Rabbi Yaakov Kellman, my son Joshua Anderson and myself, had what probably amounted to our most important meeting of the entire trip. We were invited to sit with the Sanhedrin. Yep, you read that correctly – The Sanhedrin.
It’s Monday in Jerusalem, and we took the day to talk about the things we have seen. Yesterday was filled with tours and seeing the sights of Jerusalem. It was an inspiring day and the most physically tiring, especially due to the heat of the day.
Our main purpose for coming to Israel and the Holy City was not to see the historic places but to make a mark in history. The God that we worship is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The gospel that we preach came unto the “Jew first, and also to the gentile.” We are children of Abraham by our faith.
The hill that Abraham looked from and saw Moriah where he was to sacrifice his son Isaac
Thus, Israel – the Jewish people – are the “elder brother” of the inheritance us as Jesus Christ believers. Israel is promised this land by the Creator of this land. It is the elder brother’s responsibility to distribute the inheritance to the rest of the family for generations to come.
The land of Israel has a way of grabbing you. It is a mystery to most of those who make a loving pilgrimage here.
Given our introduction to the culture and the historic sights, as well as the overall sensations of inherent greatness of this place it is still not our main purpose for being here. We came to meet with the Jewish people who have a world view that is different than what is thought by most Christians.
We have been in their homes and their synagogues. We have prayed and celebrated with them and we have had heart to heart discussions that seem very much like eternal understandings. We have made friends and loving relationships. We have opened dialogue that has the potential of healing the deep wounds of past animosities and violent disputes where love has far too long been left in the shadows and everyone concerned has been doing what is right in his own eyes. On all sides, there are those who have been living for God and yet have not loved as God has instructed. Thus, we are finding the ones who’s love is greater than their need to be right. We are not compromising our convictions except where our convictions have been based on falsehoods.
We have had many very rewarding experiences during this week of discovery. We have made some lasting relationships that are rich in love and appreciation and that have truly strengthened our faith in God’s wonder filled grace. So, on our final evening in Jerusalem, we invited many of our new friends to dinner at a nice restaurant in the Ben Yehuda area. A long table was set and some met for the first time, others were reunited and yet some are already loving friends. We talked of the week’s events, we laughed, we told stories and we simply enjoyed one another’s presence. As the evening wore on we discussed where we might go from here and where our relationships together as lovers of God might take us. We built some strong and sweet memories at that table. I have some lovely Jewish friends in Jerusalem.
Now it is time for us to leave. I have fallen in love with Jerusalem and heard of how many have left their places of birth to make Israel their home. But as tremendous as my time has been here, I long for my Idahome. It is my promised land. So, we pack and arrange for our transportation to Tel Aviv Airport where we’ll catch our flights home.
Michael Brennan’s flight was scheduled for the early morning so he left before I even awoke. Joshua and I are scheduled for the 11:10 PM United Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Newark, NJ, USA.
But the Jerusalem glory experiences are not over yet…
Next, Rabbi Yaakov Kellman, my son Joshua Anderson and myself, had what probably amounted to our most important meeting of the entire trip. We were invited to sit with the Sanhedrin. Yep, you read that correctly – The Sanhedrin.
Some of the Rabbis at the table of the Sanhedrin
Revived from old with new purpose and goals, this is a body of loving rabbis and prominent men of God who have begun to meet for the purpose of giving direction to God-loving Jewish believers on how to be a light unto the world.
We walked up a set of stairs in the back of a retail shop to a room of men sitting around a group of folding tables with plastic chairs. But there was a richness in that place with such angelic activity that I was taken back. All three of us were humbled by the experience.
Our friend Rabbi Yehoshua Friedman introduced us and they asked Rabbi Yaakov Kellman to report to them what we were doing. The Rabbi gave them an account of how our relationship began and what our intentions were as he has come to both witness and believe. They then asked me to report to them what I was doing in Jerusalem.
There were so many spiritual happenings in that room and implications of important things of past, present and future that I can’t even remember what I said. Some of my statements required translation into Hebrew for many of those present.
Wayne C Anderson with Rabbi Yoel Schwartz at Sanhedrin
The leader of the Sanhedrin is Rabbi Yoel Schwartz. He is a very respected elder among the Rabbis of Israel and has written more than 60 books. He spoke first in answer to me, saying that he welcomed me and the people that I represent to come and worship with them here in Jerusalem, the one true God. He said the we were fulfilling his dream of Christians coming to help them be the light to the world that God expected us all to be. He wrote a book about this big dream of his and had it translated into English and he had a copy of it inscribed personally to me. The book is entitled “A Light Unto The Nations” (from the Hebrew – Or L’Amim) by Rabbi Yoel Schwartz.
