Letters from Jerusalem
September 18, 2018
" Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."
PSALM 130:2-4 KJV
Greetings, sisters and brothers in Yeshua…may we hear HIS voice and respond for HIS glory. May we be fitly joined together into an acceptable offering…a sweet smelling savor to bless The Lord of all the earth.
Yom Kippur…the day of Atonement…is considered the most 'Holy' day on the Jewish calendar and statistically it is the day most observed by Jews both in Israel and around the world.Leviticus 23:26 says " And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”
I did not walk through the 'shuk h'kaparah' this year but I have described it to you many times in years past the strange to many tradition held by certain groups of Jews to ceremonially sacrifice a chicken and pass it over your head 3 times to symbolically transfer their sins to the chicken…similar to a 'scapegoat'. A close relative of mine who lives still in America…the dispersion…told me that she and her husband went to the local river to perform the 'tashlick ritual' (Wikipedia: The ritual is performed at a large, natural body of flowing water (e.g., river, lake, sea, or ocean) on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, although it may be performed until Hoshana Rabbah. The penitent recites a Biblical passage and, optionally, additional prayers. During the Tashlikh prayer, the worshipers symbolically throw their sins into a source of water. There are those who throw small pieces of bread into the water. However numerous sources point out that this is prohibited…The name "Tashlikh" and the practice itself are derived from an allusion mentioned in the Biblical passage (Micah 7:18-20) recited at the ceremony: "You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.")
There may be debates about ritual or tradition, but there is no debate about the purpose of this day; this is the day that our sins, personal and corporate, are brought into The Light…The Book of Life is open and THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, THE GOD OF AVRAHAM, ISAAC AND YAAKOV is searching the hearts. It is rightly called 'the day of Awe'. I have not found many who do not take this day seriously. Most people believe that they will either be inscribed in The Book of Life for the year to come…or judged.
And as believers, surely we must understand…repentance, forgiveness, the awful weight of sin in The Light of The Holy God…Oh my soul! And we have the GREAT JOY of KNOWING that our names are written in 'The Lamb's Book of Life'…but these that do NOT have that certainty? PRESS HERE for a taste of this year preparations….I am always at a loss to convey what I see concerning Yom Kippur here in Jerusalem!
"Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning-- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities."
PSALM 130
Over the years I have fought the saying 'gmar khatima tova' (may you have a good 'signature'…The Lord's stamp of approval.) I have looked for how to answer this plaintive greeting given one to another. In times past I have said that I know that my name is there…(this did NOT get anything more than puzzled glances and you could see the thought 'She came from America and they are a bit crazy'.) I have sought for a way to make a difference. I have not found one, so I repeat the saying back and pray for the person to meet Him and know the incredible joy and peace of having their sins forgiven, washed in The Blood of The Lamb…OH THE JOY OF THE PRIVILEDGE TO BE SET FREE! Another greeting has been 'tsom kal' or 'may you have an easy fast'. That was an easier one to answer. 'Tsom mishayeroot' or 'may you have a MEANINGFUL fast.' I actually have found that this is now being said among many. Huh! J
It is an emotional time…an emotional season …one in which we NEED to (indeed I feel that it is important) separate soul and flesh from Spirit…to discern what IS FROM HIM.
Into this week of open emotion a 16 year old armed with a knife looked for an opportune moment … a 'random moment' … to plunge his knife into the body of 45 year old Arieh Fuld, father of 4 and an outstanding, giving, shining example to those whom he lived near in Efrat. When I heard his name I said 'The son of Mary Fuld?? How can it be?' but it was. I really haven't seen Mary in years…but I haven't forgotten her and her lovely family. We made aliyah at the same time so our paths crossed in the many government offices, and soon at our home. There were NOT many English speakers making aliyah back then (no 'Nefesh b'Nefesh'…no 'Birthright'… no 'Christian Supporters of Israel' - albeit there was the organization Christian Friends of Israel when we came and the International Christian Embassy) They were an easy family to love; so warm and caring…and yet, they didn't know Him! They came to our home for haircuts way before my husband opened his shop. Arieh's father helped my husband get a job cutting hair in a mental hospital for a season. Arieh means 'Lion of God'. Mary Fuld…a good and caring woman. Her sons were teenagers when they came to our home. Now, between Rosh h'shana and Yom Kippur, Arieh Fuld was gone and although I haven't seen him in going on 25 years, it struck home. He was a good man. But he didn't know You, Lord. Could I have said anything back then? I don't think so…we were being closely scrutinized and we knew that we had to keep quiet in the beginning.
I was reading Colossians 1 this morning as part of my regular reading, and I read this precious part of verse 19:
"…having made peace through the blood of His cross.” COLOSSIANS 1:19b
I am so thankful for The Blood that has given me Peace…has cleansed me from sin that would have sent me to hell: the sin from which I could not be cleansed otherwise.
HOW do I share Him with my own people…and HOW do I CARE for those with whom I rub shoulders daily… how do I get past my own fleshly irritations to truly have His Love that CARES about their souls and will pray them through? The Holy Spirit is not irritated…The Holy Spirit (in me) does not judge…
It is now just a few more hours until the fast begins and the streets become silent…no motors, no engines…no sounds but the wind. The people will 'be known for their fasting'. They will speak about it…LOOK like they are fasting, and I think of what Yeshua taught us about fasting in Matthew 6:16-18 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." It is a good lesson that He taught us, not to speak about our fasting…nor to look like we are fasting. Among a nation…a people…that is fasting, He enables us as believers to rejoice in the fast even as we weep for others. Does that sound strange? Probably not to you. Probably you know what I mean.
My Pastor sent this meaningful greeting and I send it along to you. Perhaps you will be taking this time to pray for this people who are seeking to be cleansed in The Eyes of God… I pass it along to you without asking for his permission (so I do pray that it is ok) And I pray that each one of you will be renewed in the Great Goodness of His mercy toward us in The Face of Yeshua hMeshiach! Lovingly, your sister
"There is no greater grace and mercy than the forgiveness and reconciliation that God has bestowed upon us, in Yeshua, on the cross. What a wonder! What Grace is this that He, the spotless one, has taken my place on the cross? Every day should and can be the Day of Atonement for us, in which we rejoice in His unfathomable Mercy. Every day can and should be a day in which we are awed by this fearful goodness of God.
At the same time, every day should be a day in which the Living God sits in our hearts on a Mercy Seat towards others. Forgiveness should be the way of life to us, who have tasted of this unspeakable grace of God in Messiah.
If you are moved at all by the Mercy God has had on you, in forgiving you your sins and iniquities, then look up and reflect on these references. Take time to reflect on them, and then, first bow in worship before God, and then go and seek your friends, spouses, co-workers, brothers, and sisters, and grant them the grace of forgiveness. Actually, the Lord demands it!
