Podcasts about Barak

Keren Kayement L’israel, the JNF, will be hosting various events during the upcoming Chanukah holiday. These include latern-led night hikes in the forest, climbing mountains in the Jordan Valley, hunting for candelabras and suvganiot in B’nei Barak and Jerusalem and more. Reporter Arieh O’Sullivan spoke with Hav’a Stein-Yosef, from the community department at Keren Kayemet L’israel, about their events. (photo: Yaniv Nadav/flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join host Manya Brachear Pashman for a powerful conversation about Red Alert, the Critics Choice Award-nominated Paramount+ docu-series that confronts the October 7 Hamas massacre with unflinching honesty. Producer Lawrence Bender (Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting) shares why this project couldn't wait—launched in real time to push back against denial, disinformation, and a world struggling to absorb the scale of the tragedy. Bender reflects on the courage and trauma of the ordinary Israelis whose stories anchor the series, including survivors like Batsheva Olami, whose resilience changed the production team forever. Hear how filming during an active war shaped the storytelling, the emotional toll on everyone involved, and why capturing these true accounts is essential to ensuring October 7 is neither minimized nor forgotten. Key Resources: AJC.org/Donate: Please consider supporting AJC's work with a year-end gift today. Right now, your gift will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, making double the impact. Every gift matters. Every dollar makes a difference in the fight for a strong and secure Jewish future. Listen – AJC Podcasts: Architects of Peace The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: [Clip from Red Alert] Manya Brachear Pashman:   Academy Award nominated film producer Lawrence Bender has quite a repertoire for both feature films and documentaries: Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Bastards, Good Will Hunting and Inconvenient Truth. In fact, his works have earned 36 Academy Award nominations.  His most recent TV miniseries is a more personal project on the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel, Paramount Plus began streaming a four episode series called red alert about the attack on festival goers, innocent passers by and families waking up to terrorists inside their Israeli homes that day, a tragedy that many of us, either on this podcast or listening have watched with overwhelming grief for the last two years. Lawrence is with us now to talk about how he grappled with this attack on Israel and the rise of antisemitism that followed.  Lawrence, welcome to People of the Pod. Lawrence Bender:   Thank you, Manya, it's good to be here.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   So that clip that we played at the top of this episode, it's one of the few clips in English. Most of the dialog in this show is in Hebrew with subtitles. But that scene is a woman, Bathsheba and her two daughters. They're walking across a field trying to return home, and her son has been taken. Her husband is gone. This series weaves together her story and three or four other ordinary civilians fighting for their lives on October 7, 2023. You know, as someone personally who's been immersed in this subject matter for two years, to be honest, I had to muster the energy to watch this, and I'm so glad that I did. But why are, I mean, as we're still waiting for the last hostage to be returned, why was it important for this show to air now? Lawrence Bender:   Well, thank you so much for doing this with me, and thank you for playing that clip. I have to tell you first, I love that clip. I love that scene because one of the things about the show and the stories that we portrayed is that even with the horrific things that happened on that day, people still were able to fight back. People were still able to be strong. A mother with her daughter and her infant stood in the face of a terrorist and stood him down in real life, this happened.  Now, not everybody was so fortunate, and her husband Ohad was not fortunate, and her son was taken hostage, as you mentioned, but it does show her personal power in this horrific situation. And I just thought, you know, this woman is a real hero. I've spent a lot of time with her, Batsheva Olami, she's really an extraordinary human in all ways. So thank you for playing that clip.  So in terms of the show, I felt on October 8, it's just amazing how quickly, before Israel did anything, the entire world quickly turned against the very people who were the victims and having spent subsequently, a lot of time with people on the set, because, as you mentioned, this show was about real people, and those real people spent a lot of time on the set with us. And the very people that were traumatized, felt isolated, they felt alone, and they're the very ones that need to be loved, that need to be hugged, they need to be supported. Anyway, I just felt like I needed to do something fast to try to show the world what really happened. AndRed Alert is the result of that. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Do you fear that the world has already moved on? Lawrence Bender:   Oh, that's a good question. It feels like we've passed a tipping point, actually, in terms of Jew hatred and anti-Israel and antisemitism. Even as we are now trying to have a peace process, right, that somehow we are stumbling forward, and if that's going to happen, people need to understand why we're here and why we're here happened on October 7. And if you watch the show, hopefully you're pulled into the show, and you have a, you know, you have an emotional journey, and then you understand, oh, this really happened. And you understand that's the truth. And only when you really understand the truth of October 7 do I really think that you can really get some sort of peace. