“They said to me,‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I fasted and mourned before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:3-4
Two important things are in this scripture.
1. This is about Aliyah, returning to the land and going up to Jerusalem. That is Aliyah. When we think of Jews returning today most of us consider it to be the first. It is not. Ezra was the first and they rebuilt the altar and temple. Nehemiah was the second and rebuilt the walls. Today’s return is the third Aliyah.
2. Now consider Nehemiah’s response to hearing of the state of Jerusalem with no walls, unprotected. He wept, he fasted and he mourned.
Do you love the city, the people and the land of Israel enough to weep over her? Are you willing to fast for those returning to 
Israel? May we all examine our spiritual lives and commit ourselves to God’s people and His purposes. Lets fast and pray for the next few weeks until Yom Kippur on September 30th.
