Author: אות ומופת - אורנה גרינמן

Humbled. Overjoyed. So grateful! These are just some of the words I can use to sum up this day.

All set up, ready to receive our special guests.
Some of the youth in our congregation practicing their music

This afternoon we had our Purim party for the holocaust survivors. It far exceeded all my expectations. Only 9 out of the 15 on our list were able to make it, and they sat there, heard parts of Yeshua’s story – and seemed to enjoy every moment of it.

Normally, our parties last about two hours, at the end of which they are worn out and ready to head home. Today, they sat there for over two and a half hours. I was ready to start packing, but you could tell they wanted to stay.

A while ago we visited M, who told us that she never leaves her home, especially not in order to attend happy events. Her daughter died nearly 20 years ago, and she is still mourning over her. Well, there she was, beautifully dressed up, jewelry around her neck and wrist, her nails made, smiling at us and enjoying the party.

Stewart Vinograd sharing God’s love

Stewart has been serving Holocaust survivors for years. It is through his organization that my initial contact with this group was made. Stewart boldly shared with them about Yeshua, about Messianic Jews and about the price many of us have to pay for our faith. I was surprised. I never imagined that we will have a chance to share the Gospel with them so soon, and so explicitly. It seems as if his words were received with open hearts, and that he even opened the door for further discussions.

Tony, my pastor, stood up next and invited them to see HaMaayan congregation as a home, with doors wide open, to which they can come with any need they may have. They clapped their hands. They were touched.

In between food and greetings, the youth of our congregation sang some songs. This was not exactly a traditional Purim party – but it was oh, so heartwarming!

Y, one of  the survivors, shared how in Purim, not only was Haman hanged. Apparently, in 1953, Stalin (a modern-day Haman), suffered a stroke and died, after issuing a decree to gather all of Russia’s Jews and send them to their death in Siberia. So as Russian Jews, this group had one more reason to celebrate.

Next was Bracha, a dear friend from Holland. Bracha, who worked as a guide at the Ten Boom Museum in Harlem, Holland shared the story of Corrie’s family. It all began over 100 years ago, when the grandfather read Ps. 126 and realized he is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. He turned to his pastor and asked why don’t they do that. The pastor’s responded that there is no need to pray for Jerusalem anymore, for this was just a part of history and not relevant to the present. Corrie’s grandfather realized it was up to him, and so started inviting people to his home to gather for weekly prayer meetings for Jerusalem.

When WWII broke, the Ten Booms were so full of love for the Jewish people, that they were not afraid of hiding them. They were able to save more than 600 Jews, some of which stayed in their home for long duration of time. Click here for more about the Ten Boom family.

 

Corrie Ten Boom. A Righteous Gentile

The Ten Boom family prior to the war

Albert, Bracha’s husband, shared next, about the work they have been doing for years with a Dutch team, restoring Jewish cemeteries throughout Europe. Accompanied by a beautiful presentation he shared about the sacred, aesthetic and delicate work the team did, as they were taking care of each gravestone. The survivors listened in awe, so touched by the caring these gentiles – who are supposed to be on the persecuting side – were showing Jews. Hearing Bracha and Albert, the love they have for the Jewish people and their desire to do something to comfort and restore, was like balm poured on these precious hearts.

 

Working on the restoration of graves in Jewish cemeteries throughout Europe

God opened doors today, that extend far beyond my plans. I am so grateful for that! And looking back, I know there is no way this could have happened without some of you backing us in prayer. There were just too many open doors, too much peace, to explain it in human terms.

On a different note. Please stand with us in prayer for R., one of the survivors. We have not been able to get in touch with her, and this week found out that she is not allowed to be in touch with anyone. Apparently, her relatives are abusing her, taking over her home and forbidding her to have any contact. We need wisdom in how to involve the authorities in a way that can be helpful and not cause more harm than good. We plan to visit her again early next week, when she will be most likely on her own. So PLEASE remember her in your prayers.

