Jewish Voice Humanitarian Outreach

Whenever we see a need for humanitarian or medical aid, Jewish Voice responds with medical teams, supplies, food, and spiritual counselors. The ministry is dedicated to providing relief in any way possible.

Medical Outreaches:
Jewish Voice Ministries International Executive Director Jonathan Bernis led teams of healthcare professionals, intercessors and outreach workers to help the abandoned but not forgotten Jews of the Beit Avraham, Beta Israel and Bnei Menashe communities in Ethiopia and India.  

2009 Outreach Information:

 
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2009 Outreach Flyer




 

Physical Aspects
The team, comprised of 54 Americans and Europeans and 120 indigenous Ethiopian believers, provided medical care, free medicines, eye care, eye surgery, glasses and dental care to more than 12,000 of the poorest of the poor in Ethiopia.

Team members noted several miraculous events, including healings of many afflicted with blindness and deafness.

The health providers dispensed medicines, vitamins, and glasses valued at more than $250,000. Eye-care professionals distributed nearly 5,000 pairs of eyeglasses to the people, many of whom would be considered legally blind in the United States. The team also transported optical grinding equipment which allowed many of the eyeglasses to be custom made to prescription on site.

Spiritual Aspects
All who received treatment were invited into a counseling area where spiritual counselors prayed for them and shared the Gospel. The counseling team saw more than 1,000 salvations in the Jewish community and 6 salvations of Muslims. They also distributed 200 solar-powered audio players programmed with the book of Luke and the soundtrack from the Jesus film in Amharic, the language spoken by the communities. These devices, made in Israel by MegaVoice, are the size of a deck of cards yet are powerful enough to reach a roomful of people.

Community History
The Beta Israel Community is displaced and exists in deplorable conditions, with approximately 3,000 camped in makeshift refugee camps near the Israeli Embassy in Addis and 18,000-20,000 existing in camps near the Israeli Consulate in Gondar and the surrounding region.

Many Beta Israel have been refugees since 1991, when the airlifts of Operation Solomon flew their relatives to Israel and left them behind. Many were actually left on the runway when they were identified as members of families that had undergone a conversion to Orthodox Christianity!

Those left continue to patiently wait, still hoping someday to go to Israel. They are unable to return to their homes in the Northern Mountains of Ethiopia because they were occupied by surrounding villagers when the Beta Israel abandoned them to immigrate to Israel. Some who attempted to return to their homes were killed.

Prior to his debilitating stroke, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon issued a directive to allow up to 20,000 to come to Israel. Although Israel has allowed approximately 6,000 to come since this directive, the door to Israel is currently closed to them.

They remain a shunned people, called “Falash Mura,” a derogatory term which means outcasts, wanderers, sojourners. Their neighbors abhor them and their community leaders in Israel have turned their backs to them, urging Israeli leaders to not allow them to come to Israel for fear that they will try to proselytize the Ethiopian Community living there.

The Beit Avraham Community of 50,000-60,000 dwells in great poverty in the Kechene district on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. Jewish Voice is working with leaders of this community to establish a permanent medical clinic, which should be operational by 2008.

The ministry is committed to the survival of these abandoned communities, not only through medical clinic outreaches, but also by exploring partnerships with farming coops, developing infrastructure, providing vocational training, and creating a safe environment for these people groups to become productive and respected members of Ethiopian society.

“In Ethiopia, we saw the power of God moving. The lame walked, the blind saw, and the deaf heard.” Hannah

 “This is my second trip to Ethiopia with Jewish Voice. The spiritual and physical healing I receive while ministering to the Jewish People transforms my life every year. What an awesome ministry! What an awesome experience!” Debbie Roisen Case

“It is an awesome experience to see how the Lord brings people together from around the world to minister to His Chosen Ones in Ethiopia ‘for such a time as this.’ Our dental team consisted of not only Americans from various states but also a dentist from the Philippines and several Ethiopians, working together for the glory of God. Blessings!” Dr. John Balikowski

 What Jonathan Says

“These are Jews in dire need. They are not welcome in Israel because they are labeled as Christians and they are shunned by their Ethiopian neighbors because of their Jewish identity. They truly are between a rock and a hard place. They have been abandoned by the world, but not forgotten by God.

“We are committed to doing everything possible to help these impoverished people until they are allowed to go to Israel or until the Lord returns. We held high hopes that Israel would follow through on Sharon’s promise to transport these people to Israel, where their hearts have been focused for so many years. But now we must face reality and plan for their futures to remain in Ethiopia. We are determined to do everything possible to ensure they not only survive, but also thrive.”

Future Clinics
In the Fall of 2008, Jonathan made an exploratory trip to determine how Jewish Voice can assist the Bnei Menashe tribe in Manipur, India.

Jewish Voice returns to Ethiopia in April 2009.  

Be a blessing
The Lord says in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you.” Today, you can be a blessing to these forsaken Jews. To learn more about partnering with us to assist the Beit Avraham, investigate the links below!