“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3)
For faith-driven investors, managing money is never just about returns. It is a declaration of values, a stewardship of blessing, and an expression of covenant faith.
Biblically responsible investing (BRI) asks one foundational question: Is my portfolio honoring God?
This guide outlines one approach to building a faith-based portfolio that aligns with Scripture, and discusses how investing in Israel’s flourising stock market may be considered within a broader truly biblical investment framework.”
Wise Money Israel, an Israel-based SEC-registered investment advisory firm, provides specialized guidance and serves as your guide at every step, bridging the gap between biblical conviction and market expertise.
What Is Biblically Responsible Investing?
Quick Answer:
Biblically responsible investing, also known as BRI, is a values-based investment strategy that aligns a portfolio with Christian or Jewish scriptural principles. It combines negative screening (excluding immoral industries) with positive screening (actively investing in areas that reflect God’s purposes, such as aligning with Israel). BRI treats financial stewardship as an act of faith, not just a financial decision.
Biblically responsible investing goes far beyond simply removing “sin stocks” from a portfolio. It is a proactive, purpose-driven discipline that asks: Where is God at work in the world, and can my capital follow?
While traditional BRI screens exclude companies involved in abortion, pornography, gambling, or predatory lending, a fully developed biblical portfolio also intentionally invests in companies and markets aligned with human flourishing, innovation, and God’s redemptive purposes.
For millions of Christian and Jewish investors, that conviction leads directly to Israel, the Land at the center of Scripture’s great promises.
Why Israel Is the Cornerstone of Biblical Investing in 2026
Israel’s modern economic rise is one of the most compelling stories in global finance. From a nation established against all odds, Israel has grown into a world-leading innovation hub - the “Startup Nation,” - driving breakthroughs in technology, agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare, and infrastructure.
But for the biblically minded investor, Israel’s significance runs even deeper. Scripture describes the restoration of Israel as one of the defining movements of the end times. Investing in Israel is participating in that restoration; tangibly, financially, and faithfully.
The Financial Case for Investing in Israel’s Stock Market
- Tel Aviv 35 Index outperformance: Israel’s flagship stock benchmark has outperformed America’s S&P 500 over various periods (the last 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 25-year periods in dollar terms), illustrating the historical performance of the Israeli market relative to U.S. benchmarks during these periods. Of course, past performance is not a guarantee of future results, market conditions vary significantly and there could be periods where Israeli’s stock benchmark does not beat the S&P 500.
- Shekel appreciation: International investors should be aware that fluctuations in the USD/ILS exchange rate will impact total returns, providing the potential for either currency gains or losses in addition to market performance. The Israeli shekel has appreciated against major currencies (almost 60% over the USD in the past 24 years), this presents international investors potential currency gain or loss in addition to market returns.
- NASDAQ leadership: For those seeking to concentrate on the tech sector, Israel has more NASDAQ-listed companies per capita than any country outside the United States, a measure of its tech-driven growth.
- Diversification opportunity: Based on historical data from 2010–2025, Israeli equities have shown different performance cycles than U.S. markets. This may offer an opportunity for portfolio diversification alongside faith-based alignment.
The Biblical Case for Investing in Israel
- Genesis 12:3: God’s covenant promise to bless those who bless Israel is foundational to the biblical investing thesis for many faith-driven investors.
- Psalm 122:6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Investing in Israel’s economic health is a tangible expression of solidarity with the Jewish people and land.
- Prophetic restoration: From Isaiah to Ezekiel, Scripture foretells Israel’s rebuilding. Faith-based investors increasingly see Israeli market participation as alignment with that prophetic narrative.
How to Build a Biblically Responsible Portfolio: 6 Steps
The following steps reflect WMI’s framework for building a faith-based investment portfolio that integrates biblical principles with sound financial strategy and Israel’s market at the core.
Step 1: Define Your Biblical Values and Financial Goals
Every biblically responsible portfolio begins not with market data, but with conviction. Before selecting a single investment, clarity on your values determines everything that follows.
Key questions for faith-based investors to answer first:
- Which industries or business practices conflict with my biblical convictions?
- Do I feel called to actively support Israel and the Jewish people financially?
