially partner with them? As you prayerfully consider to do so—please hear again our mission statement: Blessing Israeli Believers exists to bless and uniquely empower Israeli followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) to be the shining light to Israel and the nations of the world!

In His Service, Dov Schwarz

Update from Pastor Ezra – Golan Heights
Prayer & Praise

Elena a widow with two daughters has been diagnosed with a malignant tumor that has metastasized. Through Blessing Israeli Believers generous support we were able to pay the transportation costs to and from her daily chemotherapy treatments at the hospital. Being a strong believer in Messiah she thanks the Lord for each one of you for standing with her during this difficult time in her life. Please keep her in your prayers for complete healing and for her two girls.

What a blessing to gather together to pray with Pastors in northern Israel who have immigrated from 4 corners of the world. The LORD is bringing His people back from the four corners of the world in accordance with Scripture. We all have the desire to make disciples and assist each other in any way we can. Truly how blessed it when brethren dwell in unity.

Our Spring 2025 Discipleship Program has finished their study of the Life of Messiah and are now studying the Life of David. They are here for 10 weeks and travel numerous times each week. This includes Biblical sites, museums, historical sites, hiking trails, major cities, and local congregations.

All for His Name Sake!
Ezra & Shulamite

A Special Passover Note from BIB

Co-Founder Dov Schwarz

Once again, we are in this very unique time of year—the Passover season. How thankful we in Messiah Jesus should be now more than ever! The Exodus testimony from over three thousand years ago is more real and practical today than when it first began to unfold in Egypt. Let’s look at some high points together.

Pharaoh would not let the children of Israel go out from the terrible bondage of slavery. The LORD told His man Moses how to prepare for the tenth and final wrathful judgment—the death of the firstborn across Egypt. Yet, there was one way of refuge from that wrath—the blood of the spotless lamb upon the doorpost of the Jewish houses. The children of Israel were even told to “strike” their wooden doorpost with the blood of Lamb that the wrath of the LORD would passover their homes.

“Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.”
Exodus 12:3-5

“Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 12:13

“And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.”
Exodus 12:22

Now, consider that between 1200-1400 years later John the Baptist—speaking of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) proclaimed these powerful words that ring down through time right up to our doorstep today!

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29

And, remember the great fulfillment of the Exodus miracle in that the Roman soldiers “struck” the wooden cross with the blood of the Lamb Messiah Yeshua! Truly He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world—for all who will by faith do something eternally powerful. You see, there is a passage that warns us there is a day of judgment:

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
Hebrews 9:27-28

Hallelujah, for anyone who has applied the blood of the Lamb Jesus to their heart—the wrath of God will PASSOVER that saved disciple of our Savior Yeshua. The wrath of God will passover whoever has the blood of the Lamb on the doorpost of their heart! What about you? Is the blood of the Lamb on the doorpost of your heart? If so, may you/we remember to rejoice this Passover season—rejoice that we are saved by the blood of the Lamb!

In His Service, Dov Schwarz

An Update from Pastor Oded Shoshani, Melech HamLachim - King of Kings

Dear Blessing Israeli Believers Friends,

Thank you for standing with us and partnering with us. It has been a challenging time in many ways, but we have seen the Lord's faithfulness time and again. It is truly a blessing to serve Him together as One Body!

One of the recent ways we've been able to assist members of our community is through tuition fees. The first instance involved helping a family send their son to a Messianic school. The parents noticed the negative effects of his being in a secular environment and recognized the importance of placing him in a framework that upholds Biblical values at the start of his elementary education. Since the school is private and their income has been impacted by the war, they needed financial support. They shared that they noticed an immediate positive change in him after he started attending the school—praise God!

The second instance involved helping cover the cost of a pre-military program. One of our youth, who will be joining the army next year, is part of a Messianic pre-military program that lasts ten months. This program is designed to prepare participants spiritually and personally for the demands of military service. Such training can be life-changing as it equips these young people to face the many challenges ahead.

We pray that both of these boys will grow in their understanding of their true identity, learn the ways of the Lord, and be a testimony to His name wherever they are.

Blessings, Oded & Sandy Shoshani