Edut issue 2 by Edut Magazine

O R D I N A RY P E O P L E E X T R AO R D I N A RY S T O R I E S

I S S U E T WO

Matters of the

HEART A survivorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memoir

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CONTENT EDITOR’S NOTE It is just like God to write a common prostitute into His redemption story. It is hard for us to believe that Rahab, a prostitute, who hid the spies of Israel from the eyes of their enemies (Joshua 2), is a vital part of the story of Israel, the Bible itself and the lineage of Israel’s Messiah. She was told, by those spies, to put a scarlet thread in her window and when God’s judgement would come on Jericho, she and her household would be spared. She believed and she did as she was told and so was miraculously saved! Edut is about ordinary people, broken people like Rahab, with extraordinary stories. But what is it that turns the mundane struggles of daily life into remarkable and inspiring stories of faith? After meeting with so many diverse people and listening to them share about their lives, I am convinced it is the supernatural dimension of life, the God encounter. Each person has such a unique journey, yet there is one common thread woven through them all: the unconditional grace of God. I like to call it “the scarlet thread”. An encounter with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, indeed, the Creator of the universe, will not, in fact cannot, leave you unchanged! Through the many facets and dimensions of our lives, the mountains and valleys, seasons of joy and times of trial, God the great Weaver is bringing together all the array of color, including the dark strands to create a single masterpiece of grace. Our own lives are as diverse as creation itself and each is meant to testify to His glory in the earth. Be inspired, be challenged and be captivated by the power of these stories, knowing that the God of all grace invites each of us to be part of His masterpiece of grace as we allow Him to weave us into His big redemption story using His scarlet thread of grace.

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It is a hot morning on the 5th of August 2015, Tel- Aviv, Israel. This day starts out like any other day for Jacob Damkani. He climbs out of bed, pulls on his swimming trunks hanging nearby and grabs a towel. Tossing it over his shoulder he ventures out onto the street. It’s not yet 5am and still dark; the air is hot and heavy and the moon can still be seen in the early morning sky.

Most folks in Tel Aviv are enjoying their final hours of sleep but not Jacob, who has made it a habit for 30 years now, to start out every day with one to two hours of vigorous exercise. He realized long ago that, if he is to run the race set before him by God, he needs to stay healthy, strong and fit for such a great task. He chuckles to himself, remembering recently a young man, only a third his age, struggling to keep up with his pace hiking up the Golan while on a recent Trumpet of Salvation Campaign. He reaches the sandy shore and scans the empty beach; quiet, except for the gentle crashing waves. An eerie feeling descends on his heart. Shaking it off, he wades into the cool waves and dives under. The water is refreshing on his skin, washing away the sticky sweat of the hot summer night. He swims out with a strong steady rhythm behind the breakers and continues until he is beyond the rocky man-made reefs that stretch across the Tel Aviv beaches. Glancing back, Jacob begins to swim past one then another and another. He remembers when he first began this routine, he would swim comfortably back and forth past three of these reefs but now he is gliding easily past all seven. As he begins his second lap he is aware the sun is beginning to peek up from behind the distant horizon, casting golden rays of pure light that appear to dance over the rippling ocean. “What an artist our Creator is!” thinks Jacob, “and

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every day I get to enjoy His spectacular sunrise.” Yet most people here in Tel Aviv pay little or no attention to this great God of Israel!” Sadness washes over him as his thoughts turn to what is dearest to his heart and always on his mind - the salvation of his beloved people, so near to the heart of their beloved Father, yet still so far away. “What more can I do for the salvation of Israel?” His burning question is suddenly interrupted mid-stroke. He grasps for his chest, splashing around as a sharp, excruciating pain strikes him fiercely. After 10 seconds the pain subsides as quickly as it came. Treading water he contemplates whether to head back to shore or continue when suddenly, not 40 seconds later, he is struck again... but this time the severe pain has moved to his right leg. He soon realizes it is not a passing pain. Using his arms and his one good leg, Jacob makes his way back to the shore and crawls onto the beach. Rolling onto his side he grasps his leg with both hands, his face contorted with pain. A passerby notices him struggling and comes over to see what’s happening. Hastily reaching for his phone from his pocket, the man calls for an ambulance. Jacob pulls his leg towards his chest, grits his teeth and begins to shiver. Some kind stranger wraps a towel around him. Before long the ambulance medics arrive and a small crowd has circled around watching on helplessly. A medic takes his equipment from his bag; another one checks Jacob’s leg and takes his vital signs while yet another asks questions. It is obvious he needs to get to hospital and fast but his pain is beginning to subside slightly, so Jacob uses the opportunity to get to his feet. The headstrong man that he is, he insists the medics leave him to it as he is sure he will be ok. He stumbles across the

sand while bystanders look on and begins to limp home. Like an angel sent from God a stranger comes along side Jacob, puts her arm around him and supports him strongly as he struggles home, dragging his leg behind him. He stumbles through his front door

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startling his wife Elisheva who leaps from her chair and rushes to his aid. Jacob is still in his sandy trunks so she assists him into the shower and leaves him to it. Alas, within a few minutes the pain has come back in full force beyond anything Jacob has ever experienced in his life. He is writhing in agony and almost loses consciousness. He begins to scream and yell as Elisheva insists he must go to hospital. She helps him pull on some shorts and a singlet and supporting his weight as they step onto the street, she hails a taxi and helps him enter. “Straight to the hospital” says Elisheva climbing in next to Jacob. “Ride as if the police are behind you and you’ve just robbed a bank,” adds Jacob, who is all too familiar with doing just that in his distant past life. When they arrive at the hospital emergency room, a nurse ushers them into a small, sterile room with a bed and chair. Very soon a swarm of doctors and medical staff surround Jacob. Someone takes his vital signs while another draws blood. Still others are firing questions one after another. A female doctor is the first to connect the dots, realizing that the earlier pain in his heart is related to the pain now in his leg. She quickly explains the dire nature of the situation! His main heart valve has likely burst and he must be operated on immediately if he is to have any chance of surviving.

and in this moment the room becomes quiet as all eyes study her face. “The surgery is beginning and is expected to take several hours, we will let you know...” As some of the most skillful doctors in Israel work furiously to save Jacob, the anxious waiting has begun. Hour after agonizing hour passes by. Elisheva paces back and forth, her lips move in silent prayer to the God of Israel, the One who saved her soul and brought her and Jacob together all those years ago. Unbidden questions lurk at the corners of her mind seeking to take center stage. ‘Will she ever again see his beautiful smile, hear his joyous laughter, share his passionate dreams? How will she face life without him? If he survives will his sharp mind be diminished?’

Great tear drops fall from her eyes. She pulls a napkin from her pocket to wipe her face and clears her nose. With resolute trust in God, Elisheva pushes aside her greatest fears, turns her

face heavenward and begins again to pray earnestly, in silent petition, as the long hours pass. Suddenly the door bursts open. Her heart begins to race and her legs become like

Elisheva gasps in shock as she locks eyes with her beloved Jacob and both of them realize they are facing such a huge trial without any time to prepare. While Jacob is being prepped for surgery, his dear wife sends an urgent prayer request to their faith community - a community as big as Jacob’s huge and passionate heart and the request is soon circulating around the entire globe. As the surgery begins, so do the faithful prayers of the saints from the nations, many who have never met Jacob personally, yet all who have been touched by his life and service, in one way or another. Jacob’s sister, Frida bursts through the door and spots Elisheva across the room. The two women, united in their love for Jacob and their grief for his condition, cling to each other tightly and the tears begin to flow. Eventually they sit side by side, discussing the severity of the situation and what it might mean for the future. Family members arrive and offer comfort to Elisheva and each other. A nurse opens the door

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jelly under her as a disheveled and very tired looking doctor enters the room. Frida rushes to her side and they hold each other, bracing themselves for whatever sentence the doctor might deliver. With his white mask still hanging around his neck and a middle-aged nurse beside him holding a folder, he gently shares the news, “Jacob has survived the surgery, which is his first major hurdle in the aftermath of such a condition, but make no mistake, he is in no way out of the woods.”

call of God on Jacob’s heart - to see all Israel saved, burns within him more now then it did in the early days of his relationship with Yeshua and after first receiving such a great salvation. He is adamant that his people need to stop waiting for the Messiah to come and understand that Yeshua is indeed He! “He is the natural continuation of all God’s promises to Israel. They need to wake up to the reality of the New Covenant that is first and foremost a promise to the house of Israel as declared in Jeremiah 31:31: “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.”