Think too, of the millions of people around you who have never tasted even a small drop of the water of life in this way…. Pray for our people. May the Lord give us all opportunities to share Him with our lost people.
Matthew 6:14-15
Matthew 18:21-35
Luke 7:41-48
Eph. 1:7
Col. 2:13
Col. 3:13
1John 1:8-10"
" Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."
PSALM 130:2-4 KJV
Greetings, sisters and brothers in Yeshua…may we hear HIS voice and respond for HIS glory. May we be fitly joined together into an acceptable offering…a sweet smelling savor to bless The Lord of all the earth.
Yom Kippur…the day of Atonement…is considered the most 'Holy' day on the Jewish calendar and statistically it is the day most observed by Jews both in Israel and around the world.Leviticus 23:26 says " And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”
I did not walk through the 'shuk h'kaparah' this year but I have described it to you many times in years past the strange to many tradition held by certain groups of Jews to ceremonially sacrifice a chicken and pass it over your head 3 times to symbolically transfer their sins to the chicken…similar to a 'scapegoat'. A close relative of mine who lives still in America…the dispersion…told me that she and her husband went to the local river to perform the 'tashlick ritual' (Wikipedia: The ritual is performed at a large, natural body of flowing water (e.g., river, lake, sea, or ocean) on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, although it may be performed until Hoshana Rabbah. The penitent recites a Biblical passage and, optionally, additional prayers. During the Tashlikh prayer, the worshipers symbolically throw their sins into a source of water. There are those who throw small pieces of bread into the water. However numerous sources point out that this is prohibited…The name "Tashlikh" and the practice itself are derived from an allusion mentioned in the Biblical passage (Micah 7:18-20) recited at the ceremony: "You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.")
There may be debates about ritual or tradition, but there is no debate about the purpose of this day; this is the day that our sins, personal and corporate, are brought into The Light…The Book of Life is open and THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, THE GOD OF AVRAHAM, ISAAC AND YAAKOV is searching the hearts. It is rightly called 'the day of Awe'. I have not found many who do not take this day seriously. Most people believe that they will either be inscribed in The Book of Life for the year to come…or judged.
And as believers, surely we must understand…repentance, forgiveness, the awful weight of sin in The Light of The Holy God…Oh my soul! And we have the GREAT JOY of KNOWING that our names are written in 'The Lamb's Book of Life'…but these that do NOT have that certainty? PRESS HERE for a taste of this year preparations….I am always at a loss to convey what I see concerning Yom Kippur here in Jerusalem!
"Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning-- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities."
PSALM 130
Over the years I have fought the saying 'gmar khatima tova' (may you have a good 'signature'…The Lord's stamp of approval.) I have looked for how to answer this plaintive greeting given one to another. In times past I have said that I know that my name is there…(this did NOT get anything more than puzzled glances and you could see the thought 'She came from America and they are a bit crazy'.) I have sought for a way to make a difference. I have not found one, so I repeat the saying back and pray for the person to meet Him and know the incredible joy and peace of having their sins forgiven, washed in The Blood of The Lamb…OH THE JOY OF THE PRIVILEDGE TO BE SET FREE! Another greeting has been 'tsom kal' or 'may you have an easy fast'. That was an easier one to answer. 'Tsom mishayeroot' or 'may you have a MEANINGFUL fast.' I actually have found that this is now being said among many. Huh! J
It is an emotional time…an emotional season …one in which we NEED to (indeed I feel that it is important) separate soul and flesh from Spirit…to discern what IS FROM HIM.
Into this week of open emotion a 16 year old armed with a knife looked for an opportune moment … a 'random moment' … to plunge his knife into the body of 45 year old Arieh Fuld, father of 4 and an outstanding, giving, shining example to those whom he lived near in Efrat. When I heard his name I said 'The son of Mary Fuld?? How can it be?' but it was. I really haven't seen Mary in years…but I haven't forgotten her and her lovely family. We made aliyah at the same time so our paths crossed in the many government offices, and soon at our home. There were NOT many English speakers making aliyah back then (no 'Nefesh b'Nefesh'…no 'Birthright'… no 'Christian Supporters of Israel' - albeit there was the organization Christian Friends of Israel when we came and the International Christian Embassy) They were an easy family to love; so warm and caring…and yet, they didn't know Him! They came to our home for haircuts way before my husband opened his shop. Arieh's father helped my husband get a job cutting hair in a mental hospital for a season. Arieh means 'Lion of God'. Mary Fuld…a good and caring woman. Her sons were teenagers when they came to our home. Now, between Rosh h'shana and Yom Kippur, Arieh Fuld was gone and although I haven't seen him in going on 25 years, it struck home. He was a good man. But he didn't know You, Lord. Could I have said anything back then? I don't think so…we were being closely scrutinized and we knew that we had to keep quiet in the beginning.
I was reading Colossians 1 this morning as part of my regular reading, and I read this precious part of verse 19:
"…having made peace through the blood of His cross.” COLOSSIANS 1:19b
I am so thankful for The Blood that has given me Peace…has cleansed me from sin that would have sent me to hell: the sin from which I could not be cleansed otherwise.
HOW do I share Him with my own people…and HOW do I CARE for those with whom I rub shoulders daily… how do I get past my own fleshly irritations to truly have His Love that CARES about their souls and will pray them through? The Holy Spirit is not irritated…The Holy Spirit (in me) does not judge…
It is now just a few more hours until the fast begins and the streets become silent…no motors, no engines…no sounds but the wind. The people will 'be known for their fasting'. They will speak about it…LOOK like they are fasting, and I think of what Yeshua taught us about fasting in Matthew 6:16-18 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." It is a good lesson that He taught us, not to speak about our fasting…nor to look like we are fasting. Among a nation…a people…that is fasting, He enables us as believers to rejoice in the fast even as we weep for others. Does that sound strange? Probably not to you. Probably you know what I mean.
My Pastor sent this meaningful greeting and I send it along to you. Perhaps you will be taking this time to pray for this people who are seeking to be cleansed in The Eyes of God… I pass it along to you without asking for his permission (so I do pray that it is ok) And I pray that each one of you will be renewed in the Great Goodness of His mercy toward us in The Face of Yeshua hMeshiach! Lovingly, your sister
"There is no greater grace and mercy than the forgiveness and reconciliation that God has bestowed upon us, in Yeshua, on the cross. What a wonder! What Grace is this that He, the spotless one, has taken my place on the cross? Every day should and can be the Day of Atonement for us, in which we rejoice in His unfathomable Mercy. Every day can and should be a day in which we are awed by this fearful goodness of God.
At the same time, every day should be a day in which the Living God sits in our hearts on a Mercy Seat towards others. Forgiveness should be the way of life to us, who have tasted of this unspeakable grace of God in Messiah.
