THE NEW YEAR OF THE TREES
Happy New Year! "New Year?", you might be saying, "What New Year?" - it is already almost the end of January. Of course, January 1st is the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar in common usage in most countries, but here in Israel there is another calendar, the Jewish calendar and it has several 'new years'. This is not as odd as it sounds. In other parts of the world we also have 'school years' and 'tax years' which do not all begin on the first of January. In ancient Israelite society there were a number of 'new years' based on different social and agricultural cycles. We are coming up to one of these, the New Year of the Trees, which falls on Tu B'Shvat (15th of the month of Shvat- 31st January this year). This marks the time when the first trees, the almonds, burst forth in blossom and represents the awakening of the trees after the long summer dormancy. In ancient times the calculation of the annual tithe for tree produce was initiated on Tu B'shvat. Since the fall of the second Temple this tithe has not been collected, and today we celebrate mainly by eating the dried fruits and nuts of the trees of the land, mainly dates, almonds and figs. Many people also mark the day by planting trees, something akin to Arbor Day we celebrated as children growing up in New Zealand.
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| Almond blossoms |
For some of you it may seem odd that this occurs in the middle of winter, but in Israel summer is the dormant period and it is only after the first good rains of winter that plants 'wake up' and begin to grow. Straight after the first winter rains the browns of summer give way to lush green pasture and all the glorious wildflowers begin to bloom. Today, in the rain, I went out for a walk in the forest behind my house and discovered that the almond trees along the path have all burst forth in flower. The almonds are always the first trees to bloom.
Trees have always held a special place in Jewish thought. Visiting Israel for the first time you will be surprised just how many trees there are everywhere. Israel is the only country in the world that has had a net gain of trees over the last century. Trees are held in high regard. You have to have a permit to cut down any tree, even in your own property. At the beginning of the 19th Century, Mark Twain toured the "Holy Land' and remarked on the fact that at that time the land was barren and almost devoid of any trees. Early lithographs of Jerusalem picture an almost treeless landscape.
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| Jerusalem in 1839 Lithograph by David Roberts |
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| The Jerusalem forest view from my house |
This is all the more amazing when you consider that during the same time the population of Israel has risen 10 fold from 806,000 to 8.4 million from 1948 to the present time. Israel is now ranked the 34th most densely populated country in the word - far ahead of the USA (179th) and (NZ 202nd). It amazes me just how much open space there still is thanks to the forward thinking and planning of the early settlers who set aside large areas for reserves and parks right from the beginning. Nevertheless the continuing immigration and high birth rate means that these open areas and much agricultural land are being nibbled at by the spread of residential areas and industry.
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| Jerusalem today |
As I write this I am reminded of the prophecy that after the ingathering at the end time the Land will become too small for its inhabitants, but also that God would expand the borders of the Land.
For your waste and desolate places,And the land of your destruction,Will even now be too small for the inhabitants;And those who swallowed you up will be far away. The children you will have,After you have lost the others,Will say again in your ears,‘The place is too small for me;This is truly coming to pass. Today's young people are indeed crying 'Give me a place where I may dwell". In spite of frantic building activity, the housing shortage is chronic, pushing prices way beyond the possible for most.
Give me a place where I may dwellGive me a place where I may dwell.’Isaiah 49: 19-20You have increased the nation, O Lord,You have increased the nation;You are glorified;You have expanded all the borders of the landIsaiah 26:15
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| Israel's national bird - the crane!!! http://images.hamodia.com/hamod-uploads/2016/07/Data-Dearth-Hangs-Up-Housing-Reform-1024x683.jpg |
I love winter. I really do. Readers in many countries would probably think I am crazy to say such a thing. It was hard for me to appreciate winter growing up in the southernmost reaches of New Zealand. Winter seemed to go on forever, with long stretches of gray drizzle interspersed with long stretches of bitter frosty, though sunny, days - all without the benefit of central heating. It was something to be endured but not enjoyed. In Israel I have learned to enjoy winter.
In Israel winter is short, only about 3 months long, and provides a welcome respite from the monotonous months of clear blue skies and soaring temperatures. In winter there are clouds in the sky and beautiful sunsets. Rain comes to wash away the accumulated dust of summer, cleans the sky and scrubs the leaves of the trees. Life is renewed and the landscape turns green. Beautiful flowers spring up painting the ground with every color imaginable. In winter too we can cosy up under duvets and wear warm cuddly clothing, and eat bowls of hot steaming soup.
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| A recent sunset from my home |
Another reason I love winter is that it speaks to me about the majesty and power of our Creator God.
“At this also my heart trembles,And leaps from its place.2
Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.3He sends it forth under the whole heaven,His lightning to the ends of the earth.4After it a voice roars;He thunders with His majestic voice,And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.5God thunders marvelously with His voice;He does great things which we cannot comprehend.6For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength".