However as the days pass by Jacob defies the doctor’s predictions and makes rapid improvement. During his convalescence in hospital after the surgery, as they talk repeatedly with doctors and medical staff Jacob and Elisheva begin to understand the magnitude of the miracle of Jacob’s survival from such a death sentence. Few survive from an aortic dissection long enough to make it to surgery, and if they do the odds are stacked against them in the operation itself. In Jacob’s case there had been such a delay, as he swam to the shore, limped home and even took a shower, all of which stole a lot of precious time. It was quite obvious that only God could have kept him alive! “My race has not finished,” asserts Jacob joyfully. Jacob continues to defy all predictions and recovers far quicker than anyone expects or hopes, every week making remarkable progress and getting stronger. No one is really surprised when Jacob turns up at Gilgal Hotel, in full hospital attire, making his way around the staff, ensuring they are good and things are ticking along as usual. Like a warrior with a war wound, he proudly shows his scar to anyone who cares to see. It stretches from the top of his chest to midway down his stomach. During his convalescence he has time to contemplate his call, realizing even more now the urgency of using all his time, energy and resources to run the race and fight the good fight. The

“And as Ezekial declares,” Jacob continues, “God has raised up the dry bones of Israel and brought His people back to their own land just as he promised.” With deep conviction he continues, “And so we can be in no doubt that He is at work in Israel and will do just as He has promised.” “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26: Jacob has deeply understood the need of Israel to receive a “new spirit” and so he aptly named his new movie just that: “New Spirit.” This movie is a full on, dramatized feature film, Hollywood style, of Jacob’s amazing life. With the same vigor and energy by which he has already achieved so much, he tackles this new project that has burned for so many years in his heart, looking for a means of expression. Though costly in so many ways, he realizes it is a God given opportunity to deal a direct blow to the zealot ultra-orthodox community who remain enemies of the gospel from the time of Messiah until now. At the same time he can share the truth of the gospel in a compelling, engaging way with his beloved people. He has spent the good part of a year preparing the script, while socializing and sharing his faith with the actors and crew. Day after day Jacob joins the film crew on set, engaging with the process and ensuring that the integrity of the message is preserved.

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Just before the anniversary of his misadventure at sea, a big party is held at Gilgal to celebrate the conclusion of the movie project. The room is buzzing with excitement and expectation. The director shares about the uniqueness of the movie and the widespread interest it is stirring up already. Once the editing is complete the movie, it is hoped by Jacob, will create quite a stir here in Israel. A couple of days pass after the party and Jacob is feeling tired, yet despite himself he arrives at Gilgal to carry on with his busy schedule. He is overcome with weakness and Frida tries to persuade him to seek medical attention but true to character he refuses to go to hospital. As they sit discussing his condition, his phone falls from his hand and he sways on his chair. An immediate phone call is made and Elisheva arrives. The two women support him as he can hardly carry his own weight. He is ushered into a waiting car and taken to the hospital where more tests are carried out. The battle is not over. The results are in. The news is bad! A fungus has grown on the artificial valve that replaced his aorta and he must be rushed back into surgery for a replacement, but even then they cannot be sure of eliminating the very rare and deadly infection. The prognosis is grim either way. If he has the operation, which the doctors are strongly advising, there are no guarantees he will even survive the surgery but if he doesn’t, his chances are even worse. With no other option, they decide to proceed with the operation scheduled for the following day. This time he

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has the chance to process what’s happening, say goodbye to his beloved Elisheva, and think through some personal reflections while he prepares to meet his God, for he is convinced he will not survive the operation. Looking across at his beloved wife, he takes her hand in his and their eyes flood with tears. Hardly able to speak,

they whisper tender words of love; they discuss the pain of his imminent departure and the joy of meeting again on the other side. They cling to each other as finally the words, “Goodbye” escape from their trembling lips in hardly a whisper.

Not many people reach this point and can say what Jacob says so confidently in the face of death, “I have no regrets. From the very day I received Messiah I have committed my life, my energy and my resources - my all to such a great cause as this, the salvation of my beloved people. The hardest thing, amidst this huge trial, is the possibility of leaving Elisheva by herself with this massive responsibility. “The most important question that hits you when you come face to face with death is, “What does my life count for? What have I done with all the years given to me?” He continues, with quiet confidence, “I am so thankful that I can look into my own heart and say to my Lord, I have done my best.” Jacob, always so aware of the incredible price that

Messiah paid to redeem him, lives his life in the shadow of that love, in the great shadow that the cross has cast upon his life. He pulls out one of his favorite life verses: ‘A soldier does not concern himself with the affairs of this world, so that he may please his master.’ “His life can only be lived through us,” he continues, “and only as much as we die to ourselves.” Jacob carries on with his musing, “In real life you find few genuine friends and when you do, you value them and go out of your way to be a blessing to them. In the same way God gave His only begotten Son to those who genuinely seek Him, so we can be forgiven and sealed in the Book of Life.” In an unexpected turn of events, because of an internal situation in the hospital, his operation is delayed. It is during these few extra days, against all medical advice Jacob decides not to go through with the surgery. The doctors warn of the dire consequences of this decision, one that can lead to paralysis and death. Jacob has inner peace and stands his ground. Finally the doctors decide to intravenously infuse him with anti-fungal medication diluted in half a liter of liquid per day. After a few more weeks in hospital Jacob decides to return home. Elisheva is given the responsibility of nursing him, ensuring he gets his daily dose. And so today he is able

to manage his life in such a way that he continues working vigorously for the salvation of Israel. Supported by his dear wife, encouraged on by his fellow soldiers, inspired by his Lord’s patience and service in the face of trials, with both hands held up by the prayers, support and encouragement of the saints, and even with this death sentence hanging over his life, Jacob continues to serve whole-heartedly in the great cause of the gospel! …But that’s not where the story ends. After another long year of service, as he continued the struggle with his health, Jacob’s unwavering faith in the faithfulness of God has been richly rewarded. Indeed his race is not yet over. A thorough examination astounded the medical staff. Against all odds he has been given a complete clearance from what the doctors claimed was an incurable fungi. Jacob’s autobiography titled “Why Me” and the movies inspired by his life story are available on his website TrumpetofSalvation.org. His latest movie, “A New Spirit” is about his life and his coming to faith in Yeshua. For the first time in history such a movie was produced in Israel by an Israeli producer and cast, and will be shown in theaters throughout Israel.

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BY LIZ MOFFITT

Eve handed Cain his lunch and a skin of water, as he paused to kiss her cheek before disappearing through the open door to work in his field for another day. Gazing after him as he disappeared over the hill, she found herself thinking of the day her firstborn son had arrived in the world. After what seemed hours of unbearable pain, she had gazed down at this perfect little creature that lay in her arms and fell so deeply in love with him. A most handsome little man, a treasure she had acquired from God Himself, so she called him Cain. Back then in the naivety of her faith, she had imagined he would grow up to be the promised savior who would rescue them from the plight of the snake and take them back to Eden, the home she so often pined to return. But alas, she soon realized her child was not as good as she had first thought and showed no signs of ever becoming their deliverer. From the moment her second born son Abel had joined the family, she began to see signs in Cain of deep-seated insecurity. Lately she had witnessed in him an anger that sometimes frightened her. He was jealous to the core. Eve, realizing he was certainly no saint, eventually almost lost hope in the Lord God’s promise given to her that fateful day in Eden. Adam would chide her. “Eve, God is faithful. He will send His ‘deliverer’ in His own good time.” She found herself pondering the Lord God’s promise as the day wore on, wondering again what it meant, who He was talking about. Maybe Abel was the answer, so kindhearted and pure - the very opposite of his brother in every way! But oh, how she adored her Cain! Meanwhile Cain had arrived that day at his field and spent several hours weeding his patch. As he tugged vigorously at a stubborn weed, great drops of sweat formed on his brow and ran down his face, leaving track marks through the dust and dirt that masked his ruddy complexion. He was exhausted! It had been yet another long day in the field. He glanced up again at the sun which told him there were still a good couple of hours left in the day. “Enough!” he spoke out loud as if to convince himself