Joshua Anderson with Rabbi Yoel Schwartz at Sanhedrin
His signed inscription to me on the inside cover is in Hebrew, his native tongue. Latter Rabbi Yehoshua Friedman translated it for me, it says, “With God’s help, It is our hope that you will be worthy to fulfill the prophecy of Zephaniah 3:9 – Then I will turn to the nations in a clear speech and to serve Him with a united effort.” Yoel Schwartz 26 Sivan 5773
One of the prominent men at the table explained to me his heritage that is traced to the tribe of Levi. This was a tremendously interesting aspect of not only the conversation but the implications of a Levite as one of the founders of this new Sanhedrin.
Now, I know that this may create a lot of questions in the minds of my readers. Christians only know that word as a very bad example of unified injustice. But that is not how the Sanhedrin began nor was it God’s intention. When Jesus and the believers were before the Sanhedrin, it was filled with men who’s hearts had turned cold to the love of God. Just as kings are good and kings are bad, we don’t throw the proverbial baby out with the bath. I cannot yet articulate what is happening here. I’m trying now to write with tears because this is something more powerful than what my mind can understand. So, I simply ask you, dear reader, to “trust in the LORD with all of your heart and do not lean upon your own understandings, but, in all of your ways acknowledge Him” and He will place your feet in exactly the place where you should stand.
As I spend more time with the Lord in meditations about all of this, you will undoubtedly hear me speaking in different venues a deeper understanding than what I now have. I’m sure that you will be blessed to hear in a more personal way my insights to the future and our world view with Kingdom of Heaven prominence.
After this meeting with the Sanhedrin, Joshua and I got in a bus and made our journey to Tel Aviv airport where we found the security to get out of the country was far more scrutinizing than when we came into the country. I’ve never been asked to show my passport and questioned what I did during my stay so many times in one short walk from curb to plane seat.
Now, Home Sweet Idahome! Shalom to you!
Zephaniah 3:9 “For then I will turn to the nations in a clear language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD to serve Him with one voice.”
Prayer from Rabbi Yoel Schwartz’s book, “A Light Unto The Nations”
“And all flesh will call upon your Name, all who (now) dwell in confusion will recognize and know (You) for to You every knee will bend, every tongue will swear, and all will take upon themselves the yoke of Your Kingdom.”
Shalom There is very hot weather here in Jerusalem. In the morning of the first day of the week, we got up early to try and beat the heat a bit, and walked to the Old City and then to the Southern Wall to investigate the archeological digs and findings. There is a great angelic [...]
Shalom
The southwest corner of the great wall of the Temple
There is very hot weather here in Jerusalem. In the morning of the first day of the week, we got up early to try and beat the heat a bit, and walked to the Old City and then to the Southern Wall to investigate the archeological digs and findings. There is a great angelic presence that is found here, just right and below the court of the “Kotel” or the “Wailing Wall” which is the West Wall of the Temple Mount.
We found ourselves amongst the stone structures that were erected more than two thousand years ago. We also saw how the Romans labored very hard to tear the temple down so that one stone would not be left upon another. Those Romans had to have had a great hate brewing within them to commit themselves to the laborious task of moving those massive stones and toppling them over to the ground below. I tell you that it was terribly laborious to put those stones in place to construct the temple but it was also laborious to take them out of their place. It was no fleeting thought or flash of anger. It took a long methodical time.
The Temple stones that the Romans threw down in the destruction of the Temple (c.a.70 A.D.)
At risk of and in a rather “over-simplification” of the great problem of why the Jewish people should fear Christians, not to mention other people groups surrounding them, I’d like to give a short history discussion herein.
For a couple of centuries after Jesus had died and risen from the dead, the Jewish people hated their brother Jewish believers in Jesus. As one of the prominent vicious persecutors, an important Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, who later became known as the Apostle Paul, received letters from the Sanhedrin to capture these Jewish believers and put them in chains and even stone them to death. Many atrocities were committed against the sect of the Jews that dared to believe that Jesus was, in fact, Messiah – Who was to come. As the believers left Jerusalem because of the heavy persecution of the Jews, even members of their own families rejected and turned these believers into the Sanhedrin.
They were compelled to leave Jerusalem and they were able to establish their first discipling center in a city far north of Jerusalem called Antioch. Antioch was freer of the persecution by shear numbers of believers in community together. The Apostles were the leading rabbinical teachers in those days. Why? Because they walked with Jesus and were taught by Him. This is the Jewish rabbinical way.
