Shabbat Shalom!

Arriving just when the sun was going down we entered through the kitchen door in the garage.  There were several women, young and old, preparing food and setting place mats on the table.

Cousins, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, plus friends were gathering.  You would think it was a family reunion after several months, or years of not seeing each other.

It wasn’t an annual family reunion; this was Friday evening – Shabbat.  Every week family and friends gather to observe Shabbat.

Grandfather Zvi

Grandfather Zvi makes sure that everyone gathers, it is his principle mission.  There were just less than 30 children, grandchildren, sons and daughters, husbands, wives, and 95-year-old great grandma “Klary”, along with friends and a guest (me).

One grandson (8 years-old) nervously played a couple traditional Jewish songs on his keyboard, plus a token “American” song, Buffalo Girl Won’t You Come Out Tonight, in honor of my presence.  Then one of the sons played his guitar and led the family in singing songs of Shabbat.

Organized Chaos

From crying babies, to the uncle carrying his nephew upside down around the living room, and lots of hugs and kisses, laughter and sublime joy of being together as family, remembering God.  Oh yes, I said remembering God.

Head of the Table

You see, Grandpa Zvi, standing at the head of the table, recited the blessings over the bread and wine.  Then he told the story of Moses and the Israelites wandering in the wilderness.  Every Friday night he teaches a different bible story – after all, it is “tradition.”

All the sons and daughters, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren will remember Grandpa Zvi’s voice and stories.

Why Bother with Tradition (1 Corinthians 11:2)? – “Keep the traditions.”

I was blessed to be there with this Jewish family and in so doing was reminded how important “tradition” is to one’s family and the values a family embraces.

May we learn from Zvi, and lovingly create family traditions that honors and communicate God’s love – so the children will always remember!

A Letter

Grandpa Zvi wrote me a heartfelt letter expressing his personal delight, as well as his whole family, regarding my visit.

Thank you for your partnership.  Your gifts enable us to effectively reach God’s ancient people with Messiah’s love.

At the end of the day – you help us feed kids!

Shalom and Blessings,

Until He comes, we are
Together Under His Wings,

Dr. Jeff