Shavuot

Thank you, dear friends, for your prayers regarding our recent hearing at the city hall concerning our case.

We would like to provide a brief update on the matter. The hearing, which lasted for two hours, was yesterday and the main stakeholders involved were Yad LeAhim, whose representatives were present on the commission alongside representatives from the city government. It felt like a fierce battle, akin to lions clashing (it is worth noting that in the Bible, the lion symbolizes both God and Satan). Perhaps in Israel, emotions tend to run high, and discussions are often conducted with raised voices. In our perception, the committee chairperson appeared to maintain a fair and impartial stance. However, only God knows what decision awaits us, which we should receive in approximately two weeks.

We kindly request that you continue to pray for a favorable decision to be granted to us through the grace of God.

 

Today we gather to celebrate and explore together the significance of the festival of Shavuot which is an important holiday in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and marking the end of the 50-day period known as the counting of the Omer.

Known as the Festival of Harvest, in ancient Israel, Shavuot marked the conclusion of the wheat harvest and the beginning of the summer harvest season.

During this agricultural festival, the people would bring offerings of the first fruits of their harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem as an expression of gratitude to God for His provision and they would present these offerings with joy and celebration, acknowledging that it was God who had blessed them with a bountiful harvest.

The timing of Shavuot is significant, as it falls seven weeks after Passover which in the agricultural cycle corresponds to the time between the planting of the barley during Passover and the reaping of the wheat at Shavuot so the counting of the Omer, the 50-day period leading up to Shavuot, served as a way to mark the anticipation and gratitude for the upcoming harvest.

In Acts 2, we read about the momentous event that took place on Shavuot after the resurrection of Yeshua when the disciples were gathered together in one place, waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit, it was at that moment that the Holy Spirit descended upon them like tongues of fire, equipping and empowering them to proclaim the gospel message to all nations so Shavuot became the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out and manifested powerfully in the community of believers and this event marked the beginning of the Church, the body of Christ on Earth, and the start of a new era in humanity's relationship with God.

In Yeshua, Shavuot also takes on a profound spiritual significance and just as the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, representing divine revelation and instructions for the people of Israel, in Yeshua, the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. He personifies the fullness of the Torah and reveals to us God's love and grace in a unique and perfect way.

The celebration of Shavuot, within the context of our faith in Yeshua, reminds us of the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live a holy life and guides us into all truth and It also encourages us to immerse ourselves in the study of God's Word and to live in accordance with its teachings.

On this Shavuot festival, I invite each one of you to immerse yourself in the Word of God, to seek a deeper intimacy with the Holy Spirit, and to live in obedience to divine commandments.