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So is this different from other historical events? You know, a lot of movies and television shows commemorate historical events, like the Holocaust, for example, but they happen years later. They're made years later. I kind of call it the never forget genre. But is October 7 unique in that it's not a question of whether people will forget or move on. It's a question of whether they believe that this present is actually true. Lawrence Bender:   That's right, there's the deniers. There's people that just don't know. There's people that forgot, maybe you know, there are people who I know that I had to explain. Like, you know, it's interesting. As an example, when you see the show and you see all these Hamas terrorists invading the kibbutz, and Ohad says to her, his wife, Bathsheva, he whispers in her ear, I just saw about 20 terrorists, and someone said to me, who's not unintelligent, I didn't realize there are that many. I didn't realize that. And if you're not really paying attention, maybe you don't really know. And look, they're the haters, haters which are never going to change. But I think there's a large group of people that just don't really understand, and they're the ones that I feel we have a shot at showing this to and having a conversation with. Manya Brachear Pashman:   In fact, are you actually introducing or experimenting with a new genre of truth or facts in the face of fiction. Lawrence Bender:   I guess that's true. I mean, this just happened. And some people ask over this last, you know, when I released, and we were paramount, released the show. You know, I've been asked a question, is it too soon? And my answer is, I feel like it's not soon enough. And I felt like immediately I needed to work on something, and this is the result of that. For me, personally, there are many collaborators of people on this show that incredible Israeli partners, my American partners. I mean, there's a lot of amazing people that came together to work on this, to make this show, but we really felt like time was of the essence, because the world was shifting so quickly, we wanted this to get out there, to show the world what really happened. Manya Brachear Pashman:   One of the reasons I'm pressing you on this, this was not a fiction film. This was based in reality. You said you met Bathsheba, the actors prepared for their roles by meeting with the very real people who they were portraying in this show whose stories they were recreating. I'm curious what some of the takeaways were for you, for your colleagues, from your encounters with these victims, with these survivors, and did anything about the production ever change after they got involved? Lawrence Bender:   It was truly a life changing experience for myself, but really for everyone involved, of course, myself and my partner, Kevin Brown and Jordana Rubin, and we were basically the only non Israelis that were full time producing the show. And everyone else was a citizen of the country. Everyone else, you know, was affected dramatically, everything but from like our key grips brother ran the kibbutz Raim, where we filmed that area that was a kibbutz overrun by terrorists, right? His brother survived. So it was really like every single person at some point, you know, we call it triggered, but it really happened quite often where you have a scene and people just have to stop for a second and take a moment, whether it's an actor finishing a scene or a crew member, you know, partaking in the making of the scene. But lots of things happen. I'll tell you one story which was, you know, quite interesting. We're working at the Nova festival scene, and one of the actors, Moran, her niece, was on vacation in Greece, and her niece told her, if a red headed police woman shows up on the set, she's the one who saved my life. And indeed, her name was Bat, she showed up, and we said, we need you to meet somebody. And we FaceTimed Moran's niece with Bat, and the young lady she's like in her early 20s, said, You're the one who saved my life. You're the one I was hiding by your feet while you were firing. And we asked, Did you remember the people that you saved? And she said, I really only remember the people I didn't save. You really felt the pain that she is still at that point a year and a half later, this is. In April, May, suffering from what she went through. RPG hit nearby her. She went flying through the air. She had had half reconstructive surgery, on and on and on. It was obviously an extremely traumatic day for her to you know, a moment where there's a woman on the set whose daughter was murdered, and someone on my crew, actually, Mya Fisher, has said, you know, there's someone here I want to introduce you to. It's after lunch. And I spent some time with her, and I asked her, you know, like, how do you go? Fine, I can't, you know, I can't imagine losing my son in this way. It's just unimaginable. And I asked her, do you have a rabbi? What do you do to survive?  And it was a very difficult emotional exchange. And sometime later, she had sort of retold that encounter to somebody else on the set who came to me and said, you know that woman you're talking to. She told me what happened, you know this conversation? And she said, You know this Hollywood producer came all the way from California, she doesn't know me, from Adam, and sat down with me for an hour to hear my story, and it clearly meant a lot to her. And again, you realize that the very people who are traumatized directly are not getting the love, are so isolated and people are against them, and it made me feel even more determined to tell these stories for the world to understand.  