Update on Makor HaTikvah

Makor HaTikvah is a Messianic Jewish school in Jerusalem to whom we gave our Good Friday gift. There have been recent attempts to close the school (read more here). This is an update from the school’s principal, Cookie Schwaeber-Issan.

 

Dear Friends and Family of Makor HaTikvah:

First of all, thank you all so much for those of you who prayed and fasted yesterday for our court hearing.

Here is a short summary of what happened:

The judge ruled that our school can remain open to finish out he 2012-13 school year which ends in late June 2013. He attached two conditions to this – those being that we furnish documents within ten days both from the Ministry of Health, and from a safety inspector, granting us their approvals on our school premises. Five of those ten days are either vacation days for the upcoming Shavuot holiday or part of the weekend, so, in truth, we really have about 5 days to obtain these documents. We actually already have one in our possession from the safety inspector. The one we need is from the Ministry of Health, and we intend to obtain that within aforementioned timeframe, and we have already contacted the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health, demanding that they send an inspector.

With these two official documents in hand, we will then be permitted to finish this school year.

Regarding the next school year, we have submitted a very exhaustive application, and we will do everything in our power to place pressure on the Ministry of Education to grant us a license, before the upcoming school year begins. If this will not happen, we will be forced to probably enter into yet another round of litigation.

Although the attorney for the Ministry of Education suggested that our nearly 85 students be dispersed to many different Jerusalem schools, the judge expressed his opinion that this would be a hardship given the fact that there is only another month and a half left to finish out the school year. Of course, the courthouse packed to capacity with parents, teachers and even some of our students gave a sign of relief.

Needless to say, we are happy about the way things went, but still need prayer to obtain the final documents, which are a prerequisite condition for, according to the Court’s decision, to permit us to finish this school year.

We know that this first round victory was as a direct result of so many of you who were praying for us, both before the court hearing and also at the very hour it was going on. God’s faithfulness to us is breathtaking!

We are truly grateful to have so many faithful friends who are standing with us. Please do continue to pray and believe that this is just the beginning of a full victory to come for Makor HaTikvah.

With Deep Gratitude,

Cookie Schwaeber-Issan
Principal, Makor HaTikvah Messianic Day School