The Damascus Gate in Old Jerusalem – Photo by Robert Mock
Ramadan, August 19 2010 – “Things have been much more difficult here since Ramadan began at the start of August. The minarets call the unfaithful to prayer and are more of a disturbance than usual; louder and more menacing.
I have awakened regularly by the minarets at 4 a.mm and pray. God showed me how they are calling their people to false gods and it has a direct effect upon the “Land”. We are truly blessed to live here but to whom much is given much is expected. We look forward greatly to the biblical feasts and continue to pray for a cleansing of the land from all the idolatry!!
There is much tension among the Orthodox Jews and many agree that Armageddon is imminent. The call has gone forth calling all Jews to come home. Also at the same time there are many reaching out in reconciliation between the Arabs and the Jews, but we know that they will only be successful if HaShem is in them.
The Days of Awe, and Erev Yom Kippur, September 17, 2010 – “This year Yom Teruah, or as the Rabbis call it Rosh Hashana came amidst rumours of impending war here in Jerusalem. Threats have been coming from countries all around us. This was the first year I celebrated it in my own apartment. So my housemate and I invited lots of friends for the evening.
Some friends had just arrived from my home town in Perth Western Australia, both are musicians and I was able to borrow a keyboard. We commenced the evening with the blowing of the shofar on our balcony and then followed worship and dance. It was an intimate time of fellowship with God and each other.
Giant Herodian Masonry-cut Stones along the Walls of Old Jerusalem – Photo by Robert Mock
We heard the shofars all around and it was awesome as we felt something had changed in the heavens around us!! We feasted together on a variety of food as the friends gathered were from the 4 corners of the world. There were a couple of girls from the Philippines, a family from UK, someone from Mexico, a girl from Chile, one from South Africa, Two from Australia and two from USA. Truly an international bunch.
Someone had choreographed a dance especially for the occasion and as a house warming present for us. One of the men from UK gave a talk on Yom Teruah. The evening finished with coffee and cake on the Mirpeset (balcony) overlooking the barren mountains of Samaria!!
My thoughts have been this week of that barrenness. The hills and mountains of Judah were once this way too but once the Jews started returning to their place G-d has caused the mountains and deserts to really bloom. I feel that as soon as the remaining tribes return to Samaria, so too will these places green up and blossom!! Where are they now, only Elohim knows but we need them to come home soon to stand and build with us!!
Tonight is Yom Kippur, the fast has just begun and we are all praying for peace and G-d’s mercy upon us. The traffic has completely stopped and I can only hear little children on their bikes outside. It is a tradition here that on Yom Kippur all the people go out on their bikes and go-karts.
In the distance I can hear fireworks, from the Moslems I think maybe to disturb us!!! But it is not working as a peace has descended from the sha-myim (heavens). Well that’s all from Jerusalem, the City of our great King. May His love surround you and His favour surround you as a shield!!
Blessings from Shoshana - A new Jewish Immigrant who has come home!!