February 2025

Shalom from the beautiful hills of Judah, just west of Jerusalem! It is such a privilege to be here in this Land where most of the events of the Bible took place. It’s time for an update of life at JCBT.

 

Semester Program

We have completed four of our five technical courses: Historical Geography of the Land of the Bible, Old Testament Textual Criticism, Semantics of Biblical Hebrew, and Discourse Analysis of Biblical Hebrew, taught by some of the leading specialists in their fields in the Bible Translation world, and fully accredited by Hebrew University of Jerusalem. On Monday we will begin our 4.5 week course on Biblical Hebrew Poetry. Graduation will be held on June 26th. The students are doing very well. Still, four months of high-level courses requires energy and endurance.
Please pray for them.
Hiking in the Wilderness of Zin
Sirens

I think I’ve lost an accurate count, but I believe we’ve had to go to our bomb shelters 15 times since I arrived in mid-March. We’re so grateful for the IDF and their skill at stopping the Houthi missiles. We’re sad because of the airlines being afraid and cancelling so many flights. Even my June 27th Lufthansa flight has been cancelled more than a month ahead of time. (My travel agent has figured out an alternate booking. If that one doesn’t cancel.) So far, people who have needed to come or to go have been able to rebook.

 

Fire

Israel Independence Day starting the evening of April 30th, was actually an amazing day. We had to evacuate because of the fire just 6 miles west of us, but all the students are “experienced” and there was no major worry. We shifted over to our other Home in Mevasseret, slept, had breakfast, semantics class with Reinier de Blois, our independence day picnic lunch, and then we got the notice that we could return home in the afternoon. We were all well, and the moshav on which we’re located was untouched. Not even the smell of smoke.
For Israelis, these are difficult times. But the resilient spirit of Israelis, especially of the believers at Yad Hashmonah is amazing. That Wednesday was Independence Day evening when we had to evacuate. The moshav had planned a huge picnic with grilled meats and lots of shared dishes and desserts. The evacuation cancelled that. Instead, after the return Thursday afternoon, they decided to celebrate one day later. Sort of like a “second Passover”. There was food and dancing and laughter. All in the midst of this ongoing trouble. It was a blessing to be part of it. God is good.

No smoke smell reminded me of Daniel’s friends:

“They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” Dan 3:27. Different event, same God!

We praise God for His faithfulness in every step of this journey. And we are so thankful for your prayers and support.

In Him,


Bob Carter
Executive Director JCBT

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