Rabbi & Rebbetzin's Corner November 2023

Shalom Mishpocha,

It’s November already!  Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 23rd 2023. November, is the 11th month of the Gregorian calendar. Its name is derived from “novem”, Latin for “nine,” an indication of its position as the ninth month in the early Roman calendar. November is the last of four months to have a length of 30 days (the other three are April, June, and September). There is still time to register and attend the MJAA South East Reginal Conference in Orlando, Florida next[EC1] month, December 15th – 17th, 2023!  This conference is a profound way to show your love and support for the Jewish people! https://mjaa.org/southeast2023/

The National Day of Giving takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which occurs every fourth Thursday of November. Did you know that the National Day of Giving was only created in 2012? The National Day of Giving, also known as Giving Tuesday or Global Day of Giving follows three major shopping days: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. It is created to unleash the power of radical generosity by giving a healthy donation to Non-profits and charitable organizations such as Congregation Zion’s Sake.

As we finished celebrating Sukkot last month, we were all, saddened, shocked, and horrified by the brutal, barbaric, and unprovoked attack upon Israel. As the conflict continues, please keep praying for Israel, for her safety, success, and victory over her enemies! It’s hard to believe after the despicable acts done to the elderly, children, families, and women that there are those who support Hamas or at the least don’t understand why Israel is so important! Interestingly, Gaza is mentioned no less than 20 times in the Bible – in both the Old Testament and the New.

Most references to Gaza are about how wicked its people and leaders are, how much they hate Israel and the Jewish people, and how God repeatedly sent His prophets to warn of Gaza’s impending judgment.  The first time Gaza is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis, chapter 10, where God describes Gaza as part of the land occupied by the Canaanites, the mortal enemies of God. Later in the scriptures, Gaza is described as the base camp of the Philistines, who were constantly attacking and terrorizing the Jews of Israel. Adonai will judge Gaza:

Amos 1:6-7 (TLV). Thus says Adonai: “For three crimes of Gaza, even for four, I will not relent. For they exiled an entire population, giving them over to Edom. 7 So I will send fire on the wall of Gaza—it will devour its citadels.

Many believers don’t know why Israel matters so much. We need to be a voice piece, a benefactor for Israel! Israel is the time clock of Yeshua’s return! It’s not based upon religion or man-made timelines. Yeshua’s return is based on what is happening in Israel. Here’s some discussion points:

Yeshua wasn’t a “Christian”, He was Jewish. He celebrated and kept the Biblical Feasts, the Moedim! He didn’t come to eradicate the Torah or the writings of the Tanach (Old Testament) or Prophets. In His own words:

Matthew 5:17-19. "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah -- not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

When Yeshua returns, He isn’t returning to the United States, Europe, the E.U., the United Nations, or any other worldly capitol. The Bible says He is returning to Jerusalem! Yeshua us going to plant His foot down on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:2-5) and go through the Eastern Gate (Ezekiel 44:1-3), which is currently sealed off with 16 feet of concrete. A cemetery was also placed in front of that gate because touching the dead defiles. They don’t know that at Yeshua’s return the dead will be raised! The Word of GOD says He will return to Jerusalem and from there He will rule and reign for 1,000 years.

The final battle isn’t going to be on U.S. soil. It’s going to be in the Valley of Megiddo, in Israel. The Bible says as the nation’s wage war against Israel Yeshua will come and destroy His enemies with the breath of His mouth. (II Thessalonians 2:8).

Israel and the Jewish people have not been replaced as some believe. Gentiles are actually grafted into the Jewish rooted Olive Tree with the Jewish People; the wild branch is grafted into an existing Jewish olive tree (Romans 11). God is not done with the Jewish People as Sha’ul stated in:

Romans 11:1. In that case, I say, isn't it that God has repudiated his people?" Heaven forbid! For I myself am a son of Isra'el, from the seed of Avraham, of the tribe of Binyamin.
The Word of GOD says, “When you touch Israel, you touch the Apple of GOD’s eye.” Zechariah 2:8. Adonai will keep and protect Israel:

Psalm 121:4-7. No, the guardian of Isra'el never slumbers or sleeps. 5 ADONAI is your guardian; at your right hand ADONAI provides you with shade 6 the sun can't strike you during the day or even the moon at night. 7 ADONAI will guard you against all harm; he will guard your life.

There is a covenant blessing connected to those who bless Israel:

Genesis 12:3. I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
Adonai remembers the covenant and oath He has with His people and Land of Israel forever:

Psalms 105:8-11. He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded to a thousand generations, 9 the covenant he made with Avraham, the oath he swore to Yitz'chak, 10 and established as a law for Ya'akov, for Isra'el as an everlasting covenant: 11 "To you I will give the land of Kena'an as your allotted heritage."

Lastly, we are commanded to pray for Jerusalem:

Psalm 122:7. May shalom be within your ramparts, prosperity in your palaces.

Please tell the world about Gods chosen people, their Promise Land, and most importantly Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah!

Blessings and Shalom!