Every year at Sukkot, the biblical Feast of Tabernacles, Israel remembers something extraordinary: God chose to dwell among His people. For seven days, families eat, gather, and sometimes sleep beneath the fragile roof of a sukkah—a temporary shelter or “tabernacle”—remembering the wilderness years when Israel had no permanent home, yet was never without the presence and provision of God.
The walls were temporary. The journey was uncertain. But God remained faithful. For us as followers of Yeshua, this picture carries an even deeper meaning, because Scripture tells us, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). And in Yeshua, God’s presence came near in a way the world had never known before.
And here in Nazareth—the hometown of Yeshua—we have been asking a simple question: What should that truth look like in our hands? If God came near to us, then we must be willing to draw near to others. If He has shown us mercy, then mercy must become visible through us. So as Sukkot approaches, we are preparing food packages for Jewish and Arab families who need help celebrating this season with dignity. On every package is a simple message in Arabic, Hebrew, English, and Russian: “He went about doing good. Go and do likewise.” That is more than a message printed on a box. It is the way we want to live.
Sukkot is one of the biblically appointed feasts, and Yeshua Himself celebrated it.
The Gospel of John tells us that during the Feast of Tabernacles He stood and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). In the midst of a celebration remembering God’s presence and provision, Yeshua pointed people toward the deeper provision found in Him. This is why Sukkot still speaks so powerfully to us as believers. It reminds us that God does not remain distant from human need. He comes near. He provides. He invites. And He calls His people to reflect His character to those around them.
That is what we want every package leaving Home of Jesus the King to communicate. We fill them with the simple staples a household needs—food for cooking, baking, and gathering around the table, along with something sweet for the children and a special holiday gift from the church. None of it is extravagant. Yet for a family struggling to make ends meet, these ordinary things can mean something precious: the ability to prepare a holiday meal, welcome the feast, and celebrate with dignity rather than worry.
But for us, every food package is more than a food package. It is a package of love. That love crosses the different communities that make up this land. We serve Jewish and Arab families, people from different backgrounds and different stories, because compassion does not ask which language someone speaks before extending a hand. The love of Yeshua calls us to see our neighbor, draw near, and do good wherever God gives us the opportunity.
And because of you, we are able to put that love into action. You may never see the moment when one of these packages is carried into a home here in Israel, but you are part of what happens there. Your generosity becomes food on a family’s table, dignity during a difficult season, something special for a child, and an open door through which we can demonstrate the goodness of God in a way that can be seen and felt. Your compassion reaches these families through our hands.
This is especially meaningful during Sukkot. The temporary walls of the tabernacle remind us that our security has never ultimately rested in what surrounds us, but in Who is with us. God remained faithful to His people in the wilderness, and He remains faithful today. Because He has come near to us, we want to keep drawing near to those who need compassion, encouragement, and hope.
There is a simple thought we want to leave with you: this is our message—and your message of love, and that is exactly what these packages carry.
If God puts it on your heart to stand with us this Sukkot, your gift will help us place these packages of love into the hands of more families who need them.
This Sukkot, together we are carrying a simple message into the homes of families across Israel: you are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone. We could not do this without you, and we never take your faithfulness for granted. Thank you for helping us put the love of Yeshua into action and carry it to those who need it.
Together, let us continue to do what He taught us to do:
“He went about doing good. Go and do likewise.”