Every day we had these type of difficult, emotional and to be honest, I was extremely honored every time I met someone. I spent every Saturday night at Hostage Square because we were making the show, I got to spend time backstage with all the families who had loved ones in the tunnels. There was a deep dive into this. Now, I have to tell you, on the other hand, the filming while a war is still going on is quite it's like things you don't have to think about normally, right? So, as an example, we were in a town and we're shooting a shootout. We're filming a shootout between the IDF actors and the Hamas actor. They're actors. I keep saying they're actors, right? Because they are actors. But the mayor and the chief of police in the town were extremely worried, because they look real, right? They look like real people. And unfortunately, the cemetery is littered with people who have been murdered and killed by the Hamas. And all the other men who are there, they have guns, they carry, and if something's happening, they're going to run towards the problem. So he's worried, what if someone walks by, or someone's up in a building. He looks down and they see an actor who looks like Hamas, they are going to shoot him. So we literally had speakers every 10 yards, like all up and down the street, and every like 15-20 minutes, saying, don't worry, in Hebrew, of course, this is a movie, everything's okay. We had a drone up in the air, never coming down, on a tether with a police officer. They're a full big screen watching case someone walks down the street.  We dressed up the Hamas actors as they're walking from the holding area to the area where they're filming, we put them in these kind of white hazmat-like suits so that they couldn't confuse them, and when they got done filming, we put them right back in these hazmat white suits and brought them back to the holding area. We all had to dress up, and we had to wear these very, very light blue shirts the entire crew, so nobody looked like anything but a crew member. It was something, right?  Manya Brachear Pashman:   I did not even think about that. I mean, I knew that you had filmed on location in Israel, and I knew you had filmed during the war. In fact, I was going to explain to listeners who don't know Red Alert is what Israelis call the sirens and the phone alerts when there are rockets being fired upon Israel and they have time to seek shelter. I was going to ask you if you had been there during a red alert and had to seek shelter, but I didn't even think about the possibility of people confusing the filming with actual war activity. I imagine you were there during a red alert, and did have to seek shelter, yes? Lawrence Bender:   so there's different types of alerts in the south. We did shoot in the guys called the Gaza envelope. We shot within less than a mile away from the Gaza border. So a scene that comes soon after the one that you showed. They're resting under a tree, and we are in the Gaza envelope. And this is a scene where they're running from the Hamas. They're running, they're bare feet, and they're out of breath, and they stop under this tree that's hot, and so forth. And you can hear, just a mile away, the war going on in Gaza. Hear the bombs and everything, and we weren't worried about we're going to be attacked, but it was eerie hearing a war go on, and we're filming a scene where they're running from that war, right?  So it was dramatic every week or so still at that point, the Hamas would lob a missile bomb into southern Israel and an alert would go off. You have 15 seconds to. Get into. So we had to bring these portable concrete safe rooms with us so that crew, at any given moment can run quickly into one of these concrete things. We couldn't always do it. So there's always this conversation, and by the way, it costs a lot of money, so everything you're always carrying these things. There's a lot of planning that went on. But I have to tell you, as an American showing up in Israel for the first time after October 7, I wasn't used to these alarms going off, so we were fortunate that while we were filming in the south, no missiles were lobbed at us. However, my first day there, I'm in a meeting on the eighth floor. It was a Friday morning. I got in there on a Thursday evening, 10 o'clock in the morning, the alarm goes up. I mean, just like that, right? And it's loud.  And you have these buzzers. Everyone's phone is buzzing, not like the Amber Alerts we have, like, really buzzing loud. And everyone stops and looks at me, and they apologize to me. They apologize and they go, Oh, we're really sorry, but it's an alert. We have to go into a safe room. Oh, don't worry, it's just from the Houthis. It takes eight minutes to get here. Now it's an intercontinental ballistic missile. These are real big missiles. They can really do bad damage. Don't worry, the Iron Dome usually gets them. It's really okay. So we go, you know, we go into and they pick up their danish and their coffee, and of course, I take out my cell phone and I'm videotaping. And then we go in there, and when it's off, we go back to the meeting. The meeting starts as if it never happened. And then they stop, and they go, Oh, how was that for you? And then I just didn't realize, what with the emotion that was going on because we're not used to having missiles shot at us. It's not normal. And I started to bubble up with emotion, and I had to, like, stop myself, I didn't want to cry in front of all these people that I barely knew. So I had to suppress my feelings. Like, don't worry, it's okay. You're having a normal reaction, right? And that happened quite often while I was there.  