Category Archives: Israel

Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is —

” And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy,  Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’” Revelation 4:8

Greetings sisters and brothers, who have the same privilege as I do to share with the host of heaven and bless and worship Him Who sits on the throne. May He be glorified and adored and lifted up in you and in me, and may you be blessed.  I am so thankful to be part of His body with you!

I grew up with the old saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.  What a good reminder to look to the Lion who is also The Lamb. Revelation 5:5-6 humbled me greatly awhile back as I read “…Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah…And I looked, and behold…a Lamb…” It’s neat how even the weather and the calendar can point us to worship Him.

Here, March blew in with a roar. A HOT roaring wind with bright sunshine warmed my cold bones and caused me to look at the hills, so recently drenched with rain, now bursting everything into spectacular bloom.  In January our many almond trees turn white with blossoms and remind us, even in winter, of the mighty and enduring promises of God (Jeremiah 1:11,12). They stand out as sentinels along the cold winter hills.  But with the warm sun, as they begin to shed their blooms, they are joined by the rich fullness of deep greens and vibrant colors dazzling the eyes as literally everything bursts forth into color.

The birds rise in song to add delight to it all.  Oh, winter is set to return with more rain and cold, but it is so true that the heavens declare the glory of God and His handiwork is simply on display everywhere we look, even in the midst of agonizing situations.

One look at Him and then it is all put into perspective.

 

Coming home from work today, I had to stand on the bus.  Thankfully I was perched right behind the row of single seats, which end with a somewhat comfortable padded headrest (for wheel chairs actually). It made a nice place to steady myself and lean against.  I found myself looking down over the shoulder of a teacher who was reading papers and I glanced at them.  To my surprise I saw that they were poems, and happily, as I looked, I saw that I could really understand most of the words.

It appeared to be a writing assignment for adults, but using particular words: heart, fly, day, good and some others.  These words were repeated many times in each poem and I was taken aback as it seemed to me that the assignment had been given to soldiers who had suffered trauma.  I was literally gripped by the raw open- hearted cries written on page after page.  One wrote of a beautiful day, fly away, like my friend who flew so many flights until the last…and didn’t come aback.  Another spoke of too many wars and ended with the cry repeated three times “shalom l’yisroel” (Peace to Israel).

Page after page written by tired young hearts crying for peace and weeping over promises still around the corner.  I was stunned.  There I was − standing on the bus, resting my eyes, and they just happen to fall on to such a secret place.  I prayed for those who wrote the poems.  I wish I could explain it to you, that right there, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a crowded bus, a treasure chest of hearts opened.

Now my reading of Hebrew is NOT perfect and I COULD be all wrong.  Perhaps it had nothing at all to do with what I THINK I saw.  That is one of the drawbacks of being an immigrant: some things are misinterpreted. But that is what I THINK I saw, and it is quite likely a pretty accurate interpretation.

It’s amazing what we see when we look.

But what do we do with it then?

 

It is now a month since my last letter. I hear the helicopters overhead as America’s Vice President is here for talks with our Prime Minister and the leaders of the Palestinian Authority in the midst of the ongoing terror attacks, the Iranian weapons build up, and wars all around us.

What to share with you after this month of absence?  There is just so much. Observations, thoughts, events − where to begin?

Yesterday I thought of you as I was coming home on the bus.

A woman in a wheel chair was safety-belted to the wheelchair rest. When we came to her stop, there were no young men on the bus able to help her off by lowering the ramp by the back door.  The bus driver patiently stopped the bus and came to the back.  Lowering the ramp, he then pushed her gently down it.  As he came and started up the bus again, I thought about our drivers. What an amazing lot they are!  Our public transportation here really IS for the entire general population.  Pressing into the buses are old, young, baby carriages (including twin carriages!), wheelchairs, crutches, canes, blind canes and seeing eye dogs, regular dogs, cats in cages and kittens in jackets, teenagers, people praying , people singing, people coughing, and sneezing.  There are the crazies, the teens, the mentally challenged, the soldiers, the tired, the hyperactive, and then there are the LANGUAGES − you name it.

Not ALL of the bus drivers care about everyone, but a surprising amount do.  That’s a pretty tall order.  People really CAN be pretty annoying, especially when there are so many ALL of the time.  It has touched me that after each attack on a bus, the driver is so very concerned for his passengers.