The literal meaning of the word Purim is “lots”. It is derived from the story about the lots Haman cast in order to determine the day in which the Jews throughout the Persian empire would be massacred.

 

The Jewish world will celebrate the feast of Purim this year on February 28 (which will be the 14th day of the Jewish month of Adar). It commemorates our salvation from that massacre schemed by Haman – the second in command to king Xerxes, in the year 357 BC. The story is described in the book of Esther. But though it tells of the miracles performed by God, it is the only book in the Bible in which neither the name of God, nor the land of Israel are mentioned – not even once. The name of the book in itself – “Esther” – is a hint to the “hiddeness” of God in it.

This is not something insignificant or random. The hiding of God’s Face is, in fact, the essence of the book. For example: Esther was the chosen queen, but the nature of her relationship with the king attests to alienation and estrangement. She is afraid to approach him, she beats around the bush until she gets to the point, and she is very insecure around him. And despite their official relationship, she is in no hurry to reveal her true identity to him.

So much like Israel’s relationship with God (well, maybe like the relationship of all of us with Him). We are also reluctant to approach Him (providing we believe He even exists). And we feel very insecure around Him, not sure if our many works earned us the right to be accepted and for our wishes to be granted. We even think we need to fast and recruit much support in prayer, in order to deserve any level of intimacy with Him.

I find it so interesting that Purim, out of all the Jewish feasts, is the only one we are specifically commanded to keep throughout every generation. It is said:

“These days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city… these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews and… the memory of them should not perish among their descendants” (Est. 9:28).

Why is that? Perhaps because all of the other feasts commemorate something that has already happened in the history of Israel, whereas Purim implies the complete redemption for which we are still waiting, redemption by the hand of God whose identity, and even name, are hidden from our eyes. Even the rabbis understood this truth and so said:

“In the future, all of the feats will be nullified… but the days of Purim will never be nullified” (Yalkut Shimoni, Proverbs, Remez 944).

Want to know more about why God is hiding His Face from us? Click here “His Faces” – new book now available

On March 1st I will hold a Purim party for the holocaust survivors we are blessed to work with. This will be the first time they agreed to come to our local congregation, and I am truly hoping and praying this will leave them wanting more. A Dutch couple who are dear friends of ours, will share with them about their work at the Corrie ten Boom Museum, and in restoring Jewish cemeteries throughout Europe over the years.

How can you pray for this event? First, that none of them will be reluctant to come because of the location; that God will begin to reveal Himself to these people from whom His face has been hidden all these years, and that their hearts will melt as they will hear the stories and be exposed to His love.

Three days after this party, on March 4, I will participate in another event that I would love to recruit prayer for. But this will have to wait for another post…

 

 

 

Loneliness. Such a clear and simple word, familiar to almost everyone. We go a long way in our attempts to ease it. My personal man-made answer to it used to be chocolate. Well, sometimes it still is. Or a good TV series, one that can numb my feelings for a weekend, suck me into someone else’s life and fool me into thinking the loneliness is gone.

When I’m a bit more aligned with myself, I reach out, invite someone over for a chat and spill my heart out. And when I am in a really good place, I put my snickers on, find a hill to climb on or a blossoming field to cross, and talk over my thoughts, ideas and needs with God, opening closed doors in my heart before Him and inviting Him into rooms I did not even know exist.

It’s amazing, by the way, how quickly He enters these places inside me, once I acknowledge them and invite Him in. As if He was standing behind the door, knocking and waiting like a Gentleman for me to open it.

Ed Vebell “Loneliness Is Dangerous”;
Harry Coren (1955) Sunday Mirror Magazine, August 14, 1955.

But I wonder: How does loneliness feel to a whole nation? Our (Israel’s) status among the nations is so unstable. We used to be trampled over, pushed around, vomited out of. Than we were carried on arms of Gentiles who could look at reality through the lens of God’s Word and take actions on our behalf. Around 1967 we were adored, lauded, envied. Today we face a mixture of many who cannot stand us, some who passionately believe the world will be better without us, and a few who are willing to stand with us. But our overall common feeling is that it is us against the entire world.

