– Yisrael family launches book on Emancipation Day
Out of the 365 days in a year, Athalyah Yisrael chose one of the most symbolic – Emancipation Day – to launch a book aimed at restoring what she believes has been broken for generations: the soul of the African family and a true understanding of the holidays celebrated in Guyana.
The Yisrael Family
With the sun high over the festive spirit of Main Street, drums beating and flags waving, Yisrael stood not only in celebration but with the conviction that many families in Guyana are unaware of the history and true meaning behind popular holidays such as emancipation. This conviction prompted her to title her book “The Creator’s 7 Appointed Holy Seasons.” The book made its debut amid cultural performances, African prints and ancestral pride standing out amongst other book launches. “Emancipation is a beautiful thing – it should also be a day for families, a time for them to bond in their culture,” she stated.
Yisrael, the second-to-last child in a family of four siblings, also has an unwritten story that echoes the resilience her book preaches.
From the tight grips of financial hardship in 2015, when her small business, Fun Park Rentals, struggled to stay afloat, she has since climbed her way into stability – launching her now-thriving business, Outliners Zone Empowerment.
But her story is about more than profit.
While patrons at the Emancipation Day event soaked up the day’s significance, Yisrael explained that Emancipation to her is more than remembering freedom from physical chains. It’s about breaking free from spiritual confusion and generational chaos. Raised by a single mother, Yisrael knew the longing for structure. Her husband, she says, grew up with an extended family and brought into their marriage the order and discipline she never had – a union she credits as the foundation of their transformation. “All I grew up seeing was my husband doing it all,” she reflected. “And I realised I needed a father figure – a husband who follows divine structure. Through our union, we now practice those values as a family.”
That return to structure forms the heart of her book, which highlights seven holy seasons outlined in the Bible – including the Sabbath, the Feast of Trumpets, and the Feast of Tabernacles. According to Yisrael, these seasons are not just rituals, but keys to rediscovering identity.
“When you really think about it,” she said, “most of our confusion is tied to the slavery we inherited. But when we trace it back – where did we get our identity from? The Creator.” She also pointed out that her family’s presence on Emancipation Day wasn’t just for celebration but rather a sign for other families.
Her book, she says, is a guide for those ready to rebuild from the inside out – spiritually, structurally and culturally. “We need strong African families,” she said passionately. “And that comes through returning to the Creator; let’s return to order, rebuild our families and remember who we are.”
Copies of “The Creator’s 7 Appointed Holy Seasons” are available through direct contact at 623-4386.