I spend a great deal of time on the bus and the train. I get to recognize those I see regularly and pray that someday it will make a difference that someone prayed for them while bouncing along the roads of Jerusalem.

 

Our oldest daughter with our 10-year old Granddaughter and 5-year old Grandson were here with us to celebrate my 70th birthday, and it was a great gift.  We went to the zoo, the beach, rode the train, and even drove up north for a night at her friend’s house.  It was rural and very restful for me there.

But it was all a whirlwind.  A wonderful one, but a whirlwind none the less and I am still very tired.  Many people have been asking me, “when I plan to retire,” and that has had me thinking.  We never planned for retirement and being that we need to pay the rent, we don’t see any way that we can retire. However, we are 70.  Hmm!

This has been a wonderful and true test for me. FAITH!  Oh yes!  We believe…and we really do…but I find that the TRUE test of faith is when the bank balance is negative, when the strength is gone, when the medical tests don’t look good, and when the exit door approaches.  I mean, I DO believe that He provides, gives strength, heals, and has provided eternal life more wonderful then we could ever dream of.

As the old saying goes: “I believe in the sun when it isn’t shining.”

But lately it is as if I feel HIS Spirit searching me deeply and saying, “Will you believe NOW?  Will you REALLY BELIEVE?”

Isn’t He just wonderful, that He will search every corner of our hearts to make sure that there is no “fool’s gold” there but only TRUE GOLD, TRIED IN THE FIRE??  I am so THANKFUL that He will not let us fool ourselves with a counterfeit.

So, when will I retire?  I don’t know. But when He tells me that it’s now, I want Him to find only faith in me and no fear.  And because He is God, I trust that He will and sing Habakkuk 3:17 −

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—

¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. ¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills”.

 

I have told you how I have shared at work with one of the younger secretaries, Mali, about Him.  I asked for prayer for her quite awhile back. I have grown to love her very much, none the less I was taken by surprise when she came in the day before I left for vacation for my daughter’s visit and handed me a small golden box.  “What is this?” I asked.

She was SO excited.  “It’s for your birthday!  Quick, open it.  It’s real gold.  Do you like it?  Do you like it?”

I wear one piece of jewelry and that is the menorah that my husband brought back for me from his first trip to Israel.  He got off the plane and handed it to me and announced, “We’re making aliyah.”

The menorah is the 7-branched candelabra that God commanded to be in the temple. It represents His Holy Spirit and is woven throughout scripture, being particularly evident in Zechariah and Revelation, as well as all of the description of the temple.  I have worn this since my husband gave it to me that fateful day back in 1992 or 3.

I pealed back the wrappings on Mali’s gift and there was a delicate gold necklace in the shape of Israel with a Star of David over it.

“Oh do you like it?  Will you wear it?  I can return it…” she was so excited.  This was SUCH a big gift for this new mother.  Her face was shining.  She looked at me and said, “I was going to get you all sorts of things, but when I saw this I thought about how much you love Israel and I thought this was for you.”

As she put it on me I was so deeply touched.  I never know how I appear to people or how they perceive my words.  Mali and I speak only in Hebrew, so I am SURELY not sure what she sees and hears of me, so this touched me.

God loves Israel.

Why?  His choice. I don’t know, but I know that I want to stand in agreement with Him. It isn’t always easy or in sync with what my own reasoning or emotions might dictate.

In my current reading through His Word I ask Him more and more to set my heart firmly in agreement with Him NO MATTER WHAT.  I was taken back and literally thrown into prayer on Tuesday as I read Ezekiel 6 −

“Yet I will leave a remnant, … 9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations. ¹⁰ And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.”11 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Pound your fists and stamp your feet, and say, ‘Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! …¹³ Then you shall know that I am the Lord, …Then they shall know that I am the Lord.’”

Suddenly I saw “because I was crushed“ and it broke my heart.

We HAVE the power to CRUSH GOD’S HEART!  HOW AWFUL!

Thankfully it means that we also have the power to bring His Heart pleasure.  I saw myself as a part of the fruit carried away captive to the nations and as The Scriptures said He showed me my sin. I “loathed myself for the evils which I committed…” and was granted the greatest gift of all…repentance unto salvation.

