The Jerusalem Prayer List – 17 May, 2024
by Joseph Shulam - From Jerusalem Israel
The Torah and Prophets and New Covenant reading this next Shabbat is from the following texts:
Torah reading from the section called Emor (Say So!) Leviticus 21:1-24:23.
Prophets (The Haftarah) is read from Ezekiel 44:15-31.
From the Gospels, the reading from Matthew 26:59-66.
Every week, I read the texts that will be read in every Synagogue worldwide on the following Shabbat (as in Israel, we are always a week ahead of the Diaspora). It helps me consider what I will discuss with the readers. Sometimes, I want to share information and other times; I want to inspire your dear readers. This week, I would like to share with you from the Torah and Matthew 26 to encourage you.
I believe that what is going on in the USA and Europe on University and College campuses and also in Israel is like a dark, opaque curtain that is hiding the light of the Son (sun), which is, in a way, blinding the eyes of the wise and dumbing the minds of the wise. Let me start with the text of Leviticus 21:1—4ff.
I am pointing out the text for you, dear readers and prayer partners with us in Netivyah in Israel and Netivyah International (our new name for Netivyah USA).
"And the LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: 'None shall defile himself for the dead among his people, except for his relatives who are nearest to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother; also his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband, for her he may defile himself. Otherwise, he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself." (Leviticus 21:1-4 NKJV)
In this text, we have a pronouncement from God to Moses that His servants, the Priests, and those like the Levites who serve in the house of God have rules and regulations that set them apart and give them special status and privileges, but also some limitations. This pronouncement is a true paradigm among all the ancient religions worldwide. Not every Dick or Johnny can become a "Servant of God" in the house of God just because he attended preaching school or seminary for a couple of years, which pumped him with the doctrines and theological baggage of the denomination that supports the particular seminary. Essentially, the majority of those who are occupying pulpits in most of the Protestant and Evangelical denominations are privileged as spiritual leaders without any limitations or spiritual demands.
I have to share with you what happened to me in 1962, just a few months after I arrived in Dasher, Georgia, two miles north of the Florida border and a few miles south of Valdosta, Georgia. Georgia Christian School was an island in the swamps of South Central Georgia. The community of Dasher was mostly German Christians who escaped religious persecution before World War I and settled down far south in the state of Georgia. The church was small and all white, and among the names of the families were Copland, Wisenbaker, Ham, and more German family names. (A few were not a part of the German camp, like Bill Long, the President of Georgia Christian School, and Campbell.) Being the only Jew in the school, I was also the only Jew in the Church. I heard that there was a "Black" church not too far away, but I am not talking about the church building being painted black. The outside was white, and the people inside were black. I didn't understand the societal rules, so I walked to the little black church and found it lively and defiant; the singing was much more my style.
On the second Sunday night, I went to that lovely church and was warmly welcomed. That Sunday night service was very special. They had an out-of-town guest speaker. The speaker was a short man with graying hair who gave an inspiring lesson. At the end of the service, the preacher walked straight to me from the pulpit and asked me, "Young man, who are you?" - I answered in my green-horn English, I am Joseph from Jerusalem, Israel! "What are you doing here?" I answered. I am going to Georgia Christian School up the road. "What do you want to do with your life?" the preacher asked. "I want to preach the Gospel!" The black preacher said: "Don't!" "Don't unless God calls you to preach!" What is your name, sir? I asked. "My name is Marshal Keeble." The man answered. Mr Keeble was a powerhouse minister of the Churches of Christ.
The reading of the Torah tells us that not everyone can be a priest, not even if he is from the tribe of Levi and not necessarily even if he comes from a priestly family. God has to call you. How will I know that God has called me if you ask me? My answer would be decisive and clear! "I know because there is nothing else I want to do, and there is every price in the world I am willing to pay to share the Good News of The Messiah with my people in Israel."
Being a servant of God is a calling, not a job, and not a profession. I was so glad to discover soon after arriving at Georgia Christian School that Bill Long and Jessy, his brother, also had that same understanding. They understood that Serving God is something special and not a job.
Reading this portion of the Torah from Leviticus makes it clear that being servants of God and representing God for the people of God is a big responsibility, and it has privileges and limitations. After successfully building a congregation in Atlanta, Georgia, Bill Long left his job as a preacher and got into the car washing business. He stopped preaching until he could make enough money to live on from his car washing business and returned to preach in the Sandy Springs Church in Atlanta, now without a salary. Bill was a model for many, but especially for me because I had the privilege of traveling with him on weekends to represent the school as the Jewish mascot of Georgia Christian School.
Just take into consideration the following limitations that the book of Leviticus puts on those who are priests serving in the house of God: They can not attend the funerals of their friends. They can only participate in funerals of their own closest family members. They cannot continue to serve in the house of God if they have some physical disability. If the priest falls and breaks a leg or, by accident, becomes blind in one eye, he can't continue to serve in the house of God. He can't eat anything he wants; he can only eat meat consecrated from what parts are left from the offering on the Altar of God! They can't marry any woman they might like or fall in love with. My point is that being servants of God according to the Law of Moses as it is written in the book of Leviticus is, on the one hand, significantly limiting to your personal freedom and, at the same time, freeing you to enter the house of God on special occasions according to your particular responsibilities.
