The last month has been full of activity in Israel. The first two weeks held the festival of Passover which commemorates Israel’s exodus out of Egypt more than three thousand years ago. This is one of the holidays that most Jews observe to some degree, even if they are largely traditional or bordering on secular. Passover itself is celebrated with a festive meal in the family home where the entire evening is organized and planned according to a specific, traditional ceremony. Passages from Exodus are read, songs are sung, children ask questions, and the importance of the Exodus event is explained through a written text. The Exodus is very important to the Jewish people, because it was in this event that God made a distinction between His people the Jews and the Egyptians, and He brought Israel out of the house of slavery to be a free people in the Promised Land. Jews today commemorate this event to remind themselves that God freed them from slavery during Passover. As absolutely wonderful as this festival is, it is sad that the Jews have yet to realize the Greater Passover that came some centuries after the Exodus. For it was at Passover time that Jesus of Nazareth hung on a cross to set mankind eternally free from their slavery to sin and death. But the Jews have not yet recognized what Passover is really all about… One year ago during Passover I had the privilege of leading a Messianic Passover Seder service at my church in Washington. So the holiday season brought back many happy memories for me of that wonderful time at church where I exposed the people for the first time to the Passover traditions of the Jews, though with a focus on Jesus the Messiah. Immediately following Passover were 8 days where the Jews are not permitted to eat leavened bread. Instead, they eat matzah (similar to a saltine cracker). This untasty bread is a powerful reminder of the time in Egypt they had before God set them free.
Shortly after Passover came the holidays of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), Memorial Day (for the fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism), and Independence Day (when Israel declared its independence in May 1948). The latter day did not fall on May 14 this year, because its commemoration follows the Jewish lunar calendar, not the standard solar calendar of the West. The first two days are sobering days, while Independence Day (which takes place the day after Memorial Day) is a day of jubilant and excessive celebration. Each day is marked with a one- or two-minute siren that goes off across the entire country. During the siren’s sounding, the entire Jewish nation comes to a standstill, including traffic on the streets and highways. For a nation so divided in its opinions, even among Jews, it is something fascinating that they can all agree to pause together during the same time. Perhaps obviously, most Arabs/Palestinians in Israel do not celebrate these three days for apparent reasons.
I was on Jaffa Street for Yom HaShoah, and I took a short video. It’s not great quality, but it does show Jewish passersby coming to a standstill during the siren. You will notice, though, a few people who continue to walk by. These are people who for ideological reasons do not commemorate this day, many Palestinians, for instance. I was on Herodion for the second Memorial Day siren. It was fascinating to be in the West Bank (near Bethlehem)—in Palestinian territory—and hear the siren coming from the nearby Jewish settlements. The Palestinian areas kept right on working, but the group I was with came to a stop, at least. One sad thing about Memorial Day was that a stage collapsed during the setup of the official government ceremonies, and a young female soldier was killed. That made the day particularly sad.
Not too much else significant has been happening in Israel lately. There was a powerful sand storm on May 1. I have two photos to show you had much it reduced visibility. The sand blowing off the deserts to the East made my eyes water and filled my mouth with dirt. It was certainly something! The days continue to get warmer and longer here.
Before the sandstorm. Mountains of Jordan visible in distant hazy background
During the sandstorm; nothing visible after a few miles
Personal Update Photos:
Tel Shechem in the middle of modern day Nablus, as seen from Mt. Gerizim
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"Solomon's Pools" -- huge reservoirs built by Herod the Great near Bethlehem