And I looked around at us today and I wanted to pound my fists and stamp my feet and pray for revival NOW!  Before The Heart of God could be further broken. How we complicate His message through His Word, with our own affinities and interpretations.  I don’t want to cloud the Truth. I want to see it as He says and to be His servant for His glory, and to reflect Him, as He IS to the people whom He chose for His own purposes.

 

As He displays Himself in the heavens above and all creation, so He also displays Himself in the times and the seasons.  He has set for Himself appointed feasts and even though Purim (23-25th of March this year) will soon be upon us, it is really Passover (Pesach 22-30 April this year) that we are looking toward.  Preparations are beginning and hearts are stirring.  I hope to share some peeks into this special time in the next letter.

 

But for now I will close this letter.  May we all be constantly filled with wonder and worship of The One and Only True God Who deserves all praise and glory, love and obedience.  He Alone is holy, and we are His.

Lovingly,

your sis J in Jerusalem

 

Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is —

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings in the name of the One who created heaven and earth and Who redeemed us to be a remnant for His Own glory.  May Yeshua h’meshiach − Jesus Christ − be glorified and blessed and may you be blessed and encouraged.

What a world we live in and what a joy to know that we are in His Hands and He is neither early nor late nor taken by surprise by anything.

I went down town to the local “outreach book store” where my dear friend works. While I was walking there on Jaffa Road (Rehov Yaffo), the main thoroughfare along which our train now runs, I was struck by a strange mixture of tension and relaxation.  Blue lights flashing from police vehicles that precede and follow the trains, keeping watch for suspicious people and objects, rush up and down the tracks every minute or two.  The trains are constantly a target of stone throwers and there have been various incidents on the train as well. You can almost see the sinews on the necks of the police/soldiers standing out as they strain with tension, searching the crowd and the tracks.

It seems almost odd that the sidewalks along the tracks are dotted with cafés filled with umbrellas and tables full of people sipping coffee and eating, messing with their cell phones and just visiting.  Now it is true that this is an Israeli strategy.  The national stance is that “where one is killed, two will stand and are planted; we will live life as normal, even if the times aren’t normal.”

Having been given more than ample opportunity to practice this, we are good at it.  Nonetheless a mixture of emotions hit me:

1) This is sad…

2) This is resilient…

3) Does anyone else notice this or am I the strange one here?

Frankly, I don’t know, BUT what an example of the believer’s stance was on display before me.  Surrounded by enemies sworn to destroy us, we are protected and guarded by His host to stand in the gap and praise and worship Him with peace and joy while taking no thought for tomorrow.

This suddenly seemed to me to be a glowing example of faith.

And perhaps faith IS the issue here. Although granted, maybe not all of those people seated along the tracks were standing in the faith of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, BUT SOME ARE!

As I rode the train home I was surprised to see long banners of the Israeli flag being carried along with calls for repentance. We are called here to be priests unto God!

Because I believe His Word, I believe that in the end, we will see it come to pass, just as He said, not necessarily as our limited personalities interpret it.  To quote just one of many promises:

Jeremiah 33:16-16 and 25, 26

¹⁴ ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:  ‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.  In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’  (yes…we who are blessed to know His Name know that He has been here once…these wait for Him with anticipation not knowing that He has already come once and will return!)

 

²⁵ “Thus says the Lord: ‘If My covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, then I will cast away the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his descendants to be rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will cause their captives to return, and will have mercy on them.’”

 

It’s amazing – but not really – how up to date His Word is because it is eternal and TRUE.  Several mornings ago I was engaged in my regular reading, part of which currently is in Genesis when I read:

The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”  Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.”  And the Angel of the Lord said to her:

“Behold, you are with child,

And you shall bear a son.

You shall call his name Ishmael,

Because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man;

His hand shall be against every man,

And every man’s hand against him.

And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”  (Genesis 16:9-11)

^” Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.  And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.  But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” (Genesis 17:19-21)

 

The wind was blowing just right this morning so that I heard the piercing sound of the Muslim call to prayer. I usually don’t hear it because I live on the western side of town. I thought, this is the age-old wrestling match between Jacob and Esau. The two wrestled in the womb before they continued to wrestle on earth. Yes, they’re still wrestling today.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob −Elohim − is NOT the god of Ishmael and Esau: Allah.  Their nature and character is as different as is their expression of who they are.  Elohim calls to life while Allah to death.  The inscription around the top of the Alaksa Mosque is “allah is one…and HE HAS NO SON.” (Yes, this is inscribed in Arabic).

