The Jerusalem Prayer List – 9 May, 2025

Reading the Torah, the Prophets, and the New Testament every weekend, every Shabbat in the congregation is actually a commandment of the Apostles to all the disciples of the Messiah.  It was part of the Apostles' decision in Jerusalem, including Paul and some of his disciples, that discussed how the new disciples from among the Gentiles should integrate into the Body of Christ.  

I want to set the stage for the event in Jerusalem with the Apostles, including Paul and some other servants of God.  The much-needed discussion and decision that was made by this holy convocation to resolve a real, actual, and critical problem.  In the beginning, Yeshua, our Messiah and Savior, had only Jewish disciples. All the Apostles were Jews, and the majority of the followers of Yeshua were Jews. With Paul traveling around the eastern Mediterranean Sea and making disciples from among the Gentiles, a new issue was raised: 

"What should we do with all these new disciples from among the nations?"  

The Gentiles don't know the Torah, and they have never had a bond, relationship, and identification with the Jewish / Hebrew nation, people, culture, faith, and religious fellowship.  The Apostles, some of the deacons, Paul, and some of his followers came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost and to dedicate a sample of his disciples from among the Gentiles  On this occasion the Apostles in Jerusalem dedicated a time to meet and discuss how to integrate those new disciples from among the Gentiles into the fellowship with their Jewish brothers.

This same issue was not only a problem for the Yeshua followers in Israel. The Pharisees in Israel also discussed the same issue, and we have interesting evidence of this problem, which already existed before Yeshua's birth and before this became an issue in the new Jewish movement of the disciples of Rabbi Yeshua, who is the Messiah and son of the living God.  

The Pharisaic literature (Mishnah, Talmud, and Rabbinical Midrash) discusses this issue in great length, and some stories express the different opinions among the Rabbis about what to do with these gentiles who want to join the Jewish community.  The apostles had the same two options that the Pharisaic Rabbis had: to circumcise the Gentiles and make them 100% Jews, or to make a different arrangement so that these new disciples of Yeshua from among the Gentiles would be able to have fellowship with the Jewish disciples of Yeshua.  

The Apostles together with Paul took the second option that was much easier and more applicable in the situation; that the new non-Jewish disciples would find easier since the majority of them live away from Israel and don't necessarily have access to a Jewish community that would be tolerant for non-Jews who don't know the customs and rules applicable to a Jewish community.  Among the Apostles' commands was that non-Jewish disciples go to the local synagogues on Shabbat and hear the word of God read in public.  We must realize that there were very, very few Jews around the world who would have a Torah scroll in their homes.  Only in the synagogues could one find a Torah Scroll, and when the weekly portion of the Torah is read publicly, they would have a chance to hear the Word of God from the Torah and hopefully understand what is being read in the Hebrew language of the Torah.  

By the time of the Apostles, a Greek translation of the Torah and parts of the Hebrew Bible was already available on the Mediterranean seacoasts. We already know that when Yeshua was in Nazareth on Shabbat, he was honored and invited to read from the Prophets, especially Isaiah 61, a crucial messianic prophecy of Isaiah the prophet.  

At Netivyah in Jerusalem, we were the first in Israel to restore the practice of reading the Torah and the Prophets every Shabbat, as the Apostles commanded in Acts 15. Jewish disciples of Yeshua and non-Jewish disciples of Yeshua were to attend a synagogue on Shabbat and hear the Word of God read in public from the Torah Scrolls.  

This week, the readings in all the synagogues in the world are the following very important and interesting Torah Portion. 

The Torah portion that will be read in the synagogues is in Hebrew Acharei Mot-Kedoshim = "After their death they are holy."

The reading from the Torah is from Leviticus 16:1-20:27. 

The reading from the prophets is from Amos 9:7-15.

The reading from the New Testament is from Matthew 15:10-20. 

The Word of God is a book of history, revelation, and social justice.

The reading of the Torah from Leviticus 16:1-20:27 concentrates on the need for all of us to have atonement.  What is atonement?  Most people who even know the word atonement don't understand how vital atonement is for our souls and lives. The Torah here discusses the Day of Atonement.  One day per year that brings us out of our comfort zone by demanding that we not eat or drink for a full day, 24 hours.  During that day, we have to witness a ceremony that takes two identical goats, and one is offered on the altar in the temple as a sin offering. The second goat is decorated, fed well, and taken to the edge of the mountain overlooking the east into the Judean desert. 

