May 2023 – Iyar-Sivan 5783

Dear Family in the Messiah Yeshua! Greetings and blessings to you from your brothers and sisters at “Holy Land Ministries”, Israel!  

At this time we are completing the “Omer” counting and preparing our hearts for the Feast of Shavuot, the Festival of weeks, also called “Pentecost”, lit. “fiftieth” day.

Leviticus 23:15-16(a) “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Shabbats, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Shabbats shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Shabbat;”…

Shavuot for Hebrew Year 5783 begins in Israel at sundown on Thursday, 25th May 2023 and ends at nightfall on Friday, 26th May 2023 (outside of Israel Shavuot ends at nightfall on Saturday, 27th of May) according to the Gregorian calendar.

As we know, two major events in human history took place on the Day of Shavuot or Pentecost: Giving of the Torah and Giving of the Holy Spirit to the assembly of Yeshua’s disciples.

It is the ancient tradition, also at the time of Yeshua’s disciples and before that, to spend the night of the Shavuot awake, studying the Torah and expecting the special visitation from the Lord. 

As we are meditating on the great significance of the Shavuot events and approaching the culmination of the Omer counting, we are asking for the new anointing and renewal of strength to continue in the service to our Blessed Messiah!

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)

As usual, we would like to offer you the insights on Shavuot from our local rabbi, who is also our dear brother in the Messiah Yeshua:

What is the primary message of this festival which is known by two different names? Both names relate to a methodology of counting; one method is the counting of days and the other is the counting of weeks. It is most significant that in the Bible no calendar date is given for this festival. This festival is one of the three festivals in which there is a Biblical commandment to celebrate this special day in Jerusalem. Although there is confusion about when to begin this count, there is no need for such confusion. The Bible commands that the count begins  מִמָּחֳרַת, הַשַּׁבָּת “from the day after the Shabbat” (Leviticus 23:11). There is no reason to understand this instruction as relating to the High Shabbat, the 15th day of Nissan, the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. If this were the proper interpretation, then a date could have been provided. Rather, the correct understanding of the term ‘Shabbat’ in this verse is the normal seventh day of the week. This view is also supported by the fact that one also reads,

וּסְפַרְתֶּם לָכֶם, מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת, מִיּוֹם הֲבִיאֲכֶם, אֶת-עֹמֶר הַתְּנוּפָה:  שֶׁבַע

שַׁבָּתוֹת, תְּמִימֹת תִּהְיֶינָה. עַד מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת הַשְּׁבִיעִת, תִּסְפְּרוּ חֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם

“And you shall count from the day after the Shabbat, from the day you brought the Omer of waving seven Shabbats, they shall be complete, unto the day after the seventh Shabbat, you shall count 50 days. “ 

Leviticus 23:15-16a

The fact that the Torah commands to count seven complete Shabbats and the final Shabbat is called הַשַּׁבָּת הַשְּׁבִיעִת requires that the interpretation be the normal seventh day Shabbat and not understanding the phrase as the High Shabbat, as there are of course not seven High Shabbats during this period of time. In addition, the phrase שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת cannot be understood as simply meaning seven weeks as Judaism teaches, as the meaning of Shabbat has already been defined by them with the phrase מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת. They previously stated that this referred to the High Shabbat.

So what is the primary message of this Festival? The answer is a restoration to do the will of G-d. When examining the book of Acts and what is said in this passage concerning this festival, there was a restoration of language.  In order to properly understand the significance of this holiday, one must remember what took place at

the Tower of Babel (See Genesis chapter 11) when G-d confused the languages. The people were united not to do the will of G-d, but in contrast to His purpose, they wanted to make a name for themselves and not to be scattered throughout the earth. G-d had said to them, וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם אֱלֹהִים פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ וּמִלְאוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ “And G-d said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” (Genesis 1:28). It is clear from this verse, G-d commanded humanity to dwell in all the earth. Humanity did not want to obey the will of G-d and they were united in their defiance. It was for this reason that G-d confused their common language (See Genesis 1:7-8).

However, in the book of Acts, by means of the giving of the Holy Spirit upon believers in Yeshua, there was a restoration of language. In this passage it states,

και εν τω συμπληρουσθαι την ημεραν της πεντηκοστης ησαν απαντες ομοθυμαδον επι το αυτο

“And with the fulfilling together the day of Pentecost, they were all in one accord in the same (place). Acts 2:1

There is an emphasis in this verse that is very important. The Greek word ομοθυμαδον means to be together in thought or purpose. The Textus Receptus contains this word, while the Nestle-Aland only has the word ὁμοῦ, which is an abbreviated version of this word and only means ‘together’. The key aspect of being together in thought and commitment is absent in the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. The Textus Receptus captures the true emphasis of the passage with the correct compound word ομοθυμαδον relating to the people’s oneness in regard to the will of G-d. This is what true faith in Messiah Yeshua causes within an individual. Real believers want to submit to all the purposes of G-d.

