I - First of all, we want to thank everyone who has been praying for us over the past two months. Needless to say, it was an adventure in learning that “man may choose his way, but the Almighty Elohim of Israel directs the path.”
Last year was a
bit challenging for us as we both had health issues that kept us close to home
and family. Thus, we were not too keen on traveling overseas. BYNA
(B'ney Yoseph North America) invited us to attend their three-day 10th anniversary
conference in Tampa, Florida, on March 3, 2026. We delayed our response
because both of us had to undergo some physical exams. However, because
many of our old friends were about to attend and wanted to see us and we them,
we decided to make flight reservations for February 26th and spend
a few days beforehand with close friends who reside in the area. We
purchased the tickets and made the necessary contacts, knowing that there was
always a possibility of war breaking out and of the airport being closed down.
The plan was to see some close friends who reside near Tampa, attend the BYNA
anniversary and conference, fly to Wisconsin to visit my family for a week, and
return to Israel on March 17th.
Our El Al
flight was to take us from Tel Aviv to Boston, where we were to pick up a domestic
plane to Tampa. However, during the flight over the middle of the
Atlantic, we were informed that one of the two engines had faltered and
therefore we would have to be redirected. Amazingly, no one panicked; everyone
just continued as if it were mere routine. Because the flight was full and many
passengers were slated to continue from Boston to other destinations, the
choice of airports was limited. After a short time, the pilot announced
that we were turning back - to London's Heathrow airport. After about two
hours, we thankfully landed at that destination. We disembarked and were
immediately escorted to our next awaiting flights. Our hats off to those
responsible for making this exchange smooth and uneventful. Our next
flight took us directly to Tampa on an airline called “Virgin Atlantic.” We
didn’t know that this abrupt change was prophetic (to be explained later). We
were very thankful to be able to continue our journey as planned… so we
thought…
II - Upon
arrival in Tampa, we were met by a couple, one of whom we knew from way back in
the 1990’s as she was associated with Angus and Batya’s MIA (Messianic Israel
Alliance) conferences. At that time, she and her late husband started an
Ephraimite home group in Brandon, Florida, not far from Tampa, where we had
shared a couple of times at their little home fellowship. We met our
friend and her new husband at Succot last year in the Jerusalem park, where
regular gatherings are held on each of the three high holidays. Their
enthusiasm for moving ahead in the restoration of the second stick of
Joseph/Ephraim was electrifying for Rimona and me. At the time, we had no plans
to come to the US, but they left us with an invitation to visit their
congregation (Beit Tahila) in the future should we make a trip to the area.
A few days
before we departed for the States, we wrote them and mentioned that we were
about to participate in the BYNA anniversary celebration. We planned to arrive
a few days beforehand to be picked up by other old-time friends with whom we
were going to spend Shabbat. However, some unexpected last-minute changes
took place, and we were notified that our friend would not be in town. Almost
simultaneously, an invitation came from the 'Succot couple' to host us in their
home and congregation. They also invited us to their post-Purim
celebration the following day, but apologized that they had already invited a
guest speaker from Israel sometime beforehand. Well, the war broke out in
Israel, and this guest speaker was not able to leave. Instead, they were
very happy to have us as their last-second fill-in speakers.
From one day to
the next, like our flight returning to London, YHVH had us on His
itinerary. Bet Tahila’s Purim celebration was like revisiting the MIA
conferences, with praise, worship, and dance that were high on the agenda. As a
bonus, friends who we knew from yesteryear also showed up, adding to the joy of
being with more of the redeemed and found sheep of the House of Israel.
The celebration was anointed by Abba to such a degree that it prepared us, not
only for what we shared with the congregation, but also for the unexpected
(short-term) future that awaited us…
III - We want
to thank our hosts from Beit Tehila for picking us up at the airport upon
arrival, and for the wonderful Erev Shabbat meal they prepared for us and for
our mutual friends. On Shabbat, we had an opportunity to celebrate together and
to share at their Shabbat service. After the wonderful time of worship
with their congregation, we were whisked away by our dear friends from
Bradenton. They picked us up in their Tesla, and we drove south. I had
the privilege of sitting in the front seat. This was my first experience
in an autonomous vehicle. For an hour and a half, the driver, or should I say
the one behind the wheel, conversed as if we were sitting in the back seat. He
told me all about this amazing car. We soon arrived at our destination,
which was their son and daughter-in-law’s home, where we enjoyed a gourmet meal
and stayed for the next two days. The following day was just what Abba
knew we needed: to relax and enjoy with the family our home-away-from-home,
which included a lovely boat ride around the area. After those days of
being pampered, we traveled back to Tampa, again in the Tesla.
Before we even
stepped out of the vehicle, in front of the hotel where the B'ney Yosef 10th Anniversary
event was to take place, we recognized several people we had known from the
first BYNA gathering. Entering the Hotel and settling into our room, a gentle
excitement ran through us as we wondered which of our dear friends we would
encounter first. We were not disappointed, as one by one, over the next
few days, we hugged, talked, shared hearts, and reminisced with old and new
friends. One of the highlights of this event was its family reunion
flavor. On the following day, we were picked up by our beloved brother
and returned to Beit Tehila for their Purim celebration, which I mentioned in
last week’s letter.
One of the
greatest impacts that BYNA's 3-day meetings had on us was the creation of
several 'action and evaluation committees' composed of associate members, along
with elders and administration staff. The potential for B'ney Yosef North
America to become a hub for the restoration of our National Ephraimite identity
now has a real chance to succeed. But we also have to remember what it
means to be a redeemed remnant of the body of Messiah. We know that the
Head of the body returned to His heavenly position to fulfill “all that
has been spoken by the prophets of old” (Acts 3: 19-21), as His main
purpose is to sanctify and restore the House of Jacob, and set up the
administration of His Kingdom in the house of Jacob (see Luke 1: 31-33; Isaiah
49:5-6).
Over the years,
different individuals have been voicing criticism and judging the efforts to
organize with our national aspiration in mind, as the second stick of Joseph in
the hand of Ephraim. But at the same time, we do need to take to heart Paul’s
exhortations: “Whatever you do, do it as unto your Master” (Col.3:23; Eph.
