By Eitan Shishkoff

Thirty years ago we had no idea that this publication would endure, expand, and extend our words across the globe. I’m amazed and humbled to reflect on what God has done by bringing us together – using the simplicity of a “newsletter” – to create entire congregations, ministries to the poor, and raising up disciples of Yeshua in His land, Israel. So, I thought it would encourage our faith for the significant days ahead, to reflect on the privilege you’ve given us. Spanning thirty years and well over 1000 articles, we have expressed our hopes and dreams for Israel’s end-time awakening to Yeshua as our Messiah. You have allowed us to share our lives with you and God has joined our hearts in His prophesied plans at the climax of history!

How It Began

In 1993, my family and I had just made aliyah. We settled in Haifa, on Israel’s northern coast, from all the way across the world – Maryland, USA. Only a few short months after our arrival, I accompanied my wife Connie to the maternity ward on Mt. Carmel for the birth of our youngest child – the first native Israeli “sabra” in the family.

Just a half year earlier, Asher Intrater and his wife Betty had likewise moved here from abroad, bringing their four young children to live in Jerusalem. Our families joined millions on the epic journey of return prophesied by Moses, Isaiah and God’s prophets through the ages.

The Intraters and Shishkoffs had been sent out from the US by the “Tikkun” family of congregations. We were “returning from the diaspora” with our families. Our prayerful longing was to play whatever part God would put before us in the broader saga of restoration and redemption here in Israel, prophesied repeatedly in the Hebrew scriptures.

“For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness.” (Ezekiel 36:24-29 NIV)

From our Messianic roots in the States, the “Tikkun Israel” contingent grew to include the Morrisons, Chopinskys, Santoros, Justers, Cantors and many others. In full partnership with you, over ten Tikkun-associated congregations and ministries have been planted and/or fostered during the ensuing years in the Galilee as well as the JerusalemTel Aviv corridor, impacting literally thousands of lives.

Joining in Mutual Faith for Restoration Both in Israel and in All Nations

Asher and I, together with Dan Juster, began serving you on the pages of this publication, a year before our move. We wanted to be a joint voice, lifted up from Israel. Already, we had been long-time partners in Messianic Jewish ministry in the greater Washington DC area. With fellow teammates, we adopted the name “Tikkun.” In Hebrew, the word means repairing or restoring. Hence, the title of this publication became “Israel’s Restoration.”

The concept of tikkun-restoration extends even beyond the miracle of rehabilitation for this specific stiff-necked people Israel, to include restoring the world and mankind, “tikkun olam.” This is a biblically-inspired concept going back in Judaism that points to the prophetic realization that God is in the process of restoring and redeeming humanity and even creation itself (Romans 8). Tikkun aims to cooperate with God in His restoration of the children of Jacob and of all nations. That’s why you also see the term Tikkun Global – whether it be for mutual faith-filled intercession between Israel and the nations, or balanced Hebraic teaching, personal relationships, live broadcasts, etc. By God’s grace alone, we seek to be “a global family contending for revival and restoration – from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth and back again.”

“Ancient” History – Just Before the Internet

It’s hard to imagine, but three decades ago email was a brand new concept. The first major search engines such as Google had yet to be launched. Facebook and YouTube were still a decade away, and smartphones were not even a distant dream. So, we started with snail mail, and many of you have indicated that you still enjoy the token of physical connection between us that the printed pages provide. In this cyber era, the “magazine” also goes out via email and websites. The initial team of writers has grown to include the second generation of leaders who are now directly responsible in a day-to-day manner for all the Tikkun-related initiatives and ministries here in Israel. Our original aim was to inform, instruct, inspire, and involve you. These goals continue to motivate all of us, month after month, to share what God has placed on our hearts.