The question is, why two goats? 

Why is one offered on the temple altar and the other released into the Judean desert?  Both goats are tools for confessing our sins (especially the collective sins of our community, society, national sins, and just in general sins that we might not even know we committed). The first goat that the priests offer in the temple is seen dead on the altar. The fire of the altar burns the dead goat, which psychologically and spiritually shows us that our sins are burned on the altar, making it easier to understand that our sins are taken away.  

But we also have sins that are not even consciously known or remembered. We also have sins that can't be forgiven because we are not even aware that we did something bad or damaged someone we don't know.  For these sins, we have the goat that is not offered on the altar but released alive after being fed and decorated and accompanied with singing to the edge of the mountain east of Jerusalem and encouraged to go down the steep mountain into the desert to take our sins away.  

We all need a day of atonement. One day a year, or maybe more than one day, but God commands us one day in which our lives are part of a ceremony, a day of concentration, emphasizing, and doing some ceremony to purify our sins.  It might not sound serious, but God commands such a very serious and solemn time of soul searching and meditating on our sins, and the same day, after the ceremonies, prayers, and fasting from food and drink, to receive God's forgiveness and atonement.  

Our dedication to doing what God requires from us, like the sacrifices and fasting from food and drink, is a psychospiritual practice that helps us receive and digest the grace of God, demonstrated physically by the sacrifices of the two goats in two different and dramatic modes. 

Our congregation in Jerusalem celebrates the Day of Atonement every year and fasts for the full 24 hours (those who are healthy are obligated to fast; others are exempt from fasting). Yom Kippur's services are long, heavy, and beautiful, and cause each of us to do some serious soul-searching. With a list of 150 sins being read four times in 24 hours, no one can read this list and not find several sins that remind them that he is a sinner and need constant grace from God, even daily.

In Leviticus 16, we also find the importance of repentance.

The second section of our reading on this holy day of atonement is Leviticus chapter 19.  In my opinion, this chapter is one of the most important chapters in the  Bible, and there is one verse in this chapter of Leviticus that is the most quoted and repeated verse from the Bible.  It is Chapter 19 of Leviticus.  Yes! This verse first appears in this chapter: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself!"  In the Hebrew Bible (The Old Testament this verse appears 1 time here in our reading of Leviticus 19:18. 

In the New Testament, the verse "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" from Leviticus 19:18 is quoted several times, emphasizing its importance in Christian teachings. It appears in the following passages:

1. Matthew 19:19 - As part of Jesus's response about keeping the commandments.

2. Matthew 22:39 - Jesus cites it as the second greatest commandment.

3. Mark 12:31 - Similar to Matthew 22:39, where Jesus highlights its significance.

4. Luke 10:27 - In the context of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, where a lawyer discusses it with Jesus.

5. Romans 13:9 - Paul refers to it when discussing love as fulfilling the law.

6. Galatians 5:14 - Paul reiterates that loving your neighbor fulfills the law.

7. James 2:8 refers to it as the "royal law."

The big elephant in the room is this: 

HOW do we love our Neighbor as ourselves? 

Christians ask how to love my neighbor as myself because we don't read the entirety of chapter Leviticus 19. The whole chapter deals with how we should become HOLY.  The entire chapter is a list of what to do to become Holy, like God commands us both in the Torah and even more times in the New Testament: 

1) Read chapter 19 of Leviticus as a to-do list of what to do and not to do to be holy. 

2) When you read chapter 19 of Leviticus, take a notebook, go through it, and copy the instructions that you feel apply to you in this chapter.  

A) The things you sometimes feel tempted to do and did mark with one symbol.  

B) The things you did in the past and sometimes continue to do now are marked with a different symbol. 

C) The things you want to do in the future are marked with a different symbol. 

D) For things you think are most important to do and practice as often as possible, mark them with a special symbol.  

The most important category is the last one, the things you pray and hope you will never do— Mark with a cross.  After you do all this, stop and pray and ask God to forgive you for those things that you did, sins and ugly things like putting a stumbling block in front of a blind person.  Beg God to keep you clear from such things and repent. 

