Ben Robinson's Trip to Israel Pt9

Hello reader. In these next two posts, I will try to give you some idea of what I experienced in Jerusalem. The best way to do that, I think, is to tell you about what really impacted me as opposed to just giving you a tourist trail narrative. So, here we go with part one...

My first three weeks in the Holy City were spent working as a volunteer in the Media Department of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) before and during the huge Feast of Tabernacles celebration that the ICEJ organises there every year. You can find out all about the Media Department here, the ICEJ in general here and the Feast here and here. I helped the full-time staff with their regular duties before the Feast and, during the celebration itself, I was involved in a range of activities, including public relations with the ICEJ Media stand, conducting radio interviews, leading a tourist visit, translating (Spanish) and liaising with Israeli journalists. Here are some photos:

The whole Feast of Tabernacles experience was absolutely amazing so it is very difficult to pick out particular moments. However, I do feel that in years to come, the following memories will still be vivid:

• The wonderful fellowship with staff and volunteers from the ICEJ and other Messianic/Christian Zionist organisations in Jerusalem. There were so many occasions where I met someone and, after a short while, felt like I had known him or her for years. I will always remember playing Ultimate Frisbee in a park near the Knesset with one specific group of friends and then all of us sitting around afterwards talking freely and naturally about matters of the Kingdom of ADONAI. It was a real foretaste of the age to come.

• True unity in the Feast celebrations as believers from all over the world lifted their eyes individually to worship ADONAI in spirit and in truth. This was especially the case on the opening night after the Parade of Nations in which representatives of all the countries present stood together on stage waving their respective flags.

• Interviewing a hero of mine, Mr David Pawson, before the ICEJ presented him with the Nehemiah Award for his outstanding contribution to Biblical Zionism. In a time where the Word of God is treated with breathtaking disrespect and carelessness by so many public ministries, Mr Pawson shines out as one of the truly great teachers of the Scriptures. If you have never heard him or read one of his books, make it a priority to do so. You can visit his website here.

• Being reunited at the Jerusalem March (one of the big Feast events) with an old friend and mentor of mine from Spain, Samuel del Coso Román, whom I had not seen for many years. As Samuel is a humble man, what I say here will probably embarrass him but I believe that it is right to honour him publicly. Samuel personifies what it means to be a "good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:14-30) and it was he who guided me to the first signpost back to the "ancient paths" (Jeremiah 6:16). I hold this man in the highest esteem and commend him to you:

Samuel’s ministry is called "Shalom-Sefarad" and you can find out all about it here and here.

• Going to the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem for the evening service at the beginning of Yom Kippur and, getting lost in the Hebrew liturgy, being guided all the way through by a warm and friendly Jewish man who was of similar age, also English, also called Ben and who happened to be standing next to me! There is no doubt in my mind that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was also looking after me as one of His family. Ben told me afterwards that, having made aliyah, he was now married and living in Israel. May ADONAI bless him and his household. Yom Kippur is one of the Feasts of ADONAI (Leviticus 16; 23:26-32; 25:8-10; Numbers 29:7-11). It is also known as the Day of Atonement and is the holiest day of the year for God’s chosen people.

• Marking the end of Yom Kippur with ICEJ staff and volunteers and other friends. The streets of the city were deserted except for all those people, like us, who were "going up" to what is left of the Temple complex, the Western Wall. As I saw this scene, I was instantly reminded of the words of Psalm 122. Let us read verses 1 to 4 (Complete Jewish Bible):

I was glad when they said to me, "The house of ADONAI! Let’s go!"

Our feet were already standing at your gates, Yerushalayim.

Yerushalayim, built as a city fostering friendship and unity. The tribes have gone up there, the tribes of ADONAI, as a witness to Isra’el, to give thanks to the name of ADONAI.

Here are some photos to look at in the light of this Scripture passage. In the second photo, you can see the Old City in the distance. In the fifth photo, I am at the right as you see it and we are dressed in white as this traditionally symbolises one’s purity on this day. I am also wearing a kippah, as are most of the other guys, since all men (and women) are expected to cover their heads upon approaching the Western Wall. This photo was taken at the end of Yom Kippur and we had just broken fast, hence all the smiles!

To be continued in part two…

Shalom in the name of Yeshua,

Ben