I want a better life: “This is the thought that never left my mind”

“This is the thought that never left my mind,” writes Natalya as she tells us her story of how she made aliyah (immigration to Israel). Life in Ukraine was hard for her and her husband. Sometimes they “had only bread and water to live on and went on foot to work, as there was not money for public transport fees.” They had no money to pay for utilities, and their debt grew. There was no money for home repair, so after ten years, “our apartment looked like a shed.” Proper food and new clothes were like a “far off dream” for them. “I went mad,” she said whenever she thought of ways to improve their life, because there were no options.

The Making of Tefillin

As I was walking through the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, I spotted a sign hanging outside a Judaica shop that said “Torah Scribe” and sofer stam in Hebrew. Sofer means “scribe”; stam is an acronym for Sefer Torah (“book” of Torah, Gen.–Deut.), tefillin (phylacteries), and mezuzot (Scripture boxes affixed to doorways). In Orthodox circles, only a certified scribe can copy the Torah for a scroll, as well as the Scriptures inside the tefillin and mezuzot.

Special Delight

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The Land of Milk and Honey

For thousands of years, the Land of Israel has flowed with milk and honey, but now it is official: Israeli cows are the biggest producers in the world. How now, proud cow? But sheep and goats can take a bow as well.

A report released this week by the Central Bureau of Statistics [CBS] says that Israeli cows are the number one milk producers in the world. According to the CBS report, last year Israeli dairies produced some 1,221 million liters [323 million gallons] of the white liquid for public consumption, providing 185 liters [49 gallons] per person per year.

Cow’s milk comprised the bulk of production at 94% of the total volume. Sheep produced 3.6%, with goat’s milk at the lowest percentage of volume, 2.3%.

Kanafim – wings of protection

“How priceless is Your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 36:7.

Often in the Scriptures, we hear references to physical attributes of God. We hear about the “arm of the Lord,” and we pray that “His face will shine upon us.” We should understand that Israelites were not imagining that God literally had a physical body, but because the Hebrew language does not contain many abstractions, they were using physical imagery to express ideas about God’s nature.

Israel Allies Caucus In U.S.A.

On July 27, the United States Congress announced the establishment of an Israel Allies Caucus, meant to mobilize Christian support for Israel around the world.

The American congressional lobby, which is modeled on the Knesset’s [Parliament’s] Christian Allies Caucus created two and half years ago, debuted with a membership of four congressmen: two Republicans––Dave Weldon of Florida and Trent Franks of Arizona, and two Democrats––Eliot Engel of New York and Gene Green of Texas.

The new caucus plans to advocate Israel’s right to live in peace within safe and secure borders, on the basis of shared Judeo-Christian values.

Israel’s Heroes

Nearly all Jewish men and women serve in the Israeli army. Bedouin and Druze also are conscripted. Some Christians (mostly Arabs) volunteer. At the age of 18, young people are inducted into the army before they go to college. Young men serve for three years, and the young women for two. There is also compulsory reserve duty of up to 32 days a year for men under the age of 40. When Israel is attacked, the standing army engages the enemy. Reservists are called up if the conflict persists or is particularly intense. Most of Israel’s army consists of accountants, truck drivers, shopkeepers, dads, husbands, etc. In other words, the army is the guy next door.

God’s Wake-Up Call: Tilapia (fish) Twist

The Jewish New Year is celebrated on Rosh Hashanah, Hebrew for “head of the year.” However, you will not find that name in the Bible, even though it is one of the seven biblical feasts. Its biblical name is Yom Teruah, the day of the sounding of trumpets (Lev. 23:23–25). The Jewish New Year is quite solemn compared to rowdy, Western New Year’s Eve parties, as it is understood to be the day God judges His people.

Israel’s First Mass Wedding

Despite the war, a mass wedding for 50 couples from the war-torn Galilee area, with 5,000 guests, took place in Tel Aviv’s old port Hangar 11 on August 14, the day the cease-fire began.

“This is the first time in Jewish history an event like this has happened,” said Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who supervised the event.

The War and Its Aftermath

“ America is fighting a tough war against an enemy whose ruthlessness is clear for all to see. The terrorists attempt to bring down airplanes full of innocent men, women, and children. They kill civilians and American servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they deliberately hide behind civilians in Lebanon. ”
President George Bush, September 12, 2006

Digging at Dor

In July, Teri and I went on our first archaeological dig, for five days. The dig was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, as I’m not a young person anymore, and the work is physically quite demanding. However, I’m really glad I did it once and hope that my tale might encourage you to also consider going on a dig sometime.

Dor, an ancient natural seaport just north of Ceasarea, has been dug for 20 years. It is mentioned in the Bible several times. Joshua won it in battle (Josh. 11:1–12), and it became part of the tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 17:11–13). David’s unfortunate census included Dor (2 Sam. 24:1–7).

Lebanon in the Bible

• “Lebanon” means “the white one,” probably referring to the snow-capped peaks of the Lebanon Mountains.

• The Hittite word for cypress or juniper is close to the Hittite name for the Lebanon Mountains, so “Lebanon” could refer to the trees of Lebanon.

• It is mentioned 71 times in the Old Testament.