JPL March 8, 2024

The Jerusalem Prayer List – March 8, 2024

By Joseph Shulam - From Mount Juliet, Tennessee, USA

The Jerusalem Prayer List – March 7th, 2024

By Joseph Shulam

March is called Adar in Hebrew, the last month of the ancient Hebrew Biblical year, as it was celebrated in Israel in the pre-exilic period. Pre-exilic refers to before the Babylonian Exile from the land of Israel. The elite population of Israel, the King and his family, the elite society of the rich and powerful, and the priesthood from the temple were all taken from Israel (Judea) to Babylon. We have biblical books written during this exile period; the Book of Daniel is one of these books. A part of the Book of Daniel is written not in Hebrew but in Aramaic. The same is true for Ezra and Nehemiah.  

This week's Torah reading is from the portion called Vayak'hel, which translates as “Gathered” – “Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together…” This verse is interesting.

 When you read the Torah, and especially as we are approaching the reading of the end of the book of Exodus, you begin to realize that those twelve tribes were big and numerous, and gathering all of them in one location and at the same time was no simple task. We know the exact number of men between the ages of 20 and 50 who could go to fight in the war: 603,550 men who could fight in the battles. If you add one wife and one child for each man between 20 and 50, you get 1,810,650 people of Israel from the 12 tribes of Israel. Most of the cities in Israel, from the ern border with Lebanon and Syria to the southernmost border with Egypt, don’t even come close to this number of over a million citizens. 

So, when the Torah states in the first verse of our Torah reading this next Shabbat that Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, we should be amazed, "Wow!” Remember, please, that there were no cell phones, no big loudspeakers. All these people had to come from the valley and hill to a location specified for this significant great gathering of all of Israel to hear the words of Moses. I want to find an answer to the question: what was so important that Moses had to gather all the people of the camp at this very point in their arduous traveling through one of the harshest deserts between Egypt and Israel? 

First, let me share the reading schedule for this Shabbat of March 8th, 2024. 

The name of the Torah portion is Vayak'hel – “And He gathered …”. The Torah reading is from Exodus 35:1-38:20. 

The reading from the Prophets is from 2 Kings 11:17 – 12:17. 

From the New Testament, we will read from Matthew 17:22-27. 

I confess that the reading from the New Testament is often very short, and I don’t like it. However, it is a kind of concession that others who also read from the Torah, the Prophets, and the New Testament have made, and I don’t want to break the lines all the time.  

So, back to the question that I want to address in this Shabbat’s reading portion. Why was it so important for Moses to gather all of Israel for a public meeting in the Sinai desert?

The beginning words of Moses to the children of Israel are legislation for the worker's rights. We must remember that these people are the families and children of enslaved people. Enslaved people in Egypt, like in most of the world, don’t have such a thing as “worker’s rights!” The enslaved people and those who work at the same hard level, even today, don’t have workers' rights. See footnote, please! [1]

This is the first thing that Moses tells these formerly enslaved people: 

“Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.”  (Exodus 35:2 NKJV) 

Moses is doing two essential things in the opening statement of this august gathering: 

1) Everyone in Israel's camp is equal across the nation! The leader and the cleaning woman, the old and the young, the white and black, red and Yellow, educated and ignorant—all are equal and should take advantage of that seventh day of rest. 

2) “Work shall be done for six days…” Moses starts with the candy. Everyone is given a day of rest, a day of freedom to do and pursue any of their hobbies, play with their children, take a walk, or go to the beach on Shabbat (that is if you live by the Sea, lake, or spring of fresh water.) Equality and Freedom are the first commands that Moses gives in this gathering of all of Israel.  

The second thing that Moses commanded for this large gathering of all of Israel's representatives was a fund-raising campaign, fundraising for a specific project, not just asking people to give money for unspecified projects. This money was to be collected for a particular project: the building of the Tabernacle of God in the Wilderness of Sinai.

 What is interesting to me is that Moses doesn’t say to give only gold, silver, and other precious materials for building the portable tent that represents the house of God in the middle of the camp of Israel. This specification of what is needed and what can be contributed to the project is something that I have never seen in any church anywhere in the world. Can we learn from this Torah portion that fund-raising ought to be done with specific marked projects and visible results of the use of the contributions available to the entire community of Israel’s people?  

Reading this Torah portion also has another crucial issue surrounding any funds needed and raised. 

1) The offerings to the Lord are to be given from “Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart…” 

 2) “Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting…” 

I remember well that the last time that I wrote and taught this Torah portion, I already pointed out these rules that God is commanding Moses to command the people of Israel in the wilderness. This year, I am again mentioning these rules from God and requirements for ourselves. 

You see, dear brothers and sisters, giving in the biblical context is always relative! It is relative to who gives, what he provides, and why. The money, gold, silver, leather, or wood can go to the right place and will be a blessing for those who receive it and accept it with holy hands. But, If one of these parameters for giving is not sincere or nonexistent, not given from a willing heart, or given with a grudging spirit and a sour attitude, the gift will be witnessed against him on the day of judgment. One of the statements in the New Testament that I love and fear the most is from the letter of James (Jacob in all languages except English):

James 5:1-5, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.”   

