Follow ancient ways to overcome challenges

STAFF WRITER

The Jewish Community in Zimbabwe says locals should observe God’s commandments from the Bible to overcome current occurrences like droughts, climate change and economic headwinds that have bedevilled the country.

Speaking at the Tu Bishvat (New Year for trees) ceremony this week in Harare, Beit Shuvu Africa Ministries teacher Godwill Siringwani told delegates that observing good ways will extricate the country from its current troubles.

“The people have digressed from the way Lord told them to do. Let’s take for example the way the people lived.

“The fact that the nations now have troubles like climate change is because they have diverted from the Lord’s work and started individual earthly gains. If we follow the biblical way of life we will overcome current challenges,” Siringwani said.

He said during ancient times, people could leave a small portion, especially at the corners of the fields, so that the less fortunate ones and the foreigners would have something to eat.

According to the scriptures, if a person eats in the field and does not carry home, it is not theft.

He said even in the African culture, it was also there and the bible also reminded people that there are foreigners in a land that is not theirs.

“According to our Jewish culture, we cannot have droughts when we are prayerful. We do a feast called Sukoti and the Lord will tell us if we are going to receive good rains or not.

“If we need rain, we will have it through Sukoti, and at that gathering, we can also pray for good crops and healthy fruits. If one sees a fruit tree with rotting fruits it’s a curse and that tree needs to be redeemed,” he said.

Siringwani said this can be redeemed through the Tu Bishvat ceremony where the Jewish community gathers and observes what the Lord says and that’s it.

He said in the scriptures one is supposed to leave fruits for four years and then start to eat them in the fifth year.

Siringwani said in some areas which still observe these the biblical culture enjoys direct blessing from God.

“Nyanga region where Tanganda comes from, they still observe that culture. Ndau people do not eat fruits during the first seasons. If you check where most fruits come from they come from Manicaland as they have a different way of dealing with nature.

“The area which receives most of the rainfall is that side. If you go to Nyanga one will believe that it has continuous seasons as it rains more often,” Siringwani said.

He said his ministry will continue to observe Tu Bishvat, which is the New Year for trees.