Israel – Page 28 – Christian News from Jerusalem

Straight to The Top

May 25, 2014 By J.G.S Editor 5 Comments

By Esther(the other one)

n Israel, we all feel like one big family. This is great when you need to ask someone something, because there is no animosity and you are often met with a willing and thorough response. However, there are also times when people comment as they please. Before Shmuel came along, walks with our ‘other bubba’ – our dog – invited concerns as to whether his collar was too tight, his leash too loose or his fur too short, voiced by well-meaning dog-lovers. Israelis love dogs, but they love children more! Going out with Shmuel therefore, often attracts attention from his extended Jewish family – of over 6 million!

This can be difficult for new young mothers, of which I am one. During these first weeks I felt inexperienced, inadequate and often like Shmuel deserved a mother who knew a lot better how to look after him! People’s comments and opinions on what I needed to change did not help! It took a combination of time in prayer – and just some time – to feel confident again. And all of this got me thinking about what I have that the Israeli people do not yet have. Although they are indeed the ‘People of the Book’, the majority does not have a personal relationship with God through His Son and Holy Spirit. This special community relies solely on each other for guidance and direction. This makes it easier to understand why they might comment on and talk about everything!

When I first came to Israel, I was secular and had not yet chosen to believe and enter into a relationship with God. I had been raised on the principle: ‘Your life is what YOU make of it, so make the right decision!’ This often overwhelmed me. How could I possibly know? There were so many things I did not understand! My point of reference was then, other people. I found validation in their opinion and approval. I could not rest unless somebody else gave me the ‘okay’ about what I was doing. It did not help that I lacked a practical understanding of things.

I would spend hours on the phone; inviting family and friends into every area of my life and seeking their counsel. I will admit that this was often not too productive; they rarely seemed to know better than I what to do! But it comforted me, made me feel less at risk of doing the wrong thing and less alone with my problems and crises. It also affected me deeply, when friends, family or strangers had something negative to say or did not agree with me. I felt I had to explain or argue until they did! Only then would I feel a fraction more confident that I was doing the right thing. It was an exhausting way to live and I am so thankful I did not become a new mother at this point in my life!

When I entered into a relationship with God I was able to see how He was guiding my thoughts and decisions. He spoke Proverbs 3 to my heart: In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV) Gradually I stopped running to people and began to take my concerns and queries straight to Him!

Now my phone bill is markedly less, because I have a free and direct dial-up to the One who formed me in my mother’s womb! He knows every step of my life’s journey because He is the one in charge of it! Who better to ask for guidance and direction?

When we first brought Shmuel home, my husband and I realised we had no idea how much sleep babies need! We searched separately online and re-grouped a little later. From the hundreds of websites, we had chosen the exact same article on baby sleep patterns to discuss! God had made His recommendation clear! There are many ways God will choose to answer my concerns and direct me. Most often I will feel a peace in my heart about something. I chose which baby clinic to take Shmuel to based on the peace I felt regarding one over another. The only information I had on each was where they were located – the same distance away! But I prayed and felt my heart turn to one. When I called they answered instantly and sounded so kind, which further affirmed this peace I felt. I then met a fellow young mother there during my first appointment and we have become wonderful neighbourhood friends!

These days, I receive countless comments, opinions and bits of advice from family, friends and Shmuel’s ‘extended Jewish family’ out on the street. That’s OK; God does also speak through the mouths of other people and I can count on Him to bring the right information my way. So instead of feeling judged by their words, I either a) accept it as something God wants me to hear or b) reject it but thank the person. I try not to take it personally or let doubts creep in about my mothering abilities. If that happens, I remember that I am not alone; I am guided and directed by the best partner there is!

I pray that all the special people in this special land would know where to go to for the answers they seek daily. I pray that they would know the comfort, guidance and love of the God of Israel. And I say to all the young mothers out there: know that God Almighty is on your side! He will never leave you! He gave you the child He knew you are the perfect mother for! Be comforted and trust Him!
B’shem Yeshua!

