Soon the preparations will begin. During the week of Passover, no leaven or leavened products are eaten or allowed to remain in the home. Jewish homes will be cleaned from top to bottom to ensure that no errant breadcrumbs are overlooked. Closets will be emptied and each item of clothing carefully checked, including turning all pockets inside out to find any crumbs. Rugs will be beaten, cooking pots boiled in large vats, the kitchen virtually taken apart and put back together again, and every corner scrubbed.

Finally, after everything is spotlessly clean and the last few crumbs are swept up and ceremoniously burned, the evening of Passover arrives. Families gather before sundown for the seder meal. The seder lasts for hours, as delicious and ceremonial foods are eaten interspersed with the retelling of the exodus story through music and word. Nearly every Jewish family in Israel will celebrate the Passover, in obedience to God’s command found in Leviticus 23. It is not an option, but the cost is prohibitive for many. It is a costly holiday, since so many special foods must be prepared. With over one million Israelis living under the poverty line, the holiday, which is meant to be a time of joy, often becomes a time of great stress. Many don’t know how they will be able to honor God by keeping His holiday when they don’t have the funds to purchase the necessary food.

Last Passover, in cooperation with the Knesset (Parliament) and other Christian organizations, Bridges for Peace (BFP) was able to help 6,000 needy families celebrate the holiday. Each family received a food parcel, including grape juice and matza (unleavened bread), as well as other food items. A letter accompanied each packet telling the recipients that Christians had donated the funds to provide their Passover gift. These gifts made a tremendous impact on these Jewish people, who were greatly moved to learn that Christians had given to help them celebrate their religious holiday. Families from the far north to the south were assisted. News of loving Christian support permeated the nation.

Once again, the Knesset is encouraging us to help the needy at Passover. It is our joyful desire to reach out through the BFP Food Bank to as many needy families as possible during this special time of year. The need is great with 250,000 families living below the poverty line. These families will find it difficult to provide the food for the Passover seder meal and the following seven days. For US $25 we can supply a generous Passover package. Please join with us to bless thousands of Jewish families this Passover. This year, Passover starts April 23, so your gift will be added to that of thousands of others to make sure this year’s Passover will be a joyous one for many who may have had to go without, simply due to a lack of funds. We are blessed that the people of Israel want to stand by the words of the Bible and follow God’s commands. It is also a blessing that Christians can help to make this a possibility.

God is ready once again to reach out with a miracle of provision for His covenant people. He wants to use us to communicate His great love to the Jewish people. Our Christian staff is ready to package and deliver the food. They are just waiting to know what the budget will be so they can order the food. Don’t delay; be part of God’s modern-day miracle of deliverance. Let us be your hands to bless the Jewish people this Passover.

Blessings from Jerusalem,

Rebecca J. Brimmer
International Executive Director (COO) Jerusalem, Israel