Shavuot Newsletter

May 2026 – Sivan 5786

Dear Family in the Messiah Yeshua! Greetings and blessing from your brothers and sisters at “Holy Land Ministries in Israel”!

Introduction by Steve Chappell – HLM board member U.K.

Shavuot and the Story of Ruth

Israel is preparing to celebrate the feast of Shavuot which this year commences on the evening of Thursday 21st May.

Usually a joyous time, it will be celebrated this year in the midst of anxiety and uncertainty as, at the time of writing, the conflict in the Middle East rages on with Israel still defending itself on multiple fronts.

As we approach Shavuot, we turn to the beautiful Book of Ruth—a story set during the harvest season that this feast celebrates. But Ruth offers us far more than just a seasonal backdrop.

Traditionally, Ruth is read at Shavuot because her wholehearted commitment to Naomi and the God of Israel mirrors the covenant Israel made at Mount Sinai.

Her declaration—”Your people will be my people and your God my God”—echoes the radical devotion required when accepting God’s covenant.

For Messianic believers, Ruth’s story takes on added dimensions. This Gentile woman who chose faith in Israel’s God foreshadows the inclusion of all nations into God’s redemptive plan—a reality attested throughout the scripture but bursting forth through the first Messianic community on the Day of Pentecost (Shavuot) when the Holy Spirit was poured out and thousands from every nation came to faith in Yeshua (Acts 2).

Boaz, one of the main characters in the book becomes Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer (Goel) and points us to our ultimate Redeemer, Yeshua—the One who provides for our needs, restores what was lost, and takes us as His own.

And remarkably, Ruth’s faithfulness places her directly in the lineage of King David and ultimately the Messiah Himself.

This Shavuot, as we celebrate the giving of Torah and the outpouring of the Spirit, may Ruth’s story remind us that God’s covenant of grace has always been intended for “whosoever will come.”

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17)

We are pleased to be able to include the following article on Shavuot (Pentecost) by our local rabbi and brother in Messiah Yeshua.

חג השבועות

חג הביכורים

Chag HaShavuot – Chag HaBikkurim

תשפ״ו 5786

The primary place where information can be found about the Appointed Days of the L-rd is in parashat Emor, which is located in Leviticus chapter 23. In regard to both רֵאשִׁית (the first day of counting the Omer) and the Feast of Weeks חַג הַבִּכּוּרִים there are no dates provided. This has significant implications. It is incorrect for Rabbinical Judaism to give fixed dates for both of these two commandments, רֵאשִׁית (the first day of counting the Omer) and Feast of Weeks חַג הַבִּכּוּרִים. When studying thoroughly the section which deals with these special observances, it becomes most clear that fixing a date for the first day of counting the Omer is not what G-d had intended. Within this passage, it is stated,

וּסְפַרְתֶּם לָכֶם מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת מִיּוֹם הֲבִיאֲכֶם אֶת-עֹמֶר הַתְּנוּפָה שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת תְּמִימֹת תִּהְיֶינָה.

“And you will count for yourselves from the day after the Shabbat, from the day you brought the Omer wave offering there will be seven complete weeks.”

Leviticus 23:15

In addition to this verse, it is also stated,

עַד מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת הַשְּׁבִיעִת תִּסְפְּרוּ חֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה לַיהוָה.

“Until the day after the seventh Shabbat, you will count fifty days and you will offer a new grain offering to the L-rd.” Leviticus 23:16

If in fact the meaning of the Hebrew phrase מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת, is referring to the High Shabbat of the first day of Unleavened Bread, i.e., the fifteen day of Nissan (Aviv), then there is a serious problem, because there are not seven High Shabbats during this period of time. This is why the Word of G-d does not provide any dates. There is a very different formula which the L-rd wants His people to follow. When the Scripture states, מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת, the day after the Shabbat, it is indeed referring to the normal seventh day Shabbat. This would mean that both רֵאשִׁית (the first day of counting the Omer) and Feast of Weeks חַג הַבִּכּוּרִים must also be on the first day of the week. It is important for one to know that it was on רֵאשִׁית that Yeshua was raised from the dead. This fact is well attested in the Scriptures. In fact, the Apostle Paul states twice in 1 Corinthians 15 that Yeshua is the רֵאשִׁית (See 1 Corinthians 15:20 and 23).

In Leviticus 23:16, the reader is also informed that there are a total of fifty days between the day one begins counting the Omer and the observance of the Feast of Weeks. Why exactly fifty days? The number fifty also relates to the concept of the Jubilee.