The reading of the prophets also contains something extraordinary. The priests who serve God and the people must wear simple, unadorned garments.
"But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood," says the Lord GOD. "They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge. And it shall be, whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, that they shall put on linen garments; no wool shall come upon them while they minister within the gates of the inner court or within the house. They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat. When they go out to the outer court, to the outer court to the people, they shall take off their garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and put on other garments; and in their holy garments they shall not sanctify the people. "They shall neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow long, but they shall keep their hair well trimmed. No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court. They shall not take as wife a widow or a divorced woman but take virgins of the descendants of the house of Israel or widows of priests. "And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. In controversy, they shall stand as judges and judge it according to My judgments. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings, and they shall hallow My Sabbaths." (Ezekiel 44:15-24 NKJV).
As you can see, the Lord commanded his servants what they should wear, what kind of haircut they should have, what they could drink, what they could eat, and who they could marry.
Of course, I don't advocate that today, the men of God, preachers, and elders would adopt or take upon themselves any of the rules and regulations of the priests of Israel in the temple in Jerusalem.
The lesson that I would like to see adopted and taken seriously is simple. If you are a servant of God to serve the people of God, you can't do as you please, dress as you please, or marry anyone you want to marry. There are discipline, privileges, and limitations. Just a few weeks ago, we read that the two sons of Aaron, the High Priest, died during their service in the house of the Lord because they took fire from the wrong place to light the altar of the Lord. I wonder what the big deal was and the difference between this fire and the other. Fire is fire! For God, it made a difference that cost Aaron and his two sons their lives.
My point is simple: dear brothers, don't choose to be preachers unless you know that God calls you! No salary or compensation will compensate for the days and nights that you will need to spend away from your family because a dear brother or sister had a car accident or a CVA (stroke), and you must rush to the hospital to encourage the wife and children. There are also the false accusations and gossip, and you name it, that preachers have to suffer. Preachers must ignore the criticism of others about your wife and your children for what they wear, what they spend, or what they don't do.
Preaching and serving God and the People of God is the most challenging task, not a job, but a calling from God. Not at all easy on you, the preacher, or your family. All that I am writing is true if you are a man of God serving the people of God!
Here are a few thoughts on the reading on this Shabbat from the Gospel of Matthew 26:59-62.
"Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last, two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.' "And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" (Matthew 26:59-62 NKJV)
In the New and Old Testaments, we read of corrupt priests who have become politicians and businessmen. What is described in the scriptures is still with us, but hopefully, it is not as prevalent or as big a problem.
I ask you all to pray for your congregation's leaders, preachers, elders, and deacons. If a person is called by God to serve God's flock and is faithful and true – there is nothing he doesn't deserve. However, if your leaders and preachers are excellent speakers and sharp teachers but not servants willing to wash their parishioners' feet, the congregation has a monumental problem.
Don't forget to pray for Israel – this war is absolutely horrible and too long, and too many are stirring the pot! Israel needs God's help, and we need your help and, above all, your prayers for the healing of the Israeli population. Marcia and I need your prayers for our health and God's mercies for healing us from complex and complicated health problems and challenges.
Since last week we have released new content you can find on our podcasts and YouTube
We have a new updated Hidden Treasures and are working on some new books.
You can now listen to our lessons as a podcast. on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music & Amazon Music.
A Torah Portion Podcast :
New Episode of the Jewish Jesus: Independence Day.
we have captions in Portuguese
New Episode of the Jewish Jesus: Remembrance Day.
we have captions in Portuguese
For updates or requests please email us at:
Prayer@netivyahinternational.org
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 Websites, 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."
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.
Joseph & Marcia Shulam
Dad's consultation in Jerusalem on 6th of May resulted in an agreement with the USA doctors to wait and do another PET CT in June. In addition a new consultation with a Pancreatic Cancer specialist regrading options for treatment will be scheduled.
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:
Praise Ester, a dear sister in the faith passed the tests with grace and the results are good news. We thank you for your prayers.
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 and the KIBI Ministry.
In the United States of America:
new Larry is asking for prayers for his grandchildren. I would say most of us that have grandchildren are concerned about the states of the world. The state of intolerance. The temptations out there. Please pray for the holy sprit to guide them in making good choices.
new Bill C. is having some additional test this week. We all dont like additional test so we can relate to this. Pray for Jill supporting him.
praise Ada Stanford is a good friend of Roger W. She is hold strong and healing. prayers for strength and healing after cancer surgery and following treatment plans.
praise Sue Earnest is Marcia's sister in-laws Mother. She has recovered from her fall and surgery.
Keep the Family of Raymond Dennis Jimenez Sr. in your prayer since has gone to be with the Lord.
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.
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.
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:
For updates or requests please email us at:Prayer@netivyahinternational.org
Comentarios