If you are moved at all by the Mercy God has had on you, in forgiving you your sins and iniquities, then look up and reflect on these references. Take time to reflect on them, and then, first bow in worship before God, and then go and seek your friends, spouses, co-workers, brothers, and sisters, and grant them the grace of forgiveness. Actually, the Lord demands it!
Think too, of the millions of people around you who have never tasted even a small drop of the water of life in this way…. Pray for our people. May the Lord give us all opportunities to share Him with our lost people.
Matthew 6:14-15
Matthew 18:21-35
Luke 7:41-48
Eph. 1:7
Col. 2:13
Col. 3:13
1John 1:8-10"
September 12, 2018
Greetings dear sisters and brothers, from Jerusalem…not-yet-the-new-one. May THE LORD YESHUA, Jesus The Christ, Messiah, be glorified in you and in us. May He be blessed and may we be a sweet smelling savor to Him. May you be blessed and edified and may His Peace rule in our hearts for His glory!
I woke just after midnight - drat! - and looked at the clock. The date flashed up (albeit in the other direction…day before month)…9/11. It crept up on me as has everything else these days. Ok, Lord, here am I. Do You have something to say to me? Something to pray for? 'Suddenly' is just that: SUDDENLY. It is already 17 years ago, but there are few who don't recall the 'shock of the suddenly of the moment' of that day 11th of Sept 2001 when the Twin Towers in NYC were attacked and overcome and the USA shut her borders.
It seems to me that I live more and more in the 'suddenly' these days. The message that I heard at my kehila on Shabbat confirmed what was in my heart; the 'suddenlys' are clearly part of what He has warned us to watch for…to be ready- watch and pray…not in the flesh but through His Spirit with ears attuned to hear that trumpet blast. (His alone, and not to be distracted by the counterfeit ones, for there ARE counterfeit ones!)
Yesterday, Rosh h'Shana, was unusually quiet. Perhaps many people have gone elsewhere for the holidays, but our neighborhood seems to be emptied. In the past many people would walk through the neighborhood blowing the shofar, blessing us. My husband and I were resting in the back room when 'suddenly' the electrifying sound…the blasts of the shofar… the rams horn trumpet…pierced the air with it's clear call and staccato notes followed by the long blasts. Joy filled our hearts as we listened, thankful for someone who could blow it so well to be obeying the command of the day which is simply to be blowing the trumpets. Yes, we had blown ours, but alas without the grace that many others have. The one day holiday of the blowing of trumpets (known as Rosh h'shana) is celebrated as TWO days, mostly because of the dispersion and making the exact time and date of the holiday unsure from place to place…OR for other intricate rabbinical reasons. At any rate, it is now a TWO day holiday and I am thankful for the extra day of rest.
My father was in the hospital and he told my mother that he longed to hear the blast of the shofar one more time. A rabbi came to the hospital and blew the shofar in the hallway (this was in Florida, USA). Later that night my father died…between the first and second blasts of the shofar. What a mercy!
Suddenlys come suddenly.
There's no way around it and you just CAN'T be prepared…that is the nature of a 'suddenly'.
And so it was that SUDDENLY I found myself in the midst of a riot in a bank on Sunday morning and as a person next to me uttered 'rak b'yisroel!' ('Only in Israel!') I thought 'Ah HA! I have something to share!'
I have found cooking less and less 'enjoyable' these years…none the less I had planned a feast for our guests who would be with us on Sunday night to share and bless this day given by The Lord. I was supposed to work on Sunday morning but was given a surprise gift by my boss who gave me the morning off to prepare. Everything was falling into place…going 'so well'…BUT FOR THOSE 'SUDDENLYS!'
On Tuesday my husband and I had run to the bank for him to make his deposit so that his rent would be covered (it is all automatic these days). He placed his card in the machine… and proceeded to put in the wrong password. Not taking into account that this was a harried nearly 73 year old man…the machine ate his card and blocked him. Wed. he went to the bank with his deposit in hand and was informed that he could not have his card back for THREE WEEKS (!) and that the only way to make the deposit was at the one downtown branch. That meant that I had to do it after work on Thursday since he would be working and it is too busy a season to take time off. Trying to keep my spirit quiet, I made my way back downtown after work on Thursday, only to find a long line of grumbling people and a sign posted that as of 2 Sept. there were new hours at the bank and it would be CLOSED ON THURSDAYS (banks close at noon on Friday and I work in the morning).
Adjusting my schedule, I saw that it would open at 8:30 on Sunday, so Sunday morning I left the house at 7:30 planning to get an 'early number in the line'. Many other people planned the same thing and my number was already 100. The crowd was edgy waiting for the doors to open at 8:30…everyone saying 'Don't they know it is erev hag?' (the evening of the holiday) I'm having 40 for dinner and I have so much to do!' This was echoed again and again. I was praying for a 'different spirit'. Standing among the tense hundreds I was asking The Lord to make me His Light and to give me His Peace and to help me to NOT partake of the anxious spirit that was flooding the ever increasing crowd. I looked around, trying to pray for the people…the crowd was totally mixed: men and women, religious, haradi, secular, mentally challenged, beggars, workers, Arabs, Christian and Moslem, rich and poor, foreign workers…What a group!
Eight thirty arrived and a bank employee came out and announced: "The computers are down. Nothing is working. If anything will work at all it won't be for hours. The only branch open is in the Moslem Quarter of the Old City." As you can imagine…a massive angry shout went up and the entire group shoved through the doors waving checks, cash, IDs…'ANGRY'!!
A bank employee shouted that it would take atleast an hour and everyone should sit down. No one did. Every time someone broke through the 'lines' the entire group shouted waving their numbered papers in the air. Numerous attempts were made to make some sort of order, but the crowd only got angrier and more unruly. That sort of spirit is contagious. I kept finding myself angry and praying for a 'different spirit', for His Peace…His order.
We have a certain group of these…hum…well…'IMPRESSIVE looking' police. They are dressed in black and ride double on black motorcycles with particularly heavy duty weapons and they themselves are STRONG looking! They ride through the city just 'checking things out' and we actually appreciate them. They are not threatening to anyone who does not intend evil…so we appreciate them.
At about this time, two of them entered the bank to make a deposit.
By now the bank was in mayhem with about 500 people seeking to do their necessary business before the holiday. The bank managers had given up, one in tears. The computers suddenly began to come on with an audible 'click' and it made everything worse as the human sea surged forward fighting for their 'rightful place in the non-existent line according to number'. It was a zoo full of lions and tigers and bears, oh my…not a deer in the bunch! … One sheep! (a bit disheveled)
The bank employees had completely lost control. I watched with interest as one of the police nudged the other and came forward. With a MASSIVE voice of authority …seriously, he needed no megaphone…he WAS a megaphone! ...he took over! 'Everybody step back N-O-W! IMMEDIATELY! ' He pulled the barriers into place and politely (in an Israeli sort of way) but forcibly had all 500 people step behind. Everyone complied. Then he took a few of us who seemed a bit less explosive and asked what the 'order' was supposed to be, learning how to read the number and the times written on them. He announced to the crowd 'HERE AND ONLY HERE you will enter when I tell you…and THERE and only from THERE you will leave when you are finished!' Each time the crowd surged forward he puffed out his chest and whistled. He kept assuring us that EVERYONE would be taken care of that that there WOULD be order!
