The Jerusalem Prayer List – February 2, 2024
By Joseph Shulam
The Torah reading for this Shabbat is of great importance for all believers, especially today. The Reading on Shabbat, February 3rd, 2024, is The Portion called Yetro (Jethro). Jethro is a priest of Median and the father of Zipporah, the wife of Moses.
Our Readings today are
From The Torah: Exodus 18:1-20:23.
From the Prophets: Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-7.
From the New Testament: Matthew 19:16-26.
The Torah Portion Yetro teaches an essential lesson for fighting religious bigotry and racism in Judaism. Yetro was not an Israelite; he was a priest of Midian, a Gentile Priest of a Pagan nation. Yes, in the reading, Yetro (Jethro) is giving Moses good advice on managing his time and energy and becoming more efficient in leading the people of Israel. Reading further in Exodus after this Torah portion, we see that Moses took his father-in-law Yetro's advice and appointed other men of Israel to take some of the day-to-day tasks of leading, managing, and administrating the issues and problems of the people of Israel.
One of the problems of great leaders is to learn to allocate and appoint men and women who will help them manage their time more efficiently. Moses understood this from his Father-in-Law, Yetro. Many good men and leaders like Moses think that they can do everything alone, and each good Pastor, preacher, and Rabbi needs to learn what Yetro taught Moses:
The first thing we can all learn from Yetro and Moses is the ability to show respect and a broadminded attitude toward other people’s religions. Yetro, in the camp of Israel, worshiped and sacrificed to the God of Israel out of respect and tolerance. Religious sectarianism and prejudice have no place in the lives and hearts of true disciples of Yeshua and servants of God.
Moses accepts the wisdom and management skills his father-in-law Jethro shares with him and is willing to learn essential leadership lessons from him. A statement in Jewish Rabbinical literature says: “Accept the Truth from anyone who states it!” Here we have an excellent example of the great Moses, a person who has spoken to God and heard from Him face to face, and he has to learn the management of people and time from his father-in-law, a Priest of Midian.
What is the primary lesson for all of us from this story in our Torah reading of this Shabbat? There is something for us to learn from people from whom we least expect to gain knowledge. There is another story of a very old and wise blind man who lived in Iraq right near the Euphrates River. The old and blind Rabbi challenged the young Jewish students in the Rabbinical academy, and they set out to prove that he was not as wise as people think. So, they devise a scheme proving that the old Rabbi can be wrong. They organize to take him on a boat ride in the river. As the boat glides on the waters of the Euphrates River, they ask the Rabbi: “O great sage and Torah Scholar, we have a question to ask you. Good said the Rabbi, ask! We have a bird in our hand; is this bird dead or alive?” These young men contemplated that if the Rabbi said it was a dead bird in their hand, they would open their hand, and the bird would fly away, and the Rabbi would hear it! If the old blind Rabbi says that the bird is alive, they will press the neck of the bird, and the bird will be dead. – These young scholars figured that the Rabbi would give the wrong answer one way or another, and they would prove that he was not as wise as the congregation imagined. The Old Rabbi answered these young men, “The answer is in your hand!” - The young students were once more convinced that the reputation of the old and blind Rabbi is justified and that although old and blind, he is indeed the wisest Rabbi in the community.
We must learn that truth is truth no matter who has it, a wise leader like Moses or a pagan priest of Midian, his father-in-law! Our pride, prejudice, and racist bent often prevent us from learning and gaining truth, wisdom, and knowledge. This Torah portion, called after Moses’s Father-in-law, Yetro (Jethro), is a reminder that there is something for us to learn from just about everyone.
The Second major thing that is important for us to learn from this Torah portion is from chapter 19 of Exodus. This is another of these most important lessons in our walk in faith before the Lord. There is no such thing as a casual meeting and encounter with God. Moses himself and all of the community of Israel, all those people who experienced crossing the sea on dry land, saw the Egyptian chariots and their soldiers drown in the Red Sea and shared the deliverance from Egyptian slavery, still had to prepare for the divine encounter and revelation of the giving of the Torah from Mount Sinai.
