"…Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."

Exodus 3:15

THE LAWKEEPERS’ MONTHLY JOURNAL

<><><><><> JUNE / 2003 <><><><><>

*****

<> ALL MONTHLY EDITIONS ARE A TRIBUTE <>

TO

<>THE GOD OF ISRAEL TAKING BACK HIS UNIVERSE ! <>

AND

<>MANIFESTING THE SECOND GREAT EXODUS <>

FOR

<>HIS HOLY NAME’S SAKE <>

*****

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath,

and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations,

and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel,

and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth."

Isaiah 11:11,12

"Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land."

Jeremiah 23:7,8

<><><><><>

ESTABLISHED FOR

THE EXALTATION, PRAISE, AND RECOGNITION OF

THE MOST HIGH GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB

AND HIS EVERLASTING BOOK OF THE LAW

"The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law,

and make it honourable."

Isaiah 42:21

"Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy sons and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey."

Deuteronomy 6:1 - 3

"O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord."

Jeremiah 22:29

COME<> OFTEN <> TO <> LEARN <> ABOUT

THE<> TRUE <> AND <> LIVING <> GOD!

EXALTATION OF THE MOST HIGH GOD OF ISRAEL:

"Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD,

which by night stand in the house of the LORD.

"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

"The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion."

Psalm 134:1 – 3

"Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him,

O ye servants of the LORD.

"Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,

"Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name;

for it is pleasant.

"For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and

Israel for his peculiar treasure."

Psalm 135:1 - 4

*******

"Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness:

it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.

Zephaniah 2:3

***

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE LAWKEEPERS, CO.:

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO REPARATIONS?

After the September 11 ^th Terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC), the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania, the world’s attention quickly shifted from the human rights work of the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR), and America was saved from Blacks bringing attention to the subject of REPARATIONS.

May GOD have mercy on all the people that died in that tragedy and their families. But let’s get back on point and refocus our efforts to obtain this long over due compensation for the stolen labor of our forefathers and for our continuous affliction and suffering.

REPARATIONS must not take a back seat to the patriotic theme being force fed to all of us through white America’s media.

REPARATIONS IN OUR LIFETIME!!!

"But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put [them] upon your sons, and upon your daughters;

and ye shall spoil the Egyptians."

SHALOM, SHALOM

Yehudah ben Yacob

President

The LawKeepers, Co.

*******

Tribute to the New Moon Revised:

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD."

Isaiah 66:22,23

PLEASE TAKE PART IN "SIGHTING" THE NEW MOON

<<<The First Day of the " HEBREW " Month >>>

START THE NEXT NEW MOON WATCH ON THE EVENINGS OF

<<<JUNE 1,2,3, 2003 >>>

BY LOOKING IN THE "WEST" JUST ABOVE THE HORIZON.

"He appointed the moon for seasons…"

Psalm 104:19

The first "Sign" in the Heavens to provide the start of days, years and "seasons" can only begin with the "Sighting" of the New Moon Crescent - that which we can "see" in order for it to serve as a "Sign" and enable us to begin counting our days. Just imagine not being able to "see" the moon at all. How then could it be appointed for seasons?

"The natural thought might be that the moon is like a living being. It is born, grows, reaches maximum size, then fades and dies, going through all these stages in one month. Even today, we still talk of the thin crescent in the western sky as a new moon and the thin crescent in the eastern sky a month later as the old moon. Half way between is the full moon. As I explained earlier, this cycle of phases of the moon established the month as a unit of time, and the first calendars were based on this." ISAAC ASIMOV’S GUIDE TO EARTH AND SPACE, pages 79 and 80

In that the King of Israel is supposed to be a "Righteous Judge" (II Chronicles 1:11), it stands to reason that he is also supposed to be a "Righteous Role Model." Thus, if the King that GOD appoints over Israel observes a "feast" on the day of the New Moon, then wisdom tells the Nation of Israel to do likewise. King Saul and the anointed David observed this service (I Samuel 20^th Chapter).

To their and our hurt our forefathers worshipped all manner of symbols: the sun, moon, stars, and images of gold and silver. To observe the "Sign" in the heavens as being the New Moon "Sighting" is NOT worshipping the moon, but rather it is doing as we are COMMANDED in Genesis 1:14:

"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:"

Some people feel that the moon has no "light," but according to GOD’s WORD to HIS Prophets, it most certainly does: Isaiah 13:10; Isaiah 30:26; Jeremiah 31:35; Ezekiel 32:7.

***

"Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

"Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

"Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed,

on our solemn feast day.

"For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob."

Psalm 81:1 - 4

(A Psalm of Asaph, the Seer –

one who should be well informed about GOD’s Ways)

"Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for

a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God."

Numbers 10:10

Contrary to the belief of some Israelites, the moon does indeed shine! Whether the Moon shines on its own or with the aid of the sun, IT STILL SHINES! And the fact that Scripture attests to this fact, is what’s important: Isaiah 60:19; Jeremiah 31:35; and Ezekiel 32:7. Therefore, Genesis 1:14 is proof enough that we must use the shining New Moon Crescents as "…SIGNS, AND FOR SEASONS, AND FOR DAYS, AND FOR YEARS:"

Some Israelites, along with White Jews, use the dark phase of the moon to determine the start of a new month. If the dark phase of the moon lasts for "2-3 days," then which of these days is supposed to be the distinguishing "Sign" that determines the First Day of the month? Or do we just arbitrarily select either or depending on the imaginations of our hearts? On the contrary, with the use of the sighted "Sign" of the New Moon Crescent in the Heavens we eliminate any confusion as to which day IS the First Day of the month. The only problem that presents itself is cloud coverage that prevents the ability to see the New Moon Crescent. Nonetheless, one can easily distinguish the New Moon Crescent "Sighting" from all the other phases due to its thin sliver and its low position in the heavens, and the reason is that no two days or rather phases of the visible moon are alike. Thus, to use the New Moon Crescent as the "Sign" in the heavens, as we are COMMANDED to do for our seasons, days, and years, negates the belief that the "commandment was given to the luminaries." The "luminaries" fulfill GOD’s Commandments: the sun shines and the moon orbits the Earth. They have no need to determine seasons, days, and years. Hence, our New Moons are obviously of more spiritual significance to the Nation of Israel than we are aware. And for sure, the TRUTH concerning them are in GOD’s WORD to HIS Prophets/Seers - not the White Jews or other Gentiles. All we need do is use wisdom, discern what’s written in Scripture, accept it, and act accordingly!

Unless there is an emergency, please try not to buy or sell on this day. Conduct all financial and business transactions prior to the day of the New Moon. Interesting enough, II Kings 4:23,24 constitutes the New Moon as being a day to seek "the man of God." Although the New Moon is NOT a Day of Rest, Our GOD did set it aside for recognition:

"Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day."

Psalm 81:3

"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD." Isaiah 66:23

"…When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn?…" Amos 8:5

Probably, the Scripture that most determines and clarifies the fact that our New Moons are Feast Days is Ezekiel 45:17:

"And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the NEW MOONS, and in the Sabbaths, in ALL SOLEMNITIES of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the HOUSE OF ISRAEL." (Caps. are mine.)

Unequivocally, our New Moons are included in these "SOLEMNITIES" mentioned in Ezekiel 45:17.

"Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the Sabbaths [Feasts – NOT 7^th Day Sabbaths*] and in the NEW MOONS." Ezekiel 46:3 (Brackets are mine.)

Thereby, this verse justifies the First Day of each month being our "Feast" Day. It should be realized that the Feast Days that Our GOD selected (Leviticus 23^rd Chapter) are "Holy Convocations," i.e., on these days we cannot do any work. However, because King Saul observed the New Moon as a Feast Day, we have every reason to do so, as well. We also have learned that our forefathers traveled to the Temple to worship the Holy ONE on the New Moon (II Kings 4:23; Ezekiel 45:17; and Ezekiel 46:1), and when HE has HIS Temple rebuilt, then we will again be able to resume this service and worship.

When we return to our heritage and worship YIHOVAH according to HIS Ways, then we can establish our own "Calendar of the Universe," whereby, the days of the New Moon and all GOD’s Holy Days will be recognized by the whole entire World. And I am sure that it will be the desire of the Righteous Remnant and ALL the world to make a Feast to the Most High GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel every First Day of the Month.

ALSO, I believe that if Lot (Genesis 19:3) and Abraham (Genesis 21:8) can proclaim "Feasts," then there is no stipulation for NOT establishing Feast Days, as we so desire. Therefore, to proclaim a Feast to EXALT the Holy ONE of Israel on the First Day of each month is quite acceptable - given the Scripture (above) regarding worshipping Our LORD GOD of ISRAEL, Our SAVIOR, on the New Moons. We should know that throughout the Tanakh Hebrew Israelites called for "feasts" for various occasions. Therefore, we are within our rights to observe a Feast every New Moon to Our GOD, the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. And those of us who love this WONDERFUL GOD and who choose HIM to EXALT HIM for being the ONLY LORD and SAVIOR can be at liberty to use the day of the New Moon to show forth HIS PRAISE in a "feast" and worship HIM in Jerusalem FOREVER.

