So we had to visit the biblical Zoo, had a lot of fun. We met a young man from Winnipeg on our Judea tour ,so we have been out a couple of places together. Its nice to talk to someone who knows what we are talking about when we refer to certain Canadian phrases, like ' inukshuk' . We were too late for the zoo one day so we visited a park instead and decided to build an inukshuk to pass the time. For those of you who need to know more follow this link http://www.inukshukgallery.com/inukshuk.html
well we want to give our inukshuk a biblical name and something that would make sense as to why we built him so we called him wait for it.................wait................ MARK! Ha ha now we can say we left our "Mark" in Jerusalem. LOL
Zoe with our new friend Ben from Winnipeg & MARK
kissing MARK good bye.
We did make it too the Zoo after all and it was quite a nice Zoo , I have been to a few and this one was very well laid out with a nice selection of animals , a large amount of which were on the brink of extinction and the zoo is now helping to bring back the populations in the wild.
what's so cool is that they have an ARK and we got to go in it!
they also have a lot of deer here they look like ours but keep their spots .
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My impression of the zoo animals here is one thing but I have to admit I was impressed with another creature here called an Abba.
Every where I went all I heard was ABBA , ABBA, ABBA, and it wasn't groupies chanting for a rock band.
Abba is to Hebrew as Daddy is to English.
So far in the short time I have been here I have noticed an lot of active duty fathers, they are every where with their children . Seriously, these Daddy's are spending time with their kids, taking them places, feeding them, shopping, parks, synagogue, everywhere, even without the moms. I am encouraged to see so many complete family units. Way to go guys keep it up !
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We had to say good bye to the English last night. boo hoo. we really will miss them , it won't be the same here knowing that we won't run into them around any corner. Honestly we have been so blessed with knowing each one and we will pray that we can meet "next year in Jerusalem'' !
WE LOVE YOU JUNE, EDDIE, JANET & DAVID, GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU TILLWE MEET AGAIN.
well its off to the coast tomorrow , we are going to check out a bible school for Zoe and meet up with some new friends, do some touring , this will be our first trip out side of Jerusalem on our own, we will be taking the train. stay tuned.
I cant decide which was more memorable Samaria or Judea. well......maybe Samaria . Only because I got to see Shiloh (where Gods tabernacle was) and the mountains of blessing and cursing Mt. Gerizim, the mountain of blessing, and Mt.Ebal, the mountain of curses and the location of Joshua’s altar. I have often wondered what it would have been like to have walked through those mountains with the priests shouting the blessings and the curses.
All these pictures I am showing are in the backbone of biblical Israel and just make the bible stories just jump off the page .Because I love the bible, I am endeared to this land how much more so the Jewish people. This is there history, their beginnings. They are settling here along side the Arab population just trying to live in peace. Here is the bus I had to ride on these two days in biblical Israel (which some call west bank). This bus had bullet proof windows and sides, a undercarriage that can withstand a bomb, and two engines in case one gets damaged. it weighed twice the amount of a normal bus.
why do you ask? Right along the same highway where we visited all these sites, the Arab population can rise up and shoot or bomb the buses they suspect Jews are riding. One of the little settlement town we visited for the Jewish people is called Rachalim, this is to honor the two Rachaels killed on busses traveling to their community. One was shot and the other bombed because she wouldn't leave with out her three children on the bus.
Sadly, While we were in Judea and Samaria two young soldiers were killed . One was lured into a taxi with an Arab he knew and had worked with at a restaurant , and the other by a sniper . It was just plain murder. may they rest in peace and God comfort their families.
These are some shots from a little winery we visited form the same area , just some families trying to make a living . You can buy their olive oil , and wine only in Canada and the USA, not in Europe because Europe has banned their products in protest of Jews living in their biblical land that the Arabs are disputing about boundaries .
There is a stunning view of the three seas: Galilee in the north, the Mediterranean in the west, and the Dead Sea in the south. You can see the Mountains of Gilead, and the plains of Moab as you follow Abraham’s first entry into the land and the entry of the Israelites, generations later with Joshua.
we feel like we are on top of the world!
As you can see there is a lot of unsettled land here. It is heart warming to see where ever the Jewish people have settled the land is flourishing.