Let us see what and how they had to prepare for that special occasion of the most extraordinary divine encounter of so many people, a vast congregation in the Sinai desert hearing and seeing the presence of God Himself with Audio and Video for men, women, and children. Here is what God required of every member of the people of Israel to prepare for the special event of God’s revelation on Mount Sinai.
This is another reminder that is important for all of us to remember. Under that mountain, there were not only Israelites. There was a “mixed multitude” that joined Israel in the exodus from Egypt. Several non-Israelite tribes and peoples followed the Israelites, walked away from Egypt, and crossed the Red Sea on dry land with the Israelites. Here is the text that proves this vital detail that is often forgotten, both by Jews and by Christians. This detail is significant because it shows God’s universality and the Torah’s universality and accessibility to anyone who would accept and practice it voluntarily. The Israelites had no choice. They were bound to the Lord and the Torah by an oath. They swore before the Lord on the foot of Mount Sinai; then all the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” So, Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.” (Exodus 19:8)
To have this divine encounter of the Israelites and those tribes and peoples who joined Israel out of Egypt, they all had to prepare three days: Exodus 19:10-12, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow and let them wash their clothes. 11. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day, the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, “Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.”
This is a fundamental lesson for all of us to take seriously. God is not our buddy, and He demands respect. We cannot be too casual and act like God is just one of our acquaintances. We have several stories in the Bible of people who had good intentions and tried to help God but crossed the boundaries and touched the Ark of the Covenant and died right on the spot, like Uzza when David and the Priests were bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
We learn from the detailed preparation of all the people gathered under Mount Sinai that it was essential not to speak and act like God, the world's creator is just one of our neighborhood friends. First, they had to wash themselves and their clothing; second, they had to abstain from relationships with their wives for three days; and third, they could not touch the mountain. We would all take a bath and wear clean and honorable clothes if we were invited to the White House in Washington, D.C. Think of how much more it would be if God came down and we had a personal appointment to be in His presence.
I am shocked when I hear and see Christians from some sects (denominations) command God to do this or that in the name of Jesus! We can’t speak to God as if he is our waiter in some fancy restaurant. We can’t be talking to a server like some pastors speak to God, demanding and commanding Him to do this or that in the name of Jesus! Please keep on reading the text of Exodus to the end of Exodus chapter 20 and see how the people of Israel, even after being prepared for three days for this divine encounter with the Creator at the foot of Mount Sinai, feared even Moses as he came down the mountain holding the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. The people asked Moses to cover his face because the Glory of God was so bright….
The last thing I would like to encourage you, my dear brothers and sisters, is to take the Ten Commandments seriously. Especially the commandment to honor the name of God, stay faithful, honor our fathers and mothers, and not covet either “Things” or Relationships with our neighbor’s wife…. The Ten Commandments are the most basic and essential pre-requisites for a good relationship with the Almighty Creator and Master of the Universe, our Father, who, thanks to Yeshua (Jesus), we can all call ABBA – FATHER!
It has been a very long time since I’ve heard teaching in Church on Fearing the Lord! This phrase appears in the Word of God 32 times. It must be important!
It is a false teaching that now that we have Yeshua as our savior who died for us and resurrected from the dead after three days and is seated on the right hand of our Father and getting ready to return to Jerusalem and judge all flesh, we can show little respect for God our FATHER in Heaven!
Proverbs 3:7 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.”
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. [note from Barry Shulam] update Joseph Shulam received a notice for scheduling a review of the biopsy results with his primary doctor. The biopsy states Pancreatic Neuroendocrine tumor grade 1. Additional PET Scans are needed and have yet to be scheduled. Please keep Joe and Marcia in your prayers. If you are compelled to help the Shulam family, support can be provided through https://www.netivyahinternational.org/support-us Tentatively Mom and Dad are scheduled to visit the USA in late February [-----------------------------------------------------------------]
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. 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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