"And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants."

I Kings 3:15

*Leviticus 23:24,39 (Sabbaths of Feasts)

*******

THE TORAH READINGS FOR THE NEW MOON AND

SABBATHS DURING

JUNE 2003

ARE AS FOLLOWS:

NEW MOON WATCH:

May 31, - June 1,2, 2003

Psalm 81:1 - 10

Leviticus Chapters 11 - 13

Isaiah 65:1 - 7

Isaiah 66:1 - 24

Isaiah 52^nd Chapter

II Kings 5^th Chapter

Psalm 73^rd Chapter

SHABBAT READINGS - 6/7/03

Genesis 2:1 - 3

Exodus 31:12-18

Deuteronomy 5:12 - 15

Isaiah 56:1 - 7

Isaiah 58:10 - 14

Leviticus Chapters 14 - 16

Genesis 31:35

Exodus 19:10 - 25

I Samuel 21:1 - 6

Ezekiel 36^th Chapter

Isaiah 58^th Chapter

Zechariah 7^th Chapter

Psalm 51^st Chapter

SHABBAT READINGS - 6/14/03

Genesis 2:1 - 3

Exodus 31:12-18

Deuteronomy 5:12 - 15

Isaiah 56:1 - 7

Isaiah 58:10 - 14

Leviticus Chapters 17 - 19

Joshua 22:9 – 34

I Kings 4:23

Nehemiah 12:26 - 47

Amos 4^th Chapter

Ezekiel 22^nd Chapter

Isaiah 1^st Chapter

Psalm 34^th Chapter

Psalm 16^th Chapter

Psalm 58^th Chapter

SHABBAT READINGS - 6/21/03

Genesis 2:1 - 3

Exodus 31:12-18

Deuteronomy 5:12 - 15

Isaiah 56:1 - 7

Isaiah 58:10 - 14

Leviticus Chapters 20 - 22

Numbers 10:10

I Chronicles 23:27 - 32

Ezekiel 11^th Chapter

I Kings 12:23 - 33

I Kings 13:33,34

Jeremiah 32:17 – 44

Psalm 81:3

Psalm 44^th Chapter

Psalm 115^th Chapter

SHABBAT READINGS - 6/28/03

Genesis 2:1 - 3

Exodus 31:12-18

Deuteronomy 5:12 - 15

Isaiah 56:1 - 7

Isaiah 58:10 - 14

Leviticus Chapters 23 - 25

Deuteronomy 16:9 - 11

Deuteronomy 16:16

Nehemiah 10:29 - 39

Isaiah 66:19 - 24

Ezra 3:1 – 6

Ezekiel 46:17

Zechariah 14:16 - 21

Isaiah 35^th Chapter

Amos 5^th Chapter

Psalm 5^th Chapter

Psalm 9^th Chapter

Watch for the next NEW MOON "Sighting" on June 30 – July 2, 200 3 .

A complete TORAH Readings Hebrew Calendar displaying all the months, Sabbaths of Rest, New Moon Watches, and

Holy Days for the entire year can be found on The LawKeepers WebSite:

www.thelawkeepers.org

Click on "Torah Readings."

*******

SOME QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

"And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt." Exodus 13:9

How can GOD’s LAW be in our mouths? How can this verse be explained?

***

"Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

"After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:1 – 3

Exactly "how" will we know if we follow on to know the LORD?

Please feel free to contribute responses to these questions, and if so, they will be published in the next JOURNAL.

*******

HINTS FOR HARDY, HEALTHY HEBREWS:

A GRAIN OF TRUTH:

THE LATEST ON SALT AND HEALTH

Here's how the new facts on sodium shake out and what they mean for your business.

Salt. It's a simple compound made up of sodium and chloride, yet its value to humans dates back to the beginnings of mankind. Aside from its vital importance to the body, salt has played other fundamental roles in many civilizations: as a currency, as one of our first medicines and as a traditional symbol of social status. For example, the word "salary" is derived from the Roman word for "salt rations." A good Greek slave was said to be "worth his weight in salt," and being seated "above the salt" at the European dinner table signaled your place of honor as a guest.

Salt's culinary roles throughout history have been just as diverse as its social roles. Salt has served as a flavor enhancer, a preservative, a processing agent, a binding agent and a controlling agent in fermentation and leavening. Modern food manufacturing relies on salt for many of those functions, making processed foods generally higher in sodium than fresh or freshly prepared foods.

The sodium/blood-pressure link

Despite its prominent place in our culture, for many years nutrition experts and health authorities have recommended that people watch their salt intake in order to decrease their consumption of sodium. Most of us have heard over the years that research has linked excessive consumption of salt to hypertension, or high blood pressure, and its potentially fatal consequences, such as heart and kidney disease, and stroke.

What's the mechanism involved? The balance of water and sodium in the body must remain relatively stable for optimum metabolic function. The body constantly adjusts according to the current situation by making you thirsty when it needs extra water to dilute the salt. Thirst isn't the only way the body's sodium/fluid balance is regulated; the kidneys help, too. When the body has too much sodium, the kidneys dump it out. When the body needs sodium, the kidneys collect it and return it to the blood.

People develop high blood pressure when, for some reason, the kidneys fail to rid the body of enough sodium. The extra sodium attracts water and causes the blood volume to increase. At the same time, the blood vessels can become waterlogged and contract. Since more blood now has to pass through the narrower vessels, the blood pressure increases.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), located in Bethesda, Maryland, for people with special susceptibility, a strong positive relationship between sodium intake and blood pressure has long been recognized. In other words, when sodium intake rises, so does blood pressure and the risk of hypertension. This susceptibility is found particularly among certain population segments, such as African-Americans, senior citizens and people with a family history of hypertension.

How much is too much?

Where salt is readily available, the vast majority of the world's population chooses to consume about 6 to 11 grams a day, or 2,400 to 4,400 milligrams of sodium. The National Academy of Sciences in Washington DC, recommends that Americans consume a minimum of 500 milligrams of sodium per day, which equals a little less than one-quarter of a teaspoon of salt.

Most Americans consume a lot more sodium (mostly in the form of salt) than is required for proper body functioning. Roughly 75 percent of that sodium comes from food processing and preparation (including home-prepared and restaurant foods). According to the Salt Institute, in Alexandria, Virginia, on average, Americans consume 8.75 grams of salt per day, or about 3,500 milligrams of sodium, with men consuming more than women.

The NIH recommends that people consume 2,400 milligrams or less of sodium per day; the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests no more than 3,000 milligrams each day; the National Academy of Sciences' 1990 Diet and Health Report recommends 2,400 milligrams; and even the Food and Drug Administration's Nutrition Facts Label lists the daily value for sodium at

2,400 milligrams.

The U. S. Department of Agriculture's 1995 Dietary Guidelines for Americans notes that most of us get more sodium than we need and recommends that consumers "choose a diet moderate in sugars, salt and sodium," but does not name a specific amount of sodium.

"There is no consensus on what constitutes a 'safe and adequate' level of dietary sodium," says David McCarron, professor of medicine at the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. "Although I wouldn't call it a recommendation, in general I believe an intake of 3,000 to 4,000 milligrams of sodium per day would be considered adequate to meet the body's needs and not be excessive for people with normal blood pressure."

Questioning salt restriction for all

So does this mean everyone has to put down the salt shaker for good? Salt restriction can reduce the blood pressure of some hypertensive persons, but salt in and of itself has never been shown to cause hypertension. Salt restriction can be effective dietary therapy for hypertension in salt-sensitive people, but according to experts, only about 30 to 35 percent of the general population is salt-sensitive. In other words, about one-third of people with normal blood pressure will see their blood pressure rise in response to increased sodium intake.

In contrast, about 50 percent of hypertensive people are believed to be salt-sensitive, probably owing to a genetic condition. But because of a lack of accurate salt-sensitivity predictors, experts have adhered to the better-safe-than-sorry theory and recommended that everyone watch their sodium intake.

However, some recent studies have called into question the efficacy and even the safety of universal sodium restriction. Intersalt, the largest and most comprehensive study on the subject so far, was conducted in 1988. The study looked at the connection between sodium intake and hypertension, and included more than 10,000 subjects from 32 countries around the world. Although the interpretation of the study's results is controversial, some experts believe that the data show that sodium intake has little to do with hypertension in Western countries. Others believe it supports moderate sodium restriction.

This year, University of Toronto researchers analyzed numerous studies in a Journal of the American Medical Association article to evaluate whether restriction of dietary sodium lowers blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive (people with normal blood pressure) individuals. The conclusion? Restricting sodium did have an effect on the people with hypertension, especially older ones, but in effect was insignificant in people with normal blood pressure.