6:7). And to the nay sayers we say: “Who are you to judge
the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he
will, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4).
It is Yeshua’s
business to restore the whole House of Israel, but it takes working together,
especially within an organization. But each individual is to serve the Master,
not man or himself. “For through the grace given to me (Paul) I
say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to
think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as Elohim has allotted to
each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all
the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one
body in Messiah, and individually members one of another” (Romans
12:3- "…. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling
to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give
preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence,
fervent in spirit, serving the Master; rejoicing in hope, persevering in
tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints,
practicing hospitality” (Romans 12:9-13).
Among the
critics are those who find it hard to work together with others because of the
level of maturity it requires. As we know, through our relationships with
one another, the Spirit works sanctification: "Iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17)...
IV - On the
last day of the conference, we were invited, if the opportunity were to avail
itself, to a small fellowship in Dalton, Georgia, as the pastor was keen to
meet us. Setting aside this request, we told him that in two days we were
flying to Wisconsin for a 10-day visit to visit family, then returning to
Israel for Pesach (Passover), as we planned to celebrate it at home with about
20 guests. In the meantime, two days after leaving Israel, the war with Iran
broke out, and although our travel agent informed us only of a different
departure airport, and not of a different date, we knew that the latter was
also subject to change.
Thus, with the
original plan still in mind, we checked out of the hotel with a friend from
Texas, and the three of us were picked up and hosted by our mutual friend from
Anna Maria Island. We left in a bit of a hurry because we needed to get to our
destination for the Erev Shabbat meal.
During that
multi-course gourmet dinner, we discussed the strategy for leaving on Sunday
morning, as our flight to Wisconsin was at an extremely early
hour. Later in the evening, as we relaxed around an outdoor
fireplace, we mentioned the invitation to Georgia, but dismissed it and all
retired for the evening.
Shabbat morning
came very quickly, as some of us early risers had the urge for coffee, a great
assortment of which was available in the house coffee bar. As we
were relaxing, sipping our favorite drink, the subject of being led by the
Spirit came up. After a mini-sermon by our host, the fear of the Almighty
Elohim fell on me. We all seemed to sense that our plans were about to
change. Instead of flying to Wisconsin the next day, we ended up
getting one-way tickets, compliments of our host, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, a
destination not too far from Dalton, Georgia. After a couple of phone calls,
everything was set for tomorrow's plan, to be picked up upon arrival and taken
to a meeting with the pastor and several elders… to be continued.
How important
is the womb and the seed of a woman?
The Jewish
nation has never forgotten the lost tribes, which were torn off from the House
of Jacob. Throughout the centuries, Judah has yearned for and searched for
them. Paul especially had a remarkable passion for his lost brethren. He
was even willing to give up his life for their restoration and return. In
Romans 9, he expresses it as follows. “I have great sorrow and
unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed,
separated from Messiah for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the
flesh, who are Israelites” (Romans 9:2-4, emphasis added). Why
did he not call his “brethren, kinsmen” simply “Jews”? Why did he use
Israelites, which includes the Jews but also the other tribes? He then
continues to stress his grief over them, while also identifying them as the
true promised seed/progeny of Abraham via the dead womb of Sarah, who is
"Isaac", and then the chosen seed of Isaac from
Rebekah's womb, that is "Jacob", who is the father of all the
Israelites. These are the people whom Paul is grieving over. He went to
the nations driven by this knowledge. Challenging his readers, he
asks: “Has the word of Elohim failed?" (v.6). In other
words, has a covenant-keeping Elohim failed to watch over His word and perform
it (ref. Jeremiah 1:12)? Has He changed His mind about the covenants
and promises that He made with the forefathers? We too have to ask ourselves
the same questions. Or, better yet, ask Yeshua, Israel’s Messiah, if He has
failed to be what He says He is, the Living Word of the Father, Faithful and
True, Son of David, Shepherd and Redeemer of the whole house of
Israel! (See the Shepherd of Israel's warning in Ezekiel’s chapter
34)…
V - Upon
arrival in Chattanooga, we were picked up by the pastor of the Dalton, Georgia,
congregation. During the drive through the beautiful countryside, this young
man told us about himself and how the congregation got started. He relayed the
vision that he was given, in which he saw people flocking from many directions,
like streams of water, to this fellowship. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by a
few others, to whom we were introduced. After the meal that we all
partook of, we met for a time of prayer and sharing. We learned that, as a
Hebrew roots congregation, they were mistaken for being Jewish and had been
threatened by some anti-Semites who also damaged property. Thus, no signs were
displayed on the outside of the building. As we sat there, praying, discussing,
and answering questions, the elder assigned to security suddenly made his way
to the door. A passerby came up to the glass door (that whole side of the room
was glass, facing the street, and so we could be seen from the outside). The
security guard welcomed this smart-looking African-American man wearing a
nicely fitted jacket, cowboy hat, and boots. He told us that he was from
London and New York, and that he was seeking prayer for his relatives, living
in the area. He had a heavy burden for these relatives who were averse to the
Spirit. We prayed for their salvation and that they may come to know “Jesus”
and be filled with the Spirit, as he obviously was. As we gathered
around, with some laying hands on him, wonderful words of encouragement and
comfort were spoken through the Spirit. While we prayed for his family members,
we did likewise for him, blessing him before he departed.
After our
surprise “guest” left, we thought perhaps YHVH brought him to verify that He
would indeed bring many wandering sheep from all around to this
fellowship.
The plan was to
have another meeting with the rest of the congregation the following evening.
But last-minute announcements and severe storms in the area were not conducive
to a large gathering. Thus, only some of the elders came. Yet, as part of the
string of surprises that met us along the journey, two couples who saw the
announcement on social media showed up. These were old-time acquaintances whom
we knew years ago from…Texas! “What are you doing here?” we wondered. It turned
out that these folk moved to the area some time ago in order to join a certain
congregation. Once again, we had a time of prayer and intense discussions,
while also being thoroughly blessed by re-acquainting ourselves with these
precious people. Our prayer is that Abba would move upon their hearts to lend a
helping hand to this young congregation and bless it with what they have
acquired spiritually through the years.