Now, you do get used to it. And the last night I was there, I was having dinner outside, tables outside, you know, in restaurants everywhere. So we're having a typical outside dinner, and they're handing the fish, and the alarm goes off, and we go, let's eat. And we don't go into the restaurant where they're called maamads. You don't go into the safe room. So that's kind of the quote, unquote normal life. Now you imagine here in the United States we get a missile from Mexico or Canada or wherever. No one's going to put up with that. That's just insane. It's insane what people in Israel have to go through. Manya Brachear Pashman:   it really is. But it's interesting that you've kind of adopted the nonchalance that your colleagues had at the very beginning of the trip, and wow, certainly no apologies. I want to know if there's a missile headed my way. Thank you. It does sound like October 7 changed you personally. And I'd like to know as a progressive Jew, on what level did it change you as a human being. I mean, how did it change you the most? Lawrence Bender:   I've been an active Jewish person for maybe 20, somewhere, 2025, years. I went to Israel My first time. I was ready. As far as I'm concerned. I was too old already to go for the first time. It was like 2003 I went with the Israeli policy forum, and we met with a lot of people there, and we ended up going to Ramallah, met with Abu Mazen, we went to Cairo and met with the president there, Barak, and met with a lot of people in Israel and so forth. And I've been involved one way or another for quite a while. But of course, October 7 was dramatic. Of course, I was safe in my house in Los Angeles, but I still watched in horror. And of course, October 8, it's just hard to understand what happened. It was the latent antisemitism, Jew hatred, that sits there. I still don't quite understand that.  It feels like antisemitism never went away, but it was underneath, and it just gave a good excuse to come out, and now the world is where it is. So yeah, for me, I became much more active than I was before. It became much more important to me, my Jewishness, my relationship to Israel. I want to protect Israel as much as I have that power to you know, whatever my ability is, like a lot of people, I know it's become a really important part of my existence, and it's like a new chapter in my life. I'm absolutely looking for more Jewish or Israeli projects. You know, I'm looking to do as much as possible in this area. Manya Brachear Pashman:   A number of your colleagues in Hollywood have proposed boycotting Israeli film festivals, institutions, projects, they're going the opposite direction that you are. And I'm curious if you had difficulty finding an American network to air this series, and what do you say when you confront colleagues who do want to boycott and are hostile toward Israel? Lawrence Bender:   You know, there's different groups of people. They're the true haters. I don't think that you can ever even have a conversation with them. There are people who just don't understand, and there's people you can and there are people who you know they're trying to be good people. They're trying to understand, like, What don't you understand about women being brutally raped and murdered? It's a little hard for me to understand that, actually. But there are a lot of good people who just are either confused or got too much of the wrong message.  But the one thing I would say straight up is, let's take an analogy. You know, there's very few people that I know that you see on TV, on any news show, that is very empathetic with the regime in Iran as an example, right? That means a brutal regime. If you're a liberal or if you're a conservative, there's very few people who support that regime here in this country, right? But they don't boycott their filmmakers, right? They actually give their filmmakers Academy Awards. So why is that with Israel? I feel like there's something very misguided here in Hollywood. Now, we got really lucky when it came to distribution. I just have to say, because we were supposed to go out to sell the show like it was fully financed from equity and from Keshet, who's the local Israeli. This is the biggest network in Israel, by the way. It's the biggest drama in Israel in the last decade. It really performed well there. But now we're going to go sell it here in the United States and the rest of the world, and it's early September, which is our deadline to do that, and Israel bombs Qatar, and then this boycott letter is signed. And I have to tell the investors. You know, it's like, this is not a good time. We cannot go sell. We're just gonna fail, and there's no second chances.  And you know, I was getting into dramatic arguments with my investors because they really felt strong. You got to be like that character in your show, the police officer is going to save his wife and you know, nothing's going to stop you. And I said, Yes, I'm with you. I developed that character I know in the Middle East arguments. I was at Skip Brittenham's memorial. Skip is like this beautiful man who was like the Mount Rushmore of lawyers here in LA. He's just a great human and one of those guys that wants to make deals, not just take everything and have the other guy get nothing. He was just like a he's just a real mensch, right? And well, loved anyway. Unfortunately, he passed, but I was at his memorial, and I ran into David Ellison. Now, I know David a little bit, not well, but I know him a little bit, and I also know that, you know, he loves Israel, from what I've read and so forth. And so I went up to him and said, Hey, man, we talked. I said, you got to know what I'm doing. And it probably got three words out of my mouth, and you can see him go, I'd love to see this. This sounds amazing, and sounds like it's exactly the timing we need.  And we sent him the material, and he watched every episode himself, and then he gave it to Cindy Holland, who runs paramount, plus his main person. And you know, they said, we do this. We want this. It would be an honor to be your partner in this is actually quite humbling. And it was an incredible moment for us to have David Ellison, Cindy Holland, say, hey. You know, we want this now. Then they said, We need to drop it. We want to drop all the episodes on October 7? Well, by the time they got those episodes, it was like two weeks to go before October 7, or a couple days before, because we couldn't give it to them in the midnight before October 7, obviously. And they had pretty much final picture edit, but we had temporary sound, temporary music, temporary effects, and so we had to work double triple shifts to get it done. But of course, we did. Manya Brachear Pashman:   This actually reminds me of a conversation I had with playwright, screenwriter, Oren softy for the Forgotten Exodus, which is a podcast series we did about Jews from the Middle East. He spoke about