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The Ark Has Landed

May 24, 2014 By J.G.S Editor Leave a Comment

By Tom Brennan

Biblical Zoos in Israel and why we should know about the animals mentioned in Scripture.

There is a current movie about Noah that has drawn a torrent of criticisms. Scripture records which animals were to be put on the ark and how many of each and especially how many of the “unclean” creatures or those that were unsuitable for food. Unclean doesn’t actually mean it’s wrong, just not suitable for food because it consumes carrion (road-kill). It was not just “two by two” More “trash disposals” were taken on than those to keep the new earth clean for the survivors. Expeditions to Turkey have brought back enticing narratives of broken vessels stuck in the ice, even a Titanic-like wreck captured in a time warp. A vessel complete with hay mangers and a vast interior is claimed to have been found by one group. The photos are never clear, and the videos are puzzling for all. But the basic truth is there. The Flood did occur and animal life was preserved along with a sturdy and faithful clan, Noah and his family. After the Flood everyone left the grounded ark and the long journey of the centuries began to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s Israel.

When we see animals in our Bible readings, which ones do we see ? If you are in the UK, you will see the local breeds and stock, in America the variety will be much wider. Bible heroes are known for protecting their flocks and herds. When he declared his willingness to King Saul to confront the warrior-giant who was champion to the King of the Philistines, David testified that he had killed a bear and lion that were about to attack the flock he guarded. A shepherd used a sling for defense. The sling is a serious weapon. It is deadly accurate and in practiced hands nothing to be mocked. David won and we know the rest of the story.

Child-at-Zoo

There are bas reliefs, statues and other images of lions which were excavated from Iraq, the Hittite cities and Assyrian sculpture. They are large and fearsome animals to say the least. They disappeared long ago, victims of ongoing desert encroachment into abandoned agricultural areas over-cut forests and excessive hunting expeditions by the ancients. Samson killed a lion Tarzan-style. Need we say more? Fatted calves, donkeys, horses and mules are part of the narratives. Just what did they look like? How big was the donkey The Messiah rode into Jerusalem? The Book says “the foal of an ass”, that’s an above average size animal. The animal had never been ridden; he must have known Who he was to bear into the city and been overwhelmed with the honor. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord”. It is inferred that animals have a spirit of sort, not like ours but a spirit nonetheless. The animal just knew how to behave and bore his rider in utmost joy and dignity.

Much of our view of how the Bible world and its people looked is based on 19th century art. “Thou shalt make no graven images “was intended to prevent the plagues of backsliding by the Israelites into idolatry and often the foreign gods took animal shape. So we have few images of actual breeds of the flora and fauna of Bible Times. What we do have are some specifics for birds such as eagles, ospreys and the like which still populate some regions of The Land. Other than that it’s best guess and excavations.

Escaping from a Hollywood Ark and big star cameos of Biblical characters is not easy. Our parents and their parents had 19th century European artists to base their visual perceptions of what it was like in Biblical Times. But we should strive to delve deep into understanding. People of the Bible were for the most part villagers, daily-bread subsistence farmers and fisherman and like the Native Peoples of America lived within a nature that provided much of the things for a day’s food, shelter and life. Animals and fish provided the materials for life and they saw a different collection of them than we see today. There are constant references to birds of the air (which ones, what color were they, what sounds did they make?). Foxes are noted having their dens, and one of the Herods is called “that fox” by the Messiah. Why did He use that term? There are oxen, horses and donkeys everywhere. Balaam’s donkey could talk. Messiah’s donkey was given the honor of bringing the Messiah into Jerusalem and His mother to Bethlehem. What kind of donkey?

Our perception of the narratives of the bible can get bigger when our visual information is better. Zoos in Israel try to give us a better vision of the animals, sizes and colors and herd sizes that the Israelites knew as part of their “daily bread” lifestyle.

