The Jerusalem Prayer List – March 24th, 2011

Israel is under attack again! More than seventy rockets have been shot from the Gaza Strip against cities like Beer-shave, Ashkelon, Shederoth, and smaller villages and farms close to the boarder with Gaza. In Jerusalem yesterday afternoon a bomb exploded near the central bus station and killed one sixty years old woman, and wounded several dozen citizens, children, old people, and even tourists. All of this just a few days after terrorists entered a home last Friday night and slaughtered a family of five who were sleeping peacefully in their bedrooms, and among the five there were three little children. If Israel kills some Palestinian terrorists on their way to preform acts of terrorism and there is collateral damage and some citizens are killed by mistake the whole world is up in arms and very quick to condemn Israel. Israel needs your prayers at this time. The whole Middle East is boiling. Syria has a hundred dead today after Assad's forces opened live fire on demonstrators in the city of Darah in Southern Syria. Libya is being bombed with cruise missiles from United States submarines, and French and English jets. Egypt is still not settled with the “revolution” and under military rule. Bahrain is getting military reinforcements from Saudi Arabia. All of the Arab world is actually boiling and Israel is in the middle of the sea, or shall I say Ocean, of Arab and Islamic mess. I suppose that God has put us here to be an island of freedom, democracy and sanity in a mad mad world. I feel like the writer of the Psalms who in two verses expressed the way I feel and the way Israel is feeling these days. “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.” (Psa. 27:13) “Unless the LORD had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence.” (Psa. 94:17) Please keep Israel and the whole Middle East in your prayers. Some people say that these events might be sings that the Lord is coming soon. I hope so! But, I can't say anything with assurance if these events are really sings of the end of times or not, but I can say with full assurance that these are very ominous sings for of very ominous possibilities that can turn our whole world into the next great World War with very serious consequences for Israel and the world. The least that the Body of the Messiah can do is lift up their hands and cry unto God begging for mercy for the Arab countries, and for Israel, and for the whole world. As you pray for Israel and for the Middle East and the Arab countries – please mention Japan and ask God to show His mercy on Japan and the Japanese people. It seems like the nuclear radiation has entered into the water system in the Tokyo area and around, and that it has also affected the vegetables and milk and other commodities. Please pray for our brothers in Japan. I also heard good news today and that is that our dear brother Takashi Yokoyama and his family has been found in a shelter.

On next Monday we are going to the Supreme Court of Israel to hear the verdict on our case for the building permit. This is probably going to be one of the most important cases for all Jewish Disciples in the land of Israel. We have had three rounds in different judicial institutions and we have had victory in all of them up to now. The Supreme Court of Israel is the last station and the most important one. This court has been the stalwart protector of civil rights and justice in this country and we have every reason to believe that according to the law of the State of Israel we are going to win this case and get the building licenses and as soon as we do we will need the funds to immediately start the construction on our building. So, we ask you to pray for victory in this case and for the justice of the Israeli law to be seen in this land and around the world. We will also ask you to pray for the finances that are needed to do this construction and make our building downtown Jerusalem more useful and accommodating for our community.

The Passover Holiday is fast approaching and we are beginning to pack new backpacks full of goodies for our soldiers and for soldiers of family of believers from other congregations. Nancy Hook and Yuda our youth director are actually doing the work for these backpacks. It is a real boost and an encouragement for these young soldiers to receive such a gift for the Passover Holiday. These gift is given with the inscription, “From Netivyah with Love.” Each one of these back packs costs about 150 dollars. The backpacks are first class and very useful for these soldiers to carry their “stuff” to and from their bases. Please pray for all the soldiers from homes of believers and their safety and good influence during their years of service in the army.

I am beginning to work toward the next International Conference for the restoration of the Marrano Jews of Portugal and their acceptance in Israel as Jews and eligible for Aliyah (immigration) to Israel. I shall need your prayers for this major project.

Here is a list of the sick that we are praying for their healing from God.
Mr. Ishiida in Japan.
Mrs. Abe's mother in Japan.
Ruby in Oklahoma City.
Paulo in Curitiba, Brazil.
Ahuva, Liora, Leah, Ilana, Sarit, Marcia, Adina, Mayrav, and Zvi and Sara, in Jerusalem.
Danah and Noaam in California, USA
Horace and June Saunders in Tennessee, USA

Thank you for praying and for being intercessors for these brothers and sisters who need healing.

Thank you for praying for us and please don't forget to pray every day and every hour for the Supreme Court of Jerusalem and for the justice system in this country to work according to the law.

God bless you and thank you for your financial support, your prayers, and your care for Israel and the Jewish people and for the Kingdom of God.

Joseph Shulam