his father's side of the family, which hails from Aleppo, Syria, and he shared a lot of his frustrations with the modern anti Israel movement and sentiments in Hollywood, the protests which he's been trying to combat in theater and on the stage. And he actually said that investors had pulled out of a film project about Israel when tensions flared. So it's interesting to hear your investors took the opposite approach, but he told me in our conversations, he told me that being Jewish is about stepping up. That's how he sees it. It's about stepping up. And I'm curious if that rings true to you, and do you feel like this series and your plans to do more, is that your way of stepping up? Lawrence Bender:   Hmm, that's beautiful, and I'm so glad to hear you recount that story with him. I'd love to talk to him about that I feel like, without really understanding that it's built into me genetically, right? My grandparents, far as you go back, my family is Jewish, right? From Romania, from Hungary, from Minsk Belarus. So it's the way that you're brought up as a Jew. It's just always been a part of our lives, and we're pretty much taught that that's part of being Jewish, right? So, you know, I've always felt like it's important for me.  Now I tell you, you know, it's interesting, and I think about as we're talking so in the 90s, when I was getting started, and I was actually doing pretty well this one year, I had Good Will Hunting and Jackie Brown and a price above Rubens, those three movies, and things were going well, but I felt like something was missing in my life. And then we screened Good Will Hunting and Camp David in 1998 and it was an amazing moment. And that was like one of these light bulb moments for me. You know, I met the President and Mrs. Clinton and Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense, Sandy Berger and the Chief of Staff and Senate Majority Leader, and on and on, right? They're all there.    And it was Matt Damon, Ban Affleck, Gus Van Zant, Robin Williams, et cetera, et cetera, right? And I felt like these guys are making a difference, and that's what was missing in my life. And so since 1998 I've been always looking for ways that I'm and that's that's that becomes like a more of a fulfilling way of living right for myself. So yes, I would answer that. That's a long way to get to yes. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Wow, Camp David, that's awesome. Lawrence, thank you so much for joining us and for talking about the impetus behind this series. I encourage everyone to take some time, brace yourself emotionally, but do sit down and watch Red Alert. It is really quite worthwhile. Thank you so much. Lawrence Bender: Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman:   If you missed last week's episode, be sure to tune in for my conversation with AJC colleague, Dr Alexandra Herzog, the granddaughter of Chaim Herzog, Israel's Irish born sixth president. She shared how an attempt by Dublin officials to strip her grandfather's name from a community park illustrates how criticism of Israel can veer into an effort to erase Jewish memory. As I mentioned in my conversation with Lawrence, it took some degree of wherewithal to watch Red Alert, as we've spent the last two years on this podcast speaking with the families of hostages, former hostages themselves, and survivors of the October 7 massacre. I've wanted nothing more than to make sure their voices are heard. We end this week's episode with the voice of Orna Neutra, the mother of Omer Neutra. Orna recently spoke at the AJC Long Island meeting, shortly after the return of her son's remains more than two years after his death, followed by a word from AJC Long Island Director Eric Post. Orna Neutra: When Omer was taken, our world collapsed. But something else happened too. People stood up. People showed up. And many of you here showed up. This community, the broader Long Island Jewish community, AJC, our friends, colleagues, neighbors, complete strangers, carried us. You wrote, you marched, you advocated, you pressured you called you consoled and refused to let the world look away. To our personal friends and honorees here tonight, Veronica, Laurie, and Michael, your leadership has not been symbolic. It has been practical, steady and deeply felt by our family.  Like you said, Veronica, on the first days when we were barely understanding what was going on, you connected us to Senator Schumer's office, and Michael, you helped us write a letter to the White House on October 8, and that was the first sign from hostage families that the White House received. We know that Secretary Blinken had the letter in his hands on October 8, indicating that Omer was probably a hostage.  And AJC as an organization, beyond your many actions and advocacy, I want to specifically acknowledge your DC team. It was mentioned here tonight, throughout our many, many, many visits to Capitol Hill, AJC professionals were instrumental. They arranged meetings, they walked us through endless hallways, opened doors, prepared us and stood beside us, and they're still doing that for us, and we will see them this week. Always professional, with purpose and humanity, and we will never forget that. Over these two years, we learned something essential: that when Jewish families are in danger, the responsibility belongs to all of us, across movements, across generations, across continents. This work is the work that AJC does every day. This is the work that everyone here in this room understands. Eric Post:  Since the horrors of October 7, AJC has been empowering leaders around the world to take action against antisemitism and stand with Israel. But we cannot succeed alone. Please consider supporting AJC's work with a year-end gift today. Right now, your gift will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, making double the impact.  Every gift matters. Every dollar makes a difference in the fight for a strong and secure Jewish future. Donate at AJC.org/donate – that's www - dot - AJC - dot org  slash donate.