Other studies, including a New England Journal of Medicine article in 1991, have tied sodium restriction to a number of undesirable outcomes, including raising blood pressure in a certain proportion of patients and contributing to sleep disturbances and even heart attacks in men with pre-existing hypertension. Keep in mind, however, that those studies have not proven that too little sodium causes the problems, just that there is an association.

Despite continuing research on sodium and blood pressure, the controversy over sodium reduction continues. Nevertheless, most major health authorities continue to recommend moderate sodium reduction. For example, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), located in Bethesda, Maryland, which advocates sodium reduction for hypertensives, as well as the general public, suggests that people limit salt intake to 6 grams per day — about 1 teaspoon, which is equal to 2,400 milligrams of sodium.

"The preponderance of data supports modest sodium reduction down to 2,400 milligrams [daily]. This is not a level low enough to cause adverse health effects, and in fact, we believe that this small reduction over a long period of time will yield important public health benefits," says Ed Roccella, coordinator of NHLBI's National High Blood Pressure Education Program.

According to some experts, it's very likely that the direction of future research won't focus just on sodium, but rather on the balance of sodium and other electrolytes, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium, as well as on other lifestyle factors. McCarron explains that in the absence of a concrete consensus on the issue, the best approach may be to maintain the proverbial "moderation in all things" approach.

"Instead of concentrating all efforts on dietary sodium reduction, people who are interested in reducing their blood pressure or risk of hypertension should practice lifestyle and dietary changes which are known to work: losing excess weight and watching alcohol intake. Eating a nutritious diet that contains a moderate amount of sodium would also be prudent," adds McCarron.

Satisfying customers — without salt

Although restaurateurs around the country say they have not seen an increase in requests for sodium-free menu items, they remain prepared to satisfy diners who must restrict their salt intake.

Raymond Badach, the owner of Restaurant 28 in Montclair, New Jersey, estimates that sodium requests comprise only about 2 percent of the establishment's special requests. Despite the relative rarity of such requests, it's important to realize that some health problems — such as kidney problems — still require strict sodium monitoring, and customers who suffer from them will always be concerned about the sodium content of their meals.

For many chefs, simply altering an existing recipe in order to lower sodium is the most practical way to satisfy customers' requests without going to the trouble of creating a separate "low sodium" menu. The never-ending challenge when creating lower-sodium recipes is to still provide a satisfying, flavorful meal.

At Restaurant 28, chef Bruce Johnson relies on a few highly flavorful oils and sauces to spice up many of his signature dishes, as well as his sodium-reduced creations. "I like to create intense, true flavors using just a few good-quality ingredients. Reducing balsamic vinegar or red wine to syrups and combining vegetable-juice reductions with fresh herb oils are a couple of my favorite ways to deliver a big flavor impact without a lot of salt," says Johnson.

Altering the actual cooking method is another way to reduce sodium, according to Kerry Heffernan, executive chef at The Polo in Manhattan's Westbury Hotel. "Very often, when a customer wants a lower-sodium version of a roasted menu item, I simply slice and grill the meat or vegetables," says Heffernan. "Grilled food has a nice flavor of its own, and using a rub, flavored oil or fresh herbs gives the flavor an extra boost."

While there is no need to remove all the salt shakers from dining-room tables or from the kitchen, operators who provide low-sodium menu choices, such as the ones mentioned here, show a desire to satisfy their guests' needs — a gesture that will surely impress all diners.

SQuick Ways to Decrease Sodium

- Drastically limit added salt in any form (garlic salt, onion salt, seasoned salt, etc.)

- Avoid using salty meats like salt pork, bacon and ham.

- Purchase or make your own special no-salt seasoning blends.

- Limit salty condiments such as pickles, olives and capers. Avoid ketchup, mustard and prepared salad dressings.

- Avoid sauce mixes and prepared products, including flavored rices, pastas and cereals, which usually have added salt.

- Choose a low-sodium variety of prepared broth and bouillon.

- Choose canned goods, such as vegetables, without added salt.

- Limit use of processed cheeses, such as American brand, "cheese food" and "cheese spreads," which are generally higher in sodium than natural cheeses such as Gouda, Brie or Cheddar. Feta, although a natural cheese, is also high in sodium.

By Catherine Broihier

Restaurants USA, August 1996

http://www.restaurant.org/business/magarticle.cfm?ArticleID=180

***

Just an added note from T.Y: consider those bouillon cubes, as they contain a high content of salt, as well.

As always, before starting ANY exercise program and/or diet, check with your doctor and get his approval. This is being safe rather than sorry.

May the Holy ONE of Israel be with us to keep us safe and informed in order that we make wise and healthy decisions.

Tziona Yisrael

*******

THOUGHT FOR TODAY AND FOREVER:

Let’s keep YIHOVAH and HIS Law our focus and pray for deliverance and fulfillment of all of GOD’s Word, so that every Nation will show forth HIS Praise and Exalt HIM above all other gods.

*******

THE GREATEST "SPOIL" OF ALL

Learn about the Reparations Mass Movement for Descendants of Slaves and how YOU can get involved: Go to: www.thelawkeepers.org and click on "Repnow."

The Israelites received Reparations for their free labor when they left out of Egypt (Exodus 12:35,36, Psalm 105:37). Note also that Reparations were given to Ezra for the building of GOD’s Temple and for the service of the House of the LORD GOD of Israel (Ezra 7:12 –21). And it is prophesied that we will again receive compensation for our free labor and bondage in this modern-day Egypt (all the lands that took Israelites captive):

"The Lord said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction." Jeremiah 15:11

*******

EDITORIAL PERSPECTIVE:

GOD’s MESSAGES TO HIS PEOPLE ARE

TO RETURN TO HIM,

SERVE HIM ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS,

AND

TO SEEK KNOWLEDGE OF HIM!

"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins:

return unto me; for I have redeemed thee."

Isaiah 44:22

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Isaiah 55:7

"Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel:

for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,

because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land."

Hosea 4:1

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy;

break up your fallow ground:

for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you."

Hosea 10:12

"For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them."

Isaiah 61:8

May 12, 2003

That GOD plays a major role in our returning to HIM is exactly what must be realized before we will truly Fear HIM and devote our Hebrew Way of Life to HIM. Written in Scripture in literally hundreds of passages are Messages for us from Our GOD. But not everyone can always understand them. However, it is Our Holy ONE of Israel that is responsible for our learning about HIM and increasing knowledge of HIS Ways and HIS Truth.

"Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." Psalm 51:6

"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Jeremiah 3:14,15

"And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.

"I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets." Hosea 12:9,10

"Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:5,6

"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

"Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." Isaiah 42:9

Sometimes we can open the Tanakh and only after reading a passage for the umpteenth time can we glean GOD’s Message from its contents. And then we’re in awe of what we’ve read because of the light that we’ve finally seen. Hebrew Israelites who are TORAH based and accepting of GOD’s WORD – "Thus Saith the LORD" – seem to be several steps ahead of Israelites who believe in a "man" and study from the "NT."

The great differences in these two groups are that one puts total belief and trust in the Most High GOD of Abraham and Moses and choose to live by HIS LAW.

"Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually." Hosea 12:6

The other group chooses to believe in a man, jc, and the very much contrived teachings of the "NT" – even though GOD’s LAW Commands that HIS People not add to or diminish from HIS Book of the Law. Fact: When we use the "New Testament, we are adding another "New" and unsanctioned doctrine to GOD’s Book of the Law. And X-tians and Messianics fail to realize that the "NT" does not equal GOD’s Book of the Law, and, therefore, cannot suffice for GOD’s Paths of Righteousness. Albeit, this "NT" Book contradicts all that the Most High GOD of Israel designates.

"If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

"Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;

"Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

"But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people." Deuteronomy 13: 6 – 9

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." Deuteronomy 4:2

A thousand times, we can show X-tians and Messianics the written WORD of GOD teaching and preaching HIS Righteous Paths that Israelites must follow, but they cannot SEE and UNDERSTAND GOD’s Ways or HIS intentions for establishing HIS Chosen People Israel to serve, worship, and show forth HIS PRAISE and ONLY HIS PRAISE. And there is a reason for that. GOD does not increase the knowledge of the wicked, i.e., those who believe in false gods and those who reject HIS Book of the Law.

In other words, there is but ONE WAY to acquire knowledge! We obtain it from the Most High GOD of Hosts, for HE ALONE is the Creator of Knowledge, Righteousness, Prosperity, and Peace. And HE makes all these TRUTHS available to us IF we return to HIM and are obedient to HIS LAW. Thus, we must do some soul searching, for the GOD of Israel searches the heart, to see if we are following HIS Ways and if we are serious about returning to HIM. Remember, GOD’s Righteous Way of Life wasn’t born during the Roman Era. HE set forth HIS Righteous Paths for Noah and for our Patriarch Abraham, and they listened and were obedient to HIS LAW. At some point in reading the Tanakh we must discern that the Holy ONE of Israel WILL NOT change HIS Righteous Laws, Statutes, and Judgments – not even for HIS Chosen People! Actually, these Righteous LAWS will be put in our hearts, just more evidence that GOD does not change and that HE is going to have it HIS WAY or no way!