And yet: “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only begotten Son…”

It is so very evident as I walk through the streets that the ancient battle is still being fought today.

After leaving the bookstore, I noticed a different tension as I waited for the train. Then I heard it: the dreaded word ‘pe’goo’ah‘ (attack).  I listened awhile and it was obvious that someone was badly injured. It turned out to be two young boarder police/soldiers. Both women. The 19 year old later died of her wounds.

Did you hear about this? Or about the many others?

I began to ask those around me for more details, which were still sketchy.  The attack was just 2 stops away, at ‘Sha’ar Schem’, often called Damascus Gate in English.  It seemed that there were 3 attackers with knives, guns and explosives.

Many of my fellow passengers on the train were young soldiers. I could see their emotions. They wanted to scream but that they didn’t know how to express themselves. They needed to care.  They needed to DO SOMETHING and so there I was… the first available little old lady they could do something for. I became their object of attention.

“Here, can I help you?  Why don’t you stand HERE?” one young soldier took my shopping cart and moved it to where he was, regardless of the fact that I had a perfectly good spot.

Another soldier standing nearby and not wanting to be outdone said, “Do you know where you are going? Can I help you find your way?”

This COULD have been offensive if I didn’t understand their need to give, to help, to find some control in the midst of these uncontrollable’ situations. That is what our soldiers are trained to do: to find the solution.

I smiled and said, “Thank you but I just live here.  I’m on my way home from work.’” I thought about how I so often NEED TO DO SOMETHING when The Lord would have me sit still and wait.

How little He asks of us: to trust and obey…and die to self!  Oy!  Yes Lord!

Thank you for your prayers for this nation and our people. We shall see HIS glory and HE WILL BE GLORIFIED!

God bless you.

Lovingly,

your sis J

Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is —

Greetings dear sisters and brothers, with thanksgiving and praise.  May the Lord be glorified and blessed.

Thank you so very much for your prayers and encouragement concerning our trip to Eilat to celebrate my husband’s 70th birthday.  Although it was for him, I did not realize how MUCH I needed a rest from the constant stress of both the pace of life in Jerusalem as well as the tension from the ongoing attacks.

I had never been further south then Mitzpe Ramon, so this trip literally opened a new world for me.

Living in Jerusalem, my world focus had been centered on the borders to the north and west and the countries that neighbor us, namely Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan. The view from the south opened my eyes to an entirely new perspective and landscape.  I’d like to share it with you while it is fresh in my mind.

 

We left Jerusalem on the 7 a.m. bus to Eilat. It wasn’t long before I could feel the tension leaving my body and I relaxed.  The buses are so tall that they afford you a wonderful view. I am happy to report about my seeing a wild ostrich during the trip down south.

The flooding rains had enriched the colors of the central region. Vivid colors interplayed with bright greens in spite of the fact that we were traveling during another sand storm. But those colors gave way to the wilderness desert colors, equally spectacular in their understatement.

I expected the desert to be sandy, like the pictures I had seen of caravans of camels making their way over sand dunes. But the sand wasn’t sandy in texture. Instead, it was gravely and rocky.  I mentioned that to Philippe and he explained that the English translation of Scripture says “desert” but the Hebrew word implies a “wilderness,” dry and barren.  Hum!  I had a wrong picture in my head.

We arrived in Eilat at around 1:00 in the afternoon, and just as I had suspected, it is indeed a “party town,” full of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment. Although not my choice cup of tea, I was determined to find out what The Lord DID have for me there.  The airport runway is situation RIGHT in the MIDDLE of town.  After a good, long rest, I was able to begin the exploring.

Eilat is situated on the Red Sea, which in Hebrew is ‫ים סוף  (Y’m Soof) or The Sea of REEDS. Yes, this is THE Red Sea (or Reed Sea) that Moses brought the children of Israel through from Egypt. So, you wouldn’t think that I would be as surprised as I was when the local bus began announcing The Way to Egypt.  It SHOULDN’T surprise me…I mean…I KNOW that we border Egypt to the south, but THERE IT WAS!

