June 2010
A time to comfort Zion
A time to comfort Zion
While everyone in Israel is thinking about the swift Iranian flotilla on its way to Gaza, the dangerous relationship with 74 million angry Turkish Muslims, or even the World Cup soccer, there was a small gathering at the Dolphinarium on the beach down the street from us. Family and friends gathered around a stone memorial to recall the June 1, 2001 suicide bombing at a birthday party that killed 21 and wounded 132.
As they called out the names, and ages of their lost children...
Maria Tagiltseva, 14
Raisa Nemirovskaya, 15
Yulia Sklyanik, 15
Ana Kazachkova, 15
Katherine Kastinyada, 15
Irina Nepomnyashaya, 16
Mariana Medvedenko, 16
Yulia Nalimova, 16
Liana Saakyan, 16
Marina Berkovskaya, 17
Simona Rudina, 17
Alexei Lupalo, 17
Yelena Nalimova, 18
Irina Osadchaya, 18
Ilya Gutman, 19
Sergei Panchenko, 20
Roman Dzhanashvili, 21
Diaz Nurmanov, 21
Jan Bloom, 25
Uri Shachar, 32
... a fair skinned, quiet girl cried softly when her cousin's name was called. She cried over the loss of her childhood friend, but also from the divorce, crime, drugs and alcohol that have visited her family over the years, like an unwanted guest, that came to stay after a storm.
The day after the memorial, Shoshana came to Beit Immanuel. She was troubled. In addition to the painful memories of losing her cousin, and the family tragedies that followed, she had recently lost another close friend. Two days after finishing his army service, the young man committed suicide. Then, just a week after his funeral, she attended another funeral. The mother of her best friend died of cancer. It was all too much.
Shoshana's is 17 years old. She came to ask for prayer. She's in the midst of her high school matriculation exams. She needs a way out of the cycle of pain and despair. She wants healing, hope, direction. She says she feels safe here. The daily worship and prayer are restoring her soul, healing her heart. She's so young, seen so much. She likes to help us clean rooms in our Guest House. God is so good.
Through the years Beit Immanuel has become known as a place of comfort, healing and hope for many. Our staff and volunteers work long hours, making the personal sacrifices necessary to meet the needs of our many guests and visitors. The members of our congregation choose to work late into the night, or on Shabbat and holidays, insuring that Beit Immanuel is a blessing to all who enter. Each and every one of us, who work and worship here, is willing to come at a moments notice to meet the unique and urgent needs of the people that show up at our gates. It is an honor to live and work at Beit Immanuel.
In the midst of all the turmoil, we are trying to focus on our job; reaching our people with the love of God. Sometimes you just have to do what you can, where you are, with what you have. Sometimes, that's all you can do, and trust God. Bless you as you serve Him where you are, with what you have.
Israeli Officer on the move for God
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