Our own flesh and blood, Jews who live outside Israel (in Western cultures) used to be our biggest fans, support Israel, lobby for us. Something changed even in that arena, especially among American Jews. Israel is not necessarily a homeland for them anymore, a safe zone they can always run to, an ideal they raise their next generations to support, visit, serve. The small size of the world is meant to blot out long distances. However, in reality, it proves to only expand them.

So how does a lonely nation act? What chocolate or TV series can we run to? Israel goes a long way in an attempt to be loved, appreciated, understood. In most cases this seems like a lost battle. One morning, I walked the streets of my city and was thinking a lot about it. I passed by a religious school for girls during a break. Everyone was playing, chatting, all except two girls who stood apart, a prayer book in their hands, and were chanting their morning prayers. They must finish reading the entire book of Psalms each day, and maybe this is what they were doing, before they could join the crowd.

I thought to myself: they will most likely feel better once they’re done, believing they did their part to deserve His favor today. Sadness came over me. How remote from Truth!

Our Prime Minister is being charged with very serious accusations. After long months of investigations, the police says they have enough evidence to take him to court. It’s up to the Attorney General now, but he will need a few good months to look at the evidence and decide if he agrees with the police or not. But I wonder how does Mr. Netanyahu feel these days. I am praying for him, in his loneliness, that it will push him to the arms of the God of Israel.

Israel, our leaders, our Orthodox community, we all need Ruths who will walk a long distance with us, point towards the only One who can heal our loneliness. Will you pray with me today that we won’t try to pacify our loneliness through any other mean but will be able to hear His knocks on our doors, and invite Him in?

What is tormenting you and causing you much pain? We all battle with various problems, sins or bad habits. For a while we may manage to defeat or control them, but then they pop up again. Maybe not as intense, but the root is still there.

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Ruby, Dalton, GA

The Tabernacle program has been taught by Orna numerous times. We are now offering it to English speakers in a new format. Want to hear more? Click on the link below: Tabernacle Brochure

 

 

“May God preserve your health, and may there be peace upon Israel. That’s all I want,” said M’ repeatedly. And again. Her husband and son began apologizing for the dementia that started developing since her last fall, which causes her to constantly repeat herself. But Silvard and I enjoyed hearing her sweet blessing and plea to God.

M’ is one of the holocaust survivors living in my town, Kfar Saba. After the sudden passing of Rivka Shechman, who’s story I brought up several times over the last few years (A Mourning Turned into Dance – Part 1; Staring death in the face; Yizkor the Forgotten; A Sad Goodbye; He is Always With Me), I was hoping God will connect me with other survivors. I asked for those who live in my area, so that I can connect them with the youth group and some Russian speakers at my local congregation, and expose them to more believers than just myself.

Shortly after that I received a phone call from a minister of Reach Initiative International, who works  in Jerusalem. She told me about a group of 15 holocaust survivors from my town, that have turned to them for help. But they were unable to keep in touch with them and were wondering if I would be able to take it upon myself.

“Yes, give them to me,” I lifted my hands in the air in triumph and worship. “I want to meet each and every one of them.”

And so, we started visiting them. A couple of weeks ago we invited Y’ and B’, M’ and Y’, N’ and the rest of the group, and attended a small Hanukkah party that RII threw for them. The objection some of them had to us was palpable. They struggle with anything that has to do with believers in Yeshua, and so the party started out with some arguments and power struggles. But a simple prayer we mumbled under our breaths, and much patience, changed the atmosphere.

Sharing a meal with the survivors and a couple of guests from the US

Two American girls came together with the Reach Initiative International team to sing to the survivors. When these two opened their mouths, we all shut ours. Their angelic voices touched everyone’s souls.