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it was ok to finish up early yet again. On his way home, he stopped at the local spring, removed his skin garment and dived in. After washing the dirt and sweat from his weary body he relaxed, floating on his back in the cool water until finally the sun began to descend behind the distant horizon. Arriving home, he kissed Eve’s cheek. She was busy preparing a meal for her ever-expanding brood. “Your father is helping your brother to fleece the sheep and he needs you to water the garden tonight.” “Of course!” sneered Cain, unable to hide the bitterness that was as deeply rooted in his soul as the stubborn weed he had given up on trying to remove that afternoon. As he reached for the bucket and headed for the well, he muttered against Abel under his breath. He needed aid in the field, so why had his father chosen to spend another week helping Abel with his sheep? “Cain”, his mother chided as he passed the open kitchen window, “your brother needs to make sure the sheep are ready for ‘Covering’. You know it’s his busy season”. His mother had an uncanny way of reading his thoughts. Adam maintained yearly that for every person an animal sacrifice was to be offered to God at the Flashing Fire Gate that barred the way back to the Garden of Eden. The skins would be sewn into garments by Eve and her older daughters for every man, woman and child to cover their shameful nakedness. Cain dropped the bucket into the well for at least the tenth time and lugged it over to the flower garden Adam insisted on keeping for Eve. Sprinkling the array of colorful blooms he grumbled aloud, “What’s the point?” As a small boy, he had once been captivated by the beauty of this very garden. He would spend many happy hours alone with Abba planting seeds, watering and weeding and finally in excitement see the mystery of the myriad of blossoms that sprang from the dark soil. They would pick a bunch of the best flowers and he would run ahead to

his delighted mother. He loved to gaze at her beautiful face, full of wonder as she took the flowers from him and lifting them to her nose, she would slowly breathe in the delightful fragrance before arranging them in a vase and placing them on her bench. “The fragrance and beauty carry her home to Eden”, Adam had explained to Cain years earlier. Eve’s voice again interrupted his thoughts: “Don’t forget to exchange some of the best produce of your field with Abel so you can choose one of the finest young sheep of his field for your offering at the Covering. Time is running out!” The days passed by quickly and before Cain realized it, the Day of Covering had dawned and he had not organized the trade-off. As he rose to dress, he lifted his garment toward the window and quickly inspected the seams which were now badly frayed. He shook his head and stared out the window contemplating what he would do. Finally he nodded in resolve - he would ask mother to patch it up and then it would surely cover him for another year. Instead of giving his brother the satisfaction of having to exchange the fruit of his hands that represented the sweat of his brow, he would bring his own produce to Elohim. Arriving at his field he quickly surveyed the crops which were now ready for harvest. He glanced at the sun to gauge the time. “Oh no, the family will already be gathering” he chided himself. He hastily gathered up some produce from the patch right in front of him at the edge of the field, grabbing some twine he tied it together and strapped it to his back. Arriving late with the family already gathered, he went over and took his spot next to Abel. At that moment Abel let the knife that he grasped with both hands plunge into the harmless lamb tied down in front of him. Deep red blood spurted out showering them both. Cain watched the blood roll down the sides of the large rock altar and soak into the accursed soil around it. After saving the skin of the dead animal, Adam came forward and set the offering again on the altar and lit the fire. It was then that Cain tossed his bundle of wheat into the fire. “Son!” Adam cried in alarm, “you were to swap your wheat with your brother and offer an animal so you could use its skin to cover your shameful nakedness!” Cain shrugged and turned to leave, when suddenly the voice of Elohim Himself rung in his ears. “Listen to your Father for this very day I have accepted Abel’s offering and rejected yours”.

“So even Elohim favors Abel”, Cain thought. “Cain” Elohim’s voice softened, “sin is crouching at your door, you must master it.” He paused for a moment as if to briefly consider what Elohim was saying, but then he just shrugged again and turned and hastened off. “Cain!” his mother’s piercing cry touched his heart, but then there was silence. In that moment Cain made a fatal decision. He closed his ears and hardened his heart against all sound wisdom. He fed his jealous heart and nursed his hateful grudge until the disdain against Abel became an uncontrollable rage within him. Day after day he grumbled against Abel. Night after night he plotted against him. Finally he arranged to meet him at a field deep in the forest, hidden from his parents, in a secret spot the two boys had once discovered as children. As his brother’s arms wrapped around him and he whispered sweet words of love into Cain’s ears, Cain threw off his pure and godly brother, knocking him to the ground; he picked up a rock and struck him until the blood poured from his wounds and into the soil beneath him. It was Cain who dug the first grave and laid his brother’s limp body in it, covering it with the dark soil of the earth. He raced from the crime scene as if pursued by some invisible force. He did not return to the home of his parents that night, nor did he

ever again. Sleep failed him and he tossed and turned through the hours of the night hearing his name being called over and over again. He sat up rubbing his eyes; to be sure he was not imagining the shadowy figure before him. “Where is your brother?” Finally came the defiant answer that could neither cover nor excuse his guilt, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

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Before I even met Linoy, I noticed her i n t he crowd. Her bubbly personality, sweet countenance and loving nature radiated from her face bringing warmth to everyone around her. Her smile lights up a room. She is the ultimate ‘love bug’ a name she affectionately uses for people in her friendship circle. And that circle is as big as her beautiful heart. But things were not always like this for Linoy. Her Jewish father from Maldovia, in 1977 arrived to Israel where he met and fell in love with her gorgeous mother, a Jewish immigrant from Poland. The little family lived in Ramat Gan where Linoy was born and spent the first three years of her childhood. Her mother had been struck with thyroid cancer at only nine years of age and was successfully treated in Poland. At 18 she had moved to Israel and went on to live many healthy years. But sadly she took up smoking and alas several years later, tragedy struck the young

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family when her cancer returned with a vengeance. During this difficult season, Linoy’s older brother Rani faithfully cared for his beloved mother and helped her also by looking after his little sister. One day he arrived home to find Linoy in her usual spot tucked up in her mother’s bed snuggling up close to her. But something seemed different. As he tentatively moved closer, leaning over her, he turned his ear toward her mouth and his worst fears were realized. The usually raspy breathing of his mother’s illness had grown silent. All he could hear was the soft snuffle of his little sister. As a quiet

shock descended on him, it registered that his beloved mother had died. He stifled a sob as he tenderly scooped up his precious little sister and gently

carried her to the house of a nearby family friend. Linoy’s father was completely devastated by his beloved Hanna’s death. What made matters worse at the time was that both of his own parents also had died not long before, leaving him totally bereft and depressed, unable to cope with the demands of raising his young daughter. And so, out of necessity, Linoy became the responsibility of her mother’s sister and her aunt became the only Ima she ever remembered. Her auntie’s husband became her Abba, while at the same time her first cousins became her brother and sister. Soon after, her new family moved to Hong Kong along with her older brother Rani who mercifully stayed with them long enough for Linoy to settle and feel at home with them. Her father continued to visit until she was six, even traveling to Hong Kong

BY LIZ MOFFITT

when it became necessary. When he felt he was ready and together enough to take her back home with him, her Auntie objected strongly and they went to the courts to decide custody. However it had been Linoy’s mother’s dying wish that she be adopted by her auntie and uncle.

The ‘new’ parents stood their ground and being financially advantaged, won the case for Linoy’s custody. And so it was, at that time, that her biological dad suddenly vanished completely out of her life. For many months Linoy continued to ask for him but eventually his face faded into the background of her memories. But the deep chasm of insecurity that had formed in her soul with his disappearance remained with her through the years.