- What is my investment time horizon, income need, and risk tolerance?
- Am I seeking growth, income, preservation of wealth, or a balanced combination?
At Wise Money Israel (WMI), every client relationship begins with these questions. Your convictions shape your portfolio, not the other way around.
Step 2: Screen Out Investments That Conflict with Your Faith
Negative screening removes investments that violate biblical standards. Most investors are surprised to discover how many conventional index funds contain holdings in industries that contradict their faith.
Common biblical exclusion screens include:
- Abortion and abortifacient pharmaceutical companies
- Pornography and adult entertainment producers
- Gambling operators and predatory lenders
- Companies that actively undermine religious liberty or traditional family values
- Businesses with significant ties to nations openly hostile to Israel
WMI advisors conduct thorough market audits, identifying these conflicts and choosing holdings to ensure your investments reflect your faith, not contradict it.
Step 3: Pursue Positive Impact, Invest Where God Is Moving
The most powerful dimension of biblically responsible investing is its forward-looking, positive focus. This is where Israel’s stock and bond market becomes a central opportunity for faith-driven investors.
Israel’s ongoing economic rebuilding efforts provide current opportunities for faith-driven investors to consider as part of a long-term allocation strategy.
Growing Israeli sectors aligned with biblical values:
- Technology & Cybersecurity: Israel’s “Startup Nation” innovation is a global leader in AI, cybersecurity and many other world-leading technologies.
- Renewable Energy: Solar energy and water desalination technology that reflects stewardship of God’s creation.
- Agriculture: Israeli expertise in making the desert bloom, a literal fulfillment of Isaiah 35:1, is producing global food security solutions.
- Infrastructure & Tourism: Transportation, housing, and tourism projects supporting Israel’s ongoing economic initiatives.
Because WMI is headquartered in Israel, we provide on-the-ground market intelligence. We know these sectors, the companies within them, and the opportunities that are emerging right now.
Step 4: Diversify Wisely Within Your Biblical Framework
Biblical wisdom affirms the importance of diversification. Ecclesiastes 11:2 counsels: “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight.” This ancient principle maps directly onto modern portfolio theory.
A balanced biblically responsible portfolio may include:
- Israeli equities across multiple sectors (technology, food production, energy, etc.)
- Biblically screened Israeli stocks in Israel and abroad meeting faith-based criteria
- Fixed-income instruments from companies that meet faith-based criteria
WMI advisors construct allocations tailored to each client’s unique goals, risk profile, and faith convictions, ensuring both financial integrity and biblical alignment.
Step 5: Partner with a Faith-Driven, Israel-Based Advisor
Proverbs 11:14 reminds us: “In an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Choosing the right advisor may be the most consequential step in building a biblically responsible portfolio, especially when your strategy centers on the Israeli market.
Most advisors who claim expertise in biblical investing may never have set foot in Israel. Wise Money Israel is different.
Why Wise Money Israel?
Most investment advisors talk about Israel from a distance. WMI lives it.
- Israel-based team with firsthand market access and on-the-ground insight
- Faith-driven approach that integrates biblical principles into every investment decision
- Extensive experience navigating the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange for international investors
When you work with WMI, you are not simply hiring a financial advisor. You are partnering with a team that believes what you believe, stands where you stand, and sees Israel’s potential through the same lens of faith.
Step 6: Monitor, Review, and Stay Aligned Over Time
Building a biblically responsible portfolio is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time decision. Markets evolve, companies change their practices, and your own life circumstances shift. Regular portfolio reviews ensure continued alignment between your investments and your values.
WMI’s ongoing advisory support includes:
- Regular performance updates on Israeli market sectors and the Tel Aviv indices
- Updating your Israeli portfolio when holdings fall out of alignment with your biblical screening criteria
- Educational resources on Israel’s economic developments and market movements
- As Israel’s market evolves, WMI provides strategic rebalancing to keep your portfolio aligned with your goals
Frequently Asked Questions About Biblical Investing and Israel
These questions reflect what investors most frequently ask when exploring biblically responsible investing and Israel’s stock market.
What does the Bible say about investing?
