Tel Aviv Outreach to Street People
- Moti Cohen
- Apr 27, 2023
- 3 min read
Tiferet Yeshua Congregation
Tel Aviv
All are welcome and the food is even kosher
At our Feed Tel Aviv outreach center in south Tel Aviv, our doors are open to all. We routinely serve people from all walks of life: Arabs, Jews, African migrants and more. For those who aren’t familiar, observant Jews and Muslims have specific dietary restrictions. Muslim dietary laws restrict pork, alcohol and inhumane slaughter practices. For observant Jews, the requirements are much stricter, and those who keep kosher are very careful about where they eat. The observant Jews and Muslims who come to our outreach center know us well and know that we keep a kosher kitchen, adhering to both Jewish and Muslim requirements.
For me, it is beautiful to see Muslims, observant Jews and refugees from the nations sitting together at the same table, receiving food, hospitality and the love of God. In the Middle East, hospitality is an essential part of our culture, both for Arabs and Jews, and God has called us to offer His hospitality to the neediest of the needy in our city. When I see society’s outcasts from all different backgrounds gathered together there, I am reminded how the Messiah shared a table with society’s “undesirables” and was sharply criticized by the religious authorities for it:
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Matthew 11:18-19)
A little love goes a long way
Here are just a couple stories of people who have shared our table and whose lives have been touched by this outreach:
Haled is an Arab man from a Muslim village in Samaria who ran away from his village years ago and eventually landed on the streets of Tel Aviv. A few years ago, we witnessed to Haled, and he ended up praying with us to receive Yeshua as Lord. Haled makes his living by collecting glass and plastic bottles for recycling. He says our outreach saves him from going hungry. Whenever Haled comes to the outreach for a hot meal, he brings along a bag so he can take away a few more portions to help him get through the week. Haled also comes to the outreach center to discuss his faith and to get more discipleship and prayer.
Sasha, a man in his thirties, ended up on the streets just recently. He told us, like many others we have met, that with the increase in food prices and a sudden rise in his rent, he was unable to make ends meet. When Sasha first came to us, he was so happy to receive food and clothes. He told us that we are doing a great “mitzva” (good deed). Because he has so little money and is trying to cut back wherever he can, Sasha said that he has lost more than 10 kilos (22 pounds) since he’s been on the streets.
I shared with Sasha about our faith. He was deeply moved, and he asked me to pass on his thanks to all who support this ministry. Sasha told me that recently he had been in a dark place and was deeply depressed, but meeting us gave him hope that there is still light in the world.
We want to thank all of you who support this outreach! You are out there with us touching the lives of these precious people with the love of God!