It DIDN’T surprise me as much when we passed the border crossings into Jordan near Jericho.  I can easily see Jordan when I go to the Dead Sea (yam h’melach or Salt Sea). Until 1967 I could have been there by walking 2 blocks from where I live, but here was Egypt out my bus window.

And not just Egypt.  Philippe pointed. “Just beyond there is Saudi Arabia,” he said, “and if we were to continue traveling south on this bus, we would arrive first at Sudan, then Eritrea (and Ethiopia) and then Somalia. All along the coast of this very same Sea of Reeds.  Touching the opposite shore, just below Saudi Arabia, is Yemen.  And THERE, at the mouth of the Red Sea or Sea of Reeds, is the GULF OF ADEN, flowing into the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.”

No WONDER there is all of this fuss going on concerning this area.

ALSO I suddenly understood how all of the African refugees that we have were able to walk from Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia, right up the coast.  Now this was all falling into place for me and now a whole prayer map formed in my mind that was much more real to me.

We have a southern border and it is TENSE, just like our Western border, and our Northern border.

 

But on that day, we were not going on to Egypt. We were going to swim with the extraordinary fish of the Red Sea.

And did we ever bask in the liquid creation of God’s imagination.  Oh my, you can look at the photos online or in a library. Pictures of the exotic fish and coral found only in this sea, but to see it in person truly IS a thrill that can ONLY result in worship and humbling wonder at such a Loving Creator who delights in bringing forth such amazing creatures.

I was lovingly coaxed into snorkeling, which I eventually learned how to breathe properly. I swam among bright blue fish striped with florescent red – every bit as large as a basketball.  They were not afraid of people in these shockingly blue, clear waters, but swam in schools along side of us and around us.  Let me tell you, if you ever truly need to REST, swimming in an aquarium will do it.  God is SOOO GOOD.

We visited a “sea world” sort of observatory and learned all about sharks, saw huge sea turtles, rays and mantas, eels and critters. All part of His silent world. His wonders. The works of His Hands that DO INDEED DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD as do the heavens.  Really, all of creation bares His Fingerprints, His DNA, and sings of His great mysterious Love. How could we BUT love and forgive one other EVERYTHING when we are all part of this great plan?  And why is it so easy to love what He has made, except for my brothers and sisters?

We snorkeled again with the exotic fish on our last day. And as we waited for the bus back to the hotel, the sky opened up and down poured a rare desert wilderness rain, flash floods and all.  I have NEVER seen such HUGE RAIN DROPS. Each drop of rain was the size of the end of my thumb. Before the bus arrived the roads became a river.  It was dramatic and beautiful. It cleared the sand from the air that had been there until that point.  By evening we were able to clearly see the mountains of Eilat and Jordan. I feel it was a clear picture of what Moses looked at and what Mount Sinai is like.

Bare red and white and black mountains, standing in very gentle contrast looking every bit like the windblown forms of the desert which they are. Desert colors are so different than forest colors. They are both large and gentle, such a subtle, silent power.

By morning we finally saw the bright blue skies of Eilat, which meant heat, but we were leaving before the heat of the day.

I read in 1 John as we headed home:

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John 2:7-10)

So WHY is it so hard to obey This Wonderful God Who has sent His Only Son to be my Savior and Messiah and has given me His Holy Spirit to enable me to do everything He asks of me?  If I can love the fish, why can’t I so freely LOVE HIS KIDS?

About half way home I noticed the sky getting black.  We saw signs along the way that it had rained here.  We had been blessed to NOT be able to see or hear any news while we were gone so we didn’t know about the weather.  We did know that everyone who asked us where we were from showed great sympathy when we said, Jerusalem.” They wished us deep rest.

But, indeed, vacations end and ours did abruptly.

As we got back to the city, we entered a tunnel.  As we exited, it was as if we had entered another world: a flooded one where the sky had broken open. It was POURING down.  When we neared the central bus station, they closed the gates in front of us (we never found out why) so we jumped out of the bus in the downpour and fished our suitcase out from under the bus, wading through the puddles to the train.  Cold and soaked but laughing, we arrived home to happy-to-see-us animals and a shabat dinner prepared ahead of time.