I have not aggressively pushed giving or contributions. But when several Torah portions deal with giving and contributions to the Lord’s work, I often use these texts from God’s Word in the Torah or from the New Testament texts that deal with giving. Interestingly and not well known, all of Paul’s letters (and the letters to the churches from the other apostles) are fund-raising letters:

Paul's Letter to the Roman Church: 

Romans 15:25-27, “But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.”

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Church:

1 Corinthians 16:1-4, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.”

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian Church:

2Corinthians 8:1-9, “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. Christ Our Pattern 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

From the reading of the Prophets, we can also learn a fundamental lesson: 

This reading from 2 Kings 11:15 has rare usage in churches, but for churches and synagogues who are entering a building project this text is tailor-made: 

These events are during a darker chapter of Northern Israel’s history. The kings of the Northern Kingdom introduced the worship of BAAL (The chief Canaanite God) and persecuted the true worshipers of The God of Israel. There were murders of kings, and Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw her son dead, and she killed all the royal heirs.[2] 

The phrase "there is a scandal in the family" doesn't do the situation in the Northern Kingdom of Israel justice.  

The hidden aspirations of one family against another among the nobility of the Northern Kingdom are the reason for this degradation of the Royal House of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Because of this disunity and the hidden agendas of the mothers, uncles, and children to capture power and rule the country, they brought enemies from the North and the South to take advantage of the broken internal unity in the nation. The big empires from the North also took advantage of that weakness, and we have one of the saddest historical pictures of Israel’s defeat and humiliation in front of the King of Babylon. 

The quote "Those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it" underscores the importance of understanding history to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. By Studying historical events, patterns, and outcomes, individuals, societies, and governments can gain valuable insights to make better decisions and prevent the recurrence of negative events or practices.  In the context of human trafficking and slavery, this quote carries significant weight. History is replete with instances of exploitation, degradation, and abuse

 of vulnerable populations through systems of forced labor and slavery. Understanding the factors that allowed such practices to flourish in the past can help us identify and address the root causes of contemporary forms of exploitation, including human trafficking.

By learning from historical injustices and atrocities, policymakers, activists, and communities can work together to develop more effective strategies to combat modern-day slavery and human trafficking. This may involve enacting and enforcing laws and regulations, promoting awareness and education, supporting at-risk populations, and fostering international cooperation to address the transnational nature of these crimes.

In essence, by heeding the lessons of history and actively working to prevent the recurrence of past injustices, we can strive to create a more just, equitable, and humane society for all.

Footnotes

[1] In what countries and places is human slavery or sex slavery still existing? Unfortunately, human trafficking, including forced labor and sex trafficking, continues to exist in various countries worldwide. Some regions where human slavery or sex slavery is more prevalent include:

1. Southeast Asia: Countries like Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have reported high rates of human trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labor.

2. South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal also have significant issues with human trafficking, including sex trafficking and forced labor, particularly in regions with high poverty rates and social vulnerability.

3. Africa: In countries like Nigeria, Libya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and others, human trafficking is a significant concern, with victims often forced into labor or sexual exploitation.

4. Middle East: Countries in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar, have been reported to have cases of human trafficking for forced labor and domestic servitude.

5. Eastern Europe: Countries in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, and Romania, are known source, transit, and destination countries for human trafficking, including sexual exploitation and forced labor.

6. Latin America: Countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia have significant issues with human trafficking for various forms of exploitation, including sex trafficking and forced labor, even as you read this Jerusalem Prayer List, but success is minimal because there are powerful people, rich and well connected to politicians who stand behind some of these horrible modern “slave traders.”

It is needed for Governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide working to combat human trafficking through awareness campaigns, law enforcement efforts, victim support services, and international cooperation. Awareness, education, and advocacy are key in addressing and combating this global issue.

 (Referenced From Open AI via Chat GPT)

[2] 2 Kings 11:1-12. Athaliah destroyed all she knew to be akin to the crown. Jehoash, one of the King’s sons, was hid. Now was the promise made to David bound up in one life only, and yet it did not fail. Thus to the Son of David, the Lord, according to his promise, will secure a spiritual seed, hidden sometimes, and unseen, but hidden in God’s pavilion, and unhurt. Six years Athaliah tyrannized. Then the King was brought forward. A child indeed, but he had a good guardian, and, what was better, a good God.

---

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 you don't know personally are pure love and building of the Body of the Messiah. It is Agape Love since you are doing this without any selfish interests and casting a vote in Heaven for someone who is your brother. Still, you don't know them, and God looks at these prayers that are unselfish and genuine expressions 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, it will be a joy to meet people we prayed for and sometimes even cried for. Brothers and sisters who are physically strangers but spiritually a part of the same body of Christ, I believe that one day we will have the privilege to sit 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."

Continue earnest 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, especially for the soldiers we know and appreciate Emanuel, the son of Victor and Ayala, Amiel and Solomon Eze, Kiel Intrater, 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. 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 reality is in this part of the world. The land that provided for King David, the prophets, and Yeshua the Messiah want peace with our neighbors.