Shortly before
we left for our trip, we received an e-mail from old-time friends who, upon
hearing of our intention to travel to the USA, had invited us to visit with
them and their congregation in South Carolina. Not knowing at the time that our
plans would be altered by Abba, we turned them down. But now things were
different. It was a “mere” seven-hour drive from Dalton, Georgia, to Columbia,
South Carolina. A short telephone call confirmed that this visit was indeed
part of the plan.
The following
morning, we were picked up early by one of the elders who drove us to a meeting
place, halfway to our destination. There, we were picked up by our friends,
veteran leaders of an Israelite-Hebrew roots congregation - Gates to Zion. Just
like our Georgia ‘station’, this too was not to last long. However, much was to
be gained during that brief visit…
VI - After
checking out of our hotel in Dalton, our driver from the fellowship picked us
up at the designated time. The journey north towards South Carolina was
very smooth and uneventful, but our conversation was very interesting as our
driver shared much about his Native American ancestry. Arriving at our
chosen destination, we met up with our friends from Gates to Zion, and we all
had a fun-filled lunch at a fast-food restaurant.
Continuing the
drive north with this very special couple meant nonstop conversation.
They are very seasoned Two-House Ephraimites, well connected to the land and
its people. At least once a year, they come to Israel and bring others with
them. What's more, their fellowship supports families and communities in
Judea and Samaria. One might say, theirs is a “boots on the ground”
congregation. After arriving and settling into a familiar bedroom in their
home, we went out for dinner.
Reading these
weekly “surprise” letters, some of you may conclude that we were on a culinary
tour. In one of our many conversations, mention was made of a major
'download' that several congregational members and their leaders had received.
It was mainly centered on two scriptures, which they found very significant and
instructive for the times we are living in: Psalms 108 and 110. It just so
happened that the next night an elders’ meeting was to take place, and we, the
unexpected guests, were invited to attend.
The following
evening, as the seven of us gathered and the two scriptures were read, the Holy
Spirit's presence was very tangible. “My heart is steadfast, O
Elohim; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul. Awake, harp
and lyre; I will awaken the dawn! I will give thanks to You,
O YHVH among the peoples; and I will sing praises to You among the
nations” (Psalm 108:1-3 emphasis added). "YHVH will
stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,'rule in the midst of
enemies.' Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; In holy
array, from the womb of the dawn, (Psalm 110:2-3 emphasis
added).
“I will awaken
the dawn," but from where will it be done?
Could it be that this is taking place from being positioned in "the
womb of the dawn"?
One of the
elders explained in greater detail how they were perceiving these verses about
the dawn. Each one who is called to minister to the Father and His Son
during the "womb of the dawn" does so in a specific place, a personal
"altar". We discussed what this might mean or indicate for the
restoration or perhaps the birthing of the second stick/nation of
Ephraim/Israel. Lots of thoughts began to stir in our minds about the
significance of this “womb of the dawn".
As these
"called and faithful" ones seem to be paving a path of prayer and
praise for the Bridegroom's return, they are also pre-empting the coming forth
of Ephraim. It occurred to us that some "sons of Yoseph" were taking
up the role that had long ago been removed from the members of this house
(e.g., Hosea 4:4-5): the "priesthood" – the priesthood of Ephraim.
Looking further into these designated psalms revealed even more, that is, more
about the "Lord" and His Melchizedek priesthood in 110, and Elohim's
word regarding taking over the land of promise, along with the citing of some
of the tribes, in 108.
While
contemplating what we were receiving from the GTZ pastors and elders, a memory
of a recently mentioned book, “The Fourth Turning,” came to mind. Was this
title saying something about the birthing phases? Did the proverbial baby need
to turn in order to get into the correct position for birth? There was a
lot to sleep on that night and to take with us the next day to Phoenix,
Arizona…
VII - Firstly,
I must apologize for the mistake in the P.S. of last week’s letter. At
Shavuot, we lift and wave two leavened loaves of bread,
not unleavened, although in Messiah we are constituted unleavened.
Our
early-morning flight from Colombia, South Carolina, to Phoenix, Arizona, meant
that the four of us were already practicing getting up during the “womb of
the dawn” and welcoming the sunrise upon our arrival at the airport.
Thanks to the many trips that these two GTZ pastors make to Israel, they had
enough sky miles for us to fly free to Phoenix, which was another of those
surprise provisions. Thank you.
Arriving in
temperatures in the 90s F. (high 30s C), we were warmly welcomed by our hosts
from “Living Messiah" Congregation. It is hard to put a title on this
couple, even though they are regarded as teachers, pastors, and leaders; their
demeanor is more like that of “Mama and Papa”. We had been with them two
weeks earlier at the BYNA 10th anniversary conference, at which
time they became the new head Elders of this organization.
When they met
us at the baggage area, one glance told them that we needed immediate respite.
Hence, they rushed us off (in another Tesla) to a hotel. On the way, we were already
sharing with them what had been transpiring since we left the conference,
especially the revelations from the past two days. In the course of
mentioning Psalm 110 and the “womb of the dawn”, 'Papa', who is an amateur
astronomer, especially as it relates to biblical events, commented that he
recalled that somewhere in the vast universe of the celestial bodies, there is
a place called the “womb”.
The following
day was reserved for friends who had recently moved back to the Phoenix area.
What a joy it was to meet up again with one of the oldest (not in age) duos who
have supported us from the beginning of our “ministry’ starting 30 years ago!
The help that they rendered us cannot be measured by time or goods. We
dined, drove, and reminisced until we arrived at a historical site, and of
course, had to do some shopping in one of the largest shops that we have ever
been in. We had the privilege of visiting them in their new residence before
saying goodbye.
