History of the Ebenezer Home
[Here you will find a brief history of the Ebenezer Home.]
How it All Began
Although the Ebenezer Home was built in 1976, its history could probably be traced back to the 1940's. The Rev. Magne Solheim and his wife Cilgia were working in Romania as part of their work in the NCMI, the Norwegian Church Ministry to Israel (which was based on a ministry the German Lutheran Prof. Franz Delitzsch had started back in the 1871). After having built with the help of the Lord a large Jewish Messianic (or Hebrew Christian) fellowship in Romania, the Solheims were expelled and arrived in Israel in 1949. However, very surprisingly, and after the prayers of many believers around the world, the new Communist regime in Romania had opened their gates for Jewish immigration to Israel in the late 40's and early 50's. Rev. Solheim and his wife were only too happy to welcome former members of their church from Romania to the port of Haifa. This is the beginning of the Elias Church (or Beit-Eliyahu as it is commonly called in Hebrew), which is adjacent to the Ebenezer Home.
The Need and the Vision
As the years went by, the need arose not only for the aged Holocaust survivors of Beit Eliyahu to find a home suitable for their needs, but also for Arab believers and other non-Jewish believing residents of the land. The Lord had put on the hearts of many, whether local believers or foreign, to pray for a home for the now elderly, lonely, and sometimes sick and dependant people, who had suffered much during their life and were seeking to spend their last years in a Christian believing environment, with devoted staff that would take care of all their physical, emotional and even spiritual needs.
Things Start to Move...
In a joint effort of both local and especially foreign aid, the strings started to be pulled for the formation of an international board which would supervise the construction and the management of such a home. Until then the NCMI would be the key factor, together with other individuals and organizations, in the raising of such a project.
Showers of Blessing
Many Christians from around the world were moved to contribute to the raising of this much needed home. Donations of either 1$ or 50,000$ and more had started to come in; One cheque of 21$ arrived from believers in Brazil, and even a student from Tazmania, who couldn't afford one penny, sent a letter promising to pray for the Home regularly. A Norwegian architect voluntarily made the plans for the Home, and this was carried on by a local Israeli architect from Haifa, Mr. N.T. Yellin, who had previously designed the Beit Eliyahu premises.
Dedication Day
Finally, on the 24th of February 1976, the Home was officially opened and, with the help of God, in the following weeks the Home would have running hot water, electricity for the refrigerator, an elevator, a washing machine, an oven, a telephone line, and its first two residents! The Home was inaugurated by the late Rev. Harcourt Samuel who was the president of the International Hebrew Christian Alliance (today called the Messianic Jewish Alliance). It was he who chose the verse "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us" for the Home, from I Samuel 7:12.
And today
The Ebenezer Home is now Home for over 25 residents, both Jewish and non Jewish (most of which were married to Jewish believers), from different cultures, backgrounds and countries: Arab, German, Finnish, Romanian, Dutch, American and others, all united under Yeshua - Jesus Christ the Lord. Although we are not ecumenical in our views, still Ebenezer is a Home to all who call upon the name of Jesus, without denominational discrimination. In the early years, about eleven languages were used inside the Home. As of today, the five main languages of the Home are Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian and German.
Gradual Localization of the Home
Until the year 2003, all managers of the Home were Scandinavian, either from Finland or Norway. Local workers were always employed, yet gradually their proportionate numbers increased, and the first Israeli manager, Johnny Khoury, was installed. In comparison to early years of the Home, the number of residents subsidised financially has decreased. However, spiritual oversight and guidance is provided by several neighbouring congregations, namely the Bethesda congregation, the Bethel congregation and the Beit-Eliyahu congregation. Samuel Sabbach for instance, of the Bethel congregation, has regularly been sharing in the morning devotions from the very first years of the Ebenezer Home.
From the very beginning, the Ebenezer Home has enjoyed the help of donors and volunteers from Israel and around the world. Praise be to God! One song commonly sung in Ebenezer is "Hodu L'Adonai Ki-Tov, Ki Le'olam Chasdo!", meaning: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever" (Psalm 136:1)
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