I have seen a LOT of things in my life. I have been in riots in NYC in the early 1960s and I have been at bombings here in Jerusalem during the last intifada…but I have rarely, if ever, experienced the exhibition of REAL AUTHORITY taken SPONTANEOUSLY as it was by these two Officers who had come to the bank simply to transact their own business. No one had called for them to make order…they assessed the situation and TOOK AUTHORITY FOR THE GOOD AND SAFETY OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE, with compassion and wisdom and a cool lack of anger on their own parts.
IT WAS AWESOME! (a word that I do NOT like to use lightly) I pondered the genuine AUTHORITY that I was witnessing in action and began then and there to lift it before The Lord asking Him how it applied to the realm of The Holy Spirit…what lessons there were for me to learn from what I was seeing. I knew that this situation had something important to teach me.
I watched as the Officers assessed each person in line, made order with both justice AND compassion. Quick thinking accompanied by a 'cool' assessment of each situation brought about order and subdued the riot (because a riot it had become).
By 11:00 I was exiting the bank along with another woman about my age. As we rushed through the doors we looked at one another wide eyed and said 'Shana tova! Now to the cooking!' she turned to me and said 'We are past that. Just health' (rak briut - a common 'blessing' that one should have health). We should only have health. She shook her head. I felt The Presence of The Lord and said to her 'Rak simchat lev! (only joy in our hearts) we can't always have health but we can choose joy in our hearts! With THAT we can live!' She looked at me for a long moment and said … 'Hum. Yes. Yes, you are right! Simchat lev!' Suddenly I looked into her eyes and embraced her, giving her a big hug (yes, physically, a total stranger) and saying 'SHANA TOVA!' She smiled broadly hand hugged me back. 'Thank you! Shana tova to you as well!'
Just as 'suddenly' as I had been injected into the volatile situation, I was ejected from it, but not before I had received a gift more precious than gold. I realized that I had received an answer to prayer. I have been SEEKING The Lord for His breakthrough AUTHORITY for a particular need. I have been seeking to ABIDE in HIM …the branch in the Vine… and the key that I was looking for was in the example of the AUTHORITY that I witnessed. I have not 'defined' it fully yet, nor yet possessed it fully either…but I have 'seen the parable' and said 'Here am I Lord…teach me'.
The apartment was cleaned and the food was ready and the guests were such a blessing! HIS sheep, HIS body, together around our table. Surely, "The Lord hath done great things for us, where of we are glad!" (Psalm 126)
As we have now entered the 'ten days of awe'…the time leading up to Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, may you be blessed by His Presence drawing you into His secret place…and me too. May THE LORD BE GLORIFIED. Lovingly, your sister in Jerusalem
Greetings dear sisters and brothers, from Jerusalem…not-yet-the-new-one. May THE LORD YESHUA, Jesus The Christ, Messiah, be glorified in you and in us. May He be blessed and may we be a sweet smelling savor to Him. May you be blessed and edified and may His Peace rule in our hearts for His glory!
I woke just after midnight - drat! - and looked at the clock. The date flashed up (albeit in the other direction…day before month)…9/11. It crept up on me as has everything else these days. Ok, Lord, here am I. Do You have something to say to me? Something to pray for? 'Suddenly' is just that: SUDDENLY. It is already 17 years ago, but there are few who don't recall the 'shock of the suddenly of the moment' of that day 11th of Sept 2001 when the Twin Towers in NYC were attacked and overcome and the USA shut her borders.
It seems to me that I live more and more in the 'suddenly' these days. The message that I heard at my kehila on Shabbat confirmed what was in my heart; the 'suddenlys' are clearly part of what He has warned us to watch for…to be ready- watch and pray…not in the flesh but through His Spirit with ears attuned to hear that trumpet blast. (His alone, and not to be distracted by the counterfeit ones, for there ARE counterfeit ones!)
Yesterday, Rosh h'Shana, was unusually quiet. Perhaps many people have gone elsewhere for the holidays, but our neighborhood seems to be emptied. In the past many people would walk through the neighborhood blowing the shofar, blessing us. My husband and I were resting in the back room when 'suddenly' the electrifying sound…the blasts of the shofar… the rams horn trumpet…pierced the air with it's clear call and staccato notes followed by the long blasts. Joy filled our hearts as we listened, thankful for someone who could blow it so well to be obeying the command of the day which is simply to be blowing the trumpets. Yes, we had blown ours, but alas without the grace that many others have. The one day holiday of the blowing of trumpets (known as Rosh h'shana) is celebrated as TWO days, mostly because of the dispersion and making the exact time and date of the holiday unsure from place to place…OR for other intricate rabbinical reasons. At any rate, it is now a TWO day holiday and I am thankful for the extra day of rest.
My father was in the hospital and he told my mother that he longed to hear the blast of the shofar one more time. A rabbi came to the hospital and blew the shofar in the hallway (this was in Florida, USA). Later that night my father died…between the first and second blasts of the shofar. What a mercy!
Suddenlys come suddenly.
There's no way around it and you just CAN'T be prepared…that is the nature of a 'suddenly'.
And so it was that SUDDENLY I found myself in the midst of a riot in a bank on Sunday morning and as a person next to me uttered 'rak b'yisroel!' ('Only in Israel!') I thought 'Ah HA! I have something to share!'
I have found cooking less and less 'enjoyable' these years…none the less I had planned a feast for our guests who would be with us on Sunday night to share and bless this day given by The Lord. I was supposed to work on Sunday morning but was given a surprise gift by my boss who gave me the morning off to prepare. Everything was falling into place…going 'so well'…BUT FOR THOSE 'SUDDENLYS!'
On Tuesday my husband and I had run to the bank for him to make his deposit so that his rent would be covered (it is all automatic these days). He placed his card in the machine… and proceeded to put in the wrong password. Not taking into account that this was a harried nearly 73 year old man…the machine ate his card and blocked him. Wed. he went to the bank with his deposit in hand and was informed that he could not have his card back for THREE WEEKS (!) and that the only way to make the deposit was at the one downtown branch. That meant that I had to do it after work on Thursday since he would be working and it is too busy a season to take time off. Trying to keep my spirit quiet, I made my way back downtown after work on Thursday, only to find a long line of grumbling people and a sign posted that as of 2 Sept. there were new hours at the bank and it would be CLOSED ON THURSDAYS (banks close at noon on Friday and I work in the morning).
