A broad coalition of faith-based organizations has announced it is adopting an Israeli community as its sister city in a bid to rescue and restore “Israel’s breadbasket,” the vital agricultural region between Gaza and the Negev Desert that accounts for over 60% of Israel’s agricultural produce.
“Right now Israel’s vital produce is just rotting on the vine, and if we don’t turn things around soon it could become economically devastating for the whole region,” said Todd Lamphere, Vice President of Governmental Relations for CityServe International. CityServe is non-profit consisting of a network of churches known for providing disaster relief both domestically and across the globe.
Known as Ein Habesor, this region is referenced in the Bible in 1 Samuel 30 as “the brook of Bezor,” where the future King David and his warriors briefly rested and regrouped before routing their ancient foes the Amalekites.
Lamphere has just returned from a fact-finding mission to Ein Habesor on behalf of CityServe and the other three coalition partners that are adopting this remote village. The other partners include The National Faith Advisory Board, Intercessors for America, and Paula White Ministries.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to get our new sister city Ein Habesor back up and running again,” Lamphere added. “Arabs and Jews alike depend on that fresh produce. This great need transcends nationality, religion, and a host of complexities in the region.”
Ein Habesor is an Israeli “moshav” strategically positioned just 3 miles east of Gaza. It’s home to about 320 families and over 1,100 residents, including 460 children. Remarkably, the settlement’s security forces were able to repel Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attack without a single loss of life for anyone in the community.
In the days that followed, however, 90% of Ein Habezor’s residents evacuated south to Eilat and are now living internally displaced in hotels throughout Israel. This means crops that would normally be harvested have been left unattended and are withering in fields.
Unless something is done soon, Lamphere warns, food prices throughout Israel are expected to rise sharply.
Uri Steinberg, the Director of CityServe Israel, traveled from Tel Aviv to join Lamphere on the mission to determine Ein Habesor’s most urgent needs.
“These are resilient people,” said Steinberg. “It feels like we're witnessing a modern-day biblical miracle. Even amidst this catastrophe, the spirit of the residents here is truly amazing.”
According to Lamphere, the coalition of U.S. faith-based groups anticipates a sustained effort to get the people of Ein Habesor whatever they need – clothes, relief supplies, and equipment – to resume their operations.
“This community plays a vital role in feeding all the people of the region, regardless of ethnic background,” said Lamphere. “Saving Ein Habesor is a cause everyone can celebrate.”
To learn more about CityServe and the plans in place to come alongside Ein Habesor with “Operation Save Israel,” visit https://cityserve.us/cityserveisrael/.