"O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

"Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips." Hosea 14:1,2

I find it amazing that X-tians are satisfied serving GOD scores of different ways. You know via Catholicism, Baptist, Methodist, etc., etc.. All of these X-tians believe in jc, and all of them worship him a different way. And to prove that there is no Truth to their dogma, they all dismiss the credibility of the other, and they all profess to have the religion that will send its followers to heaven. Where in GOD’s WORD can we find all these different paths leading to HIM?! We can’t, and the reason is that these name-brand religions were established by man DURING and AFTER the Roman Era! Even so, how much credibility can we put in a "X-tian god" that changes from one doctrine and/or ordinance to another with total disregard for consistency? Take for example the Catholics. Many years ago, they wouldn’t eat meat on Friday. I just couldn’t understand that, and not one Catholic knew how this practice came about! And get this, now Catholics can eat meat on Friday. It should be understood that these religious teachings stem from men – not GO - for GOD does not change (Malachi 3"6)!

It stands to reason why people do not take any of these X-trian religions seriously. And please do not try to tell me that most religious people (regardless of their denomination) fear GOD. If they did, then, with so many X-tians on this planet, this world wouldn’t be as corrupt, hypocritical, cruel, and racist as it is. Hitler was a X-tian, the great majority of the European and American Slave Masters were X-tians, and the Rulers of this world are X-tians. Yet, the very religion that teaches so much "love" has members who purposely exploit and cause the suffering of billions in Central America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and in Asia.

Perhaps we can see now why the All-Mighty GOD of Israel does not give knowledge to people and organizations that do not seek to follow HIS Ways. If HE did, HIS Efforts would be a very much waste of time. As it is, the very fact that man chooses ways that he desires for his self-serving purpose is evidence that he does not have the slightest desire to follow the Paths set by the CREATOR, the GOD of Israel.

"Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

"They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off." Hosea 8:3,4

Another thing GOD did not know about was the so-called Trinity - the belief of the X-tian religion.

"Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men."

Hosea 10:13

There is no reason for the All-Mighty GOD to establish umpteen different ways to serve and worship HIM. ONE WAY is more than enough! Israelites wouldn’t follow the ONE WAY – GOD’s Righteous and PERFECT Book of the Law - so it makes little sense for GOD to approve scores of other different ways to worship HIM with each one contradicting the other. And when you think about it, you can see that this makes no sense. After Creating a PERFECT Heaven and Earth, animals, plants, and man, GOD then took the time to design and establish for this man, HE Created, a PERFECT and Righteous Way of Life for him to follow for HIS continued Blessings. Thus, why would this All-Mighty GOD choose to change the ONLY means of living Righteously for HIS Praise and Exaltation?! After all, to GOD should go the credit, Glory, Praise and Exaltation for all HIS Creations because HE has proven HIMSELF to be the OMNIPOTENT GOD! And since the CREATOR is GOD, then we must seek HIM to learn HIS Ways of Righteousness and to LIVE for HIM! "Man" has been evil and selfish since his Creation and unto this day, so why follow his ways? Let’s admit it; we have a despicable track record.

"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

"That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;" Isaiah 44:24,25

Man has proven exactly what will happen if he refuses to reject GOD and follow the imaginations of his heart. We have millennia standing witness to what all will happen from man doing things "his" way!

We are the CREATED – NOT the CREATOR!!! Haven’t we seen and endured enough of the works of man, i.e., Israelites, as well as Gentiles?

"For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge." Jeremiah 4:22

"For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.

"Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know." Isaiah 47:10,11

"Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

"They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish." Jeremiah 51:17,18

And isn’t it yet time to finally accept the fact that ONLY the CREATOR of this Universe holds the key to the ONE TRUE SPIRITUALITY and RIGHTEOUS WAY of LIFE? And doesn’t it make sense to follow the Ways this All-Mighty GOD set forth without our adding to or diminishing from them?!

But getting back to my point, Our Holy ONE of Israel opens our eyes, and, thereby, HE gives us knowledge to understand HIS WORD and wisdom to discern Truth.

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

"But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously" Hosea 6:6,7

"And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him." Hosea 11:7

Thus, if the Most High GOD of Israel SAVED HIS Chosen People out of Egyptian captivity, and then told them that they would go into captivity for rejecting HIM and HIS LAW– AND IT HAPPENED(!) – then how can ANYONE expect that jc would be able to SAVE the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel?" And why would people continue to believe in this "man" who not only DID NOT SAVE the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel, but DID NOT manifest GOD’s Kingdom on this Earth either, as the tale prophesied? Shouldn’t it ring true that this "NT" is suspect and but a tale fabricated by those who choose to deceive. After 2,000 years of not seeing hide nor hair of this man, jc, and since these Israelites are still in captivity and under the control of their enemies, there is no reason whatsoever to give jc credit for being the "Saviour of the World." And there is absolutely no reason to believe in a so-called "Trinity" either.

"…I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee…." Hosea 11:9

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" Numbers 23:19

How long will people continue to believe in jc, when it is crystal clear that he cannot save out of GOD’s Hand and make void HIS curses? And if X-tians and Messianics read GOD’s WORD to this effect, would they possibly see the Truth of the matter?

I dwell on a lot of things involving the Most High GOD of Israel, but nothing compares to the way I harp on RETURNING to HIM and FOLLOWING HIS Ways, and showing forth HIS Praise. This is Israel’s calling! This is my calling, and I try hard to do justice to giving absolute Magnification, Praise, and Exaltation of the GOD of Israel and HIS Ways of Righteousness. As well, I try hard to show my People why it is so important for us to discern between what’s right and what’s wrong and to JUDGE Righteously.

"Hate the evil, and love the good, and ESTABLISH JUDGMENT IN THE GATE : it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. " Amos 6:15

"And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

"Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." Malachi 3:17,18

"Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it." Deuteronomy 1:17

"With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

"Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD." Isaiah 26:9,10

"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Isaiah 58:1

"For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;

"If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

"Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever." Jeremiah 7:5 - 7

"Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD." Jeremiah 8:7

Read GOD’s LAW and HIS WORD concerning HIS Ways just one more time, and maybe, just maybe this will be the moment that the GOD of Israel will open your eyes to see and understand that Israelites (HIS Chosen People) must live to serve and worship ONLY HIM if we are to return to HIM and to our heritage. Never forget that the Prophet Moses could not enter Canaan all because he neglected to sanctify the True and Living GOD. Thus, if Israelites give credence to jc and not to the Holy ONE of Israel, surely you can imagine just how much more upset and angry Our GOD will be and keep Israelites who do not believe in HIM out of HIS Holy Land.

"Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

"And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

"Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour." Jeremiah 16:11 – 13

We must change our ways to those that Our ONLY GOD AND SAVIOR presented to us for there is but ONE acceptable WAY to return to HIM to serve and worship HIM in Righteousness, and that’s through following and doing HIS Book of the Law as it is written and without adding to or diminishing from it.

"Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside there from to the right hand or to the left;" Joshua 23:6

"Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?

prudent, and he shall know them?

for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them:

but the transgressors shall fall therein."

Hosea 14:9

Be wise to know that Our GOD gives us wisdom and knowledge when we keep HIS LAW!

"Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

"Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say,

Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."

Deuteronomy 4:5,6

O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS JUST AND GOOD!

Tziona Yisrael,

Servant of the Most High GOD of Israel for HIS Holy Name’s Sake!

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and

it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

Isaiah 55:11

"Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice:

for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed."

Isaiah 56:1

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble;

and he knoweth them that trust in him."

Nahum 1:7

LORD GOD of Israel, remember your Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and observe that some of us seek you with our whole hearts to accept and live by ALL your Righteous and Glorious LAW; therefore, Heavenly Father, make haste to TAKE BACK YOUR UNIVERSE and re-establish the SEED of your Chosen Ones for your PRAISE and GLORY and for your Holy Name’s Sake.

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, SO SHALL YOUR SEED AND YOUR NAME REMAIN.

"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD."

Isaiah 66:22,23

"For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same

my name shall be great among the Gentiles;

and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering:

for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts."

Malachi 1:11

***

"This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

"But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob;

but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel."

Isaiah 43:21,22

"Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou,

that thou mayest be justified."

Isaiah 43:26

HEAR, O ISRAEL, the LORD Our GOD is ONE LORD! And it’s our duty to show forth HIS Praise for indeed this is why we were chosen and formed!

"And they shall spring up as among the grass,

as willows by the water courses.

"One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD,

and surname himself by the name of Israel."

Isaiah 44:4,5

"I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness,

I declare things that are right."

Isaiah 45:19

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:"

Isaiah 55:6

We have no time to waste!

FEAR AND GLORY YIHOVAH ALWAYS!

O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD, OUR GOD AND ONLY SAVIOR

IS GOOD AND MERCIFUL TO ALL WHO TURN TO AND TRUST IN HIM TO DO HIS WILL!