Later on, the
eve of Shabbat was celebrated in a lovely picnic area, where we were welcomed
by the congregants with whom we shared personal information and answered
questions. Being thus introduced to those we would be addressing on
Shabbat was a delightful idea. Before the service, on the morrow, I joined some
of the men for a liturgical session, which we recited in unison. The order of
the service was not unfamiliar to us, as it resembled others that are conducted
in 'Hebrew Roots' congregations with prayer, scripture reading, praise,
worship, and dance. When my turn came to speak, many thoughts ran through
my mind, but I found my peace once I yielded to the Spirit. Here are a few
highlights from the message that we both shared. Rimona opened and closed the
message by calling attention to the prophecies' relevance to the present-day
situation in the land and to the call now upon the Ephraimites, in light of
these changing conditions. My message included the theme of the Kingdom from
its beginning in the Garden, through to the position of the firstborn, the
firstborn nation under the Kingship of its Kingsman Redeemer, the two nations,
Judah and Ephraim, and the faith of Abraham as an identifying marker. I ended
my message by referring to creation's yearning for the revealing of these sons
of Elohim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-oGvuyywfA
Afterward, two
hours were allotted to questions and answers. This was a most rewarding time,
as we were asked inquisitive and intelligent questions on many aspects of the
restoration of the House of Jacob, that is, the two houses of Israel (Judah and
Ephraim).
Returning to
the hotel, we were informed that the next morning we would transfer to the home
of a very seasoned missionary who had served in several parts of the world,
including Argentina and Israel. We met this energetic woman, somewhat older
than us, at the Shabbat meeting. That evening, we started asking ourselves
about our original plan of visiting my family in Wisconsin. However, something
was said earlier in the day about speakers who come through, deliver their
messages, and take off. This comment served as a hint for us to wait and see
what else YHVH would orchestrate.
The next
morning, as we were heading to our host's home, we were given our marching
orders for the morrow. We were to travel three hours south to a farm
owned by the congregation, there to visit and interact with those who are
called (some permanently and others temporarily) to that region…
VIII - Arriving
at our next lodging place, we were greeted by our energetic 85-year-old
hostess, who quickly showed us to our room and offered us refreshments. We
immediately felt loved and welcomed. She encouraged us by sharing episodes from
her missionary journeys, including several trips to Israel. After
being well fed at dinner, we retired for the evening.
The next
morning, the same hospitality awaited us at the kitchen counter. Soon
after breakfast, we were picked up by Mom and Pop and were headed south to our
next divinely appointed destination. After a quick drop-off, our
‘patrons’ hurried back home as their daughter-in-law was in the hospital,
struggling to give birth. Because the baby was not in the right position, the
doctors contemplated a C-section. Somehow, we all felt that this situation
corresponded to the imminent birthing of the nation of Ephraim.
Arriving in the
desert community, we found that the Arizona high desert offers a much
friendlier environment than the city's low-lying area, not to mention the open
spaces and patches of green formed by indigenous flora. In the relaxed desert
atmosphere, we met a handful of people who welcomed us into their midst, each
with their respective story. A campfire in the cool of the evening created the
perfect ambience for gathering, two nights in a row, for a time of sharing,
discussions, questions, and answers. On the second night, others from the area
joined us in the flickering lights of the fire. Upon waking up, we met the dawn
with prayer walks.
On the third
day, just before leaving, we were invited for breakfast by a lady who turned
out, surprisingly, to be someone we had met in Israel in the course of the past
few years. She has a small farm within walking distance from the guesthouse
where we stayed. She took us to a friend who was heading north, where we
were to meet up with 'Mama’ and ‘Papa’.
As we waited
for the Tesla to show up, our excitement grew in anticipation of the news about
the birth. Upon their arrival, the couple was eager to tell us in detail
what had taken place. When they arrived at the hospital, the mom was having
intense contractions, making another attempt at a natural birth. Mama
immediately took over and encouraged her to push through the pain, while Papa
took charge of the spiritual side of things. At the last seconds, the baby
turned, dropped into place and ... emerged into this world. All this transpired
at the time of the spring equinox. Was it connected to the “womb of the dawn,”
the “fourth turning”, and Zion’s birth pangs in delivering the second nation…?
We pondered.
By the time we
returned to Mesa, we were flying high. That same evening, the community was
having a get-together in another lovely park. Much like the last one,
fellowship was emphasised as well and an opportunity for us to share.
However, the highlight came at the end of the evening, when everyone gathered
together, children in the middle, women surrounding them, and the men in the
outer circle facing outwardly, as watchmen should. It was a very unique and
special time of praise and prayer. Some passers-by stopped to look and listen,
and a few waited to ask questions. The atmosphere was very family-like,
with Mama and Papa keeping order.
Erev Shabbat
came quickly, and we were invited to celebrate it in Mama and Papa’s home.
Upon arrival, Papa showed us on his computer the placement in this vast
universe of the hole in the Milky Way, metaphorically called the “cosmic womb”
where stars are born. But what was even more fascinating was his explanation of
the constellations around that area. Sagittarius - half horse and half
human – is a centaur wielding a bow and arrow, pointing at Antares - the heart
of Scorpius - on the other side of the massive hole. Then there was Virgo,
the virgin, located next to Leo. (In our first letter of this series, we
mentioned the sudden change in airlines that occurred on our flight from Tel
Aviv to Florida, with the one that we had to switch to being, not
insignificantly, Virgin Atlantic.)
For more
information, see: “Every star in the constellation explained”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qoG5dndMV8
Obviously,
Zechariah 9, which mentions Judah the bow and Ephraim the arrow, being a mighty
weapon in the hand of YHVH, is being mirrored above us. These two sons of
Zion go to war against the sons of Greece. It is no coincidence that the
“virgin daughter of Israel” (Jeremiah 31:31) is located next to the Lion (of
Judah). A goat (for the sacrifice) and a cluster of sheaves (to be waved before
the Almighty) are some of the other images that reflect YHVH’s written Word.
The glimpse
into the celestials ended all too soon as the call to the table was sounded.
Sitting around the Shabbat table was a portion of Mama and Papa’s family, sons
and daughters, a couple of grandchildren, together with our house hostess and
her son. Everything about this event spoke of reverence, thankfulness,
generosity, holiness, and love. In fact, all of these are not confined to the
Shabbat table inside the house. As soon as one steps into the entryway of Mama
and Papa’s house, one sees a written invitation to sit and rest, with the appropriate
seating arrangement, and a cold drink in a small outdoor fridge. This set-up is
especially designed for mail and delivery persons, or anyone else who happens
to be passing by in the heat of the day.
