The Olive Tree Reconciliation Fund: Recent Episodes
Julia Fisher: Writer and broadcaster
The Olive Tree is a weekly podcast hosted by Julia Fisher. Each episode asks the simple question, ‘What is God doing in Israel and the Palestinian Areas today?’ and the answers will be provided by believers living in the Holy Land, both Jews and Arabs, as well as by others who know the situation well.
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - Since the year 2000, Joseph and his wife Ibtissam have worked tirelessly to help and support several Lebanese families who fled from their war town country of Lebanon into northern Israel to seek shelter and safety. Despite working amongst often desperately poor and needy people, I asked Joseph what his hopes were for the future.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
olivetreefund.org/category/books/
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - an Israeli Arab pastor living in Haifa in northern Israel. Joseph’s parents were Lebanese and came to live in Israel which is where Joseph was born. But he has never forgotten his Lebanese heritage, so when in the year 2000 vast numbers of Lebanese refugees poured over the border into northern Israel, Joseph and his wife Ibtissam were there to help them. A church started and ever since that time, Joseph and Ibtissam have travelled the long journey from Haifa to Nahariya several times a week … I asked him to describe an average week.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - an Israeli Arab pastor living in Haifa in northern Israel. Joseph’s parents were Lebanese and came to live in Israel which is where Joseph was born. But he has never forgotten his Lebanese heritage, so when in the year 2000 vast numbers of Lebanese refugees poured over the border into northern Israel, Joseph and his wife Ibtissam were there to help them. A church started and ever since that time, Joseph and Ibtissam have travelled the long journey from Haifa to Nahariya several times a week … I asked him to describe an average week.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - an Israeli Arab pastor living in Haifa in northern Israel. Joseph’s parents were Lebanese and came to live in Israel which is where Joseph was born. But he has never forgotten his Lebanese heritage, so when in the year 2000 vast numbers of Lebanese refugees poured over the border into northern Israel, Joseph and his wife Ibtissam were there to help them. A church started and ever since that time, Joseph and Ibtissam have travelled the long journey from Haifa to Nahariya several times a week … I asked him to describe an average week.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - Joseph is an Israeli Arab pastor of a church in Nahariya in northern Israel. This was a church that had a surprising beginning – not least to Joseph and his wife Ibtissam. I asked Joseph what happened.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi- Avi is a Messianic Jewish pastor based in Tel Aviv. Over the years he has founded a congregation and an outreach centre. Today, in Israel, social media is being used to great effect by believers to share their faith. So I asked Avi to explain more.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - Avi was born in Israel where he’s a Messianic Jewish pastor. He’s watched the nation develop – seen the numbers of believers grow – founded a congregation and outreach centre. I asked him to look back and describe what he has seen God doing in Israel during his lifetime.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
www.olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - He is a Messianic leader based in Tel Aviv – the city where he was born. He is the founder of the Dugit Outreach Centre and founder of the Messianic congregation, Adonai Roi. But first, as we were speaking at the start of autumn, when the Biblical Feasts of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippour and Succot occur, I asked Avi to explain their meaning to us.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Richard van der Beek - Richard is a man who knows Israel like the back of his hand because he’s one of the directors of the tour operator Sarel. So, I asked him, what makes Sarel unique?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
sareltours.com
Julia Fisher talks to Andrey Teplinsky - Originally from Russia, Andrey is a Messianic Jewish Bible teacher and writer based in Haifa in northern Israel. He has written a book called ‘Influence’ in which he asks, can or should believers influence the society in which they live? He says, ‘Many Christians do not consider themselves to be God’s answer to the urgent problems of society. I believe this is often because the theology that is offered is totally separated from real life.’
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelstreams.com
Julia Fisher talks to Andrey Teplinsky - Originally from Russia, Andrey now lives in northern Israel with his wife and three children and is the founder of Carmel Streams. I began by asking him, what is Carmel Streams?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelstreams.com
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - Ofer is a Messianic Jewish pastor, joining us from Jerusalem. If you wonder whether or not to bother with the issue of Israel, then listen now as I ask Ofer to explain more.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - Welcome to the Olive Tree. I’m Julia Fisher and with me on the programme today is Ofer Amitai, joining us from Jerusalem. Listen in now as I ask Ofer to describe, as he understands it, what God is doing in Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - Joining us from Jerusalem, Ofer is the pastor of a congregation called El Roi and also the director of the Israel Prayer Centre. So when it comes to finding out what God is doing in Israel, Ofer is one the the people I turn to. We’re talking in Mid July 2022 – Israel is facing yet another election in November … what has happened to bring this about?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
www.olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Chrissy Rodgers- For the past two weeks we’ve been hearing the story of Chrissy Rogers who came from the US to the UK, found herself working for Prayer for Israel, then together with Simon Elman and Helen Shapiro formed the vocal gospel trio called Hebron. But there is more to Chrissy’s story because she is also very involved with a mission called Messianic Testimony which has its roots way back in the 1800’s.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
messianictestimony.com
Julia Fisher talks to Chrissy Rodgers- Chrissy grew up in America and dreamt of becoming a professional French horn player. But that all changed when, as a teenager, she became a Christian and joined a musical group of Jewish believers called the Star of David Singers and went on tour around the US and across Europe for many years. Eventually she came to the UK and began working with the organization Prayer for Israel and some time later met two other professional musicians, Simon Elman and Helen Shapiro and several years later they formed the vocal trio called Hebron. So how did they meet?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Chrissy Rodgers - For those who follow this progamme regularly, you will know that the aim is to bring you stories of believers in Jesus who live in Israel, including the West Bank, to reveal what God is doing there today. You may be asking, why? What has this to do with me? My guest today can answer that question because she is neither Jewish nor lives in Israel – but over the years she has felt compelled to study the Bible for herself to find out why God has such a heart and purpose for Israel and her people wherever they may be living. Today she is part of the vocal trio called Hebron featuring Simon Elman, Helen Shapiro – Chrissy Rogers.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Sandy Shoshani - Today our programme comes from Jerusalem and the office of Be’ad Chaim, a pro-life organization where Sandy Shoshani is the Director. I started by asking Sandy about how her work had been affected during the pandemic.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Shirya Yahav - Shirya lives in a village close to the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. Last week we heard how Shirya and Daniel were married and the time came for Daniel to leave the army and find a job. Being strong believers they prayed and fasted and Daniel was offered a job with Galtronics – a high tech company in Tiberias. However, they both knew that wouldn’t be forever as Shirya now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Shirya Yahav - Welcome to the Olive Tree and the continuing story of Shirya Yahav. Shirya’s grandparents came to Israel from Finland and settled in Tiberias in northern Israel. Without knowing any other believers in the land, her grandfather dedicated his life to giving away Bibles in Hebrew to the local population often being met with hostility. Shirya grew up in a very protective and close family so when the time came to leave school I asked her what her plans were.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shirya Yahav - Welcome to the Olive Tree which this week is coming to you from a village close to the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. My guest has an extraordinary story to tell. Her name is Shirya Yahav. She has been married to Daniel for 41 years. They have 7 children and 14 grandchildren. Shirya comes from a very interesting family, originally from Finland, as she now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Alon Grimberg - Alon is a German Christian married to an Israeli Arab called Rajaa’, Alon and Rajaa’s heart is to work with children and young people in Israel bringing Jewish and Arab youth together. They have been working in this field of reconciliation for many years and although it’s not easy, they are determined to continue as Alon explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Alon Grimberg - Welcome to this week’s programme which today finds us visiting the home of Alon Grinberg close to Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. This programme is all about hearing the stories of believers living in Israel and the West Bank today to help us understand what God is doing in the region despite the tensions and political upheaval there. Alon is neither Jewish or Arab … as you will hear he was born in Germany. Listen now as he introduces himself and describes the work he and his wife are doing.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dani Sayag - It was good to be able to travel to Israel again recently and sit down and listen to what life has been like for Israelis during the pandemic … but of course, all that has fallen into the background with the start of the war in Ukraine. The challenge for Dani is that he has many Russian and Ukrainian immigrants in his congregation … so, I asked him, what is the impact of this war on them and also within Israel as the nation anticipates the arrival of several thousands of refugees.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Dani Sayag - Welcome to The Olive Tree – the programme that brings you news and interviews from believers in Jesus living in Israel and the West Bank today … Jewish and Arab people. Recently, after a long gap of over two years due to covid, I was able to travel to Israel once again to record these programmes. So join me now as Dani Sayag, pastor of the Carmel Assembly in Haifa, describes what the past two years has been like for him, leading a large congregation.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Andrey Teplinksy- Hello and welcome to this edition of The Olive Tree with me Julia Fisher. The date is March 2022 and I’m in Haifa in northern Israel talking to a Russian believer called Andrey Teplinsky about the ongoing war in Ukraine. I asked him to describe how he feels about this war.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Andrey Teplinksy- This week, after a long break of over two years due to covid, I’m back in Israel to gather more stories from believers in Jesus who live there … so that we can hear their stories, understand their lives and also understand just how God is moving and working in Israel and the West Bank in these days. So come with me to Haifa to meet Andrey Teplinsky. Originally from Russia, he made Aliyah and immigrated to Israel over 20 years ago. He begins by sharing his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman - Hello and welcome to the Olive Tree where the aim of this programme is to introduce you to believers in Jesus living in Israel and the West Bank so you can hear their stories and discover what God is doing in the Middle East … it may surprise you! I’m Julia Fisher and my guest is Nihad Salman – an Arab Christian and pastor in Bethlehem.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
www.olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman - Hello and welcome to the Olive Tree. Nihad is pastor of the Emmanuel Evangelical church in Bethlehem.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman - Hello and welcome to the Olive Tree, the programme that brings you news and interviews with believers in Jesus living in Israel and the West Bank today – Jewish and Arab people – to find out what God is doing in the region. I’m Julia Fisher and my guest today is Nihad Salman, pastor of an evangelical church in Bethlehem.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Claude Ezagouri - Claude is the pastor of a congregation in Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. Claude has lived in Israel for many years now and has first hand experience of the challenges that Israel faces both internally and externally. So in this programme I’m going to ask him to describe the bigger picture …
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Claude Ezagouri - Claude is from a Moroccan Jewish family. Today he lives with his wife in Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and together they lead a congregation they founded called the Morning Star Fellowship.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Claude Ezagouri - If you’re interested in finding out what God is doing in Israel and the West Bank through the lives of believers who live there then this programme is for you. My guest today lives in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel where he and his wife are pastors of a Messianic congregation called the Morning Star Fellowship. He is Claude Ezagouri.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Christa Behr - Christa is a Christian from Germany who moved to Israel in 1991 when she became aware of the need for repentance and reconciliation particularly, but not exclusively, from her own people towards the Jewish people. She bought a house in Jerusalem and established the Community of Mount Zion.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Christa Behr - She is a Christian from Germany who from an early age became concerned, even appalled, at her nation’s role during the Second World War in sending so many Jewish people to their deaths during the Holocaust. She moved to live in Jerusalem in 1991 and her mission was and still is to promote repentance and reconciliation of the church of Jesus from the nations towards Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Christa Behr - Christa has lived in Jerusalem for over 30 years, but she is neither Jewish or Arab – she is German and believes she was called by God to Israel to be a bridge for reconciliation between German people and Jewish people. Her name is Christa Behr.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eric Benson - Eric is director of The House of Victory Rehab home for men in Haifa, northern Israel. Haifa is one place in Israel where Jews and Arabs co-exist peacefully. Eric starts by sharing his experience of living there.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Eric Benson- Eric is director of the House of Victory rehab home for men in Haifa, northern Israel. Eric is from the US …so, I asked him, how did he come to be living and working in Israel?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Julia Fisher talks to Eric Benson - Eric is director of The House of Victory re-hab centre in Haifa, northern Israel, for men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. We have much to talk about … but before Eric tells his story, he starts with telling the story of the House of Victory or Beit Nitzachon as it’s called in Hebrew. When did this work as we know it today start?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
www.olivetreefund.org
www.carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Maayan Shoshani - On last week’s programme Maayan shared her experience of establishing a home for women struggling with drug addiction and prostitution in Tel Aviv. Today we talk about how she comes to be doing what she’s doing and hear her story! She was born in Israel; her parents are both Jewish. Maayan begins by describing her early life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Maayan Shoshani - Maayan is a team member with Jews for Jesus in Tel Aviv in Israel. She shared with us last week about the home for women who are addicted to drugs that she and others on her team have recently opened in Tel Aviv. Today we explore that story further … are there many homes like this in Israel?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Maayan Shoshani - Maayan is one of the team members of Jews for Jesus in Israel, and recently she’s been involved in opening a home cum respite centre for homeless women in Tel Aviv many of them prostitutes and drug addicts. I asked her why?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lina Eid - Lina is married to Hanna who is the pastor of an evangelical church in the village of Eilaboun in northern Israel, and they have 4 daughters. Lina shares the pastoral work with her husband … and on top of all her other responsibilities, this year she embarked on a course at the Israel College of the Bible.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Hanna Eid - Along with his wife Lina, they lead an evangelical church in their home village of Eilaboun in northern Israel. Being evangelical Arab Christians puts Hanna and Lina into the minority amongst their orthodox Christian and Muslim neighbours. So how do they go about their work?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Hanna Eid - Hanna was born in the same village in which he now lives with his wife and daughters – but he could be living a very different life because a few years ago he graduated from Haifa University with a degree in Civil Engineering. So why did he go back to the village where he grew up?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eli Birnbaum - Eli is director of the work of the mission organisation Jews for Jesus. Their aim is to make the person of Jesus known to as many people as possible and they are creative in how they go about it! Eli heads a team of over 50 missionaries and here he shares about their latest venture – Jerusalem!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eli Birnbaum - We continue to hear about the work of the mission organisation Jews for Jesus in Israel where Eli Birnbaum is the director. With teams in many countries of the world, it is in Israel that Jews for Jesus has the largest number of missionaries working out of their base in Tel Aviv. I began by asking Eli to describe his team and the work they are currently doing.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org/tel-aviv
Julia Fisher talks to Eli Birnbaum - Eli is director of the work of the mission organisation Jews for Jesus. Their aim is to make the person of Jesus known to as many people as possible and they are creative in how they go about it! Eli heads a team of over 50 missionaries and here he shares about their latest venture – Jerusalem!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org/tel-aviv
Julia Fisher talks to Julia Pascoe - Julia is a missionary with Jews for Jesus. She was born and brought up in London and was enjoying a good job in London when she met a Christian and eventually became persuaded that Jesus was indeed the Jewish Messiah. At that point, her life changed for ever and she decided to give up her job, much to her family’s concern, and join the international missionary movement, Jews for Jesus. In this, the final part of her story, I asked Julia to step back and look at the global picture of what God is doing amongst Jewish communities scattered in various nations around the world.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Julia Pascoe - Julia is Jewish and was born in London into a traditional Jewish family. When she met a Christian who introduced her to Jesus, her family were not impressed and so began Julia’s new life of faith – alone. She had a good job in London but decided to give it up to become a missionary. So what was her last day in the office like?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Julia Pascoe - Julia is a missionary with Jews for Jesus. She was born in London into a Jewish family. Whilst they were not particularly religious, they followed Jewish traditions. It was whilst working at a successful job in London that Julia met a Christian friend who started talking to her about the person of Jesus … so how did she react?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat - This is the Olive Tree, bringing you news from Israel and the wider Middle East all the time seeking to know what God is doing there despite the apparent tensions and frequent conflicts. By speaking to believers who live there and know the region well we can bring you some good news! Today Labib Madanat, who covers the Middle East and North Africa for the Bible Society shares some recent stories from people he knows that are bringing him great encouragement.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat - Born in Jordan, Labib is well qualified to bring us news from the region. He spent much of his childhood in Jerusalem where his father was a pastor. He later studied in Iraq before returning to Jerusalem to take on a job with the Bible Society. All that was many years ago and today he is the advisor for the Bible Society for their work in the Middle East and North Africa. I asked him to describe the situation in Syria … what is life like for Christians who live there.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat - My guest is a Jordanian Christian who has lived much of his life in Jerusalem and is now based here in the UK. Labib is advisor to Bible Society for their work in the Middle East and North Africa – areas of the world he knows well. With Afghanistan being in the news headlines recently I asked Labib for his thoughts on what has happened there and his concerns for the Afghani people.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Sered - Dan was born in Israel into a secular Jewish family. He later became a believer in Jesus and joined the missionary organisation Jews for Jesus. Their mandate is to relentlessly pursue God’s plan for the salvation of the Jewish people – and as you can imagine, they are not always popular. Undaunted, Dan became the Director of Jews for Jesus based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Today he oversees the work of all the missionaries for Jews for Jesus around the world. He was in Jerusalem recently to open a new office there … this is a bold step – he told me why.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Sered - This programme aims to ask one question – what is God doing in Israel today? For many years now, we’ve been bringing you the stories of both Jewish and Arab believers in Jesus who live in the Israel and the wider Middle East. Today we’re taking that a step further and taking a global view! My guest today is Dan Sered. Born in Israel he used to be Director of the Jews for Jesus team there. Today he is the chief operating officer of Jews for Jesus outside of North America – based in New York. Put simply, he oversees the work of all the missionaries for Jews for Jesus around the world. I asked him to take us on a world tour!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Sered - When I first met Dan in Jerusalem several years ago, he was the Director of Jews for Jesus in Israel. Today, he is the chief operating officer of Jews for Jesus outside of North America – a huge job based in New York. In this programme he shares his story, but first I asked him to explain what his job entailed.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas - Today, we’re back in Netanya in Israel talking to Evan Thomas, pastor of a congregation called Beit Asaph. The covid pandemic has made it difficult, even impossible, for people to meet in groups so I was interested to know how Evan has managed to keep his fellowship alive and active during this time.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas - The autumn in Israel is the time for a series of Biblical Feasts – but for us gentile Christians, these are little understood so largely ignored. But are they only for Jewish people or do they hold any relevance for us? My guest today will be able to answer this question - he is Evan Thomas, pastor of a congregation called Beit Asaph, situated just north of Tel Aviv in Israel. I spoke to Evan in early September, and started by asking him to describe the mood in Israel where they were facing another wave of covid.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Sam- Welcome to The Olive Tree where this week we are continuing with the story of Sam – an Arab Christian living in Jerusalem with a heart for Muslim people. And today he shares some stories of the people he is meeting and describes how they respond to him.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Sam - It may surprise you to hear that Muslim people in East Jerusalem are hearing about Jesus. My guest today is called Sam … he was born into an Arab family (although he later found out that his roots are Jewish) and was brought up in a village just outside Jerusalem. In this the first of two programmes, he starts by describing his early life and his journey out of Replacement Theology – a belief that says the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan of things – and then how he started to befriend Muslim people.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David & Leah Ortiz- They live in Ariel, a mainly orthodox Jewish city in central Israel. We have heard how they started a congregation in their apartment and how their son Ami miraculously survived after a bomb was placed in a Purim gift basket he opened in their apartment. After facing so much hostility and near death, you may be wondering why they remain in Ariel. Today, we hear from David about what happened when he looked out of his window one day and gazed at the neighbouring Palestinian villages in the West Bank. This is the story of how Muslims are becoming believers in Jesus in Israel today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David & Leah Ortiz - David, originally from Puerto Rico and Leah, an American Jewess, emigrated to Israel in 1985 with three children and settled in BeerSheva in the south of Israel. They had three more sons and after a few years moved to Ariel, a mainly orthodox Jewish city. They were keen to share their belief in Jesus with the people there and this is the story of how they faced severe persecution which almost cost the life of one of their sons. I started by asking David whether they knew of other believers when they first moved to Ariel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David & Leah Ortiz - My guests over the next three programmes are some of the bravest people I know … they are David and Leah Ortiz. With not being able to travel due to covid, these programmes have been recorded using the internet so you may hear some extra sound effects! They live in an apartment in Ariel in central Israel bordering the West Bank. Sharing a microphone with her husband, Leah begins their story by describing her background which began in America.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Bishara Deeb - He is an Israeli Arab evangelical pastor in northern Israel. When he and his wife discovered an isolated Arab village and started to visit the people there they found not only great poverty but also a lack of hope resulting in many social problems. In this the last of three programmes telling Bishara’s story, I started by asking him about the situation there during the recent covid pandemic.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Bishara Deeb - Bishara is an Israeli Arab evangelical pastor in northern Israel. Having noticed an Arab village whilst driving between Nazareth and Tel Aviv, he felt prompted to investigate who lived there. He had found an isolated, close knit, entirely Islamic village and tentatively began to visit and pray about what to do next.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Bishara Deeb - He and his wife live in northern Israel and their story vividly illustrates some of what God is doing in Israel today. I first met Bishara a few years ago when he was studying as a mature student at a Bible college in Nazareth having left his family business. In other words he had given up a lot to go there. So why did he do that?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - Avi was born in Jaffa, just south of Tel Aviv and he is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in the city. He grew up living in a mixed Jewish/Arab neighbourhood in Jaffa and today, his heart is to see reconciliation between Jewish believers and Arab Christians. Here he describes how, despite unrest and politics, reconciliation has and is happening.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - Avi lives in Tel Aviv where he is the pastor of a congregation. During the 1980s when there were still very few believers in the land, he would go out onto the streets and give out tracts he’d written and engage people in conversation about the Messiah. He described what happened next.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - On today’s programme we’re hearing from Avi Mizrachi, a Jewish pastor in Tel Aviv, a modern city on the shores of the Mediterranean in Israel. In this, the first of three programmes with Avi, we’re going to follow his story – a story that began when his parents came to Israel from Bulgaria just over 60 years ago.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Oded Soshani - Today we’re back in Jerusalem talking to Oded Shoshani. Born and raised in Israel, after spending many years working as an engineer, Oded became the pastor of a congregation. Married to Sandy for almost 40 years, they have always had a heart for bringing people together and encouraging reconciliation. I asked him to explain more.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Oded Soshani - Oded is a Jewish pastor living in Jerusalem. When I spoke to him in February, almost a year after the pandemic started, I started by asking him about the mood in Israel as the country was slowly starting to emerge from the effects of covid.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Oded Soshani - a Jewish believer living in Jerusalem where he is the pastor of a congregation. This interview was recorded in mid February when Israel was just beginning to emerge from lockdown. Oded begins by describing his background.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Karen Davis - This week we hear the rest of Karen’s story. Living in Israel with her husband David where in the 1990s they founded a rehab centre and Worship Centre on Mount Carmel in Haifa, norther Israel, Karen was suddenly alone when four years ago David died. Today Karen describes what happened when on returning from the memorial service for her husband one year after he’d died, she realised something had changed. Listen now as she describes what happened as she realised God had lifted her grief and given her inspiration for a new music album … Songs of Eternity.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
karendavisworship.com
'Songs of Eternity' by Karen Davis ©2021 The Orchard Music/Galilee of the Nations karendavisworship.com/songs-of-eternity used by permission.
Julia Fisher talks to Karen Davis - Karen lost her husband David four years ago. They had been a close team, founding a rehab centre and Messianic congregation in Haifa, northern Israel. Their inspiration and emphasis was to be a living demonstration of reconciliation between Jew and Arab. So when David died, what was Karen going to do. In this, the second of three interviews with Karen, she describes the weeks before David died and the conversations they had … conversations that revolved around David’s impending death.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
karendavisworship.com
'Songs of Eternity' by Karen Davis ©2021 The Orchard Music/Galilee of the Nations karendavisworship.com/songs-of-eternity used by permission.
Julia Fisher talks to Karen Davis - Her story is one of loss, yet hope. Karen and her husband David were married for 30 years. But 4 years ago, David died. They had worked closely together during those 30 years – moving from the US to Israel where they founded a rehab centre and congregation in Haifa, in northern Israel. David was the pastor, and Karen the worship leader. With David’s death, what would Karen do. For the next three programmes Karen shares her story and her music … it’s a story of how her life has taken on a new lease of life as she now describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
karendavisworship.com
'Songs of Eternity' by Karen Davis ©2021 The Orchard Music/Galilee of the Nations karendavisworship.com/songs-of-eternity used by permission.