These references show the verse's significance in the moral teachings of the New Testament. The Word of God in this chapter is the formula of what it means and how to achieve our desires to be HOLY… For this reason, this chapter needs to be read and preachers need to preach not only verse 18, but the whole chapter that breaks down in detail how to love ourselves and practice in obedience these not hard to keep commandments so that we can be holy people set apart to be children of God! HOLY!  There is no holiness and purity without obedience to God's Word!

Please read chapter Leviticus 19 from the beginning to the end, it will take you five minutes. 

This Shabbat, the reading is also of great importance from the prophets, and it is brought to us also in the New Testament. 

1) God is not only the God of Israel  - God is the God of all nations, races, and colors of people.  Yes, Israel was chosen specially for a task that I would call the Universal Insurance Policy for all of Humanity.  We are selected to be a HOLY PRIESTHOOD to serve the whole world and all the nations. The God of Israel cares and deals with all the nations. 

Please read this short chapter of Amos 9 (See also Isaiah chapter 2 and Zechariah chapter 14!) 

2) God has used the seed of Abraham, the nation of Israel, to be a tool for blessing and salvation for all people and nations of the world. 

In Amos 11-15, God promises Amos that Israel will be restored and rebuilt, and the Gentiles will be a part of that restoration. 

""After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;  So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.'"(Acts 15:16-17 NKJV) 

I am asking for two special prayers!  

The situation in Israel is not getting better.  Israel is strong in some ways, but very weak in so many other ways that are much more important. Our weaknesses are much more serious than our strengths.  Here is a list of our shortcomings that I am asking you to lift to God's altar and beg God to help Israel and the Israeli government with wisdom, unity, and a clear vision for the future of Israel and the whole Middle East.

1. For the Israeli government to have unity and cooperation between all the political parties, to have only one agenda, which is to stop the war and bring back all the hostages. 

2. Israel needs leadership that concentrates on the good of the nation and not only the good of those who govern us right now.  We need a broader and wider spectrum of care and interest. The Middle East is not an easy geographical region, and living in the Middle East has never been easy. When God told Abraham to go to the place I will show you, God knew well not to immediately tell Abraham the address of where he was sending Abraham. Canaan's land comprised seven nations: the north, the south, the east, and the west. These nations were not friends; each was fighting to preserve and occupy the region of the country that it wanted. 

3.   I am asking one thing that is the most important for all Christians to pray for.  Pray for God to intervene and bless Israel and our neighbors with wisdom that will bring peace and bring the hostages that are suffering hell in the tunnels in Gaza, chained and starved on purpose and by design. 

4. Give wisdom to our government and friends among the nations to stand with Israel and help us get the peace we are praying for.  

A private prayer for my family, especially for Marcia, my wife, and me.  Both of us are sick, very sick.  Marcia's dementia is getting worse, and it is tough to take care of Marcia at home.  We need wisdom to discern whether to move to the USA, where we have our children and family, which would help me care for Marcia.  Or to stay in Israel and put Marcia in some institute for people who have these illnesses and problems. None of these places has enough staff to handle people with Marcia's problems sufficiently and kindly. 

Taking Marcia to the USA is a big financial and physical issue.  The only way to travel with Marcia to the USA is with Medivac flights, which are very expensive.  I am asking first for wisdom and strength to know what to do because I have three places with cancer in my body.  I had four areas, but the last two gastroscopy tests did not find the tumor in my stomach.  Now, there are only three cancers, all of which are similar: NHL-Lymphomas.  I am at home most of the day to care for Marcia and work from home.  

What I am asking you to pray for is, first of all, the strength to take care of Marcia. Second, I need physical and mental strength to care for Marcia at home.  The third is to learn how to take Marcia to the USA by a Medevac flight, which is very expensive.  It is usually with a small plane with medical facilities, and a doctor and a nurse go on these flights.

These are my private prayers for my family.  I want you all to know that every day I work, teaching around the world in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America,  writing a book, and preaching in the congregation in Jerusalem every so often.

Thank you all for praying for the peace of Jerusalem, for the long prayer list that follows, and also for Marcia and me.

