A JERUSALEM SPRING

 

I awoke this morning to see clouds of 'smoke' rising from amongst the trees around my building. Fearing a fire I leapt out of bed to investigate, and to my relief, saw that it was just clouds of pollen smoking off the cypress trees. Spring is here, almost a month early this year, and the pollen season has begun. Woe to all hay fever sufferers! 

Then I opened my Bible and read about how Solomon built the first temple. He bought cedar and cypress wood from the King of Lebanon and lined the stone temple walls and ceiling with beams and planks of cedar ('erez' in Hebrew). The floor was made of cypress ('brosh' in Hebrew) (1 Kings 6). 

The cedar (Cedrus libani)  and the cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) are both native to the Eastern Mediterranean region and reference to them is frequent in the Bible. Both produce a hard, close-grained resinous and fragrant wood that is naturally insect proof - ideal for building purposes. The cedar is popularly known as the Cedar of Lebanon and grows only above 1000m altitude. As such it is mostly confined to the high mountains of Lebanon, but in Israel a few can be found scattered on the slopes of Mt Hermon.  The cypress is more common and thrives in the mountains of Judah where it co-exists with the Jerusalem pine and many other shrubs and bushes.



Cypress trees in the Jerusalem Forest
https://whereintheworldarebillandcindy.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/image67.jpg

 God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah had this to say,

"I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
¹⁸ I will open rivers in desolate heights,
And fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
And the dry land springs of water.
¹⁹ I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree,
The myrtle and the oil tree;
I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine
And the box tree together,
²⁰ That they may see and know,
And consider and understand together,
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
And the Holy One of Israel has created it".

Isaiah 41: 18-19
 

The cypress and the cedar are then part of the promises of God regarding the restoration of Israel in her land. They speak of health and bounty and prosperity. How wonderful it is to see this once neglected and almost totally deforested land once again covered in green forest. Israel is the only country in the world where the forests are actually increasing! Israelis love their trees and revere every one that grows. It is almost impossible to get a permit to cut even one down. The prophecy of Isaiah quoted above therefore has truly been fulfilled.

 Last weekend  I drove out through the miles and miles of the Judean forest land and was so blessed by the trees and wildflowers along the way. This is truly a beautiful land- a land of milk and honey indeed.  Here are a few of my photos.



Anenomes  in the wildflower meadows

Judean bugloss and a crown daisy

Anenome and  dyers alkanet

Almonds - the first of the flowering trees to blossom  in late winter

Sheep and goats grazing amongst the  flowers of the Judean shepelah (foothills) with winter wheat growing in the valley

 On a day like today when the sun is shining, it is neither too hot nor too cold, and the flowers and trees are blooming in all this splendor,  I cannot understand how anyone can hate or kill or maim. Yet, sadly, they do.

Yael and Tuvia Weissman

The recent weeks have been no exception. Over the last two weeks there have been a number of terror attacks against Israeli citizens. On Thursday last week two 14-year-old Palestinian youths attacked and wounded a shopper in a supermarket in Shaar Binyamin, north of Jerusalem. An off-duty, unarmed soldier, Tuvia Weissman (21) heard the screams and ran to the rescue, and as a result was himself stabbed to death. He leaves behind his childhood sweetheart and wife, Yael and a four-month old baby girl called Neta.  The two attackers were shot, one fatally, by an armed civilian. http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/28364/Default.aspx?topic=article_title 


This tragic event has led to the IDF changing its standing orders for off-duty soldiers, requiring them to carry their weapons even when on vacation http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4769554,00.html.  This makes sense at a time when even civilians are being encouraged to carry weapons. The quick intervention of armed civilians has on many occasions prevented additional casualties and neutralized attackers.

Sadly, things can sometimes go wrong. This last Wednesday a 26-year old Palestinian school teacher attacked with a knife an Israeli officer, Captain Eliav Gelman, at the Gush Etzion Junction. This junction has gained notoriety as the scene of at least 10  attacks in the last five months. A soldier nearby saw the attack taking place and opened fire on the terrorist neutralizing him. Sadly however a stray bullet hit Gelman also. Gelman later died of his injuries, leaving behind a wife in the seventh month of her pregnancy. http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Terrorist-stabbing-attack-at-Gush-Etzion-Junction-one-injured-445937

In the early hours of  Friday morning a 48 year old,  unarmed security guard at a supermarket in Maaleh Adumim, east of Jerusalem, was attacked by a Palestinian wielding an axe. The attacker fled the scene and still has not been apprehended. The security guard was critically injured and is still fighting for his life.

