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The Heart of a Shaliach

By Boaz Michael | Comments (0) | Posted on September 7, 2005

I knew what to expect. I saw it coming. The catastrophe in the gulf port region of the United States meant that I would soon be inundated with e-mails connecting this tragic event to prophecy, sin, and America's involvement in the pull-out of Jewish people from Gush Katif, etc, etc, etc. Not that I dispute these connections as they very well could be a reality to one degree or another. But, it is my opinion that we are not called to figure things out, link them to prophetic events, or use situations like this to garner support or amens. It is in times like these that we need to do something tangible and simply help—do good deeds.

This is what I call the heart of a Shaliach—a sent one an ambassador for the Messiah. I was blessed and refreshed to receive the following e-mail. I would like to introduce you to Asher Langa, co-leader of congregation Kehliat Devar HaShem in Houston, TX. He writes,

We at Kehilat Dvar HaShem in Houston, Texas are standing by ready to help a few who are in need due to the effects of hurricane Katrina. As you know, we are a small congregation, but we are in the process of putting together a plan to do what we can to help during this time of great distress for so many.

Please let us know if you hear of any folks belonging to the Torah community that might have been affected and have traveled to the Houston area. We would like to help those in the Body of Messiah first. I'm sure many of us will be offering aid to various charities, but it would be nice if we could help some of our own if they are out there. We would like to find one or two families that we could focus our efforts on so that we could impact their quality of life to a significant degree during this devastating experience.

We will direct anything that is sent to us for this purpose to help those directly affected by hurricane Katrina. Please inform those who send money to make their checks out to Kehilat Dvar HaShem and clearly indicate that it is for Hurricane Katrina Relief. If they so choose, they can send us funds via PayPal. We have a "Donate" button on the left side of our Internet home page: www.kehilatdvarhashem.org.

It would be very helpful if they would also e-mail or call me directly to let me know a check has been sent or a PayPal donation has been submitted.

Our contact information: Kehilat Dvar HaShem (KDH) 11011 Brooklet, Suite 260 Houston, Texas 77099 281-498-2717

My cell phone number is 281-433-4665. They can call me directly. Together, we can help a few people make it through this very trying time with a little lighter load.

In addition to Kehilat D'var HaShem, FFOZ (through our community liaison department) is also busy making contact with all of our continuants in the area to inquire of them their needs and areas that we may provide assistance. We will be encouraging them to contact KDH in Houston as a local contact point for those in the Messianic body who need help. FFOZ will be sending a contribution toward the fund managed by KDH and we encourage others to do the same.

We have an obligation to help in this matter. It is a matter of Torah. We are to treat others the way that we would like to be treated. If we where in great need, out of work, disposed from our homes and communities, we would not want to read letters or prophecy or hear messages of doom and gloom regarding God's judgment—we would just want clothes, food, shelter, assistance and fellowship.

A Shaliach does not sit for hours on end and be mezmorized by the tragic images that come over the airwaves. A Shaliach does not use this as an opportunity to preach a message against sin and God's impending judgment. Rather, a Shaliach stands up, offers help and makes a difference by following the example of Messiah. For...

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon us; because the LORD hath anointed us to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent us to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3

May we as a Torah community be a light in this dark and difficult time. Please do something.

About the Author: Boaz Michael is the president and founder of First Fruits of Zion.

We Thank You offers a simple and innovative liturgy for disciples of Yeshua by weaving the ancient meal blessings of Judaism together with recently discovered prayers of the early believers.

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