Having made our
decision on Thursday to fly to Wisconsin the following Sunday, we booked our
flights and prepared our luggage before Shabbat began. This was a little more
difficult, as our extended stay brought us closer to and into the community.
It was so good to feel the freedom, which was a witness to the unity that
they all shared! Thus, the Shabbat meeting was made even more special, knowing
that the next day we would be leaving.
We were now
acquainted with the format of the service, so we enjoyed simply taking it all
in as we prayerfully pondered what our Heavenly Father might want to impart to
those gathered. Finally, we were introduced again as the main speakers.
The following is a short summary of what was conveyed to the congregation:
Rimona opened
by referring to the completion of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and compared it to
the coming together of the parts of the Messiah’s body, pointing out Hebrew
terms that connect this theme to both creation and the bride of the Messiah. I
explained the two foundation stones of the household of Elohim, as stated in
Ephesians 2:20: “built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Messiah Yeshua himself being the cornerstone”. Thus,
the “Apostolic” aspect explains the nature and character of the redeemed. The
Torah and Prophets reveal the divine order of the Kingdom government. For the
“one new man” to be able to stand, he must have one foot on each of those
stones.
I then went on
to emphasise the chronology of the Word, with the specific callings determined
for each of the houses of Israel. For example, Ephraim is not to judge Judah,
as the latter is overseen by Elohim, but, rather, to learn and understand his redeemed
firstborn responsibility as “sons of the Living Elohim”. Some of the
qualifications and characteristics of these callings were elaborated on,
primarily sanctification with its resultant care for Brother Judah, especially
in his (Ephraim’s) priestly role “after the order of Melchizedek”, engaging in
worship, prayer and intercession…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsel3qfCP-Q
IX - Sunday
arrived, and we were now back on track with our original plan to visit my
family in Wisconsin. I called my sister and ‘warned’ her that this time we were
actually coming. She informed me that the 28 inches of snow that they had two
weeks earlier was almost gone. As the driver of the rental car we would
pick up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I found this good news. We had more good
news, as we had no problems at the airports. This is a praise report because,
on the news networks, the opposite was announced. Thank You
Abba Ba’Sha’ma’yim!
We had another
one of those little surprises when I picked up the rental car; it was a newer
model of my own 2018 car. After a two-hour drive, we arrived in the small town
of Harrisville. One always has to pass the town’s cemetery on the outskirts,
where my great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, and brother, as well as
hundreds of relatives, are resting. I pulled up to the one stop
sign in town, where the house directly across, on the left, is where I was
raised after my birth, over 81 years ago.
Arriving at my
oldest sister’s home, on the hill, we were warmly greeted, exchanged hugs, and
settled in for our week’s stay. My sister, who is the family and town’s
historian, brought us up to date with all the latest news. In the course of
that week, family members and old friends popped in to see us; some of the
younger ones introduced us to the newer family members, babies, and toddlers,
whom we enjoyed meeting. Almost all of our visitors seemed to be more
spiritually astute and alert than ever before. The changing world
circumstances, with Israel at its center, seemed to have impacted them. We also
had a couple of wonderful visits with my younger sister and her family at their
beautiful log home.
But the
greatest of all the surprises awaited us, actually very soon upon our arrival,
at a lunch date with two very close friends. In the course of that meal, an
idea came up, one that had never been suggested during my many previous visits
to my home turf… and that was to call a meeting the next day for some of the
local believing Christians! Such a feat, in such a short time, seemed almost
impossible!
Indeed, a
library in the town of Baraboo was contacted, and invitations were sent via
social media and phone. The next day, the room was set up with snacks, drinks,
and even trimmings, and more importantly, about 30 people or so, a few of whom
we actually knew from the past, showed up. They even had a professional set up
to record the session. Some of the topics I addressed were: The Gospel of the
Kingdom and Yeshua, as they were taught by Paul, from the Torah and the
Prophets; his commentaries form the basis for the apostolic writings. The
former delineates the governmental side of the Kingdom, while the latter
describes its nature. Together, the two are the foundations on which our faith
stands; the order of the Kingdom from seed to firstfruits; the microcosm of the
progenitors’ stories and the covenant promises to them, which manifest today
macrocosmically; the firstborn nation and latter-day prophecies that spell the
reunification of its two parts, and its Kingly and Priestly roles, even in the
individual families.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/129aL6jGXuOQpGOHKULsFPf6i1sm5PVrF/view?usp=drivesdk
Knowing that we
would not be able to return to the land for Passover, we had already called our
Ephraimite friends in Canada to set two extra places for us. On the
last night, before leaving Wisconsin, my grandnephew stopped by and asked to
see the PowerPoint on the Creation that I had with me. Gladly, he is also
leaning toward the understanding of our biblical identity. He, his wife, baby
daughter, and his grandmother (my sister) meet every Friday evening to welcome
Shabbat, at which time he blows the shofar. We left Wisconsin hopeful and
satisfied, having just witnessed that Abba is at work in this part of the world,
especially within my family…
X - To continue
our story, we have to go back to the BYNA anniversary and to a conversation
with friends from Vancouver Island, Canada. While we were discussing the war in
Israel and our son being in Lebanon again, the question of our return flight to
Israel came up, especially regarding making it back in time for Passover. Not
knowing what awaited us, we, of course, were thinking of our original plan, but
considering the possibility of delayed flights to Israel. Our friends
commented with a hopeful smile, “You can come to us”. At the time we didn’t
think it possible, but when we were waiting for ‘mama’ and ‘papa’ to pick us up
somewhere in the deserts of Arizona, in over 100 degree temperatures, a
compulsive thought came into my heated mind, and without even discussing it
with Rimona, I called this precious couple and told them to “place two more
settings for the Passover”. Being very close friends for many years, you can
imagine the joy that filled all of us regarding this
possibility.
While we were
cooling off in Wisconsin for a week (letter IX), we started making plans to fly
to Vancouver. But then, remembering a dear sister who lives in Alberta, Canada,
near Calgary, whom we wanted to see, we decided to make a one-day stop there,
on our way to Vancouver Island.