Because of the established Jewish persecution against this newer sect of the Jews who had not left the faith but began to believe in Jesus the Messiah, these believing Jews began to be a light unto the gentile world. They found that God had gone before them into the world of the gentiles and had prepared their hearts to hear the message of God’s great kingdom. It was in Antioch, not Jerusalem, where these believers on their journey began to be called “Christian.” “And for an entire year they met with the ecclesia and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26)
After a few generations of believers, the gentile contingent began taking over and Emperor Constantine came along and dead religion infiltrated turning into organization rather than journey and, again, by shear numbers alone, the tides turned to where these people now called themselves Christian and they began to hate Jewish people and any other people who did not become part of them and their organization. They called the organization the “Holy Catholic Church” in a kind of replacement of the “Holy Temple” and the “Holy City” of the scriptures. Romans sought yet another wave of supremacy over the Jewish people and persecuted them sometimes for persecuting the original believers. This persecution of the Jewish people gained it’s strength through nearly two millennia of population and anthropological growth.
The Second World War revealed the Holocaust of the Jewish people as well as the deliberate annihilation of all that will not agree with the Roman philosophies of religion and lifestyle. Germany and the other German aligned nations were seen by the Jewish people as a countries proclaiming to be Christian nations.
Through the centuries the inhumane treatment of the Jewish people has produced what is now a reasonable fear. The Jewish people have also had to put up with the uncomfortable high pressured proselytizing of Christians as well.
One thing that I am more aware of than ever is that the need to be right is deadly to real life. It is far more important to love than to be right. In the words of Jesus, Himself: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Foundation of king David’s palace of the City Of David
Some of David’s Palace at the City Of David.
By the afternoon we went to the ancient City Of David and took a 3 hour tour into the depths of the mountain below the Old City and the Temple Mount. We witnessed the archeological digs that uncovered the City Of David where king David’s original palace was, overlooking to the Kidron Valley.
We went down underground into the narrow tunnel that was built first by Canaanite tribe that lost their walled city to king David, and then further expanded by King Hezekiah. Our tour guide reconstructed the strategic battles that centered there and although the cool of the underground allowed for escape from the heat of the day outside, we eventually came out at the bottom of the mountain, near the bottom of the Kidron Valley, and ended our tour at the Pool of Siloam.
The waters from the Gihon Spring protected by the walls of the city, had and overflow into the Pool of Siloam where that water was distributed and “sent” to the Kidron Valley for the fields of produce.
The Pool of Siloam. The pool was a collection point for runoff from the Gihon Spring where the water was then “sent” out and distributed to the Kidron Valley below.
The heat of the day nearly reached 100 degree (F) and we are now at the bottom of the mountain so we paid a few shekels and got on a bus that took us to the entrance of the City Of David Tour again. Then we began the trek back through the Old City to our usual restaurant near the foot of the Ben Yehuda – The Village Green.
After a bit of refreshment we began the rest of our heated uphill trip to our flat on the hilltop…..
I got to my bed and Joshua said it took me 20 seconds to be asleep… All is well.
Shalom to you from Jerusalem
“Shabbat Shalom” is the Jewish greeting for Friday and Saturday. On Friday there is preparation in a kind of excitement about the coming of Shabbat. We walked uphill to the “shuk” (the large marketplace) and shopped in preparation for the whole of our next day. There are lots of things to eat of superb quality [...]
“Shabbat Shalom” is the Jewish greeting for Friday and Saturday. On Friday there is preparation in a kind of excitement about the coming of Shabbat. We walked uphill to the “shuk” (the large marketplace) and shopped in preparation for the whole of our next day. There are lots of things to eat of superb quality here at the Shuk. There are bakeries that make “vegetarian”, “vegan” & “kosher” pastries. I bought a vegan pastry that was flat with the edges curled up and roasted vegetables on top with olive oil poured over it. Wow. That was good.
We also walked about the Ben Yehuda shopping area before returning to our flat where there was continued talk and preparation cleaning and readying. The preparation was fun, since we have never experienced anything like it before. The lights in the flat that we regularly used were switched on to stay for the next 26 or so hours. Rabbi Yaakov Kellman patiently explained what we could do and not do if we choose to observe.
In reading the New Testament there are references to the “Day of Preparation.” It never entered my mind that this was an exciting time for the Jewish people. Their is a significant change in the atmosphere in the Holy City and “preparation” for Shabbis is as much a part of the celebration as the day itself.
So, we napped a bit in the heat of the afternoon and the time for Shabbat came. We dressed in “smart casual” style with dark slacks and dress shirt and we put our Kipahs on our heads and started our trek to the “Kotel” – the “Wailing Wall.”