וְקִדַּשְׁתֶּם אֵת שְׁנַת הַחֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה וּקְרָאתֶם דְּרוֹר בָּאָרֶץ לְכָל-יֹשְׁבֶיהָ יוֹבֵל הִוא תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם

“And you will sanctify the fiftieth year and you will proclaim liberty (freedom) in the Land for all of its inhabitants it will be a Jubilee for you.” Leviticus 25:10a

There is a very close connection between the term Jubilee and the Hebrew word דְּרוֹר. This word means freedom or liberty. The fact that there are exactly fifty days of counting the Omer directly relates to what occurred on the Feast of Weeks after Yeshua was resurrected from the dead by His heavenly Father on the first day of the counting of the Omer. One learns from Acts chapter two that it was also on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) that the Holy Spirit was given to believers. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit which enables believers to do what was given on the Feast of Weeks after the Children of Israel had come out of Egypt. It was at Mount Sinai that G-d gave His people the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are the foundation for the entire Torah. Hence, the liberty and freedom which the Holy Spirit provides to every believer is the ability to do the will of G-d. In other words, the Holy Spirit is provided to believers so we are set free (given liberty) and can serve G-d by doing His will. It is when a person is doing the will of G-d, that this one has a witness which is pleasing to G-d and reflects the character of G-d.

The Bible states,

וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת-הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בָּרָא אֹתוֹ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בָּרָא אֹתָם.

“And G-d created the man in His image, in the image of G-d He created him, male and female, He created them.” Genesis 1:27

What is the proper understanding of this verse? It is not that humans look like G-d, as G-d is Spirit (See John 4:24); rather, we were created to reflect G-d’s character. It is only through the gift of the Holy Spirit that one can do this. This truth is also related to a miracle that Yeshua performed in John chapter 5. It was during a festival in which Yeshua went up to Jerusalem to observe that He did this miracle. It related to a lame man who received healing and was set free to worship G-d. In fact, it was only after this man was healed, that Yeshua met him in the Temple (See John 5:14). This one had been in this lame condition for thirty-eight years. Nevertheless, it was not a problem for Yeshua to restore him so that he could do the will of G-d. It is very significant that after Yeshua met this man in the Temple, he went and spoke to the leaders of the Jewish people about Yeshua Who had healed him. This man was not afraid, but was empowered to do the will of G-d, and did not have any fear of the leaders who could put him out from having a worship experience with G-d. This man was more interested in obeying Yeshua and pleasing His heavenly Father than anything that those leaders could do to him.

This is an important lesson for every believer. We should not ever hesitate to obey G-d; rather we should be quick to ignore fear and choose to do the very things which manifest the character of G-d in our lives. This is how those who actually know the G-d of Israel behave. Not with fear and uncertainty, but with a boldness and an unwavering commitment to do the commandments of G-d, not for salvation; but rather to testify to others that we have been saved and it is this salvation experience which is causing us to behave in this manner.

Outreach to the Elderly in Ashqelon, Beersheva and Haifa

Outreach efforts to assist the elderly and needy in Ashqelon and Beersheva continue in spite of the current difficult situation.

Pastor Vecheslav continues to offer pastoral support to our elderly wards in Ashqelon due to his visa being extended by a further three months.

It would seem that God is answering prayer and “working all things together for good” (Romans 8:28).

He is being used by the LORD to encourage our wards and to declare the Good News of salvation to these dear souls.

Even the spring temperature has not deterred him, currently it is generally in the area of 30 deg C.

Please pray for Vecheslav that the LORD will continue to anoint him for his ministry and that He will give “words of Spirit and life” to declare to our wards and workers.

HLM Partners in Kirgistan

In Kirgistan, our partners maintain their outreach to the local orphanage and elderly population, offering both tangible support and their witness as disciples of Yeshua.

They are planning to run a Summer Camp for the orphans close to Lake Issyk-Kul which is the second-largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea and an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Tentatively, the camp is planned for late June to early July, but we are still waiting for the final dates from the children’s home ministers. We will follow their decision and pray that the Lord arranges everything according to His perfect timing.

They will be using children’s teaching material produced by our local rabbi and brother in Messiah to teach biblical themes to the children.

They also hope to use it for future ministry among the adult believers and their children in their community. They see this as a good opportunity to serve families and strengthen the fellowship of believers in Tamchi.

Please pray for God’s blessing on this project and that they will successfully reach the children with biblical truth in an age appropriate manner.

HLM Partners in India

Pastor Chandra and his congregations persist in their outreach to local poor and needy individuals through their ongoing “Soup Kitchen” operation. His ministry has also expanded to include the “Untouchable” community, as previously reported in the last newsletter.

He also has started using the children’s material produced by our local rabbi to introduce the children of the “untouchable” community to biblical truth.

With the help of HLM Pastor Chandra has also been able to supply clothing and food to this vulnerable and needy section of Indian society.

Please pray the the LORD will anoint and bless this outreach and that the children will come to know the truth of God’s word and God’s love in their hearts.