Happy New Year to all our readers!
As “On this day in Messianic Jewish history” steps into its 12th year, with 750+ posts behind us, I’m grateful for a growing community of readers who care about the often-hidden story of Jewish followers of Yeshua—past, present and future. We trace significant events, people, institutions, and turning points, asking: How have the histories of the Church and the Jewish people shaped Jewish expressions of faith in Yeshua? And how do those legacies shape the contemporary Messianic movement today? How do Jewish disciples of Yeshua impact Jewish-Christian relations, the communities of the Church and Israel, and the realities of the world we live in?
Looking back on 2025
This past year has been marked by grief, uncertainty, and strain—especially under the long shadow of the Israel–Gaza war, and the way it has deepened fear, polarisation, and pain across communities. At the same time, we have also seen signs of growth and maturation in the global Messianic movement: more visibility, more serious theological work, more congregational stability in some places, and a renewed sense that Jewish faithfulness to Yeshua must be lived with integrity, humility, and responsibility.
Yet alongside these developments has been a sharp reminder that the question of the Jewish people’s safety is never abstract. Antisemitism has continued to increase in the UK, and events such as the Manchester Synagogue attack on Yom Kippur have left many shaken and watchful. And beyond the UK, the horror of violence against Jews—such as the reported Bondi Beach attack in Sydney during Chanukkah—has again shown how quickly celebration can be turned into terror. In such a climate, “remembering” (zikaron) is a spiritual discipline and an act of communal faithfulness. We call to mind the Almighty’s faithfulness to Israel, the covenant that is not revoked, and the promised renewal of all creation.
An exchange of support: 1 January 1897
As we begin this New Year, we remember a small but significant act of faithfulness that still speaks powerfully today—between Hudson Taylor, pioneer missionary to China and leader of the China Inland Mission, and John Wilkinson, founder of the Mildmay Mission to the Jews in London.
On the first day of each year, Hudson Taylor sent a donation to Wilkinson’s mission, writing on the cheque: “To the Jew first.” And Wilkinson, moved by this gesture, responded in kind—sending his own cheque to Taylor’s work with the words: “And also to the Gentile.”
Mrs Hudson Taylor records that this “helpful interchange of sympathy” continued year after year, with each later doubling the amount. It was more than polite philanthropy. It was a living parable of Romans 1:16—not as a slogan, but as a shared commitment to honour the Almighty’s purposes for Israel and the nations, each refusing to boast over or replace the other.
Not everyone has accepted Romans 1:16 as implying an ongoing covenantal, ecclesial, eschatological and missional priority. But whatever one’s framing, this much remains unavoidable: followers of Yeshua have a responsibility toward the Jewish people that includes repentance, reconciliation, practical solidarity, and clear, humble witness to Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel and Lord of all nations.
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Prayer for the coming year
English
Lord of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as we enter this new year, crown it with Your goodness. Strengthen Your people Israel; comfort the grieving; protect the vulnerable; and turn hearts from hatred. Teach us to walk in humility and truth, to seek peace with justice, and to bear faithful witness to Yeshua the Messiah. Bless this work of remembrance, that many may see Your faithfulness across the generations.
In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
Hebrew
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֲנַחְנוּ נִכְנָסִים לְשָׁנָה חֲדָשָׁה—עַטֵּר אוֹתָהּ בְּטוּבֶךָ.
חַזֵּק אֶת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל; נַחֵם אֶת הָאֲבֵלִים; שְׁמֹר עַל הַחֲלָשִׁים; וְהָשֵׁב לֵבָבוֹת מִשִּׂנְאָה.
לַמְּדֵנוּ לָלֶכֶת בַּעֲנָוָה וּבֶאֱמֶת, לְבַקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם עִם צֶדֶק, וּלְהָעִיד בֶּאֱמוּנָה עַל יֵשׁוּעַ הַמָּשִׁיחַ.
בָּרֵךְ אֶת מְלֶאכֶת הַזִּכָּרוֹן הַזֹּאת, לְמַעַן יֵרָאֶה נֶאֱמָנוּתְךָ בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר.
בְּשֵׁם יֵשׁוּעַ, אָמֵן.
Transliteration
Ribbono shel olam, anachnu nichnasim le-shanah chadashah—atter otah be-tuvecha.
Chazek et amcha Yisrael; nachem et ha-avelim; shmor al ha-chalashim; ve-hashev levavot mi-sin’ah.
Lammedenu la-lechet ba’anavah u-ve’emet, levakesh shalom im tzedek, u-leha’id be’emunah al Yeshua ha-Mashiach. Barech et melechet ha-zikaron ha-zot, lema’an yera’eh ne’emanutcha be-khol dor va-dor.
B’Shem Yeshua, amen.
The details are recorded by Mrs Hudson Taylor here:
And her last gift to the Rev. John Wilkinson expressed the deepest interest in his work among the Jews. Work among God’s ancient people occupied a special place in the prayerful sympathy of both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor ; and Mr. John Wilkinson, founder of the Mildmay Mission to the Jews, recalled an interesting phase of their long friendship. Taking advantage of a New Year’s Day spent at home (1897), Mr. Taylor went round to Mr. Wilkinson’s house with a brotherly note enclosing a gift for the Mission. ” To the Jew first,” were the words with which the cheque was accompanied. Mr. Wilkinson’s warm heart was touched, and he immediately wrote a brotherly reply, enclosing his own cheque for the same amount, with the words : ” And also to the Gentile.” This helpful interchange of sympathy was kept up ever after, the only change being that each doubled the amount of their contribution.
http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/hudsontaylor/hudsontaylorv2/hudsontaylorv240.htm
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