MFounded by Ari & Shiraa Sorko-RamozIsraeSince 1976l October 2006 Tishrei - Cheshvan 5766 REPORT The Nahums - A Family’s Journey To Messiah THE NAHUM FAMILY AT CONGREGATION TIFERET YESHUA: BATYA, SHIMON, SHLOMI, MIRYAM, YOSSI (A RELATIVE WHO IS A NEW BELIEVER), SHUA, AVRAHAM, MALKA, OLGA, RONEN By Aaron Allsbrook clothes on their backs. When they arrived at the “nation that was born in a day”o Israel, they faced a new language, a new n the late 1940’s, a young Sephardic Jewish couple economy and a new way of life. They struggled to survive Inamed Shua and Miryam Nahum packed up what financially, and as did most of the new immigrants, they belongings they had and made aliyah (immigration to suffered extreme poverty. But they believed the God of their Israel). Shua and Miryam were born in Tunisia, a small fathers had brought them back to their ancient homeland. North African country where Jews have lived for over 2,300 They settled in a very poor town called Lod o about 12 years. This was a difficult time for all who came in that great miles east of Tel Aviv. They started a family, and over the wave of Sephardic Jewish immigration. When Israel became course of time they had four children o three boys and a girl: a nation, the Muslim hatred turned on the Jews in their varioo Shimon, Shlomi, Avraham and Olga. The town of Lod was ous countries, and they had to escape, often with only the not the best place to raise a family. It was a mixed commuo nity of Jews and Arabs o a wicked place of crime, prostituo or truly happy. He began to wonder, “Why do I always tion and drugs. Over time, this negative environment took feel empty like this?” He asked questions, yet received no its toll on the children. answers. He tried pills and religious amulets. He prayed from the siddur (Jewish prayer book), but there was still that GROWING UP IN THE LAND OF LOD deep void. Shlomi was successful according to the world’s The second son, Shlomi, was the first to have difficulties. standards, but he couldn’t earn, buy, or work hard enough Shimon and Avraham did well at school but Shlomi did not. to find true peace; he felt himself a tortured soul. He was So they felt that he might be better off in a religious instituo simultaneously climbing up in the world and falling deeper tion (yeshiva). While attending this school, he learned all into depression. about Rabbinic Judaism and developed a great love for the THE ELDER SON DEPARTS TO A “FAR COUNTRY” Word of God. However, when Shlomi suffered a physio cally abusive experience with one of the school’s superiors, As with so many young people who leave home to search he left the yeshiva and vowed never to return. This event out life o Shimon, the Nahum’s oldest son, left Israel for marked a terrible turning point in Shlomi’s life. Holland to “experience life.” He embraced a life of sin to the Around the age of 15, he began to take drugs, to cheat and fullest. Soon enough he ran out of money and was so poor SHIMON, NOW A PASTOR IN JERUSALEM, GIVES THE MICROPHONE TO HIS MOTHER, MIRYAM, A SOUL ON FIRE FOR HER LORD. SHE IS ARTICULATE AND PASSIONATE WHEN SHE TESTIFIES OF HER FAITH to steal. He craved money and power. However, he was never that he couldn’t even buy food. His weight dropped from 185 content or happy; and he didn’t know why. By age 17, Shlomi lbs. to 95 lbs and he was desperate and near death from drugs found himself in crisis. He told his mother that if he didn’t and malnutrition. leave Lod he would end up in prison. His mother decided At that point of desolation, Shimon ran into a group of then and there that the family would move to Herziliya, a city believers in Holland who began to share with him about approximately 10 miles north of Tel Aviv. Yeshua. He responded quickly in defense, “I am Jew. I In the new surroundings, Shlomi did change his life. He believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob o the God became interested in more sophisticated ways to obtain power of Israel. I don’t believe in Jesus, the god of the gentiles.” and money. By the age of 21, he opened a hairostyling busio But he could not fail to notice that these Jesusofollowers ness that became very successful. He attracted welloknown were not embracing the debauchery and sinfulness that had customers o some even powerful people who influenced brought him to such a desperate place. So he found himself Shlomi’s outlook on life. Shlomi