It was while Linoy was attending an international school that she f irst encountered the ‘Christian’ story. However Linoy, being from a good Jewish family, contested the existence of Jesus, saying that he was a fake as was Santa Claus, to the horror of her classmates and their parents. During her time in Hong Kong, sweet little Linoy managed to win the favor and friendship of some of the live-in Filipino maids employed by the family. Her favorite, Cherry, would often hear the quiet pitter patter of her little feet in the hallway as she tiptoed yet again to sneak into bed next to her. Cherry gently lifted her blankets and welcomed Linoy, who would snuggle up next to her, just like she had once done, years earlier, with her own dear mother. Some of the maids had been professional and unfriendly but Cherry was like a second mum to her and she had grown to adore her. She didn’t realize it at

the time but looking back she can see how God gave her great favor and love through some of the maids and also through special family friends. She was also adored by her grandparents and this compensated somewhat for the absence of her biological father. They visited frequently in Hong Kong and then USA once the family moved there. Her grandad would bring her gifts, make her special breakfasts and her grandma would even jump on the trampoline with her. Her life changed radically when in 1997 her family moved to Goshen, New York and Linoy was sent to a public school. Things began to take a turn for the worse as she sought ways to numb the pain of her losses and fill the empty spaces of her heart. After a string of unhealthy, dead-end relationships that started when she was just the tender age of thirteen and continued to the age of 19, she met Judas and began a more ongoing relationship with him. issue 2

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However Judas t urned ou t t o be a h a r d c o re d ru g a d d i c t w h o wa s not only verbally a busi v e bu t a l s o v i o l e n t t o wa r d her. Linoy saw how drugs had such bad effec ts on those a round her a nd she became afraid of them and so chose alcohol as her preferred drug and quickly became a heavy drinker.

met someone special, Linoy packed her belongings into a couple of suitcases. She was now leaving a life she had come to love with all her heart: the security of her family, a newfound love and great friends she enjoyed. However she bade them all goodbye, not knowing if and when she would

It seemed to Linoy that she knew all the answers for life. Finally Linoy couldn’t contain herself anymore and one day she blurted out, “What’s wrong with you? How come you are so ‘ok’ in this life?” Kim responded, “Would you like to meet outside of work and chat about it?”

ever see them again, given her visa status in the USA. She flew off by herself to begin a whole new life in Israel.

They met for coffee and Kim brought out her Tanakh and beginning at Genesis she began to unravel bit by bit to Linoy the mystery regarding covenants and sacrifices - things she never learned at Hebrew School. Linoy was so hungry to know, to understand that she kept asking questions.

As I glance across at Linoy telling her story, I can hardly believe this clear eyed, sweet, happy young woman had such a past. She continues. She finally finished her relationship with Judas but spiraled into more pain and deep anguish and continued to self-medicate. Her visa expired in 2000, so she lived in the USA for several years without legitimate status. This meant she could not get financial help for study and was unable to secure a proper job. One day Linoy and her friends attended an Israeli Day parade in New York. As she gazed at the sea of Israeli flags, tears sprung to her eyes and in that moment she felt compelled to go to Israel. Not even understanding what was drawing her, she asked her Ima about making Aliyah and she explained to her the fundamentals. The urge to return to her land was so strong that she was able to overcome her normal fears and obstacles that had restrained her in the past from venturing too far into the big scary world. Despite the fact that things in USA had improved for her and she had even

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Shortly after arriving, she secured a job in the customer service department of a pharmaceutical company. Business was slow, so when one day she was called into a meeting with her manager, her natural assumption was that she was going to be fired. However the opposite was true; although new to the job, she had impressed her boss so much that she was promoted to manager of a small sales team in a new branch. It was there she first met Kim with whom she worked in the close confines of a small office. She was attracted to her from the outset as this woman displayed such peace, joy and wisdom.

Again they met, this time at Gordon Beach. Kim shared with Linoy the verse in Jeremiah 31:31 regarding the new covenant that God promised to make with the house of Israel. Together they read Isaiah 53 and Kim asked the poignant question, “Who do you think this is talking about?” Although it is obvious to whom this chapter was referring, Linoy still didn’t get it. Eventua lly K im took her to a congregation of Yeshua followers

and there she observed such love for Yeshua and devotion to the God of Israel.

over her. She realized that Yeshua was really, really real. She had been reborn!

On another occasion she visited a second congregation and although their actions and words were strange to her, she could feel an amazing presence of God which moved her so much, she began to cry. It was a good cry, (she says) after which she felt totally cleansed.

But the battle was not over. Along with this incredible, exciting new faith came isolation from her family and friends. She felt so alone in her world because none of her friends and family, or her boyfriend understood or shared it. It was this sense of loneliness and isolation that the enemy used to attack her. She felt so very alone, with no-one at all to talk to. WShe fell into deep, dark depression and insomnia. She felt the sorrow and pain of all her sins and was overwhelmed by a sense of her sinful nature, her past life and the pain she’d caused herself and others. This brought her to her knees. Alone in the bathroom she knelt and told God how sorry she was for her sinful life. At the same time she was touched with a sadness for Israel and for her family, all of whom were blinded to the great reality of Yeshua.

She could see the people had such a wonderful love for God that she admits provoked her to a kind of jealousy. At this congregation she met a lovely couple who were seeking God to guide them on their decision about engagement. Together they had hiked, prayed and encountered several rainbows as signs and were convinced God had put his favor on their union. When Linoy heard this story, she was even more jealous and it prodded her to pray for the first time. As she prayed, she was touched by a very real presence of God that she could only describe as, “so cool!” At this time she and her boyfriend Alon moved together to London. She had planned to stay there for five years and study midwifery.

The insomnia and spiritual battle continued and eventually took its toll on her, leaving her so sleep deprived that she felt like she was having a

complete breakdown. Her first and familiar response was to reach for some whiskey. But suddenly as she did, unbidden, a name dropped into her head ‘Fiona’ a lady whom she had visited recently after having met her in a congregation in London. At the other end of the phone line Fiona’s voice was calm. “Let’s pray,” she said. After she prayed, she reassured Linoy, “I am coming to get you.” She arrived on the tube, helped Linoy pack a few belongings and they were off back to Fiona’s peaceful little home. She made her take a warm bath, fed her some healthy food and tucked her up in a cozy bed. Fiona sat with her listening to the jumble of words and questions tumbling from her mouth. She replied with calm truth, addressing and allaying her fears. She prayed for her to receive God’s peace. Soon Linoy was sound asleep. Her boyfriend arrived later and picked her up. Fiona gave her several Bible verses to repeat aloud when she felt distressed. She repeated one of the verses as she lay down in her own bed, “We are more than conquerors through him who loves us.” She fell asleep for another 5

At that point in her faith journey, she had come to believe three things for certain: God was real; Yeshua was indeed the Messiah of Israel as proclaimed in Isaiah 53; and finally that she would not give up on Him, whatever the consequences. Because of her commitment to Yeshua she decided not to marry her boyfriend, although she remained with him. He had told her that he also wanted to change but there was no evidence of this in his life. As Linoy continued to seek the Lord, pray and read the Tanakh waves of emotion and extreme joy would wash issue 2

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PHIL 4:6

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hours. It was the most amazing sleep but the cycle of sleeplessness was still not broken. Two we e k s l ater s he le f t her boyfriend and returned to Israel. After considering medication as an option for the insomnia, she decided to get out of the cycle naturally, and so through this dark season she learned to rely on God’s help. It was at this time she prayed for a strong believing community and a job with believers. Both came in one package. Shortly after, she applied for a job at Hotel Gilgal. It was owned by Jacob Damkani whose manager gave her the job on the spot. To her surprise she found out Jacob was a messianic believer and well known Jewish evangelist.

Only God could have orchestrated such a connection. She soon met Marti who worked in the hotel and who invited her to the congregation and through the support, love and prayers of her new circle of believers she was able to grow in her faith and overcome her fears and struggles. The story continues….. Linoy lies tucked up in her bed, her mind travels back to t hose early years and she wonders what her father is doing now; will she ever meet him again? A f licker of hope begins to grow in her soul. Immediately she t hink s of her mot her, ima gining what it wa s like as a little child cuddled up in her arms, both of them drawing security and comfort from their

warm embrace. Her thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a gentle rap on her bedroom door. Slowly the door opens and her darling grandfather comes into her room and sits beside her on the bed. He sits looking at the beautiful young woman before him and his eyes glisten with love and pride, “If your mother was alive,” he chokes out, “she would be really proud of you!”

Fol low t he ongoi ng m iracle of Linoy’s remarkable journey as she comes face to face with her past and finally finds her true soul-mate in our next EDUT magazine.