Job 37: 1- 6
Since my last posting, we have had three winter storm systems pass by. They have brought some problems, at least one death - a woman crushed under a fallen tree, flooding and other damage. As usual, the emergency services were busy rescuing those who had driven into flood waters and become stranded. Yesterday alone they answered some 30 calls to rescue foolish people who had gone hiking and become stranded or who had driven into floodwaters.
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| Two children waiting to be rescued from flood waters |
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| And what happened to the police who came to rescue them - duh! |
The last few days have brought a gratifying amount of rain and snow particularly in the north. Some streams are flowing for the first time for several years, waterfalls have sprung to life, the skifield on Mt Hermon will have enough snow to open its season once the weather settles, and the Sea of Galilee has risen some 5 cm. We are rejoicing in answered prayers (even the Jewish and Muslim leaders were calling for special prayers and fasting for rain), but we are also being warned that it is not enough. The Sea of Galilee is still more than 1m below its lowest red line and is in serious risk of suffering permanent ecological damage come summer. It will rise some more as streams empty into it and when the snow melts, but we need to keep praying for more good rains like this last one.
As usual when we get heavy rain it overwhelms the drainage systems and roads and homes get flooded. Most of the rain fell in the north and center. This is a street in Tel Aviv. Please pray for all the people who have had their homes flooded and cars ruined. I also just read a report about some 50 dogs desperately needing temporary adoption from a shelter in Yakum, a kibbutz near Netanya, as their shelter lost its roofing material. It is likely some of the smaller dogs will not survive the night unless someone takes them in.
In my last post I wrote about the film, A New Spirit, the story of the life of Messianic pastor and evangelist, Yaacov (Jacob)Damkani. This film was shown in movie theatres around Israel, and I was privileged to be able to see it. It was very well done and I would recommend you see it if opportunity arises. It is soon to be available as a DVD and the book on which it is based "Why Me?" is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Why-Me-Jacob-Damkani/dp/0883684403 . Here is a trailer about the making of the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvg1h5l8xFY. The film is no longer in Israeli movie theatres but please pray that many people will see it when it comes out on DVD or on YouTube, or will read the book. It is just an amazing thing that it was allowed to be screened here in Israel at all, and a sign of the slow, but certain opening up of Israelis to the person of Yeshua.
There is nevertheless always opposition, especially from certain streams of religious Judaism. About 6 months ago a congregation in the south opened a meeting place in the Negev city of Dimona. They encountered strong opposition resulting in damage to the homes of the people connected to the center, and the bullying and traumatizing of their children. Consequently, they chose to close the center for a while. After a 'cooling off period,' the center was reopened this month, again resulting in serious acts of persecution. Posters have been put up around town warning people to watch out for them and vicious lies spread around about them. The leaders were interrogated for hours by a delegation of rabbis, and one day later one of the rabbis wrote in a local newspaper, "We went to that house in order to silence them by force, but that woman would not stop talking! She should know about that other verse of Psalm 23: about the valley of the shadow of death. Let her go through it, together with her husband.”http://kehilanews.com/2018/01/23/center-run-by-believers-under-attack-again-in-dimona/
Hardly a veiled threat.
As is usual with this kind of persecution, it often backfires. In this case too it has prompted support and curiosity from the other people in the city, those who are appalled by the behavior of the extreme religious leaders. Nevertheless, we need to pray for these believers for their protection and continued courage, and that the children will be healed of their trauma. Pray too that the meeting center will be able to operate freely. We need also to pray for those who persecute them, that they will not resort to violence and that their eyes will be opened to the Truth.
This kind of activity against believers in the Land is nothing new, but there is a growing openness to the gospel in Israeli society and this is bound to alarm the religious leaders who oppose Yeshua. It also provokes attacks from the enemy Satan. As I said in my previous blog, many believers here are undergoing serious attacks in the realm of health and family relationships especially. Please pray for us.
To finish up I am including some online links which will inform and inspire.
1. Here is a link to a documentary about the Messianic Jews in Israel today. It is only 12 minutes long - take a few minutes to watch it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w6KjU1evTIzaQQQQ
2. If you would like a more in-depth look at the history of the Messianic movement in Israel I would strongly recommend this lecture by Dr. Erez Soref. He takes us from 1948 when there were only 30 Jewish believers in Yeshua in Israel up to the present day where there are at least 30,000. When you see how the Body has grown here in this time it is very encouraging.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_k6L0TBEzM
3.Another sign of the maturing body is that more and more the gospel is going forth out of Jerusalem. Believers here are making full use of modern media and the internet to reach many people. Here is an example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDvyotUW2dM
4. And now to finish, my favorite Christmas Carol, with words that make me weep.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a85WDuJdbXM
Prayer points:
As usual when we get heavy rain it overwhelms the drainage systems and roads and homes get flooded. Most of the rain fell in the north and center. This is a street in Tel Aviv. Please pray for all the people who have had their homes flooded and cars ruined. I also just read a report about some 50 dogs desperately needing temporary adoption from a shelter in Yakum, a kibbutz near Netanya, as their shelter lost its roofing material. It is likely some of the smaller dogs will not survive the night unless someone takes them in.