Scene of terror attack in Ma'ale Adumim (Photo: Medabrim b'Tikshoret
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4771223,00.html

This brings the death toll as a result of terror attacks over the last 5 months to 33. In addition, over 300 have been treated for injuries by the Magen David Adom (The Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross). At least 30 of these sustained serious injuries. In addition many Palestinian terrorists have been killed or injured, some of them children. Such a waste, a terrible, tragic waste, and for what?

There are those who call the current wave of terror a Third Intifada. It is far from that. An Intifada is a general uprising of the whole population. The current violence is being carried out by a relatively small number of young men and women, many of them mere children.  In spite of calls for a third Intifada, the general population of the Palestinian areas has not risen up. In fact, a recent poll carried out by the reliable and prestigious Palestinian  research institute, Awad, indicated that only 42% of Palestinians today support a third Intifada, down from the 63% who supported it in December. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4763051,00.html

In another development this week the Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Fathali, announced that Iran will support the "Jerusalem Intifada" by giving to the family of every martyr the sum of $US 7,000 and to every family, whose home is demolished by the IDF, $US 30,000 http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Iran-offers-financial-reward-for-families-of-potential-Palestinian-intifada-martyrs-445966. This will provide an added incentive  for Palestinians to carry out attacks against Israelis, and clearly demonstrates Iran's role in financing terror.


Meanwhile our eyes are also on the deteriorating situation on our borders, especially in Syria.  At midnight last night the US and Russian brokered partial "cessation of hostilities" came into effect. This temporary truce includes Assad's army and some 97 different rebel militias. It does not however include the Islamic State (ISIS), the Al Qaida linked  al-Nusra, and the Islamist groups, Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35643151. 

This fragile truce is perhaps the first sign of hope for the Syrian people in this awful 5-year old conflict in which more than 250,000 Syrians have been killed, and over 11 million driven from their homes. Will the 'cessation of hostilities' hold? It seems doubtful and already today there are reports of some violations, although the Russians have halted their airstrikes and relative quiet has fallen in most areas covered by the truce. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4771356,00.html

The conflict in Syria is extremely complex. There are about 160 different warring factions. At the core is the Syrian Arab Army loyal to President Assad and the government. This is supported by many paramilitary groups and militias trained and financed by Iran and Russia. Opposing them is a loose confederation of groups collectively known as the Free Syrian Army and these are backed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, France, the UK and the USA. In the north the Kurds, an ethnic minority in Syria, is fighting for autonomy and to protect its area from the advancing Islamic State (ISIS). They now hold a large region in the north of Syria. The Kurds are also fighting Turkey. The Islamic State has seized considerable tracts of Syrian and Iraqi land. They are also in conflict with the al-Qaida backed al Nusra fighters. Below is a map of the current situation on the ground as of the 8 February.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/25/middleeast/syria-civil-war-q-and-a/index.html

Here in Israel we view with great concern the developing situation around us, especially the cooperation of Assad, Russia and Iran, supported oddly enough by the USA. In the days leading up to the current cessation of hostilities Russia and Assad carried out a massive bombardment of rebel held areas in order to consolidate Assad's government and expand the territory under its control. This has not exactly sown the seeds of peace.   


On a more positive note, about 2000 Syrians have received treatment in Israeli hospitals over the last two years. Although some of these have been civilian women and children the majority have been young fighters. This has raised some debate here in Israel. Should we be using taxpayer's money to treat injured Syrians when our hospitals are already full to bursting point. However staff at the hospitals are adamant that they do not differentiate between patients. They treat everyone that crosses the thresholds of the hospital the same. They do not even know from which militia or army their patients have come. One doctor put it this way, "We don't know who our patients are — Jabhat al-Nusra, the FSA, the Syrian Army. We can't tell, and it wouldn't make a difference".
Another doctor had this to say, "When you are a doctor, you don't get to know who is good and who is bad. You treat everyone ... And as a doctor, you can't take a side...This is a humanitarian mission and I am very proud to do it." 

Apart from the humanitarian side there is also another reason why it is to Israel's advantage to treat these patients. Every healed person who returns to his village knows that Israel and Israelis are not the Arab-hating monsters they have been taught to hate. Some have even acknowledged that Israeli hospitals are the best in the world. I don't know if that is true but they certainly surpass those in Syria and Jordan, which often do not have X-ray machines, CT scanners or even electricity.  It is hoped that these acts of goodwill  will serve to undermine the Syrian desire to fight us.