Now, I have to tell you that this experience was far more powerful that I can find words. Coming to the wall for the beginning of Shabbat with the Rabbi and not as a tourist meant that we worshiped like one the Jewish people. The evening was spectacular as the setting sun caused the Jerusalem stone walls to glow with a kind of glory of their own.
The many hundreds of peoples coming into the plaza prepared for the opening Shabbat prayers filled with smiles and joy. The children were all dressed up and ready for a happy time of celebration. There was dancing and singing and prayer.
We were handed “Shabbat Siddur” prayer books that were Hebrew on one page and English on the other. As I stood at the wall and read (sometimes aloud) the pages of the siddur book I found an astonishing pattern and wording that was used by John, in the Revelation, as he was writing of the vision he saw, “on the Lord’s day.” I started seeing phrases that I knew from the New Testament book of Revelation and then coming to the end their is prayer for a “new Jerusalem” and for Messiah to come “quickly.” This was really powerful to me and it opened up some new understanding to me of the book of Revelation. I will be doing some more study along these lines for sure.
The dress of the men who worshiped was varied and spoke of their spiritual community. I spent some time watching the interactions of cross culture that was happening. There were clearly non-Jews in our midst and all were handled lovingly and it did not appear to me that anyone was looked down upon because of their attire or their lack of knowledge of how things work or anything. I saw Chasidic helping the obvious visitors with genuine kindness and hospitality.
The singing and dancing was filled with laughter, joy and reverence all at the same time. There were Israeli Soldiers singings and dancing is a large circle together. There were children and many different groups that were reading the blessings, breaking forth in Jewish song and somehow they would just have to develop a circle of celebratory dance. Personally, I was prepared to stay in the midst of all this activity just enjoying the energy of the people who were openly and outwardly expressing their love for God.
Now, unfortunately we were observant of Shabbat so we turned our iPhones, iPads and cameras off and left them at our flat, so my words will have to do for the photos. Consider a summery warm evening with a thousand and more people with the ancient walls of the holy city about you. Imagine the lighting changing from the colors of the setting sun reflecting off of the Jerusalem Stone to the artificial lighting that is placed to both accentuate the features of this exotic place and to give light to those who are worshiping in this grand stone courtyard. The sounds of the crowds without instruments changing in waves according to the joyous activities being displayed.
Oh, what an experience this was. Unforgettable. Life changing.
We met an the flagpole and started a long walk back through the Old City, back through the Jaffa Gate an through the Ben Yehuda shopping area that was now closed for Shabbat. Up the hill into the neighborhoods until we came to a small synagogue on the second floor of a old stone building where singing and dancing and blessing was taking place. The synagogue was packed, and there was no room for us to get in but we were turned over to our hosts for the evening Shabbat meal by Rabbi Yaakov Kellman. The Rabbi left us and went to spend Shabbat meal with his daughter, son, daughter-in-love and new grand-daughter, while we were now with our hosts Udi & Shira Hammerman.
Once at the Hammerman’s home we were joined by two other couples and a single gentleman for the Shabbat meal that produced another unforgettable time of discussion as well as celebratory siddur. They patiently explained the happenings to us and gave us books with the Hebrew that they used, translated in the English so that we could read and thereby taking part. It was a warm and loving time.
The discussions we had were so insightful that we went until after 1AM and even a neighbor gently complained that we going too late with our frivolities and needed to be quieter… ha
We had a great summer evening walk home to our flat, talking over the events of the evening. Our sleep was deep and much needed.
Shabbat morning was with bread and olive oil for breakfast. Along with a cup of instant coffee. Then we dressed for synagogue. We walked back to the small synagogue that is upstairs where we met with Udi and Shira the night before. It was filled with people that had already been there for three hours.
The room was divided by a curtain and a piece of furniture so that the women were on the far side and the men were nearest the street. Both men and women had their own respective doors. The little children stayed with their mothers but the toddlers and above went from mother to father and drifted about according to their attention span. There was not one child who misbehaved in the slightest.
All read blessings and scripture but it seemed that some of the men would take turns singing a blessing and sometimes all would sing things back and then they would break out in dancing. I cannot tell you much of what was going on because it was all in Hebrew. I can only tell you that there was tremendous energy in the room and joy continually broke forth from the both individuals and the group as a whole.
Being an observer, not one person ever acted like I was. There was no one who expected anything from me nor gave me any feelings of rejection or disdain that I was among them. By late morning, it was already a hot day and I found a chair in the shade just outside the door and a bank of windows where I could see and pray, what had to be my own spontaneous prayers.
