Greetings from the Land of Israel and Chag Sameach during the week of Passover.
We are currently in this partial-holiday Passover period, the intermediate days called Chol Ha'mo'ed. What it means is that these are not quite designated 'holy days' (such as the 1st & 7th day); but they're not quite 'every day' days either.
In practical terms, it means that you just don't know what is open for business and what services are closed. The makolet is closed for the whole week (that's the local grocery store).
Postal service is also non-existent as the office is closed on our moshav (village); but entire shopping malls are open (although all the chametz (leavened products) are covered).
Grocery shopping during Pesach
Liat reported that Jerusalem was absolutely packed today which may have been because it is the annual event in which huge crowds of people gather at the Kotel (Western Wall) to receive the Priestly Blessing (Birkat Hacohanim), a ceremony which takes place during the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot each year.
Thousands congregate for Priestly Blessing at Kotel
One day after rioting on the Temple Mount threatened to disrupt the annual Passover pilgrimage of thousands of Jews from across the globe to the Western Wall, some 30,000 worshipers gathered at the Western Wall for the Priestly Blessing without incident on Thursday morning, police said.
Hear the blessing chanted in Hebrew: http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Thousands-congregate-for-priestly-blessing-at-Western-Wall-349717 (Jerusalem Post, April 17th, 2014)
Many people are taking time off with their families to celebrate God's great deliverance of our people from Egypt long ago; and yet Pesach is not so joyous for some.
This week's headlines read:
"Tragedy on the eve of Passover: One Israeli family suffered the ultimate tragedy on Monday when beloved husband and father Baruch Mizrahi was gunned down by Palestinian terrorists while driving his family to their Passover Seder...."
Jews Arrested Trying to Perform Passover Sacrifice on Temple Mount: Temple Mount again erupts in violence as Muslim mobs attack Israeli police and Jewish visitors... (Israel Today, April 16th 2014)
And outside of Israel, the situation is looking increasingly tenuous for Ukrainian Jews: Jews ordered to register in east Ukraine: Emanuel Shechter, in Israel, told Ynet his friends in Donetsk sent him a copy of the leaflet through social media.
"They told me that masked men were waiting for Jewish people after the Passover eve prayer, handed them the flier and told them to obey its instructions," he said.
The leaflet begins, "Dear Ukraine citizens of Jewish nationality," and states that all people of Jewish descent over 16 years old must report to the Commissioner for Nationalities in the Donetsk Regional Administration building and "register." (USA Today, April 17th, 2014)
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Until Yeshua returns we have much to pray about. We are so thankful to you for standing faithfully with us and with all Israel! May the God of Israel bless you for being a blessing to us with your prayers and generous support.
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This week's Torah study is simply called "Chol Ha'moed" (Intermediate days) Sabbath. It describes those 'in between days' when we have been saved from out of Egypt but not yet arrived at our 'Promised Land.'
These times of transition can be difficult and even discouraging, as the Israelites experienced in wandering through the wilderness.
Between Yeshua's death on the cross and his resurrection were three 'intermediate days' when his disciples had lost all hope; and yet HOPE was walking right alongside them!
God turned what had looked like His worst defeat into the greatest blessing - even salvation for all humanity!
This Shabbat is the 'third day' of the intermediate days! Halleluyah!
May this attached Torah study serve to bless, inspire, and encourage us not to give up or lose heart during those 'intermediate days'.
No matter how dark the situation we may be facing, God is at work in secret, behind the scenes, to cause all things to work for our good who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Yeshua is our shining light of hope. Even those things which others meant as evil against us God can transform, not only for our own good but the good of many people!
Therefore let us stay in faith and wait with hope and expectation - for with our God - all things are possible!
Love (Ahava) & Shalom,
Hannah & family
P.S. For all your Judaica & Messianic supplies, please shop on-line at The Jerusalem Gift Shop http://www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com/
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