As founding editor, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the vast number of contributing writers (whom I shall not even attempt to name) as well as editorial and graphic layout staff that worked at one time or another behind the scenes. These include: Susan Tolkein (z”l), Hannah Weiss, Michele Clark, Lynn Frederick, Lisa Hutcheson, Marty Shoub, David Coddington, Jose Lopez, Diego Polly, Joanna, Avichai, Leora, David S., and Orit.

I conclude by thanking you for your connection with Israel in general and with the Tikkun-related ministries specifically. You are all deeply appreciated! Here in Israel we are aware that the progress being made is due in large part to the partnership we so enjoy with you, in financial support and prayerful intercession.

With warm affection,

Eitan Shishkoff

On behalf of Tents of Mercy as well as all the Tikkun- related Israel ministries and congregations.

by Guy Cohen

In 1 Samuel 8, the nation of Israel came to Samuel the prophet and asked him to anoint a man as king over Israel, like all the other nations had. Samuel took their request to the Lord with a heavy heart. The Lord’s response was that the people were not rejecting Samuel, but they had rejected God and God’s rule over them.

From that day on, many kings ruled over the nation of Israel and the tribe of Judah. The majority of them ruled exactly as God warned that they would. Instead of serving the people, the kings controlled the country and people for their own benefit and interests.

Throughout history, we see kings and rulers set themselves above their subjects in order to use them, their land, the fruit of their labor and their very lives. Most ruled as if the blood in their veins was different from that of the common person – noble, “blue” blood.

Unfortunately, even today we see this type of leadership. Governments are elected, chosen by and for the people, but not truly for the benefit of the people. We see a lot of people running for office but not for truly serving the people. From the beginning, they were called to serve the people, yet most fail to do so.

What is our role as followers of King Yeshua?

We are called to intercede for God to impact our flawed human governments, and ultimately for the Kingdom of Heaven to subsume the kingdoms of the earth.

The King of the Kingdom of Heaven dwells in every follower of Yeshua. May His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray that Yeshua the King of Kings, son of the most high God, come and bring His Kingdom, where peace and justice will reign. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

That is what is missing from the hearts of man throughout the earth. That’s what mankind really yearns for earthly kingdoms to provide.

With this in mind, we ask you to join us in praying together for the State of Israel’s newly elected government, flawed as it might be, in accordance with Paul’s instructions in 1 Timothy 2:1-2,

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

by Leon Mazin

Thank you for being with us throughout 2022. With your support, we were able to serve the Lord effectively in Israel!

Passing into the New Year, we feel the importance of the words of Yeshua, who commanded:

“When the Holy Spirit descends on you, you will receive strength and will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Albeit, Abraham had begun a form of “evangelistic” witness which continued from Israel in various forms to the nations regarding the one true God. This included David and Solomon building a “court of the Gentiles” at the Temple. Still, the people of Israel, lacked maturity and strength to fully carry out this divine plan.

Then Yeshua, the Son of God, died and rose again. Through Him, the power of Holy Spirit witness was released in Israel. This gave believers the ability to reach out to closed hearts. This gave pagans – who had strayed from the truth in their delusions – the ability to repent and turn to the truth, together with Israel to follow the path of God’s promises, to become children of God, walking in the Light of the Messiah.

In recent weeks in the congregation, we have been studying Ephesians. Paul says:

“…you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations… through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body … in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3:4-6 NIV)

Paul’s simple words to the Ephesians encourage us to stand in simplicity and modesty, and to develop what each of us has been given as joint heirs and various members of one body.

For some it is prayer. For some it is words of encouragement for others. This is not about being a “high achiever” as various motivational-coaches teach non-stop. This is the realization of God’s gifts for the benefit of the community. We each cooperate with the Messiah and fulfill our destiny. This seems too simple, but it is what the Lord expects from each of us, and He turns it into the power that changes the world around us.

Our prayer for everyone in 2023 is that they may step into their various personal gifts, revealing the Spirit of the Messiah in themselves and, through their good deeds, bringing and proclaiming the Light of the Messiah to others!

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