September 2024
Dear Friends and Supporters:
Shalom in the name of Yeshua HaMaschiach, Jesus the Messiah, to each of you, my dear friends and supporters. As the Jewish New Year, 5785, is ushered in, I am excited that interest has increased among believers in the seven feasts of Israel as outlined in Leviticus 23. Perhaps it is because the world is changing so drastically that we are earnestly looking forward to the return of our Savior. Similarly, I am encouraged by the number of hearts open to the Gospel message during these challenging times. And with God, there are no boundaries.
Shalom in the name of Yeshua HaMaschiach, Jesus the Messiah, to each of you, my dear friends and supporters. As the Jewish New Year, 5785, is ushered in, I am excited that interest has increased among believers in the seven feasts of Israel as outlined in Leviticus 23. Perhaps it is because the world is changing so drastically that we are earnestly looking forward to the return of our Savior. Similarly, I am encouraged by the number of hearts open to the Gospel message during these challenging times. And with God, there are no boundaries.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
Recently, I have had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with a young woman born in Estonia, “M,” a Muslim man born in Armenia, “S,” and a woman born in Greece, “K.” M runs a skincare business out of her home, and is Russian Orthodox. Since I grew up in the Greek Orthodox faith, we were able to have an in-depth conversation about the differences in our beliefs. Please pray for M’s salvation.
I hired S to clean my carpets. After seeing the bookcases filled with books and Bibles in my office, he approached me and asked, “You read the Bible a lot. Right?” When I answered, “Yes, I do.” He said, “I am Muslim, but not extreme, and my wife doesn’t wear a burka. I hope you don’t believe that we Muslims want to kill you.” I said, “You may not want to, but the Koran says ‘death to all infidels,’ and I’m an infidel.” He didn’t believe that’s what the Koran says, so I offered to get the Koran from my bookcase and show him. Instead, we continued our conversation. I asked him if he believed in Heaven, how he would get there, and what he would answer if God asked him why He should let him in. He said he would tell God that he’s a good person. I explained that I could never be that good—that I needed a Savior and his name is Jesus Christ. I shared the Gospel message with him, as he listened intently, admitting that he had never heard it explained in that way. We parted on good terms; we hugged and blessed each other. Please pray that the seed that was planted would come to fruition.
A friend in Chicago who is a Jewish believer referred K to me, and I continue to have phone conversations with her. Although K and I speak in Greek with each other, and I have sent her a Gospel tract and book of God’s promises in Greek, she’s having a difficult time letting go of her Greek Orthodox ritualistic beliefs. Please pray that she takes a leap of faith, bringing her into a personal relationship with Jesus.
Pray, also, that hearts would be open, as a local mother’s group invited me to give my testimony.
THE JEWISH HIGH HOLY DAYS
As we approach the fall, it is with anticipation and joy that our Messianic fellowship, Tikvah BaMidbar (Hope in the Desert) and I, look forward to celebrating the last three of the seven feasts of Israel. Just as these feasts occur in succession, so will their fulfillment be by Jesus during the End Times. God’s entire plan of redemption will be fulfilled through the seven feasts of Israel. When the Lord spoke to Moses, He said These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them (Lev. 23:4 NASB).
As we approach the fall, it is with anticipation and joy that our Messianic fellowship, Tikvah BaMidbar (Hope in the Desert) and I, look forward to celebrating the last three of the seven feasts of Israel. Just as these feasts occur in succession, so will their fulfillment be by Jesus during the End Times. God’s entire plan of redemption will be fulfilled through the seven feasts of Israel. When the Lord spoke to Moses, He said These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them (Lev. 23:4 NASB).
Two of the three remaining feasts yet to be fulfilled are as follows: (I will highlight the last one, Succoth: The Feast of Tabernacles, in my next update letter in November.)
Rosh Hashanah – At sunset on October 2, the Jewish New Year, 5785, will be ushered in. Biblically, this feast
is known as “The Feast of Trumpets” (Lev. 23: 23-25). Its purpose was for Israel to remember God’s goodness, as demonstrated through the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3). In the fulfillment of this feast, God will use the shofar (an instrument made from a ram’s horn) to announce our Messiah’s appearance in the clouds. This feast is the next event on God’s redemptive calendar and will be fulfilled at the Rapture. The Tekiah Godolah (the long, last blast of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah) will be fulfilled at the Rapture of all true believers (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor 15:51-52).
is known as “The Feast of Trumpets” (Lev. 23: 23-25). Its purpose was for Israel to remember God’s goodness, as demonstrated through the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3). In the fulfillment of this feast, God will use the shofar (an instrument made from a ram’s horn) to announce our Messiah’s appearance in the clouds. This feast is the next event on God’s redemptive calendar and will be fulfilled at the Rapture. The Tekiah Godolah (the long, last blast of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah) will be fulfilled at the Rapture of all true believers (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor 15:51-52).
Austin blows the Shofar
Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement – The sixth feast of Israel falls on October 11, 10 days after The Feast of Trumpets. The 10 days in between are known as Yomin Nora’im (the Days of Awe), the most profoundly significant days to Jewish worshipers throughout the world. This is a time of repentance, when Jewish people look inward, examining themselves to see how they can be more pleasing to God. They believe that this annual atonement for sin is necessary so that, through prayers and mitzvot (good deeds), their names may be written in the Book of Life. During the two days of Yom Kippur, Jewish people fast from sundown on Erev (eve) Yom Kippur to sundown on Yom Kippur. The future fulfillment of the Day of Atonement will come at the end the Great Tribulation (the Time of Jacob’s Trouble). Jesus will return in all His glory at the Second Coming (Zech. 12:10), and a permanent cleansing will take place when Israel’s sin is removed (Romans 11:26-27).
Studying the biblical and prophetic aspects of these final feasts should put an urgency in our hearts to share the Gospel message with Jews and Gentiles alike. Especially meaningful this time of year is the sweet remembrance of my beloved husband, Barry, whom the Lord called to his heavenly home on Yom Kippur, September 24, 2015. How befitting for a Jewish believer whose name had already been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Barry called himself “a completed Jew,” and whenever he taught the significance of Yom Kippur, he challenged his audience with the following: “I am at-one-ment with the Lord, are you?” May we share his passion for the lost.
IN GRATITUDE
I am so grateful for each of you and for your faithfulness. Your love, prayers, and financial gifts have graciously sustained and blessed me in bringing forth the Gospel message to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16). Thank you for being my partners in ministry. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account (Phil. 4:17)
I am so grateful for each of you and for your faithfulness. Your love, prayers, and financial gifts have graciously sustained and blessed me in bringing forth the Gospel message to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16). Thank you for being my partners in ministry. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account (Phil. 4:17)
In Messiah’s love and mine,
Violette Berger
As the Lord leads, please include a note referencing all future gifts for Violette Berger to:
CJF Ministries
PO Box 345
San Antonio, TX 78292-0345