***

LET THE MOST HIGH GOD OF ISRAEL LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THE RIGHTEOUS REMNANT ALWAYS AND FOREVER!

O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD

AND THAT THERE IS NO OTHER GOD LIKE UNTO HIM!

*******

Let us return to the very same GOD that Created Heaven and Earth and that saved our forefathers out of Egypt for HE is the True and Living GOD, and there is none else.

*******

"Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that

I may assemble the kingdoms,

to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger:

for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy."

Zephaniah 3:8

"I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

"Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

"At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth,

when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD."

Zephaniah 3:18

HALLELUYAH, HALLELUYAH, HALLELUYAH!

FEAR AND GLORY YIHOVAH ALWAYS!

*******

"Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

"At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD." Zephaniah 3:19,20

O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD AND THAT

THERE IS NO GOD BUT HIM!

BLESSED BE THE MERCIFUL MOST HIGH GOD OF ISRAEL, THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE SAVIOR TO THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM!

*******

"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."

Deuteronomy 32:39

"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8

"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." Isaiah 44:22

For those of us who truly Fear Our True and Living GOD, let us be blessed with answers to our prayers that HE will deliver us out of bondage just as HE saved our forefathers out of bondage down in Egypt. We also pray that Our Holy ONE will deal with the Rulers of this World and call HIS Chosen Ones home to our heritage where HE will once again live among us and be Our GOD of gods and LORD of lords and where we will be a LIGHT to the World and show forth HIS Praise and Glory in Truth and in Righteousness FOREVER.

O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD, OUR GOD OF ISRAEL, IS GOOD to all those who Fear and seek HIM in Truth and in Righteousness!!! The Holy ONE was with Abram, and HE will be with us, as well if we will just turn to HIM with our whole heart. I am a Witness!

Let’s be ready for the Day of the LORD for therein lies our DELIVERANCE and our return to our heritage if we return to Our ONLY LORD and SAVIOR and be obedient to HIS LAW.

FEAR AND GLORY YIHOVAH AND HONOR HIS BOOK OF THE LAW ALWAYS!

***

"Fearing" YIHOVAH and "OBEDIENCE" to HIS Ways is "Key" to our attaining everything we need to know, do, and accomplish. And for that, BLESSED BE THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL FOR EVER AND EVER!

***

I PRAY TO BE JOINED WITH THOSE WHO SEEK YIHOVAH IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, BE NUMBERED AMONG HIS SAINTS, AND BE A LIGHT TO THE WORLD FOR HIS FAME AND GLORY. I PRAY TO BE JOINED WITH THOSE WHO WILL DEMAND THE KEEPING OF GOD’s BOOK OF THE LAW AND WITHOUT ADDING TO OR DIMINISHING FROM IT!

BLESSED BE THE MOST HIGH GOD OF ABRAHAM AND MOSES AND EXALTED BE HIS HOLY NAME ABOVE ALL FOREVER AND EVER!

GLORY YIHOVAH, CLEAVE TO HIM, AND EXALT HIM AND

HIS BOOK OF THE LAW ALWAYS!

*******

A MESSAGE TO ALL MESSIANICS:

WAIT ON THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL

AND

MAKE HIM YOUR

LORD AND SAVIOR - NOT "MAN."

(Psalm 25:4,5)

"Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes." Hosea 13:4,9,14

"Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."

Psalm 40:5

THEREFORE, FOR WHAT REASON

DO WE NEED jc OR ANY ONE ELSE BUT YIHOVAH,

THE ALL-MIGHTY GOD OF ISRAEL?!

"Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

"He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen." Deuteronomy 10:20,21

"That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:20

"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

"Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders." Psalm 107:31,32

"I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: OPEN THY MOUTH WIDE, AND I WILL FILL IT." Psalm 37:10

AGAIN AND AGAIN, I ASK

FOR WHAT REASON DO WE NEED jc OR ANY ONE ELSE BUT YIHOVAH

OUR ONLY GOD AND SAVIOR?

"And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

"To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" Deuteronomy 10:12,13

"At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people." Jeremiah 31:1

FOR WHAT REASON DO WE NEED jc OR ANY ONE ELSE BUT YIHOVAH?

"And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.

Exodus 29:46

"And God spake all these words, saying,

"I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:1 - 3

FOR WHAT REASON DO WE NEED jc OR ANY ONE ELSE BUT YIHOVAH,

THE LORD OUR GOD THAT SAVED ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT?

"…they shall CALL ON MY NAME, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God." Zechariah 13:9

Given all the above Scripture, YOU MESSIANICS should realize that we should not be trusting in or magnifying "man" - not any "man" for the Holy ONE of Israel is a JEALOUS GOD, and HE wants all the Praise and Glory for HIMSELF! HE ALONE is Our SAVIOR, and there is none else:

"I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." Isaiah 43:11

"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8

"Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Isaiah 45:21,22

FOR WHAT REASON DO WE NEED jc OR ANY ONE ELSE BUT YIHOVAH?

Our Righteous GOD gave us HIS Holy Book of the Law – not the "New Testament" that was established by "man" to support his man-made, very well organized and deceptive religion.

WE DO NOT NEED jc!!!

The TEACHINGS of the GOD of Israel are found in HIS Book of the Law, and in no way do HIS Teachings even parallel those of jc. As a matter of fact, the "New Testament" and the teachings of jc were specifically written and embellished to REPLACE GOD’s Laws, Statutes, and Judgments - hence, the reason for the word "New" in the title of this book!

This is one of the greatest sins one can commit against the Most High GOD of Israel. Not only is GOD’s Law to be kept "to a thousand generations" and "FOR EVERMORE" (Deuteronomy 7:9; II Kings 17:37), but no one can add to or diminish from all that the GOD of Israel has COMMANDED that we should observe to DO (Deuteronomy 12:32)!

Equally as important, "Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them, And all the people shall say, Amen" (Deuteronomy 27:26). Perhaps jc wasn’t aware of this Law!

The "New Testament" and this "man" jc have not only added to GOD’s WORD, but they have

disclaimed GOD’s Ordinances and changed them altogether!

Every man/woman who serves and worships the All-Mighty GOD of Israel knows to Exalt ONLY HIM and HIS Book of the Law, for through meditating in this Righteous Book, one is made wise and, therefore, learns of GOD’s Truth and magnifies it and nothing else!

"And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 32:46

"Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shal make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:7,8

Equally important, the wise will confirm that there is but ONE GOD, the CREATOR, and there is none else!

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." Isaiah 43:10

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

"That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I amthe LORD, and there is none else." Isaiah 45:5,6

"But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

"Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens." Jeremiah 10:10,11

Finally, when we realize that NO ONE can deliver out of GOD’s Hand, i.e., reverse the CURSES HE put on the Nation of Israel (or anyone else for that matter), then we will understand why the man, jc, is a farce, and thus, was not able to save the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel," or establish GOD’s Kingdom. Thus, we also realize why the writers of the "New Testament" conveniently wrote jc completely out of the picture and into a false doctrine and forged sense of hope that lies in the hearts of naïve and badly informed beliers!

The Holy ONE of Israel wants HIS People to SERVE, TRUST, BELIEVE, HOPE, AND WORSHIP ONLY HIM! AND HE WILL HAVE IT NO OTHER WAY!

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." Nahum 1:7

WE NEED THE SAME GOD THAT SAVED THE NATION OF ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT

TO ONCE AGAIN

DELIVER US OUT OF OUR ENEMIES’ LANDS!!!

"And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,

and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me,

saith the LORD.

"And also I have withholden the rain from you,

when there were yet three months to the harvest:

and I caused it to rain upon one city,

and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon,

and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.

"So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water;

but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me,

saith the LORD.

"I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased,

the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me,

saith the LORD.

"I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses;

and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils:

yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

"I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,

and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning:

yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."

Amos 4:6 – 11

"For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel,

Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

"Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el."

Amos 5:4,6

"The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks."

Amos 4:2

"The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

"Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.

"Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus,

saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts."

Amos 5:2,16,27

(See also Jeremiah 30:13)

Why didn’t jc know about Amos’ PROPHECIES? Why didn’t he know that GOD had cursed the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel" (Matt.15:24), and that it would be impossible to SAVE them? And why didn’t he know that we would still be UNSAVED unto this day?! I’ll tell you why. When the tale was woven to establish this false religion, X-tianity, the writers were so busy fabricating what they thought would be a foolproof theology that they neglected to do their homework! They should have researched what "Thus Saith the LORD," first! How long will intelligent people continue to believe in this "man" jc?

WE DO NOT NEED jc! WE NEED THE GOD OF ABRAHAM!

"Therefore, behold the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brougt up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again unto their land

that I gave unto their fathers."