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| (Photo: Amnon Sha'arvi) https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5076038,00.html |
In my last post I wrote about the film, A New Spirit, the story of the life of Messianic pastor and evangelist, Yaacov (Jacob)Damkani. This film was shown in movie theatres around Israel, and I was privileged to be able to see it. It was very well done and I would recommend you see it if opportunity arises. It is soon to be available as a DVD and the book on which it is based "Why Me?" is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Why-Me-Jacob-Damkani/dp/0883684403 . Here is a trailer about the making of the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvg1h5l8xFY. The film is no longer in Israeli movie theatres but please pray that many people will see it when it comes out on DVD or on YouTube, or will read the book. It is just an amazing thing that it was allowed to be screened here in Israel at all, and a sign of the slow, but certain opening up of Israelis to the person of Yeshua.
There is nevertheless always opposition, especially from certain streams of religious Judaism. About 6 months ago a congregation in the south opened a meeting place in the Negev city of Dimona. They encountered strong opposition resulting in damage to the homes of the people connected to the center, and the bullying and traumatizing of their children. Consequently, they chose to close the center for a while. After a 'cooling off period,' the center was reopened this month, again resulting in serious acts of persecution. Posters have been put up around town warning people to watch out for them and vicious lies spread around about them. The leaders were interrogated for hours by a delegation of rabbis, and one day later one of the rabbis wrote in a local newspaper, "We went to that house in order to silence them by force, but that woman would not stop talking! She should know about that other verse of Psalm 23: about the valley of the shadow of death. Let her go through it, together with her husband.”http://kehilanews.com/2018/01/23/center-run-by-believers-under-attack-again-in-dimona/
Hardly a veiled threat.
As is usual with this kind of persecution, it often backfires. In this case too it has prompted support and curiosity from the other people in the city, those who are appalled by the behavior of the extreme religious leaders. Nevertheless, we need to pray for these believers for their protection and continued courage, and that the children will be healed of their trauma. Pray too that the meeting center will be able to operate freely. We need also to pray for those who persecute them, that they will not resort to violence and that their eyes will be opened to the Truth.
This kind of activity against believers in the Land is nothing new, but there is a growing openness to the gospel in Israeli society and this is bound to alarm the religious leaders who oppose Yeshua. It also provokes attacks from the enemy Satan. As I said in my previous blog, many believers here are undergoing serious attacks in the realm of health and family relationships especially. Please pray for us.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6: 10-12
1. Here is a link to a documentary about the Messianic Jews in Israel today. It is only 12 minutes long - take a few minutes to watch it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w6KjU1evTIzaQQQQ
2. If you would like a more in-depth look at the history of the Messianic movement in Israel I would strongly recommend this lecture by Dr. Erez Soref. He takes us from 1948 when there were only 30 Jewish believers in Yeshua in Israel up to the present day where there are at least 30,000. When you see how the Body has grown here in this time it is very encouraging.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_k6L0TBEzM
3.Another sign of the maturing body is that more and more the gospel is going forth out of Jerusalem. Believers here are making full use of modern media and the internet to reach many people. Here is an example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDvyotUW2dM
4. And now to finish, my favorite Christmas Carol, with words that make me weep.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a85WDuJdbXM
Prayer points:
- Continue to pray for a good rainy season and the replenishment of the Sea of Galilee and other reservoirs and aquifers.
- That the ecological health of the Land will not be compromised by our continued population growth, and that at the right time, and in the right way, the LORD will expand our borders as He has promised, so that all of the scattered Jews will be able to come home and prosper in the Land.
- For the protection of believers in the Land, both physically, emotionally and spiritually, especially those facing active persecution in Dimona and elsewhere.
- Give thanks for the amazing growth and maturation of the Body of Yeshua here in the land. Pray that many more will be added to our number and pray for the young leadership rising up now - that they will adhere closely to the Scriptures and the basic tenets of our Faith while developing an authentic Israeli expression of that faith.
- Pray that the gospel will go out from Jerusalem with power, effectiveness and wrapped in love, for Jews and Gentiles everywhere.
- Keep praying for our leaders that they will seek justice, truth and righteousness as they make decisions, and that they too will one day come to know their Messiah, Yeshua.
