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From French to Hebrew: Returning Home

February 18, 2025

March 19, 2012 is a day the Jewish community of France will never forget. Mohammad Merah, a terrorist with ties to Al-Qaeda, maneuvered through the streets of Toulouse on his motorcycle and parked near the entrance of the Ozar Hatorah Jewish day school. He drew his gun and approached the school with a clear mission: to murder Jews.

Tragically, Merah succeeded. When his bloody work was done, he had murdered a rabbi and three children, while wounding several others. Witnesses shared that he executed 8-year-old Myriam Monsonego at point-blank range by placing his weapon at her temple and pulling the trigger.

Merah was killed ten days later following a police siege and standoff.

A tremor of agony, shock and fear rippled throughout the Jewish communities in France and across the world. The evil nature of these horrific murders in broad daylight unsettled anyone with a conscience. Most of all, it clearly sent a message to French Jews that they were vulnerable and exposed. Some tried to push the uncomfortable feelings from their minds, believing that it was just an “isolated incident” amidst France’s 68 million citizens against a proud French Jewish community that stretched back centuries. Yet, many wondered if the signs of violence targeting Jews, such as the murders in Toulouse and other attacks, as well as the nationwide rise in antisemitism, might be clearly spelling the end of French Jewry.

Truthfully, we cannot know if and when the life of the Jewish communities in France will end as a result of threats and the menacing rise of antisemitism. As Christians, our prayers have been with this vulnerable Jewish minority for years. We join the many voices calling for the government of France and all powers of law and justice in that nation to crush the cancer that is Jew hatred. But that hatred, wrapped in ideology of anti-Zionism and anti-Israel rhetoric which drips with the venom of antisemitism, presents a very real danger to the Jewish community. This danger continues to rise exponentially, particularly since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. During a recent visit to Paris, I personally witnessed the torn down hostage posters and scrawled swastikas. The statistics and figures reveal a reality of fear as thousands of France’s Jewish citizenry consider fleeing their country of birth to make aliyah (immigration) to Israel.

Bridges for Peace has been a long-standing partner with Keren Hayesod, an umbrella organization of the Jewish Agency which focuses on official aliyah for the State of Israel. Our friend, Shmulik, recently told us that over 33,000 Jews made aliyah in 2024—despite the war—and that forecasts for 2025 show that this number could double. Moreover, France is expected to be a major aliyah nation.

As people of faith, the explanation is simple. God is calling His people back to their ancestral homeland, and the tragic growth of antisemitism among the nations is one of those things precipitating their return.

As the prophet Jeremiah stated amidst the approaching Babylonian threat against Jerusalem, “‘Therefore behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when it will no longer be said, “As the Lord lives who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,” but, “As the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.” For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers. Behold, I am going to send for many fishermen,’ declares the Lord, ‘and they will fish for them; and afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and every hill and from the clefts of the rocks’” (Jer. 16:14–16 NASB).

God is faithful and He has promised to regather His people to the Land of promise for His Name’s sake (see Isa. 11:12; Ezek. 36). Jeremiah 16:16 teaches that at certain points in history, it will be easier for the Jewish people to return and people will assist and encourage them (“fishers,” such as Bridges for Peace). But there will also be times of threats and danger (“hunters,” such as pro-Hamas advocates around the world), which will force many to flee to Israel. However, the prophet makes it clear that in all cases, it is the Lord who will regather them.

We are witnessing this in our day! We are seeing the jubilation in Israel as they welcome each new planeload of olim (immigrants). At the same time, we are witnessing the unsettled fears grow among the Jewish community in the nations. For decades, Bridges for Peace has been committed to rescuing Jewish people and returning them to the Land. In total, we have brought over 114,000 Jewish people to Israeli shores!

Faithful, dedicated Christians all over the world who love Jesus and His earthly family have made this possible as they have donated their time and money to save and preserve lives and help Jewish people flourish in Israel.

Now we have some exciting news! This coming summer, Bridges for Peace will partner with Keren Hayesod to sponsor an entire planeload of French Jews who will make aliyah through our program, Project Rescue. A delegation from Bridges for Peace will travel to France, document the activity on the ground and meet with French Jewish leaders and individuals preparing for the massive life change. Then we will board the aircraft and fly home with them to the sound of the chorus, AM YISRAEL CHAI (the people of Israel live)! We will witness the welcoming celebrations on the tarmac of Ben Gurion Airport as the returning olim step off the plane and kiss the ground. We will see prophecy unfolding before our eyes—and we’ll literally be a part of it. We will also share every step of this divine journey with you and all our supporters around the world so that every nation will know one undeniable fact: the God of Israel lives.

Will you join with us today in this exciting, prophetic adventure by supporting Project Rescue? Will you help fulfill the words God gave to Jeremiah true before our eyes!

With joy and shalom,

Rev. Peter Fast

International CEO

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