Adjusting my schedule, I saw that it would open at 8:30 on Sunday, so Sunday morning I left the house at 7:30 planning to get an 'early number in the line'. Many other people planned the same thing and my number was already 100. The crowd was edgy waiting for the doors to open at 8:30…everyone saying 'Don't they know it is erev hag?' (the evening of the holiday) I'm having 40 for dinner and I have so much to do!' This was echoed again and again. I was praying for a 'different spirit'. Standing among the tense hundreds I was asking The Lord to make me His Light and to give me His Peace and to help me to NOT partake of the anxious spirit that was flooding the ever increasing crowd. I looked around, trying to pray for the people…the crowd was totally mixed: men and women, religious, haradi, secular, mentally challenged, beggars, workers, Arabs, Christian and Moslem, rich and poor, foreign workers…What a group!
Eight thirty arrived and a bank employee came out and announced: "The computers are down. Nothing is working. If anything will work at all it won't be for hours. The only branch open is in the Moslem Quarter of the Old City." As you can imagine…a massive angry shout went up and the entire group shoved through the doors waving checks, cash, IDs…'ANGRY'!!
A bank employee shouted that it would take atleast an hour and everyone should sit down. No one did. Every time someone broke through the 'lines' the entire group shouted waving their numbered papers in the air. Numerous attempts were made to make some sort of order, but the crowd only got angrier and more unruly. That sort of spirit is contagious. I kept finding myself angry and praying for a 'different spirit', for His Peace…His order.
We have a certain group of these…hum…well…'IMPRESSIVE looking' police. They are dressed in black and ride double on black motorcycles with particularly heavy duty weapons and they themselves are STRONG looking! They ride through the city just 'checking things out' and we actually appreciate them. They are not threatening to anyone who does not intend evil…so we appreciate them.
At about this time, two of them entered the bank to make a deposit.
By now the bank was in mayhem with about 500 people seeking to do their necessary business before the holiday. The bank managers had given up, one in tears. The computers suddenly began to come on with an audible 'click' and it made everything worse as the human sea surged forward fighting for their 'rightful place in the non-existent line according to number'. It was a zoo full of lions and tigers and bears, oh my…not a deer in the bunch! … One sheep! (a bit disheveled)
The bank employees had completely lost control. I watched with interest as one of the police nudged the other and came forward. With a MASSIVE voice of authority …seriously, he needed no megaphone…he WAS a megaphone! ...he took over! 'Everybody step back N-O-W! IMMEDIATELY! ' He pulled the barriers into place and politely (in an Israeli sort of way) but forcibly had all 500 people step behind. Everyone complied. Then he took a few of us who seemed a bit less explosive and asked what the 'order' was supposed to be, learning how to read the number and the times written on them. He announced to the crowd 'HERE AND ONLY HERE you will enter when I tell you…and THERE and only from THERE you will leave when you are finished!' Each time the crowd surged forward he puffed out his chest and whistled. He kept assuring us that EVERYONE would be taken care of that that there WOULD be order!
I have seen a LOT of things in my life. I have been in riots in NYC in the early 1960s and I have been at bombings here in Jerusalem during the last intifada…but I have rarely, if ever, experienced the exhibition of REAL AUTHORITY taken SPONTANEOUSLY as it was by these two Officers who had come to the bank simply to transact their own business. No one had called for them to make order…they assessed the situation and TOOK AUTHORITY FOR THE GOOD AND SAFETY OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE, with compassion and wisdom and a cool lack of anger on their own parts.
IT WAS AWESOME! (a word that I do NOT like to use lightly) I pondered the genuine AUTHORITY that I was witnessing in action and began then and there to lift it before The Lord asking Him how it applied to the realm of The Holy Spirit…what lessons there were for me to learn from what I was seeing. I knew that this situation had something important to teach me.
I watched as the Officers assessed each person in line, made order with both justice AND compassion. Quick thinking accompanied by a 'cool' assessment of each situation brought about order and subdued the riot (because a riot it had become).
By 11:00 I was exiting the bank along with another woman about my age. As we rushed through the doors we looked at one another wide eyed and said 'Shana tova! Now to the cooking!' she turned to me and said 'We are past that. Just health' (rak briut - a common 'blessing' that one should have health). We should only have health. She shook her head. I felt The Presence of The Lord and said to her 'Rak simchat lev! (only joy in our hearts) we can't always have health but we can choose joy in our hearts! With THAT we can live!' She looked at me for a long moment and said … 'Hum. Yes. Yes, you are right! Simchat lev!' Suddenly I looked into her eyes and embraced her, giving her a big hug (yes, physically, a total stranger) and saying 'SHANA TOVA!' She smiled broadly hand hugged me back. 'Thank you! Shana tova to you as well!'
Just as 'suddenly' as I had been injected into the volatile situation, I was ejected from it, but not before I had received a gift more precious than gold. I realized that I had received an answer to prayer. I have been SEEKING The Lord for His breakthrough AUTHORITY for a particular need. I have been seeking to ABIDE in HIM …the branch in the Vine… and the key that I was looking for was in the example of the AUTHORITY that I witnessed. I have not 'defined' it fully yet, nor yet possessed it fully either…but I have 'seen the parable' and said 'Here am I Lord…teach me'.
The apartment was cleaned and the food was ready and the guests were such a blessing! HIS sheep, HIS body, together around our table. Surely, "The Lord hath done great things for us, where of we are glad!" (Psalm 126)
As we have now entered the 'ten days of awe'…the time leading up to Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, may you be blessed by His Presence drawing you into His secret place…and me too. May THE LORD BE GLORIFIED. Lovingly, your sister in Jerusalem
September 5, 2018
"And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31
Greetings, Beloved brothers and sisters in Jesus, Yeshua, King of kings, Lord of lords, Messiah, The Precious Atonement, our Peace. May HE be glorified and blessed, and may you be blessed and encouraged.
We are RUNNING toward the feast of (the blowing of the) trumpets (Yom Teruah) as designated in the Scriptures. (see Levit. 23:24 also Num. 29:1)
It is also celebrated as rosh hashana or the head of the year (the new year)…and that has lead me into some wonderful conversations over past years and this year is no different. Clearly, GOD commanded PASSOVER to be THE HEAD OF THE YEAR OF THE HEBREW CALENDAR Exodus 12:1,2 "Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you."