Never before have I heard the famous Hebrew song “Jerusalem of Gold” performed this way. A few songs later the girls began singing another Hebrew song, one of my favorites. It is based on the story of Jacob, who upon returning to Canaan (Gen. 32:11-12), asked God to pour out His mercy and save him. The tune was composed by a religious Jew, a grandchild of holocaust survivors. The girls began singing, and one of them moved among the survivors, looked each one straight in the eye and patted their hands. She apparently was able to invoke long forgotten, dormant emotions in them. The effect was thrilling, touching. Eyes shining with un-shed tears, hands stretched forward, wanting to be touched as well.

The survivor sitting next to me reached his hand and asked me to keep holding it. “It is so difficult,” he said, “so very hard.” Meaning: it was hard for him to deal with the emotions that were flooding him. “But is it good?!” I asked-determined, and he just lowered his head and kept quiet.

Another survivor, who was part of the power struggle at the beginning of the party, asked to speak. Everyone was quick to hush him, fearing another fight, but he insisted. “I must tell you,” he proclaimed, “that when she sang and was holding my hand, I saw the Angel of the Lord.”

That statement was my final undoing. The Angel of the Lord! He used a term so uncommon for the Jewish mind. He didn’t say he saw God, but the Angel, the Angel who is hidden from my people.

The girls started singing another song, and at that point people got out of their chairs, stood in a circle and broke out in a happy dance of Horah. Disabled, limp, hurting… but true joy filled the room.

I’m sure I will be sharing much about this group this coming year. House calls, parties, all kinds of activities I have in mind for them. But already at this point it is clear to me that alongside the touching moments, we are heading for some struggles as well. And this is where I would love to recruit your prayers:

I need much wisdom. What to say and when? How to say it? When to bring God into the picture, in a way that would not cause them to shut down or run away, but instead open up and share?

The couple of meetings we already had with the entire group took place at a local center. I so desire to move them to my congregation’s facility. Sounds simple, but not so. Some of them regard us with much suspicion. So please pray that I am able to warm their hearts, especially those of F’ and M’, the two men who seem to have a strong opinion about us, and gain their trust.

Silvard was born in Armenia. She is a member of my congregation and speaks fluent Russian, a language I need help with with this group, as most of them do not speak Hebrew. She has been joining me on all my visits, and is thrilled at the opportunity to stay in touch with them and serve them. Please keep her in your prayers as well. I would like to be able to pay her a few hours weekly, so that she can contact each of these survivors, visit with them, listen to their stories and touch their hearts.

While the Christian world wide lit their Christmas trees, the Chassidic Schools (Beith Midrah), where the ancient Hebrew texts written by the sages of old are taught 24/7, remained darkened and barren. Purposefully. The rabbinic students avoid studying Torah on that night, and pass their time playing chess or card games, studying foreign languages or even simply cutting toilet paper. So long as they do not study the texts. “Nittel Nacht” is the Iddish name of that night, that falls always, every year, exactly on Christmas Eve.

November 8, 2016. The night Trump was elected as the president of the US, I boarded a plane to return to Israel from a speaking tour.

December 6, this year. Once again I was on a plane heading back home from the US, when Trump came out with his earth shaking declaration regarding Jerusalem. Hello there, anyone? Can someone please tell Mr. President he does not have to compete with me for the headlines in the Israeli  media?

Six weeks ago, an interesting event took place. Does it have anything to do with Trump’s declaration? Only God knows. In order to understand it, please join me for a short examination of a few key events on the Jewish Calendar .

October 31, 1917, 4:30 pm. Coooo-eee – the Australian battle cry, sounded on a hill outside the city of Be’er Sheva. A corps of Australian and New Zealand soldiers, who served in the British army (ANZAC), came in riding on their light horses. Against all odds, they defeated the Ottoman Turkish force that was guarding the hill, thus breaking through a way for the British empire to conquer Palestine-Israel.