All of the
above seemed to be working out, except for one hitch - Rimona’s permit to enter
Canada (eTA). After filling out the form online, she attempted to
pay the required 7 Canadian dollars. However, the card was refused. She kept
trying, but to no avail. The thought occurred to us that YHVH was
putting a stop to that leg of the trip, or maybe our timing was off. However,
He did have a solution! After the meeting with the Christian group
in the library in Wisconsin, we rushed out at exactly eight o’clock, as
arranged beforehand. While filling out the form, I mentioned our problem to the video
technician. So for the next hour, we stood in front of his vehicle under the
streetlights, and with his laptop, we tried again. “Alas”, we did not succeed,
and neither did he with his card. Finally, he resorted to using a travel card,
and the 7 dollars were accepted! By the way, neither of our cards worked for
any purchase in Canada (despite our Credit Card Company and bank offering no
explanation), but Abba always found a creative way to ‘rescue’ us.
Calgary met us
with a white blanket of snow that surrounded our hotel as far as the eye could
see, with some flurries for good measure. The next day, we awaited our friend
somewhat anxiously, as we knew she would have to traverse her way through the
snow for several hours to reach us. But in late morning, she showed up,
cheerful and bright, and we had an inspiring prayer and up-building
conversation regarding ‘matters at hand’. Our intimate time together continued
during a lovely lunch that was served at a nearby restaurant (across from a
huge Islamic center). The extra effort she put in, as well as ours, was well
worth it!
In the course
of the day, and much to our surprise, we had a call from a Calgary couple, whom
we had known in the past, and with whose fellowship we had met several times.
They heard that we were in the area and wanted to see us. When we met, we
caught up on life events, and during dinner at the same restaurant where we had
eaten earlier, we found out it was our friend’s birthday. Again, a special time
of fellowship was enjoyed, as planned and engineered by Abba…
XI - Being very
thankful for the blessings of the day spent in Calgary, we made our way to an
early morning flight to Vancouver. We highly recommend flying at
dawn, as the roads are less congested, lines are shorter, and most workers are
not under a great deal of pressure.
Arriving early
in Vancouver gave us ample time to travel leisurely to the ferry dock that
would take us to Vancouver Island. We were watching the crowd waiting to board
another ferry as they climbed the long bridge and boarded the boat, while cars,
trucks, semis, and other motor vehicles entered below. I was glad
that I wasn’t on that boat. As I looked out to sea, I noticed our
ferry approaching, although the previous one had not left yet. While
we were waiting for our ferry to empty its passengers and vehicles, I saw, just
outside the glass pane, a seagull standing on one leg. This sight reminded me
of the message I gave in Wisconsin, about the church standing on the leg of the
Gospel (the apostolic foundation), but not having the other foot on the
Prophetic (ref. Ephesians 2:20).
Back to the
dock of the bay, where the other ferry was at a standstill, and the passengers
and vehicles were now unboarding. Apparently, the vessel broke down and could
not leave. I wondered if it had something to do with my one-legged
friend and the church...
At last, the
call came for our boarding, and we were off to our destination. It
was a very comfortable ride, as we waited excitedly to be greeted by the
wonderful couple whom we call our “dear friends”. In this short period of
preparing for our visit, they wasted no time in arranging meetings, lunches,
and dinners, inviting individuals and couples to spend time with us. In
between those activities, they also wanted us to see some of their favorite
places on that beautiful island, which are many. However, the highlight of
our visit to Vancouver Island was the fellowship we had with
them. Second to that was the special Passover gathering at one of
their congregants’ homes.
Neither one of
us can recall the last time we celebrated the Passover Seder outside of Israel.
Quite frankly, we didn’t know what to expect. What’s more, the central feature
of the celebration, the Haggadah that was to be used, was not one that we were
familiar with, and as the appointed “Seder master”, I was a bit uncomfortable
under these unknown circumstances.
The Seder was
going to be held in the home of a woman who was getting ready to move out of it
with her 3 sons… but surprisingly, the setup for the event was one of the most
beautiful we had ever come across; white tablecloths, gold-rimmed eating
utensils with beautifully matching silverware, and lovely table
decorations. Even the backs of the chairs were wrapped in white
coverings, each flanked with a large golden bow. Our precious hosting friends
greeted every guest with a water basin, and while blessing each one, they washed
and dried their hands. The lady of the house prepared the most amazingly
creative hors d’oeuvres, made to look like plants, which she served in small
planting pots. And of course, there were the participants… about 5 or so
teenage boys, who livened up the atmosphere, a couple of “Christian” ladies for
whom this may have been the first experience of its kind, a Russian woman with
her musically gifted son, who although of Jewish descent was not familiar with
the tradition or with Yeshua, a very enthusiastic new believer who flew all the
way from Montreal to take part in the celebration, and together with the small
local crowd we made up a group of about 20 persons all told.
The unfamiliar
Haggadah recounted, rather briefly, the story of the Exodus, but was mostly
dedicated to the future Exodus of the Northern House of Israel (see Jeremiah
14:15-16). It turned out to be both inspiring and anointed, and afforded me
several opportunities to elaborate and draw on the beautiful picture presented
by this booklet, each of us held in our hands. A sumptuous meal, desserts, and
fellowship capped off the evening. I intentionally engaged some of the boys in
conversation in order to learn a bit about each of them. The talented
13-year-old pianist had to be persuaded to give us a taste of his
gift. With amazement, we listened to a short rendition of a Bach
piece. Another young man was then encouraged to show us his black belt and some
Karate moves.
On Shabbat, a
larger group gathered in a local library for a time of fellowship, teaching,
sharing, and lounging while partaking of some healthy and delicious ‘morsels’.
Here again, in addition to the folk we had already met, there were some new
faces to get to know. We ended the day at the home of a local family, whom we
had met in the past, both in Canada and in Israel. Catching up with them
provided another opportunity to remember past events and renew relationships.
