September 2025

These shocking testimonies of virulent antisemitism were recently shared with a Bridges for Peace delegation in Paris. We were there to accompany a group of French Jews leaving the land of their birth—a country now so hostile, they’re forced to hide who they are—for the land of their promise, where they can finally live openly and safely as Jews. 

We visited the Hyper Cacher supermarket, the site where, on January 9, 2015, an ISIS-affiliated terrorist stormed in and murdered four Jewish shoppers before being killed by police.

Outside the store, survivor Sandy Sharabi shared her chilling testimony. “As people were shot to death, I laid on the floor of the washroom for five hours. The terrorist shouted at the hostages that he was with ISIS and would kill all the Jews! I thought I was going to die!”

Emmanuel Sion, CEO of the Jewish Agency in France, pointed to fresh fire damage at the back of the store. Though closed for renovations, the kosher grocery store, a symbol of the Jewish community of Paris, had recently been attacked again.

Sharabi looked at the charred wall and sighed. “I have to make aliyah,” she confessed. “I can’t live here any longer. It’s not safe to be Jewish in France.”

We heard this tragic testimony over and over. Whether from French Jews registering to make aliyah, strangers in restaurants or the Chief Rabbi of the Great Synagogue in Paris, the message was the same: antisemitism in France is escalating so rapidly that life is becoming unbearable for the country’s 450,000 Jews. Isolated, vulnerable, and afraid, many now hide their identity. 

It felt like listening to Jews living in the 1930s, when antisemitism swept like a rotting disease through Europe, destroying everything it touched. The parallels are chilling.

I was told that the French government won’t act to deal with Jew hatred. The police ignore threats or are powerless to stop them. Thugs regularly target Jews. Graffiti proclaiming “Jews live here” appears overnight on Jewish homes. A cultured, historic people are made to feel like aliens, imposters and enemies in their own country.

I stood in the French Jewish Agency office asking questions to a Jewish couple in their 60s who were preparing to make aliyah (immigrate to Israel). When asked why they were choosing to move to Israel specifically, the woman shrugged. “Where can I go?” she asked. “Italy? Canada? The UK? I’ll move to another country and then what? A few years later, I’ll have to move again because those countries will not be safe anymore. The only place I can live as a Jew and not be ashamed of who I am is Israel. Even with the war, I go to Israel. I will go home.”

Her husband added somberly, “Nobody wants Jews. But we can have a life in Israel. We need to go home.”

When I reminded them about the millions of Christians around the world who love them, pray for them and stand with Israel, the couple teared up.

Thousands of years ago, Jeremiah spoke of the days in which we now live. “‘Therefore behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘that it shall no more be said, “The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,” but, “The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.” For I will bring them back into the land which I gave to their fathers’” (16:14–15).

In the wake of appalling antisemitism raging throughout Western nations, including France, the Jewish people are returning to Israel. I had the opportunity to address an audience of French Jews preparing to make aliyah and told them about Bridges for Peace.

I encouraged them by reminding them of how much God loved them and that He was bringing them home. Then the entire room stood to sing Hatikvah (The Hope), Israel’s national anthem. The emotion was clearly etched on everyone’s face. We then had the privilege of giving each of them a mezuzah for their new home in Israel.

This is what prophecy fulfilled looks like. Jews and Christians coming together to fulfill God’s everlasting Word!

On July 22, our delegation along with our partner Shmulik Freid from Keren HaYesod, boarded a plane with 60 olim (new immigrants) sponsored by Bridges for Peace, and flew to Israel. This means Christians like you from around the world who have chosen to invest their love, prayers and resources to help Jewish people return home to the Land of Israel funded every seat for these new olim.

Another team from Bridges for Peace waited at the airport, ready to welcome these new Israelis home with blue-and-white flags waving, songs and warm smiles. We cheered loudly for the oldest of the group, a 93-year-old woman in a wheelchair, who cried and beamed with delight. Thank you for being a part of this historic, biblical, prophetic moment!

The antisemitism around the globe is not expected to taper off. Hundreds of thousands of Jewish people are now desperate to come home. In line with God’s Word, we want to be there to lend a helping hand. Will you consider a generous gift today to our Project Rescue fund? Let’s join God’s prophetic plan together and change the world!

Shalom,

Rev. Peter J. Fast