Australian light horses
(image available from the Collection Database of
the Australian War Memorial, ID Number: J05987)

That was back than. Now…

October 31, 2017, 4:30 pm. The Israeli ministry “Streams in the Desert” co-hosted a conference in Be’er Sheva, with intercessors from Australia, New Zealand and others from the “ends of the earth.” The goal: to commemorate the above mentioned breakthrough event. Together we cried cooo-eee once again, this time praying for a spiritual breakthrough for our nation.

The Coooo-eee cry was most likely birthed in the bushes of Australia, and is a calling to draw near. We stood at the very spot where a physical breakthrough took place, and made the same cry, but this time invited Yeshua to draw near, to reveal His Jewish Face to His people, promising we will not reject Him.

Chief Ray, a Maori from New Zealand, performed parts of the Maori war dance, called the Haka. It is an intimidating dance, designed to scare off the enemy and set the stage for a victory.

Part 1: Chief Ray makes a  declaration in the native Maori language

Part 2: If you listen carefuly, you will hear the words
“Beer Seeba”, meaning: Be’er Sheva

The descendants of those who paved a way through to Jerusalem for the British forces 100 years ago, did something similar, this time in the spiritual realm, exactly 100 years later.

Let’s flip once more through the pages of the Jewish calendar.

November 2, 1917. Two days after that ground breaking battle of Be’er Sheva, the Lord Balfour issued his famous declaration. Note the Jewish date: the 17th day of the month of Cheshvan, 5678.

December 6, 2017. Trump declares that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. This took place on the night between the 17th and the 18th of Kislev, 5778. Meaning, 100 years + 1 month.

December 9, 1917.  Jerusalem surrendered without fight to the British armies, thus renewing Christian control of Jerusalem, a control that was lost hundreds of years earlier, when the crusaders left Israel. Two days later, on December 11, 1917, General Allenby rode into Jerusalem, climbed off his white horse, and walked to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where he received the official surender of the Ottomans.

The British General Allenby marching into Jerusalem
(Picture credentials: Underwood & Underwood)

On the eve of Allenby’s grand entrance into Jerusalem, the Jews who lived in the city lit the first candle of Hanukkah, and welcomed the miracles and wonders, the salvation and comfort. “As in those days, so in this time.”

A special prayer vigil was held in London in honor of the event. The Westminster church bell was rang for the first time in three years. All the churches in Rome rang their bells for a whole hour and in Paris, a special mass was held at the Notre Dame church. No need to expend here about the response from London, Rome and Paris following Trump’s announcement, 100 years later. Even in Jerusalem, among the Jews, there are many un-happy voices that were raised in reaction to Trump’s declaration. Fear of riots, international rejection, and a deep rooted lie concerning the irrelevance of Jerusalem are probably some of the main reasons.

Coooo-eee with us, friends. Our widowed nation does not recognize her Husband, and is struggling to see how He is the one who restores her back in her land, and eventually back to Him. Once more many of us are motivated by fear of men, and by poor understanding of our election and calling. Stand with us and pray for our eyes to open, and for all of us to welcome The General, who marched on a donkey into the same city, but she did not yet surrender.

This past year was a very busy and fruitful one as far as our publications are concerned. We have a few new products available for purchase.

Who Is Knocking Series 

We have added a Study Guide as an accompaniment to my book “Who Is Knocking on Your Door?” as well as a bookmark detailing the simple, yet profound steps that can help you attain true forgiveness and freedom.

His Faces

Our newest book explains the horrors and terrible suffering the Jewish nation has undergone throughout its history, and calls on the church to actively participate in the healing process of restoring Israel from her widowhood.

 

**For any five books ordered, you will receive the sixth one for free (of the lesser value).

For more information about these and our other products, please visit our Store and Resources pages.

To place an order, please contact us by email at otoomofet@gmail.com or simply go to our Contact Us page. Please state in the subject line that you are placing an order for books.

We hope you find these resources helpful and would love to hear your feedback.