But our neighbors don't want the hand that is stretched out in peace. They want to kill all the Jews and take the land, which is flourishing and a blessing for all the world, and make it a dump like their own place in Gaza and the Arab countries. 

[note from Barry Shulam]

Update:

• Joseph Shulam has Cancer—pancreatic Neuroendocrine tumor grade 1. We had a consultation with TN Oncology on Tuesday, and a PET Scan is scheduled for Thursday, March 7.  

• Please keep Joe and Marcia in your prayers. Please keep praying for Marcia Shulam, my wife. Pray that Marcia's memory will stop weakening, her arthritis will be healed and stop being active, and her strength to return to where she can take more care of herself. If you feel compelled to help the Shulam family, you can provide support at https://www.netivyahinternational.org/support-us.

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.

• Batya Segal is coping with the cancer treatment's effects and is faithfully waiting for clean PET Scan results.

• 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, is over 88 years old and lives alone. She has no close family and suffers from several old-age illnesses.

• Your prayers for Alexander, Sarah, and Andrew, who were raised as believers but 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 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.

• Pray for Gary, our dear leader in the Ro'eh Israel congregation, and his health, as well as for his wife Melanie and their family.

• Pray for Um Mahmud Abu-Eid, 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 for 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.

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, 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, serve, and grow their family. Lord, open the right doors for Dennis D'Costa and his family.

In Australia:

• A dear friend from Hong Kong, Bonnie, asked that we pray for her brother, Ray Chen, who lives in Australia. Please mention Ray Chen and ask God to show this man the grace of God and God's powerful healing of body and soul, restoration of faith, and life of holiness and sanctity.

In Finland:

• New: Ester, a dear sister in the faith, is anxious about the results of some tests she has completed. We are thankful for the tests being done, and please pray for happy results. Waiting can be stressful, and we want to pray for her needs.

• Mauno Lemponen has been diagnosed with cancer in advanced stages. We are asking for God's Will to be done, giving him healthy days with family—prayers for Hilka, Miika, and Ester, who support 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.

• Pray for Satu-Maria, Sinni Tuuli, Anne Mirjami, our dear sisters

• Pray for Eva H., Patty, Andrea, Julia, Victor, Aaron Tani, and Hillel.

• Please remember to pray for Kari Antilles' health in Finland. He has been a dear brother and supporter of Netivyah in prayer for many years.

In Brazil:

• Pray for the Congregations related to Netivyah in Brazil to have the strength and stamina to face the challenges ahead of them with courage and strength of faithfulness to the Lord and to 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 named 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. 

• Guilherme Antonio Nothen Becker is suffering from back problems.

• Aratuza de Oliveira and his wife. Pray for their 3-year-old child, Caique de Oliveira Becker, who has severe problems with his eyes, and ask the Lord to give healing to his eyes. 

• 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:

• Please pray for dear sister Bee Kim, a 71-year-old who lost consciousness on February 26, 2023. She has not regained her consciousness after a massive stroke.

• Pray for Pastor TJ in Taiwan.

• Pray for Deborah Ruth, a dear sister from China.

• Pray for sister Reiko Ishiida, Elder Takeo, 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, his wife Luisa, and his son Marco need special prayers for their situation.

•  We continue to pray for Zhou Wenrian, the Abe family, Toru San, Yumi Ohara, and her family: Deborah Ruth, Ayla, Daniel, and their daughter. 

• Pray for Dr. Song and his wife, Sister Harriet Kim.

• Please pray for Ruby K. from Hong Kong. Ruby has gone through a highly complex surgery for multiple cancers in her body. The surgery was very long, and Ruby is back home now recovering. Ask the Lord to heal and deliver Ruby from Hong Kong.

In the United States of America:

• New: Add Brother Philip Slate and his wife. She is suffering from several physical and mental health challenges.  

• Drayton Ford (Marcia's great nephew), age 14, has had health issues related to mold exposure that are affecting his ability to heal and participate in a public school with mold contamination. Please pray for the family to have support and peace in the choices they need to make for Drayton's health and schooling.

•  Please keep Beth's family, the Hollandsworths, in your prayers as they celebrate the life of Troy Hollandsworth, Jr. and transition to a new normal without a loved one.

• Barbra and  Angie in Alaska. Barbra has some pains and discomfort related to old age. Please lift them in prayer for strength and reduction in pain.

• Ray Jimenez from California is battling leukemia. Pray for God to sustain him and his time with the family.

• Rabbi Levy had a Stroke in Dallas. Please pray for the doctors and his recovery.

• Please continue to pray for the daughter of Bill Culwell, who is very sick with cancer and 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 the doctors and nurses attending our dear brother Jonathan Bernis. 

• Andrew Huffines has complications from long-term COVID-19. 

• 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.

• Please 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.

• Aaron Hook, Nancy Hook's oldest son, needs our prayers for wisdom and healing from past life issues.

• Lift for blessing and healing Jonathan B., his wife Aviva, their new baby, his mother, and his brother Daniel. 

• Pray for these 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. 

• Pray for 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 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!

In Canada:

Pray for three women of God in Canada who need healing: Lynda, Sandy, and Joanne.

I am asking for a special prayer for a dear brother and friend who is now doing very 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