As we broke away from the synagogue we were introduced to Aharon & his wife Miriam who would be our hosts for Shabbat lunch. Rabbi Yaakov Kellman went back to our flat where he met his children to have Shabbat meal with them. We walked through a very old neighborhood until we came to the humble home of Aharon a young rabbi that is already quite well known. Later we were in shops in the old city where we found photos of Aharon and Miriam in magazines and at the table someone complemented Aharon on his latest article in some Israeli wide publication.
Aharon & Miriam have 5 children who were lots of fun to watch. Both girls were gracious and helped in every way. The eldest son say with us at all times and showed signs of his Torah study by giving pertinent input into our conversations. The two little boys were childlike in every way but happy and loved on by all. If I could take more time herein to discuss this family more descriptively, it would all end in the conclusion that this is a healthy, happy, and free spirited family. Yet, in the midst of the laughter and effervescent life there was a wisdom and reliance upon God and the scriptures that is rarely exhibited any culture that I experienced.
Our meal was delicious and our discussions at the table were deeply moving and delightful. They were all entertaining us Christians without showing any hesitance or fear. (I’ll explain in my next post why this fear is in place and justified.)
It was late afternoon by the time we started our walk back to our flat to lay our heads down for a nap. Aharon did tell us that Shabbat afternoon naps were looked forward to and the most enjoyable.
After a nap, we sat and discussed our day and soon came the end of Shabbat.
I tell you, this city comes alive at 8 PM on Saturday as at that time, the first day of the week begins and all the stores re-open, the streets fill with taxis and buses, and people by the hundreds come out in the summer evening to play. It was at this time that we went to the shopping area of Ben Yehuda and went through the shops to sit at a cafe while we talked and watched the many people.
“God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, it was the first day.” (Genesis 1:5)
Shabbat in Jerusalem. Unforgettable. Life changing.
“Shabbat Shalom!”
We are breaking ground here with some influential orthodox people, who love God but have never dialoged with Christians because of the past physical and spiritual abuses that they have endured. It is a bold step for them to be hospitable to us, let alone enter us into these precious subjects of dialogue with them. We are finding God’s wonderful favor upon us and have felt the strength of His anointing as we are breaking through the walls of division.
Our day in the Jerusalem started early with a Knesset tour where we were introduced to the congressional headquarters of the state of Israel, where the Knesset convenes and how it operates. We were shown the committee rooms, the public’s presentation places and shown an inspiring movie on the history of the Knesset.
When the tour was over we went out of the building and began a rather long walk to the area where the Prime Minister’s offices are where we met with a press secretary of the PM.
We then caught a cab back to our flat and because of the rigorous schedule of yesterday and given the long flights over the day before, we opted out of afternoon events and laid down for some long hard napping.
The “Shuk” – a Jerusalem marketplace
Before our afternoon rest we first walked up to the area of the “Shuk Machaneh Yehuda,” and did some shopping in the very large and lively open market of Jerusalem. This place was teaming with life as it is the central place of the people to buy fresh produce and meats and that which is needed for the day. Having grown up in Seattle where the Public Market is at Pike Street, I found the “Shuk” reminiscent of my days as a child when I would go to the Public Market in Seattle with my grandfather and sometimes with my mother.
It was a very hot day in Jerusalem so our siesta in the heat of the day was an excellent choice.
In the early evening we walked to the plaza area, down Ben Yehuda street, and dined outside and had excellent conversation about our initial impressions and our experiences here in the Holy City.
Later in the evening we went to the home of Udi & Shira Hammerman for an encounter gathering where Udi chose a talmudic writting to read to us and opened a discussion that turned into a tremendously inspiring time of dialogue. Please realize the we are breaking ground here with some influential orthodox people, who love God but have never dialogued with Christians because of the past physical and spiritual abuses that they have endured. It is a bold step for them to be hospitable to us, let alone enter us into these precious subjects of dialogue with them. We are finding God’s wonderful favor upon us and have felt the strength of His anointing as we are breaking through the walls of division.
I’m not sure how long the encounter session went but it was about midnight when we returned to our flat.
Friday’s here in Jerusalem are preparation and then will come the beginning of Shabbat or Shabbas, (Sabbath). During Shabbat we will be observing this holy day with our Jewish friends and trying to experience all that they do in worship. We will not be using our electronics during that time, in observance, so I won’t be writing or communicating then. But, I’ll be back on the first day of the week.
Shabbat Shalom
We began our day at sunrise upon the Holy City of Jerusalem. The atmosphere is nothing at all like I had imagined. It is like there is a revelation of a new day in the world and the thought has occurred to me, “no wonder the devil hates this place!” There is a small, but [...]
