Beit Hallel Congregation is a vibrant Messianic congregation in Ashdod, Israel, with a heart to share the Good News of Yeshua, make disciples, raise up leaders, and build a strong community of believers.
Ashdod is where our story began.
More than 20 years ago, Pastor Israel and Vicky Pochtar came to this city with a calling to reach Israelis with the Gospel. What began as a small work of faith has grown into one of Israel’s larger Messianic congregations and has helped give birth to new congregations in other cities across the country.
At the heart of Beit Hallel is a simple conviction: people need more than a moment of encounter with God—they need a spiritual home where they can grow.
That is why evangelism and discipleship have always gone hand in hand in our congregational ministry. Our teams regularly meet Israelis from many different backgrounds, including new immigrants who are building their lives in Israel. Through personal evangelism, outreach gatherings, home groups, Bible teaching, prayer, and one-to-one follow-up, we seek not only to introduce people to Yeshua but to walk alongside those who choose to follow Him as they grow in their faith.
Beit Hallel is also a place for families and for the next generation. Children, teenagers, young adults, men, and women are encouraged to grow in their relationship with God, discover their calling, and become active members of the Body of Messiah.
Alongside our congregational ministry, Beit Hallel is committed to serving people in our community through practical humanitarian assistance.
Throughout the year, we provide food, clothing, and other forms of practical support to people facing difficult circumstances, including new immigrants, elderly people, Holocaust survivors, and families in need. This assistance is provided according to need, without requiring participation in religious activities or any response to our faith.
The journey has not always been easy. In the early years, Beit Hallel faced significant opposition because of our faith in Yeshua. Yet the congregation continued to grow, and what began as a small community in Ashdod developed into a ministry that has touched lives far beyond the city.
Today, Ashdod remains the heart of Beit Hallel’s ministry and a place from which we continue to reach outward. Over the years, leaders have been raised up, new congregations have been planted, and believers have been equipped to serve their own communities across Israel.
The words of Isaiah continue to express the heart behind our calling:
“You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’”
— Isaiah 40:9
Our vision for the future remains the same as it was in the beginning: to see Israelis encounter Yeshua, become rooted in the Word of God, grow as disciples, and carry their faith into their families, communities, and nation.
From Ashdod to cities across Israel, we want to continue building strong, healthy communities of believers, raising up the next generation, serving our communities, and faithfully carrying the Good News of Yeshua.