Julia Fisher talks to Yousef Dakwar - an Arab pastor in Haifa, northern Israel. After starting a church in the city, approximately 20 years ago Yousef became aware of the power of social media and little by little he started a media ministry that today reaches into many countries. Today we hear how he became concerned about the plight of the thousands of refugees who began fleeing from and through Syria to Europe and how he felt compelled to help.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yousef Dakwar - Today we continue with the story of Yousef Dakwar, an Arab pastor in Haifa, northern Israel. After starting a church in the city, approximately 20 years ago Yousef became aware of the power of social media and he determined to use it for good as you will hear.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yousef Dakwar - My guest today is an Arab pastor in Haifa, northern Israel. His name is Yousef Dakwar and as well as being the pastor of an Arab church in the city, he is also involved in media and more recently, has been following the plight of refugees fleeing from and through Syria to Europe. In this programme we hear how Yousef’s church began – it is an encouraging story which demonstrates what can happen from small beginnings.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Samuel Smadja - Samuel is the founder and CEO of Sarel, one of the largest tour operators in Israel. Born into a Messianic Jewish family, from a young age Samuel was taught by his father about the Biblical prophecies concerning Israel. I asked him what makes Sarel’s tours unique.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
sareltours.com
Julia Fisher talks to Samuel Smadja - Samuel lives in Jerusalem. His parents were Jews from Tunisia who immigrated to Israel after the 2nd World War and the death of his grandfather in Auschwitz during the Holocaust and after they had become believers in Jesus, Yeshua. Samuel was their 4th child and the family lived in Jerusalem where his father started a printing business. At that time there were very few Jewish believers living in Israel. They were intensely disliked and seen as traitors to Judaism. It was in this atmosphere that Samuel grew up. He was dyslexic – a problem that was poorly understood then and left school with no qualifications. After serving in the Israeli army, the time came to find a job. Not any easy situation for him. But Samuel worked for the owner of a travel agency for 7 years and after showing amazingly successful results, it was time to move on. Samuel takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
sareltours.com
Julia Fisher talks to Samuel Smadja - Samuel lives in Jerusalem. His parents were Jews from Tunisia who immigrated to Israel after the 2nd World War and the death of his grandfather in Auschwitz during the Holocaust and after they had become believers in Jesus, Yeshua. Samuel was their 4th child and the family lived in Jerusalem where his father started a printing business. At that time there were very few Jewish believers living in Israel. They were intensely disliked and seen as traitors to Judaism. It was in this atmosphere that Samuel grew up. He was dyslexic – a problem that was poorly understood then and left school with no qualifications. After serving in the Israeli army, the time came to find a job. Not any easy situation for him. But Samuel worked for the owner of a travel agency for 7 years and after showing amazingly successful results, it was time to move on. Samuel takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
sareltours.com
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - He describes himself as an Israeli Arab Lebanese man with a heart for the Jewish people! He has no problems with identity! He and his wife lead a church in northern Israel which includes refugees from Lebanon, Israeli Arabs (some are former Muslims) and Jewish people. His passion for all peoples is relatively unusual so I asked him to describe how he came to this position.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - He is an Arab Israeli whose parents came from Lebanon to live in Israel. As we heard on last week’s programme, Joseph and his wife are the pastors of a largely Lebanese congregation of refugees in the north of Israel and during lockdowns due to covid, they have been sharing their services on Facebook which have attracted an audience from far and wide – is he surprised?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - His parents were Lebanese and went to live in Israel which is where Joseph was born. He has lived all his life in Israel and today is the pastor of a church on the northern border of Israel with Lebanon. This is a unusual congregation, as you will hear … it was born in troubled times a few years ago … Joseph picks up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - He is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Jerusalem and recently, during October 2020 with the pandemic still gripping nations of the world, another momentous news story emerged - namely the new friendly relationships between Israel and the Arab nations of the UAE and Bahrain. Was Ofer as surprised as the rest of us?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
israelprayercenter.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - Ofer Amitai is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Jerusalem. Today, whilst still in the grips of the covid pandemic, he describes how the people have managed to not only stay in touch during lockdowns, but actually really encourage each other.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - The time is autumn 2020 and the world continues to reel from the pandemic. Normally I would be in Israel recording interviews for this programme but, unable to travel, thankfully technology has come to the rescue and this week I’ve been speaking from my desk in the UK to Ofer Amitai, pastor of a Messianic congregation in Jerusalem. What sort of a time has it been in Israel these past few months?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Paul Calvert talks to Stephen Khoury - Stephen is the son of an Arab pastor and is himself the pastor of Calvary Church in East Jerusalem, a church that was started some years ago by his uncle as you will hear. Paul Calvert met with Stephen recently and started by asking him what it’s like leading a church in the very city where so much of Jesus’ ministry happened.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
holylandmissions.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lisa Loden - On the Olive Tree today we hear the final part of Lisa Loden’s story – after a serious car accident, Lisa finally came to realise that her search for truth had ended and she acknowledged that Jesus was her Messiah. Along with her husband David, it was time to consider their future … a future that led them to Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Lisa Loden - Born into a Russian Jewish family, Lisa was born in America. During the early 1960s, in her search for truth she took herself off to live the life of a hermit. However, as Lisa described on last week’s programme, David, who was to become her husband arrived on the scene. They married and lived as hippies, Lisa studying whilst David worked in a woodmill where the owner happened to be a Christian. What was Lisa’s reaction when David became a Christian – hitherto she had dismissed Jesus as an irrational notion.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lisa Loden - On The Olive Tree today we’re continuing with hearing Lisa's story. With a Russian Jewish background, Lisa was born in America into an intellectual family. As she grew up her interest in world religions grew and she was on a quest for truth. She eventually decided that the best way to pursue this search was to live life as a hermit. Lisa continues…
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lisa Loden - Hello and welcome to the Olive Tree and another story from Israel to demonstrate what God is doing there today. I’m Julia Fisher and my guest for the next 4 programmes is Lisa Loden. We heard her husband’s story recently, now it’s time to hear Lisa share her extraordinary life’s journey, a journey that began with her grandfather in Russia who was a spy! Did she meet him? Lisa takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Loden - David is 85 years old. Born in America, he became a classical musician and composer in New York. He met Lisa, his wife, whilst travelling and they lived as hippies for some time before coming to faith in Jesus and eventually moving to Israel … in fact they were so sure they wanted to live in Israel that they bought a one way ticket. David takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kamti.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Loden- This week on the Olive Tree we’re back in Netanya talking to David Loden. He and his wife Lisa met in the United States many years ago – they moved to Israel in 1974 and as believers were pioneers in the Messianic movement in Israel. David is a professional classical musician – his love for music, as he now explains, began as a young child.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kamti.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Loden- You’re listening to the Olive Tree – our weekly look at life for believers living in Israel and the wider Middle East. I’m Julia Fisher and my guest today is composer, conductor and pastor, David Loden who has lived in Israel with his wife Lisa since 1974. This programme was recorded during the Covid 19 pandemic so I started by asking David how the lockdown had affected them personally.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kamti.org
Paul Calvert talks to Issa Amash - a Christian from Gaza now living in Bethlehem. Life for Christians in Gaza has become increasingly difficult and dangerous in recent times and although there are a few remaining there, many have come to live in Bethlehem. For Issa, this meant leaving his family behind – it was a costly decision. But life has not been plain sailing for him as you will now hear. Paul Calvert met with Issa recently and brings us his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Howard Bass - Howard is a Messianic Jewish pastor in southern Israel. Recently I was talking to an Arab Christian who said he thought the biggest news story in Israel was the increase in numbers of Jewish people who were believing that Jesus is their Messiah. I asked Howard for his reaction.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Howard Bass - Howard and his wife Randi moved from the United States to live in Israel almost 40 years ago, and have been living in BeerSheva ever since. Why, I asked him via zoom, did they decide to leave the good life in America and move to Israel?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Howard Bass - Today I’m talking via zoom to Howard Bass in BeerSheva, in southern Israel, where he is the pastor of a Messianic congregation. It’s now mid June and slowly Israel, like the UK, is emerging from the coronavirus pandemic – I asked him to describe what this time of lockdown has been like for Israelis.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Paul Calvert talks to Zayid Banourah - The House of Hope in Bethlehem cares for young people and adults who are blind and children with special needs. It is a Christian charity and the chairman is Zayid Banourah. I have visited this wonderful place many times and always the love and kindness shown by the dedicated staff towards these vulnerable people has been amazing. Paul Calvert is a broadcast journalist who lives and works in Bethlehem. During the recent Covid 19 pandemic he visited the House of Hope and spoke to Zayid and started by asking him was the house open when the virus hit Bethlehem in early March?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
House of Hope article by Ann Pawson
Julia Fisher talks to Stefan Silver - Stefan came to Israel from New Zealand with his family as a young boy. During the second Lebanon War in 2006 Stefan was serving in the Israeli Defence Force and found himself in difficult and dangerous circumstances. The problem was, his faith was not very strong at that point – he described what happened to make the difference.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kerem-el.org
Julia Fisher talks to Stefan Silver - In recent years thousands of Jewish people have been making their way back to Israel. Amongst them, the Silver family from New Zealand who, in 1992 left everything behind and arrived in Israel with their two young sons believing God was calling them there. Stefan was 7 years old and here he recounts his memories from that time.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yonatan Arnold - He was born in Israel and spent his early years on a kibbutz. For years, he wondered about the meaning of life and eventually whilst working on Guernsey in the channel Islands he came to faith. In 2013 he returned to Israel having spent four years studying at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and went to Netanya, to the Israel College of the Bible. He starts by describing why this place is unique.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yonatan Arnold - an Israeli Messianic pastor and Bible teacher who lives in Haifa in northern Israel. Last week Yonatan described the struggle he had in his teens to find the meaning of life. Today he shares how events unfolded in very unlikely circumstances – but first he had to leave Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yonatan Arnold - Welcome to another edition of the Olive Tree with me Julia Fisher and my guest Yonatan Arnold who lives in Haifa in northern Israel where today he is the pastor of a Messianic congregation and a professor at the Israel College of the Bible in Netanya. Yonatan was born in Israel … but then left for many years … years in which he had to find himself – his story is one that many Israelis identify with. So listen into our conversation as Yonatan unfolds his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Keren Silver - She and her husband Stefan lead a Hebrew speaking congregation on Mt Carmel in Haifa. Here she describes the preparation that goes into their Shabbat meetings each week.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kerem-el.org
Julia Fisher talks to Keren Silver - She is Jewish, married with 3 daughters and lives in Haifa where she and her husband Stefan lead a congregation called Kerem-El. Like all Israelis, she has a fascinating story to tell … she was born in Jerusalem and here she starts by sharing a little about her family.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kerem-el.org
Paul Calvert talks to Nihad Salman - Today we have news from Bethlehem and how the city and a church there have been coping during the coronavirus outbreak which started there on the 5th of March. Paul Calvert is a broadcast journalist who lives and works in Bethlehem and he spoke to Nihad Salman, pastor of the Immanuel Evangelical church there and began by asking him how the virus affected both the people in Bethlehem and the church.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat - Somebody who knows better than most is my guest today, Labib Madanat. Labib is the Middle East Advisor to the Bible Society. He is a Jordanian Christian who was born in Jerusalem and carries God’s heart for both Arab and Jewish people. Listen now as how describes how many Palestinian Christians living in Jordan and the West Bank care passionately for their Muslim neighbours.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat - This programme is all about finding out what God is doing in Israel and the Palestinian areas – a part of the world that you may think is beyond hope when it comes to finding peace. Well stay tuned – this programme will show you there is hope and indeed reconciliation between Arab and Jewish believers in Jesus is happening today. Labib Madanat is a Christian from Jordan. For many years he lived and worked in Jerusalem as Director of Bible Society work there and now he is the Middle East Advisor to the Bible Society. Although an Arab himself, Labib has always had a heart for the Jewish people and indeed reconciliation has been at the centre of all his work. I put it to him that he’s always been a bridge builder.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat- He is a Jordanian Christian who has lived in several countries in the Middle East including Israel. He speaks several languages and normally would be travelling extensively in his capacity as the Middle East Advisor to the Bible Society. Now living in the UK but currently in lockdown due to the Covid 19 outbreak, I caught up with him via Zoom. Born in Jerusalem in 1964 to Jordanian parents, here Labib describes his early years which prepared him for his work now.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat- He is a Jordanian Christian who has lived in several countries in the Middle East including Israel. He speaks several languages and normally would be travelling extensively in his capacity as the Middle East Advisor to the Bible Society. Now living in the UK but currently in lockdown due to the Covid 19 outbreak, I caught up with him via Zoom. Born in Jerusalem in 1964 to Jordanian parents, here Labib describes his early years which prepared him for his work now.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Stuart Fisher talks to Romain - Today we’re in Haifa in northern Israel to bring you another story demonstrating what God is doing to change lives there. If you or somebody known to you is a hardened drug addict and you have given up hope of ever seeing them recover, then stay tuned. You are about to hear the story of Romain who as he put it, lost 14 years of his life to drugs. He was a homeless drug addict living on the streets of Tel Aviv – today he is a different person … listen now as he shares his story with Stuart Fisher.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
House of Victory
Julia Fisher talks to Zacharia Arne- along with his widowed mother and other siblings, he came to Israel from Ethiopia when he was 13 years old. His grandfather was a rabbi and for Zacharia it was his ambition to follow in his footsteps and he spent three years studying in a Yeshiva for young Orthodox Jews. However, that wasn’t to be because today he is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Haifa as well as working full time for the Haifa Municipality helping people with addiction to drugs and alcohol. I was keen to find out how his life changed from being a religious orthodox Jew and started by asking him about his time at university.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zacharia Arne- Today’s podcast comes to you from Haifa in northern Israel where I’ve come to meet Zacharia, an Ethiopian Jew with a fascinating story. Over the past 70 years, thousands of Jewish people have returned to live in Israel having been dispersed around the world for 2000 years. Many consider this to be a fulfilment of Biblical prophecy so it’s always interesting to meet such people and hear their stories and listen to their understanding of what God is doing in these days. Today Zacharia has two jobs – he works full time for the Haifa Municipality helping people with drug and alcohol addiction by day and in the evenings and at weekends, he leads a congregation comprising mainly of Ethiopians.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Anis & Nawal Barhoum- Today another story which clearly demonstrates what God is doing in Israel in these days despite the obvious unrest. My guests today are an Israeli Arab couple – Anis and Nawal Barhoum. They live in northern Israel. They are now in their 70’s and throughout their lives they have used their home and their time working to bring young Jews and Arabs together in a spirit of reconciliation. As we sat drinking coffee one evening in Haifa, they shared their story …
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Miriam Chernasov - She is about to become a missionary in Uganda. Why is that unusual you ask … well, Miriam is from Israel and missionaries last went out from Israel 2000 years ago when the early church came into being! We met on the beachfront in Netanya, a city close to Tel Aviv, on a very windy afternoon. After coming to live in Israel from the Ukraine when she was just 6 years old, Miriam has been through school, the army and university where she qualified as a kindergarten teacher. I started by asking her to describe when and how she came to realise she wanted to be involved in mission.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Stuart Fisher talks to Eliel Fos - We met with him in Haifa, in northern Israel. Today he is married with a young family and is a youth worker and street evangelist. But life has not always been easy for him. What you are about to hear is a story of transformation. Listen now as Eliel talks to Stuart Fisher.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Ann Pawson talks to Sandy Shoshani - Sandy lives in Jerusalem. Her husband is pastor of a congregation and Sandy is the national director of a pro-life organisation in Israel called Be-Ad Chaim. Ann asked Sandy about the women who have had an abortion … can Be’Ad Chaim help them?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Ann Pawson talks to Sandy Shoshani - Sandy and Oded Shoshani live in J’lem. They have 7 children. Oded is a pastor and Sandy is the national director of a pro-life organisation in Israel called Be-Ad Chaim. Here she is in conversation with Ann Pawson.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Benny Moges - For the past 70 years, since the state of Israel was formed in 1948, thousands of Jewish people have returned to live there from the four corners of the world. In 1991 the Israelis launched a daring operation to bring thousands of Ethiopian Jews to live in Israel. It was called Operation Solomon and one of the people who came is my guest today. He is called Benny Moges. Life would never be the same again for Benny – as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Stuart Fisher talks to Patrick - This week the Olive Tree comes to you from Haifa in northern Israel. Patrick is Jewish. For 26 years he was a heroin addict. His life was drawing to a close. But then he met some believers who took him into their home and through care and prayer, nurtured him back into life. Today he’s a believer and drug free. Stuart Fisher met up with him to hear how his life, now transformed, is lived.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Stuart Fisher talks to Patrick - This week, we’re in Haifa in northern Israel – a city where Jews and Arabs co-exist and where there are several congregations that are steadily growing in number. Some new believers are former drug addicts. Today we hear from one of these. His name is Patrick. He was a heroin addict for 26 years and fully expected his life to end on the streets. But, as you will now hear, he is not only alive, but free from addiction.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Ann Pawson talks to Maala Thomas - Reconciliation between Jewish and Arab believers has long been a focus on this programme. Today we take that a step further. Listen now as Ann Pawson talks to Maala Thomas. Maala and her husband are pastors of a congregation in Netanya, a city located just above Tel Aviv. In a windy beachfront restaurant, Ann asked Maala to share her experience of working in the field of reconciliation and where that has taken them recently.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Oded Shoshani - The Olive Tree aims to find out what God is doing in Israel today. A big question you may say! And I would agree! In search of answers, I met a Jewish pastor in Jerusalem recently called Oded Shoshani. I asked him a direct question … what is he witnessing that reveals what the Bible has to say about what God is doing in Israel today?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kkcj.org
Julia Fisher talks to Oded Shoshani - Like us, Israel has many challenges. For example, they are trying to manage the large numbers of immigrants and refugees entering the land. They also have to cope with intense scrutiny and frequent criticism and in many parts of the world, anti-semitism. Recently whilst in Jerusalem I met Oded Shoshani. He is a Jewish pastor. We began by talking about some of the challenges Israel is facing.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kkcj.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dani Sayag. He is pastor of the Carmel Assembly where Paul’s words in Ephesians chapter 2 about ‘one new man’ can be seen … that is, Jew and Gentile, in this case Jew and Arab, worshipping God together having overcome hatred and distrust one of the other. I asked Dani to explain how this has come about.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Dani Sayag - The aim of this programme is to talk about what God is doing in Israel and the West Bank today despite the politics! My guest today is Dani Sayag … he is the pastor of a mixed congregation of Jews and Arabs called the Carmel Assembly. We met in Haifa recently I started by asking him to explain a little more about the congregation.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Nat Silverman - Today I’m in Tel Aviv in a coffee shop talking to Nat Silverman. The coffee shop has recently opened and is run by a local congregation called Dugit where the aim is to serve excellent coffee as well as providing a place to talk to people about Jesus or Yeshua as He is called in Israel. Nat has led the design team and now manages the coffee shop which is situated on a busy street in Tel Aviv where there are several other high quality coffee houses. I asked him where the idea came from.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
haogentlv.com
Julia Fisher talks to Nat Silverman. We met at a coffee shop in Tel Aviv on a rather noisy street, as you will hear! Israeli society today is salad bowl of people who have come to live there from the four corners of the world. Jews from Russia, Tunisia and Morocco, Europe, South America, Ethiopia, India to name but a few. Nat came from the United States and today he is working for a congregation called Adonai Roi in down town Tel Aviv – a busy, mainly secular city. Nat was in his late teens when his parents announced they were moving to Israel. What was he going to do? He faced a dilemma, as he now describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Fardi - Fardi was born in Gaza into an orthodox Christian family. The majority of people living in Gaza today are Muslim – Islam there has become extreme, political and dangerous … not many Christians live there now. I met Fardi recently in Bethlehem. He had to leave Gaza 12 years ago for his own safety. And so he fled with his wife and daughter and came to live in Bethlehem where he has slowly rebuilt his life. His story gives a rare insight into life in Gaza … Fardi started by describing his early life there.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rhema Halabi. She is 64 years old and for the past 15 years has been the bookshop manager for the Immanuel Evangelical Church on Manger Street in Bethlehem. Why is her story remarkable? As you will hear, for many years she was a nominal orthodox Christian. But during a dangerous time of war, it was her 7 year old son who told her that if she died she wouldn’t go to heaven because she wasn’t a Christian. This came as such a shock, that she determined to find the truth.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Salim Zeidan - This week’s edition of the Olive Tree comes from Bethlehem, in the West Bank. My guest is Salim Zeidan, director of the House of Hope – a home for blind people and those with special needs. Salim retired from teaching to take on this role. He was born in Beit Jalla, a suburb of Bethlehem. As we sat in his office in the late afternoon, while the children were playing outside his window, he shared his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David van Owerkerk - If you are wondering what God is doing in Israel today despite the constant struggles there, stay tuned, because today my guest brings news of a ground breaking project that clearly demonstrates that calling is greater than conflict. David van Owerkerk, from the Beit Asaph congregation in Netanya, Israel, recently took a combined group of Jewish and Arab Israelis and Palestinians from the West Bank to Germany on a mission to share their faith with people there. The project is called Yad B’Yad – hand in hand, as David now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to David van Owerkerk - Whilst in Israel recently I heard about a group of young Messianic Jewish believers who had travelled to Germany to meet with a group of young German Christians and together they visited Auschwitz, the concentration camp in Poland where so many Jewish people died during the Second World War. The team was led by David van Owerkerk from the Beit Asaph Messianic congregation in Netanya, Israel. I was keen to find out more and began by asking David how it all began.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Alex (HaGafen) - Whilst in Tel Aviv recently, I met Alex. He was born into a Jewish family in Russia and came to live in Israel when he was 15. We met at a coffee bar on a noisy street, as you will hear! Like all new immigrants to the country, he had to learn the language and do his army service … but for Alex, life suddenly became more difficult when he discovered he had leukaemia. Would he survive? In search of answers he turned to Judaism and became an orthodox Jew. But as you will hear, this was not the answer for him.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Stuart Fisher talks to Evan Thomas. The Olive Tree …. the programme that for the past 10 years has followed the story of what God is doing in Israel and the West Bank through the lives of the believers in Jesus who live there. Their numbers may be relatively few but they are growing steadily to the point where some believers are preparing to leave Israel and go abroad as missionaries to other nations. One congregation in Netanya is sending a missionary to Uganda. Recently they also sent a group of young people, Arabs, Jews and Palestinians to Europe where they joined with young German Christians for a street mission. Listen now as Stuart Fisher talks to Evan Thomas, the pastor of Beit Asaph congregation in Netanya, to find out what more.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Stuart Fisher talks to Evan Thomas - Today’s programme is significant because it’s the story of how one congregation in Netanya called Beit Asaph is sending out a missionary to Uganda. Why is this unusual you ask? Because for the past 40 years or so, the numbers of believers living in Israel has been growing very slowly and their emphasis has been on survival within their own nation. However, all that is changing and gradually mission abroad is not only being talked about, it is happening! To find out more about this story, we met Evan Thomas, the pastor of Beit Asaph and Stuart Fisher asked him, why Uganda?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Israel Pochtar - Recently I visited Ashdod, the port city south of Tel Aviv and north of Gaza, on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean. This ancient Biblical city is today a vibrant modern city and home to 250,000 Jewish people many of whom have come from all over the world to live in Israel. I was there to meet Israel Pochtar, pastor of a congregation called Beit Hallel, a congregation he started with just a handful of people. Gradually, despite prolonged and severe persecution from some in the religious community, this congregation has thrived and grown and now 200 adults and 100 children meet each week. In this final programme with Israel Pochtar, I asked him to describe the bigger picture of what God is doing in Israel and the wider Middle East.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
vojisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Israel Pochtar - Recently I went to Ashdod in southern Israel to meet Israel Pochtar, the pastor of a fast growing Messianic congregation he started called Beit Hallel where 200 adults and 100 children now gather each week. I asked him, how did it grow from just a handful of people to such a large congregation so quickly.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
vojisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Israel Pochtar - Whilst in the ancient Biblical city of Ashdod recently, I met Israel Pochtar. Born into a Jewish family in the Crimea, he came to Israel with his wife soon after they were married. At first he worked in construction by day and in his spare time, as a street evangelist based in Tel Aviv. So, I asked him, why did he move to Ashdod?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
vojisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Israel Pochtar - Recently I visited Ashdod, a port city situated between Gaza and Tel Aviv, to meet Israel Pochtar, the pastor of a fast growing Messianic congregation there. He came to Israel from the Crimea, and in this programme he starts by describing a little about his early life and why he decided to leave his homeland.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
vojisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zvi Randelman - Today I’m back in Jerusalem talking to Zvi Randelman - somebody I first met several years ago when he founded a drug and alcohol rehab centre for Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem. At the same time Zvi also started a congregation, so for many years, along with his wife and their four sons, they were busy! However, all that changed a couple of years ago, when he felt it right to hand over all his responsibilities in Jerusalem to go back to America for a time to care for an elderly relative. Zvi takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Mazen Naswari - The Old City of Jerusalem is home to thousands of people living cheek by jowl – Muslims, Armenians, Jews and Christians. And in the middle of the city lies a small Arab evangelical church where the pastor is Mazen Naswari. There are hundreds of young people living in the Old City, and some of them go to Mazen’s church. He is keen to encourage them and last year he took them away for a few days and it was hugely successful … so this year he’s planning to do it again … but this time, the plan is even more challenging as he now describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com
Julia Fisher talks to Mazen Naswari. This week I’m taking you through the narrow, noisy, crowded streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, home to Muslims, Jews, Armenians and Christians, to meet Mazen Naswari, pastor of an evangelical church there. It’s difficult to find and from the outside you wouldn’t know it’s a church. Mazen is an Israeli Arab. He was born in the Old City … he has lived there all his life. Listen now as he shares his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com
Julia Fisher talks to Hanna & Lena Eid - Today’s guests may surprise you … Hanna and Lena Eid are Israeli Arab Christians living in a village in northern Israel close to the Sea of Galilee and Hanna is the pastor of a little church. There are many Arab villages in northern Israel. So I started by asking Hanna to describe their situation.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas in Haifa, northern Israel. Evan was born into a Jewish family in New Zealand. It was there he met his wife Maala and approximately 30 years ago, they moved to Netanya, a city just south of Haifa on the shores of the Mediterranean where Evan has been the pastor of a congregation called Beit Asaph. Recently, they returned to New Zealand for three months to take a break – or so they thought. They hadn’t been there long before they had quite a surprise.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - The Olive Tree brings you news from believers in Jesus living in Israel today – Jews and Arabs – to find out what God is doing in the region despite the politics. My guest today is well qualified to help shed some light on this subject – he is Ofer Amitai, a Messianic Jewish pastor in Jerusalem and the founder of an intercessory prayer movement. So what do they pray about and how do they pray? I began by asking Ofer what has been the focus of their prayers recently.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - The Olive Tree this week comes to you from a noisy hotel lobby in Jerusalem where I met Ofer Amitai, a Messianic Jewish pastor in the city. We met in early May, just after the election when the government was still being formed. With so much ongoing unrest in the country, I asked Ofer to explain from a Biblical point of view what is going on in Israel at this time.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - Today I’m in Tel Aviv, Israel talking to Avi Mizrachi, a Messianic Jewish pastor. He was born in Tel Aviv and for nearly 30 years has worked tirelessly to share the gospel in this mainly secular city. Evangelism has always been Avi’s passion and just recently his organisation, which is called Dugit, had a major breakthrough … it didn’t come easily, as Avi explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Stuart Fisher talks to Sandy Shoshani - The Olive Tree today comes to you from Jerusalem. Bead Chaim is a pro-life organisation in Israel and Stuart Fisher met the director, Sandy Shoshani.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Yuriel Katz - Today I’m at the Sheba Medical Centre in Tel Aviv, on an emergency ward caring for babies born with congenital heart disease. What makes this story so interesting is that the majority of children that pass through this ward come from neighbouring Muslim Arab nations including Gaza, Syria, Iraq and Kurdistan. This is made possible by an organisation called Shevet Achim, founded and directed by a Christian called Jonathan Miles. Today I’m talking to the consultant cardiologist, a Jewish doctor called Yuriel Katz. I started by asking him how long he’d been involved working as a surgeon saving the lives of these children.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
shevet.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jonathan Miles - Today I’m at the Sheba Medical Centre in Tel Aviv, on an emergency surgery ward for children with congenital heart disease and with me is Jonathan Miles, the founder and director of Shevet Achim – the organisation that for the past 24 years has been bringing children, often new born babies, from neighbouring Arab countries into Israel for life saving heart surgery. We first met a grandmother from Gaza who was sitting by the bedside of her tiny baby granddaughter – Jonathan takes up their story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
shevet.org
Stuart Fisher talks to Evan Thomas - Recently we visited Netanya, a city just north of Tel Aviv. Evan Thomas is a Jewish believer and pastor of a congregation there. Stuart Fisher spoke to him and began by asking him how it all started.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Marwan & Rania Beem. They are Israeli Arabs who have started many churches in the villages of northern Israel as well as in the West Bank as you will hear. They have been married for over 20 years now, but when Rania was a young woman she was very particular about who she wanted to marry … she wanted to marry a pastor. Did it happen?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Ann Pawson talks to David van Owerkerk - After ten years of making this programme I am frequently surprised by many of the stories we gather. Who would have thought that a young Dutch boy, when on a visit to Jerusalem with his family, would have a deep spiritual experience that would shape the rest of his life? That’s what happened to David van Owerkerk. We met him recently in Netanya; here he is in conversation with Ann Pawson.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Stuart Fisher talks to David - Today our programme comes from Haifa in northern Israel, from the House of Victory, a rehab centre for men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. In this interview, Stuart Fisher talks to David – born in Japan, he was a child prodigy and destined to become a world class violinist. But when he came to live in Israel, David lost interest in his violin and his life took a downwards spiral and he became a hopeless drug addict. Stuart met David a few months after he had experienced a miraculous healing in his life. Here David shares his story, and starts by describing life at the House of Victory.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Karen Davis - My guest today has a story of finding life after bereavement. Almost two years ago, Karen Davis’ husband David died. They had worked closely together throughout their married life, David a Bible teacher, and Karen a musician and worship leader. After David died, Karen told me how she was quite willing to live a quiet life. This is the story of what happened next.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Marcel Rebiai - With so much news majoring on trouble in the region, it is refreshing to hear some good news! My guest today is Marcel Rebiai. He is half Arab and half Jewish. He has spent many years working in the field of reconciliation – bringing Jewish and Arab believers together in Israel. I met him recently in Jerusalem. He and his wife had just returned from a week in France where they had taken a group of young Jewish and Arab believers from Israel and the West Bank. I started by asking him how he went about choosing who to take.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Arab Christian leader - Life for an Arab or Palestinian Christian is very challenging, living as they do amongst a majority Muslim population. My guest today is a Palestinian Christian living in Jerusalem who cares passionately about sharing his faith with his Muslim neighbours and at the same time having good and close relationships with Jewish believers. We met in Jerusalem in a studio … we have to keep his name anonymous… where he described how they share their faith.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Leah Levi. Her parents are both Jewish and as you will hear, came to Israel as young adults. Leah’s story is the story of many Jewish people today – they have come back to the land, just as the Old Testament prophets foretold. Leah starts by describing her early life and the challenges of learning a new language and finding her identity.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shmuel Salway - Recently I was in a place just north of Tel Aviv in Israel called Petah Tikvah, visiting an organisation for young people called Lech L’Cha which means go forth. The director there is Shmuel Salway. As with everybody in Israel, he has an interesting story! His parents came to Israel from India and it’s interesting to note that there is now a sizeable Indian Jewish community living in the Holy Land. Listen now as Shmuel describes more about his background and how he comes to be doing what he’s doing today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Igal. Igal came to Israel from the Ukraine as a young boy. His family are Jewish and they fled anti-Semitism there but for Igal, settling in Israel was hard and he fell into bad company and ended up in jail a hopeless drug addict. But it was there he became a believer and in today’s programme he describes how his new life started.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Igal - Today I’m in Tel Aviv talking to Igal, who came to Israel from the Ukraine when he was a young boy. I asked him why his family decided to emigrate.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Elias – a Christian from Gaza. He was born and brought up there and knows the region well. Here he describes what life is like for the few Christians living in Gaza today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Elias - Whilst in Israel recently, recording interviews for this programme, I visited Bethlehem, which is in the West Bank, to meet a Christian from Gaza called Elias. Gaza is frequently in the news and is one of the most controversial places on earth. The majority of people who live there are Muslims – but, there are some Christians, although their numbers are fast diminishing. This interview is one man’s story of life in Gaza, finding faith there, before leaving.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to ‘Leah’ - Today I’m in Tel Aviv talking to Leah, a social worker from America, to find out why she’s in Israel working amongst drug addicts and prostitutes. After graduating, Leah spent some years in South Africa working in a township amongst very poor people. I started by asking her, why.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman - Today’s programme was recorded in Bethlehem just before Christmas when I visited Nihad Salman, pastor of the Immanuel Church in Manger Street. To be a Christian in the West Bank today means you are in the minority – the majority are Muslim. In this heartfelt interview, Nihad describes the challenges he is faced with.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dani Sayag - Can there ever be peace in Israel between Jew and Arab? My guest today believes so. He is Dani Sayag, the Jewish pastor of a congregation on Mount Carmel, close to Haifa in northern Israel. The numbers of Jewish believers has risen in recent years from just a few families in the 1950s to between 20 and 30,000 today. Their numbers may still be small, but they are gaining confidence and an ever deeper understanding of their Biblical calling to be a light to the nations. So is Israel sending missionaries to other nations? Dani takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Dani Sayag. Born in Israel, he grew up in a secular family. It was during his army service that he became a believer and today he is the pastor of the Carmel Congregation. So, I asked him, what happened?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Dani Sayag - On this programme you will hear Arabs, Palestinians and Jewish people sharing their experience of what God is doing in the region despite the politics My guest this week is Dani Sayag – he was born in Israel … this is the story of how he found his Messiah and what it cost him.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Oded Shoshani. He lives with his wife, Sandy, in Jerusalem. They have 7 children. He is the pastor of a Hebrew speaking Messianic congregation and Sandy is the national director of Be-ad Chaim, a pro-life organisation in Israel. As a couple, Oded and Sandy understand God’s heart for reconciliation – not just man to God, but also person to person and in the context of the Middle East, Jew and Arab. So how does that work out? We met in Jerusalem, in a rather noisy office, as you will hear! Listen now as Oded shares his experience of being a secular Jew to becoming a pastor with a heart for his Arab neighbours.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kkcj.org
Julia Fisher talks to David van Owerkerk - Recently I was in Netanya, a city just north of Tel Aviv in Israel. There is a Messianic congregation there called Beit Asaph where Evan Thomas is the pastor. Within the congregation is a young man called David van Oukerk. He was born in Holland and moved with his family to Israel when David was 13 years old. I began by asking him how he adapted to Israeli life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas – pastor of a Messianic congregation in Netanya, he is also a leading figure in the work of reconciliation between Jews and Palestinians as this week’s programme will reveal. He and his wife Maala recently led a team of twelve Israeli believers – 6 were Jewish and 6 were Palestinian – to Germany where they joined with a group of young German Christians. The idea was to work together and present their combined stories to the people they would meet. I asked Evan whose idea this was.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Danielle Stavi - Welcome to this week’s edition of The Olive Tree which today comes to you from the 10 th floor of an office block in Tel Aviv where my guest is Daniella Stavi, a missionary with Jews for Jesus in Israel. She was born in Israel, went to school here and served her mandatory two years in the army. Today Daniella is leading a team to work amongst homeless people and those caught in drug and alcohol addiction, and as you will hear, this is a big problem in Israeli society. I asked her to describe how and why she chose to work with Jews for Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Raja. Today I’m in Jerusalem, in the heart of the Old City talking to Raja who is an Israeli Arab. Like the majority of Arabs who live in the Old City, he describes himself as a Palestinian – as you will hear. He is 54 years old, married with 6 children and to date has 7 grandchildren. Born into a Catholic family, he grew up in the Old City. His father died when he was only 10 and if that wasn’t tough enough for a young boy, the political unrest in the Old City was gathering momentum and Raja’s life soon spiralled out of control. This is the story of what God is doing to transform seemingly impossible situations.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad. He was born in Israel to Lebanese parents. He grew up in Haifa and for many years he and his wife have cared, quite literally, for a group of Lebanese refugees who fled to Israel – in fact they started a church for them in Nahariya, on the border between Israel and Lebanon. I met Joseph in Haifa recently, in a rather noisy café in the German Colony … listen now as he describes his experience of the past few years.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Randi Bass - Today I’m taking you to BeerSheva in southern Israel to hear from Randi Bass, an American, who is married to Howard, a Jew. They met in America before making their home in Israel over 30 years ago and have raised 4 children. Howard is the pastor of a Messianic congregation. Randi has had to find her way into Israeli society … I asked her whether she had any regrets.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Randi Bass - This programme is all about introducing you to believers in Jesus living in Israel and the West Bank today .. both Jews and Arabs .. taking you into their world … helping us to understand what God is doing in the region despite the turmoil and conflict that we are frequently reminded of through our news channels. So what is life like for an American woman who marries a Jewish guy – both from well to do families in the US – who then experience a radical conversion and become believers in Jesus – and then explore whether or not to move to Israel? This was the situation facing Randi when she married Howard Bass and he suggested they cycle around Israel to see whether or not she might like to leave the home comforts and luxuries of America and come and pioneer a work in Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Salim Shalash … he is an Israeli Arab living in Nazareth and the pastor of a church there. Here he describes what it’s like when, once a year, many congregations in northern Israel meet together – Messianic Jewish congregations with Arab Christian churches …
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jtkhome.org
Julia Fisher talks to Salim Shalash. He is an Israeli Arab from Nazareth who grew up in a nominal Catholic family. It was the sudden death of a friend that caused Salim to think more deeply about life. He started to study the Bible for himself and ended up going to Bible college. Today he is the pastor of a church in Nazareth … here he describes how it started.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jtkhome.org
Julia Fisher talks to Salim Shalash - Today I’m in Nazareth in northern Israel talking to an Israeli Arab pastor called Salim Shalash. His story is fascinating and may surprise you. Listen now as he starts at the beginning, the place where he was born.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jtkhome.org
Julia Fisher talks to Sandy Shoshani - Welcome to this week’s edition of The Olive Tree – the programme that introduces you to people in Israel and the West Bank who are believers in Jesus – Jews and Arabs. Recently I was in Jerusalem which is where I met my guest today, Sandy Shoshani – she is the National Director the Pro-Life organisation in Israel called Be-Ad Chaim – a position she has held for 13 years. As well as helping mothers who decide to keep their babies rather than opt for an abortion, Sandy and her team of counsellors also support and comfort mothers who have had an abortion … as Sandy now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Sandy Shoshani. She is National Director the Pro-Life organisation in Israel called Be-Ad Chaim. We met in her office in Jaffa Street and as you will hear, there was a music event going on in the street outside! I started by asking Sandy to explain the mandate of Be-Ad Chaim.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Jack Sara, principal of the Bethlehem Bible College. When talking about Israel and the situation between Jews and Arabs or Palestinians, it’s sadly a fact that we Christians living in the West often take sides with one people group against the other – but is this right or even helpful. I asked Jack to explain how he manages this problem with his students in Bethlehem, which is of course in the West Bank.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
bethbc.edu
Julia Fisher talks to Jack Sara, principal of the Bethlehem Bible College. Listen now as he describes what he believes God is doing amongst the Palestinian people living in the West Bank and beyond today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
bethbc.edu
Julia Fisher talks to Howard Bass - Today I’m in a coffee shop in BeerSheva, in southern Israel talking to Howard Bass. He and his wife emigrated to Israel from America over 30 years ago and he is the leader of a Messianic congregation there. Howard is also very involved with a group of Arab and Jewish pastors who manage to meet together twice a year. As well as building personal relationships despite the challenge of the political situation in the country, these men meet to explore the Bible together to understand what God is doing in Israel in these days.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Howard Bass - Today we’re in BeerSheva, situated in the Negev in southern Israel, talking to Howard Bass, a Messianic Jewish pastor in the city. He and his wife Randy emigrated to Israel over 30 years ago and they have worked tirelessly to encourage and support the growth of a young congregation in BeerSheva. There are many references to BeerSheva in the Bible … it is an ancient place. But what’s it like today?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Howard Bass - It can be hard for us to understand the Jewish mindset regarding Jesus or Yeshua … there are many reasons for this, suffice to say that to openly declare you are a believer in Israel causes a reaction. Today I’m in BeerSheva talking to a Messianic Jewish pastor called Howard Bass. He was brought up in the United States but has lived in Israel with his wife, who is not Jewish, for over 30 years. In this interview, Howard explains how and why they came to BeerSheva and how they have dealt with misunderstandings over the years.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to an Israeli Arab pastor - Today I’m in northern Israel in an Israeli Arab village close to Nazareth. I can’t tell you exactly where I am or who I’m talking to – it would be too dangerous. Suffice to say, I’m with an Israeli Arab pastor in a muslim village. There are many villages in northern Israel where Arabs who are Israeli live. These villages are mainly 100% muslim, so as you can imagine, for a Christian Israeli Arab to go there, he has to be extremely wise and very careful. So who is my guest and what is he doing? I’ll let him introduce himself.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Bass - Today I’m in BeerSheva in the Negev in the south of Israel. Beersheva is mentioned several times in the Bible – Abraham dug a well there, Samuel was a judge there and Elijah took refuge there. Today it is home to over 200,000 Jewish people mostly immigrants from Arab countries, India, Russia and Ethiopia. My guest today is Evan Bass. He knows BeerSheva well. He was born and grew up there. Son of a Messianic Jewish pastor he had the challenge of finding his own identity. We met in a coffee shop and I asked Evan to describe what life was like for him growing up.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Hanna Eid - Today I’m in northern Israel, in a village close to the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee talking to Hanna Eid – an Arab Christian pastor. There are many Arab villages in northern Israel – mostly Muslim. Hanna Eid comes from a village called Eilaboun that has a majority orthodox Christian population, mainly Catholic, whilst he is an evangelical and very much in the minority. Hanna and his wife spent a year at a Bible college in England before returning to their home village. Hanna was quite sure that was where God wanted him to work as a pastor and here he picks up his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Hanna Eid - Today I’m in a village in northern Israel called Eilaboun, close to the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee and my guest is Hanna Eid – an Arab evangelical Christian and pastor of a small church in his village. As you will hear, there are many Arab villages in northern Israel where the majority of people are Muslim. The remaining Arab population are predominantly orthodox Christians, mainly Catholic. So Hanna is one of a small minority. Listen now as he shares his fascinating story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Levi - Today I’m in Tel Aviv at the offices of Jews for Jesus and my guest is Ofer Levi – a team member here. Ofer was born in Israel but his family originally came to Israel from Poland – I asked him to describe his upbringing as a child of immigrant parents.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eli Birnbaum – an Israeli Jewish believer. We met in Tel Aviv in the offices of Jews for Jesus where Eli is leader of the youth ministry as well as being involved in other imaginative initiatives aimed at reaching out to the community at large and meeting with people in ways that engage and interest them. I asked Eli why he chose to join Jews for Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marwan Beem, an Israeli Arab pastor living in northern Israel. As we heard in part 1, Marwan had a sad childhood – his father was an alcoholic and Marwan suffered as a result. By the age of 17 his life felt hopeless and he was ready to die. It was then a friend told him about Jesus and for the first time in his life, Marwan knew he was loved. That encounter changed his life and he became a pastor. A few years ago, Marwan’s wife felt that God was calling them to go and live in the West Bank amongst the Muslim community. As you are about to hear, Marwan did not think this a good idea.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marwan Beem - Today, I’m in Haifa in northern Israel talking to an Israeli Arab, Marwan Beem, who is a Christian. Marwan is a pastor, but, his story has involved pain and struggle and as you will hear, he has been through many difficult experiences. In this, the first of two programmes with Marwan, he describes his early life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Sered - Today I’m in Tel Aviv in the offices of Jews for Jesus, talking to their Israeli Director, Dan Sered. For many years, Jews for Jesus teams have been going around Israel running campaigns telling people about Jesus, their Messiah. I asked him for an update on their activities … you may be surprised to hear about their latest campaign.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Sered - Today I’m in Tel Aviv in the offices of Jews for Jesus, talking to their Israeli Director, Dan Sered. For many years, Jews for Jesus teams have been going around Israel running campaigns telling people about Jesus, their Messiah. I asked him for an update on their activities … you may be surprised to hear about their latest campaign.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Sered - Jews for Jesus are well known for their brave and creative methods of evangelism around the world. As you would expect from their name, they are primarily but not exclusively concerned with reaching Jewish people. Today I’m in Tel Aviv talking to their Israeli director, Dan Sered. He was born in Israel and heads up a large team of missionaries who are creative in the way they plan and execute their campaigns. I asked Dan for an update on their work in Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to an Israeli Arab Christian - For the past three years we have watched as millions of refugees have poured out of Syria into Europe. Many countries in Europe have felt overwhelmed. Many Christians have felt overwhelmed by the sudden arrival of so many Muslims in their towns. My guest today is an Israeli Arab Christian. He’s been following the plight of these refugees and has himself travelled to Europe on a number of occasions to meet with them. Listen now as he shares his insight and stories of personal encounters with many Muslim refugees in European countries.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to an Israeli Arab Christian who is a pastor in the city. Not only is he the pastor of an Arab church in down town Haifa, he is also running a media centre reaching into many nations of the world, and he is involved with a Messianic congregation as you will hear. Listen now as he shares his amazing story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - For the past couple of programmes (and you can hear past programmes on our web site, olive tree fund. org ) my guest has been Avi Mizrachi – a Jewish pastor in Tel Avi. Avi was born in Tel Aviv and knows the city intimately. He is passionate about sharing the gospel with Jews and Arabs and also with people from the nations. In this programme he describes what happened when some Christians from islands far away in the Pacific approached him with an idea.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - This week we’re back in Tel Aviv talking to Avi Mizrachi, a Jewish pastor there. Avi’s congregation is very outward going and they have just managed to purchase a run down property to convert into a coffee shop. For Avi this is a miracle as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - This week we’re in Tel Aviv on the shores of the Mediterranean in Israel. 3 million Jewish people live in this city which has only existed for just over 100 years. My guest today is Avi Mizrachi – he was born in Tel Aviv and today is the pastor of a congregation called Adonai Roi, the Lord is my Shepherd. Avi is excited about what God is doing in Tel Aviv as you will hear … but first he explains a little about his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - The subject of Israel is guaranteed to cause a stir in Christian circles and one question that is often raised is this, ‘Is the modern State of Israel still God’s chosen people or has the Church replaced Israel?’ Who better to answer that question than a Jewish pastor in J’lem called Ofer Amitai.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai. He is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Jerusalem and knows his Bible well. Here he comments on the words of Jesus in Matthew 23 v 39, ‘You will not see me again until you say Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’. Ofer believes no greater tragedy has befallen Israel than estrangement from her Messiah. I asked him what he meant by ‘estrangement’
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shukry who lives in the Old City of J’lem. Here he tells his story … a story of finding God in the midst of turmoil.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eliezer Louvendal. His grandparents escaped from Poland and Germany during the war to escape the Holocaust, and settled in Argentina. Eliezer’s father later moved to Brazil which is where Eliezer was born and where he grew up. By the age of 21 he had finished his education and had a good job which paid a high salary. However, Eliezer knew there had to be more to life than earning money and owning an expensive car as he now describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Mazen Naswari - Today we’re in the Old City of J’lem talking to Mazen Naswari, pastor of an Evangelical church there. Mazen is an Israeli Arab or Palestinian. I asked him how long he’d been a pastor.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com
Julia Fisher talks to David Ortiz, originally from Puerto Rico, today he is married to Leah and together they pastor a Messianic congregation in Ariel in central Israel, close to the West Bank. Ariel is surrounded by Palestinian villages where the population is entirely Muslim and over the years David has visited many of these villages and distributed Bibles. As a result, there are now many believers in Jesus coming from a Muslim background. I asked David to describe what life is like for them.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to an Israeli Arab Christian leader - One of the emerging stories of recent times is about the numbers of Muslims who are becoming believers in Jesus. My guest today, who will remain anonymous, is an Israeli Arab Christian leader who cares deeply that Muslim people should at least hear about Jesus and know the truth about Him. He uses apologetics to engage with Muslim people. ‘So what sort of issues do you raise’ I asked him.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to an Israeli Arab Christian leader - Recently whilst in Jerusalem I met with an Israeli Arab Christian leader over breakfast to hear about a meeting he had organised between Arab Christians and Jewish believers in Jerusalem. ‘Did it happen?’ I asked him.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Victor Kalisher. Ten years ago he gave up a well paid job in industry to become Director of Bible Society work amongst Jewish people in Israel. When we met in Jerusalem recently I asked him what drew him to this work.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
biblesocietyinisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Victor Kalisher. We met recently in Jerusalem where he is the director of Bible Society work in Israel. Victor’s father had survived the holocaust and eventually found his way to Israel. Life was extremely difficult for him but through a series of so called coincidences he came to believe in Jesus as his Messiah. He married and Victor and his brother were born. But the Kalisher’s were unusual because they believed in Jesus … and as Victor now shares his story, you will hear how outrageous their faith was in the eyes of their Jewish neighbours.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
biblesocietyinisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Leah Ortiz. She and her husband David live in Ariel, in the heart of Israel on the edge of the West Bank, surrounded by many Palestinian villages. They pastor a Messianic Jewish congregation in Ariel, they work amongst Palestinians, and they help to care for Holocaust survivors, many of whom live in Ariel … as Leah now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Naeem Barhoum - I was in Tiberias to see the work of an organisation called Israel Firstfruits that was founded a few years ago by a Jewish believer called Mordechai Wiseman. The aim of Israel Firstfruits is to encourage young believers in the land to have the courage to step out in business in order to support the growing number of congregations, where many of the people are struggling to make ends meet. This is because Israel’s population includes many immigrants from other countries and it takes a while for them to find their feet, learn the language and find a job. Israel is a very expensive country with a high cost of living – and poverty is a huge problem. Naeem Barhoum is an Arab Christian who was born and grew up in northern Israel. He works alongside Mordechai in mentoring young entrepreneurs … listen now as he shares his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
israelfirstfruits.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rita - Today my guest is Rita and we’re at a home for women who have been trafficked or been victims of abuse. The home, or The Shelter as it is called, is situated in a village in northern Israel. After visiting the Shelter and seeing the women and the many children who live there, we sat down to talk and here Rita shares the story of what is going on there currently.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rod Powell - Today finds us in Haifa, in northern Israel talking to Rod Powell. He and his Margi were missionaries in Russia for many years and speak Russian fluently. A few years ago, they came to Israel almost by chance and met a prostitute and drug addict called Sveta who was desperate to change her lifestyle. Rod and Margi’s life took a new direction as they took Sveta into their home as he now describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Mordechai Wiseman - Whilst in Tiberias recently I came across an organisation called Israel Firstfruits that aims to encourage entrepreneurship amongst believers in the land, for both Jewish believers and Arab Christians. The founder and CEO of Israel Firstfruits is Mordechai Wiseman. He has an interesting story of his own … but first I asked him to explain his vision.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
israelfirstfruits.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eric Benson, director of the House of Victory, a rehabilitation centre for addicts in northern Israel. He’s been there for many years and seen literally scores of men enter the house more dead than alive and leave well. I put it to him that he must be encouraged.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Julia Fisher talks to Sergei Babaskin - Recently I was in Haifa in northern Israel to meet Sergei Babaskin. Originally from the Crimea, his life has been full of surprising challenges and, as you will hear he now finds himself living in Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav - Many Christians, maybe you are one, have questions about Israel and the Bible that need answers. One of those questions is, The Christian world is divided in its understanding of Israel and the Jewish people - how important is it that there is a right alignment between Jewish believers in Israel and gentile believers in the world in these days, which many believe are the end times, in preparation for the 2 nd coming of Jesus? Daniel Yahav is a Messianic Jewish pastor in northern Israel – I put that question to him.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav - In what ways were the Jews supposed to be a blessing to the nations? Were they supposed to be intercessors – if so what does that mean? Daniel Yahav is a Messianic Jewish pastor in northern Israel – I put that question to him.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav. He is a Messianic Jewish pastor in northern Israel. He has a deep understanding of the Bible so I asked him a question that is often heard in the UK, some Christians seem obsessed with Israel. So is the modern day state of Israel God’s chosen people? Is Israel still special or since the covenant has been broken and a new covenant established, has the church replaced Israel as God’s chosen people?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav - Recently I was in Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel to meet Daniel Yahav. From a German Jewish family, his father survived the holocaust and Daniel was born and brought up in Israel. Today he pastors a large congregation by Israeli standards. Daniel has also been a tank commander in the Israeli army and is still an army reservist as you will hear. I asked him to describe both aspects of his life living close to the northern borders with Syria and Lebanon in these days of heightened danger.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman - Today we’re in Bethlehem having lunch with Nihad Salman and his wife … Nihad is the pastor of an evangelical church there and it is important to understand that Christians in Bethlehem represent a tiny percentage of the population, the majority being Muslim. So you might think that they are afraid and discouraged. However, the reality is very different … here is a church sending out missionaries! I started by asking Nihad to explain more about the sense of urgency he feels about what God is doing not only in Bethlehem but in the wider Middle East.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Burghard Schunkert - Come with me to Beit Jala, a suburb of Bethlehem, to meet Burghard Schunkert, director of a centre for disabled children called Lifegate. This is a place of sheer excellence – for Burghard, a Christian from Germany – a dream come true. He first had that dream 30 years ago as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
lifegate-reha.de
Julia Fisher talks to Eliel - Today we’re in Haifa in northern Israel talking to Eliel. He came to Israel from Uzbekistan along with his Jewish mother and two brothers when he was a teenager. But settling into Israeli life proved difficult for Eliel; he started mixing with bad company and became a drug addict. When his life had spiralled out of control, his mother heard about the House of Victory in Haifa – a rehabilitation house for addicts run by believers – and it was there Eliel’s addiction was broken and he came to faith in Jesus. When we met recently, I asked Eliel to explain how his life developed after leaving the House of Victory because today he is a very different person!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Julia Fisher talks to Yonatan Allon - Recently I was in Haifa and met Yonatan Allon. He helps run a charity that provides dental care for the poor. It is called the HaTikva dental clinic and Yonatan explains the vision behind the project.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Indian believer - Recently I was in Tel Aviv – Israel’s largest city situated on the shores of the Mediterranean. It’s a cosmopolitan city and my guest today reflects that. She came to Israel from India as she now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ann Carroll - Today I’m in a very busy coffee shop in Jerusalem talking to Ann who came to live in Israel from Texas at the age of 40 about 20 years ago. It wasn’t until her teens that Ann discovered she was Jewish and that changed everything for her. It took her a while to settle in the country but now she is involved with other believers and including meeting with Arab Christians as she now describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Suzanne & Simon Minchal (Shevet) - Today I’m in Jaffa, visiting the headquarters of Shevet Achim, a Christian organisation that makes it possible for children with serious heart defects who live in Muslim nations surrounding Israel, to come to Israeli hospitals for intricate heart surgery. Suzanne Minchal is a theatre nurse from Sweden using her annual leave to volunteer at Shevet Achim. Her husband, Simon, originally from England, is a pastor in Sweden and he was visiting his wife for a few days. I asked Suzanne why she wanted to give up her precious holiday leave to volunteer in this way.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
shevet.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jim Schultz, the executive director of The Joseph Project, a humanitarian aid organisation that provides relief to needy people, both Jews and Arabs or Palestinians living in Israel and the wider Middle East. Trained as a lawyer, Jim turned his back on the legal world believing God had other plans for his life. Chapter 49 of Isaiah had influenced his thinking for several years so when he and his wife came to Israel initially for one year did they return home to America again?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
josephproject.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jim Schultz, who today is the executive director of a humanitarian aid organisation based in Israel called the Joseph Project. Jim trained as a lawyer in America, but gave it all up because he and his wife believed God was calling them to a different sort of work. A chapter in the Bible, Isaiah 49, given to them on their wedding day and on several occasions after that became a pivotal factor in their prayers and thinking and for 5 years they waited. As we sat in a rather noisy coffee shop in Jerusalem, I asked Jim as what point did they realise God was calling them to Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
josephproject.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jim Schultz, executive director of the Joseph Project, a humanitarian aid organisation based in Israel. Jim’s story started in America … and as you are about to hear, he threw away the opportunity to come a successful lawyer.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
josephproject.org
Julia Fisher talks to Katherine Snyder - Come with me to Jerusalem to meet Katherine Snyder, the founder and director of a counselling service called Anchor of Hope. On last week’s programme Katherine described a dream she had had for years to open a professional counselling service for believers in the land of Israel. That dream was realised and today Katherine is training other counsellors to share the workload with. Today we hear Katherine’s personal story … where did she come from and what and who have shaped her life and her thinking.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
anchorofhope.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Katherine Snyder - Today we’re in Jerusalem in an old shopping mall in the Jaffa Road to meet Katherine Snyder who is the director of a counselling service she started called Anchor of Hope. The Messianic body in Israel may be relatively small, but Katherine, a professional counsellor herself, knew for a long time that many people needed help but none was available. This is the story of how one woman followed her dream and is now seeing that dream realised.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
anchorofhope.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Eddie Santoro - On my last trip to Israel to record stories for this programme, I spent some time with Eddie Santoro. Born into a traditional Jewish family in America, he became a hippie but today he’s the pastor of a large Messianic congregation in Jerusalem. He’s recently recovered from brain cancer and was declared cancer free. After sharing his story, the next morning he woke up with pain in his throat …. had the cancer returned?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eddie Santoro who lives just outside Jerusalem where he is the pastor of a large Messianic congregation. In 2015, he had a huge shock when it was discovered he had a tumour on his brain. Today, he bravely shares how he coped with this life threatening disease.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eddie Santoro. He and his wife Jackie left a successful life in America to move to Israel not quite knowing what the future would hold. Why did they do that?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eddie Santoro. Born in America into a traditional Jewish family he became a hippie, then a believer in Jesus connected to a small congregation in Woodstock, New York. Today he shares more of his story – a story that has many surprises and challenges.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eddie Santoro - My guest today is a former hippie from America, Eddie Santoro. I visited Eddie and his wife Jackie at their home close to Jerusalem. He’s recently recovered from cancer as we will hear in a future programme but first, let’s start as all good stories do, at the beginning!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yonaton Allon - My guest today is a journalist called Yonaton Allon. He is the managing editor of a website called Kehila News. Now living in northern Israel, Yonathon was born and brought up in America. Although having a Jewish mother, his upbringing was entirely secular. He travelled to Tel Aviv to meet me to record this programme and I started by asking him to explain what Kehila News is all about.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
news.kehila.org
Julia Fisher talks to ‘N’ (Palestinian Christian leader) - In my recent visits to Israel I have heard of Muslims who live in the West Bank and Gaza becoming believers in Jesus – indeed I have met some of them. A man who has been working amongst Muslims for many years is a Palestinian Christian in Jerusalem. I met him recently in a coffee shop there to hear an up to date report about his work … what he has to say may surprise you!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to ‘N’ (Palestinian Christian leader) - Recently, in a noisy coffee shop in the Old City of J’lem I met a Palestinian Christian – let’s call him ‘N’ … As well as working to support his young family, ‘N’ works tirelessly teaching and encouraging his own people, meeting with Jewish believers, and working amongst Muslims to share his faith – he is a bridge builder, working on the front line of what God is doing in the region. I asked him to share with us some of the latest news and developments he has witnessed in Jerusalem.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - Come with me to Tel Aviv, to the 12 th floor of a tall sky scraper where I met Avi Mizrachi – he is the pastor of a congregation there and as we looked out over the modern city of today, he reflected on the story that is Tel Aviv.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to ‘Benjamin’ - On the programme today, the story of an American teenage Jew who found himself living in Israel. Imagine leaving the freedom of life in America to move to the Middle East where religious identity defines who you are and where you are expected to conform to Israeli life, which for an 18 year old means entering the Israeli army. I met Benjamin, not his real name, in Tel Aviv recently and he shared his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Itzhak Mor Haim. A few years ago he had a dream to open a music school in Israel where people could come and learn how to play an instrument of their choice and also where musicians could come and play music together. The dream was inspired by King David who played a harp and wrote many Psalms which he set to music. Itzhak believes David’s skill as a harpist was not just about playing wonderful music, it was also a powerful emotional and spiritual tool. In this programme Itzhak explains how the music school has started and is growing and what his hopes are for the future.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Itzhak Mor Haim. A few years ago he had a dream to open a music school in Israel. Today that dream has become a reality and as I sat with Itzhak in the foyer of his music school, he explained how the dream unfolded.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Ortiz - Recently, stories of Muslims who have become followers of Jesus have emerged. In the West Bank, where Palestinians live, the towns and villages are entirely Islamic. One man who took it upon himself to take Bibles into these villages is called David Ortiz. Originally from Puerto Rico, he married Leah, a Jew, and they moved from the United States to live in Israel in 1989 and eventually settled in Ariel, in the centre of Israel, in 1985. Whilst visiting them recently, I asked David to explain what he believes what God is doing in the region especially amongst Muslim people.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Leah Ortiz - Recently I visited the town of Ariel in central Israel to meet Leah Ortiz. From an American Jewish family, Leah and her husband David came to live in Israel in 1989. In 2008 their son Ami was seriously injured when a bomb hidden in a basket of fruit by their door exploded in his face. Thank fully he survived, but for David and Leah this was a defining moment in their lives … should they leave the work they had started and return to America, or stay in Israel?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rita. A few years ago she would never have dreamt that one day she would be running a shelter in Israel for abused women … but that’s exactly what happened.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas - The news is frequently dominated by stories of terror and conflict from the region and hopes for peace seem impossible. But what about the believers who live there – is there any coming together of Arab and Jewish believers? Evan Thomas is a Messianic Jewish pastor in Israel. He has always had a desire for strong relationships with Israeli Arab and Palestinian Christians and has gone out of his way to achieve this. I put it to him that at a time when the political situation is getting increasingly fractious, how realistic are hopes for reconciliation?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas - The subject of Israel and the Middle East invokes strong reactions! How important it is therefore to understand, as Christians who believe the Bible, what God is doing there. It can come as a surprise to hear how few believers there are in Israel and the West Bank … their numbers represent a tiny percentage of the population. Yet, in the past 40 years those numbers have grown from a handful to several thousand today – so something is going on! Recently I met Evan Thomas in Netanya – he is a pastor of a Messianic congregation there called Beit Asaph. I asked him to explain the emergence of Messianic Judaism in Israel in recent history.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Rod Powell. He and his wife Margi were missionaries in Russia for many years. They left Russia not by choice but because the authorities threw them out of the country as you will hear. They found themselves in Israel …
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Maala Thomas. She was born in New Zealand to Finnish parents. She married Evan, a Jewish man, and they left New Zealand and moved to Israel. They settled in Netanya. Evan became the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Netanya and Maala taught in a nearby school. Recently Maala retired from teaching and when I met her recently, she had just returned from Africa where she had been on a short mission trip. Although this was her first trip to Africa, it turns out that Africa had been in Maala’s heart for many years as she now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to David Loden - Today I’m in Netanya, a town just north of Tel Aviv, talking to David Loden. He came to Israel with his wife Lisa in the 1970’s and established a congregation called Beit Asaph. David is now in his 80s and for most people that means taking life a little bit slower … not for David – he’s busier than ever. A professional musician, for the past few years he’s been translating major oratorios such as Handel’s Messiah, into Hebrew. He has formed a choir and an orchestra and together they have held several performances around Israel to packed audiences. I asked him to explain his passion.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kamti.org
Julia Fisher talks to Sharbel Dakwar. He is an Israeli Arab from northern Israel and we met recently in Haifa. His early life was beset with trouble which made him angry and he wanted revenge – particularly on Jewish people. But then his life changed … he became a follower of Jesus … and then something else happened, as he now describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Sharbel Dakwar. He’s an Israeli Arab from northern Israel and we met recently in Haifa. His story moves from hatred to love … his early life was troubled and full of disappointment and feelings of injustice as he now describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lisa Loden - This week I’m in Netanya, a town in Israel just north of Tel Aviv on the Meditaranean coast, talking to Lisa Loden. Lisa and her husband David are Jewish believers and came to live in Israel from America over 40 years ago. They have always been at the cutting edge of what God is doing in Israel and the West Bank and their faith has had frequently been very practical. Here Lisa describes a project she is currently involved in to encourage new business enterprise within the Messianic Jewish body. I asked her why.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lisa Loden - My guest today, whilst being Jewish, has always been on the front line of reconciliation with Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. Her name is Lisa Loden and when we met at her home in Netanya recently, I asked her to describe some of the initiatives currently occupying her time.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Luke - My guest today is a quietly spoken, self effacing young man from Wisconsin in the US. He first came to Israel aged 19 with his parents and stayed for just under a year before going back to America. He thought that was the end of his experience of living in Israel, however, when his parents returned for a second time, he felt it right to return with them albeit slightly reluctantly. However, as soon as he returned, he met his wife and they now have two young children and a third on the way. Luke found a secular job, but all the time longed to be working with believers. One day he received a phone call from Eric Benson, the director of the House of Victory, a faith based rehabilitation centre in Haifa for men struggling with addiction. I asked him what he did there.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Luke - Whilst in Haifa recently I met Luke and his story impressed me. We met at Beit Yedidia – a guest house in Haifa that is connected to Beit HaCarmel, a large congregation where both Jewish and Arab people meet together each week. Luke is from the US and as you will hear, was persuaded to visit Israel as a young man by his mum and dad who were coming to volunteer in Israel for a year. Little did he know then where that first visit would lead!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - Recently, whilst in Israel recording these programmes, I met with Avi Mizrachi in Tel Aviv where he is the pastor of a Messianic Jewish congregation. We hadn’t seen each other for about a year so I began by asking him whether he’d had an encouraging few months.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - Today we return to Haifa to hear from Joseph Haddad, the pastor of a church in Nahariya in northern Israel where the congregation are all Lebanese – they came to Israel as refugees 16 years ago as Joseph will now explain.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad - Today finds us in Haifa in northern Israel and my guest is Joseph Haddad – the pastor of a Lebanese church in Nahariya, a small town in Israel on the border with Lebanon.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai … he is a Jewish pastor and Bible teacher in Jerusalem. The recent flood of refugees, particularly although not exclusively from Syria, into Europe has created new opportunities for believers in Jesus to help Muslims … many of whom are disillusioned with their faith due to war within the house of Islam. Here Ofer describes how his small congregation in Jerusalem has sent out three missionaries
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - This week finds me in Jerusalem talking to Ofer Amitai. He is a Messianic Jewish pastor and Bible teacher. Who better to ask why is Israel such a contentious issue, and why, despite being one of the smallest nations in the world, is this tiny nation constantly the focus of world news?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to a Palestinian Christian - This week we return to The Gathering, an event that occurred in late 2016 when thousands of Christians from many nations of the world, the majority from China and the Far East, gathered in Jerusalem along with local Messianic Jewish believers and Arab Christians. My guest today is a Palestinian Christian from Jerusalem … he was one of the organisers … I asked him whether, as a Palestinian, he felt fully accepted by the rest of the mainly Jewish leadership team.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to a Palestinian Christian - Recently, whilst in Jerusalem I visited a large conference called The Gathering where 5,000 Christians had gathered from the nations – many of them from China and the Far East – to worship God together with believers from Israel, both Jews and Arabs. As you will hear, this was an enthusiastic and noisy event! However one of the most significant people there was a Palestinian Christian … his story is both brave and unusual and for his safety, he remains anonymous.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Meno Kalisher - Whilst in Jerusalem recently I met Meno Kalisher. His father was a holocaust survivor, his mother a Jew from Iran. Meno was born in Israel - his parents were amongst the first Messianic Jewish believers in the land and Meno had to decide whether or not to believe in Jesus – not an easy decision for a young Jewish person, especially in those days. However, today he is the pastor of a congregation in Jerusalem that has grown from 13 to over 350. Are these people all new believers I asked him?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jerusalemassembly.com
Julia Fisher talks to Meno Kalisher - Whilst in Jerusalem recently, I met Meno Kalisher. He was born in Israel. His father was a holocaust survivor. His mother came to Israel from Iran. Growing up in troubled times when Israel was emerging as a newly formed nation, Meno’s family became one of the earliest Messianic Jewish families in the land. Meno describes those early days.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jerusalemassembly.com
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman - Recently, whilst in Jerusalem, I met Nihad Salman who is the pastor of an evangelical church in Bethlehem in the West Bank. Life is hard for Christians in the West Bank because they are a tiny majority within a strong Muslim society. Nevertheless, for Nihad, this is a challenge and he is a man of vision. Recently, several members from his church went as missionaries to work amongst Syrian refugees in Berlin, Germany. I put it to him that this was a bold thing for them to do.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman, who lives in Bethlehem in the West Bank where he is the pastor of an Evangelical Church. Bethlehem today is a majority Muslim city where evangelical Christians are very much in the minority. We met recently in Jerusalem – and over breakfast Nihad described the situation he finds himself in.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Miriam Chernasov - Israel is a rich mix of people who have come to live there from all over the world. In recent years many Russian Jews have immigrated to Israel including my guest today Miriam Chernasov. I’ve been following Miriam’s story for a few years … she finished school, went into the army and then trained to be a nursery teacher. When I met her recently in Netanya, she had just returned from Armenia … she told me what she had been doing there.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eli Birnbaum - Today I’m in Tel Aviv talking to Eli Birnbaum. He is a missionary with Jews for Jesus with a particular focus on reaching young adults, especially those who have just finished their army service. Jews for Jesus are well known for their creative ideas and Eli’s story demonstrates this perfectly.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Myra - Recently whilst in Beersheva, I met Myra from Puerto Rico. I found her working in a Bible book shop. It turned out she was living in Israel and had married a Jewish man …. she shares her fascinating story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Brian Slater - On today’s programme we return to Netanya, a city just north of Tel Aviv, on the shores of the Mediterranean to talk to Brian Slater. Many people think Israel is a country full of rich people and are shocked to find out that the poverty level is very high. Brian runs a charity and each week he runs a soup kitchen feeding 50 – 60 people and prepares 350 food packages that he delivers to poor families living in the city.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
yeshuasfreshbreadinisrael.blogspot.com
Julia Fisher talks to Brian Slater, who gave up the good life in Los Angeles to come and live in Israel and work amongst some of the poorest in society. He’s been through some very hard times but he’s resisted the temptation to return to America
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
yeshuasfreshbreadinisrael.blogspot.com
Julia Fisher talks to Kiryll Makagon. His parents immigrated to Israel from the Ukraine when Kiryll was 8 years old. This story gives a graphic insight into the challenges Jewish people face when they move from one culture to another … and in this case, how one young Jewish child from the Ukraine found his place in Israeli society. I asked Kiryll why his parents left the Ukraine and moved to Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lev Guler - Whilst in Netanya recently I met a Russian Jewish immigrant called Lev Guler. He came to live in Israel with his wife and young child twenty years ago and today he’s the pastor of a congregation in Netanya called Beit Asaph. Lev knows the challenges that new immigrants face when they leave the country of their birth and move to Israel and begin to embrace what is often a new culture … and he has a great heart to help them as he explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Shirel Ben Haim. She is 28 and came to Israel from Russia with her mother when she was just 8 years old. What does she remember from those early days?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Firestein – he is a Russian Jew – his parents, who were brought up in Communist Russia and are atheists, came to Israel when he was 10 years old. As a young man, David became deeply disillusioned with life and attempted to commit suicide. However, he survived and lying in a hospital bed and seeing the grief stricken face of his mother, David realised God had spared his life. Shortly after, he came to understand that Jesus was his Messiah – that He had died for his sins – and gradually he came to believe in Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Firestein. We met in Netanya, a city just north of Tel Aviv. David’s parents are Russian – his father a Russian Jew. After travelling around the world, the family came to live in Israel when David was 10 years old. He has a fascinating story and starts by talking about his parents.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Erika Panchoud - This week I’m in Netanya, a city on the shores of the Mediterranean just north of Tel Aviv. My guest is Erika Panchoud. Originally from Tennessee, she came to live in Israel with her husband and their two daughters a few years ago. However, after only a few weeks, Erika’s husband died. This is a story of survival.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Sandy Shoshani - The aim of Be’ad Chaim is to support women who have had an abortion as well as those seeking an abortion – to help them at their greatest point of need. As an organisation, Be’ad Chaim seeks to help mothers practically when they decide to keep their babies. But for those who have lost a child through still birth or abortion, the pain is intense … listen now as Sandy Shoshani describes one project that helps people to receive help in their time of deepest grief.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Sandy Shoshani - This week we’re in a very noisy street in Jerusalem in the offices of a pro-life organisation called Be’ad Chaim talking to the director Sandy Shoshani. Originally from America, Sandy came to Israel as a young Jewish believer. She met and married her husband and now several years later, Sandy’s husband is the pastor of a Messianic congregation and Sandy is working full time with Be’ad Chaim. We started by talking about the changes she has seen in Israel over the past 30 years, particularly the growth of the Messianic community.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Joe & Debbie Finklestein. They are Jewish – born and raised in the United States. They met when they were young, became believers in Jesus at roughly the same time and married. They were involved in a Messianic congregation in America and even formed a messianic music band. But it was when they were invited to travel to Russia that the course of their lives started to change. Today they live in Arad, a town in the desert in southern Israel. So let’s listen as Joe takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joe & Debbie Finklestein - Come with me to Beer Sheva situated in the desert in southern Israel. Recently I was there to record interviews for this programme and met Joe and Debbie Finklestein. In this the first of two programmes with them, they start by sharing the story of their early days and how they met – later we’ll hear how and why they decided to move to Israel. Joe takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Swiss Christian - I’m in Jerusalem talking to a Christian from Switzerland who has been working here for several years amongst both Arab and Jewish people. More recently, he and others from his community have pioneered a work in Lebanon to help the Syrian refugees. As with so many others I have interviewed for this programme, a prophecy in Isaiah 19, that refers to there being a highway between Egypt and Assyria with Israel being a blessing in the nations, has been a recurring theme. Listen now as he brings us the story of his recent experiences in Lebanon.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jonathan Miles, founder of a charity called Shevet Achim which for over 20 years has brought children with congenital heart disease from Arab nations surrounding Israel for life saving surgery in Israeli hospitals where they receive expert medical care and for the majority, return home healthy. We met at the Wolfson hospital in Tel Aviv having visited a ward where we saw children from Gaza and Kurdistan who were recovering from surgery and preparing to go home.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