There began my conversation with Yitzhak Reuben last evening. He is a 'reform Rabbi'…an American liberal stream of Judaism that is not officially recognized by the Rabbinical courts in Israel …a bone of contention. The conversions and marriages performed here by Conservative Rabbis are not always legally recognized…and yes… there IS animosity! We were discussing some 'interesting' traditions when Yitzhak said 'I have more and more problems with Rabbinical Judaism'. Totally taken by surprise (it IS unusual to hear a statement like this from a Rabbi here!) , I agreed wholeheartedly. 'What are some of your objections?' he asked me, interested in what I would say. (Usually 'woman's rights and other liberal causes are cited by liberal Jews. Praying for His open door I began; 'I see that the Rabbinical teachings, mostly spring from Babylonian captivity, so very often contradict written scripture.' was my answer and he was surprised. 'Give me some examples' he requested. The two that came to mind are 'easy ones' because they are so flagrant in my opinion. 'Well…Pesach is written as the rosh hashana…designated by God as the head of the year.' He answered with the pat rabbinical answer; 'Well yes, but we celebrate the creation of man…of Adam at rosh hashana'. I answered, 'but Yitzhak, I know that it is a tradition, but…where is that WRITTEN?'. He stopped; 'I'll research that and get back to you. Give me another.' I complied 'Ok. HALIBUT!' He smiled. 'Oh! I love halibut! What about it?' I hated to bust his bubble with my answer, but I did; 'It ISN'T SCRIPTURALLY KOSHER! I know that the Rabbis say that it is but The Scriptures exclude 'bottom fish' in the list of kosher fish and all kosher fish MUST have fins and scales. Halibut do NOT have scales…atleast not 'visible' ones.' (they DO have miniscule scales imbedded into their skin technically…but not visible to the naked eye) Yitzhak's answer surprised me; 'Does the Scripture say that clean fish MUST have fins and scales?' So I encouraged him to read the scriptures himself and I'm praying that he does. We will talk again.
A brother at our testified to his thankfulness that we can pray anywhere, and at anytime. I KNOW that there are my fellow Jews who do pray from their hearts, but oh so many must have their prayer books, prescribed times and prayers. His testimony reminded me of when I was a very new believer. I was visiting my parents who had moved to Florida. My Dad was quite ill with emphysema and while we were visiting his Aunt's house he had a bad emphysema attack and could not catch his breath. Our Aunt was very religious and I went to her and said "Aunt Gussie, let's pray together for Daddy! The prayer of two is better than one." Her answer was clear and she smiled happily as she said "Oh, I pray very well! You must hear me pray on Shabbat or on the High Holy Days! Yes, I pray well then. Then I can pray well!" I was frankly shocked. "But Daddy needs prayer right now." I said. She looked blankly at me and I went to the other room and prayed alone. I thought about that when our brother shared the joy at not needing designated times and places to pray…not being restricted to forms and seasons …but running freely to The King. We are blessed upon blessed!
I rejoice that The Lord hears my prayers whether I am in my room or on my way to work. Daily I witness those who are on their way to the Kotel (western wall)to pray. The streets and buses are FULL each morning and night right now as many thousands make their way to the Old City, to the site of the western wall of the Temple, to pray the traditional 'slichot' or prayers of repentance. The momentum builds all month. If you PRESS HERE you can see an example from one night last year at the kotel during slichot.
Surely the Kotel (Western Wall of the temple) IS a special place with a 'special presence': however we know how quickly our flesh can turn a 'place' into an idol…anytime we turn to the left of the right from the intended purpose. When the focus is Him and His glory, 'all things are lawful to me'. When the focus goes to a 'place', a 'person', 'myself', a 'work', whatever…the wedge of perversion has entered and we are in danger of idol worship. Such is what happened to the brazen serpent that Moses commanded to stop the plague in the wilderness ('Look and live!') and to Gideon's ephod (Judges 8:27) which became a snare to him and to his household.
I just read that there will be a prayer meeting for the unity of the Jewish people at the Kotel this Friday "More than 10,000 people are expected to pray at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem this Friday, September 7th, for the Day of Jewish Unity organized by Acheinu, the outreach arm of the NGO 'Dirshu'." 'Acheinu' means 'our brothers' and 'dirshu' is one of my (many) favorite words which loosely means 'demand' or 'require'(NOT my favorite words in English!) but is used throughout the book of Psalms (as well as other places in Scripture) like Psalm 105:4 (and 1 Chron. 16:11) "Seek (dirshu) the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!" the news article continued "For the Day of Jewish Unity, Jews are being asked to read two passages of Psalms, chapter 20 and 130 between 7 am and 2 pm." That is worthy. Join us in praying these Psalms for the salvation of the people?...our UNITY IN HIM?
Today on the train I sat 2 seats from a woman who began talking to the stranger next to her about Messiah. I tried hard to listen…she was speaking rapidly and was dressed like a religious woman but I heard her say '2,000 years' and that 'we all need faith as a people because it says (Zech) that we will all see Him together'…hum…I pray that The Lord WILL INDEED open the heavens and reveal truth at this time of searching! (please bear with me through a digression) This coming month marks 20 years since I began this journey totally unprepared and unqualified, of working in a busy doctor's office in the middle of Jerusalem. In my wildest dreams (nightmares??) I would have NEVER seen myself in such a role! How CREATIVE The Lord is and what a sense of humor He has…but what beauty He can create when we will bow to His (scary) will and say 'Yes Lord. May it be according to Your Word!' I did not look for work like this, for sure! Some may recall that it was a HARD time and (among other things) I had been without work for 2 years. We were literally a week away from being homeless. I prayed faithfully for provision and He IS FAITHFUL: We may have been a week away from homeless, but we never were homeless nor did we go begging bread. (PLEASE! IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HOMELESS DO NOT FEEL CONDEMNED BY THIS! THAT IS NOT AT ALL THE PURPOSE OF THAT SENTENCE…I am describing His work in MY life and that is all.) Let it suffice to say at this point that I was the least likely candidate for such a job…but through a strange series of events…it came to me (not me to it) …and it has been a JOURNEY. At nearly 73 I am actually good at this job now, (although stress would NEVER be my choice and STRESS is the name of my daily exercise. God chooses…I say 'Yes Lord' - sometimes through tears and with clenched fists.) After 20 years I have had a close up intimate view of the lives of many of Jerusalem's people and I feel like a beggar having been given a treasure chest of jewels. Often I have been able to share atleast SOMETHING of His love. Twenty years IS a long time /short time in a life. A strikingly handsome young man came in the other day with a big smile and gave me a hug. 'Benny Avi Chai!' I yelled and hugged him back. He had been a chubby 9 year old when we met…and even chubby and quiet when he went to the army. After the army he left to do what so many young Israelis do…to travel the world and 'look around'. Here before me stood a 29 year old man in his prime; no long chubby and awkward…and I marveled.
The 20 year olds that I knew are now 40 and the 30 year olds that I'd met are bringing their Grandchildren in. But what has struck me the most are those who are now in their 80s and 90s and even 100s. I have prayed for a long time that God would help me to age graciously and not be dependant. I wonder what makes some one way and some another…like children…whom we raise with love and hope and prayer and some … we continue to pray for in earnest.