The Prayer List

If you just need one prayer reminder today - pray for your enemies.

- Barry Shulam

Pray for the following brothers and sisters who need divine grace and the gentle touch of the hand of God for healing and strength.

In Jerusalem: 

Joseph & Marcia Shulam 

Next week dad has visits with the eye doctor for evaluation of changing the lens on his eye that he lost sight in at a young age and had surgery to try to restore sight a couple of years ago.

Ilana Ahijervie is a dear sister who is 99 years old and suffering from memory problems.

Please pray for our dear sister, Lea Kurkey.

Pray for Adam's father and mother, Barry and Dalia. They have some health problems and challenges.

Pray for Miriam a dear sister old age dementia.

Pray for Um Mahmud Abu-Eid, Jimmy Abu-Eid, and all of the family. This is a dear family of old friends that needs healing and wisdom for the children and for their work.

Please pray for the Romero family, who live deep in the Negev desert. It is hot there, and they are far from our congregation, and we miss them.

In Poland:

new Granddaughter of Pastor Jozef A in Glogow is the hospital with sever lung problems.  Its always hard to see children hospital.  I won't attached the photo of this young child but she looks very sweet and connected to tubes and breathing mask.

In Bulgaria:

Dad will be doing a zoom teaching on the 10th of May on the topics of "Who are We?" & "What is our Task in this world?"  The Body of believers asks that we pray for God to soften the hearts of the participants in this zoom teaching.   There will be new ideas taken from God’s word that most have never heard although  the word of God is so clear it is so simple yet people stay with what they are used to!   The old house-shoes are always more comfortable than new beautiful shoes

In the U.K.:

Pray for Deborah Isaiah. I pray for the Lord to find Deborah Isaiah and lead her to a blessed life, family, and a solution to her problems.

In Finland: 

Mauno Lemponen has been diagnosed with cancer in advanced stages. We are asking for God's Will to be done, giving him healthy days with family—prayers for Hilka, Miika, and Ester, who support each other. 

Pray for Keijo and Salme, our dear partners and fellow workers in God's flock. Both Keijo and Salme have some challenging heart issues.

Pray for Satu-Maria, Sinni Tuuli, Anne Mirjami, our dear sisters

Pray for Eva H., Patty, Andrea, Julia, Victor, Aaron Tani, and Hillel.

In Italy:

Roberto has reached out on behalf of his friend Nicoletta B whose father has passed way recently.  Please pray for her spirit as she struggles with such loss.

in Denmark:

Cynthia M asked that you for praying for her health. She has neutropenia and chronic asthma and I has been undergoing biological treatment with injections every two weeks since 2021 so I ask you to pray for better results and better health conditions as the symptoms, respiratory infections, medications and injections make me very tired every day. 

In Ethiopia:

Diu G. has been sick with meningitis and he and his family are all in need of prayers for strength and healing to help him.

In Brazil:

 Ismael V ask for prayers for his parents: Ismael V 80 years old (Father) & Margarida Feliciana V, 75 years old (Mother)

The mother has been suffering due to medical errors since 2008, and only a miracle can solve the situation. The father has prostate and vision problems.

Max is anxious waiting for a court decision regarding documentation on his families jewish roots. Please keep Max and the courts outcome in your prayers.

Pray for a dear young man, Paulo, from Curitiba, Brazil, who seriously needs our prayers for sanity and mental health.

Pray for a dear sister named Claudia Rita Souze Arau. She has cancer and needs God's healing hands to touch her with healing. 

Pray for Fatima Maria Docarmo Guimararaes - pray for her health and her granddaughters' twin babies.

Guilherme Antonio Nothen Becker is suffering from back problems.

Aratuza de Oliveira and his wife. Pray for their 3-year-old child, Caique de Oliveira Becker, who has severe problems with his eyes, and ask the Lord to give healing to his eyes. 

Kazakhstan:

update Please keep the family of Tamara in your prayers as she has passed on to her Eternal Life.

In Asia:

Pray for Pastor TJ in Taiwan.

Pray for Deborah Ruth, a dear sister from China.

Pray for Sister Yoko Nagumo in Japan.

Tony Tam, his wife Luisa, and his son Marco need special prayers for their situation.