Jeremiah 16:14,15

"Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering,

and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

FEAR BEFORE HIM ALL THE EARTH…"

I Chronicles 16:29,30

If the Holy ONE of Israel DECLARED that there is NONE TO PLEAD OUR CAUSE (Jeremiah 30:13), then of what value was jc??? Obviously, this man was/is of no value to the Children of Israel at all. Hence, again and again I urge Messianics to turn to the GOD of Israel and believe, hope, and trust in ONLY HIM for HE is the ONLY ONE that has proven HIMSELF to be able to truly SAVE HIS People out of the hands of their enemies.

O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD

AND THAT THERE IS NONE LIKE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL!

Tziona Yisrael,

Servant of the Most High GOD of Israel for HIS Holy Name’s Sake

P.S.

I live to Exalt the Most High GOD of Israel and HIS Righteous Book of the Law and all because returning to HIM and serving and worshipping HIM (when our forefathers wouldn’t) will cause Our GOD and SAVIOR to return back to us, HIS Chosen People. Therefore, the more Israelites involved in this great Mission to return to the Holy ONE and HIS Law, the sooner the GOD’s TRUTH will be disseminated around the world and the sooner the True and Living GOD will be revealed, magnified, and PRAISED by all (Isaiah 43:21). And LORD knows this "man" jc, or whatever people choose to call him, will have nothing to do with bringing about this disclosure or the Redemption and Deliverance from all the perils upon the SEED of the Children of Israel, as well as the rest of the nations on this Earth for that matter. And the reason is that the man jc, in the "NT," is too busy shedding light on himself to give Praise and Glory to the Most High GOD of Israel, which is all that this GOD wanted most from HIS Chosen People.

It should be realized that GOD did not let Samuel’s words fall to the ground, i.e., everything Samuel said came to pass (I Samuel 3:19). But this was not the case with the "man" jc, and yet he was/is worshipped and magnified as if he were the GOD of this Universe. And indeed many people think that he is. But if he is a god or if he is "the son of God," then certainly he should have known that GOD’s Kingdom was NOT at hand (Matthew 10:5 - 7) – a blunder from which he will never recover!

And since jc could not make this significant call that would have proven his identity and godliness, the wise should know that he is as much a lying prophet as was Hananiah who disputed Jeremiah’s prophecy that the Tribe of Judah would be in Babylonian captivity for seventy years. His claim was that they would be captives for only two years rather than seventy. Consequently, Hananiah paid with his life for making the Judahites "trust in a lie" (Jeremiah 28^th Chapter).

As well, we should give more thought to the fact that "there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:10). That kind of leaves the "Son of God" out in the cold; wouldn’t you say?

And finally, GOD said, "The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to give drink to my people, my chosen" (Isaiah 43:20). There’s much to be gleaned from this passage! But suffice it to say that the beasts of the field know well the identity of the CREATOR, and they know even better that this All-Mighty GOD is the ONLY ONE that deserves ALL THE GLORY. Unfortunately, these days, when there is a drought, severe storm, flooding, waters in the desert or forest (lightning) fires, crippling dust storms and famine, people, not the beasts of the field, but PEOPLE will credit "Mother Nature" for these weather patterns and not make the slightest connection to the Most High GOD. "That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness:

I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." Isaiah 45:6,7

However, for sure great afflictions will cause many people and Nations to turn to the GOD with the OMNIPOTENCE to SAVE and DELIVER out of harms way, and this will be the GOD they will serve and worship (Hosea 5:15). I don’t think it’s necessary to reveal that this GOD will be the same GOD that SAVED the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage!

"Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth."

Psalm 96:12,13

"What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;" Psalm 114:5 – 7

The WISE will understand!

FEAR AND GLORY YIHOVAH ALWAYS!

P.P.S.

LORD, You were our help during Biblical days, and you did not pass the buck. You were a Voice and a genuine Worker for us, and from the fruits of your labors our trifling forefathers were indeed saved and redeemed many times from the hands of their enemies, albeit in vain to perpetuate many sins against you. But things have changed somewhat, and many of us have returned to you. Therefore, once again, LORD GOD of Israel, save those of us who believe and trust in ONLY YOU to do your Will, but this time save us from the four corners of this Earth for your Holy Name’s Sake.

"When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers." I Kings 8:33,34

"Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

"But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers."

Jeremiah 16:14,15

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL! IT WILL HAPPEN!!!

*******

"Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

"And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob,

and I will look for him."

Isaiah 8:16,17

Let us put the Most High GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel back into our lives, our hearts, our thoughts, and in everything that we do. Focusing on HIM and HIS Ways, as we come and go in our daily routines is ever so helpful in maintaining healthy spirits and acquiring strength and knowledge of HIS Paths of Righteousness. This attitude certainly helps in making us meek, albeit but not weak, ALL PRAISES DUE TO THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that

the temple might be built."

Zechariah 8:9

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him

while he is near:"

Isaiah 55:6

***

"I will declare thy name unto my brethren:

in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee."

Psalm 22:22

LET US EXALT, PRAISE, AND SANCTIFY THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL IN TRUTH AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE THE WORLD FOREVERMORE! AND LET US MAGNIFY HIS LAW, WHICH IS OUR ONLY TICKET INTO HIS KINGDOM, SO THAT ALL PEOPLES WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND WORSHIP KNOW THE MOST HIGH GOD OF ABRAHAM AND MOSES AND TO SERVE AND WORSHIP HIM ACCORDING TO HIS WORD AND HIS WILL!

*******

Poetry and Prose Corner With A Message:

I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE SINGING TODAY, LORD!

How can I sing FATHER, when I feel so down and so sad?

Having knowledge, as you know, can be good and bad.

Good because finally, I have learned the Truth,

Something I have wondered and wanted to know since my youth.

I know that there is but ONE GOD and ONE Righteousness,

And that turning to YOU will get us out of this horribly ridiculous mess.

Bad because waiting for Your Salvation is some kind of hard,

As watching the enemy inflect pain on us without any regard.

I just didn’t feel like singing today,

Maybe tomorrow, LORD, if I can ignore this dismay.

How can I sing with joy without happiness in my heart,

When you are not Exalted, and we, your Chosen, are so far apart.

People don’t know you, and they seek after false doctrines,

Dying for lack of knowledge and ending up inevitably in coffins.

Evil and wickedness thrive throughout every facet of life,

Causing hatred, chaos, confusion, sadness, and constant strife.

We live in fear always worrying about the current events,

Praying and pleading for safety for our people who live in decadence.

I just didn’t feel like singing today,

Maybe tomorrow, LORD, if I can ignore this dismay.

How can I sing, LORD, living in so much never ending trouble,

Our enemies deceive us and for our sins we continue to receive double.

Our misery and tears are endlessly in our face,

Working for the powers-that-be is the horrible fact of this case.

Reading about the days of old when our forefathers lived in our land,

Is so sad, LORD, as our captivity is more than we can stand.

Hear the prayers of those who now choose to be obedient,

SAVE us, GOD of Abraham, out of this nightmarish predicament.

I just didn’t feel like singing today,

Maybe tomorrow, LORD, if I can ignore this dismay.

By

Tziona Yisrael

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us." Psalm 137:1 – 8

"…rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

"Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." Joel 2:13,17,32

***

MAY THE WORLD SOON LEARN THE TRUTH REGARDING THE ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD

THAT CREATED THE HEAVENS AND

THE EARTH FOR HIS FAME AND GLORY!

HALLELUYAH, HALLELUYAH, HALLELUYAH!

***

Your Poetry and Prose are welcome. Please send them to AFRAQUEEN@AOL.COM for publishing in The LawKeepers JOURNAL. We only ask that they be in Exaltation of the Most High GOD of Israel.

*******

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."

Zephaniah 3:14,17

Let us mold our hearts and future NOW and succeed where our forefathers failed. Let us be obedient to Our Holy ONE of Israel and live and do HIS Book of the Law AS IT IS WRITTEN IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. Let us turn to Our GOD of Israel with our whole heart and soul and cause HIM to see that this time, we will keep our promise to make HIM Our ONE and ONLY GOD in Truth and serve HIM according to HIS Ways and Paths of Righteousness that HE decreed to HIS Prophet Moses!

"And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,

"And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

"That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

"If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:"

Deuteronomy 30:1 - 4

"For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

"And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

"And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

"I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

"And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

"Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight

for your iniquities and for your abominations."

Ezekiel 36:24 - 31

"Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old."

Micah 7:20

*****

"Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.

"And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion

with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads:

they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

Isaiah 35:4,10

"For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:

I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

"Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

"Fear not: for I am with thee:

I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

"I will say to the north, Give up: and to the south, Keep not back:

bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;"

Isaiah 43:3 – 6

*****

OLD TESTAMENT WORD SEARCH

Find the PLACES in and around the region of the Tribe of Judah.

