Last month devastating fires ravaged parts of Israel destroying more than 20,000 dunams of forestland and hundreds of homes, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency.
But in the midst of this crisis, believers in the land have stepped up to help. Various ministries, congregations and humanitarian organizations are living out the teachings of Yeshua to clothe, house and comfort those in need.
Haifa
The northern coastal city of Haifa was the worst affected with over 500 apartments and nearly 80 buildings completely destroyed. Some 1,600 residents were left homeless and a quarter of Haifa’s population was evacuated from 11 neighborhoods. In Haifa alone, the damage is estimated at 5 billion shekels, further drain on a city that has yet to recover from the Mount Carmel Fire of 2010. South of Haifa in Zikhron Yaakov, 30 homes were damaged and 10 completely destroyed.
Nevertheless, good news is coming out of Haifa. The Arabic speaking congregation under Pastor Yousef Dakwar made and distributed sandwiches to firefighters battling the blaze. Kehilat HaCarmel and Kerem-El, Messianic congregations, provided assistance to evacuated families from the community – including some of their own members. Other congregations in Haifa and in the north also provided humanitarian aid.
Vladimir Tsapar, a pastor at Kehilat HaCarmel who is overseeing the congregation’s fire relief, told KNI that four families in the congregation were among those evacuated.
Tsapar said that while damage was minimal, the congregation is helping facilitate the challenging transition back to “normal” including for a single mother with two children and for other families with children that lost much in the fires.
“Clothing, school supplies and toys are what are needed the most at this stage. The government has been surprisingly helpful, so we are establishing relationships with government officials and the Haifa Municipality to find the best way to provide for all the families in need,” said Tsapar. “We are looking and praying to see how best we can facilitate and bring relief to the families that have suffered and of course we have to be wise stewards of the resources and donations we are given.”
Yad HaShmona
In the center of the country, outside Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, fires raged in the forested mountains. The residents of Yad HaShmona, a Messianic moshav (a farming community cooperative), were on high alert throughout the week as they waited on standby for evacuation orders that thankfully never came. Nataf, a neighboring residential community, was less fortunate suffering tremendous damage and loss. Residents of Yad HaShmona took in Nataf’s evacuees, housing them in the moshav hotel and feeding them in their restaurant.
Playing a pivotal role in the rescue efforts, a group of men from the moshav established a group that they dubbed “Yad HaShmona Fire Fighters.” This group of Messianic believers worked in conjunction with the fire department and Israel’s rescue services extinguishing fires in Jerusalem’s mountains as well as securing the moshav from fire damage.
The group will continue training and working as a fire-fighting team to be ready to assist if the need arises in the future. In the meantime they are raising support for equipment including fire extinguishers and a fire truck to serve the moshav and surrounding communities.
The Bible Society
In addition to its regular projects, The Bible Society in Israel, established in 1949, has also extended a helping hand to victims of the fires.
“We want to show a testimony of the love of Christ through this help,” Victor Kalisher, general director, told KNI. “People lost all they had – not only property but also all things that were dear to their hearts: family photos, pictures, documents, Bibles, books, etc.”
One victim, a Holocaust survivor, lost her entire home. Another, an orthodox Jewish man, whose house was badly damaged when the roof collapsed, found in the rubble a burnt scrap of paper from the Book of Psalms which he took as a sign of hope and that God is good.
As winter settles in, The Bible Society is helping financially and practically as people rebuild their homes. They are also donating toys and bicycles for children who lost everything and new Bibles to replace ones destroyed in the fire.
“In one case we gave some financial help and an Old Testament. The home owner who knows that we are Messianic Jews asked if this Bible contains both Old and New Testaments,” Kalisher said. “I told her that we brought a Bible with an Old Testament only since we did not want them to think that we use this opportunity for anything other than just showing our love and care for them. She then answered, ‘I want a bible with a New Testament, It is time that I will read it.’”
Joseph Project
The Joseph Project is Israel’s largest importer of humanitarian aid. Having a national reach they are uniquely positioned to help in the recovery work and distribute donated goods all over the country.
The organization has distributed blankets, furniture, beds, bedding and clothing. Some of the recipients were from Ma’ale Adumim where a fire destroyed six apartments of Ethiopian immigrants and put 12 people in the hospital.
Benni Kashriel, the mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, wrote: “I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation for your generous contribution and preparedness to help the families devastated by the fires in our city. Now they can return to their homes and re-establish their lives with much dignity and under fair conditions. May God bless as you continue to spread mercy in Israel. Thank you from our community.”
Jim Schutz, executive director of The Joseph Project, told us they are getting new requests every day. One was from a Haifa family with five children whose home was totally gutted. After receiving new beds for their temporary rented apartment, the mother responded: “Thank you so much for reaching out to us, in a time that any assistance is deeply needed and appreciated.”
Fire Damage across the Holy Land
Firefighters battled nearly 2,000 fires in one week, 40 of which were classified as major requiring at least 10 crews to subdue the flames. About a dozen countries responded sending firefighting equipment and personnel to assist Israel’s beleaguered rescue forces.
Following investigations, arrests and confessions, investigators confirmed that most fires were caused intentionally. After an extended arid summer, the parched land was vulnerable and flames were exacerbated by extremely high winds. Arsonists took advantage of the situation to wreak havoc.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
Editor’s note: For those interested in supporting the relief work click on the specific link above of the congregation or ministry to find their contact information. Any additional questions can be sent to [email protected].