The Jerusalem Prayer List – January 18, 2024
By Joseph Shulam
The Torah reading this Shabbat is called Bo! = “Come.”
Exodus 10:1 – 13:15
From the Prophets, the reading is from Jeremiah 46:13-28
From the New Testament, the reading is from
Luke 22:7-30 and 1 Corinthians 11:20 – 34.
Before I go into the Biblical texts, please forgive me for sharing about the situation of Israel these days. Israel has been at war with a very cruel and sadistic enemy that has no morals and has demonic hate against Jews in general and against Jews in Israel.
Israel has been at war for 104 days on two fronts, in the South with Hamas, a heartless, cruel, sadistic pervert. The Hamas is Persia, Iran. They are supported, trained, inspired, and motivated by Iran. They are a proxy of Iran and armed and financed at least partially by Iran.
In the North, the war is with Hezbollah, also a proxy of Iran. Israel is fighting ruthless and cruel enemies that have no morals, and they are trained and armed by Iran. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are totally under Iranian control, inspiration, and finance.
Israel, Netivyah, and the Shulam family need your prayers. We need your prayers for all of Israel and for the Israeli government to be wise and make decisions that are for now in the middle of the war and also for the release of the 136 hostages held under horrible conditions in deep man-made tunnels that can be as deep as 150 feet. There are more than 100 US miles of man-made tunnels under the ground everywhere and on more than one level. The Hamas leadership and military headquarters and their torture chambers are all underground in the miles and miles of deep dark tunnels where they are keeping the Israeli-Jewish Hostages. Some are sexually abused repeatedly and often murdered.
Please pray for Marcia, my wife, and for me, too. I had a biopsy of several overgrown lymph nodes in my chest and other internal parts.
The Torah portion Bo starts with the Hebrew word Bo, “Come.” – Normally speaking, when you send someone out, you say to him “Go,” not “Come!”
The Hebrew has a double meaning. Not only “Go see Pharaoh,” but “Go inside of Pharaoh!” It is clear from the text that the Lord sent Moses to Pharaoh to demand the Egyptian ruler release the children of Israel from their slavery and let them go free to the land of Canaan! The Torah portion of Bo starts with Exodus chapter 10:1, but verse 2 fascinates me.
“Go into Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”
What fascinates me in this text is that the Lord tells us why and for what reason He is using these plagues on Egypt. God was interested in advertising and publicizing HIMSELF before Pharaoh and the Egyptians and also before Israel to show them who is the BOSS, “My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD!” I was surprised that in the first chapters of Exodus, God uses unusual and special signs and plagues to show both sides that God is in charge. The first plagues didn’t touch the people of Egypt in their bodies. The Nile River turned into blood. God damaged the animals. Then, the plagues moved on to the people with the plague of locusts that affected the Egyptians’ land and agriculture. From there, the plagues progressed to damage the people of Egypt themselves.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Plagues is that the Egyptians suffered from them, and these Plagues didn’t touch the Israelites. This is a major sign that these were not natural plagues but ones that were specifically aimed at and touched the Egyptians and not the Israelites.
I learned things about the Power of God that are not so commonly recognized. These are very important lessons for the disciples of Yeshua to understand.
To build trust in God, He can aim the plagues against specific groups of people, and others on the sidelines will not be affected. This is important for understanding how God works on this Earth.
The children of Israel walked on dry ground, crossing the Red (reed) sea. Hours later, the same Red Sea became a death trap for the armies of the Pharaoh. All Egypt was in Darkness, and the children of Israel had light.
This reminds you that the LORD controls all forces of nature: the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. Our question for the end times is not How God Will do it and How there will be light without the Sun shining by day. “It is not for me to ask why but to do and die!”[i] These are the words of Isaiah about the end times:
“Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise. “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, Nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, And the days of your mourning shall be ended. Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.” (Isaiah 60:18–21 NKJV)
I am bringing these verses from Isaiah the Prophet that describe the end chapters of this world after the cosmic changes take place. The interesting part for today is Isaiah 60:18, which predicts that “Violence shall no longer be heard in your (our) land!” The word violence in Hebrew is Hamas! Yes, the same word as the name of this horrible, inhuman cruelty and beastly behavior.