A prosthetic limb and an external fixator on a Syrian patient. (Photo via Ziv Medical Center)

https://news.vice.com/article/inside-the-hospital-where-israeli-doctors-treat-syrian-patients

As Yeshua (Jesus) taught us:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven

Matthew 5: 43-48.

 THE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

http://www.mountmadonnaschool.org/userfiles/Fiddler.jpg

 

 

Have you ever tried to play a fiddle on a roof? I cannot say I have myself, but I suspect it is no easy task, keeping one's balance in such a precarious situation.

 

 As a Christian living in a Jewish State, in a mixed Jewish and Arab city (Jerusalem), torn daily with hatred, suspicion and fear, not to mention violence, it is no easy task to keep my balance. I have experienced at least 4 wars and three Intifada's, and have learned what it is to have enemies who want to kill me. It is very personal.  Every day as I set out to work or the shops, or just take a walk down the street, I do not know if it will be my last day on this Earth. The man walking behind me may pull a knife and stab me, the tractor pulling up behind me at the traffic lights may keep on going and crush my car, the worker at my school may be a suicide bomber, with explosives strapped under his jacket. It is hard not to fall prey to fear, which in turn gives rise to feelings of anger, hatred, revenge and violence.  And in such a climate, it is so easy to be influenced by the opinions and events around me, to allow the tiny seeds of hatred, prejudice and, yes, even violent thoughts creep into my thinking. I often have to check my balance. It is something I have to consciously do from time to time. I thank God, I have an anchor, a plumb line with which to correct my thinking and heart, the love of God for all mankind, Jew, Arab and Gentile alike. Yeshua (Jesus) taught us to love our enemies and pray for their salvation.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’   But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 5:43-45.

What a contrast this is to the spirit of revenge and hatred that rules this region.

A large part of the battle in the Middle East today is the battle of the mind. Truth is being distorted, history rewritten, and values overturned. One of the main battlefields lies in the minds of our children. A generation of children are being brainwashed, filled with fear, hatred and violence.

Last week Ynet News, the online version of one of the main newspapers in Israel, interviewed a group of young children, aged between 8-13,  who were taking part in the riots in East Jerusalem, choosing to burn tires, throw rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli police, risking injury or death, rather than attend school. Why?

 



Palestinian children who have skipped school to join the rioting in East Jerusalem. (Photo: Mohammed Shinawi)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4594812,00.html





“We are willing to die as martyrs, we have nothing else to lose,” says one. 

 

Another says,

“All of us are willing to sacrifice our lives and die as martyrs. We have nothing to lose. It is true we are kids but we have courage and strength to do many things like heroes. Israel attacks children and we will not let this happen quietly. Al-Aqsa is ours and we will not give up on it."

A third says, “Our blood is not cheap. This is the time to resist, it is more important than being at school or at work. If we do not respond they will eat us. Everyone always calls on students to join the struggle” .
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4594812,00.html

Who are these people who call the children to sacrifice their lives to save the Al Aqsa Mosque from 'the Israelis who are attacking it'?  Who is it who is feeding them the lie that Israel is 'attacking' the Al Aqsa Mosque? Who is it who dresses even the tots in the garb of a shahib (suicide bomber or martyr) and teaches them that this is their highest calling in life? Where are their parents? Why do they permit them to do this? Surely this is child abuse of the highest order!

https://themuslimissue.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/babyjihadicropped.jpg?w=610

http://cdn.frontpagemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/1boy-hamas-big_0.gif



Sad to say prejudice and hatred are not to be found only amongst the Arabs. It is alive and well too amongst the Jewish population.  Not very long ago a Palestinian teenager was burned alive by Jewish teenagers in revenge for the deaths of the three Jewish students murdered near Hebron.  In recent months, Jewish extremists have carried out a whole series of 'price tag' revenge attacks on Arab property, slashing tires and spraying racist hate graffiti on mosques, churches and other buildings.

Thankfully there are those, and not a few, who are working to build bridges, to counter the prejudice and brainwashing on both sides, and working for peace and understanding. One such is the "Hand in Hand" organization that runs five mixed Jewish and Arab schools around the country. Last night one of those schools was set ablaze and anti-Arab graffiti sprayed on its walls. A first grade classroom was gutted before the fire brigade brought it under control. More than 600 students, equally divided between Jews and Arabs, attend this pre-school to high school bi-lingual institution.  I am glad to say that the school opened today and classes were held in spite of all.

