Shalom! Light of Zion is an Israeli prayer and teaching ministry dedicated to Israel’s full restoration. Founded and directed by American-Israelis, Dr. Kerry and Sandra Teplinsky, Light of Zion is passionate about raising up global intercession for Israel, teaching the Christian Church about Israel and its Jewish roots, and combating anti-Semitism.
Prophetic Intercession
Mobilizing and Networking Prayer ● Live Intercession Online ● Strategic Initiatives ● Prophetic Liaison ● Governmental Focus ● International and Kingdom Orientation ● Teachings and Resources on Prayer
Balanced Bible Teaching
Israel in the Word and Heart of God ● Relationship of Israel and the Church ● Yeshua and One New Humanity ● Yeshua and the Biblical Feasts ● Overcoming Anti-Semitism ● Why Christians Should Care about Israel
Outreach
Needy Israelis Fund (Jews and Arabs) ● Israel War Relief Fund ● Humanitarian Aid ● Bringing Good News to Zion
Unity and Reconciliation
Jews and Christians ● Arabs and Jews ● One New Humanity
Writing
Widely Published Books ● Articles ● Posts
Our Story
How It Began
Light of Zion began from a life changing encounter Sandra experienced with the Spirit of God. In that intimate exchange, He revealed to her His fiery, covenant love for the Jewish people. She was left with an unstoppable passion to carry and communicate His heart for the Jews to both Israel and the Church. Sandra spent years in prayer and seminary study, then began teaching in churches and Messianic Jewish communities. In 1991 she married Kerry, who shared her faith, and the ministry expanded internationally.
How the Ministry Developed
Through much of the 1990’s the Teplinskys served in Jewish-Christian outreach in the former Soviet Union. In 2000, they launched a home fellowship focused on worship and intercessory prayer for Israel. The ministry grew exponentially when Sandra’s book, Why Care About Israel? was published by a large American Christian publisher in 2004. The book is still considered by many leaders a classic introduction to Israel for evangelical Christians. She has written five books on Israel and is currently working on a sixth.
The Teplinskys co-established the first house of prayer in Israel owned and operated by Israeli Jewish believers. Today they are loosely affiliated with the Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries, King of Kings Community in Jerusalem, and various Israeli Messianic communities. They maintain a satellite US base in Florida, with an office in California.
Light of Zion views the matter of social justice as critical to God’s purposes. The ministry reaches out in practical ways to needy Israelis. It maintains an emergency war relief fund for needy Jews and Arabs. Because it regards the unborn to be among the most needy, Light of Zion also partners financially with pro-life Israeli ministries.
In the US, Light of Zion is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and member of the Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability.
Igniting Israel and the Church
Sandra Teplinsky
Sandra Teplinsky is co-founder and President of Light of Zion. She and her husband Kerry lead Reshet Tefilah, an indigenous Israeli prayer network comprised of Jewish and Arab Israeli believers in Jesus (Yeshua). She is an international speaker, prophetic liaison, author and teacher. An ordained pastor, she has served in Jewish Christian ministry since 1979.
Sandra comes from a modern Orthodox Jewish background. Surrounded by violent anti-Semitism throughout her youth, she came to faith in 1975 while trying to disprove the New Testament. Her husband, a retired cardiologist, is also Jewish.
Sandra has a BA in political science from the University of Illinois and JD from Indiana University School of Law, both with highest honors. A former litigation attorney, she also attended Talbot Seminary in Los Angeles.
Sandra’s books include Why STILL Care about Israel The Sanctity of Covenant, Moral Justice and Prophetic Blessing, published by Chosen Books in 2013; Israel’s Anointing: Your Inheritance and End-Times Destiny through Israel, Chosen Books, 2008; Why Care about Israel? How the Jewish Nation is Key to Unleashing God’s Blessings in the 21st Century, Chosen Books, 2004; The Blessing of Israel; and Out of the Darkness: The Untold Story of Jewish Revival in the Former Soviet Union. She has written numerous articles for Messianic and Christian media outlets and maintains a blog.
Dr. Kerry Teplinsky
Kerry, a retired medical doctor, is co-founder and Vice President of Light of Zion. He serves full time with the ministry in overseeing all operations, facilitating prayer, humanitarian outreach, and occasional teaching with a focus on modern Israeli history.
Kerry comes from an American Conservative Jewish family. He came to faith in Yeshua after achieving educational, career and worldly success, but finding no genuine fulfillment in them. Kerry earned his BA at the University of Illinois and MD at the University of Chicago. He was a member of the teaching faculty of the University of Chicago School of Medicine; served as volunteer faculty at Ben Gurion University in the Negev; and worked as physician volunteer with Hadassah Hospital Hospice Center in Jerusalem. He is certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Critical Care Medicine.
Kerry organized medical missions to Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union in the 1990s, where he saw thousands of people make commitments of faith. He has been called “heart doctor for the spirit” as well as body.