shevet.org
Julia Fisher talks to Howard Bass - Today I’m in BeerSheva in southern Israel talking to Howard Bass – a Messianic Jewish pastor. As I travel around the Middle East recording this programme, I often hear believers talking about a prophecy in Isaiah chapter 19 that talks about there being a highway between Egypt and Assyria via Israel … and how Israel will become a blessing on the earth.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Howard Bass - Today I’m in BeerSheva in southern Israel talking to a Jewish believer called Howard Bass. He and his wife came to live in Israel in 1981 … I asked him why.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat, who travels the world in his capacity as Middle East Director of the Bible Society. Labib comes from a Jordanian family. He has lived in J’lem which is where we met to record this interview. He understands the Muslim mindset and is deeply distressed by the war that is going on within the house of Islam. He told me how, in his experience, many Muslims are very open to hear about Jesus. So I asked him, how does he go about sharing his faith?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat a Jordanian Christian. He directs the work of the Bible Society in the Middle East, is well travelled and has a deep understanding of what goes on there. He lived in Jerusalem for many years which is where I met him recently, in a rather noisy hotel lobby as you will hear. He had just driven from Jordan having crossed into Israel at the Allanby Bridge. He started by describing his sorrow at the increased level of violence on the streets of Jerusalem by his own Arab/Palestinian people against Jewish people.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marcel Rebiai - The Syrian refugee situation has grabbed our attention as we have watched thousands of desperate people risk their lives trying to reach Europe. My guest today has first hand experience of this situation having met Syrian refugees living in camps in Lebanon. Marcel Rebiai explains what he has seen and why he believes Christians in Europe have an opportunity to share the gospel with these people – many of whom are deeply disillusioned with Islam.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marcel Rebiai. He is half Arab and half Jewish. For many years he has lived in Jerusalem on the line between Jewish West and Arab East. He is the leader of a community that has teams in Israel, France, Switzerland and Lebanon. We sat in his garden with traffic rumbling by and I asked Marcel to describe the work of his community.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Pierre Tannous - Today my guest is an Israeli citizen who is a Palestinian Christian. His name is Pierre Tannous and he lives in Haifa in northern Israel. He is a lecturer in Biblical studies at a college in Nazareth, which is in Israel, and also at the Bethlehem Bible College which is in the West Bank. Pierre studied for many years in South Korea. So, if his life was complicated enough already, I started by asking him about his experience there.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
bethbc.edu
Julia Fisher talks to Shira Sorko-Ram in Tel Aviv. She and her husband Ari were two of the early Messianic believers in the land of Israel when they arrived over 40 years ago from America. They founded a Messianic congregation called MAOZ which today is an umbrella for a great deal of support to other congregations across the land. Shira is also a journalist and regularly writes a news bulletin for Christians that is circulated around the world. I began by asking her to share what she’s currently writing about.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
maozisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Munther Isaac - Today I’m in Bethlehem at the Bethlehem Bible College talking to Munther Isaac, the Academic Dean of the college where the aim is to train leaders for ministry. Munther describes himself as a Palestinian Christian and as you listen to his story, you will hear the pain and heartache felt by so many evangelical Christians living in the West Bank where they are a tiny minority amongst the majority Muslim population. Added to that is the pain of feeling overlooked and often rejected by Christians in the West who hold a pro-Israel anti-Palestinian position. The aim of this programme is not to take sides, rather to give both peoples the opportunity to share their stories in a spirit of reconciliation in order to better understand what God is doing in the region despite the politics and on going conflict.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
bethbc.edu
Julia Fisher talks to Ari Sorko-Ram - Today finds us in Tel Aviv at the offices of a Messianic congregation called MAOZ that was founded 40 years ago by Ari and Shira Sorko Ram. Ari is Jewish and after being a pastor for all those years, and at a time in life when many people start to think about retirement, he found his thoughts turning to China and whether there was a link between Israel and China that God wanted him to explore.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
maozisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ari Sorko-Ram. Born in America, he became a well know actor there before moving to Israel 40 years ago. He is Jewish and for many years has been a believer in Jesus. When he came to Israel all those years ago, there were very few Messianic Jews … I asked him to describe some of the most significant things he has seen happen in the intervening years.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
maozisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eric Benson - Today I’m in Haifa in northern Israel talking to Eric Benson, who has been the director of a rehab centre for recovering drug and alcohol addicts since 1992. The centre is called the House of Victory and welcomes both Jewish and Arab men. As you will hear, Eric is a Christian and over the years hundreds of men have passed through the doors and found release from addiction. Eric takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Julia Fisher talks to Yoel Ben David, a missionary with Jews for Jesus based in Israel. I met him in Tel Aviv recently to find out what motivates him to do this difficult work because after all, not many Jewish people are sympathetic to the person of Jesus, especially in Israel. So, I asked him to explain why he believes the work he does is so important.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yoel Ben David - Today finds us in Tel Aviv at the offices of Jews for Jesus, the international organisation that unashamedly attempts to make Jesus an unavoidable issue particularly to Jewish people. My guest is Joel Ben David. As you will hear, he was born in the UK into a traditional Jewish family. He later became an orthodox Jew. Today he’s a believer in Jesus. He has been on quite a journey, so let’s listen to him now as he describes who he is and what he does.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to a Jewish missionary - For this programme I visited the home of an Israeli Jewish believer in Jesus living in Jerusalem. Because he is a missionary to the muslim world it would be too dangerous to give his name. I put it to him that we in western Europe are watching the mass migration of thousands of muslim refugees coming towards us …. so, as Bible believing Christians, what are we to understand about what is happening, and what should be our reaction to the plight of these desperate people?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to a jewish missionary - Today I’m in Jerusalem talking to a Jewish missionary to the Arab world … yes, an unusual story as you will hear and for that reason, he remains anonymous. How are we to make sense of the news … how does it relate to what we read in the Bible? Well, who better to ask than my guest today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shukri - My guest today is a Palestinian Christian living and working in the Old City of Jerusalem. His name is Shukri and he works full time as a youth pastor. He could be having a much easier life in America or elsewhere, but he has chosen to stay in Jerusalem because he has a passion to reach the Palestinian youth, most of whom are extremely disillusioned, and tell them about Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai – a Messianic Jewish pastor in Jerusalem and leader of an intercessory prayer movement. I was asking Ofer about the unrest in the Arab world that has resulted in thousands of migrants making their way to Europe. As somebody who knows his Bible well Ofer believes that God is never taken by surprise by what is going on in the world and here he explains how he responds to the news.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai – as pastor of a Messianic congregation in Jerusalem and leader of an intercessory prayer movement, Ofer is somebody who has a deep knowledge of the Scriptures as well as considerable insight into current world events. As we continue to watch a steady flow of migrants coming out of Syria and other countries and making their way to Europe, I started by asking Ofer whether or not he believes God is allowing all this upheaval.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Mazen Naswari - Today I’m in the Old City of Jerusalem talking to a Palestinian pastor called Mazen Naswari. His church is located in a narrow street close to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and he lives and works in a tight knit community that is predominantly Muslim. So, in the current situation where there has been much trouble and killing, I asked Mazen how the Palestinian people in his church are reacting and coping.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi, a Jewish pastor in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, helps us understand the unrest in the Arab world that has brought thousands of refugees from countries including Syria to Europe. As Christians, what should our response be?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi - Today we return to Tel Aviv in central Israel to meet with Avi Mizrachi, a Messianic Jewish pastor in the city. Last week, we heard how, after serving his time in the Israeli army he went to the United States to make his fortune … instead he became a believer in Jesus and his life was turned upside down. Let’s hear what happened next
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Mizrachi. Today he is the pastor of a congregation in down town Tel Aviv. His story is fascinating … and like all good stories, we begin at the beginning!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Salim Anfous - Today finds us back in Bethlehem. Salim Anfous is the youth pastor in one of the evangelical churches. His vision is to encourage the youth in his care who feel they are a minority within a minority. Salim recently took a group of teenagers from his church on a mission trip to neighbouring Jordan to help Syrian refugees. He wanted these young people to understand that they had something to offer people who had fled their homes and who had nothing. As you will hear, he was amazed at the results.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Salim Anfous - Recently I visited Bethlehem, which is in the West Bank and where the majority of the people are Muslim. There is however, a tiny evangelical community of Christians there and Salim Anfous is the youth pastor in one of the evangelical churches in the town. He was born in Saudi Arabia but came with his family to live in Bethlehem when he was a teenager. Salim is a man with a vision to help the young Palestinian Christians in his church to deepen their faith in Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Salim Anfous - Today finds us in Bethlehem in the West Bank talking to Salim Anfous who is the youth leader of the Immanuel Church there. Life for Christians in the West Bank is challenging – as we shall hear, they are a tiny percentage of the total population which is Muslim. Over the next three weeks, Salim is going to share his fascinating story. Today, we start at the beginning … which for Salim was in another Arab country.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav, a Messianic Jewish pastor living in the north of Israel. He has a deep understanding of the Bible in relation to the times in which we live. With all the conflict that is going on in the nations surrounding Israel coupled with the migration of thousands of refugees to Europe, I asked Daniel whether he believed the world will ever be the same again.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav, a Messianic Jewish pastor living in the north of Israel. He has been watching developments on the border between Israel and Syria closely so I asked him to explain what he believes is happening.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to an Arab Christian - Today my guest is an Arab pastor from in northern Israel. He has been following the plight of the refugees fleeing Syria and believes that Arab Christians have a particular role to play at this time as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to an Arab Christian - Today I’m in northern Israel talking to an Arab Christian. He’s the pastor of a large Arab church as well as running a media company that broadcasts to the surrounding Arab nations. When we met, his concern was for the refugees fleeing Syria as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Karol Joseph. She has been a missionary with Jews for Jesus for many years. In this programme she shares her personal story … so where did it all begin?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Karol Joseph - Recently in London I met Carol Joseph from New York. She has been a missionary with Jews for Jesus for many years and has worked in several countries around the world including Israel. She was in London to help with the summer evangelistic campaign and I started by asking her to describe what it means to her talking to people and sharing her faith on the streets.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Boris - My guest today is a Jewish believer called Boris. He lives in Tel Aviv with his wife Gefen and together they are missionaries with Jews for Jesus. I met him recently in London and he started by describing his interesting family background.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Gefen - For today’s programme, I met my guest, who is called Gefen, in London. She was here from Tel Aviv during the summer working with a team of fellow missionaries from Jews for Jesus – an organisation that works in major cities around the world to share their faith with Jewish people. However, the reality is they talk to far more non-Jews! So, I asked Gefen, what’s it like going out onto the streets of London wearing a Jews for Jesus T shirt handing out tracts and talking to people about Jesus?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to a Young Jewish woman - She is an American Jew from San Francisco and is currently working in the Jews for Jesus headquarters there using her skills in the field of creative communications. Still a young woman, she has been through some tough times which, as you will hear have honed her faith and given her a clear understanding of who she is.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Snyder - This programme is all about telling the stories of both Jewish and Arab believers in Jesus, most of whom live in Israel. However, my guest today, although he is Jewish, is a missionary based in Budapest. His name is Avi Snyder and he is the European Director of Jews for Jesus. He has worked in many Eastern European countries including the former Soviet Union, as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yohanna - Today finds us in Nazareth in northern Israel talking to Yohanna. He is a Palestinian Christian and the academic dean for both the Nazareth Evangelical College and the Bethlehem Bible College. The Olive Tree brings you the stories of both Jewish believers and Arab or Palestinian Christians living in Israel to help us understand the challenges they face living in a land where there is much conflict. Listen now as Yohanna shares his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yohanna - Today finds us in Nazareth in northern Israel talking to Yohanna. He is a Palestinian Christian and the academic dean for both the Nazareth Evangelical College and the Bethlehem Bible College. The Olive Tree brings you the stories of both Jewish believers and Arab or Palestinian Christians living in Israel to help us understand the challenges they face living in a land where there is much conflict. Listen now as Yohanna shares his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shmuel Salway - There are many Christian Arabs living in Israel who can trace their family back generations and they, like Israeli Jews, believe God has a part for them to play in these days. If you are under the impression that Jewish people and Arab or Palestinian people who share this tiny country are constantly at war with one another then you will be interested to hear that amongst believers in Jesus, there is a growing unity between these two groups as Shmuel Salway explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shmuel Salway - Today I’m in Tel Aviv talking to Shmuel Salway who is the associate pastor of a Messianic congregation in the city. With the rise of anti-semitism in many countries around world, I asked him to give his explanation as to why Israel and therefore Jewish people are so unpopular in the minds of many people.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Itzhak Mor Haim in Tel Aviv. He’s a musician. Inspired by King David who wrote the Psalms we read in the Bible and was himself a gifted musician, Itzhak had a dream to establish a music school in Israel to train young Israelis to play worship music just like King David. When I met him 12 months ago, this vision was still a dream yet to be realised. But on this occasion, Itzhak described how his music school has now become a reality.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Pileggi, the rector of Christ Church in Jerusalem, the oldest Protestant Church in the Middle East. Completed in 1849, it was built for numerous reasons, but the foremost was that the founders of CMJ (Christian Mission to Jews) had a great love and concern for the Jewish people and wanted to share with them the Good News of Messiah Jesus. They also anticipated the Jewish return to the Land of Israel in fulfillment of what was understood to be Bible prophecy (long before the advent of Zionism) and wanted to be in a position to help that process. Today Christ Church is an evangelical Anglican congregation comprised of expatriates who have come to serve in Israel or the West Bank along with local believers (both Jews and Arabs). David begins by describing where the majority of visitors to Christ Church come from.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Patrick. He lives with his wife in Haifa, northern Israel, where he works as a chef in a guest house called Beit Yedidia. But his life hasn’t always been so straightforward because for over 30 years Patrick battled with addiction to alcohol and hard drugs. Five years ago, aged 41, he entered the House of Victory in Haifa, a rehab centre run by believers. His life changed, the power of addiction was broken and he emerged back into the world a new man. For many years he lived on the streets of Tel Aviv – today, when he is not working, he is back on those same streets talking to the addicts who live there. Listen now as Patrick describes what it is like for him going back to those very streets where he once lived such a desperate life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-yedidia-house-gods-friend
Julia Fisher talks to Patrick. He was born in Holland to a Jewish family who moved to Australia where Patrick spent his early life. Much to his disappointment, his parents then moved to Israel – and it was here that Patrick’s life descended into a nightmare that was to last over 30 years. He started busing alcohol and soft drugs in his early teens. For some years he managed to hold down a responsible and successful career as a professional chef despite being addicted to heroin. However, by the age of 42 he was living on the streets of Tel Aviv – his life in tatters and about to end.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Julia Fisher talks to Azar Ajaj - Today we are in Nazareth where the majority of the population are Israeli Arabs who are Muslim. However, there are a small number of Christian Arabs who live here including my guest Azar Ajaj. He is principal of the Nazareth Evangelical College which trains Arab Christians to be church leaders. But, as you will hear, there is more to Azar’s story because he is passionate about reconciliation between Arabs and Jews, particularly amongst believers in Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
nazcol.org
Julia Fisher talks to Celeste Mills - This week we are back in Tiberias beside the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel and I’m talking to Celeste Mills who is the worship leader in the Peniel Messianic Jewish Congregation. Celeste is also a wife and mother – she is a busy lady! However, she is part of a growing movement of worship leaders and song writers emerging in Israel at this time.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Celeste Mills. Her husband is the headmaster of the Peniel Messianic Jewish School in Tiberias in northern Israel – we heard from him on last week’s programme. Celeste is a musician and has her own fascinating story to tell because as well as supporting her husband and raising their family, she is also busy in her role as the worship leader in their local congregation. We met in Tiberias and Celeste started sharing her story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Benjamin Mills - Once again we are in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. As we heard on last week’s programme, there is a Messianic Jewish School in Tiberias where Benjamin Mills is the headmaster. This was the first school for children from believing families in the land. Since then others have started as Benjamin describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Benjamin Mills - This week’s edition of The Olive Tree finds us in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. My guest today is Benjamin Mills, headmaster of the Penial Learning Centre – a Messianic Jewish school for children up to the age of 12.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Roger (NETS) - Today finds us in Nazareth in northern Israel at a college called the Nazareth Evangelical Training Seminary where young Israeli Arab Christians come to be trained for the ministry. Whilst there I met Roger ... Originally from Jordan, Roger is currently the pastor of a church in Upper Nazareth and chairman of the Synod of Evangelical Churches in Israel. He has a fascinating story to tell.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
nazcol.org
Julia Fisher talks to Chaya Mizrachi. Her husband Avi is the pastor of a congregation in Tel Aviv called Dugit and together they have a heart not only for Jewish people but also for Israeli Arabs and the Muslim Palestinians living in the West Bank. I met Chaya in a hotel in Tel Aviv recently just before she was due to speak to a group of Israeli Messianic Jewish women. What was she hoping the day would hold?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rod Powell - Today I’m taking you back to Haifa in northern Israel where my guest is Rod Powell. Originally from America, for many years he and his wife Margie were missionaries in Russia. They came to Israel a few years ago where, through a chance meeting with a prostitute, the course of their lives was to change.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rod Powell - Today I’m in Haifa, in northern Israel, talking to Rod Powell. He and his wife Margie, have just opened a home for prostitutes. This is the story of how a couple from America who were missionaries in Russia for many years came to live in Israel and how they found themselves helping these desperate women.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Andrey Teplinsky - Today finds us back in Haifa in northern Israel, talking to Andrey Teplinsky. From a Russian Jewish family, Andrey came to live in Israel after the death of his father. He was a young man in his early 20s and already a drug addict. He found himself at Beit Nitzachon, a rehab centre in Haifa run by believers and the first few days were quite a shock.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Andrey Teplinsky - Today we’re in the Israeli city of Haifa and my guest is Andrey Teplinsky, the grandson of Russian Jews exiled by Stalin to Siberia. Andrey’s story is fascinating .. his journey has brought him from Russia to Israel, through dark times and tragedy, to a place of healing and hope.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nabil Somara, an Israeli Arab who was born and lives in Nazareth. We met at the Nazareth Evangelical College where he teaches. Nabil studied theology in Switzerland and America before returning to Nazareth. He could have chosen an easier life but he believed God wanted him back in Nazareth. He has a strong sense of destiny. “God is doing something beyond our expectations” he told me. Nabil takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
nazcol.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nabil Somara - Today finds us in Nazareth talking to an Israeli Arab Christian called Nabil Somara who is on the staff of the Nazareth Evangelical College where he is the Director of Administrative Affairs. Nabil was born in Nazareth in 1965 and has lived there all his life apart from a few years spent abroad to study. Today Nazareth is an Arab city where the majority of people are Muslim. But when Nabil was growing up, it was a predominantly Christian city. So what has happened there during Nabil’s lifetime?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
nazcol.org
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav. He is a Jewish pastor in the northern Israeli town of Tiberias situated on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He has a growing congregation and enjoys good relationships with neighbouring Arab Christians. On today’s programme I wanted to find out how Daniel understands world news in relation to Biblical prophecy.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav - This week finds us in Tiberias in northern Israel talking to a Jewish pastor called Daniel Yahav. He was born in Israel – his father was a holocaust survivor from Germany. Today Daniel is the pastor of a thriving congregation. However, living in northern Israel close to the borders with Lebanon and Syria can be unsettling and sometimes dangerous especially at the present time. So I asked Daniel to describe what it’s like living and working under constant threat.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav - Today finds us in Tiberias by the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel talking to Daniel Yahav. He was born in Israel. His father was a Holocaust survivor. In this, the first of three programmes with Daniel, he starts by describing his early life in Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Eliel Fos. Eliel came to Israel from Uzbekistan when he was 13 years old. He became a drug addict and perhaps his life would have ended but his mother persuaded the House of Victory, a rehab unit in Haifa run by a team of believers under Eric Benson, to take her son in. Today Eliel’s life could not be more different. He is married with three young children and is a youth leader in the congregation. Eliel begins by explaining how he made the transition from the House of Victory to life outside.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Julia Fisher talks to Eliel Fos - Today finds us in Haifa, in northern Israel talking to Eliel Fos. Born in Uzbekistan, his parents had already divorced and his father had died when his mother brought her three sons to live in Israel. Those early years were to prove difficult ones for Eliel as he now takes up his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat - Today we continue with our journey through the heart of the West Bank – an area within Israel that is highly contentious, always in the news, where both Palestinians and Jewish people live in separate communities. Labib Madanat accompanied our group as we travelled – he is an Arab Christian and director of Bible Society work in the middle east. You join us now as we pause our journey through the West Bank at a high point in the road from where we could see two small communities – one Jewish, the other Palestinian. Labib wanted us to know what life was like for both peoples.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat - Today finds us on a bus travelling from Tiberias, a city on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel, through the heart of the West Bank up to Jerusalem. Our guide on this journey is Labib Madanat – the Middle East director of Bible Society work. The population in the parts of the West Bank that are under the control of the Palestinian Authority are largely muslim and this is an area that not many Christians visit. But our small group was going there to hear about the small number of Christians who do live there – people who feel forgotten by the rest of the world.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Davis, the pastor of a congregation in northern Israel near Haifa where, surprisingly you may think, Jews and Arabs meet together to worship every week on Shabbat. This is a story that shows what can happen from small beginnings... it is also a good example of what God is doing in Israel today .. and it helps us to understand what we can expect to see happening in the future as Biblical prophecy is being revealed. David and his Jewish wife Karen moved to Israel in the 1980s and began working amongst drug addicts. David takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Julia Fisher talks to David Davis - Today finds us in northern Israel, close to Haifa, in a Druze village called Usifya talking to David Davis, the pastor of a congregation where both Jewish and Arab believers in Jesus worship together. This truly is a remarkable place of unity and reconciliation. I was there with a group of supporters from our charity, the Olive Tree Reconciliation Fund and David Davis, a former theatre director on Broadway, spoke to our group and explained how he came to live in Israel with his wife Karen.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il/ministries/house-victory
Julia Fisher talks to Yousef Dakwar - Recently I took a group of people to Israel to meet some of the people we work with through our charity, the Olive Tree Reconciliation Fund. In Haifa we visited Yousef Dakwar, an Arab pastor who is also the founder and director of Cross Media Productions – a Christian media organisation that broadcasts both radio and television programmes in Arabic around the world. I’ve known Yousef for many years and watched as his work has developed from small beginnings. We visited him in his studios and it was there he told us his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lance Lambert - Recently, the well known Jewish believer and Bible teacher, Lance Lambert, died. I was privileged to interview him just a few months ago and in this, the third of three tribute programmes to remember his life, we hear, how in 1979 he decided the time had come to leave the UK and become an Israeli citizen and move to Israel. I asked him why.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lance Lambert - This week is the second of three tribute programmes to remember the life of Lance Lambert who died recently. He was born into an aristocratic Jewish family in London in 1931. He had no idea his was Jewish until his mother told him when he was an adult by which time he had become a believer in Jesus and was leader of a fellowship in Richmond, Surrey called Halford House. I asked him whether it changed the course of his life when he eventually found out his true identity.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lance Lambert - Recently Lance Lambert died. He was one of the best known Messianic Bible teachers of recent times and I was privileged to interview him during the final few months of his life. He was born in the UK in 1931 – ‘that saved my life’, he told me, because his family was Jewish. In this, the first of three tribute programmes, Lance describes his early life and his unusual family background.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dr Salim Munayer, a Palestinian believer in Jesus who lives in Jerusalem. He is the founder and director of Musalaha, an organisation that draws together young Palestinian and Jewish believers in order to break down the walls of hostility and instead build relationships based on their faith in Jesus. In this interview, I started by asking Salim to describe what it is like to live as a Christian in the West Bank, under the Palestinian Authority, where the majority of the people are muslim; and then what it is like for muslims who are becoming believers in Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
