February 2003

Shalom to all who have ee-CHOOD hal-va-VOT (oneness of heart) with us in Messiah!

This month we desire to bless you in Hebrew, the language of the Bible, a language that was dead and has been resurrected, the language spoken by our Messiah and spoken in the Land of Israel today. All the information in this newsletter was gleaned from Hebrew Words of Love and Endearment, a book and CD set produced by Dr. Danny Ben-Gigi, a Hebrew scholar and former professor of Hebrew at Arizona State University. This exciting collection includes the vast majority of the Hebrew words and expressions of love and endearment. Biblical terms, Talmudic and poetic expressions and modern Hebrew expressions are included. The best part of this work is that Dr. Ben-Gigi pronounces all the Hebrew words for us on the CD, page by page, so that you can follow along reading both the English and the transliteration of the Hebrew text. You don’t need to know any Hebrew to learn how to say "I love you" to God (or your loved ones) in the holy tongue! Beautiful Biblical love songs are woven throughout the set, making it a soothing and delightful way to learn God’s language of love.

The basic word for love in Hebrew is ahava (pronounced a-ha-VA, with the accent on the last syllable). The Bible tells us: "God is Love" (E-lo-HEEM HU a-ha-VAH.) (I John 4:8) God’s kind of love is what mankind needs most: unconditional love, in Hebrew a-ha-VA she-ey-NA te-loo-YA be-da-VAR (The CD gives you the exact, correct Hebrew pronunciation.). God’s love is also sacrificial. An example of this kind of love expressed in the human realm can be seen in the Biblical account of the love between Jonathan and David: "And Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul." (I Samuel 20:17) The Hebrew words for the sacrificial love expressed in this verse, ahavat nefesh (a-ha-VAT NEH-fesh), reached the height of perfection in God’s Son Yeshua, who sacrificed His life for each one of us even though we were still sinning.

God’s love is also everlasting. It never ends. It is a-ha-VAT o-LAM. The prophet Jeremiah expresses this love of God for His people Israel as follows: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love (a-ha-VAT o-LAM); Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." (Jeremiah 31:3)

The Bible tells us: "Our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29). This refers to the aspect of His love which is fiery and passionate. Burning love in Hebrew is a-ha-VA yo-KE-det. This is the love that Yeshua manifested throughout His ministry but especially in His last hours:

"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You have loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:23-26)

As you meditate on the Hebrew words for love this month, God wants to completely immerse you in His love for you. To help you receive from Him, we have another offer which will minister deeply to your spirit. It is a music CD by Matthew Casey, "In the Father’s Arms." Matthew describes his latest album in this way: "The title of this album flows from the Father’s heart for His children: that we would learn to abide in His love, living in the awareness of His perfect care. I pray that as you listen to these songs, the spirit of God would minister the power of that love to you. May His Presence be your portion, and His comfort be your song in the night." You will be very blessed by this musical offering.

Have you received the divine, burning, sacrificial, unconditional love of God through the Messiah Yeshua? Do you long for a way to express your love for Him and tell Him how grateful you are for all that He has done for you? Try some of these Hebrew phrases as you meet with the Lord in your prayer closet. He’ll be delighted to hear these terms of endearment in Hebrew.

My good Father         a-VI ha-TOV

My dear Father         a-VI ha-ya-KAR

My beloved                mach-ma-DEE

Delight of my soul    mach-MAD naf-SHEE

The joy of my life       me-SOS cha-YAY

You conquered my heart               ka-VASH-ta ET li-BI

Your love is better than wine        ki-to-VIM do-DE-cha mi-YA-yeen

Yours forever               shel-CHA la-AD

Those who deal with marriages know that women desire words from their husbands. When a man returns from work, his wife wants him to sit down and communicate with her. She loves conversation at dinner. At bedtime she wants more words. Her birthday or anniversary? Don’t buy one of those cards that just says "I love you." A wife wants more than three words! (Ask Neil. He only made that mistake once.) After an argument, when a man desires intimate contact with his wife to restore the relationship, she usually wants something else first: words, an apology, real communication from her mate.