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My beautiful Israel

Galilee

Where he walked

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee... He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed... We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem... Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.â&#x20AC;? Excerpts from Acts 10

RUTH & TAMAR by Shirley Znaty

There are four women of the Bible that Judaism designates as “our mothers” and who are considered the mother figures for the Jewish people. These women, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah received this title because historically, they gave birth to the nation of Israel. In Jewish tradition they are held in high regard however, in the Bible, they remain for the most part unremarkable. Isn’t it ironic that in the Biblical patriarchal society, it was the helpless widows, the women tainted by their past, the foreigners and rejects of society who were mistreated even by their closest relatives who stood out as heroines? These other women shaped our history; women such as Tamar, Rahab the prostitute and Ruth the Moabitess, a descendant of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughters. These women, despite their status and their past managed to prevail while breaking social conventions and over stepping boundaries. It is especially compelling that, recorded in the genealogy of the One who is born to redeem the nation of Israel, it is not Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel or Leah who are mentioned among a long list of patriarchs; a list that according to social conventions should not even mention women at all. In this list these very different women, Rahab, Tamar,

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Ruth and Bathsheba were the ones who were named mothers of the King Messiah. These four mothers are gentile women, foreigners and associated with sexual scandal. It is the contrast between their haunted past and future legacy which captures my heart. Their initiative, motives and strength of character which moves the heart of God. I wonder what would a meeting between these four women look like, what would they tell each other? I imagine as they share they would repeatedly exclaim “me too!” Rahab was a prostitute who sought refuge under the wings of the God of Israel. The Bible doesn’t reveal the details of her life after she joined the nation of Israel but her own words testify to her spiritual conversion: “…for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:11). She later married Salmon and gave birth to Boaz, the very same Boaz who would later marry Ruth the Moabitess. Ruth is probably the most prominent mother of these four and as such she merits a separate book of the Bible. The book of Ruth is dedicated to her story. She is the

heroine of the story, an upright and virtuous woman, as confirmed by Boaz and the people who knew her: “…for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.” (Ruth 3:11). Boaz’ words to Ruth draw a parallel to the iconic father of our faith….“All that you have done for your motherin-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.” (Ruth 2:11). Was it not Abraham who began his faith walk following the Lord with a very similar call? “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Abraham obeyed the direct command of the Lord but Ruth obeyed her own conscience even though she was repeatedly asked by her mother-in-law to do just the opposite: “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house.” (Ruth 1:8), and again: “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?” (Ruth 1:11), and again... “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” (Ruth 1:15). But Ruth answers Naomi with the most admirable conviction: “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17). Ruth perhaps reminds Boaz of his very own mother Rahab, a foreigner who attached herself to the people of the God of Israel and so he encourages Ruth with these words: “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” (Ruth 2:12). By choosing to care for Naomi, Ruth chooses to remain a widow and a foreigner as they return to Bethlehem. It is this selfless and sacrificial act which commends her in the sight of the Lord. Ruth cared for Naomi and the Lord cared for Ruth evidenced by the fact she did not remain a widow: “Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.” (Ruth 4:13).

The Lord’s enabling power echoes throughout this story. And at the very close of this incredible story of Ruth, Tamar’s legacy is remembered: “Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman.” (Ruth 4:12). The Bible itself draws attention to the connection between these two stories and it’s apparent that they are very much alike. The patterns are similar as are the outcomes. The house of Perez exists because of the bold acts of Tamar. These parallel stories are the only two stories in the Bible that deal with the tradition of Kinsmen Redeemer; a cultural protective ritual and practice in which a close relative can act legally on the behalf of a deceased kinsman in order to restore his property and ensure there will be an heir and continuation of his name and house, though he be dead a type of resurrection power. The names in these two stories tell a story within a story. In the story of Ruth, her father-in-law, Elimelech, whose name means ‘my God is king’, left Bethlehem (house of bread) in a time of famine displaying a lack of faith in the sovereignty of his God, choosing instead to go to Moab. Naomi (pleasant) requests to be renamed Mara (bitter) as she mourns the tragic turn of events in her life. Her children’s names portend their true nature and fate, Mahlon and Chilion (sickness and doom), Orpa (the back of her neck) turns away and leaves Naomi when she returns home, in contrast to Ruth ( friend) and Boaz (in him there is might) who produces a child with Ruth in spite of his old age. In the story of Tamar the names of the children are especially significant: Er (transposed reads Ra which means Evil) was Judah’s first born and Tamar’s first husband and was put to death by the Lord for the Lord considered him evil. Onan, Judah’s second son, whose name means ‘iniquity’, refused to redeem Tamar by taking his brother’s widow as his own wife, but for appearances sake slept with her while withholding his sperm from her. This was a great iniquity in the sight of the Lord and he put him to death also. Shelah (belongs to her), was Judah’s youngest and only son left alive and Judah withheld him from Tamar although he rightfully was her redeemer. Both stories begin with the people leaving their homeland and going to a foreign land because of an unbearable reality at home. In both stories two sons die. When Judah’s sons die, although they are put to death by God, Judah blames Tamar and is bitter towards her. When Naomi’s sons die she becames bitter against the Lord as she feels He was to blame for the death in her family. The parallels and contrasts are stark. issue 2

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Tamar was asked by Judah, her father-in-law, to go back to her father’s house and remain a widow with the false promise that Shelah, who was ironically born in Chezib (deception), would be given to her when he grew old enough to redeem her. Ruth’s mother-in-law encouraged her to do the very opposite, go back to her mother’s house and re-marry because she recognized it would be ridiculous for Ruth to wait for a younger son, should the Lord grant her one, to grow up and redeem her. Both Tamar and Ruth had to take extreme measures to ensure the close relatives who were responsible in their culture, did in fact redeem them. Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and Ruth found herself slipping into a man’s bed at night uninvited. Tamar tricked Judah and disguised her identity whereas Ruth on the other hand revealed her identity to Boaz and clearly made her request known to him. In both stories there is an age gap. Judah being Tamar’s father-in-law was much older than her and Boaz who continually referred to Ruth as “my daughter” was probably old enough to be her father. In both stories the men would not have fulfilled their obligations to redeem the widows unless prompted by the women, both for very different reasons. Judah was afraid to give his last son Shelah to Tamar lest he die also, and Boaz did not think it proper to propose to a much younger woman or perhaps even did not think he had strength left in his loins to give her a child.

“Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may HIs name become famous in Israel.”

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The main theme is the redemption; that life sprung forth out of and after death and the name of the dead being remembered. Tamar’s son was named Perez (breaks forth) and Ruth’s son named Obed (servant). He is the father of Jesse, the father of David - the servant of the Lord (Psalm 89:20). The hand of the Lord is clearly working in the background stories ensuring the ‘breaking forth’ of The True Redeemer, the promised Son of David, the King Messiah, who alone would bring forth life after death. It is indeed as the women in the story declare: “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.” (Ruth 4:14) The Lord has shown grace and mercy to us all, foreigners and Israelites alike, since He indeed has not left us without a redeemer. Unlike Judah’s promise to Tamar, the Lord fully intended on keeping His promises to us and unlike Judah who was afraid to let his only son perform the duty of a redeemer lest he die, the Lord did not spare His only Son but gave Him up even unto death for the salvation of us all. “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” (John 4:9) May His name, the name of Yeshua become famous in Israel again!

Shirley Znaty is an Israeli Messianic believer and artist. She finds inspiration for her paintings in the pages of the Hebrew scriptures. contact@messiahart.com

Messianic wedding Ketubahs Art prints, Judaica, Greeting cards Made in Israel by a Messianic Israeli artist Contact@MessiahArt.com MessiahArt.com issue 2

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Rut h’s Diar y ing one of the songs This morning I woke to the soun d of Nao mi gently humm ld share together of Zion . She was busy preparin g the last meal we wou lehem. I watched her as a family before she retu rned to her beloved Beth of sorrow. She looked beautiful, familiar face now etched with deep lines eyes hopi ng may be the at me as I rose from the bed and I gazed back into her rning to the land, but light of her faith had reki ndled with the hope of retu besi de her. We three there was no sign of that. I sighed deeply as I recli ned our own thou ghts . (Nao mi, Orpah and I) ate in silen ce, each of us lost in rn to our fathers’ Nao mi had been adamant that Orpah and I should retu thou ght of retu rning . houses and our own families but I coul d not bear the ng thei r own babies My people had been guilty of great sins, even sacrifici tyle intolera ble. At one on the altars of Molo ch and I now foun d their lifes y and suddenly I felt such ceremony I had been so sickened, I started to swa first day I met her, strong steady arms arou nd me. I clung to Nao mi that she had opened her just as desperately as I clung to her today. That day of hers . I coul d hear cloak and pulled my trem bling body into the warmth ng voice soothed the steady thump of her heart and her gentle yet stro her sweet soul and my greatest fear. “The Angels of Elohim have scooped is at peace. May her taken her to paradise. She is safe now my child . She ed agai nst her, my hot memory be blessed” she said . “Are you sure?” I had sobb such resolution that I tears wetting her chest. “Yes!” She excl aimed with ed me on. That day she insti nctively trusted her. She kissed my head and nudg I had married her son. had taken me into her home and within a short time and hand crafts where It was at her feet I would sit as we did our sewing Israel and I fell so deeply she taught me the won drous stories of the God of a child I would never in love with Him. I had once vowed that if I ever had cate him to the God of sacrifice him on the altars of Molo ch but I would dedi glowing when she spoke Nao mi. Her face then had always been animated and of her God . But that was long ago. comfort beca me hollow, When her own husb and and sons died, her words of conf iden ce in Elohim. shrouded by her own grief and devoid of the strong I was close enou gh to “May thei r memory be blessed,” she had choked out. dark season on she hear her mutter, “For mine is surely cursed!” From that the poison waters in the had insisted on bein g called Marah! Bitterness! Like