Thank you for praying.  Thank you for letting me share.  Thank you for being the very HEART of His wondrous Creation.

May He be glorified in and through us.

Blessings,

your sis J

Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is —

Shabat Shalom from Jerusalem, where I can testify to you that His Peace − His Shalom − is a most blessed gift in a place where peace is a longed for and illusive commodity.  I give Him thanks today that He gave us such a great gift among so many other precious gifts.  May HE be glorified, blessed and revealed, and may each of you be encouraged and blessed.

As I have walked my life through these past days, my observation bank has been filled with things that I wanted to tell you about. Because I suspect that they are unique, and I also suspect that in many ways they contain glimpses into God’s heart toward these days and His purposes.

It seems to me that we are in, what I have learned to call “Israeli stage two,” meaning that the first wave of shock, grief, and fear is passing into the next stage of “strengthening one another, protecting one another, encouraging one another, laughing, don’t let them win, and sadly, anger.”

So let me simply share with you some of the things I’ve seen as these attacks continue, even today:

I was on the train at the beginning of the week when the woman next to me jabbed my arm with her elbow and said, “Ti’ray!” (Look!) ‘There is Nir Barkat.” (the mayor of Jerusalem).

Sure enough, there he was, standing about two people away deep in conversation with a young soldier.  The rest of the car began to listen as they discussed emotions, ideas, and, Israeli style, within a short minute, most of the other people around joined in.  He was riding the train from the Old City to talk with people, calm them, and to see what ideas we had, what were our worries, our solutions, our observations.

It was nice, and yes, comforting and strengthening to see the mayor with no body guards riding the train to talk to his people.  That night on the news he asked everyone in the city who had a weapon license to please carry their weapon. And for those who didn’t, to arm themselves wisely with pepper spray or an umbrella or the like.  He explained that he WASN’T telling people to kill Arabs or become vigilantes, but for each one to guard his brother’s back. We needed to become soldiers since the battlefront was our streets.

I thought, what a contrast to America and other countries, where crazies are committing mass murders and guns are being outlawed.  As part of the current situation, our gun licensing laws have been slackened somewhat.

A bit later that same night, the security cabinet established new emergency measures:  In flash points, particularly Jerusalem, army units were called up to join the police and border guards, which were being stretched to their limits.  Certain Jewish communities outside of Jerusalem, which seemed particularly vulnerable to attack, were to be off limits to Arabs with their gates closed.  Many people do not realize − particularly with Israel being accused of being an “apartheid state” that Israeli Arabs generally walk as freely EVERYWHERE that Israeli Jews do.

I share again that the Palestinians are a people who CHOSE to NOT ACCEPT ISRAELI CITIZENSHIP WHEN ISRAEL AGAIN BECAME A STATE IN 1948, THEREFORE CHOOSING INSTEAD − NOT TO MOVE TO THE STATE GIVEN TO THEM AT THE TIME: JORDAN. BUT TO CLOTHE THEMSELVES IN PERPETUAL “REFUGEE STATUS.” (UNHCR was created FOR THEM ALONE) They are THE LONGEST EXISTING REFUGEE POPULATION IN THE WORLD, refusing other citizenships. Most of these refugee camps have neighborhoods rarely seen on TV news with mansions and all sorts of luxuries.  The Palestinian and even Gaza hotels and malls have been very popular among liberal European travelers. Admittedly less so since the war last summer with Gaza)

At the same time, 2 or 3 of the Palestinian villages (I believe they were all refugee camps but one may not have been) that most of the terrorists were from in Jerusalem were sealed off for 2 days.  (Wed and Thurs) That is the first time that this has been done since 1967.

There was now a security plan in effect so Israeli humor could kick in Stage 2, despite the daily stabbings.

Now remember, MOST Israelis are also soldiers. There is never a past tense to the word soldier here.  Once you are a soldier, you are always one.

However, those of us without gun licenses became more creative as the main venue for these attacks have been public transportation along with the bus and train stops themselves.  Although these places where women, children and old people are abundant are vulnerable − from the very first attacks we saw that the “guard your neighbor’s back” policy was becoming very effective, and a number of attackers were subdued by a blow from a selfie-stick, umbrella, or a good dose of pepper spray.

