Listen as Batya breaks down the beauty of Parashat Yitro in Exodus 18:1-20:23. This section of the Torah speaks volumes about God’s love for his people, the miracle of Exodus, and how we came to receive the ten commandments. As a student of the Torah and a follower of Yeshua, Batya’s perspective provides new insight into our promises with God, and how to navigate hard decisions.

Parashat Yitro - Bible Teaching with Batya Segal

Are you willing to bless Israel, make a difference in the lives of people, and partner with God's plan for restoration of the land of Israel?

This section of the Torah speaks volumes about God’s love for his people, the miracle of Exodus, and how we came to receive the ten commandments. 

Where Did We Get the Ten Commandments? | Blog | Vision for Israel

Parashat Yitro: Where Did We Get the Ten Commandments? 

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!" - Psalm 100:4

As we approach Thanksgiving, a cherished season of gratitude in the United States, we invite you to explore the deeper meaning of the Hebrew word for “thank you” – Todah. This simple yet profound word echoes throughout the Bible and holds layers of significance that invite us to reflect, confess, and express gratitude from our hearts. While today, todah is part of everyday Hebrew, rooted in the biblical texts, it has a profound dual meaning – thankfulness and confession – that brings us closer to God’s loving presence in both celebration and humility.



Todah in Scripture: More than a Word of Thanks

The Hebrew todah first appears in the Bible in Genesis 29:35. When Leah names her son Judah (Yehudah), she says, “This time I will praise [in Hebrew: odeh, I will thank] the Lord.” She expresses gratitude purely toward God, unburdened by her challenges. In its earliest form, todah was used only in relation to God and His blessings, demonstrating how gratitude flows from the acknowledgment of His hand in our lives.

Even more, in Hebrew, the word odeh which is derived from the word todah, and “confession” are closely connected. Odeh is not only a way to say “thank you” but also a confession of sin. We see this in Joshua 7:19 when Joshua calls Achan to “give thanks to God” and confess. This call to thanksgiving is a call to stand humbly before God and admit the truth in His presence.


Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor [in Hebrew: thanks] him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” - Joshua 7:19

The Thanksgiving Offering: A Gift of Praise and Acknowledgment

The ancient thanksgiving offering, or zevach todah, was a significant practice in the Temple. As described in Leviticus 7:12-15, it was more than an act of charity or duty; it was a genuine outpouring of thanks. The worshippers who brought these offerings expressed appreciation for God’s provision, acknowledging that every good thing in their lives came from Him. This heartfelt acknowledgment in todah reflects a truth that rings just as powerful today.

Rashi, a prominent biblical commentator, shares insight from Psalm 50:14: “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High.” Here, the sacrifice of thanksgiving was an acknowledgment of sins alongside a thank offering, a blend of humility, and honor to God.



Todah in the New Testament: Jesus’ Thanksgiving at the Last Supper

We see the connection to todah continue in the New Testament, where Jesus gives thanks to the Father. Before breaking bread at the Last Supper, He pauses to express gratitude for the provision of God. In Matthew 26:26-27, “Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.’” Jesus’ thanksgiving points to the fulfillment of the original sacrificial system in His own offering, ultimately reconnecting us with God’s forgiveness, love, and grace.



Today, as we give thanks to the Lord, todah reminds us of the power of humility, gratitude, and truth in our lives. It’s a beautiful word that bridges generations, still commonly used in Israeli life and language today. When you say todah in your prayers, you can feel connected to the same gratitude that inspired worshipers and prophets thousands of years ago.

We are deeply grateful for you, our supporters, as you join us in these acts of todah. Because of you, we are able to continue sharing God’s blessings in the Land of Israel. Thank you for your faithful partnership as we work to provide healing and hope.

Let us give thanks together, saying with the psalmist:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” - Psalm 107:1

Discover the biblical roots of “todah” – thankfulness and confession – and join us as we give thanks to God for His enduring goodness this season.

