Emotional Roller Coaster

It is amazing what living under the constant pressure of war and terrorism every day can do to a people. The average Israeli has developed an innate ability to go from one emotional extreme to another without missing a beat.

The just past Jewish Holidays starting at Passover (Pessah) are a very good example of that ability.  This year Passover was celebrated from April 19 – 26, when we thanked God for our deliverance from the Egyptians and how He brought us out of slavery to the Promised Land.  It was a time of great family conversation and a time to be thankful for so many things.  Then, only 4 days later, we were left sad with heavy hearts and the memories of the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust.  We stood in the streets and cafés observing two minutes of silence.  In this short period of time we go from celebrations, including a great festive meal, the "Seder", to standing still throughout Israel remembering the 6 million who were murdered - simply for the crime of being Jewish. 

One week later we are again saddened and to be found standing in the streets of Israel in memory of the fallen IDF soldiers and victims of terror (Yam Hazickaren).  But as the sun goes down on this Memorial Day, something very wonderful and strange happens that demonstrates the ability of the Israeli to control emotions in a world that seems to be led by the evildoers of this world - to hate and want to kill them.  Again we are experiencing great happiness and dancing and partying in the celebration of Israel's Independence Day on 20 Omer - observed each year on the Jewish calendar date of Iyyar 5th.   On this day you find it almost impossible to find a vacant picnic table in our wooded areas and parks. The smell of Bar-B-Q's fills the air and the IAF fly over our beaches in formation. It is party time!

So you can see what an emotional roller-coaster we here in Israel ride on a yearly basis. When you are speaking with an Israeli try to understand why he or she may have a distant look in their eyes. It may well be that they are still on that roller-coaster and don't quite know how to get off?

While the world seems to have gone mad - and there is so much gloom and doom being shoved at us daily - here in Israel there seems to be a God-given ability to smile and thank God for all He has given to us. Family becomes even more important because so many of us have lost family to the devils who surround us - and who say they will kill every one of us.  We hear the Americans, and others, boasting that they are fighting the Islamic Arabs. That they want to kill their leaders - yet in the same breath demanding that Israel give up her land so that terrorists can build yet another terrorist state in the land God promised, and has given to,  the Apple of His Eye.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for our son Joel and all the IDF soldiers.  Pray for this ministry and your part in it.

Shalom, Jerry Golden