The visit to
Vancouver Island seemed to us to be the last ‘station’ before returning to
Israel. This was confirmed by a message from our travel agent, who
secured us a place on an El Al flight from Newark, New Jersey, and not Boston,
Massachusetts. We accepted the timing and prepared our minds for the trip
scheduled for April 17th. However, it didn’t feel right
to impose another week of hosting us on our dear friends. Indeed, YHVH had
another surprise for us! A friend from Israel called us and said we
should contact mutual friends who had hosted us years ago at their congregation
and home in Reno, Nevada. After talking with our Reno friends, who invited us
to come and share with their congregation, we decided to head in that
direction...
XII - "Man
plans his way, but Elohim…" has been the theme of this entire journey. It
was no different in our last few days in Vancouver Island. Our precious friends
intended to drive us to the Vancouver airport on the mainland, from which we
were to fly to Reno, Nevada. But if you remember last week's account of the
ferry that "didn't make it," it won't surprise you that by now both
ferries going in that direction had broken down. Our plan had to be revised.
Since our
hosting friends had to travel to the other side of the island, to Victoria,
there to pick up a new car, our currently altered plan was to go with them,
stay overnight, and make our way by ferry to Washington State, USA. As
YHVH would have it, we had friends whose home was close to the docking port. A
quick phone call informed us that they were excited to meet us the next day.
This change
allowed us to spend some time in the beautiful city of Victoria and have a few
more hours with our Canadian hosts. After the smooth exchange of vehicles, with
the old one left at the car dealership, we found ourselves once again in a
self-driving Tesla. This road machine performed splendidly as it negotiated a
very crooked and winding road that took us to Butchart Gardens, Victoria's
"must-see" site. These gardens are gloriously planned and
immaculately maintained. The terrain, with its variety of trees and bushes and
sprawling expanses of flora, all exuding a wide range of dazzling colors,
left us dazzled. We also had some interesting conversations
with other park visitors.
The hotel
selected by our hosts likewise showcased the beauty of the city and its
bay, which we watched from our room's balcony, with seaplanes landing and
taking off like giant birds. It was hard to say goodbye the next morning, as we
were about to board the boat for the 90-minute journey to the United States.
Settling into
our bench seats, we were anticipating an event-free, quick ride. Shortly after
take-off, while making conversation with an elderly gentleman who was sitting
across from us, he casually inquired as to where we were from. Rimona
responded, "Israel," but when, after several attempts, he didn't
catch what she was saying, I raised my voice and said, "I
s r a e l!" No sooner did the word leave my lips than a lady sitting
behind him in the next booth exclaimed: "Israel! I am on my way there!"
Well, should we have been surprised that another surprise caught up with us?!
Within only a few minutes into the conversation, we discovered that she was not
new to the land and had been there several times, volunteering, even during the
war. Now she was going to meet a Jewish friend on the American side but was due
to fly out in a few days. Further chatting revealed that we had a similar
approach to certain aspects of Scripture, which allowed us to introduce her to
our favorite topic. We also discovered that we even had mutual friends
and acquaintances in the Land. After exchanging telephone numbers, we promised
each other to stay in contact.
Coming off the
ferry, we were soon united with our friend, who drove us to his home, there to
be welcomed by his wife with a sumptuous lunch she made for us. A few hours
later, we were on our way to the hotel we had booked near Seattle airport. Due
to road accidents (yes, more than one), the expected three-hour trip was
extended to nearly five. However, this gave more time to fellowship with our
friend. Thanks to the GPS (God's Perfect Strategy), we arrived at our
destination according to His timing…
XIII - Arriving
in Seattle, Washington, on a beautiful sunny day, we could not help but notice
one of its main scenic views, Mt. Hood, one of the highest active
stratovolcanoes in the Cascade Range. Mt. St. Helens, which is near Seattle and
erupted in 1980, also came to mind as we had traveled through that area a few
years later and viewed the massive destruction it caused.
Again we found
ourselves getting up before dawn to take the shuttle to the airport for our
early-morning flight to Reno. Check-in is not what it used to be.
Now one has to walk up to a computer, and if you know what
you’re supposed to do, you enter the info, receive your boarding pass, and
luggage destination tag. The hard part is figuring out how to attach the
tag to the suitcase. Once that's been accomplished, then on to a conveyor belt,
which transports the luggage into a machine that reads the tag, and off it
goes; maybe. But if you haven’t put the baggage in correctly, it comes back to
you for another try. You just have to make sure that you pray for the people
waiting behind you!
We arrived at
our destination on time to be greeted by our longtime friends and hosts.
Like other places we have been to in the past, everything looked familiar, but
no less pleasing to the eye. The open high-desert vistas with their cacti and
other typical plants protruding from the reddish soil, and the ‘big skies’ above,
all make for a picturesque scene, one that also gives a sense of freedom.
We had, of
course, to have “catch-up” time. And then we noticed a very unusual practice
that our friends were accustomed to doing at every meal. The husband would pull
out the chair for his wife, and then easily slide it comfortably into place
while she sat. I felt obligated to do the same. I don’t like to admit it, but
the coordination between me, my wife, and the chair never seemed to work very
well.
Being the
leaders of their congregation, and responsible for the property where their
fellowship buildings were located, outside the city, our hosts had a work day
scheduled that we were invited to participate in. However, because the weather
was not accommodating, we ended up having personal time with some of the
congregants who showed up. The property is situated on a large lot, and the
building the congregation uses was at one time a private home. Thus, the very
venue itself enhances an intimate family-like atmosphere.
In the
afternoon of our arrival day, our hosts drove us to Lake Tahoe, which is one of
their favorite places. It is truly a special site. Although weather conditions
did not allow us to see the sun rays reflecting off the water, the walk was
exhilarating and the environment spectacular. I used to come to this area for
recreation during my "bC" years. It was also on this day that
we received another notification from our travel agent, namely, that the flight
back to Israel had been moved from the 17th to the 14th of
March, which meant that we would have to leave in two days. Again, we had to
trust our GPS flight arranger, who has been gracious ever since the surprise
changes.
On the eve of
Shabbat, a festive meal was held at the congregational building, after which we
assembled in the main meeting room. We were introduced and were called upon to
tell our personal story. The atmosphere was very warm and welcoming, which made
it very easy and natural to share with those assembled as if we were having an
individual conversation with each one.