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drink . Somethi ng of her desert that her people had spat out and refused to dark tom b with her faith that had once carried me was buried now in that mi rose to clear the husb and and sons! But it lived on in my heart. As Nao I would carry her in this table I vowed to myself agai n and to her God that s. I was indebted to next season, just as she had carried me all these year her after all; I owed her my very soul . May be through me she would come back to faith in

her God .

that Nao mi had not After we had busily packed the last few possessions road out of Moa b. given away, we left the house, heading to the main both in her arms . “It’s Suddenly at the crossroads she stopped and took us had cried in unison. “We time to say good bye to me my daughters,” “No! ” We ed. “I have nothing left won’t leave you” we insisted but, she was determin her son, would you wait to give you my daughters. Even if I coul d have anot for him to grow into a man? ” and stepped back Orpah shook her head, then slowly let go of Nao mi Sud denly she snatched glan cing into the distance toward her family home. cheek then turned her nap sack , gave Nao mi a final hug, kissed me on the r see her agai n. With her neck with such finality that I knew we would neve ppear down the road tear streamin g down our faces, we watched her disa mi, I had no intention of from whence we had just come. Still clinging to Nao . retu rning to a world devoid of light and empty of hope me of a God of grace I held even tighter to this woman who had taught le. I had learned to and justice who hated the evil practices of my peop If not for her I would trust her so impli citly. How coul d I ever repay her? and sinister gods of my still be groping in the dark ness, worshipping the dark ancestors. ed her chest. The I continued to grasp onto Nao mi as my hot tears soak r own as they flow words flowed from my lips as if they had a life of thei now from my pen back from following “Entreat me not to leave you,” I persisted. “Or to turn r you lodge, I will after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and whereve my God . lodge; your people sh all be my people, and your God, the LORD deal with Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May you and me.” me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates

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Elizabeth Moffitt

I AM DAVID

DAVID I AM As I walk through the garden, near my house, alone in the heat of the day, I can feel the peace and beauty that surrounds me. I have such a deep joy that is hard to describe. I can hear the cheerful laughter of children; a cat crosses my path; I step over a small mound of dirt. Everything around me is so profound and moving. I am ‘in the moment’ and I don’t want to be anywhere else. But it took me time and experience to reach this point. For a great while I was searching for this peace. I crossed half the world to find it. I am not talking about knowledge. I am talking about experience. As I sit down on a park bench a gentle breeze touches my face and I close my eyes. Suddenly in my mind’s eye I am there again in my past, with all my thoughts and feelings.

to Babylon (modern day Iran) and in spite of severe persecution, my family has maintained their identity as Jews and remained devoted to God’s Word and Jewish traditions. They always believed they would one day return to the land of Israel. Persecution of Jews in the region of Iran increased with time and in 1951, after my greatgrandfather was murdered by Islamists, my grandparents decided to move to the newly formed state of Israel where I was eventually born. My grandfather Jacob took up the role of serving in the local synagogue near our new home, which he opened up at 5 am and received people for early Morning Prayer. He was also responsible for looking after the poor and orphans in the community.

that love and unity in the world and with the people around me. Rather what I saw and experienced was affliction and imperfection. I felt

My desire for God, even from my earliest childhood, was always strong. I never doubted His existence. I felt connected to Him and a part of the biblical story. My dreams often had spiritual themes. Once I dreamed I was sitting at a table in heaven with a company of holy people and we were discussing the things of heaven. I had a strong sense of the holiness and purity of the place and I felt connected to the company of people there who wanted to be close to God.

I come from a traditional Jewish family. During 2,500 years in exile

Yet back in the ‘real world’, although I felt connected to God, it was never enough. I was not satisfied with the futility of secular life and so at the tender age of nine, inspired by my older brother’s religious endeavours, I asked my father to send me to a ‘yeshiva’ (religious school) hoping

From my earliest years I have often felt a deep connection with God and His creation and a strong love for people and nature. However, to my utter dismay, I could not find

disconnected from the world. Yet I longed for acceptance and love. Because of this I didn’t feel peace in my heart and I knew that something was missing. I was always searching for it and I just wanted to find happiness.

this would somehow fill the deep vacuum in my soul.

I studied hard, kept the strict rules and attempted to maintain all the rituals and prayers in the proper manner. But as time passed I soon realised that while everyone was talking about God, I didn’t actually experience Him. I felt like we were robots. I concluded that knowledge about God in and of itself could not satisfy the longing in my soul. I was still thirsty! Disillusioned, I left and joined an ultra-orthodox yeshiva. These people were more hardened and had their own strict regimen. After some

years there I began t o que s tion the Rabbis. I told them “although I am doing all these rituals f r o m m o r nin g t o night, I have still not come to know God.” I asked them “Where is

God in all this?” I was not satisfied with their answers. I found the same emptiness there and didn’t find what I was looking for so eventually I left. C ond it ione d by my re l i g iou s schooling, I couldn’t fit into a regular school so I simply stayed out of school for over a year. Finally I made some friends from among the local boys. They invited me to their school where I finished my education. After completing my schooling, I was issue 2

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called up by the army and joined an infantry combat unit called ‘Nachal’ which means river or torrent. In my heart I was excited and looked forward to experiencing the army and finding my place there. I joined the combat unit and to me it seemed we shut down as human beings and became part of a machine where everyone just followed orders. We shared a joke that ‘Common Sense came once and wanted to join the army but did not have the right papers, so the guards would not let him in. So he stayed outside.’ The only fun part of going through the army was being with a whole lot of other young guys. Together we shared the good times and the difficult times. However, by the end of my service I couldn’t wait to leave. I come from a business-minded family and I inherited the ambitious nature which accompanies success. After finishing the army my aim was to succeed in business and make money - lots of it, like the rest of the family so as to fit in with my family expectations and the environment I was in! I thought that it would somehow fill my need and make me happy. After a fruitful time in real estate, I studied gemology and joined my family in the diamond business. I was living the life, then in San Francisco, and was travelling to different parts of the world. I really had everything the world could offer. I had my own executive office; I was making a lot of money and at last I had met and established a relationship with a lovely woman who later became my girlfriend. I was on top of the world. Or so I thought. But a couple of years later it all came crashing down around me! It fell apart with this lady and she ended up hooking up with one of my best friends. I was in agonizing pain. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat; I did minimum work: just enough to survive. The sense of the emptiness

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and futility of life f looded my soul. I had always believed in love and relationships but now I knew how fragile they were. Everything is breakable! You can’t hold on to anything. My good friend betrayed me. My girlfriend left me. And all the money in the world could not help me. Eventually I decided to return home to Israel. I packed up and returned to my parents’ big home. I could not relate to people around me nor could I understand how they could be happy. I could not find any reason for happiness. I did not want to live any more, in fact I wished I could die. To keep myself busy, I became active and independent in the diamond industry. At the same time I began to ask myself, “Why am I here? Why live? Why not just die?” I even began to ask other people: “What is the reason you wake up in the morning?” I got all kinds of explanations but no one could give me a satisfactory answer. For the first time I tried drugs and alcohol in the hope of finding some kind of relief. At this time some friends who had gone to India after their army service had returned to Israel. They had grown long hair and beards but what interested me was they seemed more spiritual, peaceful, easy-going and happy. After spending time with them I decided to go to India myself. Maybe there I would find what I was looking for, the answers to my questions, some peace. I travelled to India on a kind of spiritual pilgrimage not knowing how long I would be there but determined to find some reason to live. On arrival I met another Israeli guy and we decided to purchase motorbikes and travel the land, sometimes I was with him, sometimes with others. India has its own exquisite beauty. I saw some amazing sights, from the vast open deserts, majestic mountains, glorious white sandy beaches and vibrant jungles to the beautiful villages of

people dressed in bright, colourful attire. Everything was so amazing; at times it looked like heaven itself but on the inside my soul was parched! Despite all this beauty around me I felt even emptier as I was not able to enjoy it because of the struggle inside of me. One day, when we arrived at a restaurant at Paradise Beach, many people were sitting around smoking and drinking. All eyes were on us, the newcomers, as we entered the room. Suddenly someone in the corner started speaking loudly to me:

“Why are you not smiling? Smile! Why are you not happy?”