We began our day at sunrise upon the Holy City of Jerusalem. The atmosphere is nothing at all like I had imagined. It is like there is a revelation of a new day in the world and the thought has occurred to me, “no wonder the devil hates this place!”
The Jaffa Gate
The narrow streets in Old City
There is a small, but very busy, bakery just down the street that Michael, Joshua & I walked to this morning. Everything in this bakery is freshly baked and beyond compare. We had our instant coffee and bakery fun and talked of the day’s plans. We then put on our walking shoes and headed out. Walking through town to the “Old City” and through the “Jaffa Gate”, we found ourselves looking at walls built of stones laid by the orders of Herod the Great over two thousand years ago. The narrow streets of the Old City are dressed on each side by shops with interesting wares of all kinds. Sadly we did not have any time for shopping, as we are on a tight schedule for this great day.
We came to a side street where we turned to our right and came out of the cover of all the buildings and Rabbi Yaakov Kellman announced, “There it is.”
Our first view of the Kotel
I was taking everything in and wondered what he might be talking about, but as I stepped onto the large patio/plaza and starred over the railing my eyes feasted upon that which I believe to be the center of the universe. “The Wailing Wall!” which actually referred to as the Kotel.
I have seen so many photos, taken from every imaginable angle of the rather small courtyard where millions of people have come from every part of the globe to stand in front of this great wall to pray, but more – to experience – the historic phenomenon of the substance of the prayer lives of so many people. I would like to write more about my experience here, but time doesn’t permit me. . .
Children singing and dancing at the Wall
I stood and looked down at this glorious sight and the sure effects of the arch angel’s oversight of that place made holy by the people who love God and who have pour their souls out to the Lord in this place.
Above the scene of the wall is the Mount of Olives. I said, “Somebody pinch me and wake me up!” The mount – the dome – the olive trees – the ancient stones – the walls laid by the lives and labors of so many. The things that I have dreamed of for nearly 40 years are here – they truly do exist!
Irene and I made a leisurely trip to southern Utah a couple weeks ago, and there I had a similar experience while we gazed upon God’s creation – virtually untouched by the hand of man, a beauty and a grandeur untold in words by the most articulate. My insides were somehow changed in seeing such a sight of God’s natural creative grandeur. But here is the creation of man, inspired by God – in partnership with God – a history that tells of the substance of so many lives. This is a very powerful place.
We walked to the plaza of prayer and my dear friend Rabbi Yaakov Kellman walked up to the wall and leaned his head against it and prayed. He then turned to me and nodded as if to say, “That is the way to do it. Go and do the same.” I very much appreciated his help and thus I went to the wall and prayed. A life time hope fulfilled is an unexplainable thing. Words just don’t do justice to describe what takes place in the heart.
The tunnel with the actual two thousand year old western wall on the right
We went on a tour of the west wall tunnels and looked at the very walls that Herod erected to build the temple that was the center of Jewish activity in the days of Jesus. This tour gives a visitor a really good grasp of the history of the Temple Mount as well as allowing you to see the lower parts of the west wall that were visible during the days of Jesus.
After another long walk through the Old City, we had lunch together in a great spot and talked about the day’s happenings thus far. After lunch we jumped into a cab and went across town to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. We were given a special tour by two people who’s parents were in Nazi concentration camps. This was a never-to-forget afternoon. It was emotionally draining and I’m still processing the things that I saw, heard and felt. There was a tour group of Germans that had a tour guide and translator that I kept running into. These people appeared to be in such pain and horror as they quietly went along, hearing the stories of what took place amongst their people during the grandparents era. I don’t think I’ll forget their faces anymore than the suffering I saw in the historical accounts of the timeline of events that this great museum portrays.
This is the actual stone work of the road in front of the western wall of Herod’s temple. Jesus more that likely walked on this stone road many times during his life
Via Dolorosa
Walking down the Via Dolorosa
Still emotionally drained from all that we have done thus far, we took yet another cab ride to the Israeli Knesset (Israel’s parliament) in the early evening. After the scrutiny of the security that is needed to protect this legislature from the terrorist plots that are continually against it, we were allowed to go into the building.
Michael, Joshua, and Yaakov in front of Knesset
Meeting the the Honorable Dov Lipman
At Knesset we met with the honorable Dov Lipman, one of the newly elected Knesset
representatives, in his office. Mr, Lipman is a vibrant and passionate man who moved his family from the US to Israel and has become a voice to the nation. He has written several books and you can find him on Facebook as well. I would suggest you look him up online and watch him in the future as a leader of the state of Israel…
Menorah in front of Knesset
After our trip to Knesset and meeting with Dov Lipman, we went to dinner at a cafe for an evening meal and discussion with Rabbi Yehoshua Friedman, who is intrigued with the Rabbinical and Christian connections we are involved with. We had a lot of fun discussing the past, present and future relationships. Rabbi Yehoshua Friedman came to us with a scripture from the book of Numbers and a rabbinical journey into that Torah Word. It was very precious and a word from the Lord to us, specifically.