Firefighters inspect a burned classroom at the Max Rayne Hand in Hand Jerusalem School, Nov. 29, 2014. Photo by Tali Meir
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.629147

There are other similar mixed institutions around the city and wider Israel too, including the International School in which I work. Please pray for the staff and students of these schools which could now also become a target, by extremists from both sides of the conflict.

It is not only the Muslims and the Jews who are prone to losing their balance, Christian and Messianic believers in Yeshua may also fall.

This week  we saw the Pope praying with the Muslim Grand Mufti of Istanbul towards Mecca. Though not the first Pope to do so, it is nevertheless rather shocking. How can a man who claims to be the leader of the Christian Church worldwide pray to a pagan idol (a black meteorite) that was adopted by Islam, housed in the Kaaba  in Mecca? What is he thinking?  This is not the answer.

Pope Francis and Istanbul's Grand Mufti Rahmi Yaran pray together in the Blue Mosque. Photograph: AP
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/29/pope-francis-turkey-pray-blue-mosque-islam-cooperation

There is an answer and the only answer lies in the person of Yeshua (Jesus). He came to bring peace to the world and only in Him is there hope for forgiveness, reconciliation and love between men, Jew, Arab and Gentile.  Only He can bring healing to this broken world. As Christians and Messianic believers we must not water down the gospel for it is the only hope of mankind. We must pray for our enemies as we pray for our friends. Love is the only antidote for fear and hatred.

Here in Israel I have often been saddened by the attitudes of some of my brothers and sisters in the Lord who suffer a kind of blindness with regards to God's love for Israel, either believing that God has rejected her in favor of the church, or loving her so enthusiastically that they forget that she has rejected her Messiah and needs salvation. Though God created Israel to be the vessel through whom he would bring the prophets, the Holy Scriptures,  and ultimately the Messiah himself, it wasn't for Israel's benefit alone, nor even principally, but rather so that he could bring restoration to the whole world. One of my Jewish friends put it eloquently in an email she sent me this week. She said we need to  come

"...  back to a focus on the only place where there will ever be any peace or rest -- I should say the only one, Yeshua -- and the only focus where we will we see with spiritual eyes to see how God is actually seen to be working out the fullness of his plan from before the foundation of the earth.

If I can speak honestly, I have found that focus sadly missing from much of what I see being shared by many who love and support Israel.  While I certainly am overjoyed that the church is awakening to the whole truth about God's intentions towards Israel and the Jewish people, and that he hasn't abandoned her, nor will he, and his supernatural deliverance in preserving the physical descendants of Abraham over and over and over again; I now find myself wondering if we haven't gone too far over to the opposite extreme or into a kind of tunnel vision where it concerns Israel  (as we human beings seem prone to do about so many things).  It seems like in the midst of this kind of renewal, we're losing sight that neither is God only concerned about the Jewish people -- and really never was.  His plan from the beginning was always so much greater than that -- to bring all things under the lordship of Yeshua -- to reach out to the whole lost world."

 

And though we know the ultimate outcome that God has for Israel's good, the reality right now is the Jews are still in a state of rejection and rebellion against our own messiah, and there are consequences to that, and it remains yet to be seen how God will have to bring things about to turn our hard hearts back to him.  There's even a teaching around by some well-known teachers that there's no need to bring the gospel to the Jews, because God's going to bring about their salvation some other way.

 

We need to keep that focus, because the only real hope for peace and reconciliation amongst men is in Yeshua. Only He can heal the hurts, the fear and the anger. Only He can give us love in our hearts for one another. Only He can bring about peace on earth.

I was thrilled to learn this week that our (Messianic Jewish) congregation is opening its doors to an Arab congregation which will be using our building for its meetings. We hope that we can fellowship together from time to time and demonstrate to our broken peoples that forgiveness and love is possible in Yeshua. It is sad that there are some believers in our city, and indeed  even in our congregation itself, who oppose our position in this matter.  

Which brings me back to the "Fiddler on the Roof". Whether we are Jewish or Arab or neither, if we are truly Christian or Messianic believers we have to keep our balance. We have to love all people, no matter who they are, even or especially our enemies.  We have to pray for the salvation of all mankind and the ultimate redemption of the world. Only when this is finally completed, will there be peace and love amongst men.

May the LORD God of Israel help us all  keep our balance on the roof!!!