Let your light shine before others

Friday at sundown was the beginning of our second Shabbat here in Israel, and traditionally all work ceases. The next 24 hours are spent enjoying family and worship.

Last Friday our large Hesed group split into small groups and attended Shabbat evening meals at homes of Messianic believers from a local congregation. This Friday our smaller groups were invited to Shabbat evening meals at homes of Kaplan Hospital workers.

Two other Hesed volunteers and I were invited to the home of Orna, a registered nurse at Kaplan, and her husband, Avishay, an Israel Defense Forces officer. In the five years that Hesed members have been volunteering at Kaplan, Orna has been observing their actions, and last year she opened her home to them for Shabbat. She explained, "I just have to thank you. What you are doing as volunteers is so unusual!" She recounted that Israelis are very accustomed to receiving threats and physical harm from others, and that when someone does something kind or nice for them, it does not go unnoticed, and it is actually overwhelming!

Although we were meeting each other for the first time in our lives, we somehow felt a bond. Orna and Avishay had also invited their youngest daughter, Shahaf, who teaches English in the Israeli schools, and their eldest daughter, Maayan, her husband Aviv, and their four children to join us. The conversations were enlightening. We learned that their ancestors were in Yemen and the Czech Republic, and many died during the Holocaust. Because of the devastating effect of the Holocaust, their parents raised them to believe that there is no God.

One of the goals of Hesed is exemplified by Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before others."
As we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, let us also pray for Orna, Avishay, and their family to come to know their Messiah, Savior, and King.

Star Stuhr
Nebraska