This account is very shallow in comparison to the deep happenings of this day that we have spent in our new love affair with the Holy City. I honestly and earnest say this to you – with a deeper meaning than what I have known…
“Shalom.”
Once we arrived in Jerusalem we felt a notiecably lighter atmosphere. The trip from the airport in Tel Aviv took us an hour to our rented flat here in Jerusalem, on King George Street near Ben Yehuda street.
John and Maria
Joshua and I left our Boise homes early Monday morning to take John Baughman to the airport. He only has six more weeks of US Navy life, and it was hard for him to leave Lacey, Olivia, and Maria – very hard.
Soon after seeing John off, we boarded our flight from Boise to San Francisco, and after a reasonable layover flew to Newark, New Jersey. This flight felt very long, but in Newark we met up with our traveling companions, Yaakov Kellman and Michael Brennan. Following a short layover in New Jersey we the flew directly to Israel’s capital city, Tel Aviv.
I had an unexpected sensation of excitement when the plane touched ground in Israel.
Tel Aviv greeted us with a clear blue sky and a warm 80 degrees. Every view from the airport presented us with a notably lovely green landscape. Customs and immigration into Israel was quite simple with just a passport check, the gathering of your luggage and off you go…
From the airport we hoped into a taxi for our ride from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The fare ended up being about $100 (US) for the four of us, with luggage, to squeeze into what was quite a small car. Three of us ended up crunched into the back seat together while Yaakov pointed out numerous places along the way. Once we arrived in Jerusalem we felt a notiecably lighter atmosphere. The trip from the airport in Tel Aviv took us an hour to our rented flat here in Jerusalem, on King George Street near Ben Yehuda street.
We dropped off our luggage, and after changing into lighter clothing, we left and walked a ways to the “Dublin Pub”, where we sat together, talked, and just rested from all the travel. A man from New York, who moved his wife and four children here about six months ago, by the name of Kevin Keparutis met with us there at the Dublin. I’m told that everyone knows the Dublin Pub and it will be the meeting place for us to rendevous with friends of Yaakov.
Beit Ticho Restaurant – Jerusalem, Israel
After a relaxing conversation we walked to the Beit Ticho restaurant, which was beautiful beyond words. We sat outside amongst the olive trees and ate a delicious kosher and healthy meal. Yaakov’s daughter Atara and her college room mate Miri (from Italy) met us, as well as Kevin’s family; Sarah, Kevin’s wife and his children, Caleb, Abigail, Isaac and Charis. This meal was a very special memory.
We made our trek back to our room and by midnight, Jerusalem time, we fell asleep to the atmosphere and noises of Jerusalem. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
As I write this, we have awakened to our first Jerusalem sunrise. It is enchanting. We have a full day ahead of us…
Sunrise in Jerusalem
- Some Basic Understanding About ADHD by Wayne C Anderson ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. (Also known as ADD) ADHD is a real disorder and has psychiatric behavioral disorder tendencies that affect children, adolescents, as well as adults. The problem found has to do with brain uses of various chemicals that cause messages to [...]
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Some Basic Understanding About ADHD
by Wayne C Anderson
ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. (Also known as ADD)
ADHD is a real disorder and has psychiatric behavioral disorder tendencies that affect children, adolescents, as well as adults.
The problem found has to do with brain uses of various chemicals that cause messages to be sent around the nervous system. When those chemicals are not balanced properly the result will be either inactivity and depression or hyper-activity with impulsive symptoms: ADHD
ADHD is seen as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than those around.
The foundations must be in place. These foundations should be in place in every person’s lifestyle. Some may look at these foundations of life and say they are too busy and too tired to live like this, yet, these are proven from generation to generation to be the life starters of people who want to actually live.
It is far worth the effort in the long run to make these foundations firm in ones life than to waste life on sickness and pain of any kind.
Foundations for life that are known to curb ADHD:
- Rest
- Healthy Eating
- Exercise
- Mind Exercise & Learning
- Prayer
- The Table of the Lord
- Boundaries
- Outlet/Vision
Rest is pivotal to all health whether it by body functions, emotional well being or intellectual strength. Rest should be guarded at all costs and monitored truthfully. Someone with ADHD needs a good 8 hours of rest per night.