bethbc.edu
musalaha.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dr Salim Munayer. He describes himself as a Palestinian Christian, an Israeli citizen who lives in Jerusalem, and is married with 4 sons. As well as teaching at the Bethlehem Bible College, Salim is also the founder and director of Musalaha, which means reconciliation in arabic – an organisation that brings Arab/Palestinian Christians together with Messianic Jewish believers in a spirit of reconciliation. In Israel and the middle east, the issue of identity – what you believe and where you come from – is paramount. So I was interested to know why Salim describes himself as a Palestinian, rather than an Israeli Arab, when he was born and lives in Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
bethbc.edu
musalaha.org
Julia Fisher talks to Miriam Chernasov. Born in Russia to a Jewish family, she came to live in Israel as a young girl. She is now in her mid 20’s and just finishing her university degree as well as leading the children’s work at a messianic congregation in Netanya called Beit Asaph. I asked her to describe some of the things she has been doing over the past year.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to a muslim background believer - The interview you are about to hear is with a former Muslim who became a Christian. He is a Palestinian living in the West Bank and his story is heart breaking and demonstrates the cost to a Muslim of becoming a Christian – they are quite literally put outside the camp along with their wife and children. I met him recently in the West Bank – the rendezvous in a roadside layby was arranged by a believer from Israel who is working within the Palestinian communities … this is dangerous work and for that reason, these people will remain anonymous. It is important that stories such as this are told because the truth is that many Muslims are becoming disillusioned with their experience of Islam and when they hear about Jesus they want to know more.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to a muslim background believer - Recently, I had the privilege of travelling into the West Bank to meet a man who used to be a Muslim, but who had become a believer in Jesus as a result of being given a Bible. For a Muslim to renounce his faith in Allah and the Koran and instead become a believer in Jesus is considered a crime deserving death. Having heard that there are considerable numbers of Muslims living in the majority Muslim population of the Palestinian West Bank who are becoming Christians, I was keen to hear a story first hand and bring this to you. The man you are about to hear lives in a small village that is 100% Muslim – he described the people he lives amongst as fanatical. I cannot tell you his name or how or where we met, but we recorded this interview in a car and the voices you hear are the former Muslim Palestinian man speaking in Hebrew through an interpreter.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Irana Ben Haim - Today finds us in Netanya, a city just north of Tel Aviv in Israel and my guest is Irana Ben Haim who immigrated to Israel from Russia. Many Russian Jews have moved to Israel and Irana’s story demonstrates the challenges this faces. She knew from a young age that she was Jewish … so listen now as she starts by describing her early life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Palestinian Christian who lives and works in Jerusalem. I have known him for many years. He is married and has children. But at the end of a long working day, he regularly travels into the West Bank villages to share his faith with Muslim people who are keen to hear more about Jesus.This is dangerous work and tiring work … you will hear the weariness in his voice … but what you are about to hear reveals the passion God has for the Palestinian people and how He wants them to know Him. So what is happening?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Victor Kalisher, a Director of Bible Society work in Jerusalem. Victor’s father survived the Holocaust and came to live in Israel where he became a believer in Jesus … at that time, there were very few believers living in the land so Victor grew up knowing his family was ‘unusual’. We met in the Bible Society’s shop in Jaffa Street, on the edge of East Jerusalem and Victor told me about some of the surprising conversations he has been having recently.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
biblesocietyinisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Shiboleet - Today we hear more from Shiboleet … born on a secular kibbutz in northern Israel, she grew up in the children’s house, seeing little of her parents. Whilst at university she studied the Bible and Judaism and it was there she became a believer in Jesus. I met Shiboleet in Jerusalem at the offices of a pro-life organisation called Be-ad Chaim where she is a counsellor. As you will hear, she understands the heartache attached to abortion. I started by asking her how she got involved with this organisation.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Shiboleet - Coming to faith in Jesus, or Yeshua, is a huge step for any Jewish person and on today’s programme, my guest, who is called Shiboleet, describes her journey of belief. She was born in northern Israel in the Galilee where she grew up on a kibbutz. In this, the first of two programmes, she starts by describing her early life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Parsons - Recently whilst in Jerusalem I visited the International Christian Embassy to meet David Parsons, who has been the Media Director there since 1995. I asked him to explain the role of the International Christian Embassy.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
int.icej.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lev Guler - Thousands of Russian and Ukrainian Jews have emigrated to Israel in recent years, and many live in Netanya, a town on the coast just north of Tel Aviv. Lev Guler was born in Russia. His mother was a Jewess from Kiev in Ukraine, and his father was Russian. He was educated in the communist system and came to live in Israel 20 years ago. I started by asking him when he discovered he was Jewish.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - Today finds us in Jerusalem talking to a Messianic Jewish pastor called Ofer Amitai. In this interview we explore the questions of whether or not God has a role for Gentile Christians, who live outside of Israel, with what is going on there today. Whilst there are a growing number of Messianic congregations in Israel, the numbers of believers is still relatively small – just a few thousand. But, they have to deal with a great deal attention from Christians around the world who are keen to meet them and hear what is going on amongst them! So Ofer, as a pastor, has to care for the people in his congregation and at the same time deal with all the people who come knocking on his door from outside the country! And as well as caring for his congregation, he writes regular letters to these people with prayer pointers, one of the most recent letters was on the subject of persistence in prayer. I put it to him – how does he cope with so much pressure?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - Today we’re in Jerusalem talking to a Messianic Jewish pastor called Ofer Amitai who as well as running a congregation, also leads a prayer movement which guides and encourages people to pray for God’s will to be done both in Israel and the nations of the world. At a time when many would say the focus of the gentile Christian world is looking at Israel, albeit often with strong opinions, I asked Ofer what he would say to people listening to this programme who want to understand why Israel and the Jewish people are important from a Biblical point of view, but who, at the same time, cannot see or understand their role in what is happening.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yousef Dakwar - Can there ever be peace in the Middle East? Yousef Dakwar is an Arab Christian who lives in Haifa in northern Israel. He can trace his family back generations. They lived in a village in northern Israel that no longer exists because it was destroyed in 1948. But Yousef is not bitter or seeking revenge. Rather he has discovered that forgiveness and reconciliation are the way forward. Today he is the pastor of an Arab church in Haifa, and the founder and director of Cross Media Productions which broadcasts programmes about the Bible and the Christian way of life in Arabic on both TV and radio. I visited Yousef at his studios in Haifa and in this, the first of two programmes with Yousef, we hear about his early life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
youtube.com/user/HaifaCMP
Julia Fisher talks to Eitan Shishkoff - Today we continue with the story of Eitan Shishkoff. I met him in Haifa recently where we recorded this interview. He and his wife left the comfort of the United States and came to live in Israel in 1992 having left a hippy lifestyle when they discovered that Jesus or Yeshua was their Messiah. I started by asking Eitan did he know what he would be doing when he arrived in Israel?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eitan Shishkoff - Today finds us in Haifa in northern Israel talking to Eitan Shishkoff. He spent the first 40 years of his life living in America. In this the first of two programmes with Eitan we hear what happened to change him from a radical hippy to becoming a radical believer in Yeshua.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David & Karen Davis. They moved to Haifa in northern Israel from the US over 20 years ago. They opened a rehab centre. Then they built a worship centre called Kehilat HaCarmel on the top of Mt Carmel – if you’ve been to Israel, you might have been there. They welcome people from the nations every week to their congregation which is a mixed group of Arabs and Jews! So, I asked them to explain to us gentile Christians, what is our role in what God is doing in Israel today?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Elizabeth Atteih - Today finds us in Haifa in northern Israel talking to Elizabeth Atteih. She comes from an Armenian family and her husband Najeeb, is an Israeli Arab. They run a Christian bookshop in Haifa and lead a church which meets in the garage of Najeeb’s parent’s home. As you are about to hear, they both come from challenging backgrounds. However, when we met recently, they were full of stories and feeling very encouraged as Elizabeth now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David & Karen Davis - Today finds us in Haifa – a unique city in northern Israel where Jews and Arabs live side by side and co-exist together. It’s built on the side of Mount Carmel which rises steeply. I met David and Karen Davis in a hotel on the top of the mountain and we sat overlooking the vast panorama of Haifa Bay – the old part of the city lies near the docks, the oil refinery is off to the right, the Bahai temple with its immaculate gardens runs from the top of the city to the area known as the German Colony below. There is a university, hospitals and schools, and a growing number of congregations. In this programme we continue with David and Karen’s story. I started by asking them about some of the Scriptures that inspired them in their early days in the land over 20 years ago.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to David & Karen Davis - Today we’re in Haifa, in northern Israel, on Mount Carmel overlooking the vast sweep of Haifa Bay. In the distance we can see Lebanon and with me are David and Karen Davis who came to live in Israel over 20 years ago. They established a rehab centre for addicts called the House of Victory and built a worship centre called Kehilat HaCarmel. As we sat looking out over Haifa, they told me the story of those early days.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Jewish believer (Anon) - Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the Olive Tree with me, Julia Fisher, where we seek answers to the questions what is God doing in Israel and ask why should I be bothered? Recently in Jerusalem I met with a Jewish believer who is actively engaged with Muslim Background Believers in Jesus living in the nations surrounding Israel – for that reason we are keeping his name anonymous. I put it to him that events not just in Israel but also around the world appear to be intensifying…
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas. Evan is a Messianic Jewish pastor in Netanya. He is also involved in reconciliation between Jewish believers and Palestinian Christians. Recently a conference in Bethlehem called Christ at the Checkpoint was held that engages these two groups. Evan attended and took part – was he encouraged?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Sandy Shoshani - This week we continue with the story of Sandy Shoshani – brought up in a traditional Jewish family in America, she came to faith in Jesus – a costly decision as her father tried everything to dissuade her. Today Sandy is married to a pastor – they have 7 children and she is national director of a pro-life organisation in Israel called Bead Chaim.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Sandy Shoshani - director of Bead Chaim – a pro life organisation. Sandy was born into a traditional Jewish family in America. When she became a believer in Jesus, her family was distraught. Today she describes how she came to Israel a broken person who had undergone brainwashing to dissuade her from her faith. But she did have the names of three messianic believers in her pocket.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Sandy Shoshani, the national director of an organisation called Bead Chaim which means Israel Pro Life. In this, the first of three fascinating and insightful programmes with Sandy, we hear about her early life. She was born into a traditional Jewish family in the US. Sandy takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beadchaim.com
Julia Fisher talks to Jewish believer - Last week we heard from a Jewish believer living in Israel who is working amongst Muslim people in the nations surrounding Israel – it is for that reason that he must remain anonymous. I met him in Jerusalem to record this interview. Listen now as he describes how he is seeing many Muslim people coming to faith in Jesus and why he believes a prophecy in Isaiah chapter 19 is so relevant to what God is doing in the Middle East today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jewish believer - My guest today must remain anonymous. He is Jewish and lives in Israel. I met him in Jerusalem where we recorded this interview. He was born in America into a secular Jewish family. He studied at Berkley, California and it was there that he came to faith in Jesus. For him, this was life changing and he immediately wanted to test his faith by living outside his comfort zone. Initially he investigated being a missionary in China. But very quickly he became interested in the Muslim world, as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dina Sered. Her husband Dan, is Director of Jews for Jesus in Israel. Dina has a remarkable story of her own as she now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Mazen Naswari - With so many bad news stories coming out of the Middle East, this programme asks the simple question, What is God doing there in these days? As you will hear, the answers to that question are surprising, even miraculous given the depth of feeling, especially mistrust, that exists in the region. So today finds us in the Old City of Jerusalem to meet Mazen Naswari, who is pastor of the Jerusalem Alliance church where Palestinian Christians of all ages meet regularly for prayer, Bible study, services and children’s activities. As I opened the door of the church, I was met by a large group of children … Mazen starts by explaining what was going on.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com
Julia Fisher talks to Barry Barnett - Today finds us in BeerSheva in southern Israel with a team of Jews for Jesus missionaries, hearing what motivates them to go out and share their faith in Jesus with a sometimes interested but often hostile Jewish audience. Barry Barnett is Jewish. He used to be a teacher in London. Today he is one of those missionaries. I asked him to share his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Zadok. David has an unusual story. Today he is the director of a publishing house; he is also the pastor of a Messianic congregation in a town just a few miles south of Tel Aviv. He was born in Israel but when still a very young child, his parents took him to Iran and left him there. David takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Zadok - Recently I travelled to a town south of Tel Aviv to meet David Zadok. He is a Jewish believer, the pastor of a congregation, the director of a publishing house and also very involved in education. In this, the first of two programmes about David, we hear about a new building – a unique building – that is almost finished and will be home to the members of David’s congregation. I asked him to share the story with you about how it came about.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Alison Barnett. Alison is Jewish … she found that out at the age of 34 whilst studying at Bible college in the UK. Today Alison and her husband Barry are missionaries with Jews for Jesus. I met them in Israel recently to record their stories. Alison’s story of coming to faith is similar to that of many Jewish people – how to tell your family you have become a believer in Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Alison Barnett - This programme aims to bring you news and interviews from believers in Jesus living in Israel and the wider Middle East. I met Alison Barnett at a kibbutz in southern Israel recently whilst she was helping with an evangelistic campaign in the area with the missionary organisation, Jews for Jesus. Alison was brought up in Liverpool and has a fascinating story to tell.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to David & Leah Ortiz - Welcome to this week’s edition of The Olive Tree which finds us in BeerSheva in southern Israel talking to David and Leah Ortiz. They live in Ariel in central Israel and, as you will hear, work among both Jewish and Muslim people. A few years ago one of their sons, Ami, was seriously injured when a religious Jewish man left a bomb on their doorstep. Theirs is an unusual and very interesting story – so where did it all begin?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dov Bikas, a Russian Jewish pastor. You join us just after we had walked around an area of southern Tel Aviv where literally scores of drug addicts can be found; it’s a place that has an air of hopelessness and desperation. Dov explains how he became involved in helping these people.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dov Bikas - Today finds us in southern Tel Aviv where on the one hand there is a wealthy banking area, but on the other, a very poor, run down area where scores of drug addicts and prostitutes can be found. On today’s programme we’ll be hearing from a Lithuanian Jew called Dov Bikas. Today he is a pastor working I quote, ‘.. in this miserable area of the city.’ We met him at a drop in centre he opened to give these people a safe place to have a hot meal, a shower and change of clothes. We will hear more about this aspect of his life on next week’s programme. But first, let’s hear Dov’s story of how he came to Israel at the age of 12.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jack Sara - Recently I went to Bethlehem to meet Jack Sara, the newly appointed President of the Bethlehem Bible College. Some would say this is a challenging job – so how does he see it?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
bethbc.edu
Julia Fisher talks to Jack Sara - Recently I went to Bethlehem to meet Jack Sara, the newly appointed President of the Bethlehem Bible College. Some would say this is a challenging job – so how does he see it?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
bethbc.edu
Julia Fisher talks to Brian Slater - It may surprise you to hear that a vast percentage of the population in Israel live under the poverty line. I recently met a Jewish believer called Brian Slater who runs a soup kitchen in Netanya and asked him to describe the scale of the problem.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat, he's a Jordanian Christian. He oversees the work of Bible Society in the Middle East and I met him recently in Jerusalem. Labib has been helping Syrian refugees who have fled the civil war in their own country and made their way to northern Jordan. Amongst those refugees are a small number of Syrian Christians and their plight is particular difficult as Labib explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
biblesocietyinisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat in Jerusalem. Labib is Jordanian and lives in Amman. But his work with Bible Society – he heads up their work in the Middle East – brings him to Jerusalem regularly. I asked Labib about the situation in northern Jordan regarding the large numbers of Syrian refugees escaping from the civil war in their own country.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
biblesocietyinisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Itzhak Mor Haim, a young Jewish believer with a huge vision – here he is to share his journey so far.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Itzhak Mor Haim - All the stories you hear on this programme come from Israel and the West Bank – they are the stories of the believers who live there today – Jews and Arabs. Recently I was in Tel Aviv and met a dynamic young Jewish believer called Itzhak Mor Haim – listen as he shares his fascinating story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman - Today we’re in Bethlehem where there is a small evangelical Christian community living amongst a majority Muslim population. Nihad Salman is the pastor of the Emmanuel Evangelical church situated close to Manger Square and the Church of the Holy Nativity built over the place where tradition has it Jesus was born. Nihad has seen his church grow from just a few, to a sizeable congregation. Having seen many Christians leave Bethlehem for a better life in the West over recent years, Nihad is concerned for the children and young people in his church. Recently he organised a church conference to bring the entire church family together for a few days. The day before the conference was due to start, disaster struck as Nihad now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Eliel Fos - Today my guest is a young Jewish man called Eliel Fos. He used to be a drug addict, as you will hear, but today he is a youth pastor in his congregation in northern Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Victor Kalisher, a Messianic Jew who runs the Bible Society shop in Jaffa Street in Jerusalem. We heard last week how many Israelis are interested in reading the Scriptures, particularly the Psalms. Victor explained how the Bible Society has produced a version of the Psalms that highlights all the references to the Messiah. So I asked him what reaction he gets from Israelis when they read these Scriptures.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
biblesocietyinisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Victor Kalisher - Today finds us back in Jerusalem, in Jaffa Street in the Bible Society bookshop talking to Victor Kallisher, the General Secretary of Bible Society in Israel. His story is a remarkable one… his father, who was a Jew from Poland, survived the holocaust and as a very young man came to Israel only to find himself involved in another war, the was of Independence in 1946. Victor takes up the story and goes on to describe how his father’s faith inspired his own.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
biblesocietyinisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Victor Kalisher in Jerusalem. He is General Secretary of Bible Society in Israel. What makes his story so remarkable is that he was born in Israel and his father was a holocaust survivor who escaped to Israel after the war. Victor starts by describing his early life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
biblesocietyinisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Goldstein - Live in Israel and you are immediately aware of the Sabbath. Religious or not, Israelis value the Sabbath as a day of rest so when I saw a book in Jerusalem called ‘Practicing the Sabbath with Community’ I was intrigued to meet its author – Daniel Goldstein. We met at the Bible Society book shop in Jaffa Street, Jerusalem where Daniel works. He was born into a Jewish family in America and came to live in Israel in 2007. I started by asking him why he decided to leave a comfortable life in the US for the challenges of living in Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
biblesocietyinisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Zvi Randelman - Israel is often described as the Holy Land… so it may come as a surprise to hear that there are aspects of life there that are not so holy – drug and alcohol addiction for example. But there are people who are trying to help those addicts – Zvi Randelman is one of those people. Some years ago he founded Beit HaYeshua – a faith based rehab centre that has achieved remarkable success rates. He is the first to acknowledge that this success comes from the Holy Spirit as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beithayeshua.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zvi Randelman in Jerusalem. He is the founder and director of a drug rehab programme called Beit HaYeshua – House of Messiah. He starts by describing the situation there today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beithayeshua.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shukri - Today finds us in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem talking to a young Palestinian Christian called Shukri. This programme asks one question – what is God doing in the midst of the confusion and turmoil that is the Middle East? What you are about to hear is one of the most remarkable testimonies I have come across in the all the years that I’ve been gathering stories from the Holy Land.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rita in Haifa, in northern Israel. Rita is a Jewish believer who, for several years now, has worked amongst refugees – women and children who fled from countries in Africa through Egypt and arrived in Israel desperate and with no where to go. In recent years so many refugees have arrived at Israel’s borders that the nation has been hard pushed to cope with the scale of the problem. As we heard on last week’s programme, Rita was surprised and often overwhelmed to find herself doing this work so I asked her how she has coped with this on a personal level.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rita in Haifa. Along with her husband Peter, they are leaders of a congregation in the north of Israel. Seven years ago, Rita unexpectedly found herself having to care for refugees entering Israel illegally. This was not something she was anticipating so I asked her, what happened?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Mazen Naswari. He lives in the Old City of Jerusalem where he is the pastor of a growing evangelical congregation called the Jerusalem Alliance Church. As we heard on last week’s programme, Mazen had a dramatic and sudden conversion at the age of 29. So I asked him what made him want to become a pastor.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com
Julia Fisher talks to Mazen Naswari - Today we find ourselves in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem, a short distance from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – built over the site where many believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. I went to meet Mazen Naswari who is an Arab and pastor of the Jerusalem Alliance Church. I asked him how long he’d been the pastor there.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com
Julia Fisher talks to Kristina Kayser about Shevet Achim – an organisation run by Christians – that brings children suffering with severe and life threatening heart defects to Israel for surgery. These children come from muslim families. The workers from Shevet Achim do not use words to share their faith. So how does it work – is there more to this than heart surgery?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
shevet.org
Julia Fisher talks to Kristina Kayser, a nurse who volunteered to help with Shevet Achim, an organisation in Jerusalem that brings children from nations surrounding Israel, Islamic nations, into Israel for urgent heart surgery. I met Kristina in Jerusalem the day after she arrived back from Kurdistan bring with her three families with their desperately ill children.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
shevet.org
Julia Fisher talks to Kristina Kayser - It’s always interesting to find out why people do what they do, especially when they have moved way out of their comfort zone! Shevet Achim is a Christian organisation based in the Middle East that arranges for children with serious heart defects from Arab and Palestinian backgrounds to receive life saving medical treatment in Israel. I visited their centre in Jerusalem recently and met Kristina Kayser, a nurse from America, who came to Jerusalem looking for work as a volunteer. Little did she realise what she was letting herself in for when she offered to help at Shevet Achim as she now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
shevet.org
Julia Fisher talks to David & Karen Davis - Welcome to this week’s edition of The Olive Tree where we return to Haifa in northern Israel and a recent meeting with David and Karen Davis who have lived there for over 20 years and established a centre to help addicts called House of Victory and a worship centre on Mt Carmel where believers from Jewish, Druze and Arab backgrounds meet together each week. David and Karen also travel a great deal carrying the message of God’s heart for Israel and her Jewish and Arab population. So in order to help us understand and be aware of the times in which we are living within a Biblical context, and to understand a little more about the complexity that is the Middle East, Karen begins this programme by introducing a talk recently given by her husband based on the story of Joseph.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to David & Karen Davis - This week we are continuing with the story of David Davis, a former actor on Broadway, and his Jewish wife Karen who is a musician. They came to live in Israel from New York over 20 years ago. They founded a centre for addicts in Haifa called The House of Victory. They started a congregation on Mount Carmel called the Worship Centre in English. In this programme I asked them to share some the stories of transformation they have seen in the lives of the people they have known.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to David & Karen Davis - This week we are back in Haifa in northern Israel talking to David and Karen Davis. They came from New York to live in Israel over 20 years ago. David is not Jewish – Karen is and from the start they understood that God was calling them to work amongst both Arab and Jewish people. Early on they realised that many Israelis were seriously addicted to drugs and alcohol so they opened a centre called The House of Victory. They also started a congregation which today meets on Mt Carmel. In this interview I asked them to explain how they came to understand God’s heart for Israel and for both Jewish and Arab people and you will hear some of Karen’s music woven through the programme.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to David & Karen Davis - Welcome to this week’s edition of The Olive Tree which finds us in Haifa in northern Israel talking to David and Karen Davis. David used to be an actor and director on Broadway, and Karen, who is Jewish, was a musician. They have lived in Israel for over 20 years. They started a rehab centre for people with addictions. They then found themselves leading a congregation. And today that congregation is based on Mt Carmel and embraces both Jews, Druze and Arab people. So how did it all begin? I put it to David that it all started when he met Karen!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat - For the past two weeks my guest has been an Arab Palestinian Christian called Labib Madanat. For many years he lived in Jerusalem and today his work takes him across the Middle East as well as Israel where, on behalf of the Bible Society, he oversees two teams – one team is comprised of Messianic Jewish believers; the other is comprised of Arab Palestinian Christians. Labib understands about reconciliation and how important it is to God. So in this interview he describes some of the projects and situations that have both encouraged and challenged him recently.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat, an Arab Christian who has lived in Jerusalem most of his life and who now oversees teams of Arab/Palestinian Christians and Messianic Jewish believers on behalf of the Bible Society. Labib manages to carry God’s heart for both peoples and works tirelessly to encourage reconciliation through joint initiatives. He travels extensively throughout the Middle East so is well placed to see the bigger picture. With the continued unrest in the Arab world, I asked him to share his understanding of what God is doing in the region.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat. He is from a Jordanian family but spent much of his life living in Jerusalem. After studying in Iraq, he gave up what could have been a lucrative career in irrigation to become Director of the Palestinian Bible Society. That was several years ago. Today he is Director of Bible Society work in the Middle East and oversees teams of both Palestinian and Jewish believers. We met recently in the Alliance Church in Jerusalem, built in 1890. It is strategically placed in the city and has played an important role over the years as Labib now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com