said goodbye to his life of inquiring, “Who is this Jesus?” These Dutch believers came nonsense and commenced on a journey to work and to make to Shimon’s house and continued to share with him about money. And he did o he made lots of money, had lots of Yeshua. Before they left, someone prayed for Shimon and friends and became a welloknown hairdresser. told him, “Jesus will reveal Himself to you.” However, with all this success, he was still not content Shimon thought nothing of it and went to bed. But then, You may donate to Maoz with Visa, Mastercard or other credit cards. To give by automatic monthly withdrawal, please call Maoz Ministries 1-800-856-7060 the atmosphere around him started to change. Something gregation regularly and helped with various jobs at the miniso was happening and a voice inside him said, “You shall try center. However, his concern turned to his family and their never die.” Shocked and awed, Shimon somehow knew it need to know the Messiah o especially his brother Shlomi. was God. Although he did not understand it all, he knew Shlomi was going from bad to worse. His gambling was that God was speaking to his heart. He blurted out, “Just out of control, and he often squandered tens of thousands of to let You know, I repent!” He still believed he was going shekels a night. He was depressed and drinking heavily. So to die, but he wanted God to know that he truly did repent Shimon prayed. In fact, he prayed for ten years! Whenever before he died! He heard no response o but not for long. he visited Shlomi, he would leave a Bible open next to his A small voice inside him said in Hebrew, “Come to me!” bed. When Shlomi would return home, he would read this Shimon couldn’t believe it. “I’m hearing God speak to me particular chapter, close the Bible and then pass out. During in Hebrew in Holland!” He reasoned, “But God, I’m such a this time, Shimon met his wifeotoobe, Batya, at the congreo sinner!” But the voice of the Lord persisted, “Come exactly gation. They were soon married and moved to Jerusalem. as you are. I want you to return home to Israel. I want you Then there were seven years of no contact between Shimon to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and tell them and Shlomi. about the Good News of the Kingdom.” Shlomi grew angry because he felt his brother had THE RETURN Shimon had no idea what this spiritual experience meant; he had never read Matthew 10:6o7, or any of the New Testament for that matter. But now he was sure that God was true, that he had encountered Him personally and that he had received everlasting life from Him. So the wayward son returned to the land of Israel and to his family. They were perplexed and distraught that Shimon now believed in Yeshua. But Shlomi, who was successful but unhappy, invito ed Shimon to live with him; and he even opened a business for Shimon. “After all,” he reasoned, “He is my brother!” His parents, on the other hand, weren’t so inviting. They couldn’t get past the disastrous reality of their son bringing a belief in Yeshua home. His mother was in anguish and his father pronounced him dead. His brother Avraham simply said, “Leave me alone.” But Shimon would not be deterred with his new faith. Shimon asked the Lord, “Now, that I am home, what am I to do?” His spirit urged him, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and tell them about the Good News of the SHLOMI IS NOW IN FULL-TIME MINISTRY WITH HIS BROTHER, SHIMON Kingdom.” Shimon decided to go out to the desert to seek the Lord o to Ein Gedi, the place near the Dead Sea where David hid from Saul. Here Shimon waited on the Lord and deserted him. His life became one catastrophe after another prayed. As he sat meditating, Shimon noticed two young – business losses through gambling and a great dive in the women walking nearby. Soon enough one of them looked Israeli stock market. at him and began to head straight for him. She told him Then one day Shimon invited Shlomi and the whole bluntly, “God told me to talk to you.” family to come visit his house in Jerusalem for Shabbat Shimon was ecstatic. He begged the girl to tell him why (Sabbath) dinner. It was wonderful. Shlomi breathed in the the Lord had told her to speak to him. She gladly shared that warmth of the evening and listened as Shimon talked to their God was raising up an army in Israel and that he was to be parents about belief in Yeshua.