Harry and Marlene are in their late 80s now. I could hear them and their daughter arguing before they got near the office! They didn't used to. 'Harry! You are going to fall! Harry! Don't…' When I met them 20 years ago, they were a happy couple with a successful tribe of a family. Age has taken its toll, but their interactions with one another …horrific! I've seen it before… too many times and it makes me want to cry. When they left (still arguing) I stood up to wish them a Happy New Year and Holy Days and I shook my finger at them like one would at children; 'And STOP ARGUING! Be KIND to each other, please!' I encouraged them. They laughed…'You are right! Ok. We will try…BUT…you KNOW…he is AWFUL!' I shook my finger again; 'Well, we all are! Be kind to each other!'.
Tova has been complaining for years. She is 96 and she wants to die. 'Enough already!' she tells me everytime she comes in, and I hug her, but the truth is that she is terrified of death, and as a Holocaust survivor, she has majored in fighting to live. It is a dilemma. Her daughter has always been what I think of as a 'hard' person. She can be …well… really 'hard' and always gets her way. And yet, when I was speaking to her a couple of days ago about her mother (whom she brings in) she said 'Oh, I love my Mother so much! I would do anything for her! She wasn't always like that. She is just afraid so now she is the child and I must love her as a mother.' Her tenderness brought me to tears and I hugged her and thanked her.
I've seen scores of families now with expressions of love and caring that speak volumes to me. I may not know what makes the difference in these families…certainly NOT the circumstances of who was a better parent or spouse, and not even the 'evident' personalities involved… it's that indefinable element and it spurs me to pray that I will choose wisely. If these who don't yet know Him can…surely The Holy Spirit Who leads into all Truth can lead me into kindness, grace and mercy all the way to the end. After all…it IS for His glory.
This week I learned a Sephardic tradition that was not part of my 'growing up' traditions. It's fattening! (hum…seems like they ALL are!) But I LIKED the idea that I could grasp. It has to do with certain traditional foods - spicy little patties made of leaks, some of squashes, some of eggplant, some of beets, cooked in oil. They are 'blessings'…and as each one is eaten a special, truly rich 'blessing' is given and the idea is that the oiled (anointed) food will 'take the blessing in to your very being'. I thought of communion and that ofcourse it isn't the 'eating of the bread and wine' but it is the 'taking into our selves the very body and Blood that has given us life'…we know what it is to take His blessing into our being. This as being a part of the Rosh hShanah blessing seemed lovely to me. Can we do such things without them becoming idolism traditions? (I'll let you know!)
And so Sunday at sundown our door will open to receive dear friends with whom we can worship The One Who designed it all. We will dip our apples in honey…we will blow the shofar…we will look to rejoice and rest in His Presence and bring glory to Him Who designed such a 'thing' that WHO CAN GRASP IT!
Thank you for your prayers for Israel…the Jewish people…our family…His Name to be glorified…after all…THAT is what is eternal….HIM! May you be blessed with the fullness of His Spirit. May His Presence lead you always.
Lovingly, your sister in Jerusalem
"And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31
Greetings, Beloved brothers and sisters in Jesus, Yeshua, King of kings, Lord of lords, Messiah, The Precious Atonement, our Peace. May HE be glorified and blessed, and may you be blessed and encouraged.
We are RUNNING toward the feast of (the blowing of the) trumpets (Yom Teruah) as designated in the Scriptures. (see Levit. 23:24 also Num. 29:1)
It is also celebrated as rosh hashana or the head of the year (the new year)…and that has lead me into some wonderful conversations over past years and this year is no different. Clearly, GOD commanded PASSOVER to be THE HEAD OF THE YEAR OF THE HEBREW CALENDAR Exodus 12:1,2 "Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you."
There began my conversation with Yitzhak Reuben last evening. He is a 'reform Rabbi'…an American liberal stream of Judaism that is not officially recognized by the Rabbinical courts in Israel …a bone of contention. The conversions and marriages performed here by Conservative Rabbis are not always legally recognized…and yes… there IS animosity! We were discussing some 'interesting' traditions when Yitzhak said 'I have more and more problems with Rabbinical Judaism'. Totally taken by surprise (it IS unusual to hear a statement like this from a Rabbi here!) , I agreed wholeheartedly. 'What are some of your objections?' he asked me, interested in what I would say. (Usually 'woman's rights and other liberal causes are cited by liberal Jews. Praying for His open door I began; 'I see that the Rabbinical teachings, mostly spring from Babylonian captivity, so very often contradict written scripture.' was my answer and he was surprised. 'Give me some examples' he requested. The two that came to mind are 'easy ones' because they are so flagrant in my opinion. 'Well…Pesach is written as the rosh hashana…designated by God as the head of the year.' He answered with the pat rabbinical answer; 'Well yes, but we celebrate the creation of man…of Adam at rosh hashana'. I answered, 'but Yitzhak, I know that it is a tradition, but…where is that WRITTEN?'. He stopped; 'I'll research that and get back to you. Give me another.' I complied 'Ok. HALIBUT!' He smiled. 'Oh! I love halibut! What about it?' I hated to bust his bubble with my answer, but I did; 'It ISN'T SCRIPTURALLY KOSHER! I know that the Rabbis say that it is but The Scriptures exclude 'bottom fish' in the list of kosher fish and all kosher fish MUST have fins and scales. Halibut do NOT have scales…atleast not 'visible' ones.' (they DO have miniscule scales imbedded into their skin technically…but not visible to the naked eye) Yitzhak's answer surprised me; 'Does the Scripture say that clean fish MUST have fins and scales?' So I encouraged him to read the scriptures himself and I'm praying that he does. We will talk again.
A brother at our testified to his thankfulness that we can pray anywhere, and at anytime. I KNOW that there are my fellow Jews who do pray from their hearts, but oh so many must have their prayer books, prescribed times and prayers. His testimony reminded me of when I was a very new believer. I was visiting my parents who had moved to Florida. My Dad was quite ill with emphysema and while we were visiting his Aunt's house he had a bad emphysema attack and could not catch his breath. Our Aunt was very religious and I went to her and said "Aunt Gussie, let's pray together for Daddy! The prayer of two is better than one." Her answer was clear and she smiled happily as she said "Oh, I pray very well! You must hear me pray on Shabbat or on the High Holy Days! Yes, I pray well then. Then I can pray well!" I was frankly shocked. "But Daddy needs prayer right now." I said. She looked blankly at me and I went to the other room and prayed alone. I thought about that when our brother shared the joy at not needing designated times and places to pray…not being restricted to forms and seasons …but running freely to The King. We are blessed upon blessed!
I rejoice that The Lord hears my prayers whether I am in my room or on my way to work. Daily I witness those who are on their way to the Kotel (western wall)to pray. The streets and buses are FULL each morning and night right now as many thousands make their way to the Old City, to the site of the western wall of the Temple, to pray the traditional 'slichot' or prayers of repentance. The momentum builds all month. If you PRESS HERE you can see an example from one night last year at the kotel during slichot.
