Life Under Lockdown for the Fall Feasts in Israel

Real Life in Israel Blog #3 - Life Under Lockdown - again.... - Sept 2020

The Difference a Year Makes

One year ago today (September 18th 2019), I was under the knife, having my 2nd hip replacement at Sha'are Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem through the skilled hands of my surgeon, Dr. Yadin Levi and some new technology (which they actually made a documentary about - I'm now a film star!).

Interview with Dr. Levi for documentary on new hip replacement technology in Israel

It seems like a lifetime ago that I was limping along slowly, with a cane, in continual pain, feeling 90 years old. And what a miracle that today, one year later, I am completely free to walk, swim, dance - and even ride a jet ski - with joy. Hallelujah!

one year later....

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me;

You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. (Psalm 30:11-12)

To Blow or not to Blow?? - that is the question….

This Friday evening (Sept 18th 2020), also begins Yom Zikaron Tru’ah (Feast of Trumpets) but even the shofar may be silent tonight. Religious Jews, who follow an ‘oral law’ (mishnah and Talmud) rather than the written Word of God; forbid blowing the shofar on Shabbat.

Yeshua rightly said of them,

“Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.” (Mark 7:13)

This religious spirit which dictates man-made rules that have nothing to do with the Word of God; (and sometimes even contradicts it), is something that disturbs and even angers me.

We are commanded to observe Yom Tru’ah (Feast of Trumpets/shofar) on this night; and yet the call of the shofar is silent across the Land (except for us crazy Messianics that follow the Bible instead of man’s traditions).

The other thing that drives me crazy around this chag (festival) is the whole ‘Rosh Hashana’ deception - practically everyone believing it is a Jewish ‘new year’ and wishing everyone ‘Shanah Tovah Umetukah’ (have a good & sweet year); when in reality, we know that it is really the seventh month and the ‘Rosh Hashana’ new year thing comes out of pagan Babylonian customs, adopted during our period of Babylonian exile.

I believe this is a strategy of the enemy to obscure the real ‘reason for the season’ - which is a remembrance that ‘The King is Coming’ - the day of the Lord is at hand and soon (perhaps very soon), Yeshua the Messiah will return with the shout (tru’ah) and the blast of the shofar. He will not be the meek and sacrificial lamb this time; but the lion of Judah - come roaring out of Jerusalem - to destroy the enemies of Israel and of God.

I need to pray, God give me patience with those who are deceived and don’t know the truth. I am concerned, however, for Messianic believers, who know the Bible; and yet follow these Rabbinic traditions. As disciples of Yeshua, may we walk according to the Biblical path; the narrow path that leads to life; and not follow man-made rabbinic rules and regulations that may even nullify the Torah.

Lockdown on the Holidays - Again....

I also felt, this Friday afternoon, a terrible heaviness, depression and oppression. We went for a final swim in the beautiful outdoor pool here in the Negev. We have been swimming almost every day here as a relief from the scorching afternoon heat; and also for fun and exercise. When the lifeguard gave the announcement at 1:00 P.M. that the pool would be closing for the rest of the year, I came home and began to feel very depressed. And I suspect I was not alone in this feeling.

I believe I was simpl