Julia Fisher talks to Shira Sorko Ram in Tel Aviv where Shira and her husband Ari, have been pastors of a congregation called Tifferet Yeshua since they started it several years ago. As well as leading a congregation they also run MAOZ – a humanitarian aid charity that supports those in need – both Jewish and Arab people. They also run conferences and events for the benefit of the entire body of believers in Israel. And they have always had a great compassion for Israeli Arab Christians and have done much to support them. But Ari and Shira are getting on now – they are not as young as they used to be! So what happens when a pioneering couple such as them have to look around to see who can take on the task? Here Shira shares how the transition is taking place in their situation – and how relieved and delighted they are!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
maozisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marcel Rebiai, who lives in Jerusalem. He has shared his unusual story of having an Arab father and a Jewish mother. Of how he came to live in Israel with his wife and family 20 years ago and formed a Christian community here. On this programme I asked Marcel to explain his understanding of what God is doing in Israel and the wider Middle East in these days.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marcel Rebiai - Last week we heard from Marcel Rebiai, he lives in Jerusalem in a house overlooking Mount Zion! He described his unusual background of being born in Algeria where his father was Arab and his mother, whom he never met, was, he understands, from a Jewish family. Marcel lived for many years with a missionary family in Switzerland. Later, when he married, he and his wife took the decision to start a Christian community, at first within Europe, and live out their faith in a practical. 20 years ago, they arrived in Jerusalem. This was not an easy move for Marcel and he described how he struggled with the prospect for a long time. So I asked him how he started to build a community here.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marcel Rebiai - Last week we heard from Marcel Rebiai, he lives in Jerusalem in a house overlooking Mount Zion! He described his unusual background of being born in Algeria where his father was Arab and his mother, whom he never met, was, he understands, from a Jewish family. Marcel lived for many years with a missionary family in Switzerland. Later, when he married, he and his wife took the decision to start a Christian community, at first within Europe, and live out their faith in a practical. 20 years ago, they arrived in Jerusalem. This was not an easy move for Marcel and he described how he struggled with the prospect for a long time. So I asked him how he started to build a community here.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marcel Rebiai - Come with me to Jerusalem to a house overlooking Mount Zion where a man called Marcel Rebiai lives with his wife and family and a community of Christians. Marcel’s own story is extraordinary – he was born in Algeria where, for various reasons, he ran away from home and ended up being cared for by a Swiss missionary family. He became a believer in Jesus in Switzerland and very soon developed a desire to be an evangelist. In this programme, he explains how God started to shape his thinking and the course of his life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shirel Ben Haim. We met recently in Netanya, a town just north of Tel Aviv. She is a young woman currently studying at a university in Israel. She is Jewish, but she wasn’t born in Israel. In this interview she describes what it’s like moving from one country and culture to another – especially to a place where there is conflict.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Burghard Schunkert - Today we’re returning to Bethlehem to finish our tour of Lifegate – a new centre run by a German Christian called Burghard Schunkert which aims to help disabled children and young people reach their full potential. Parts of the building are still not finished and we start today’s tour in a rather dark room – Burghard takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
lifegate-reha.de
Julia Fisher talks to Burghard Schunkert - This week’s edition of The Olive Tree finds us in an area of Bethlehem called Beit Jala and we are going on a tour around a newly opened centre for disabled children and young people called Lifegate. Burghard Schunkert, a Christian from Germany, is the director of the Lifegate. He is a social worker and came to work in Bethlehem 25 years ago where there are many children who are born with physical and mental abnormalities.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
lifegate-reha.de
Julia Fisher talks to Hadassa Berne - Those who study Biblical prophecy often quote Scriptures that refer to the return of Jewish people from the nations of the world to live in Israel in the last days. Modern Israel has millions of people who have emigrated from the former Soviet Union, Ukraine, Europe, America – in fact from the four corners of the earth. But what is it like to leave the country where you were born and start a new life? Hadassa Berne did just that. She is a young woman from Miami who was born into a secular Jewish family. Here she shares her story … I started by asking her how aware she was of her Jewish roots when she was young.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Esther - When I was in Israel recently recording interviews for this programme, I quite literally bumped into today’s guest. I was just leaving a congregation in Tel Aviv called Dugit, and in walked Esther. She is a Jewish lady, originally from America. She came to live in Israel in the 1980s and for years lived in Jerusalem where she ran an English tea shop which is funny because she isn’t English and she doesn’t like tea! Here she is to share her story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Miriam Chernasov - The Olive Tree is designed to bring you the stories of Jewish and Arab believers in Jesus living in Israel and the Palestinian Authority areas, with a special emphasis on those working in the area of reconciliation. My guest today is called Miriam. She is a student in her 20’s who wants to work with orphans. She came to Israel with her family from the Ukraine and begins this interview by describing the trials the family faced when they emigrated.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Simon Stout. He came to live in Israel from America. He’s married with a young family. He gave up a job as a teacher to run the prayer ministry of a Messianic Jewish congregation called Dugit in Tel Aviv. His journey has been full of challenges, decisions, and uncertainty as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Simon Stout. he has a surprising story to tell. A few years ago he would never have imagined himself coming to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and that he would become the co-ordinator of a prayer ministry in Tel Aviv. I met him in Tel Aviv and he told me his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lisa Loden, who with her husband David, has worked tirelessly for many years to encourage reconciliation between Israeli believers and Palestinian Christians. Currently Lisa, a Messianic Jew, teaches Arab students at a Bible college in Nazareth. Every week she drives from her home in Netanya, which is just north of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean coast, to Nazareth which is an Arab town. Here Lisa explains why she does this challenging work and looks ahead to the future.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Loden - Today finds us in Netanya, a city just north of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel, in the home of David and Lisa Loden. They came to Israel in 1974 having been hippies in America before they came to faith in Jesus – or Yeshua, to use His Hebrew name. They started a congregation in their home called Beit Asaph which today is one of the largest congregations in Israel. After many years as a leader of Beit Asaph David has returned to his first love – music – and here he describes how he is using classical music to engage with the Israeli public.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kamti.org
Julia Fisher talks to Maala Thomas in her home in Netanya, situated just north of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean coast in Israel. Maala works in a school where she is a counsellor. She is married to Evan, and he is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Netanya. However, Maala is not Jewish. Her parents are Finnish and she was brought up in New Zealand. In this programme we are going to learn what it’s like being married to an Israeli Jew and living in Israel – having to adopt another’s culture. Maala starts by explaining a little more about her early days.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai - How do we make sense of the news that is coming out of the Arab nations with their current turmoil, and Israel who finds herself constantly in the glare of controversy and criticism? This short weekly programme aims to help by shifting attention away from politics onto the stories of what God is doing through the believers who live in the Holy Land – both Jewish people and Arab and Palestinian Christians. After all, they are the ones who are living under this pressure and trying to make sense of what is going on around them as well as believing God’s Word and understanding what it has to say about world events. My guest today is well qualified to talk about these matters. His name is Ofer Amitai. His family have lived in Israel for generations. He was born and grew up there. He lives just outside Jerusalem. He is the pastor of a Messianic congregation and the leader of a prayer movement. I asked him to explain to us from the Scriptures what he believes God is doing in Israel and the wider Middle East today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai. His family has lived in Israel for generations. He was born and grew up there. He has watched the country develop and, like his father before him, has fought in various wars. As well as being involved in a prayer movement, he is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Jerusalem and has a passion to pass on his rich experience to the young people in the congregation, as he explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai. He is a Messianic Jewish believer and pastor of a congregation. He lives in the Judean Hills a few miles west of Jerusalem. The past seven generations of his family have lived in the land of Israel and as a consequence Ofer knows the land better than most. This puts him in a unique position as the majority of the Jewish population are immigrants from around the world. I asked him what it means to him to be a believer in Jesus living in Israel today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Paul Calvert - This week finds us in Bethlehem in a property that is being converted into a radio station complete with studios. The man with the vision for this station is Paul Calvert who originates from Cumbria in northern England. Bethlehem is today in the area known as the West Bank where the population is entirely Palestinian, the majority of whom are Muslims. So I asked Paul, ‘Where did it all begin?’
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shmuel Salway - If you have just discovered this programme, the aim is to bring you the stories of believers in Jesus living in Israel and the West Bank today to help us understand what God is doing there despite the on going tension in the region. Shmuel Salway lives in Tel Aviv. He is an Israeli Jew with an Indian background. Aged 18 he joined the army – this is mandatory in Israel for the majority of young people – and served his three years. He then went to live and work in New York but all the time he knew that one day he would return to Israel to live.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shmuel Salway - This week, come with me to Tel Aviv to meet a Jewish man from India! His name is Schmuel Salway. He’s the associate pastor at a Messianic congregation called Dugit. As with most Jewish people, he has a fascinating story to tell and here he begins by explaining more about his Indian roots.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
dugit.org
Julia Fisher talks to a Swiss German Christian who has lived in Israel for many years. He, along with others, came to work amongst the Muslim people who live in Jerusalem and now over 400 of these people are coming to the meetings they regularly hold where they hear that God loves them and He is their father. However, is it possible to bring Christians from a Muslim Palestinian background together with Jewish believers in Jerusalem?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to a Swiss German Christian who has lived in Israel for many years. He came to work amongst the Muslim people who live in Jerusalem which is where I met him to record this interview about his life and work.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman - This is the programme that connects you with believers in Jesus living in the Holy Land – both Jewish and Palestinian Arab people – bringing you their stories. Today we visit an evangelical pastor in Bethlehem – his name is Nihad Salman. In a town where the majority of the people are Muslim, being an evangelical Christian puts you in the minority. So, I began by asking Nihad to explain to us what it’s like being a pastor in Bethlehem today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jack Sara - Today finds us in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, talking to Jack Sara who has recently become the President of the Bethlehem Bible College. It’s a college he knows well having studied there himself as a young man. As we sat in his study I asked him what his vision was for the future.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
bethbc.edu
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas. He is a pastor in Netanya, a town situated just north of Tel Aviv on the shores of the Mediterranean in Israel. Autumn time marks the start of the cycle of Biblical Feasts. In Israel the significance of these feasts is perhaps better understood than in the rest of the world. So, I asked Evan to explain their significance and relevance for today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas - September marks the beginning of the cycle of the Biblical Feasts and this autumn, Israel is also preparing for a possible war. So I spoke to Evan Thomas, the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Netanya, which lies on the Mediterranean coast just north of Tel Aviv. I asked him for his analysis of what is going on in Israel and in the Israeli mindset at this time.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to David Davis - The Olive Tree brings you up to date news and interviews from Israel to find out what God is doing there and in the wider Middle East at this time. With Iran so much in the news regarding its nuclear capabilities and threat to Israel, you will be interested to hear some good news from that country. My guest today is David Davis, a pastor who lives in the north of Israel. He recently addressed a conference in Jerusalem, just before Yom Kippour, and it was there he heard from an Iranian pastor about the numbers of Iranians who are currently becoming Christians. Here’s what he had to say.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to David Davis - The Olive Tree, where the aim is to find out what God is doing in the Middle East despite the ongoing turmoil and threat of war. It is no secret that the Iranian President Ahmidinijab wants to wipe Israel off the face of the map. But in Jeremiah’s prophecy, there is quite a lot about what God intends for Iran. Recently I spoke to David Davis, a pastor in the north of Israel. He had just returned from a large conference in Jerusalem where many people from around the world had gathered, including some Iranians. David told me what happened.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Leah, her name means “God is for me”. I met her in Tel Aviv where she helps in a local Messianic congregation. This is a story of how an Arab Palestinian Christian helped a young Jewish woman find her faith in Yeshua or Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Uzzi. An Israeli who was seriously injured during the Yom Kippur war in 1973, leaving him paralysed in both legs. Some years later, disillusioned with life and with God he left his wife and daughter in Israel and went to work in South Africa. I asked him why.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Uzzi. He is a quietly spoken man in his 60’s. I first met him in Tel Aviv where he was helping a Messianic congregation with their book publishing. Over the next two programmes Uzzi tells his story, a story of how his family escaped from Germany and the Holocaust; of how Uzzi was terribly injured whilst serving in the Israeli army during one of the wars that Israel fought after her independence in 1948; and how his life was miraculously restored some years later.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avner. We met in Tel Aviv where he helps a Messianic congregation called MAOZ. Avner was born in the south of Israel, in the desert, where his parents were farmers on a moshav – the Hebrew name for a cooperative agricultural community of individual farms. These moshavim sprang up during the early part of the 20th century to provide homes and work for the thousands of Jewish people who were arriving in Israel at that time and were part of the Zionist vision of providing a safe homeland for Jews – especially those escaping from Europe and the Holocaust. Avner did not have a traditional Jewish religious upbringing. Although the people around him were fervent Zionists, they were also extremely secular in their beliefs. Avner takes up the story – a story that was to lead him down a very dark path.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zachi – he described his early life living with his mother, not knowing who his father was. After serving in the Israeli army he went to Dallas and there made a discovery that was to change the course of his life when he realised from the Scriptures that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. This caused him a dilemma – how was he going to tell his mother? For a Jewish person to believe in the Christian Jesus is taboo, even today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zachi. He is a missionary with Jews for Jesus based in Tel Aviv in Israel, which is where I met him recently. In this, the first of two programmes with Zachi, who was born in Israel, he describes his roots.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Claude Ezagouri, a Messianic Jewish pastor in Tiberias in northern Israel. He described his early life in Algeria before his family moved to France; his marriage to Michelle, a French lady who converted to Judaism; their decision to go and live in Israel where they joined a kibbutz and Claude worked on a banana plantation. And then the upset when Claude realised that Yeshua, or Jesus, really was the Messiah … a decision that almost destroyed their marriage. However, several years later, Claude and Michelle are the leaders of a Messianic congregation in Tiberias – a city on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This is a place many Christians visit and it’s easy to think that Israel is a Holy Land where everybody believes in Jesus. But the reality is very different as Claude describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Claude Ezagouri. This week we continue with the story. Today Claude is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. Last week he described his early life – born in Algeria to Jewish parents, the family moved to southern France when Claude was just a few years old. Later, Claude and his French wife Michelle (who had converted to Judaism) decided to make aliyah and move to Israel. They joined a kibbutz where Claude worked on a banana plantation. This was a turbulent period in their lives as Claude’s search for the spiritual meaning to life took him in a surprising direction.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Claude Ezagouri - Come with me to the city of Tiberias, situated on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, to hear from Claude Ezagouri. Today he is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Tiberias … a long way from where he was born in Algeria. For the next three programmes Claude is going to share his story with us and today, he starts by describing his early memories of moving from Algeria to France.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to “J” Arab Christian - Last week we heard from an Arab Christian – we are calling him J – who lives in Jerusalem and works amongst Muslim Background believers – former Muslims who have become Christians – living in Jerusalem and the Palestinian areas of the West Bank. J told us how many Muslims are coming to know Jesus. But it is dangerous for them and even impossible for them to keep a Bible in their own home. These people are isolated and unable to enjoy fellowship together for fear of their lives. So, I asked J, what is needed?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to “J” Arab Christian - It may surprise you to hear that in the Arab neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem and in the West Bank there are a growing number of Palestinians who were born into Muslim families coming to faith in Jesus – these people are called Muslim Background Believers or MMB’s for short. It is very dangerous for them to openly declare they are Christians. Equally for Christian Arabs to witness to Muslim people is very dangerous. My guest today is such a person. To disguise his identity let’s call him “J”. I met J in Jerusalem recently – he lives there. He spends a great deal of his time encouraging MMBs in the West Bank. I put it to him that not many people realise these people exist.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Sered, the director of Jews for Jesus in Israel, based in Tel Aviv. He described how he and his team of missionaries spend their days planning and working to bring the message about Yeshua or Jesus to Israelis as so few know much about Him. Much of their time is spent on the streets talking to people – this is challenging work and the people doing it need to be highly motivated. So I asked Dan how he goes about training the people he works with.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Sered - At a time of great upheaval in the Middle East, this programme brings you news and interviews direct from believers in Jesus living in Israel and the Palestinian areas. It might come as a surprise to you to hear that of the 6.5 million Jewish people living in the Holy Land, approximately only 0.1% believe in Jesus, or Yeshua. My guest today is Dan Sered, the Israel director of Jews for Jesus. I visited him at his office in Tel Aviv to hear about the campaigns he and his team are organising to make Israelis aware of their Messiah.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jewsforjesus.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat. He is an Arab Christian leader who until recently lived in Jerusalem. He has always been an agent for reconciliation between Messianic Jewish believers and Arab or Palestinian Christians travelling extensively in the region. Recently he moved to Amman in Jordan and as you are about to hear, this has been a challenging time for Labib as he is now living amongst an Arab people who have a largely negative attitude towards Israel. In this interview, recorded recently in Jerusalem, Labib shares his insight into the heart of God for both peoples, especially in these days of turbulence in many Arab nations.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Michael Relf. His parents moved from New Zealand to Israel some years ago now and Michael was born and grew up there. On finishing school, he could have opted to leave the country and settle in New Zealand where he could have enjoyed a peaceful and comfortable life. Instead, he opted to stay in Israel and serve in the army. As you will hear this proved to be a challenging and life changing experience for him. In this interview, Michael, who is quietly spoken and self effacing, shares his story and describes the work he is now involved in helping young soldiers serving in the IDF, the Israel Defence Force – both Jewish and Arab young people.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nashat Filmon – an Arab Christian born in Jerusalem where today he is director of the Palestinian Bible Society. When I visited Nashat at his office I found him watching the news, in Arabic. He was looking at violent scenes on the streets of Cairo. Nashat has an Egyptian background so I asked him for his explanation of what is going on in the Arab world at this time.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nashat Filmon, director of the Palestinian Bible Society based in Jerusalem. His father came to Jerusalem from Egypt, met his wife and Nashat was brought up in the Old City where he went to school. He studied hotel management in Bethlehem and longed to work in that field. But in 1995, he had to make a choice – accept a job managing a hotel, or manage a book shop for the Bible Society.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nashat Filmon. He is director of the Palestinian Bible Society based in Jerusalem. Although Nashat’s work involves him working mainly with Palestinian people, he works closely with the Jewish team of the Bible Society in Israel – they share a common goal which is to make the Bible available to all. Nashat’s own story is complex, and, like so many people you hear on this programme, his life has been shaped by the challenge of growing up in Israel and living with danger, conflict and hostility. But, as you are about to hear, it is through these difficulties that Nashat has developed his faith and is able to do the work he does.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav. He is a Jewish pastor in Tiberias, northern Israel. He has shared his personal story of coming to faith. He has described the congregation he leads. On last week’s programme he reflected on his role as a reservist in the Israeli army. On today’s programme I invited Daniel to speak to Christians living outside of Israel. At a time when Israel is facing a potentially dangerous situation regarding Iran, how can we relate to what is going on in there?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav. The son of a holocaust survivor, he became a believer in Jesus at the age of 15. Some years later he became the pastor of a congregation in Tiberias and he is still there today. In addition Daniel serves in the Israeli army –as he explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav – a Jewish believers in Jesus who is the pastor of a Messianic congregation in Tiberias in northern Israel. Before Daniel continues with his story, he tells the story of Tiberias.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Daniel Yahav who lives in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee where he is the pastor of a Messianic congregation. His father survived the holocaust and made his way to Israel. Daniel takes up the story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
penielfellowshipisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Shira Sorko Ram, who, forty years ago, along with her husband Ari, founded the Messianic congregation called Ma-oze. Shira has lived in Israel a long time and watched as thousands of Jewish people from all over the world have come to live in the land they call home. So, as Christians living in the West, what should be our response? I asked Shira to help us understand God’s heart by sharing with us some of the Scriptures that are speaking about the times in which we are living.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
maozisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shira Sorko Ram, who, forty years ago, along with her husband Ari, founded the Messianic congregation called Ma-oze. This has grown from a small home group to a vibrant congregation that is touching Israeli society in all sorts of imaginative ways. We are used to large churches in the West, but in Israel, the actual number of believers in Jesus is still very small … but those numbers are steadily growing as Shira explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
maozisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shira Sorko Ram, who with her husband Ari lead a congregation called Ma-oze (MAOZ). It’s taken over 40 years of hard work to reach where they are today not only meeting each week as a congregation, but also caring for the needy and encouraging many individuals and groups to reach out to Israeli society with the gospel creatively and boldly. Today Shira describes some of the most significant events of the past 40 years – events that have shaped her life and the life of Israelis.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
maozisrael.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Pileggi. He has lived in Israel for over 30 years. He is currently the rector of Christ Church in Jerusalem – some of you listening to this programme will have visited this little bit of England close to the Jaffa Gate within the Old City of Jerusalem. In this programme David begins by explaining the message and relevance of Christ Church today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shahal - The aim of this programme is to introduce you to Arab Christians and Jewish believers living in Israel to tell the stories of what God is doing in the region despite the ongoing threats both from within and outside the country. Today my guest is Shahal. She was born and grew up on a kibbutz in Israel. So I began by asking her to describe her early life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yousef Dakwar - Today finds us in a very noisy café in Haifa where I’m talking to Yousef Dakwar, an Israeli Arab Christian. Yousef works 7 days a week. Not only is he the pastor of an Arab speaking church, he is also running an internet radio station reaching into the surrounding Arab nations with the Gospel. He looks tired … but is he discouraged I asked him. “No, I am very excited,” came the reply! …
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Alon Grimberg - This week’s edition of The Olive Tree finds us back in a rural part of central Israel talking to Alon Grimberg. As we heard on last week’s programme, Alon was born in Germany and came to live in Israel many years ago. Today, several years later, he is married to Rajaa, an Arab Christian, and together they are involved in an organisation called Lech L’cha which trains young believers, both Jews and Arabs, to be the leaders of tomorrow. Today we hear how Alon gave up his job as an Agricultural Engineer to develop the work of Lech L’cha.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Alon Grimberg - This week’s edition of The Olive Tree finds us in a rural part of central Israel talking to Alon Grimberg. Alon is German – he was born in Germany but, as you will hear, he decided as a young man that he wanted to explore Israel. Today, several years later, he is married to Rajaa, an Arab Christian, and together they are involved in an organisation called Lech L’cha which trains young believers, both Jews and Arabs, to be the leaders of tomorrow. In this programme, Alon describes his early life and how he came to live in Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rittie Katz. She is Jewish. I met her in a noisy shopping mall on the outskirts of Jerusalem recently. I had heard about her work as a teacher to both Jewish and Palestinian children and wanted to find out what motivated her interest in reconciliation. When Riti was 40 years old, she and her husband moved from America to live in Israel bringing with them their four young children. For Riti this was a huge and difficult move – as she now describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
musalaha.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jack Sara. He describes himself as a Christian Palestinian Arab who was born and still lives in Jerusalem. Jack came to faith as a young man in 1991 aged 18 – this brought about a massive change in his life. Jack takes up the story and describes his life and the challenge of the vision he carries for his people.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com/en
