Tents of Mercy Congregation
Kiryat Yam, Israel
Israel’s Legacy
Israel is no stranger to miracles. We have a long legacy of divine protection. We also have a legacy of disaster, tragedy and persecution.
This present cycle is no different, but it is happening in our lifetime! Over the past year Israel has seen horrible devastation along with surprising and miraculous events - because He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
The battle has already been won. We know the end of the story and the devil does too (Revelations 12). But in the meantime, it doesn’t look good. The odds are not promising – one tiny country surrounded by aggressive bullying neighbors who won’t give up till they’ve pushed us off the Middle Eastern “playground.”
It’s hard to imagine that amidst the daily sirens and falling rockets regular life really does go on. In fact, the external threat is surprisingly good for Israeli morale.
Here’s a snapshot:
Rockets with Your Coffee?
After a day and a half of relative quiet, in desperate need of some refreshing, a friend and I headed to the local beach which is closed to bathers, but has an open coffee shop. Sitting with the waves in sight and in earshot, we absorbed every moment and felt our souls begin to revive. Just as we headed towards the car, rocket sirens went off! Looking around, we saw a primitive bomb shelter just beside the cafe, but it was full. So we hunkered down beside another concrete structure. Above us the rockets screamed towards their “date” in the clouds with the IDF Iron Dome missiles that we could see shooting out from both edges of the Haifa Bay. With each interception came a deafening explosion and a white puff in the sky. Horrible and wonderful all at once.
NOT Your Regular School Pickup Route!
Our boys’ schools are now in attendance by rotation, due to limited space in their bomb shelters. The day our sons were at school, just before the last bell rang, sirens sounded. Some laughed and joked on the way to the shelter. Others were nervous as the booms began overhead. Parents waiting in the parking lot lay on the ground for minimal protection. A few minutes later, my son came out to meet me. As we started toward home, the sirens went off again! We stopped the car and lay in the bushes waiting out the second round while a large piece of rocket shrapnel fell just a few streets away.
Living in Israel amidst ongoing conflict is a complex experience that intertwines daily life with the historical and spiritual arc of history. The tension, punctuated by moments of uncertainty and fear, deeply affects the psyche and fabric of Israeli society.
This war between Israel and the Islamic Iranian axis, is actually a war between the God of Israel and forces of Evil in the heavenly realm. That same devil that knows he is already defeated, is pulling out every hellish trick to steal, kill, destroy, deceive and terrorize.
However, God is faithful and He chose to show His faithfulness, love, and covenant to the world through Israel; demonstrating that the God of Jacob is a refuge. The fact that God stands by Israel means that if you trust in Him He will stand by you too.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear…
There is a river whose streams
Make glad the city of God,The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in her midst, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted…
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah (Psalm 46)
Successful Rosh Hashanah Food Distribution!
In all the uncertainty and stress of this year it was an even bigger blessing than normal to be able to give out the 900 beautiful food bags that the congregation lovingly prepared for needy residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. We even had volunteers who had themselves been recipients in recent years helping, as well as one man who had worked at our building during the recent renovations and asked if he could come volunteer. After packing we ate pizza together in our newly renovated fellowship hall, amid numerous conversations about who we are and what we believe!
Text translated from the holiday card we included with each gift bag of food:
Dear Resident,
This is not just a nice little bag of food for the holiday. No? No! This is an expression of love from us and from good people all over the world who love Israel and want to express their support and stand with us in this hard season. Trust us, there are still many like them in the world…