Why not try a few Hebrew words this month? Play the CD in your bedroom or living room in the evening. Before you know it, you’ll be able to romance your wife or husband in Hebrew!

This year, 2003, is the silver anniversary of this ministry. In Hebrew, it is our cha-too-NAT KE-sef (gutteral ch at beginning). We praise the Lord for twenty-five years of blessed service in the harvest field of Jewish souls. In 1978 when we first incorporated as a nonprofit religious organization, we were called "Love Song to the Messiah." Our two objectives at that time were: 1) to present the Good News of Yeshua in a Jewish way and 2) to create and disseminate original Messianic Jewish music. (God had given Jamie many original songs when He called us to start a Messianic synagogue here in Ft. Lauderdale.) Two years later, the Lord called us into a television ministry when we did not even own a television set. God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). Our first television program was God is Love. That message still undergirds each of our Jewish Jewels programs, as well as everything we do in Yeshua’s Name.

We originally used the name Love Song to the Messiah because we feel that our lives are to be a love song to Yeshua. As a couple (zoog), we desire to always be lovebirds (a pair of doves, zoog yo-NIM.) We believe that we are a match made in heaven (zi-VOOG meen ha-sha-MA-yeam) for God’s purposes and His glory. As Jew and non-Jew, one in the Messiah, we are a picture of Messiah’s body. No divisions. No inferiority or superiority. Unity. Mutual respect. One in the Spirit.

We changed the name of the ministry to Jewish Jewels when we received repeated invitations to sing. (We are not "singers," although Jamie does sing on her Righteous Rhymes tapes for children.) We also felt that the name, Jewish Jewels, had more appeal to the Jewish people who look through the TV guides, as well as believers who hunger for teaching about their Jewish roots. The phrase Jewish Jewels is based on Matthew 13:52, "...Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." The treasure chest is the Holy Bible. The jewels are the teachings of the Bible. Since the Bible was written by Jewish men as inspired by the Ruach HaKodesh, all the jewels are Jewish! We are the householder who bring the jewels out of the treasure to share them with others. As we share with believers, we are helping to adorn the Bride with the jewels of God’s Word (see Isaiah 61:10). At the same time, we lift up Yeshua HaMashiach, the Jewish Messiah and Pearl of Great Price, to Jewish people who have yet to meet their Messiah.

In twenty-five years, we have had countless people tell us that their lives have been changed because of Jewish Jewels. Many have come to the Lord after watching the program for a few months (or years!) Souls and bodies have been healed. Messianic congregations have begun as a result of Jewish Jewels. Marriages have been saved. Even matches have been made! God is keeping track of the fruit. We continue to press toward the mark of good stewardship and faithful servanthood. Our goal is still the same after twenty-five years: we want to please the One who is YE-did NE-fesh (the lover of our soul) by making Him known to the Jew first, and also to the gentile.

In the three most recent Jewish Jewels television programs, "Bar Mitzvah Blessings," "Ruth" and "Lost and Found" we have allotted a few more minutes than usual for personal ministry to our audience. At this time in history we feel God is "drawing in the net." Many souls are ready to be harvested. Please pray for us as we work on the next three programs, "Fitness," "Daily Life in Bible Times" and "Sephardic Jewry." We want to follow the leading of the Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit) who is calling souls to Yeshua as never before. May the Lord use Jewish Jewels as a matchmaker, bringing the bride (ka-LAH) to her groom (cha-TAN), Yeshua the Messiah, our Heavenly Bridegroom, for whom we are cho-LE a-ha-VA (love sick). As we labor together for the Master, we come into agreement with the Spirit of God, and together we say, Bo! (Come!). "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come." (Revelation 22:17).

P.S. A special gift in honor of Jewish Jewels’ 25th Anniversary would be a great blessing. Each new program costs approximately $4000 to produce. Your gift of $500 or more designated for new TV production will entitle you to be listed as a sponsor of one of the new programs.

P.P.S. We celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary on February 7, 2003. (It has been 7 years since our rededication in Jerusalem!)