When reading further in Acts chapter 2, by means of the Holy Spirit coming upon and indwelling believers in Yeshua, these men spoke as the Holy Spirit was giving to them to declare. There is no argument that the Spirit gave these men what to say. However, the miraculous aspect of this event is found in verse 6,

γενομενης δε της φωνης ταυτης συνηλθεν το πληθος και συνεχυθη οτι ηκουον εις εκαστος τη ιδια διαλεκτω λαλουντων αυτων 

 “But having happened the sound of this, the multitude came together and was confused; because they were hearing, each one with their own language them speaking.” Acts 2:6

According to verse 4, the Holy Spirit gave these men ετεραις γλωσσαις other languages when they spoke. It is very important for one to properly understand this Greek phrase. The word ετεραις found in this verse is very informative. The word “other” in English, can mean of the same type or of a different type. However, in the Greek language, there are two different words to denote whether the other is of the same kind or of a different kind. In this verse, it is the Greek word ἕτερος which appears in this text and means of a different type. Therefore, one must conclude that there was also something unique about the language which those who received the Holy Spirit were using. This point cannot be ignored or denied; nevertheless, what is clearly the emphasis in this passage is the fact that the men who were speaking were all Galileans, yet those who heard them speaking were from a wide variety of places and each one heard, i.e., understood them, in their own language, speaking about the wonderful works of G-d. It is also very significant that these who heard them speaking in each one’s own language were called ανδρες ευλαβεις devout men,

ησαν δε εν ιερουσαλημ κατοικουντες ιουδαιοι ανδρες ευλαβεις απο παντος εθνους των υπο τον ουρανον

“But they were in Jerusalem Jews dwelling, devout men from every nation under heaven.”  Acts 2:5

The right question which one should ask is found in verse 12, τι αν θελοι τουτο ειναι “What does this mean?” In other words, one should seek G-d’s revelation regarding this event. Others who heard the same thing were mocking it, saying that those who received the Holy Spirit were full of wine (See Acts 2:13). It is clear that the Holy Spirit brought about unity for the purpose of believers in Yeshua serving G-d and fulfilling His will. In essence, the Festival of Weeks (Pentecost) relates to a restoration of the will of G-d for His New Covenant people. While on this day the emphasis of the miracle of tongues was upon hearing, this is not always the case. When studying in the New Testament, one learns that there are indeed different types of things meant by the term ‘tongue’. The Apostle Paul states that there are diversities of tongues γενη γλωσσων (1 Corinthians 12:28). As I conclude this brief article, allow me to state the following facts concerning tongues, as they are revealed in the Word of G-d.

1. Not all believers have the gift of speaking in tongues. It is stated in 1 Corinthians 12:30  μη παντες γλωσσαις λαλουσιν “…not all speak in tongues….” When examining closely this text, the questions which are being asked demand a negative response; hence, “Not all are apostles, not all are prophets, not all are teachers, not all are workers of miracles, not all have gifts of healing, not all speak with tongues, not all interpret.” (See 1 Corinthians 12:29-30). It is very sad and most incorrect when certain individuals and groups teach that if one has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit the primary evidence for this is the speaking of tongues.
2. There are tongues which are a personal prayer language and not intended to be shared with others. These are not known languages. Those who state that the Biblical word γλωσσαις only relates to known languages cannot support this view from the Bible. The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 14 that one who speaks in this type of tongue edifies only himself or herself. In other words, this type of tongue “No one understands and in the Spirit he (or she) speaks mysteries.” When one speaks in this kind of tongue, he is not speaking unto people, but unto G-d (See 1 Corinthians 14:2-4). He also states, “For if I should pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.” (Verse 14).
3. There is also a type of tongues which is indeed for sharing within a local congregation or some other gathering of believers. This type of tongue must be interpreted, however. In fact, there is a specific spiritual gift for interpreting tongues (See 1 Corinthians 12:10). Paul also states that prophesying is superior to speaking in tongues, unless one interprets (1 Corinthians 14:4). Therefore, when tongues are spoken in a congregation, there must be an interpretation of the tongue. If there is no one who interprets, then this one who has the tongue, must be silent and is not allowed to speak (1 Corinthians 14:28). Paul also states that the speaking of tongues in a congregation should be limited to two or
4. three at most (1 Corinthians 14:27).

My hope is that this article might provide some clarification on this subject. May each of you have a meaningful and blessed Shavuot.

