On Wednesday, April 30th 2025, severe wildfires broke out in the Jerusalem hills forcing multiple communities to evacuate including Yad HaShmona, the moshav (similar to a kibbutz) where JP’s founder, David Bivin, lives with his wife Josa. The wildfires burned uncontained for over 30 hours, requiring Route 1, the highway that connects Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, to be shut down. According to David Bivin:
A heatwave and the strongest winds you can imagine helped spread the flames. People had to abandon their cars in the middle of the blocked Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway and walk to safety through the smoke.
All told, the wildfires consumed around 2,500 acres of natural forest, woodland, and open areas including about 70% of Canada Park. By the hand of Providence, no human lives were lost in the blaze. Baruch HaShem (“Blessed be the Name”)!
David Bivin writes: “We were forced to evacuate our apartment in Yad HaShmonah at about dark on Wednesday [April 30], and were allowed to return about noon on Thursday [May 1]. …We evacuated to a neighboring moshav, Beit Zayit, and were hosted royally. We were provided with all we could eat and drink. The younger set danced Israeli folk dances on the lawn. Eventually, we all went to hotels or to friends to spend the night.” David reports that there was no fire damage in Yad HaShmona: “Our apartment is OK.” Importantly for his work on the Life of Yeshua project, David’s books and filling cabinets are preserved unharmed.
How You Can Help
Last year, in honor of David Bivin’s 85th birthday, we invited JP’ readers to plant a tree in Israel by donating to the Arbor Day Foundation. Planting a single tree requires a donation of only $18, and you can still plant a tree in Israel in honor of David Bivin and his lifetime of achievements. To learn how, follow this link: https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/28976/. In place of the wildfire’s devastation you can plant a living breathing thing “whose leaves are for the healing of the nations” (cf. Rev. 22:2).
