Bnei Brak, located east of Tel Aviv, is the largest ultra-Orthodox Jewish center in the world. It is the only large city in Israel whose inhabitants are mainly ultra-Orthodox Jews. Its small physical size and large number of inhabitants make it Israel’s most densely-populated city, with one of the highest birth rates in the country.
Bnei Brak has no stylish fashion shops, coffee houses, or posh restaurants. The ultra-Orthodox Jews have their own newspapers and are isolated from hearing the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah. They think that no true Jew would ever believe in Yeshua. They see their religion as Judaism, not Christianity. The ultra-Orthodox Jews don’t really read the Written Word of God. Most of their teachings are from books with rabbinic interpretations, with more books interpreting what those books say. The rabbinic interpretations are mostly based on the Oral Torah (legal and interpretative traditions) rather than on the Written Word of God. This has been one of the enemy’s main tools to keep the Jewish people from reading the true Written Word, blinding them to the only way of salvation, Yeshua the Messiah.
Because Bnei Brak is one of the most Orthodox cities in Israel, it is one of the most dangerous places to share the message of salvation in Messiah Yeshua. But we of Messiah of Israel Ministries will keep on sharing the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah – dangerous or not – because “… faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
Shekinah glory falls on the Orthodox city
We, at Messiah of Israel Ministries, were led by the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Messiah with the lost Orthodox Jews in Bnei Brak. As Zev was walking and praying, the Holy Spirit guided him to a Yeshiva (Rabbinic Bible School).
There were many rabbis and students outside receiving boxes of food and rabbinic study materials. While Zev was walking in the front yard of the Yeshiva, he was attracted to many people who were all dressed in black Orthodox clothes. Glory to Yeshua, this brought out one of the Rabbinic leaders.
Rabbi Molich and his student Haim came to Zev, asked what he was doing there and told him that he could not get food there. Zev said with love and compassion: “I’m not here for the food boxes. I’m here to talk about real food.” This statement had Rabbi Molich puzzled. He asked Zev what he meant by that? Zev opened the Bible to
Exodus16:4
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.”
Zev: “This is the food I am talking about.” Rabbi Molich asked: “Are you here to apply for Rabbinic School?” Zev: “My teacher is the Holy Spirit.” At that moment, Rabbi Molich and Haim were both getting nervous. He told Zev: “Only our leaders before had that spirit. We now study through their rabbinic books to receive that knowledge. What you say does not sound Jewish.” Zev: “Do you believe God is the same in the past, present and future?” Rabbi Molich and his student both answered together: “Yes.” Zev: “So, the Tanach, the Word of God, does not change.” “Yes” said Rabbi Molich.
Zev then opened the Bible and read together with them in Nehemiah 9:20 – “You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth, And You gave them water for their thirst.”
Job 32:8
“But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.”
Psalms 143:10
“Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
After reading these verses, Rabbi Molich told Zev that he needed to study in Yeshiva. Zev continued to explain to them that the Holy Spirit is the best teacher and never wrong. Let Him lead us to the truth. Rabbi Molich: “Yes. But it’s different today. That’s why we have the highly qualified rabbis to teach us.” Zev: “Did you not say the Bible is the same forever?” Rabbi Molich was silent but his student Haim said: “Yes. Rabbi you did.” The Holy Spirit was at work. The Rabbi by his own testimony was trapped in the truth and his own student was the witness. The rabbi and his student were silent and did not move. It was a supernatural experience. Glory to Yeshua! It was time for the Good News. Finally, Haim asked: “What is this true Manna we read about?” Zev: “If you want the true Manna, the true revelation, the Holy Spirit can open your eyes and heart to the Messiah of Israel. We are all sinful people. There is no righteous man. That’s why Messiah came, so we can be clean of sin if we put our life in His hands, repent and trust (believe).”
Zev then opened Isaiah 53 and read. After reading, Zev said this is about the Messiah and this prophecy has been fulfilled. Rabbi Molich could finally speak and said: “How can you understand the Bible verse is speaking about the Messiah without rabbinic interpretation?” Zev: “That’s the whole point. You can’t understand the Word of God without the Holy Spirit. God loves you so much and so do I. He wants you to seek the truth. He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants your heart. His love is so amazing that He sent His Son to die for our sins if we repent and believe in Him. He rose after three days and by His blood we have full redemption of sins. What an amazing love God gives us.”
Zev then asked the Rabbi: “Do you believe in what Moses said in the Written Word?” Rabbi Molich said: “Yes.” Zev read Deuteronomy 18:15 – “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.”
Zev explained: “This is the Messiah who Moses under the inspiration of Holy Spirit spoke of. This is the Messiah who we read about in Isaiah 53 that you must listen to.”
Zev encouraged Rabbi Molich and his student Haim to read the Tanach and seek the Holy Spirit, and the truth will be revealed.
We pray that the Holy Spirit will open Rabbi Molich and all the Yeshiva students to the truth that Yeshua is the Messiah and only through Him do we have full redemption of sins. Amen.
Zev continued to share the Light of Yeshua with many in the dark city. We give all the Glory to the King of kings and Lord of lords, Yeshua.
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