By Marney Blom
Today marked an unprecedented day in history: the kings of the earth gathered in Jerusalem.
Ninety foreign dignitaries representing 70 nations came to pay their final respects to the last of Israel’s founding fathers. 93-year-old Shimon Peres served as both prime minister and president of Israel, in a political career that spanned nearly 70 years. After suffering a stroke on September 13th, Peres passed away last Wednesday.
On simple white plastic folding chairs under a shade-covering on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl, 30 former and present heads of state sat side-by-side Peres’ grieving family, friends, Israel’s chief rabbis, Israeli military and political elite.
“He belonged to the generation that emerged from bondage to liberty, that struck roots in our ancient homeland, and wielded the Sword of David in its defense,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the crowd of 5000 attending the state funeral. “Shimon made a monumental contribution to guaranteeing our capacity to defend ourselves for generations.”
Many of the male dignitaries wore kippahs, including Great Britain’s Prince Charles and King Felipe VI of Spain, while others like France’s President Francois Holland and the leader of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas chose to go without.
Counted among the Canadian delegation were Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former PMs Stephen Harper and Jean Chretien, and Leader of the Opposition Rona Ambrose.
“A bountiful life driven by simple pleasures of family and by big dreams — this was Shimon Peres’ life. This is the state of Israel,” eulogized the American president Barak Obama, flanked by security detail. “This is the story of the Jewish people over the last century.”
Today’s tribute to Shimon Peres marked the largest gathering of international dignitaries since the 1995 funeral of assassinated Israeli prime minister Yitzak Rabin, and it came within days of Rosh Hashanah.
Members of Israel’s rabbinic community took note.
Rabbi Yosef Berger told Breaking Israel News that this sudden gathering of world leaders just prior to Rosh Hashanah could signify “the final stages before Messiah.” He pointed to Psalms 47:2-4, the Scripture passage read before the blowing of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, which clearly exalts the Lord God as the king over all the rulers of the earth.
“For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet (NIV).
Berger also noted that the portion of Scripture read in synagogues all over the world this week, Deuteronomy 29:10, clearly depicts the scene witnessed on Mount Herzl today.
“All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God — your leaders and chief men, your elders, and officials, and all the other men of Israel…” (NIV).
Before Peres’ sons Yoni and Nehemia, and daughter Prof. Tsvia Walden came forward to read their eulogies, soloist David D’or sang Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King), a Jewish prayer for forgiveness and mercy traditionally sung on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It’s stirring lyrics are a confession of sin, a cry for compassion, and a plea for an end to war and trouble — hallmarks of the messianic age.
Today’s great gathering in Jerusalem was a clear demonstration of the profound impact tiny Israel has on the global community. Unknowingly, it may have also set the stage for the unfolding of even greater prophetic events to come.
Marney Blom is news director for the Acts News Network.
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