A lovely story about a wise man who owns large grocery chains stores decided to build these stores between Arab and Jewish communities. people said it wouldn't work(some peoples in communities are encouraged not to buy from Jews). these large food centres are doing well and Arab , Jews an Christians are able to buy food along side of each other in there. Every one can see that people can just be people living their lives raising a family. it is a good reminder for understanding that governments /regimes/radicals don't always represent the majority of people who just want to live in peace.
we were very blessed to visit ,
Shiloh… the spot where the Tabernacle of Moses stood for 369 years after Joshua and the Children of Israel entered the Promised Land God was to dwell with his chosen people. It was here that Hannah brought Samuel as a child, to serve God, under the High Priest, Eli. This was the central gathering place of Joshua and the Jewish nation as they prepared for battle. New archeological findings reveal the secrets of this ancient town.
I really really liked this place. all 12 tribes would come here and hang out for the holidays and they still are. So many people were here this holiday, booths set up for kids arts & crafts and games, food, music ect. so very happy ! We saw an awesome light show/movie version as to what went on here in ancient days, including Hannahs prayer. do you remember Hannah had no children and went to Shiloh with her husband and prayed in her heart with her lips moving and cried for a child. because she was in great distress the priest Eli thought she was drunk. when she told him she was praying he told her God would give her the request. well within that year she was with child and then when the boy was older she brought him back to Shiloh to serve the priest and later God raised him up to be one of the greatest prophets; Samuel. so this light show was shown in this awesome building.
Built buy a childless Jewish couple who independently of each other came here and prayed for a child and promised to give something back to this community . Sure enough within a year a baby was born (just like Hannah) and now the community has this tower! If you are ever in Israel this is a must see!
the alter at Shiloh.
This was my favorite place to be so far. My heart is filled with love and appreciation for all God Almighty has done for me. I am blown away with the thought of him wanting to dwell (tabernacle)with us because He loves us so much.
Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Psa 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Isa 16:5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God
AND WITH THAT I WILL SAY ON THIS LAST DAY OF 'THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES'
SHALOM! CHAG SAMEACH!p.s. a video on international law on Israel's Samaria and Judea
Had a great day! in Judea , we got to visit Jewish settlements on the hills of Hebron and ate in a families sukkah, visited a museum to honor the slaughtered Jewish Zionist, saw the cave area where Abraham Sarah Isaac and Rebekah Jacob and Rachael were buried. and was speculated the that Adam and Eve were there too. When we got back to the city and we partied and danced in the streets and squares . we defiantly came to Israel at the right time of the year.
I have to give a shoutout to these chosen people. No wonder God loves them so much and has given them this land! They have had so much sorrow and adversity but yet they are so in love with God and this land and they are so happy here. They chose peace and joy over hate and vengeance, they are so determined to live well even in circumstance that would destroy most. They have made (with Gods help )the barren place bloom . What a contrast with their neighbors! Israel you are an inspiration to us all.
in a lovely sukkah that belongs to a Jewish settlement family near Hebron in Judea
the one tree left that the Arab war did not destroy
every tree was planted by the Jewish people
same architect as in Winnipeg bridge this is David's harp
cave where patriarchs buried here
Abraham walked here!
please check out this website, this was the tour we went on that most tourist don't get to experience, tomorrow we go to Samaria in the heartland of biblical Israel.
Not a lot of pictures this time, because it was Shabbat and we spent it at a Rabbi's sukkah.
Over here it is not polite to takes pictures on a Sabbath , plus a lot of other things I am finding out about now.
we heard about this Rabbi that has anyone over ( all faiths or no faith, tourist or homeless) to his house for Shabbat and this week it is in his sukkah. Seriously it was like this covert mission to get to his house we had to meet people who knew people who new how to get there and some of the group had to be split up because some of the women weren't dressed right and couldn't go through the ultra orthodox neighborhoods. Of course Zoe and I fit in fairly well with how we dress and wear our hair, but carrying a bag on Shabbat is a dead give away for "tourist' .
Anyways, its about 8:30 pm and we set off a on a long walk though parts of town I had not been through but I had just seen in that movie I posted "THE USHPIZIN " . we were told that this Rabbi invites many people over and shares wisdom and customs mostly to the uninitiated and often invites open dialogue of guests to share their personal stories. When we got there you would have thought we were in line for free $ .Thankfully , my recent trips to the markets here has now taught me how to work my way through a crowd and with Zoe in tow we suddenly found ourselves near the front door.
