Rosh Hashanah, our New Year

Throughout Israel, families come together to celebrate the Jewish New Year, the biblical "Feast of Trumpets". Our congregation had the pleasure and the honor of doing the same as one big family.

We gathered on the roof of our congregation to celebrate and bless the New Year 5770. We dipped apples in honey, as a symbol that the New Year would be sweet. The tables were decorated with pomegranates, so that we will be as fruitful as its seeds.

We wrote our prayers for the coming year, attached them to white balloons and released them; praying God would answer our prayers. Since the New Year is also called "The Feast of Trumpets", we divided into four groups, each gathering on one corner of the roof, overlooking Samaria and our city of Kfar Saba. We blew the Shofar towards each corner – prophesying to the four winds (Ezekiel 37), asking for and declaring the salvation of Jews and Arabs living in our area.

What a wonderful and moving evening we had...full of praise songs, dance presentations by our youth, and food that was beautifully decorated and very tasty!

National Prayer Gathering

"Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land. To the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord". (Joel 1:14)

During Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year- the Feast of Trumpets), about 600 local believers participated in the national prayer gathering. We started by repenting as the body of Messiah. Leaders and pastors representing about 25 different congregations in the Land stood as one in humility and desire to see God work in bringing revival to our Land.

We had a time of identifying with the Jewish people and repenting for the sins of our nation as the prophets Daniel and Nehemiah had done in the Tenach.

We worshiped, prayed, interceded, and repented. We shared the Lord's Supper together, blew shofars and declared that all Israel would be saved! The Lord showered us with a surprise blessing – it rained! This is so unusual! It has only happened 3 times in the past 50 years on Rosh Hashanah in Israel.

"So rejoice, O sons of Zion and be glad in the Lord your God; For He has given you the early rain for your vindication, and He has poured down for you the rain, the early and latter rain as before". (Joel 2:23)

Yom Kippur – A Testimony From a New Immigrant

Just imagine in your country that God calls a fast, and because of this, the whole country stops…

no cars are allowed to drive… nothing is broadcast on the TV or radio stations… all the stores are closed… and everybody comes out on the streets that night after prayers in the Synagogue and enjoys a huge block party with kids riding bikes, skateboards, or inline skating. This is Israel and the Holiday is Yom Kippur.

Thousands of years ago, God declared that the nation would observe a day of fasting for the atonement of our sins. To this day, Jews around the world observe this commandment. But to see how it is done in Israel is amazing. Because there were no cars allowed, I had to walk 1 hour from Hod Hasharon to Kfar Saba (15 min by car). Not once did I walk on the sidewalk, only on the street with thousands of other residents who enjoyed the peace and quiet of no horns honking or car fumes filling the air.

Instead, kids enjoyed their newly acquired bikes and battery operated mini-cars. I was amazed as I walked on Main Street in Kfar Saba and saw what appeared as all the inhabitants of that booming city out on the street by the thousands. It looked exactly like Times Square in anticipation of the dropping of the ball on New Year’s Eve!

I marveled standing in the middle of what usually is the busiest intersection in the city gazing at a sea of people on every side.

I used to live in the vast expanses of Arizona where the country was quiet with only the sound of an occasional bird singing. But Tucson’s quietness paled in comparison to this night, and the next day. It was as if a day of reverence was even honored in the voices along the street.

No cell phones ring, no bars open, no one shops to get the “Yom Kippur Sales”, for the stores are all closed. What a change of pace from the way holidays are observed in the states.

What made it even more meaningful was that I walked to Kfar Saba so that I could join the rest of the prayer group praying for our city and country. It was a good time of intercession followed the next day with more prayer and fasting.

I love my new country, the country where Yeshua walked, and prayed for us…all of us. I love the fact that as a nation, at least one day a year is dedicated solely to seeking God. Please join me in prayer that it won’t be just one day a year, but that all Israel will be saved and worship the King of Kings!

Wedding and Goodbye

Many of you know Yelena ,our faithful deacon and one of our worship leaders. God led her to meet a Finnish believer with a heart for Israel. Tony officiated their wedding on September 16. We blessed the new couple as they begin their new lives together. After their honeymoon, they will serve in the city of Rishon helping the new congregation planted there last year.

'Shalom Brazil'

We are happy to announce that our music project "Shalom Brasil" has been completed. This vision was born two years ago when Tony saw the thousands of Brazilian believers coming to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. Last year his book, " The Mystery of Israel and the Church " was translated into Portuguese. This year, the CD is complete and is a bridge between the two nations. It is a CD of anointed Hebrew praise & worship songs which are partly translated into Portuguese, with unique new arrangements . All the artists, musicians and singers are believers living in Israel , many belonging to the worship team of our congregation who committed to this project for the glory of God.

You can order this new music album and we will send it to you. The suggested price is 12 euros .

Prayer needs

·         Against the wave of violence , street murder and shedding of innocent blood.

·         For the release of the prisoner Gilad Shalit held captive in Gaza for more than 3 years

·         For our 'prayer healing rooms' - A new prayer ministry starting this month, every Wednesday, for people in need of physical and emotional healing.

·         For the prayer team and counselors – for wisdom, discernment and guidance.

·         For D. - a fatherless 13 years old boy struggling with depression and for his mother – a single mother in much need.

·         For the single mothers and their children – many of them with special needs and disabilities.

- For more teachers for the children program - we have now 70 children in 5 different classes.

We thank you for your prayers and support which we value very much.