 

 

“I have no feet, I cannot walk. I hardly hear or see, but I am healthy,” declares Rivka Weiss, who spends most of her days in her living room armchair. “And I have good genes, the kind of genes that survived Auschwitz.”

Rivka loves taking her guests through an album she created,
with pictures that tell of Israel’s modern history.
The IDF sends soldiers to her regularly, to hear her story and learn from her

She tells how she used to believe in God until Hitler came and her entire family was gone. That since than she believes in fate only. Fate is what took care of her and fate is what prevented Dr. Mengale from engaging her in all his sick experiments.

Something great happened this week. Friends of mine, who minister to Holocaust Survivors in her area, kept visiting her regularly, but could never really share about God. There was always someone near by, watching and listening. This time my friends had a whole hour with Rivka all alone.

They told her about God’s love, and that He is the one that saved her life, not just a blind fate. They told her that He still loves her, through Yeshua. That He wants to fill her heart with peace and eternal joy.

Rivka listened, and expressed her desire to invite Him into her life. For the first time she said “Yes” to the God she thought did not exist.

These friends will continue to visit her regularly, check on her and hopefully lead her deeper into a living and real relationship with God. Would you please pray for her salvation, for a deep peace to take over her troubled heart and broken body, and for the Jewish Face of our Messiah to be revealed to her?

I have been asking God to bring me to Holocaust Survivors in my area, so I can get my congregation involved and be able to visit them more often.

About a month ago I was contacted by Chosen People Ministries. Apparently, they have about 15 of them on their lists, living within a few minutes’ walk from me, but they are unable to visit them regularly, as their hands are full with those in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. I felt so honored to be considered by God worthy of contacting these 15 precious souls.

Together with CPM we threw a little party for them on the Feast of Tabernacles, and are planning to set up regular visits and even a fun club activity every month or two.

When we finished eating, one of them started singing about his longing for his mama. He is over 80, and the longing is still there.

Our goal is to relieve their loneliness, but above all – to expose them to God’s love, so that all of them will eventually say YES to the Lover of their soul, whom they perceive to be either non-existent or an enemy.

If you have these precious broken people on your heart, please join me in prayer for their salvation. The arrow I shoot towards the target whenever I pray for them is based on Hebrews 2:15: “God, release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage!”

May He shine His Faces towards them and be gracious to them, may He lift up His Faces upon them and give them peace. Soften their hearts and cause them to put Your name upon themselves so that you will bless them (see Num. 6:24-27).

As my Fall speaking tour to the US is fast approaching, here are the dates and locations I will be at. For more information, please contact my assistant, Adi, at (706) 591-5887 or by email at otoomofet@gmail.com.

If you are anywhere in the vicinity, please come join us.

November 5^th, 9am, 11am – Covenant Life Worship Center, Chickamauga, Ga. Contact (706) 375-5286

November 8^th & 9^th. 6:30pm (on both nights). The Well Family Worship Center, Scottsboro, AL. Contact (256) 783-4079

November 10^th-12^th. Forgiveness/Tabernacle seminar. Fellowship Bible Church, 2044 Dug Gap Rd., Dalton, GA. 30720. For information about times please call Ramona (706) 278-6269. Or Kirby (706) 313-5922

November 13^th, 6pm. Praying Friends of the Bridegroom. Chattanooga, TN. For information on location please call Adi at (706) 591-5887

November 17^th, The Father’s House campus in Napa, CA. Beit Abba Ministry. 2557 Napa Valley Corporate Dr., Napa, CA. 94558. Contact (706) 591-5887

December 2^nd, 10:30am Shomair Israel congregation, 2554 Sutherland Ave., Knoxville, TN. 37919. Send a text message to (865) 414-9935

December 2^nd-4^th. Tabernacle seminar for WOMEN ONLY, Knoxville. For registration and information on exact times send a text message to (865) 414-9935

I look forward to seeing you!

 

PS – If any of you is in Israel and flying back to the US in the next couple of weeks, please contact us. Thanks!