Surely the Kotel (Western Wall of the temple) IS a special place with a 'special presence': however we know how quickly our flesh can turn a 'place' into an idol…anytime we turn to the left of the right from the intended purpose. When the focus is Him and His glory, 'all things are lawful to me'. When the focus goes to a 'place', a 'person', 'myself', a 'work', whatever…the wedge of perversion has entered and we are in danger of idol worship. Such is what happened to the brazen serpent that Moses commanded to stop the plague in the wilderness ('Look and live!') and to Gideon's ephod (Judges 8:27) which became a snare to him and to his household.
I just read that there will be a prayer meeting for the unity of the Jewish people at the Kotel this Friday "More than 10,000 people are expected to pray at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem this Friday, September 7th, for the Day of Jewish Unity organized by Acheinu, the outreach arm of the NGO 'Dirshu'." 'Acheinu' means 'our brothers' and 'dirshu' is one of my (many) favorite words which loosely means 'demand' or 'require'(NOT my favorite words in English!) but is used throughout the book of Psalms (as well as other places in Scripture) like Psalm 105:4 (and 1 Chron. 16:11) "Seek (dirshu) the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!" the news article continued "For the Day of Jewish Unity, Jews are being asked to read two passages of Psalms, chapter 20 and 130 between 7 am and 2 pm." That is worthy. Join us in praying these Psalms for the salvation of the people?...our UNITY IN HIM?
Today on the train I sat 2 seats from a woman who began talking to the stranger next to her about Messiah. I tried hard to listen…she was speaking rapidly and was dressed like a religious woman but I heard her say '2,000 years' and that 'we all need faith as a people because it says (Zech) that we will all see Him together'…hum…I pray that The Lord WILL INDEED open the heavens and reveal truth at this time of searching! (please bear with me through a digression) This coming month marks 20 years since I began this journey totally unprepared and unqualified, of working in a busy doctor's office in the middle of Jerusalem. In my wildest dreams (nightmares??) I would have NEVER seen myself in such a role! How CREATIVE The Lord is and what a sense of humor He has…but what beauty He can create when we will bow to His (scary) will and say 'Yes Lord. May it be according to Your Word!' I did not look for work like this, for sure! Some may recall that it was a HARD time and (among other things) I had been without work for 2 years. We were literally a week away from being homeless. I prayed faithfully for provision and He IS FAITHFUL: We may have been a week away from homeless, but we never were homeless nor did we go begging bread. (PLEASE! IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HOMELESS DO NOT FEEL CONDEMNED BY THIS! THAT IS NOT AT ALL THE PURPOSE OF THAT SENTENCE…I am describing His work in MY life and that is all.) Let it suffice to say at this point that I was the least likely candidate for such a job…but through a strange series of events…it came to me (not me to it) …and it has been a JOURNEY. At nearly 73 I am actually good at this job now, (although stress would NEVER be my choice and STRESS is the name of my daily exercise. God chooses…I say 'Yes Lord' - sometimes through tears and with clenched fists.) After 20 years I have had a close up intimate view of the lives of many of Jerusalem's people and I feel like a beggar having been given a treasure chest of jewels. Often I have been able to share atleast SOMETHING of His love. Twenty years IS a long time /short time in a life. A strikingly handsome young man came in the other day with a big smile and gave me a hug. 'Benny Avi Chai!' I yelled and hugged him back. He had been a chubby 9 year old when we met…and even chubby and quiet when he went to the army. After the army he left to do what so many young Israelis do…to travel the world and 'look around'. Here before me stood a 29 year old man in his prime; no long chubby and awkward…and I marveled.
The 20 year olds that I knew are now 40 and the 30 year olds that I'd met are bringing their Grandchildren in. But what has struck me the most are those who are now in their 80s and 90s and even 100s. I have prayed for a long time that God would help me to age graciously and not be dependant. I wonder what makes some one way and some another…like children…whom we raise with love and hope and prayer and some … we continue to pray for in earnest.
Harry and Marlene are in their late 80s now. I could hear them and their daughter arguing before they got near the office! They didn't used to. 'Harry! You are going to fall! Harry! Don't…' When I met them 20 years ago, they were a happy couple with a successful tribe of a family. Age has taken its toll, but their interactions with one another …horrific! I've seen it before… too many times and it makes me want to cry. When they left (still arguing) I stood up to wish them a Happy New Year and Holy Days and I shook my finger at them like one would at children; 'And STOP ARGUING! Be KIND to each other, please!' I encouraged them. They laughed…'You are right! Ok. We will try…BUT…you KNOW…he is AWFUL!' I shook my finger again; 'Well, we all are! Be kind to each other!'.
Tova has been complaining for years. She is 96 and she wants to die. 'Enough already!' she tells me everytime she comes in, and I hug her, but the truth is that she is terrified of death, and as a Holocaust survivor, she has majored in fighting to live. It is a dilemma. Her daughter has always been what I think of as a 'hard' person. She can be …well… really 'hard' and always gets her way. And yet, when I was speaking to her a couple of days ago about her mother (whom she brings in) she said 'Oh, I love my Mother so much! I would do anything for her! She wasn't always like that. She is just afraid so now she is the child and I must love her as a mother.' Her tenderness brought me to tears and I hugged her and thanked her.
I've seen scores of families now with expressions of love and caring that speak volumes to me. I may not know what makes the difference in these families…certainly NOT the circumstances of who was a better parent or spouse, and not even the 'evident' personalities involved… it's that indefinable element and it spurs me to pray that I will choose wisely. If these who don't yet know Him can…surely The Holy Spirit Who leads into all Truth can lead me into kindness, grace and mercy all the way to the end. After all…it IS for His glory.
This week I learned a Sephardic tradition that was not part of my 'growing up' traditions. It's fattening! (hum…seems like they ALL are!) But I LIKED the idea that I could grasp. It has to do with certain traditional foods - spicy little patties made of leaks, some of squashes, some of eggplant, some of beets, cooked in oil. They are 'blessings'…and as each one is eaten a special, truly rich 'blessing' is given and the idea is that the oiled (anointed) food will 'take the blessing in to your very being'. I thought of communion and that ofcourse it isn't the 'eating of the bread and wine' but it is the 'taking into our selves the very body and Blood that has given us life'…we know what it is to take His blessing into our being. This as being a part of the Rosh hShanah blessing seemed lovely to me. Can we do such things without them becoming idolism traditions? (I'll let you know!)
And so Sunday at sundown our door will open to receive dear friends with whom we can worship The One Who designed it all. We will dip our apples in honey…we will blow the shofar…we will look to rejoice and rest in His Presence and bring glory to Him Who designed such a 'thing' that WHO CAN GRASP IT!
Thank you for your prayers for Israel…the Jewish people…our family…His Name to be glorified…after all…THAT is what is eternal….HIM! May you be blessed with the fullness of His Spirit. May His Presence lead you always.
Lovingly, your sister in Jerusalem