We continue to pray for Zhou Wenrian, the Abe family, Toru San, Yumi Ohara, and her family: Deborah Ruth, Ayla, Daniel, and their daughter. 

Pray for Dr. Song and his wife, Sister Harriet Kim and the KIBI Ministry.

In the United States of America:

Paul S is in the market looking for his next job.  Please pray for his next career move and opportunity to be a blessings.

Karl is need of prayers to deal with changes in his family relationships.  Pray for calm and strength in making the best choices.

Chris W  Please pray for Chris's job and his diabetic health.

Adam B, is asking for prayers for job security. The hatchet job cutting that is taking place in the USA is not without families that are impacted.  Please keep Adam and his family in prayers for job security.

Manny is asking for prayers for his father's health that is in decline.

new Jenny is Shirleyann's friend who she has adopted like a daughter,  Jenny has been in the hospital with seizures.  The doctors have placed her on medications that will help with this however the risk is to her heart which is a concern since she has had heart attacks in the past. Well these ladies are prayer warriors for others on this list and I am asking for your prayers for Jenny and Shirleyann.

Shirleyann has received some discouraging news.  Her heart function test has gone down to 30% function from 40%, The diabetes has gotten worse and she has to take 14 unites daily of insulin.  In addition her kidneys are in stage 3 failure.  The concern is heart surgery might be too much at this time.  We are asking for prayers for improvement of her health so her body could withstand surgery in the future.  She is going to try the medication path.  The assistance she had was had to let go since did not treat her well. So also keep her in prayer to have the strength to go to the processes find a new helper.

Pete and Marge.  Marge is undergoing test for Brest cancer and they are in the process of trying to get legal guardianship of their grandkids. They are both in the mid 80s.  Please pray for strength and longevity to get these kids past college age.

Jose needs your prayers for a blessing on his marriage to grow stronger and prayers for the birth of a Son.

Aida Ramirez, turned 99 yrs old, this past December. Her dementia has progressed  some, but slowly. Now her audiologist said that she has lost almost all her hearing in her left ear. And that by the speed it has happened, in just one year, she suspect maybe a cyst, or tumor. I'm taking her for her Doctor's appointment on the 23rd of this month. I'll be asking her Doctor for either a CAT Scan, or an MRI, to see what exactly is in her ear or brain.  Let's pray is nothing major. .

Aida Gonzalez very bad lower back problems due to scoliosis. I'm in some kind of pain almost constantly. But I have to keep going, for my mom Aida Ramirez

Pat S needs prayers for the pains she is experiencing from a pinched nerve. We are praying for a better treatment for the pain management.

Jerry Rogers - a long time prayer warrior and supporter in Dallas has been diagnosed with cancer.  has returned home after being in the hospital for an extended period of time for treatments.

Larry is asking for prayers for his grandchildren.  I would say most of us that have grandchildren are concerned about the states of the world.  The state of intolerance.  The temptations out there.  Please pray for the holy sprit to guide them in making good choices.

Jill reached out to say thank you for prayer for Juli.  It's an encouragement and a blessings to all.  It's an opportunity to remember how big the family of faith is.  Juli's blood counts still need to improve.  She is awaiting for the next scans. 

Barbra and  Angie in Alaska. Barbra has some pains and discomfort related to old age. Please lift them in prayer for strength and reduction in pain.

Please pray for Danah, my daughter's health issues. I pray for the Lord to give Danah wisdom, peace, and calm in life and her work.

Aaron Hook, Nancy Hook's oldest son, needs our prayers for wisdom and healing from past life issues.

Lift for blessing and healing Jonathan B., his wife Aviva, their new baby, his mother, and his brother Daniel. 

Pray for these important men of God: Rabbi Salt, his family, and Rabbi Hasselblad. They are both older and need protection and blessings.

pray for Ilana Avramov, who is married to my cousin Nissim and lives in New York City. Ilana is home now. We pray for her full recovery. She and Nissim both need our prayers. 

Pray for Steve Mock - His cognitive condition has declined, and we ask for the grace of God and His Healing and strength.   Steve and Josie's son Joseph has received a wonderful and glorious report. After the last bone marrow transplant, the report is that the doctors didn't find any leukemia in his body! Praise the Lord!