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Our Lev HaOlam Experience

tessdnorton
Jan 26
3 min read

The cloth that came with the Hineni box.

As we have not been in the Land, We wanted to use our tenth to somehow impact Judea and Samaria, and at the same time share that blessing with people around us. We decided to sign up to Lev HaOlam, founded by Nati Rom,an attorney and Israel advocate based in Jerusalem. It has changed hands, but is run with care and dedication, to support Israeli artisans, farmers, and small businesses.

It is a very exciting day for us when the postman arrives with our white box. It really is a little breath of the Holy Land wafting over to bless our hearts. It is also an immense blessing to take out the beautifully designed boxes with their respective goodies, and line them up on the shelf for our visitor to pick out what their hearts desire.

One friend was very excited by a packet of dates with a chocolate filling. Another, by the luxurious face cream. On the outside the box is plain, but once you open them, there is a treasure trove. My favourite box thus far was the Hanukkah Box. Once opened, it looked like the Western Wall. There were about 6 or 7 different boxes, all dressed up like Western Wall Bricks. One held sesame seed snacks, and another chocolate coated nuts. One was a whole box of candles, for a Hanukkiah..., and we saved the biggest box for last. It was really heavy, and one we figured out how to open it we excitedly realised that it was a beautiful Menorah. It was gold and shaped like the Western wall, replete with slits that you could write prayers on (papers included with the Hanukkiah) and post through the slits when you light the candles.

My second favourite box had the theme of Hineni. Hineini means 'here I am' and is used frequently in the Hebrew Bible. Here are some examples:

Hineni spoken by people (“Here I am”)

1) Abraham

Genesis 22:1 – God calls, “Abraham!” and he answers: “Hineni.”(also again in Genesis 22:11 when the angel calls him)

2) Isaac

Genesis 22:7 – Isaac calls, “My father!” and Abraham replies: “Hineni, my son.”

3) Jacob

Genesis 31:11 – The angel of God calls “Jacob,” and he answers: “Hineni.”

4) Moses

Exodus 3:4 – God calls from the burning bush: “Moses, Moses!” and he says: “Hineni.”

5) Samuel

1 Samuel 3:4–6 – The Lord calls, “Samuel!” and he replies: “Hineni” ((repeated several times)

6) Isaiah

Isaiah 6:8 – Isaiah responds to God’s call:“Hineni, send me!” (Here am I—send me!)

Hineni spoken by God (“Here I am” / “Behold, I…”)

7) God’s promise of help and presence

Isaiah 58:9 – “Then you will call, and the LORD will answer… ‘Hineni’”(meaning: I am here / I am present / I will respond)

8) God calling His people back

Isaiah 65:1 – God says:“I said, ‘Hineni, Hineni,’ to a nation that did not call on My name.”

A friend in America recently shared how she does her Bible study, and something that really resonated with me is how she would sit and say Hineni to God, and just waited on Him. This has been my hearts cry since then. Hineni God, here I am, I am ready to serve, go, do, wait... whatever You want me to do.

Each box also comes with a booklet that gives you an introduction to the artisans who have made something for that box.

I would really recommend signing up for a Lev HaOlam box if your desire is to bless the Jewish People, especially in Judea and Samaria.