Israeli Muslims Donate Wood To Rebuild Haifa Synagogue - VIEWPOINT ISRAEL

Israeli Muslims Donate Wood To Rebuild Haifa Synagogue

ON DECEMBER 9, 2016VIEWPOINT ISRAEL

The Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel put out an international call for donations to help the Moriah synagogue rebuild from the ashes after the recent week-long wildfires that raged across Israel. However, it was two small, local initiatives that put the damaged synagogue into the headlines.

On November 30, a group of worshipers from all faiths attended a special prayer service for the new Hebrew month of Kislev and to show support for the rebuilding of the community. A local member posted Facebook photos of the service. One of the photos showed 20 saplings donated by a man from Baqa al-Gharbiyye, an Arab city in the Haifa district, as a gift to replace the trees in the courtyard that had been burned by the fires.

And he was not the only one bearing gifts! Two Muslim tradesmen from Umm al-Fahm, another Arab town in the Haifa district, also came to the service and were greeted with great applause for their contribution of wood panels to the synagogue.

The Moriah synagogue, the oldest Conservative synagogue in Israel, suffered extensive damage in the fires. The whole second floor and roof of the building were destroyed, including their beit midrash, all of their books, their education wing, and their youth club.

Entrance of the Moriah synagogue after the fire. Photo courtesy of Masorti.org

At first, the Moriah community turned to a Jewish carpenter for help. He agreed to work pro-bono, but asked that the synagogue pay for the wood. He went to get a price quote from wood suppliers Walid abu-Ahmed and Ziad Yunis. When they heard that the previous tables were destroyed in the fires that devastated 13 neighborhoods in Haifa, they chose to donate enough wood for 10 tables.

“I had tears in my eyes when I heard what was happening,” said Rabbi Dov Hiyon, who heads the Moriah community. “It was so emotional to hear that Muslims were asking to donate to a Jewish synagogue. I’ve invited them to evening prayers to personally thank them.”

“I decided to help and not receive any payment,” abu-Ahmed stated. “Jews and Arabs live together in Haifa, and there is no discrimination. We must continue with this coexistence and promote peace.”

Originally posted at Israel21C.

Prophecy: 2016 Will Be the Year of the 'Re' - KATHY DEGRAW CHARISMA NEWS

The coming year will be one for God to refurbish many lives, if only we allow Him to. (iStock photo )

Prophecy: 2016 Will Be the Year of the 'Re'

01/3/2016 KATHY DEGRAW   CHARISMA NEWS

I was spending time in prayer and the presence of God when in my spirit I began to experience words such as replant, rebuild and refurbish being released. I felt that the Spirit of the Lord was telling me 2016 was going to be a year of "re" words including, recreating and rebuilding. I couldn't help but think revival also begins with "re." 

Refurbishing an item is stripping it down to its bare material and repainting it. It requires much work sometimes to take off all the layers of old paint, to sand it down, smooth it out and prepare it to be painted and beautified. It is a perfect analogy of what our Father does to His people in order to get them ready to be useful and productive for His Kingdom.

An old item can still be used such as a crate or a chair before it is sanded down and town apart. It may be chipped and peeling, some pieces may be falling off, but after it is chipped away at, the old paint scraped off it can be varnished or painted again, not only beautiful this time, but radiating a beauty that everyone now wants that product.

Our master Creator can do that with us too. He can scrape away the pieces that don't beautify us or represent His name well. He can chip away at us through conviction, instruction and directions. His Spirit can reveal to us where we need to put away the old and take on the new.

I am hearing 2016 is a year of newness. Things you thought were lost, had no hope for anymore, or were washed away to the sea will be rebuilt and replanted in your life and it begins with the refurbishing.

A piece of furniture doesn't have a choice whether or not to be refurbished, but God gives us free will. He gives us the choice whether or not we will allow ourselves to be recreated. What will your choice be?

Our God has made the word so beautiful with all the different kinds of trees and shades of green. He made the lakes and oceans, beautiful bodies of water and created the sounds of the waves to crash up against the shore for your enjoyment. He made the stars to glisten at night, so as you gaze out into an open sky you can see the beauty of his wondrous works of his hands.

Imagine for a moment an item being refurbished. It has some bare wood showing and paint now paint peeling off. Now envision the product done, painted with a new coat, perhaps some designs on the top layer. God was creative when He made this world, with the trees, oceans, mountains, and all the natural beauty He gave us to enjoy. How much more would He choose to recreate you, His very own child, into someone magnificent for His glory and the representation of His name?

As we are recreated, replanted, and rebuilt, we will be beautiful. Just as someone may not want the old box or chair, once it is refurbished, all of a sudden it becomes a cherished, valued, wanted item. You are all that to God even without the refurbishing! You are cherished, valued, wanted and loved greatly by Him. Don't you want to allow Him to come in and take those wounds, the hurts, pain, unfairness and areas of your life where you are uncomfortable and allow Him to refurbish them? He can do it; the question is will you allow Him?

With 2016 upon us, it will be a year of restoration of restoring things that were once lost, of repurposing those who felt they have no purpose and recreating people to be all they need to be for the master Creator and His Kingdom.

Kathy DeGraw is the founder of DeGraw Ministries, a prophetic ministry releasing the love and power of God, igniting people in the prophetic and releasing people from emotional bondage. She's passionate about teaching people the power of prayer through declaring. She speaks at conferences and travels hosting evangelistic love tours. She has written her own prophetic and deliverance training manuals in order to assist other ministries. She is the founder of Change into Colorless, an anti-racism corporation, and co-pastors a church. Kathy is the author of Spiritual Warfare Declarations, A Worship Woven Life, Time to Set the Captives Free, and Flesh, Satan or God.  Connect with Kathy at www.degrawministries.org.

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