He exposed the hidden state of my heart and I felt embarrassed. “Now everyone here knows I’m not happy,” I thought. I was more frustrated than ever. After sometime at this beach I got the opportunity to share some of my life and inner struggles. “You have to go to Ashram someone insisted. “They will help you there with guidance and answers.” I was intrigued. Upon arriving at the Ashram Centre I sensed for the first time that I was in a spiritual place. The atmosphere there was special for me and I began to understand that there was a spiritual world. With these new gurus I learned spiritual practices and meditation techniques. I began encountering the spiritual realm and soon believed I was ready to partake in a ritual of initiation. I was sprinkled with flowers and given a new name. I took an oath to dedicate myself to find the truth and never to return to the life of this world. On the inside I made up my mind never to return to my old life until I had found the truth. However Ashram involved people trying extreme things: dance frenzies, meditation, drugs, yoga, free sex and many other practices. My experiences at Ashram were mixed and I saw things I didn’t like; things I was not attracted to. I began to question this place. I

wanted to find out what the older members of the group had achieved spiritually after being involved for many years. I asked them if, in all their time at Ashram, they had found the absolute truth and reached enlightenment. But I soon realized that although they looked spiritual on the outside, on the inside they just wanted to use young people for sex and money. I was disappointed with what I found out so eventually I left. For two years I travelled to different temples, ashrams and spiritual centres. I visited different gurus, studied Hinduism and joined a Buddhist centre in the village where Buddha was born. However I knew I still hadn’t found the peace I sought. In time I found myself at the cave of a famous guru who was like a saint in India. He had lived in a cave for 30 years and although he was now dead, he continued to appear to people and interact with them. So I joined this small village of seekers. While I visited one of the caves there, I had a strong encounter.

I w i l l sacri f ic e a ny t h ing a nd ever y t hing to k now t he trut h!” I knew I would do anything even if I needed to die. Later that day a Buddhist Monk helped me find a cave near the village. There I would go to meditate from 10 to 12 hours at a time. One time while sitting there meditating I actually felt like I had left my body and entered heaven. I felt complete unit y wit h t h i s he a ve n l y r e a l m, filled with peace, joy and a sense of bliss as I soared ever higher and higher. Soon I realised that if I went any higher I would bec ome d i sc on nec ted from my body and in that moment my mind flashed to my parents and family. I

wasn’t ready to leave them. Instantly I was back in my body. Desperate to reach this state again and to find ‘truth’ I spent much time in my cave fasting and meditating. I began to neglect my appearance and my hair became long and unkempt. People would ask, “Are you ok?”

It felt like someone had hit me with a big stick which set me on fire. I experienced this huge fire all over my body and I said, “I want to know the truth so badly!

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But I no longer cared how I looked; all I cared about was finding the truth. After some time I left the cave and moved back to the village. At a local Indian restaurant I met a very aggressive man who threatened me. As I walked away from there I felt frustrated and upset, it triggered in me a profound sense of the desperation. After all my spiritual experiences and all the time I had spent searching, I still did not have the truth. I still had no peace and I felt like life was so fragile. As I continued walking away, I heard a voice penetrating the layers of my inner being and saying to me, “a Jewish man who is lost has to declare his true name.” Everyone had called me ‘Dudi’ from my childhood up but my real name was David. So I decided to do what the voice told me. Right then and there, as I stood outside on the street I declared aloud, “I am David!” For the first time in my life the Spirit of the Lord fell on me so strongly that I became a different person. I felt like a lion; like a warrior; like King David himself with the strength of 1,000 men. It was revealed to me then that God Himself was my Father. I am talking about the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I knew I needed to return to Jerusalem and that I had a mission to accomplish. I felt there was great danger here for me and also my Jewish brothers who were staying in the region. I saw clearly there was a spiritual power who was great and evil, who was trying to take us to himself. I realised there was a great spiritual battle raging that I had never encountered before. And so I decided I had to warn the other Israelis of the dangers but as I went to approach them I realised they would not listen to me but rather think that I was crazy. Instead I set off to my home in the village. Along the way it seemed that the trees, stones and

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walls were in communication with me. Everything seemed to take on a life of its own, crying out for my death! As night descended I arrived home and entered my house. Overwhelmed by the experiences, I turned to the picture of a guru hanging on my living room wall. Immediately a huge calf-like spirit jumped at me and sought to possess me. I struggled against this spirit with all my might. I knew this spirit did not belong to me and I did not want to go where it wanted to take me.

This was the first time I had seen a spirit and I was shocked and panicked. Finally I lay on my bed but the spirit jumped at me again. I leaped out of bed. Too afraid to fall asleep lest I be

different experiences on my own. I always felt I was on my own, doing my own thing but suddenly it became clear to me that God was always there and He was directing everything in my life toward this moment, to meeting Him. It was an amazing revelation and I felt so much of the love of God. I knew that I had come from Him and one day I would return to Him. I belonged to Israel and to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He was the God that everyone was talking about; even my parents, grandparents and great grandparents; the God of Israel, the God of the Bible. I knew now God was with me and He would direct me. I knew for sure now I had to return to Israel.

possessed by this strong demon I did whatever I could to stay awake, pacing the floor, playing my flute. As morning came I began to relax but then my thoughts came thick and fast bringing with them a sense of hopelessness which filled my heart. At last I fell to the floor weeping! I couldn’t understand why things were happening the way they were. All the pain inside of me burst forth in tears and I started to cry out to God! “God why did you abandon me? Why don’t you care about me? Why did you just leave me? Where are you?” I was crying uncontrollably. I came to the end of myself. While I was on the f loor crying suddenly I felt there was somebody in the room. When I wiped my tears away and looked up, there was indeed someone standing in front of me. I knew that God was in the room. Everything became clear like the sun as my life played out before me like a movie on a big screen. I saw my whole life passing before me in a second. I saw everything that had happened to me, all my experiences, the good things, the bad things and I saw myself living my life, going through all these

A short time later, as I walked along a street in India, I found a book in Hebrew lying on the street. I picked it up and began to read it. The guy in the book was also on a quest for the truth and after he prayed he had encountered Jesus who had appeared to him. I knew it was true. Later someone gave me another amazing book that

really touched me. As I read it, again I encountered Jesus. After I returned to Israel, I moved to the North where I lived in a small village for three years. My only wish was to be with God. I didn’t want to work or do anything else. I knew now that God was real and this world had lost its appeal. I knew that God was with me and I didn’t need anything else. My only wish was to get to know God and the Bible more, both the Old and the New Testament. Often as I read the Bible I cried. Its words were being written on my heart. It opened to me and I saw things I had never seen before. I realised how truthful and real God is. I read how many

I only had to open and read the Tanach (Old Testament) to discover that Jesus was the promised Messiah who alone fulfilled so many of the ancient prophecies from the Jewish Scriptures.

I wa s so excited, even sho cked at times! There He was, so obvious, in the pages of Scripture. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it before. It would of ten move me to tears.

I tried to show others but their hearts and ears were closed. No one seemed to understand. I thought “I am the only Jewish believer in the world” and it was hard for me to connect with the secular world around me. I longed to meet people who were like-minded.

prophecies had been fulfilled and were being fulfilled. My eyes were opened to the prophecies concerning the Messiah.

One day I had to take my car to my mechanic to get it fixed and there was a man arguing with him about Jesus. The mechanic said he wasn’t interested and sent the man out of his shop. I ran after this man, tapped him on the shoulder and I told him: “I believe in Je su s.” His e ye s bec a me ver y big and he asked me: “Re a l ly, why?” I relate d some of my stor y a nd we bec a me f riend s. T h rou g h him I met other believers. This was a special time for me. I was baptised in the Jordon River near the Galilee.

I spent a lot of time wandering in the quietness and beauty of nature. I could live in the moment. I felt a deep inner peace and the love of God.