The Biblical Heart of Thanksgiving | Vision for Israel

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”


Tisha B'Av is a sorrowful day for the Jewish people. In Israel, many will fast, pray, and visit the Western Wall to memorialize and mourn these tragedies. This is a day to acknowledge the great need that humanity has for redemption and a Savior. Today, we thank God that he has come and offers all salvation and redemption through his Son, Yeshua.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." — Revelation 21:4

Tishah B'Av (תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב, the "ninth [day] of [the month of] Av") is an annual fast day of mourning that recalls the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people over the centuries, some of which have occurred on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. In particular, the following tragedies are all said to have occurred on this very day:

The LORD decreed that the original generation rescued from Egypt would die out in the desert and be deprived of entering the Promised Land because of the Sin of the Spies (Num. 13-14)

The destruction of the First Temple (Babylonians, 586 B.C.)

The destruction of the Second Temple (Romans, 70 A.D.)

In 135 A.D. the Jews rebelled against Roman rule under the false messiah Simon bar Kochba and were destroyed by Hadrian in the battle at Betar.

The Gemara relates that Turnus Rufus, a Roman officer, plowed the area of the Temple under. Rambam (Maimonides) added that all the homes in Jerusalem were likewise plowed under at this time.

The expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290

The expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492

On the Jewish calendar, 21 days (running from the 17th of Tammuz through the 9th of Av) are set apart to commemorate the three weeks of tragedy that immediately preceded the destruction of the Holy Temple and the exile of the Jewish people from the Promised Land. 

 In Jewish tradition, these are called yemei bein ha-metzarim, "the days between the straights," a phrase taken directly from the mournful Book of Lamentations: "Judah has gone into exile ... her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distresses" (בֵּין הַמְּצָרִים).

During the final nine days of the Three Weeks of Sorrow—beginning with Rosh Chodesh Av (i.e., Av 1) and ending on Tishah B'Av (i.e., Av 9)—observant Jews will begin emotionally preparing for the fast of Av. Typically marriages are not held during this time, and many Jews deliberately refrain from ostensibly pleasurable activities, such as listening to music, dancing, taking vacations, and sometimes even shaving. In fact, most Orthodox Jews will refrain from any activity that might require the recitation of the Shehecheyanu blessing.

Tishah B'Av is the low point of three weeks of mourning, starting with the fast of the 17th of Tammuz (undertaken to recall the first breach in the walls of Jerusalem by the Babylonians before the First Temple was destroyed). During these three weeks, weddings and parties are forbidden according to Jewish law. It is a time for solemn reflection and mourning for Israel.

 On this 25-hour fast day (sundown to sundown), you cannot bathe, eat, drink, laugh, or adorn yourself. As a mourner you enter the synagogue and take off your shoes; you sit on low stools or the floor. No greetings are exchanged. Services at the synagogue include the reciting of the acrostic portions of Lamentations and the singing of dirges called kinnot (קִינוֹת).

 On the eve of the fast, it is customary to eat a boiled egg sprinkled with ashes in silence.

On the Jewish calendar, Tishah B'Av is "sandwiched" between the two times Moses received the tablets of the covenant, first during Shavuot and later, after a period of repentance, during Yom Kippur. This means that just two months after celebrating the Sinai revelation, we mourn for the destruction of the Temple and the beginning of our long exile; and two months later still, we celebrate national atonement and the restoration of the covenant during Yom Kippur.

 All this is prophetic, of course, since Shavuot recalls the ascension of our Lord Yeshua and the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit); Tishah B'Av foretells of Israel's long exile and the "age of grace" extended to the Gentiles, and Yom Kippur foretells the coming atonement of the Jewish people at the end of the age when Israel accepts Yeshua as their great High Priest of the New Covenant (Jer. 30:24).

Although the fast ends at nightfall, the First Temple is said to have continued burning throughout the night and for most of the following day, the tenth of Av. It is therefore customary to maintain all restrictions of the nine days through midday of the following day.

Tisha B'Av is a sorrowful day for the Jewish people. In Israel, many will fast, pray, and visit the Western Wall to remember and mourn these tragedies.

