The ancient biblical city of Ashkelon is steeped in history and was an important city on the trade route of the Via Maris, which led from Egypt to Damascus. In 1300 BC Ashkelon was invaded by the Philistines who claimed it as one of their five major cities. Many heroes from the Bible had a tremendous impact on this area of Israel, such as Saul, Jonathan, and Samson.
However, the most remarkable thing that Ashkelon is known for is the great victory that King David achieved over the Philistines there, winning back the city of Ashkelon for the nation of Israel, and therein lies a powerful prophetic picture. We too have been sent to Ashkelon by the Lord, to wage spiritual warfare and to win back Ashkelon for the Lord.
To that end, we need your help. We have found a suitable underground bomb-shelter property in Ashkelon that is available to rent, and which will provide our growing community of believers in Ashkelon with a comfortable and safe setting in which to worship the Lord, even during times of war when rockets rain down from Gaza.
Ashkelon has become a hot spot during wars with Gaza, being one of the Israeli cities that receives most of the rocket fire out of Gaza. Just to demonstrate the severity of these attacks on Ashkelon, we’re attaching a video clip below of a such an attack from Gaza on Ashkelon:
Our congregational membership in Ashkelon has grown rapidly over the past few years, with the influx of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet nations, as well as refugees from Ukraine. Many new neighborhoods have sprung up, and Ashkelon has become a beautiful and growing coastal city. In this regard this spacious new underground property will provide us with all the space we need for Shabbat meetings, humanitarian projects, as well as Bible School and Alpha Course classes.
Would you stand with us financially to secure this new sanctuary in Ashdod, allowing believers there to gather safely and securely to worship the Lord?
We ask that you please consider sowing a monthly seed, big or small, towards this bold new move to win Ashkelon spiritually for the Lord. To partner with us, please visit our Giving page HERE.
Thank you and God bless!
Beit Hallel is a Messianic Jewish congregation in Ashdod, led by pastor Israel Pochtar, serving holocaust survivors and the poor and needy locally and throughout the nation of Israel, while building up the body of Messiah in the promised land of Israel.