Julia Fisher talks to Dalia Alon – we heard her husband on last week’s programme. Dan and Dalia became believers in their 40s whilst on a trip to America. As you will hear later in this interview, Dalia had suffered from rejection for her entire life – but all that changed when she met Yeshua. She is concerned now for the small but growing body of believers living in Israel and she and her husband now live in the peace and quiet of the Negev desert in southern Israel and spend much of their time in prayer and intercession. I met Dan and Dalia in Beersheva recently and in this interview Dalia shares from the heart about why she believes the Lord brought them to the Negev.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Alon, a Jewish believer living in the Negev in southern Israel with his wife Dalia. Whilst on a visit to America they met a lady who happened to have the same camera as Dalia and who happened to be a Jewish believer. A conversation followed and a friendship was started which led, some months later, to Dan and Dalia finding faith in Jesus … by this time they were in their 40s. On returning to Israel they eventually met other believers and joined a congregation in Tiberias where they stayed for many years. As they grew older they realised the Lord wanted them to move and now they live in the Negev where they have started a small congregation.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Alon who today is a Messianic Jewish pastor in the Negev in southern Israel. He was born into a secular Jewish family. His father was an officer in the Israeli army. Dan, after finishing his army service, studied Industrial Engineering at university and worked in that field for 16 years. During that time he married Dalia and they had three children. It was during this time that Dan had the opportunity to work in America for one year. Little did he and Dalia realise that during that year their lives would change for ever.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Bishara Deeb, he was born and went to school in Nazareth and, several years later, he still lives there with his wife and family. Bishara gave up a successful business to study the Bible at the Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary, or NETS for short. Why? Because he wants to share his faith in the Arab villages surrounding Nazareth.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
nazcol.org
Julia Fisher talks to Azar Ajaz & students at NETS - Today I’m taking you to Nazareth which lies to the West of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. Nazareth today is an Arab town and we’re going to visit Dr Azar Ajar, an Arab Christian who is Dean of Students and a lecturer at the Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary, or NETS for short. We will also be hearing from some of the students. This college is the realisation of a dream that Azar had some time ago to train young Arab Christians and prepare them for church leadership in Israel in the future.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
nazcol.org
Julia Fisher talks to Patrick. He was born in Holland into a Jewish family. He has lived in Israel for many years as you will hear, and for most of those years he has been addicted to heroin. When I first met Patrick he looked very ill … he had just arrived at Beit Nitzachon or the House of Victory – a faith based drug rehab centre in Haifa, northern Israel where the director, Eric Benson is a Christian. The philosophy of Beit Nitzachon is very simple – prayer. And it works … because when I saw Patrick recently, just 16 months after coming to Beit Nitzachon I didn’t recognise him. He had transformed from somebody at death’s door, to a man who looked fit, bright and happy.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Rita. She is a Messianic Jew who came to Israel from America many years ago now. She and her husband Peter are leaders amongst the Messianic movement and in 2003 Rita felt she should do something to help women who found themselves homeless due to violence or abuse. She set about converting some old buildings on Mount Carmel in northern Israel where there is a Messianic congregation. She could never have imagined then that a short time later she would be caring for scores of Sudanese women and children – refugees from the war that has ravaged that area of africa.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Igor. Born in Russia, he didn’t discover he was Jewish until he was 16 years old. I met him in Haifa recently, at a drug rehab centre called Beit Nitzachon. He had been there for six months and in that time not only had he recovered from his addiction, but he had also come to know his Messiah, Yeshua.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
carmelcongregation.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Botrus Mansour. He is an Israeli Arab and was born in Nazareth. A qualified lawyer, he has chosen to stay in Nazareth where he is the General Director of the Nazareth Baptist School – one of the most highly regarded schools in Israel and a school where today both Christians and Muslims are educated.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
baptist.co.il
Julia Fisher talks to Yoyakim Figueras, the pastor of a congregation in Arad, in southern Israel, that has experienced much opposition from the orthodox Jews there. In this programme, Yoyakim describes how he has faced these challenges and explains what he believes God is doing in Israel at this time.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yoyakim Figueras. Last week we heard how he was born in Israel to a Dutch mother and Spanish father and, along with his four brothers, grew up as an Israeli. After completing his national service in the Israeli army, Yoyakim qualified as a social worker and together with his wife Debbie moved to Beersheva, a city in the Negev desert in the south of Israel, where he worked in a boarding school for disadvantaged children. In this programme, the second of three that feature Yoyakim’s story, we hear about what happened when he moved to Arad and started a congregation there.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yoyakim Figueras - My guest today was brought up as an Israeli although he is not Jewish. His name is Yoyakim Figueras and today he lives in Arad, a town in the Negev in southern Israel, with his wife and their six children where Yoyakim is the pastor of a Messianic congregation. In this programme, the first of three that feature Yoyakim’s story, we hear about his unusual family background.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Bassem Adranly, a Palestinian Christian living in Jerusalem who believes it is important for Arab Christians to understand their role in sharing God’s heart for Israel and the Jewish people, and at the same time share the gospel with Muslim people. I met Bassem in Jerusalem recently … and he began by giving a Christian Arab perspective on the recent upheaval in the Arab world.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai. An Israeli believer, he is also a Bible teacher and pastor of a congregation in Jerusalem and a leader of the Israel Prayer Centre where they pray to see the Kingdom of God come to Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. Today he explains why it is so important for the church to seek God’s passion and agenda for Israel – he begins by outlining what that is.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai, an Israeli believer. He is also the pastor of a congregation in Jerusalem and one of the leaders of the Israel Prayer Centre where they pray to see the Kingdom of God come to Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. On last week’s programme Ofer shared his own story of coming to faith and his understanding of Israel’s place in God’s plan in bringing salvation to the nations as described in the Bible. Today, he reports on the growth he has seen in the Body of believers living in Israel … he also describes why it is important for Christians to take note of what is happening.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ofer Amitai. An Israeli believer, he is also the pastor of a congregation in Jerusalem and one of the leaders of the Israel Prayer Centre where they pray to see the Kingdom of God come to Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. Today Ofer tells his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zvi Randelman. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and family. He is the pastor of a Messianic congregation and he runs a drug rehab centre called Beit HaYeshua. I met Zvi recently in Jerusalem and he told me his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beithayeshua.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marianna - It’s well known that Israeli Jews come from many different backgrounds. One of the largest groups to emigrate to Israel have come from the former Soviet Union and my guest today is one such person. Originally from St Petersburg, Marianna came to Israel almost 15 years ago. Her father is a poet and writer. Her mother is a theatre director. The family is Jewish but not religious so Marianna grew up in a communist country in a secular environment. At the age of 18 something happened to Marianna and she started to believe that God exists. When we met recently in Netanya, a town in Israel, she told me what happened.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zev Porat. Born into an ultra religious Jewish family – he was expected to become a rabbi. But he didn’t. Instead he shocked his family by becoming a believer in Jesus, or Yeshua which resulted in his losing his job, his home and his family cut him off. So what is Zev doing today? He is preaching the gospel from morning to evening as he now explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zev Porat. Born into an ultra religious Jewish family – he was expected to become a rabbi. But he didn’t. Instead he shocked his family by becoming a believer in Jesus, or Yeshua. As a result his family cut him off, he lost his job and he and his wife ended up living on the beach in Tel Aviv.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zev Porat. What you are about to hear is one of the most amazing stories I have ever heard. Zev was born into an ultra religious Jewish family – descended from a long line of distinguished rabbis. As you will hear, it was expected that Zev would become a rabbi too. However, that wasn’t to be as Zev told me when we met in Tel Aviv.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Katerina - This week we’re back in Jerusalem where my guest is Katerina, a Swiss German Christian living in a community that works amongst Palestinian Muslim people. Here Katerina describes her experience of getting to know and like people from another culture, who speak a different language. I asked her what drew her to Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Hans - This week I’m in Jerusalem with Hans … we’ve changed his name to protect his identity … who is Swiss German. You might wonder whether it’s possible for a Palestinian Muslim living in Jerusalem to become a Christian and develop a love for Israel and the Jewish people. Well Hans can answer that question because he is living and working amongst Palestinian Muslims in the Old City of Jerusalem. I asked him what drew him to Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lisa Loden. Married to David, they have lived in Israel for over 30 years. Both from Jewish families, they used to be hippies in America searching for truth and meaning to life. When somebody told them that Jesus was the Messiah they were amazed … and eventually, they came to faith and when they arrived in Israel in 1974, they were amongst some of the earliest Messianic Jewish believers living in the land. Today those numbers have grown and there are approximately 12,000 Jewish believers in Israel today. Lisa has always been interested in reconciliation between her own Jewish people and the Palestinian people with whom they share the land. Thirty years on, her work in this area is taking her to other troubled areas in the world. We met in Netanya recently and Lisa explains her passion for and belief in reconciliation in its deepest sense.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Loden, who with his wife Lisa moved to Israel from the United States in 1974 after becoming believers. By 1976 they had started a Messianic Jewish congregation called Beit Asaph – one of the earliest congregations in Israel. David is also a professional musician and for years it was his passion to see Handel’s Messiah performed to an Israeli audience in Hebrew – something that had never been done before. As you are about to hear, this year saw the realisation of his dream….
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
kamti.org
Julia Fisher talks to Brian Slater. I met him recently in Netanya, a city just north of Tel Aviv. He was born into a secular Jewish family in Los Angeles and today he’s running soup kitchens in Israel to help the poor and needy. Where did it all begin?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Donna & Michelle, the founder of Shevet Achim – an organisation that brings desperately sick children from Arab nations surrounding Israel, into Israel for life saving surgery by Israeli doctors. Today my guests are Donna and Michelle, two volunteers from the United States who are working with Shevet Achim based in Jerusalem.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
shevet.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jonathan Miles. By profession he’s a journalist and 15 or so years ago, he was working in Jerusalem in that capacity. But one day his life changed for ever when he was asked to help a mother with a desperately sick child. That encounter resulted in him starting an organisation called Shevet Achim. I met Jonathan at their offices in Jerusalem recently and he shared his story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
shevet.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zvi Randelman and Alex. If you are a regular listener, you will remember that two weeks ago we heard from Zvi Randelman. A Messianic Jewish believer who is the pastor of a congregation in Jerusalem, he is also the founder and director of a drug and alcohol rehab centre called Beit HaYeshua. Here he welcomes both Jews and Arabs. Zvi makes it clear from the start that the rehab programme he offers is based entirely on faith, namely faith in Jesus or Yeshua, as He is known in Israel, and His power to break the bondage of addiction. When I visited Beit HaYeshua recently, I met a number of men currently in the programme including Alex, a Jew originally from the former Soviet Republic.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beithayeshua.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marcel Rebiai - On this programme we ask one simple question, what is God doing in Israel and the wider Middle East today? How are we to make sense of the current unrest that is causing such turmoil in the Arab nations? Does the Bible have anything specific to say about this? And what about reconciliation between Jew and Arab … is this possible against such a troubled backdrop? To help answer these questions, I met Marcel Rebiai recently at his home in Jerusalem, which incidentally, overlooks Mount Zion! Marcel is leader of The Community of Reconciliation working amongst both Jews and Palestinians. Here’s what he had to say.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zvi Randelman and Dennis - Today I’m taking you to Jerusalem, to an industrial area south of the city where there is a drug rehabilitation centre called Beit HaYeshua. The founder and director is Zvi Randelman and with him is Dennis, a former drug addict who is now on the staff. I started by asking Zvi to describe what happens here.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beithayeshua.org
Julia Fisher talks to Michael Ralph. In Israel, once they reach the age of 18, young people are expected to serve in the army, the IDF – Israeli Defence Force. For many this is a tough experience, especially for the men who are exposed to actively defending their country – as many are. In recent years, as the number of Messianic believers has been growing, so more have been entering the army. To maintain their faith has been a challenge – as my guest this week, Michael Ralph, found out for himself.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Angelika Raheb. Last week we heard from a Palestinian Christian called Maron. A former drug addict, today he’s an evangelist and church planter in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Today we hear from Maron’s German-born wife Angelika. What brought her to Israel?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Maron Raheb, a Palestinian Christian. Born and brought up in the Old City of Jerusalem, he used to be a drug addict. Today he’s married with a young family and he and his wife Angelika, who we’ll hear from next week, are active evangelists and church planters particularly in the West Bank. We met in their house, and I put it to him that he’s been on quite a journey!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Barry Segal. He is the founder and director of The Joseph Storehouse, a humanitarian aid project based just outside Jerusalem that helps anybody in need regardless of race or religion.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
visionforisrael.com
Julia Fisher talks to Mazen Naswari - Come with me to the Old City of Jerusalem, to the evangelical Alliance Church, to meet a Palestinian Christian called Mazen Naswari. He is a pastor of the church. Hear the story of how he moved from being a gambler involved in drugs to being a Christian pastor.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
jeachurch.com
Julia Fisher talks to Ron Cantor. There are a number of Bible verses that refer to Israel being a ‘light to the nations’; but what does this mean? My guest today can explain the answer. We met recently in Tel Aviv where he now lives. Born into a tradition Jewish home, he grew up in America and for many years was not interested in God. However, a Christian friend talked to him and gradually Ron started to believe. A serious car crash had a profound effect on his thinking as Ron describes.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat. With the recent eruption of conflict in the Arab nations, who better to ask for his perspective that an Arab Christian living in the region. Julia Fisher met him in Jerusalem recently. Labib is the Bible Lands co-ordinator for the work of Bible Society in the Holy Land.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joshua Pex, a Jewish lawyer working in Jerusalem who, along with his wife Sarah – a social worker – is using his spare time to fight against the injustice of slavery and sex trafficking in Israel today. He told us about Elena, a young woman from Moldova who came to Israel thinking she would have a job caring for the elderly. However, she found herself the victim of a cruel hoax and forced into prostitution. Here Joshua brings the story up to date.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joshua Pex. Born in Eilat in southern Israel to a Jewish mother and a Dutch father, after serving his statutory time in the Israeli army, he went to study law at university and today he works for a large law firm in Jerusalem where he specialises in human rights, social justice and religious freedom in Israel. He is married to Sarah, a social worker; and it is perhaps because of meeting Sarah that he was first introduced to an aspect of Israeli society that lies largely hidden from view – sex trafficking.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Raaja Grimberg at the YMCA in West Jerusalem. She was born into an Arab family living in the north of Israel. As Raaja was growing up, her parents, who are Christians, were very involved leading an organisation called Kings Kids which brings Arab and Jewish children together in a spirit of reconciliation. And so it was against this back drop that Raaja developed her thinking as she explains.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Etie Shoshani, a Jewish believer. From a religious family, she recounts how she came to believe in Jesus/Yeshua and then how she got involved in reconciliation with Palestinian Christians.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat and travels from Jerusalem into Jericho and the heart of the West Bank to meet two Palestinian Christians who are trying to help their own people and bring them comfort and hope.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas, the pastor of a Messianic congregation called Beit Asaph situated in Netanya, just north of Tel Aviv. He also has a great heart for the Palestinian people and is one of the leaders of the reconciliation movement that is gaining momentum in the country between the believers there.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Nardine Khalil, a student at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Her mother is English; her father is Palestinian – Nardine was born and brought up in Nazareth, a predominantly Arab town in Israel. Nardine describes herself as a Palestinian Israeli Christian. In this interview she tells Julia Fisher about her struggle with identity.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Thomas Damianos, an Arab Christian living in Haifa. He qualified as an architect, then a civil engineer and today he’s a practising lawyer. He also has a degree in Biblical studies. He was born in Haifa to a Greek father and an Arab mother and his name is Thomas Damianos. His passion is to draw Jewish and Arab students together to study the Bible.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Lisa Loden. She came to live in Israel with her husband David in 1974. Former hippies, they were some of the first Messianic believers to arrive in recent times and they helped to establish a congregation in Netanya, called Beit Asaph.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yarden Nasser, an Arab Christian evangelist working on the team of Jews for Jesus. As promised, this week we’re hearing from Peter’s wife Yarden who is Jewish. Yarden’s story began in the Ukraine. Born into a secular Jewish family, Yarden decided to come and live in Israel when she was just 15 years old.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Peter Nasser, an Arab Christian, is on the team for Jews for Jesus in Israel. He also has a Jewish wife! In this programme, he talks to Julia Fisher about his unusual story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Oded Cohen, whose story begun last week, charts the journey of a secular Israeli and the struggle he has to go through to come to faith in Jesus. ‘How can we talk to God?’ Oded asked at the end of last week’s Programme. Here he describes what happened when he put God to the test.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Oded Cohen. His story (told over two weeks) is typical of many Israelis who come from a secular background and struggle to accept Jesus as their Messiah. This week he tells Julia Fisher about his early life on a kibbutz in the Negev and how, after serving in the army, he came to live in America where his search for God took on new meaning.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Dan Sered, he is Director of Jews for Jesus in Israel, a position he has held since 2006. An unashamedly evangelistic organisation, Jews for Jesus’ aim is to make Jesus an unavoidable issue to Jewish people everywhere.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Sabha Asmar, he is blind and lives alone in a tiny property of just one room in Bethlehem. She works in a factory where she earns approximately $100 a month – not enough to live on. Abandoned by her family years ago, you would think she would be full of self pity and depression, but she is not.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Siham Abedrabbo, a Palestinian Christian living in Bethlehem where she works in a home for disabled children. Here she tells Julia Fisher how she became a Christian reading Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan and describes the vision she has to open a home for both old and young people together.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Johnny Shawan, a Palestinian Christian and founder of Beit A’Liqa, a community centre for children in Beit Jala, a suburb of Bethlehem.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Simon Azazian, an Arab Christian living in Jerusalem, he is on the team of the Palestinian Bible Society.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Wayne Hilsden, pastor of the King of Kings congregation in Jerusalem
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Chuck Cohen, one of the directors of Intercessors for Israel, an indigenous prayer organisation based in Jerusalem.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Tom Hess, founder and director of the Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Elizabeth Atteih. She and her husband Najeeb are Arab Christians living in Haifa. Here they share their extraordinary story.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Shmuel Aweida, the Arab pastor of a Jewish Messianic congregation in Haifa, northern Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Howard Bass , pastor of a Messianic congregation in Beersheva.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Yoyakim Figueras , pastor of a Messianic congregation in Arad, a largely religious Jewish Ultra Orthodox town in the desert of southern Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Burghard Schunkert, director of Lifegate, a Christian rehabilitation centre in Bethlehem where young people with special needs are taught a trade.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Marcel Rebiai, elder of a Messianic congregation in Jerusalem and leader of the Community of Reconciliation, working amongst both Arabs and Jews.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to "Z", a young woman in Jericho. Z used to be a Muslim, but she converted to Christianity after experiencing a miracle in her own life.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Samia , an Arab Christian originally from Nazareth, who moved to Gaza to be with her husband, and who now lives in Jericho – a story of upheaval, danger, uncertainty – and trust in God.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Calev Myers, a lawyer living in Jerusalem and founder of the Jerusalem Institute of Justice.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Jack Sara, a Palestinian who was born in the Old City of Jerusalem. As a young man he found himself on the wrong side of the law and ended up in an Israeli prison for a time. Soon after he became a Christian and now is the pastor of a vibrant growing church with a vision to take the gospel into the heart of the West Bank to people who have never heard about Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zaher Haddad. A Christian Arab, he was born and brought up in Nazareth. Today he has two jobs, as well as being a PE teacher he is also the General Secretary of the Fellowship of Christian Students in Israel, working with both Jewish and Arab students.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Azar Ajaz, an Israeli Arab brought up and living in Nazareth. Married with three sons, he is Dean of Students at the Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS) and passionate about training the next generation of Christian leaders in Israel … both Arabs and Jews.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to a Young Jewish Woman, working as an artist and living in Israel. Her story is not an easy one and demonstrates the challenge of being a believer in Yeshua in Israel today. She was born into a traditional Jewish family in Florida. Here, despite her background in Judaism, she describes her search for truth.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ronit & Tom; she is Jewish and born in Israel, he was originally from America. It is a story of tragedy, finding love and reconciliation; the story of a Jewish girl and a gentile boy now living in northern Israel working amongst both Jews and Arabs.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Joseph Haddad, Lebanese pastor in northern Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Brickner, executive director of Jews for Jesus, about their latest campaign in Israel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Avi Schwartz, a trumpeter from New York. He was born into a Jewish family and lived for many years in Mexico before moving to Israel, where for the past 4 years he’s lived in Arad in the south of the country ordering on the Negev desert. Avi’s story gives us Christians an insight into how many Jewish people view us and therefore the person of Jesus.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Ari & Shira Sorko Ram, leaders of one of the oldest Messianic congregations called Maoz.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Rita, a Jewish believer who lives with her husband and is running a shelter for women in crisis and the women coming to her for shelter are mostly refugees from Sudan.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Peter Tsukahira, a Japanese American Israeli, Today Peter lives in Haifa with his Jewish wife and together they are part of the leadership team of a congregation for both Jews and Arabs in Carmel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman, pastor of an evangelical church in Bethlehem. On today’s programme, despite the economic and political tensions in the West Bank, Nihad shares his belief that God is sending revival to Israel and the West Bank!
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Nihad Salman, pastor of an evangelical church in Bethlehem where today less than 1% of the population are Christian. In this programme he tells his story and despite the struggle, describes what he is seeing God do in his congregation.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zvi Randelman. Born into a Jewish family in America, Zvi’s search for truth was long and tortuous. Eventually he came to faith in Yeshua and today is director of a drug rehab centre in Jerusalem and leader of a congregation comprised mainly of former drug addicts, both Jews and Arabs.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beithayeshua.org
Julia Fisher talks to David Davis. He used to be an actor and director on Broadway. When he became a Christian several years ago, he visited Israel and whilst in the Old City of Jerusalem met an Arab women with cancer. That visit was to change the course of his life. Soon after, he met and married Karen, who is Jewish, and 20 years ago they moved permanently to live in Israel where they established a drug rehab centre in Haifa for Jews and Arabs and later a congregation on Mount Carmel.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Zvi Randelman. Born into a Jewish family in America, Zvi’s search for truth was long and tortuous. Eventually he came to faith in Yeshua and today is director of a drug rehab centre in Jerusalem and leader of a congregation comprised mainly of former drug addicts, both Jews and Arabs.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Paul Calvert, a young man from Cumbria now living in Israel. He describes his life there today, working to bring young Jewish and Palestinian children together, as well as working as a journalist presenting a weekly radio programme broadcast in Bethlehem.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Andreas Zorob, a Palestinian Christian living in Bethlehem. He helps run a centre for children and young people in Beit Jala called Beit A’Liqa, an Arabic name meaning House of Meeting. In a place of conflict, Beit A’Liqa aims to be a place where people can come and meet the living God. This week he tells the remarkable story of how this place came to be built during an intifada.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Andreas Zorob, a Palestinian Christian living in Bethlehem. He helps run a centre for children and young people in Beit Jala called Beit A’Liqa, an Arabic name meaning House of Meeting. In a place of conflict, Beit A’Liqa aims to be a place where people can come and meet the living God.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Schmuel Birlie, an Ethiopian Messianic Jew living in Jerusalem. Formerly a drug addict, today Schmuel is a radical evangelist. He shares his testimony and describes how he sees miracles happening in Jerusalem today … a situation similar to the experience of the early believers in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Belay Birlie, an Ethiopian Messianic Jewish pastor living in Jerusalem. He describes the story of the Ethiopian Jews and how they come to be living in Israel today.
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat, a Jordanian, Palestinian, Arab Christian living in Jerusalem. As executive director of the work of the Bible Society in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza he works amongst both Jews and Palestinians. Today he describes the heart attitude that is required for reconciliation.
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas, a Messianic Jewish pastor in Netanya. In this programme he explains why so many Jewish people have returned to Israel in the past 30 years in particular and asks, is this an act of God or a political Zionist movement?
Our aim is to build bridges... To build bridges of understanding and support, in a spirit of reconciliation, between believers (both Jewish and Arab) in the Holy Land (Israel and the Palestinian Areas) and Christians worldwide.
olivetreefund.org
beit-asaph.org.il
Julia Fisher talks to Labib Madanat, executive director of the work of the Bible Society in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Himself an Arab Christian, he works amongst both Jews and Palestinians.
Julia Fisher talks to Evan Thomas, a Messianic Jewish pastor in Netanya, who has a great heart for reconciliation between Jewish and Arab believers.