Tisha B’Av: Remembering the Loss of Zion | Blog | Vision for Israel

Tisha B’Av: Remembering the Loss of Zion

“Lag B’Omer” means “33rd day of the Omer,” which is the day this Jewish holiday is celebrated annually. This year, Lag Ba’Omer is celebrated on May 26. This holiday can be confusing because it is celebrated during the 49 days of the counting of the Omer. God commanded the counting of the omer for 49 days leading up to Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, meaning the 50th day. So, tucked in the middle of this biblically commanded counting of the omer is a man-made holiday, Lag Ba’Omer. Many Israelis celebrate this minor holiday, and orthodox Jews celebrate this day to commemorate the history of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. 

Some believe that in the time of Rabbi Akiva, a plague killed 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva as they were counting the Omer. It is believed that this plague was sent from God because the students were not showing respect for one another. However, on Lag Ba’Omer, the plague stopped, which is why some celebrate this day as a day of joy amid sorrow and loss. 

Others believe that this was the day to celebrate or memorialize Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai — a famous leader of the Jewish mysticism belief, Kabalah. Many are still not sure if it was the day he died or just a day to honor him, but either way, some orthodox Jews go to Mount Meron to worship the dead rabbi at his tomb. Many also lay on his tomb hoping to receive some of his spirit. 

What is this minor Jewish holiday famous for? ... Bonfires, weddings, and haircuts for 3-year-olds.

On this holiday, you will smell smoke in the air, as some orthodox Jewish people build bonfires in memory of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai to represent the “spiritual light” he brought into the world. Others choose to get married on this day because according to Kabbalistic belief, it is a day of spiritual splendor. And lastly, most commonly among Hassidic Jews, it is tradition to take their 3-year-old boys to the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai to give their sons their first haircut.

Many secular Israelis also celebrate this day by lighting bonfires, and roasting potatoes and onions in the coals, but without the religious significance that the orthodox Jews commemorate. Many schools organize a class activity around that on the eve of Lag Ba’Omer and some families do it just for fun.

“From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seven Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord.”– Leviticus 23:15-16

The counting of the Omer is a command from the Lord given to the People of Israel to count the days between Passover and Shavuot and to give an offering of grain to the Lord. Because God commanded this in His word, it is biblical for Christians to count these days and celebrate Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) on the 50th day. We also recognize that the 50th day after Passover was when the Holy Spirit was poured out, also known as Pentecost. So, we count the Omer, but we may want to consider whether or not to celebrate Lag B’Omer.

Should Christians Celebrate Lag B’Omer?

At VFI we believe God has commanded us to celebrate the biblical Feasts, and Lag Ba’Omer is not mentioned in the Bible. As we learned, this holiday is steeped in mysticism, worship of the dead, and kabbalistic rituals.

So, what can we as believers in Yeshua do on this day? We can pray! Pray for those here in Israel who believe in these Kabbalistic views to encounter the fear of the Lord, repent from worshipping rabbis, and turn their hearts back to our God. Pray for a spirit of repentance and a heart of worship of the one true God.

It is important to recognize that not every Jewish holiday is biblical. So, let us remember to seek the Lord in His word to discern what is from Him and what is not. And as we continue to count the days of the Omer, let our hearts be filled with expectancy for the biblical holiday of Shavuot. This year may our hearts be fully open to the Lord to offer Him all that we are, and may He fill us afresh with more of His Holy Spirit! 

Should Christians celebrate Lag B’Omer? Read our blog to discover more about this holiday, its origins and traditions, and if Christians should celebrate it. 

Should Christians Celebrate Lag Ba’Omer? | Blog | Vision for Israel

Should Christians Celebrate Lag Ba’Omer?

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Parashat Yitro: Where Did We Get the Ten Commandments?

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

The Miracle of Exodus

Are you willing to bless Israel, make a difference in the lives of people, and partner with God's plan for restoration of the land of Israel?

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The Biblical Heart of Thanksgiving

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Should Christians Celebrate Lag Ba’Omer?

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