In our Torah reading this Shabbat, we have a major reminder of another of these things that the disciples of Yeshua and the Jewish people forget. Yes, we forget that God, our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel, is also the God of all the nations. These nations might not know this or recognize the One True God who created this universe and all that is in this universe. This includes the Arabs, and He even knows what is their hearts. This very interesting text in our Torah reading this Shabbat:
“But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.” (Exodus 10:20 NKJV).
The phrase “The LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart” appears 13 times in the story of the Exodus. The phrase puzzles me and may be for you, too. Most of the time, when God hardened Pharaoh’s heart when Pharaoh was willing to make some deal or concession, God hardened his heart. What can I learn from these divine tactics that God is using in the Exodus story?
1. God has a master plan with all detailed pre-planning and a program to execute His will and make His plan work. It is clearly seen in the 13 times in the story of the Exodus that God hardens the heart of Pharaoh to keep him from releasing Moses and the children of Israel from Egyptian Slavery.
2. The story of Exodus is about one major topic – Who is in control of Nature, and people’s hearts, and the heart of the King (in this case, Pharaoh, the great ruler of Egypt) 73 times in the Bible “God hardened a heart and 32 times God made Pharaoh’s heart heavy. What can we learn from this about rulers, kings, and people God uses to make His program and plan succeed? The program always comes through to save His people and bring glory to His name!
3. In our reading this Shabbat, God also demonstrates His full control of nature, light, and darkness. He controlled the small animals like the lice on the heads of the Egyptians and also the locusts who came in hordes that covered the sky and devoured the green in the land of Egypt.
4. The last point I learned from this Torah portion concerns the people, not the plagues. Moses and Aaron don’t understand God and wonder what is happening here! Moses and Aaron didn’t understand but believed in the end game. They knew that God would succeed in the end because God predicted this to Moses in his first encounter in Mount Sinai and the burning bush. The how was God driving Pharaoh to release the slaves that were building His Egypt.
In our Torah reading this Shabbat is the Passover story and the actual departure that is the greater story of deliverance, emancipation, and liberation—the liberation of a national family-based group of millions of liberated slaves. God’s plan, as revealed in the Passover night and the Passover meal, is to take a problematic tribal group and make a nation out of them.
So, God showed the children of Israel first that He can control nature, and second, He can control the powers of kings and direct their ways. What about us, the simple folk? We who are willing to serve God and men? We are the objective and the focus of God’s eyes and heart.
One more point that I must never miss or forget. God loves His world so much that He has planned and given His Son Yeshua to be the world’s savior. Now, just to put the Cherry on top of the cream – Yeshua is also a kind of Moses. He is both a Messenger of God and a conclusive object of God’s plan for the salvation of not only one nation but the whole world. This is why the Passover becomes the feast of salvation and redemption from the different forms of slavery for the entire world.
The last point of this study is that I encourage all of you to actually go and read the Torah portion and from the Prophets and above all, know that there is Someone, far, far away beyond the rainbow, that rules this world. A world that He created and seeks that no one will suffer in Hell and everyone can be saved, delivered, and overcome with God’s help and obedience!
READ the Book and become a character in the story! The celebration of the Passover is not only a one-time moment. It is a continuous celebration for each of us, our families, our tribe, and our nations. The same God that took the children of Israel from Egypt is still saving, delivering, blessing, and leading His Children.
Right now, we might be in the 40 years of wandering through the deserts of life. But for all who follow and build God’s Tabernacle, even in the wilderness of life, there is a promised land waiting for us all! A Jerusalem without violence or Hamas and hate and animosity like Israel is today. In these days of war and suffering, a battle between the sons of light against the children of darkness – remember that you want to have a part in the rebuilding of the fallen tabernacle of David, which James talks about in Acts 15: 12-17:
“Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: “After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.’” (Acts 15:12–17 NKJV)
Dear brothers and sisters worldwide, please remember that the Lord uses Netivyah to do extraordinary things via Netivyah in Israel and Netivyah International. God uses miracles, events, and services to deliver the soldiers every kind of tactical equipment they need, like modern helmets and bulletproof jackets with ceramic plates to stop enemy bullets. Tactical special military-grade drones that can fly and see who is lurking behind buildings and on rooftops. Special meals and other types of equipment keep our men in uniform warm these winter days, both on top of the snow-covered Mount Hermon and for the rainy days in Gaza.