There is a wonderful zoo in Jerusalem which works to preserve, educate and inform Israelis and visitors about animals and the wildlife and domestic animals of Israel past and present. It’s worth a visit. Israelis and visitors alike are amazing in their curiosity and interest in their homeland. The amount of research, education and study that goes on in a place with a smaller land mass than almost any other nation on earth is simply overwhelming. The study of animals, connecting this study to a better understanding of the parables, metaphors and allegories that are a part of the literature of the Bible will only help us understand what was meant and intended. There are plenty of resources and very few excuses for not learning and it will be quite an experience.
Zoos are about sight, smell and sound. Biblical zoos in Israel help us use our senses to help us get closer to the times, events, and miracles that we read about and that even the best special effects can only pretend to portray. If you can find a local zoo that has a collection of animals that have a Bible story attached, try to visit and bring your Bible for a guide, you can’t go wrong.

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Saturday Is The Day For A Tiyul (Trip)

May 24, 2014 By J.G.S Editor Leave a Comment

By Nicole Sivan

You’ll often hear Israelis complaining about lack of space. The majority of the country’s population is concentrated in the center and Israelis live tightly packed together in high rise buildings and apartment complexes. Mornings and evenings are wasted away battling aggressive yet excruciating slow moving traffic as each commuter fights to lose as little time as possible trapped on the highway. Israelis are well aware that this isn’t a healthy existence and they balance their lives in the urban jungle by prescribing themselves a weekly dose of wide-open spaces, clean air, and the smells of nature. On Saturday, the country’s official day of rest (the Sabbath), secular Israelis pack up the car, fight weekend traffic out of the cities, and head out to the wilderness for a day of fresh air, hiking, and good old-fashioned outdoor fun.

Hiking-In-Israel

Israeli nature reserves, national parks, and beaches are packed to the brim each Saturday as an entire nation takes to the country’s elaborate network of hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and soft white sand. Israelis are a unique population who, despite their urban lifestyles, are addicted to anything in nature. The smell of Eucalyptus and the promise of a breathtaking view is enough to motivate an entire population up off the couch and out into the open.

In the springtime you may see hundreds of cars pulled along a highway as onlookers venture out to field where wildflowers are in bloom. Pictures of springtime in Israel will invoke images of the Tuscan countryside complete with fields of red poppies, anemones, and wild mustard. But, instead of throngs of tourists snapping photos, locals will be reveling in the land’s delight. Israelis take it slow through nature and you will often come across a well prepared family fully equipped with a portable gas canister, a cooking pot, and fresh ground coffee. An outing in nature is the perfect place for a quality cup of freshly brewed coffee. Pull up a rock and welcome to nature’s café.

During the rainy season, Israelis will travel by the thousands to the desert to witness the effects of a rain storm on the arid land, and perhaps observe, from a safe distance, a flash-flood moving through a wadi (a dry riverbed). On the occasion of a rare winter snow storm, Israelis pile into a 4-wheel drive vehicle and head to any elevated peak where they can play in an inch of two of fresh white powder, a real novelty for this desert nation.

Summer time is beach time and Israelis populate the nation’s pristine Mediterranean beaches, splashing in the waves and feasting on chilled watermelon slices. Many even set up camp on the beach for weeks at a time and enjoy a summer of outdoor beach living far away from the heat and oppression of a Middle Eastern summer in the city. The Israeli coast receives a glorious cool evening breeze and it is the perfect place to escape to if you are an unfortunate soul who suffers from apartment living without the modern luxury of air conditioning.

No, Israelis do not waste a beautiful weekend day watching television. Saturdays are the day to become one with the land, for Israelis to reconnect with their ancestors’ farming heritage and to enjoy the natural beauty of Israel far from their concrete enclosures in the cities. Saturday is adventure day, Saturday is nature day, and most of all, Saturday is the perfect day for a family tiyul (trip).

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The Fires of Lag BaOmer

May 22, 2014 By J.G.S Editor Leave a Comment

By Nicole Sivan

Last weekend in Israel marked the celebration of the holiday of Lag BaOmer.