ZION GIBEON EPHRATH GEBA

CITY OF DAVID MICHMASH BETHLEHEM BETHEL

TEKOA MIZPAH JEBUS JERICHO

NOB GABA JERUSALEM MOUNT OF OLIVES

JUDEA ROCK ETAM OPHEL LAND OF JUDAH

M H S A M H C I M D M T E

E O B E L L O M Z I O N P

H H U V E A M A I V T N H

E C W N H N E T N A E A R

L I A O T D N E O D M M A

H R T E E O E K P F P E T

T E E B B F F C H O L L H

E J R I C J I O E Y E A A

B E I G U U L R L T B S E

U B V E R D O I A I H U D

I U E B E A V B A C V R U

L S R A P H A P Z I M E J

T E K O A G H E L P W J S

(Do you know the significance of all these places? Give an extra three points to the person who can provide information on the words he or she finds.)

Old Testament Word Search

by

Tziona Yisrael

Some words are truly challenging to find, so take your time. Words are written vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.

Only a good "eye" will enable you to find all the words.

For neatness and legibility, use a single line to cross out each word found

rather than circling it.

Parents, you might want to copy just the "Word Search" and take turns with your children to complete this puzzle. And to make the fun more exciting, play with a one-minute timer, as you search for each word. If players cannot find their words within the allotted time, then it’s the next player’s turn.

Reward one point per word found. Let the youngest child start first. Each player selects his/her own word, or the words can be written on small pieces of paper and randomly pulled (with eyes closed) from a bag or hat.

NOW, see who can rack up the most points.

(Do you know the significance of all these places? Give an extra three points to the person who can provide information on the words he or she finds.)

ENJOY!

(By all means, do copy the puzzle and use the "Font Size" that suits you.)

***

In the future, if Brothers and Sisters would like to create a "Word Search" of their own, I would be delighted to include it in the next JOURNAL. And even suggestions for a Word Search are always welcome.

Tziona Yisrael

***

"But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

"And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying."

Isaiah 65:18,19

"Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her:

rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you;

and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

"And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

"And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war any more."

Micah 4:2,3

*****

FOR YOUR INFORMATION (FYI):

Tidbits of History on Jerusalem that you might find interesting…

Jerusalem's history stretches back about 5,000 years. About 2500 BC, the Canaanites inhabited the city. Later, Jerusalem became a Jebusite citadel. When DAVID captured the city (c.1000 BC), the Jebusites were absorbed into the Jewish people. David made Jerusalem the capital of his kingdom, and SOLOMON built the first Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. In 586 BC, the Babylonian NEBUCHADNEZZAR II destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and exiled the Jews to Babylonia. Fifty years later (537 BC), CYRUS THE GREAT of Persia conquered Babylonia and permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. Persia held the city until 333 BC, when ALEXANDER THE GREAT added Palestine to his empire. In 323 BC, PTOLEMY I of Egypt took Palestine into his kingdom.

About 198 BC, the Seleucid king ANTIOCHUS III conquered Judea (of which Jerusalem was a part), making it tributary to Syria. The Jews later revolted under the leadership of Maccabees (see MACCABEES family) and defeated the Syrians. The Temple was reconsecrated in 165 BC, and the Maccabean, or Hasmonean, dynasty ruled until Rome took the city in 63 BC. The Romans set up a local dynasty, the house of Herod (see HEROD dynasty), to rule most of Palestine; Herod the Great (r.40-4 BC) rebuilt much of Jerusalem, including the Temple. The Roman governors, however, retained ultimate control; one of them, Pontius Pilate, authorized the execution of Jesus Christ. While suppressing a major Jewish revolt, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in AD 70. In 135, after the failure of the BAR KOCHBA revolt, Jews were banished from Jerusalem. From the early 4th century, when Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire, Jerusalem developed as a center of Christian pilgrimage. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher and many other Christian shrines were erected. Except for a brief period of Persian rule (614-28) the city remained under Roman (later, Byzantine) control until 638, when the Muslim Arabs took Jerusalem. The Arabs built (688-91) the Dome of the Rock mosque on the site of the Temple.

In the 11th century, Muslim toleration of both Jews and Christians gave way to persecution under the FATIMID caliph al-Hakim (r. 996-1021) and under the SELJUKS, who seized Jerusalem in 1071. European Christendom responded by launching the CRUSADES. The Crusaders conquered Jerusalem in 1099 and established a Crusader state (see JERUSALEM, LATIN KINGDOM OF). SALADIN recaptured the city for the Muslims in 1187, and the Ayyubid and Mameluke dynasties ruled until 1517, when the Ottoman Empire took control.

In 1917 the British occupied Jerusalem, and it became the capital of mandated PALESTINE from 1923 until 1948. During this period the city saw Arab rioting against the Jews. The 1948 United Nations partition plan for Palestine called for internationalization of the city. The Arabs rejected this resolution, and, from 1949, Jerusalem was divided into an Israeli and a Jordanian sector. The city remained divided until 1967, when Israel took the entire city following the Six Day War. The city is reunited today under Israeli government, which guarantees religious freedom and protection of all holy places. The question of who will ultimately control Jerusalem, however, remains a major obstacle to any lasting peace settlement in the Middle East.

Ira M. Sheskin

Bibliography: Bahat, D., Historical Atlas of Jerusalem (1983); Ben-Arieh, Y., Jerusalem in the 19th Century, 2 vols. (1985-87); Elon, A., Jerusalem (1989); Peters, F. E., Jerusalem (1985); Safdie, M., Jerusalem (1989); Thubron, C., Jerusalem (1976; repr. 1988).

{pal'-es-tyn}

Palestine, a historic region on the east coast of the Mediterranean, also known as the Holy Land, was the site of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah and comprises areas of the modern states of Israel and Jordan. In the 20th century, Arab and Jewish nationalists have made conflicting claims to the region. The borders of Palestine have fluctuated throughout history but have generally included the territory lying between the southeastern Mediterranean coast on the west, the Jordan/Dead Sea Valley on the east, the Negev Desert on the south, and the Litani River on the north--an area only about 280 km (175 mi) long by 128 km (80 mi) wide. This land has been coveted throughout history because, by local standards, it is relatively well watered and strategically located on major land routes linking western Asia and northern Africa.

Early History

The name Palestine is an adaptation from a Greek word that was in turn derived from the Hebrew word for "the land of the Philistines." Palestine was first peopled by wandering Stone-Age hunters; permanent agricultural settlements appeared at JERICHO about 8000 BC. A mixed society of agricultural villagers, sheep- and goat-herding nomads, and urban artisans evolved in Palestine under the influence of cultural currents flowing from Egypt, Hittite Anatolia, the Semite-populated deserts to the east, and the Minoan island of Crete. Although some scholars date the arrival of the Hebrews earlier, the principal influx of Hebrew tribes (see JEWS) from the desert into Palestine occurred between the 14th and 12th centuries BC. At roughly the same time the PHILISTINES invaded from the sea. Eventually, the Hebrew tribes dominated the area politically by forging a union c.1000 BC under the warrior kings SAUL, DAVID, and SOLOMON. This unity was fragile, however, and the kingdom split into two small states, Israel and Judah (see ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF; JUDAH, KINGDOM OF). These states were eventually destroyed, Israel by Assyria (721 BC) and Judah by Babylonia (587 BC). Afterward, except for a period of independence (143-63 BC) under the priest-princes of the MACCABEE family, Palestine was dominated by a succession of foreign rulers including the Persians, Alexander the Great, and the Hellenistic Ptolemies and Seleucids.

The last vestige of ancient Hebrew statehood was shattered in AD 70, when the Romans responded to a revolt by occupying the capital city of JERUSALEM, destroying the Temple, placing Palestine under Roman governors, and scattering rebellious segments of the Jewish population. During the succeeding 500 years of Roman and Byzantine rule, Palestine became overwhelmingly Christian. The Arab conquest of 641 brought Palestine under the sway of the Islamic CALIPHATE. Although Islam tolerated other faiths, it also encouraged conversions and facilitated immigration of Muslim Arab tribes into the country. Thus, by the 10th century most Palestinians had embraced Islam. After the decline of the central caliphate, the region endured another period of political instability. In 1099 the Crusaders took Jerusalem and established a feudal kingdom (see JERUSALEM, LATIN KINGDOM OF), which was itself destroyed in 1291 when the Europeans were expelled by the MAMELUKES of Egypt. The rule of the Turkish OTTOMAN EMPIRE (1516-1918) brought some stability but also growing cultural and economic stagnation.

In 1918, Palestine's population numbered about 500,000 Muslim Arabs, 100,000 Christian Arabs, and 60,000 Jews. All but a few thousand of the Jews had arrived since the 1880s, when immigrants from Europe started establishing agricultural settlements. They were inspired by ZIONISM, an ideology born in Central and Eastern Europe's Jewish communities. Zionism combined a program to revive ancient Hebrew culture with an assertion of the self-identity of Jews who felt threatened by various European nationalist movements. Zionism's program, as outlined by the World Zionist Congress (1897), called for a Jewish "national home" in Palestine supported financially and politically by a worldwide organization.