Dear Friends we are asking your prayers for our new guests in Beer Sheva, the family of “Olim Chadashim” (new Jewish immigrants) that we received a few weeks ago in our shelter.

Please meet the family of four, Yaroslav and Helena, a young couple from Russia withtheir little son Rodion, and Yaroslav’s mother, Galyna.

 This dear family is very grateful for the free hospitality of our Guest House in Beer Sheva. For the last few weeks they have been able to accomplish most of all the bureaucratic procedures relating to their absorption process in Israel and by now they have already found a suitable apartment to move in to.

During their stay with us we had the opportunity to meet Shabbat together and witness to them about the Love and Truth of our Blessed Messiah Yeshua and His eternal covenant with the Jewish people.

Like most of the guests in our shelters, this precious family has never heard the Word of God (at least not in the Jewish context) and never kept or even acknowledged Shabbat.

We are so glad, that we were able to celebrate Shabbat all together, apparently for the first time in their life, and spent some precious time together before they move out and get involved in many tasks and challenges of their new life in Israel.

Please pray for this dear new family whom the Lord brought back home at this time, into the land of their fathers, that His perfect will be done for them and His name will be glorified in their lives and testimonies.

Yaroslav and Helena are full of enthusiasm and hope for the future, though  there is one constant burden and pain in the life of this beautiful couple, – their little son Rodion is very sick. He is almost seven years old, but looks smaller than his age due to a genetic breakdown. He also suffers from epilepsy and hearing loss.

Yaroslav and Helena with the grandma Galyna have higher hopes for our world famous medical care in Israel, and, of course, they are asking our prayers for the healing of their dear child.

Please pray with us, dear Family, that the Lord will miraculously touch the body of this little boy Rodion, which would also bring so much joy and comfort to the hearts of his parents.

^” Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Yeshua the Messiah to all generations, forever and ever, Amen!”

Ephesians 3:20-21  

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Dear Family, please continue to pray for our ministry to the elderly in Ashqelon and Beer Sheva!

Please pray for the Lord’s special blessing and guidance, as we are seeking to serve these precious older people. For obvious reasons the ministry to the elderly is not as dynamic and exacting, as for  example, ministry to the new Jewish emigrants in which we have also been involved for a number of years already. Ministry to the older people does require a lot of commitment and patience and does not always give a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment, as often happens during interaction with other groups of people.

But we are convinced that our dear wards are desperately in need of Messiah’s love, grace  and forgiveness considering their fragile earthly condition being already in a later stage of life. Please pray for Antonia, Leon, Galina, Valentina, Sofia, Lisa, Vecheslav, Baruch… The stories of some of them we have briefly shared with you in the previous reports, some – not, but we truly treasure your prayers as we are seeking to serve these older people in their practical and spiritual needs.

We  can  clearly see that your prayers are  creating the supernatural  joy and strength to allow us  to reach these precious Jewish people with the love of our Messiah and His abundant grace even at this later stage of their lives.

 ^“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart”. (Galatians 6:9)

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Dear Friends, at this time we would like to introduce to you another sweet couple.

Please meet Grigori and Rimma.

Grigori and Rimma are senior citizens living in Beersheva, Grigori is ninety years old and Rimma is eighty-six. We received their contact details from the local social worker. She said that they were very lonely and needy and asked us to help them in any way possible.

Since then we are supplying them with groceries on a regular basis and seeking to serve their spiritual needs.

Like many other Jewish emigrants Grigori and Rimma  came to Israel from the former Soviet Union after its collapse in the beginning of nineties, already some years ago.  Apparently  back then they had adjusted quite well into the Israeli reality and felt at home, though could never learn a new language, Hebrew, well enough, which is quite common in their age category. 

(Grigori and Rimma must have been already in their sixties when they emigrated to Israel)

The years passed, they grew older and the situation was greatly complicated by the fact that Rimma has developed Alzheimer’s disease. At present she has lost all her ability to communicate with the outside world and totally relies on the constant help of her husband. He still understands her very well, as they have spent nearly all their conscious together.

Despite the many challenges of their situation, it is so pleasant and heartwarming to see them together, watching how tenderly and lovingly Grigori takes care of his mentally dependent wife; and how Rimma trusts him totally and wholeheartedly, like a small child.

Like many other people of that background and generation Grigori and Rimma grew up in the atheistic society of the former Soviet Union and had never heard or experienced God’s direct manifestation in their lives.

But now their reality has changed and it has become obvious that G-d is the only One who can help them and take care of them in their helpless situation.

Dear Friends, please pray with us for the L-rd’s abundant grace in the life of this dear couple and in all their situation, for the supernatural strength and wisdom for Grigori and for the Lord’s special favor and closeness in the middle of this life trial.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”. Psalm 34 :18