Lag BaOmer literally stands for the 33rd day of the Omer, a counting period between the holidays of Passover and Shavout. The Hebrew letter Lamed (like the L in the English alphabet) has the numerical value of 30 and the Hebrew letter Gimmel (equivalent to the letter G) possesses the numerical value of 3. The time period during the counting of the Omer is a semi-mourning period in the Jewish religion and religious Jews refrain from celebration during this time.

Lag-BaOmer

Weddings, parties, and even haircuts are avoided during the Omer, except on the 33rd day, Lag BaOmer. On this one day during the counting, the restrictions of mourning are lifted. As you can imagine, Lag BaOmer is a very popular day in Israel for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other celebrations. It is also the traditional day when Jewish three year old boys receive their first hair cut.

Lag BaOmer is a holiday celebrated by the lighting of bonfires. While I received a Jewish upbringing, my first experience with this holiday occurred after moving to Israel. Lag BaOmer is not a holiday frequently observed by the Jewish community of the Diaspora, although it has been gaining more popularity in recent years. I had no idea that tradition required the lighting of bonfires and on the night of Lag BaOmer, as I sat home in my Tel Aviv apartment, I thought the neighborhood was on fire. Clouds of smoke billowed in through my open windows. I tried to call the fire department thinking one of my poor neighbors might be trapped in a blazing inferno. As the smoke began to penetrate from all directions, I prepared to evacuate. Maybe the whole neighborhood was about to go up in flames! But, how peculiar that none of my neighbors seemed concerned. No one was running into the streets with valued possessions on their back and no fire service sirens rang in the distance. Except for the heavy smoke, the night was peaceful and calm. The only sound was that of children’s voices singing folk songs in the distance.

There is no one prescribed way to observe the holiday of Lag BaOmer, and no one definite explanation for why this day is observed at all. Religious tradition relates that Lag BaOmer marks the death of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a disciple of the famed Rabbi Akiva in 2nd century AD. Rabbi Bar Yochai is considered one of the greatest teachers of the Torah in his generation and he is believed to be the author of the Zohar, the text of Jewish mysticism. You may know this book from Kabbalah class. Legend states that on the day of his death, Bar Yochai revealed the secrets of Kabbalah. Daylight extended on this day until he was finished with this teaching and died. Thus, Lag BaOmer is the celebration of the great light (wisdom) that Rabbi Bar Yochi brought to the world on this day. Religious Jews flock by the hundreds of thousands to the northern Israel town of Meron where they believe Rabbi Bar Yochi to be buried. There they study his teachings throughout the night of Lag BaOmer.

Another tradition says that 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died from a plague during the counting of the Omer. The dying ceased on the 33rd day of the Omer, which is why celebration is allowed on this day.

Secular Jews light bonfires on Lag BaOmer to represent the signal fires Bar Kokhba rebels lit on mountain tops to relay messages during the Bar Kokhba revolt against the Roman Empire from 132-136 AD. This was the second Jewish revolt against Roman rule and occupation, and like the first, ended in bloody defeat. However, the bonfires honor the revolt and symbolize the Jewish fighting spirit, a powerful message in the years after the creation of the modern State of Israel. The Palmach, the fighting branch of the Haganah (the pre-state army of Israel) was established on Lag BaOmer 1941 and the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) was created on Lag BaOmer 1948.

Today Lag BaOmer is less symbolic but Israeli children throughout the country enjoy gathering sticks, branches and logs for their school, neighborhood, or community bonfire. Construction sites throughout the country begin posting extra security in the weeks leading up to this holiday as young city scavengers try to make off with wooden beams and other construction material that can be used in these bonfires. It’s a fun night to experience in Israel, as long as you have been forewarned of the activities that will take place, and any visitor to Israel on this holiday should venture out to the closest beach, park, or lot that is hosting a local Lag BaOmer bonfire and celebration.