By day 3, photos were appearing of rolling pins sticking out of religious women’s handbags, to very un-sporty looking men carrying a baseball bat.  A friend told me that the idea she had decided to use was a big potato in a sock as it could pack a good whallop.  Despite the sunshine, there were abundant umbrellas, canes, even healthy people with crutches.

Yes, it really did serve as comic relief and it worked.

Just to let you know: possession of a gun without a license or explosives, of a knife [even a pocket knife] or a rock can get you up to 5 years in jail. No questions asked.

The streets have been much emptier than usual.  I wondered how my trip to work would go on Wednesday morning, although having spent my time with The Lord I was confident in Him and not afraid. Just a bit curious.  The train, even for 6:30 a.m., was unusually empty and there were NO Arabs.

Usually half of the people that I travel with in the morning are Israeli Arabs.  My bus stop, however, is in a spot much more vulnerable and usually more than half of the passengers are Palestinians (NOT Israeli Arabs) and the agitation can be felt on a good day.  I approached my stop prayerfully and looking all around, but there were NO Palestinians there that morning as they must have been in closed villages.  Everyone on the bus looked at one another. There was a collective sigh of relief: no terrorists.

By the time that I left work, there were more Israeli Arabs out and the feeling was calmer.  There were many soldiers everywhere and two at each bus stop.  One would get on the bus and inspect it while the other waited outside closely watching him.

At my stop, the one outside was a girl. Remember: our daughters are also soldiers.   The first soldier rode the bus with us to the next stop and got off.  There was a strong feeling that everyone was doing their job.  By the end of the day, although there had still been several attacks, people felt much more secure.

Thursday I took time to go downtown after work.  The Palestinian villages were still sealed and I hadn’t been to the shuk (market) all week.  I was hoping that by now the prices were down a bit, but I was wrong.  As I walked toward the shuk, I heard singing.  Down Agrippas Street came perhaps 50 young men carrying big Israeli flags, some also draped in them, singing and dancing and encouraging people as they went.  “Am Ysrael Chai” (Israel Lives). “Chazak vey emetz lebcha” (be strong in your heart and of good courage) and many other songs from scripture.  My heart lifted.  I watched soldiers join in and people clapped or sang along.

At the shuk, I greeted my usual shopkeepers and was THRILLED to see that ALL of my favorite Arab vendors were there. So I particularly stopped to talk to them and ask how they were.  Again, except for the high prices, I was encouraged.

I called Anam, an Christian Arab patient of ours whom I’ve befriended, to see how she and Boutrous and their family were doing.  She was on the way to the hospital near our house to visit with the Jewish wife of a stabbing victim still in extremely critical condition.  Ironically he is a very active Jewish leader in the co-existence movement.

Yesterday morning (Friday), there were many more Arabs and Palestinians on the streets and transportation again, but the tangible fear in the air was much less although there were rolling pins and vigilance.  The attacks continued but soldiers, police and general public have been alert to subdue many of them.  On the bus stop coming home I saw a poster: “Dear soldier and police.  We thank you so much for what you are doing.  Please come by (address nearby) for coffee, sandwiches, cake or call this number and we will bring it to you.  Anything that you might need, be in touch.  We love you.”

Yep!  We have a motto here:  FEED THEM! Every soldier on the train was being offered food from someone’s bag.  They are all family.

A couple of further observations:  Last Sunday I met a dear sister downtown for coffee: the streets were certainly bare and there were police with sniffer dogs patrolling along with police and ambulances racing up and down the tracks. But we sat having our coffee when suddenly a very skinny, sickly looking young Arab woman in black from head covering down, came through begging for money with her hand out.  She did NOT look AT ALL like the usual beggar in this area and alarm bells went off in all of us as this was a HIGHLY unusual event for this place and time.  Everyone shook their heads no − also unusual − and an older woman alerted the police.

The following day I mentioned this to Mali.  She had been in the border police.  When I shared what had happened she looked alarmed and said, “No No!  NEVER go near them!  They are sent out because they have aids or some other very bad sickness.  When you give them money they will touch you and seek to kiss you and leave saliva. They will even suddenly lick you!  It is a tactic that was much used in the intifada!”

I thought about the kiss of Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus.