We waited around outside for about 1/2 hr chatting with various people from all over the world and all sorts of demographics, but when that door opened it was like a dam broke and people flowed through the door like their life depended on it.
we were herded through his living spaces like cattle and right out to the sukkah and were all neatly arrange by gender at narrow tables. I estimate 140 people in a space 25'x 15'. Very tight, but every one got a seat.
The evening was very special because it was sukkot and we were served the most amazing Shabbat meal ( I didn't expect this). Challah bread, salads, pickles, sweet potatoes , soup chicken , Gefilte fish, corn, ect. the food just kept coming!
well we got to experience the authentic holiday Shabbat in a sukkah with a vary nice benevolent Rabbi and his wonderful family. I also had the opportunity to speak with a Jewish man who was quite curious as to why were here and I had an opportunity to share with him a little about what God is doing in my life and he got to share with me a word or two as well. I do find so many of the people we meet are genuinely interested in why Zoe and I are here for three months and not the normal fast two week tour like a lot of other tourists. They sincerely are blessed when we tell them of our love of their county and how we will be doing some service for the people here in October .
I want to leave you with a touching story the Rabbi told us that his Old Rabbi shared with him about sukkot.
The Older Rabbi had been in Auschwitz concentration camp for 5 years. In the first year when the rabbi thought it was getting close to sukkot he tried to figure out a way to keep the commandment even in the worst of circumstances. He noticed in the corner of the camp 3 half built stone walls for a small shed? Every day as he walked by in the line up ,he would kick any little sticks he could find near the walls . when he thought it was sukkot (their was no way for him to verify with no Jewish calendar around) he snuck out of his quarters at night and arranged the sticks as best as he could on top of the walls and ate his bread ration in his sukkot under the stars and made merry. what a testimony! The point was that this is special holiday with a lot of significance and here under the worst conditions this man chose to be joyful. what a lesson that is!
well it's off to bed 6:30 comes early , we are off to Judea first thing in the morning, I should have a lot of pictures tomorrow.
So today we had the pleasure of having a bunch of our new friends come and spend time in our Sukkah with us! It was an honour to have everyone share their day, knowledge and time. For these things truly are precious.
So today I(Zoe) believe that God gave me a word to share with our guests, and so I'd like to share it with you today too.
This early morning I was sitting in my Sukkah reading some prayers in my Siddur and drinking my coffee, when the Lord taught me something quite neat. Now in order to understand, I'm going to explain a bit about something that takes place on Sukkot in some traditional Jewish homes.
It is taught that the people of Israel have the privilege of inviting guests to their Sukkah's this time of year and this includes welcoming the Shechinah [God's presence] as well as the 7 'Faithful Shepherds' who are the forefathers of the faith: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and King David.
So with that, I will also add that the Sukkah we are commanded to build is a temporary dwelling place; this is also in Rabbinical thought likened to our physical bodies here on earth, because in light of eternity, our bodies are 'temporary' dwelling places until we pass on to the after life.
So moving on from your mini-lesson :)
This morning I was sitting and reading the traditional sukkot prayers and the Lord brought to my mind the passage in John 10 when Yeshua talks about being the Good and Faithful Shepard who lays down his life for his sheep. (to really get the whole picture I would recommend taking a look at the passage, even if it is strictly for educational or the practical purposes of this blog)
So, today with our guests, we had the honor of reading the chapter of John 10 and inviting our Good and Faithful Shepard into our Sukkah today ! haha it was a fun and new way we welcomed Sukkot this year :)
So I hope you all learned at least one thing today ! Because I always say that the most boring thing you can do in life is be in a place where you don't learn anything.
So here are some pictures of our whole day that we spent outside in our Sukkah with our friends :)
OH AND BY THE WAY USHPISIN MEANS GUESTS .
HERE IS A MOVIE ABOUT THE GUESTS IN A SUKKAH THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WE KNOW. SO VERY TOUCHING AND FUNNY PLEASE WATCH YOU WONT BE DISAPOINTED!
So here we are today is the day to build the sukkah and we are up early and get right to it !
step one
step two
step 3
step 4
yay! everyone has their thumbs up in this shot.
shower curtain goes up
our sukkah will have 3 walls
our roof can also be a door
all done and decorated!
This was a lot of fun now we are going to invite people over for tea and cookies and if you are reading this and can come please do!
Better rsvp the time slots are filling up fast! Thursday afternoon is full Thursday night has an opening . Friday night is gone , not sure about Saturday . Sunday is gone. Monday looks good. lol
until next time
shalom
p.s. some interesting video and links on the holidays