The Bible consistently affirms wise financial stewardship. Proverbs 13:11 teaches that “whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Ecclesiastes 11:2 counsels diversification. Matthew 25 (the Parable of the Talents) teaches that God expects us to grow what He has entrusted to us actively. Biblical investing applies these principles to modern portfolio management.
How do I start investing in the Israeli stock market?
The most effective way for international investors to access Israel’s stock and bond market is through a trusted Israel-based advisor like Wise Money Israel. WMI provides direct accefss to Tel Aviv Stock Exchange opportunities, sector-specific guidance, and Israel-based expertise that helps investors navigate the market with confidence and biblical conviction.
Why should Christians invest in Israel?
Christians who take Genesis 12:3 seriously - God’s promise to bless those who bless Israel - see investing in Israel’s economy as a natural extension of that covenant commitment. Beyond the biblical rationale, Israel’s technology-driven economy has produced notable market performance, making it both a biblical and financially compelling choice.
Is it safe to invest in Israel right now?
All markets have volatility.
Israel’s economy has historically maintained functionality during periods of conflict. While this historical trend exists, prospective investors must carefully consider that regional instability poses unique and significant risks to capital preservation and that past economic performance during conflict is not a guarantee of future stability.
Israel’s economy has maintained positive growth, even during periods of conflict. For example, Israel’s GDP averaged 1.9% between 2023-2025, and its economy did not go into recession during the seven-front war. That growth rate is in line with other OECD nations that were not at war during this timeframe (OECD average: 1.6%). Of course, historical resilience is not a guarantee of future stability.
For example, the Tel Aviv 35 Index has historically delivered strong long-term performance over many periods of time, as discussed above. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only, and indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly.
For many investors, a managed account of diversified individual Israeli stocks may be an effective way to seek exposure to Israeli market dynamics while adhering to specific biblical criteria using WMI’s on-the-ground market intelligence.
What is the difference between ESG investing and biblical investing?
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing applies secular progressive criteria to portfolio selection. Biblical investing applies scriptural principles, which may align with some ESG screens but diverge on others. For example, biblical investors often specifically support Israel’s economy, a commitment that ESG frameworks do not address. BRI is grounded in faith conviction, not political ideology.
What sectors in Israel are best for faith-based investors?
Israel’s leading sectors for biblically aligned investors include technology and cybersecurity, renewable energy and water technology, precision agriculture, and infrastructure development. All of these contribute to human flourishing and align with values around stewardship and restoration. WMI provides specific sector guidance based on each client’s goals.
Can I invest in Israel through Wise Money Israel if I live in the United States?
Yes. WMI serves investors from 34 nations, including those based in the United States, providing access to Israeli market opportunities typically unavailable through domestic brokerages. As an Israel-based firm, licensed by the Israel Securities Authority and registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), WMI offers the on-the-ground expertise and direct market access that international investors need to participate effectively in Israel’s economy.
Your Portfolio Can Be Both Profitable and Purposeful
The world’s financial markets offer many paths but only one invites you to invest in the fulfillment of biblical prophecy while seeking to meet your long-term financial objectives through the Israeli market. A biblically responsible portfolio anchored in Israel is not just an investment strategy. It is an act of faith.
Whether you are beginning your faith-based investing journey or seeking to add an Israel allocation to a global investment strategy, Wise Money Israel is ready to walk alongside you as your trusted fiduciary advisor on the ground in Israel and in your corner every step of the way.
Ready to Start Your Biblical Investing Journey?
Connect with Wise Money Israel today to explore how to build a portfolio that honors your faith, supports Israel, and pursues a strategy centered on your investment objectives.
Start Your Biblical Investing Journey Today
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES & RISK INFORMATION
This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a solicitation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities. Investing in international markets, including the Israeli stock market, involves material risks, including but not limited to regulatory differences. All investment opportunities carry risk, including the potential loss of principal. Wise Money Israel does not guarantee any specific outcome, return, or profit. References to biblical principles and scriptures are provided for contextual and motivational purposes and do not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Individuals should consult with a qualified financial advisor, tax professional, and/or legal counsel before making any investment decisions. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss. © 2026 Wise Money Israel. All rights reserved.