Healthy Eating means breaking the American fast food – easy food culture. Absolutely no sugar or artificial sweeteners should ever be found in the body of someone with ADHD.
Dairy products could very well be the culprit that causes the glandular system to improperly balance the chemicals in the brain. There are other allergies that should be tested by removing them from the diet for a month or so to see what happens. Fruits and vegetables are most important to the glandular system. Support from quality vitamin/nutrient supplements should always be part of the diet. Keep in mind that not all vitamins are equal. (Those most advertised on TV and the Internet are most likely to be worthless.) Keep the fats down to a minimum an a vegetable protein power is apt to show good results.
Exercise is always and important factor. Computer/Video games are deadly to the ADHD person, as they enhance hyperactivity/impulsivity brain functions and dumb down the physical exercise needed to activate the systems of the body. Everyone’s body is meant to exercise. Sports are fine but I’m talking moving around more than anything else. Walk to the store, to the park, to school, or ride a bike. Stop parking so close to the building and start parking way out at the outer edges of the parking lot. (Saves on your car paint job and causes everyone in the car to walk and move it.)
Mind Exercise & Learning will clear new pathways for the brain to function. Perhaps not medically/physically, but certainly intelligence strengthening for good mental habits that are needed to control the ADHD hyperactivity/impulsivity. Again, video/computer games are not learning but they cause pathways of brain function in the wrong application. I’ve seen people put their children in front of a computer game to keep their attention not realizing that the child is usually building stronger hyperactivity/impulsivity with every game session.
Learning history, languages, sciences, and technical skills will produce stronger, better brain functioning and be a guidance into society with respectability.
Now for some more spiritual aspects of ADHD. Demons are probably not to blame, however, I always say, “when in doubt, cast it out.” That means it doesn’t hurt to give it a try but realize that demonic things could be in the home, school, workplace, etc., not to mention your town. Some prophetic insight from trusted sources outside your local could be helpful.
Prayer for brain functions, the glandular systems of the body, specifically should be the target. Perhaps some photos of brain cells and synapsis firing or something along that line, should be placed in regular view so that prayer comes with images of the mind for greater impact/faith.
The prayers that basically consist of “Oh God! Help!” don’t usually work in repetition. So, direct your prayers toward the problems of brain functions, blood chemistry, glandular systems and general health.
Table of the Lord is a tremendous tool to see voices silenced, curses broken, bloodline issues dealt with and justice come on behalf of the righteous. So much is healed and reset with families and individuals when the Table of the Lord/Communion is partaken of in the home.
Boundaries in all areas of life should be constantly and consistently discussed and implemented. Boundaries give freedom from the dangers that are outside those boundaries. Spiritual boundaries, thinking boundaries, behavioral boundaries and social boundaries are the most important aspects of life. Investigate each one of the boundary arenas and set your boundaries with action to back it up.
Remember that broken boundaries only show the strength of where those boundaries are and why they exist. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So, it is with boundaries maintenance, in that, we break a boundary and we tell of is and restore it. Of course these boundaries are best restored with the help of the Holy Spirit and not totally on our own strength.
Outlet/Vision means that there is a purpose given to life. Sometimes that can be sports, but it can also be statesmanship, or business, or ministry, or missions work. An outlet needs to be put into place – into operation in the life of the ADHD person. They must have a vision clearly spelled out or drawn out with steps to walk out. Without this factor, the ADHD person is placed into a spinning cycle of behavioral patterns and that behavior can only get worse.
About drugs:
Unfortunately drug companies run most of the medical industry and the books and papers that your friendly physician reads after a tiring day at the office is the stuff that is influenced by drug companies. These pamphlets tell the physician about an easy cure and everyone knows that easy is a better way. The easy way is throw a few drugs into the child and the child becomes a different person.
Personality altering has become the way of modern medicine for ADHD – or a promise that it won’t alter the personality when it actually does. Drugs may be of help but every drug has side effects and there is no miracle drug that takes care of the ADHD problem and makes it go away. Every drug that is manufactured has effects that are different for every person. No two people react the same to any drug. My warning here is to be careful and do not blindly trust your friendly physician to give you all the answers. That’s not smart and will surely cause more pain than imaginable.
There is greater and less expensive research that is being done for this cause that shows diet and exercise with quality, healthy supplements can turn almost the worst case scenario into win.
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Interesting Note:
Glenn Beck and Ty Pennington both have severe ADHD. I heard an interview with Glenn Beck who talked of his absolute need for proper eating and rest. Without them, he said, he is a basket case. These two mega media personalities have to keep their blood chemistry controlled without personality effecting drugs. It is not easy but they do it and have changed a lot of lives in the process.
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