Please take advantage of this unique opportunity to partner in the battle of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness. You can’t come and physically serve through Netivyah, the men on the front lines in Gaza and the upper Galilee. But you can contribute financially, big or small gifts for our men in the battlefields of Gaza and the northern borders of Israel with Syria and Lebanon.
You can donate in Netivyah in Israel if you don’t need US IRS documents for your taxes.
Now, Netivyah International (Netivyah USA) is also a pioneering organization with upcoming publishing, teaching, and evangelizing projects. One project will concentrate on helping and building up the worldwide campaign for the restoration of the Anussim, the Jewish victims of the Catholic Inquisition, restoring them home both physically and spiritually. Netivyah International also promotes the effort to serve our men on the front lines in Israel.
You can contribute through Netivyah International supporting the existing projects in Netivyah Israel and our New Projects in 2024. Netivyah International is a registered 501(c)3 organization. The 2023 year end tax letters and email will be mailed out the 31st of January 2024 for donations that were made using the Netivyah USA buttons or done via cheque mailed to PO Box 1387, Mount Juliet, TN 37122 USA.
Every contribution you make to Netivyah International will always go to the place and project where you mark your contributions. All your contributions earmarked for projects in Israel will go to Israel, for projects like the HaMotzi food program, scholarships for students who study in the Universities and academic institutions in Israel, working with the youth, covering traveling expenses, and special gifts for our soldiers for the holidays( a project that has been a great blessing and a source of inspiration and assurance that they are not alone but have a community of Jewish Disciples of Yeshua that is standing with them.)
Shalom
[i] The quotation originated in the 1854 poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ written by the UK Poet Laureate of the time, Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-92).
For updates or request please email us at Prayer@netivyahinternational.org Pray for faithful brothers and sisters in Israel. If you want to post an encouraging message there are multiple public platforms you can do it on. This will provide you a way to connect with the family of faith on this list who can access Facebook, Internet Website and Instagram. Netivyah International Socials Web: https://www.netivyahinternational.org/news/categories/jerusalem-prayer-list Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/netivyahusa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/netivyah_international/ Joseph Shulams Socials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josephbshulam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephshulam/ Your prayers for brothers and sisters whom you don’t know personally is a pure love and pure building of the Body of the Messiah. It is really Agape Love since you are doing this without any selfish interests and casting a vote in heaven for someone who is your brother but you don’t know him or her, and God looks at these prayers that are unselfish and true expression of love and care for another link in the long chain of love and faith that binds us together even though we might not know each other in this world. When we all get to heaven what a joy it will be to meet people that we prayed for and sometime even cried for brothers and sisters who are physically strangers, but spiritually a part of the same body of Christ that one day we will have the privilege to seat together and share: “I remember praying for you to be healed!” “I remember praying for you to be safe when you were fighting in Gaza to free the hostages from the cruel hands of the terrorists of the Hamas in Gaza Serious prayers for our war with Hamas to end soon and all the hostages to be returned safe and in one piece home to their loved ones! Pray for our soldiers and especially for the soldiers that we know and appreciate: Yuda, Emanuel the son of Victor and Ayala, Amiel and Solomon and Ezekiel Intrater, Reuven and Clil Kovner, and any other children of Believers and of course for all of the men and women serving this country. I hate that our boys, the men of our congregation, still serve in the Army and most of them in reserves have to fight and use weapons and do war to protect the civilian population of Israel from terrorism driven by hate and blindness. Please pray for the Middle East and for the world to see and understand what the reality is here in this part of the world. The lands that provided King David, the prophets, and Yeshua the Messiah – want peace with our neighbors. But they don’t want the hand that is stretched out in peace. They want to kill all the Jews and take their land, which is flourishing and a blessing for all the world, and make it a dump like their own place in Gaza and in the Arab countries. In Jerusalem pray for the following brothers and sisters who need divine grace and the gentle touch of the hand of God for healing and strength.