Then one day I met some monks from a monastery. They invited me to visit. When I arrived at the gate of the monastery, upon putting my one

foot inside, the Spirit of God touched me and I felt a calling from Him to come to a quiet place with Him and get to know Him more. There at the monastery where I stayed for a season, in the silence and solitude I was absorbed in God. After this season in the monastery, I met believers from Jerusalem and decided to move there and study the Scriptures with them. It was at this time I came to understand that to follow Jesus was not a betrayal of my Jewishness or my people. Jesus Himself was a Jew, one of us, and He was even from the same tribe as me. 2,000 years ago most of the Jewish leaders rejected Him because their hearts were hard and they couldn’t see the truth. God’s true message to us is to be in a relationship with Him and grow in knowledge of Him. It isn’t and never was about only following the traditions. This truth is the one He told to our people. In Juda ism t here a re t wo ver y impor t a nt que st ions e ver yone should ask: “Where did I come from?” And “where am I going?” In finding the answers to these questions, you find peace. If you neglect the curiosity about your own life and fail to examine your real purpose, you will live in fear and anxiety. When I studied the Bible I came to a verse: And God says, (Jeremiah 29:13)“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart”. I realised I had been searching for God with all my heart and I found Him. And I know if people will search for Him with all their hearts, they too will find him.

I am David.

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Nazareth

Nestled on a hillside amidst the mountains of Nazareth overlooking the Jezreel valley in the region of Lower Galilee, is the quaint little town of Nazareth. Before the Roman invasion around AD 70 and the dispersion of the Jews from Israel, this township was Jewish and the home of Mary the mother of Yeshua (Jesus) and her carpenter husband Joseph. It was here in Nazareth that Yeshua grew up and spent most of his adult life and where he continued in the family trade as a humble carpenter before he left at age 30 to begin his public ministry. Over the centuries the demographics have changed. Once, not so long ago, it was mainly inhabited by Arab Christians but now it comprises of an almost 70% Muslim population. Situated in the traditional land of Zebulon, from the surrounding district you can see Mount Tabor, the mountain of Deborah the Judge and Gath-hepher, the hometown of Jonah the prophet. If you visit this vibrant little Arab township today, perched on the hillside, you will find it bustling with many shops and authentic markets selling all kinds of merchandise, both local and from abroad. You can enjoy some of the local Arabic cuisine at one of the traditional little Arabic restaurants scattered throughout the busy streets.

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Nazareth is most famous for the Church of Annunciation which claims to be built over the site of Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. The present day church was built over the original Byzantine church that dates back to fifth century AD making it the more likely location of her house than other alleged places. As you approach the front of the church you will see beautiful artwork depicting the story of the annunciation, carved in white stone. From outside the church in the courtyard you can look at the archeological site of the ruins of the Old City of Nazareth from the second temple period, which is the time of Messiah. There is the modern building of the Fount of Nazareth once known as Mar yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Well, on the site of the Orthodox Church, named The Church of Gabriel. According to church tradition, Gabriel appeared to Mary twice, once at her home and the second time here beside this very well. When Yeshua first began His ministry, it was right here in His hometown. He took his turn, as was his practice, to read from the synagogue Scroll.

He opened up to the passage from Isaiah about the promised Messiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has set me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Isaiah 61:1,2). As he laid aside the scroll, all eyes were fixed on him and he then made this groundbreaking, earth shaking announcement: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing!” The people were furious that He, an ordinary carpenter who grew up among them, would have the audacity to make such a claim and so they took Him to a steep cliff and tried to push Him over the side but He escaped their grasp. The traditional site of this cliff is today called the Mount of Precipice, another attraction in Nazareth. Plans are afoot, by local Arab Christians, to erect a statue of Christ similar to Christ

the Redeemer in Rio, Brazil, on this site as a symbol of the love and peace that Christ (Messiah) stood for. The name of the town in Hebrew is a bit of a mystery. The root word for Nazareth is Netzer and has the meaning ‘to watch over’. Nazareth is the feminine form of this word. This will make no sense to us unless we can find this root word Netzer in other places in the Bible to help us understand the meaning of this word better. In Matthew 2:23 we read about Yeshua, “and (he) came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” Matthew is not quoting a single prophet or a specific prophecy but rather a general theme that was revealed through the biblical prophets. As we look at some issue 2

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prophetic passages in the Bible we will see this theme in the life of the Messiah and in the place that He hails from. In Isaiah 11:1 we read, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” In this clear and obvious Messianic prophecy, the Hebrew word for Branch is the word Netzer being the same root as in the word Nazareth. Again in verse Isaiah11:10 the prophet is speaking of the Messiah and we see a similar concept. Here he is referred to as a root. “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.” As we read through Messianic prophecies we can see this theme of a shoot, root or a branch clearly forming. In both Isaiah 53:2 and Isaiah 11:10 the same root word for ‘Netzer (root)’ is being used.

“He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.” Other prophets such as Zachariah also refer to this theme. We see the promised servant Messiah being referred to as the Branch in Zachariah 3:8 and then again in 6:12. But it is in Jeremiah 23:6,7 that we read one of the most powerful prophetic words regarding this theme. The Branch again is shown as Messiah, King. “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.” This powerful prophetic passage draws a clear connection between God and this coming Messianic King, who is given the title of Yahweh Himself. Whether you believe he is the Messiah or not, Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth grew up to be the most inf luential person in all of human history. It is interesting to study the numerous prophecies in the Tanarch (Old Testament) regarding the Messiah, along side this single historical figure, a carpenter from this village of Nazareth in the Galilee region of Israel. You will have to agree the stark similarities between the promised Messiah of the Jewish prophets and the historical figure of the Yeshua of Jewish history, cannot be easily dismissed! Recently I noticed that the post resurrection glorious King Messiah, who appeared to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, introduced himself simply as Yeshua of Nazareth, associating his risen eternal self with Nazareth, thereby marking this little family township with an everlasting renown.

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Nazareth Nathaniel reclines against the gnarled trunk of the sprawling fig tree, its leafy branches giving him shade from the searing heat; he closes his eyes to meditate. Fueled by John the Baptist’s Messianic fervor, expectation has reached fever pitch in Israel and everyone is heading to Jordon for Mitzveh. Even Nathaniel has been immersed. Doubts fight with Nathaniel’s faith and his inner dialogue tries to sort it out. “But why would Adonai choose such a wild character as John to be his voice and to perform such a ritual in the brown waters of Jordon, rather than a clean spring or a proper mikveh bath?” asks Nathaniel to himself. He continues, “But then hadn’t all the prophets been so? And what about the patriarchs like Jacob. Now Jacob was something else! A slimy worm of a character, he seemed more of an example of what an Israelite should not be, rather than what he should be. Yet it was this man who had dreamed of a ladder reaching from earth right into heaven to where Adonai Himself stood. And it was Jacob who had wrestled with the Angel of God’s presence and had prevailed. It was he who first bore the name ‘Israel - the Prince of God’. Maybe he had eventually learned his lesson. Maybe he had the deceit burned out of him. Maybe people can repent and change. That’s what John was teaching us down at the river. But the question that was burning the most in his heart; Has the Messiah truly arrived and is He standing among them as John claims? And if so, how will we recognize Him? Maybe He has special powers or supernatural knowledge…” Meanwhile, after searching in all the usual places, Andrew f ina l ly f ind s Nat ha niel in an unusual place, at least for Nathaniel. He beholds him under the fig tree deep in thought. Although Andrew knows this is a place the Jews go to meditate, it was definitely not Nathaniel’s usual custom.

Why has he chosen this day of all days to change his habit? sighed Andrew in frustration. He shakes him with a sense of urgency, arousing him from his deep contemplation. “We have found the One! The One the Scriptures point to. Yeshua of Nazareth!” The surprise that marked Nathaniel’s face soon turned to deep lines of cynicism. “Nazareth!” he spat out, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Unperturbed by Nathaniel’s response, Andrew takes his arm and pulls him along with him. “Come and see!” Walking together along the path, arm in arm, Andrew shares why he feels so strongly this Jesus whom John the Baptist had pointed out to them was indeed the One they should now follow. As they approach, Yeshua lifts his head and looks intently at Nathaniel says, “Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is nothing false.” Nathaniel stops in his tracks and with a glimmer of mockery asks, “How do you know me?” Yeshua’s eyes seem to pierce his soul exposing him. “Before Philip called you, when you were sitting there under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathaniel is astounded. He had never known anyone with such supernatural knowledge. Now he is a believer and all his doubts melt away. “You are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel!” He blurts out. Jesus answers, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:50-51). issue 2

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