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Farming Israeli-style: Visit and Work on a Kibbutz

May 20, 2014 By J.G.S Editor 1 Comment

By Tom Brennan

One of the characteristics of the first Zionist settlers in what was to become Israel was their establishment of the system of Kibbutz farming. Centuries of benign but corrupt Ottoman rule had discouraged the Arab villagers and city dwellers from developing the lands of what was called Palestine by map makers and the post Great War British Mandate. Although hard scrabble farmers worked to grow basic crops, no one saw the need to develop things beyond a subsistence level. Poverty and discouragement walked hand in hand to the fields each day. Jews had come to Palestine and been tolerated and were even good citizens by Ottoman standards. By the time Herzl and the early Zionists began to pressure for a Jewish homeland many decisions had been made. One was that Hebrew would be the official language. The other was that settlement was to be a communal activity. These were turn of the 20th century socialists and the collective farm was their tool for productivity. The collective farm became the Kibbutz system and it worked.

Communal-Kibbutz- Dining

The first Zionists to enter were young idealists from Europe after 1900.These were energized, 18 and 20 something’s, men and women were mostly secular and profoundly socialist. The Kibbutz was an agricultural settlement set up on a dormitory and common property mentality. The first Kibbutz was Degania in 1909. The energy levels and productivity of the kibbutzim had an influence on the landscape that was not quite an overnight sensation. Dust and brown went to green and irrigated. Living in barracks, eating in common dining halls, he or she who didn’t work went hungry. These were not the hippie communes of the 1960’s but labor intensive experiments with a point to prove and an axe or two to grind. After years of pogroms , displacement, ghettoes and deportations the Jews were back and the world would soon know it. The movement surged and everywhere settlers came in and the deserts bloomed, fruits and vegetables surged into markets and more from Europe came to live where they could work, study and feel free from forced deportations, and confiscations. The Jews were a growing presence and the Grand Mufti in Jerusalem saw an opportunity. Foreshadowing the future he began to associate himself with anti-Semites in Germany sowing Al-Fatah seeds for the harvest to come.

After 1948 the liberated and shell-shocked camp survivors tried to go to the haven they felt was theirs. The British Mandate was uneasy after the war and wanted to keep the lid on a delicate balance of Jew and Muslim. The hardy Kibbutzniks were the core of resistance and soon their discipline and creativity began to be felt. Surreptitiously war surplus weapons made their way in and plans to break free into nationhood were being put to paper. The rest is history, literally. In 1989 about 2% of Israel’s population lived on 270 Kibbutz’s throughout the nation this about 129,000 people. High inflation and interest rates forced many of the Kibbutz’s into bankruptcy and many Kibbutzniks left or sought other lifestyles. Increased individualism and opportunities called stronger than the communal ideals of 1909.

Today most of the remaining Kibbutz’s are privatized and members pay fees at graduated income rates. A communal sense still exists and the membership fees pay for such things as healthcare, care for elderly and for those legitimately unable to work and for education. The Kibbutz has been revitalized and re-energized and today items other than agricultural ones are produced at many of them. Kibbutz tourism is flourishing as well. Urban Kibbutz’s are popular and the old cooperative atmosphere flourishes. Much has changed or adapted but a sense of “us” has been revitalized.

Family life has a vital role and children are still a focal point. Children spend much time with the working parents and still develop high social skills. The movement has many who look to it for direction and community. We can learn much from them. Scripture says: “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We were made to relate to others and the Creator placed that within us in many ways. Our first dependence is on Him and He expects us to share life with others. The drastic differences between the current non-Biblical state of the world and its divisiveness and the world of the Bible are painfully obvious. A community of a shared value and inter-relationship of family friend and neighbor, care of widows and orphans and kindness to strangers is totally Biblical. We can learn a lot from a kibbutznik.

There are Kibbutz educational tours, volunteer opportunities and of course, a chance to live and work on one. But many have waiting lists. The system has adapted to a more sophisticated, but still motivated population that is less ideological and more outwardly minded toward the wellbeing of others. Private property is respected but not coveted and people see value in others. Caring has overshadowed ideology. The Kibbutz system looks forward to years of success and growth. A visit or tour will be a valuable experience.

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