New Batya Segal is coping with treatments for lymphoma. Please pray for her to be free of pain and free from fatigue. Restoration of her health and freedom from cancer
Ilana Ahijervie, is a dear sister who is 98 years old and suffering from memory problems. Please pray for our dear sister Lea Kurkey. Sarit, a sister born in Jerusalem, over 88 years old, lives alone. Has no close family, and suffers from several old-age illnesses. Please keep praying for Marcia Shulam my wife. Pray that Marcia’s memory will stop weakening, that her arthritis will be healed and stop being active, and her strength to return to where she can take more care of herself. Please pray for Joseph Shulam, I had a biopsy of several overgrown lymph nodes in my chest and other internal parts. I am waiting for results which will be several weeks out. Also, ask prayer for me and my family and all the sick and needing healing and grace from our Heavenly Father! Your prayers for Alexander, Sarah, and Andrew, who were raised as believers and have left their faith behind, have been answered, the Divine Shepherd guided these members of the same family gently back to the fold, please keep praying for their general and spiritual welfare! Pray for Adam’s father and mother, Barry and Dalia. They too have some health problems and challenges. Pray for Miriam and Hannah her daughter. Miriam is a dear sister and has lost her husband recently. Pray for Daniel S. and his children. Our dear leader in the Ro’eh Israel congregation, Gary, and his health, and for his wife Melanie and their family. Pray for Um Mahmud Abu-Eid and Jimmy Abu-Eid and all of the family. This is a dear family of old friends that needs healing and wisdom for the children and their work. Please pray for the Romero family who live deep in the Negev desert. It is hot there and they are far from our congregation and we miss them. Please pray for Shannon’s father, Michael McGoff, Michael had heart surgery and we need to pray for his full recovery. Pray for brothers and sisters in the U.K. We bless our dear sister Celestine with health and blessings from Heaven for her life and her family. We pray for the Lord to be her comfort and provide sister Celestine with all her physical spiritual and social needs with His grace. Pray for Deborah Isaiah. I pray for the Lord to find Deborah Isaiah and lead her to a blessed life and family and a solution to her problems. Pray for our dear brother Dennis D’Costa and his family, as they find their way and have a clear vision of what and where God wants them to live and serve and grow their family. Lord open the right doors for Dennis D’Costa and his family. Pray for brothers and sisters in Australia A dear friend from Hong Kong, Bonnie, asked that we pray for her brother who lives in Australia. Bonnie’s brother’s name is Ray Chen. Please mention the name Ray Chen and ask God to show this man the grace of God and God’s powerful healing of body and soul and restoration of faith and life of holiness and sanctity. In Finland, we have some precious and dear brothers and sisters who need our prayers:
Pray Mauno Lemponen, he has been diagnosed with cancer in advanced stages. We are asking for Gods Will to be done giving him healthy days with family. Prayers for Hilka, Miika and Ester who are supporting each other.
Pray for Keijo and Salme, our dear partners and fellow workers in God’s flock. Both Keijo and Salme have some challenging heart issues. Sipra, our dear sister in Nokia is a widow with some health issues. Satu-Maria, Sinni Tuuli, Anne Mirjami, our dear sisters, and all our other brothers and sisters in Finland who need our prayers: Eva H., Patty, Andrea, Julia and Victor, Aaron Tani, and Hillel. Please don’t forget to pray for the health of Kari Antilles in Finland. He is a dear brother and supporter in prayer for Netivyah for many years. In Brazil Pray for the congregations related to Netivyah in Brazil, to have the strength and stamina to face the challenges in front of them with courage and strength of faithfulness to the Lord, and the vision of the restoration of the church and Israel. Pray for the millions of victims of the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisition who have been forced to convert to the Catholic church, and now want to return home to the land of Israel and the faith of our fathers. Pray for the state of Israel to open the doors for these lost Jews to be able to return and fulfill God’s promises to the prophet Ovadyah: “But on Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. The house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau, For the Lord has spoken. The South shall possess the mountains of Esau, And the Lowland shall possess Philistia. They shall possess the fields of Ephraim And the fields of Samaria. Benjamin shall possess Gilead. And the captives of this host of the children of Israel Shall possess the land of the Canaanites As far as Zarephath. The captives of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad Shall possess the cities of the South. Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion To judge the mountains of Esau, And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.” — Obadiah 1:17-21 [NKJV] Pray for a dear young man, Paulo, from Curitiba, Brazil, who seriously needs our prayers for sanity and mental health. Pray for Rita Sassai, from Vitória, ES. Please pray for a dear sister with the name: Claudia Rita Souze Arau. She has cancer and needs God’s healing hands to touch her with healing. Fatima Maria Docarmo Guimararaes - pray for her health and her granddaughters' twin babies. Pray for Livia Schnell Nothen, she has some issues with her physical health and a growth in her adrenal gland. And other health issues. Guilherme Antonio Nothen Becker is suffering from back problems. Aratuza de Oliveira his wife. Pray for this 3-year-old child that has serious problems with his eyes and ask the Lord to give healing to his eyes. This child’s name is Caique de Oliveira Becker. Please pray for Bruno Henrique Cardoso Jr. for his studies and his health. A 70-year-old Pastor Paulo C. Pereira Braga Dias, is the father of a dear sister in Brazil and suffers from diabetes. Pray for Roberto Morias, a dear brother who is going through heart surgery and an angiogram. In Asia, we have several brothers and sisters who need our prayers. Please pray for a dear 71-year-old sister called Bee Kim. She lost consciousness on February 26, 2023. She has not regained her consciousness after a massive stroke. Pray for pastor T.J. in Taiwan. Brothers and sisters in China Pray for Deborah Ruth a dear sister from China Pray for sister Reiko Ishiida and Elder Takeo and his wife Tomoko from Tokyo, Dr. Yuizawa, Pastor Yushida, and his family. Pray for Sister Yoko Nagumo in Japan. In India, Pastor Isaac, from Chennai, needs our prayers. Pastor Isaac is suffering from kidney problems and has to have dialysis several times per week. Tony Tam and his wife Luisa and son Marco need special prayer for their situation. We continue to pray for Zhou Wenrian, the Abe family, Toru San, Yumi Ohara, and her family. Deborah Ruth, Ayla, and Daniel and their daughter. Dr. Song, and his wife Sister Harriet Kim. Please pray for Ruby K. from Hong Kong. Ruby has gone through a very complicated surgery for multiple cancers in her body. The surgery was very long, and Ruby is back home now recovering. Please lift Ruby K. and ask the Lord to heal and deliver Ruby from Hong Kong. Pray for family and friends and dear brothers and sisters in the United States of America. Ray Jimenez from California is batteling leukemia. Pray for god to sustain him and his time with the family. update Troy Jr. is in the hospital in Roanoke VA. This is one of Beth's uncles. Continue to pray for improvement of his liver function and strength. We are hopeful he will transition to a rehabilitation center. Rabbi Levy had a Stroke in Dallas, please pray for doctors and his recovery. Please continue to pray for the daughter of Bill Culwell, who is very sick with cancer she is receiving a second round of treatment. Please pray for success and healing. Jonathan Bernis is in a long six-month recovery from a liver transplant. We thank God for this match. Please pray for this new liver to function and provide much-needed function. Please pray for Elisangela and the girls and also for the doctors and nurses who are attending our dear brother Jonathan Bernis. Andrew Huffines, has complications from long-term covid. Please pray for my family in the United States: Barry my son and his wife Beth, and for Joey my grandson. Pray for their divine protection and health. Pray for Danah my daughter's health issues. I pray for the Lord to give Danah wisdom peace and calm in life and her work. Pray for Noaam my granddaughter. She is working two jobs now and needs good health and wisdom to make the right choices and plans for life, education, immigration to Israel, and just general protection from all harm. Pray for David Young the preacher in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who is back to preaching after recovering from medical issues. Please keep David in your prayers. Aaron Hook, Nancy Hook’s oldest son, needs our prayers for wisdom and healing from past issues of life. Lift for blessing and healing Jonathan B. and his wife Aviva and their new baby, his mother, and his brother Daniel. Pray for these very important men of God: Rabbi Salt, his family, and Rabbi Hasselblad. They are both older and need protection and blessings. Also, pray for Ilana Avramov who is married to my cousin Nissim and lives in New York City. Ilana has fallen and is now in rehab learning how to walk again. We pray for her full recovery. She and Nissim both need our prayers. Steve Mock - His cognitive condition has declined, and we ask for the grace of God and His Healing and strength. Steve and Josie’s son Joseph- named after Joseph Shulam – has received a wonderful and glorious report. After the last bone marrow transplant the report is that the doctors didn’t find any leukemia in his body! Praise the Lord! Pray for three women of God in Canada who need healing, Lynda, Sandy, and Joanne. I am asking a special prayer for a dear brother and friend who is now doing greatly important work in a very dangerous and precarious part of the world. Just mention DadyLion in your prayers, and ask for divine protection and angelic accompaniment for this man of God. For updates or requests please email us at
Prayer@netivyahinternational.org
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