Also at work we began getting new requests for anti-anxiety meds from those who do not normally use them.  But sadly from those who had been in attacks before.  Yosi, a dear bus driver, whose bus had blown up during the intifada and many had died.  How amazing that he could even return to driving bus, but now he requested anti-anxiety meds.  Maya came in.  She had been in a bombing. Others followed.  Elisheva, who is mentally challenged and very timid, came in.  It also made me think of those young people who are doing the attacking.  So many of them are also mentally challenged and impressionable, manipulated, used by their “handlers” who wouldn’t DARE put themselves in harm’s way.

Later that evening, the singing flag waving encouragers, the same age as the attackers, came singing and dancing up past our apartment and we stood on our merepesset (terrace) as they sang  “HaTikva” (The Hope), our national anthem.

Last night there was another group and a different singing.  It began at about 8 p.m. and they were still singing at 11:30. A different, but bigger group and not regular singing. They were praying and crying out to God − The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob − singing their prayers as Jews do and as believers do when we worship. The singing was plaintive, insistent and passionate.  I have not heard this during a time of struggle before and I was, again, encouraged.  For our people NEED to know that God is calling us to Himself.

I have spent this time only reporting to you what I witness around me.

 

Yesterday at IFI I got a copy of Chuck Cohen’s news letter and I want to send you the first 2 paragraph’s as I feel such an urgency that THE BODY OF CHRIST is at a critical crossroad concerning EVERYTHING, but that the way the body embraces GOD’S PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ALL AROUND US AND THAT INCLUDES ISRAEL, WILL DETERMINE MUCH IN THE DAYS TO COME.  If you wish, you could read the rest of his letter on the IFI website http://www.ifi.org.il/

How do we respond to the events in our world possibly having prophetic significance? Events such as: anti-Israel, pro-Hamas Jeremy Corbyn elected to lead the UK’s Labour party; Pope Francis meeting US President Obama on Yom Kippur; the Pope speaking to the UN General Assembly [GA], saying he came in his own name (John 5:43); the flag of “Palestine” raised at the UN two days after the 4^th red moon – the only ‘blood’ moon that appeared over Jerusalem; an Islamic immigration-jihad invasion of post-Christian Europe with most EU leaders paralyzed by their political correctness; Iran accepted by the global community, especially the EU, as the EU tries to boycott Israel; Russian and Iranian troops in Syria, just north of Israel’s border; a floodtide of anti-Semitism and an increase of aliyah [Jews returning to Israel].

We live in the final days before Messiah’s return. Yeshua has already told us how to respond: lift up our heads and watch and pray (Luke 21:28; Mark 13:33). 

An unbiblical view of God… leads to deception about who God is, what He is doing and what He is about to do. At a time like this, as nations come against Jerusalem, but Jews increasingly return to Israel; as deception grows in the Church and violence permeates societies as in Noah’s day; as immorality smothers believers and non-believers, and Islam acts upon its threats against all that is holy, it is crucial for followers of the Lamb of God to know this God and His nature – as He has chosen to reveal Himself in His Word.

An unbiblical view often emphasizes one aspect of His nature while de-emphasizing others. Is He a God of love? He also is a Man of War (Ex. 15:3; Psa. 24:8; Isa. 42:13; Rev. 19:11). Is He a God who forgives? He is also the Judge of all the earth (Gen. 18:25; Rev. 20:12). An incomplete view of the biblical God blinds believers to some of His work today as coming from His hand.

The vilest fruit of replacement/fulfillment theory is just this – the proclamation of an unbiblical God, with an accompanying blindness to His current works. If Israel is no longer essential or central to biblical theology, then why bother with the rediscovery of our Hebraic roots, the land of Israel, aliyah and the IDF, threats from Islam to destroy the Jews and Yeshua’s return to Jerusalem, and so much more?

The divine ointment for healing this spiritual blindness is to accept all of His Word as it truly is – the Word of the Living God! Instead of us judging God’s Word, His Word must judge us. Study the Word, but approach it with a fear of His absolute purity, so that even if we do not fully grasp what is written, it still remains in our spirits and minds as God’s Word, awaiting His illumination.

May The Lord be glorified in all that we think and do and say…may we rest in His great grace which is able to accomplish in us all of His purposes…for the glory of His Name!

Lovingly,

your sister J in Jerusalem