On Shabbat, the
service was opened up with praise and worship led by the youth. These young
people and their parents are quite new to Torah and Hebrew Roots, but are very
eager to learn. They have quite a dominant presence in the congregation. While
being mentored, these young ones are also encouraged to take responsibility and
participate actively. Aside from these families, there are 'veterans' too, some
of whom we had met beforehand, either there or in Israel. Because of the family-like
atmosphere, the younger people felt more at ease asking questions and being in
dialogue with us. When the service ended, some came up and thanked us for
confirming what they had already known in their hearts to be true, but among
the youth several still had questions. This led to another one of those
surprises…
XIV - First of
all, apologies for giving wrong information about the tallest Mountain in
Washington State, the one mentioned last time, which was within our sight. It
was Mount Rainier, not Mt. Hood.
As we are
winding down now to the end of our “Surprise Journey”, we remain amazed by
those little episodes that reveal Yeshua’s “Chesed” (loving kindness) and
“Emunah” (faithfulness). As stated in last week’s letter, the response of a
couple of teenagers to the Shabbat’s message was heartwarming. They did
not swallow everything, lock, stock, and barrel, but with very good questions,
challenged what they heard. This led to setting up a meeting with one or two
for the following day.
Well, again,
man plans a way, but YHVH directs the path. After breakfast with our
lovely hosts and congregational pastors, we headed out of town to the
fellowship home building. The weather was a factor, as the hills were now white
with snow, and more intermittent snow showers accompanied our drive.
Arriving at the property, aside from us, only a couple of others showed up. As
we waited, a phone call came from the mother of the boy with whom we were
supposed to meet. The two of them were in a coffee shop in a nearby city, as
the storm prevented them from coming to the congregational house. She wondered
if we would join them. In addition to her son, she had arranged for an
acquaintance to come as well. A few weeks beforehand, on a short hike, she came
across a woman with whom she started dialoging, only to find out that she was
Jewish and was in search of identity and meaning. Thus, she arranged to meet
the latter at that café so she could meet people from Israel (us) who were in
town.
All of us at
the fellowship home found this possibility quite providential; we bundled up in
the face of the blowing wind, hurriedly hopped into the cars, and headed to
Carlson City, to the coffee rendezvous, hoping to meet this new 'prospect'.
At the
establishment, I was more than happy to talk to the young man and try to answer
his questions. At the same time, we were in anticipation as to whether the
"wondering" Jewish woman would show up. She did! The eight of us
huddled into a semi-private corner of the coffee house. The seating arrangement
gave me, the boy, and an elder enough space to delve back into conversation and
looming questions from the day before. The other five were busy sharing
personal testimonies, scriptures, and answering questions that a Jewish person
would obviously have regarding Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). This lady, though having
a Jewish mother, was quite uninformed on what it means to be Jewish, and knew
nothing about Israel. Hearing more about her heritage and about the land of
Israel, AND the Jewish Messiah, she was constantly in tears.
Time flew by
very quickly, and one of the Caffe's employees reminded us that there was a
two-hour time limit and we would have to leave. This was not only true about
the business but also about the street parking. So, with quick suggestions
from the pastors and weather permitting, we all headed back to the fellowship
home where we continued talking and discussing many scriptures about the faith,
including our ancestral identity. Our new friend accompanied us, much to our
joy, and had taken an interest in the shared topics. We had heard that since
then, she had been attending the congregation. Another one of the teenagers was
waiting for us there. A young lady who impressed us greatly as to her potential
calling, not just with her knowledge of scriptures, but also as to YHVH’s
anointing that was upon her.
As is always
the case with time, somehow the hourglass has to be turned. Saying goodbye to
our new and old friends has been the theme along this seven-week journey.
But now we were heading back home to Israel. Our beloved friends drove us to
the Reno airport for our flight to San-Francisco, where we would catch an
evening flight to Newark and from there to Tel Aviv. We had hoped that our
return journey would somehow be as smooth and 'hospitable' as the previous
flights had been. YHVH didn’t disappoint us, despite the many hours of
waiting and, of course, the final long leg of the journey.
Upon arriving
in Newark and seeing that our luggage was already waiting for us and hardly
anyone around, we thought it quite strange, even though it was now midnight,
which meant that we had a 10-hour wait for the El Al flight. Well, as
YHVH would have it, another person was coming along this empty corridor, with
luggage stacked as high as Mt Rainier, on a single cart. Behind the cart was a
young Orthodox man, obviously on his way to Israel. Upon seeing us, he came
over and joined us. Rimona was very tired and tried to get some rest on
the not-so-comfortable seats. Being inquisitive, I asked him a few questions
while he too was querying me. Our conversation went on for almost two
hours, during which time we covered several Bible topics, especially the
prophets. I also found out about his sect of Judaism. But most of all, it
was the depth of his faith that impressed me. When I told him that our son was
fighting in Lebanon, he wrote down his name and promised to pray every day for
him and for us as well. He showed me a book of the Psalms that he had
with him; it had very large Hebrew lettering and underneath each was an English
translation. When I inquired of him as to how I could obtain such a copy, he
insisted that I take his. Wow! And what a blessing it has been to me ever
since! Soon another of his Orthodox friends showed up, as they were on their
way to Jerusalem for a year of study and after that back to the States, for one
more year of study; only then will they consider looking for a bride. I
thought that bit of information was very interesting.
Finally, the
hours passed, and hundreds of (mostly young) Orthodox families were waiting for
boarding. We seemed to be the only ones with colorful clothing, as the rest
were all in black and white. It was like being in one of the Orthodox
communities in Jerusalem. This gathering allowed us to watch and listen
to parents relating to their children from suckling to teens. Though quite
lively, as children are, they did mind their parents, some of whom were even
engaged in schooling them, especially during the long flight. Departure time
came and went, and we were still in the terminal. When we did take off, it was
four hours after the scheduled time. We arrived home on the 50th day
from the start of our travels, which commenced on February 26th.
Again, thank you
all for your part in our journey.
“It is good to
give thanks to YHVH-Yeshua, for His Chesed endures forever.”
This ends our
YHVH-ordained seven-week adventure.