British Occupation

Toward the end of World War I, British troops led by Gen. Sir Edmund ALLENBY invaded Palestine, capturing Jerusalem in December 1917. Britain's occupation of Palestine ended four centuries of Ottoman sovereignty. In 1922 the League of Nations approved a British mandate over Palestine and neighboring Transjordan. The mandate was supposed to encourage the development of self-governing institutions and, eventually, independence. The Arab state of Transjordan (later Jordan) became autonomous in 1923 and was recognized as independent in 1928.

In Palestine, however, independence was delayed while conflicting Arab and Jewish claims were weighed and Britain searched for a solution to the Palestine question. In 1916 an ambiguous political accord between HUSAYN IBN ALI, sharif of Mecca, and Henry McMahon, British high commissioner in Cairo, had led the Arabs to believe that the British would support the creation of an independent Arab state that would include Palestine. On Nov. 2, 1917, however, the British government issued the BALFOUR DECLARATION, which promised support for Zionist aims.

Not long after World War I ended, Arab Palestinians began to evidence fears that enactment of the Zionist program would submerge them under waves of Jewish immigrants. In July 1919, the General Syrian Congress in Damascus demanded independence for a Syrian state that would include Palestine, categorically rejecting the concept of a Jewish national home. In 1920, Emir Faisal (later FAISAL I, King of Iraq), military commander of an Arab revolt (1916-18) against Ottoman rule, was declared king of this Syrian state. That April the Allied supreme council assigned France the mandate over Syria (approved in 1922 by the League of Nations) and, in July, French troops took Damascus, deposing Faisal, who fled the country. Anti-Zionist riots broke out among Arab Palestinians in April 1920 and were followed by even more serious violence in May 1921, after Britain announced that 16,500 Jewish immigrants would be admitted. Another serious clash erupted at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem in 1929. That year the Zionists formed the Jewish Agency to help develop quasi-governmental institutions among Palestine's Jews.

The Palestine crisis deepened in the 1930s when, in reaction to Nazi persecution of Jews in Europe, Jewish settlement jumped dramatically; the Jewish population totaled more than 400,000 by 1939, comprising nearly a third of Palestine's inhabitants. Between 1935 and 1939, Britain advanced proposals to stabilize the population with an Arab majority. The Arabs resented these schemes, and Zionists rejected them.

Between 1936 and 1939 the Arab Higher Committee, formed to unite Arab opposition to Jewish claims and led by the grand mufti (chief Islamic judge) of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al-HUSAYNI, carried on a virtual civil war. Thousands were killed, and many of the Arab Palestinian leaders were deported or forced to flee. The conflicts of these years exposed serious Arab social fragmentation, as well as military deficiencies, that contrasted with the solidarity and organizational efficiency displayed by the Jews, who formed a paramilitary organization, the Haganah, during the period of unrest.

Britain's last serious attempts to reach a compromise were the inconclusive London Round Table Conference (1939) and the White Paper of that year, which promised the establishment within ten years of an independent Palestine retaining an Arab majority. The White Paper also limited Jewish immigration to 1,500 per month until 1944, when Jews would no longer be admitted to Palestine. This limit was a devastating blow to the Jews of Hitler's Europe, and, after the outbreak of World War II, Zionists transferred their major efforts to attract support from Britain to the United States. In May 1942 the Biltmore Conference in New York demanded the formation of an independent Jewish commonwealth, a stance that attracted wide endorsement from U.S. political leaders.

During World War II the potential economic and military strength of Palestine's Jewish population increased considerably. After the war's end, when large numbers of European concentration-camp survivors sought homes in Palestine, Britain's resistance to reviving large-scale Jewish immigration prompted a revival of widespread disorder.

Birth of Israel [Under European CONVERTED Jews]

By 1947 the exhausted British declared that they could do no more and referred the problem to the United Nations, which voted in November to split Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. Despite violent Arab protests, Palestine's Jews proclaimed the creation of the independent state of ISRAEL, comprising more than half of Palestine's territory, on May 14, 1948, the eve of Britain's evacuation. Armies of the adjacent Arab states quickly entered Palestine. This war, the first in a series of ARAB-ISRAELI WARS, ended in 1949 with a hard-fought Israeli victory that included possession of territories won on the battlefield; the migration of more than 700,000 Arab Palestinian refugees out of Israeli territory into adjacent areas controlled by various Arab states; the confiscation of the property left by the Arab refugees and its redistribution to Israelis; and the eclipse of Palestine as a political entity. Most of the territory west of the Jordan River that the United Nations had designated as Arab came under the control of Transjordan, renamed Jordan, which formally annexed it in 1950. After the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, however, this WEST BANK territory was occupied by Israel.

Israeli Occupation and Palestinian Self-Rule

Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip resulted in increased, albeit divided, Palestinian nationalist activity, most of which took place outside the occupied territories. Alternative ideologies, personal animosities, and the meddling of neighboring Arab governments resulted in an alphabet soup of rival Palestinian nationalist organizations. Most of these diverse groups cooperated under the umbrella of the PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION (PLO), chaired by Yasir ARAFAT from 1969. Arab and international support for Palestinian national aspirations under the leadership of the PLO began to coalesce in 1974. At the October Arab summit meeting in Rabat, Morocco, the Arab League ended all Jordanian claims to Palestinian territory by designating the PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" and recognizing the right of the Palestinians to establish an independent "national authority" in any territories relinquished by Israel. In November, the UN General Assembly reaffirmed the right of the Palestinians to self-determination and national sovereignty and granted the PLO observer status.

Conditions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip under Israeli military occupation remained relatively peaceful. Although generally supporting the PLO, the Palestinian population accommodated itself to Israeli rule. The West Bank, in particular, experienced general economic improvement through the late 1970s, due in large part to remittances from Palestinians working in the Persian Gulf states, agricultural exports, and low-paying employment opportunities in Israel. Despite pressure from the right, successive Israeli Labor governments permitted few Israeli settlers (fewer than 8,000 in 1967-77) and limited settlement to isolated locations.

The election of a Likud government in 1977 greatly altered the situation. The Likud party considered the West Bank to be an integral part of Israel. It initiated an aggressive policy of settlement (nearly 60,000 settlers in 1978-88), land expropriation, and the construction of new settlements close to Palestinian population centers. More than 40 percent of the land in the already-overcrowded Gaza Strip was also expropriated. The vague agreements concerning Palestinian self-determination and autonomy contained in the 1978 Camp David Accords in no way altered the Israeli government's claim to the West Bank. In 1981 the Israeli military administration was replaced by a civilian administration made up of "village leagues" composed of Palestinians acceptable to the Israeli authorities.

Civilian administration was accompanied by an "iron fist" policy on the part of the Israeli government designed to deal with opposition to both the village leagues and Israeli settlement. The result of this policy was increased violence. Younger Palestinians, rejecting what they viewed as accommodation by their parents and the PLO, resorted to demonstrations and rock throwing. Israeli settlers began to retaliate. A parallel development was the growth of Islamic influence, particularly in the Gaza Strip. The MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD had long dominated Islamic politics in the occupied territories, but more radical groups began to emerge in the mid-1980s.

In December 1987, Palestinian frustration with Israeli policies erupted in the INTIFADA. Although the intifada was initially organized by indigenous Palestinians, its direction was quickly assumed by the PLO under a fourteen-point program advocating an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that would coexist with Israel. The PLO unilaterally declared this state in November 1988. The intifada, which at first used demonstrations, strikes, and tax boycotts to oppose the Israeli occupation, began to assume a more violent tone by 1990 as radical groups such as Hamas rejected PLO moderation in favor of armed resistance. Palestinians also began retaliating against those suspected of collaborating with the Israeli authorities. The shooting of demonstrators by Israeli security forces, detentions, expulsions, and the confiscation and destruction of property failed to end the uprising. An economic recession in the Gulf oil states and the political fallout from the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait (see GULF WAR)--which caused one of the largest Palestinian migrations in history and fueled discontent with the PLO leadership--exacerbated the situation.

In the midst of U.S.-sponsored postwar regional peace talks, the Israelis and the PLO held a series of secret meetings in Norway culminating in the signing of a Declaration of Principles on Sept. 13, 1993. This accord, which was opposed by several radical Palestinian groups and by hard-line Israeli settlers, provided for a transfer of power in the Gaza Strip and Jericho to an elected Palestinian administration. On May 4, 1994, Israel and the PLO signed a more detailed five-year interim agreement. Palestinian police forces quickly moved to replace Israeli security forces in the Gaza Strip and Jericho. In July, Arafat completed the appointment of a Palestinian administrative council and took up residence in Gaza. In August, Israel and the PLO signed another agreement granting the PLO control over education, health, taxation, tourism, and social welfare in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem and the Jewish settlements. A number of issues remained unresolved, however, including election specifics, the expansion of the territory under Palestinian control, and the future status of East Jerusalem. The success of the agreement hinged largely upon the PLO's ability to transform itself from a liberation movement into a government, to improve the economy, and to curb Palestinian radicals.