Barak finds the corpse of Sisera; the salvation is completed

This week I have two stories for you. The first is about the Rashab and armed Soviet police at his door on Purim night. The second is about the Alter Rebbe crossing a river as a prisoner, and a blessing he chose not to say. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/whats-real-and-what-isnt To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

Lawless: Bold Faith & Obedience Stand Out In Lawless Times (week 3)Big Idea: God calls both men and women to step up and serve, and He wins the battles we can't.God's Call to Deborah: God Calls Women to MinistryGod's Call to Barak: God Calls Men to MinistryMen and Women Are Called to Work and Minister Together Family Discussion Questions What made Deborah such a strong leader during a tough time?Why do you think Barak was afraid to go alone?Have you ever been scared to do something God asked you to do?What does it mean that “the battle belongs to the Lord”?How can men and women serve together in the church today

This week I have two stories for you. The first is about the Alter Rebbe and desperate farmers who need rain. The second is about a Baron who refuses to sell land for a Jewish cemetery - and what happens when he takes his family for a ride on that very land. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/bringing-the-rebbe-down-to-earth To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

News of Barak's assembly reaches Sisera who reacts

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.Need help in Portugal? Contact Carl by phone/WhatsApp on (00 351) 913 590 303, email carl@carlmunson.com or join the Portugal Club community here - www.theportugalclub.com

Devorah tells Barak that he will not get credit for the victory

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ISRqGzPb9mYTensions at the top of Israel's security establishment escalate, as a public rift between the chief of staff and the defence minister deepens — raising questions about leadership and accountability in a time of war. Yonit and Jonathan break down what this clash reveals about Israel's security apparatus. In New York, protests outside a synagogue leave local Jews unsettled and anxious about the city's new mayor. Plus: Barak Ravid, one of Washington's most connected reporters and a leading interpreter of Donald Trump's political instincts, joins to discuss the president's strategy and his unique approach to global affairs — and what it could mean for Israel in the months ahead. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week I have two stories for you. The first is about Rabbi Shalom Dovber Lipskar looking to make a minyan for his shul and the second, an Rabbi Moshe Pardo travels halfway across the world for a crucial meeting with a wealthy donor, only to fall ill the night before. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/the-three-dollar-minyan To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

Barak insists that Devorah accompany him.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.Need help in Portugal? Contact Carl by phone/WhatsApp on (00 351) 913 590 303, email carl@carlmunson.com or join the Portugal Club community here - www.theportugalclub.com

Devorah instructs Barak to assemble an army

Kids: God had a plan to save sinners from the punishment for sin. Through the prophet Isaiah, God communicated His plan—to send a servant, a Savior, who would take the punishment for sin. We can lead kids to understand that God loves people and promised to send a Savior! We can have forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Jesus. Preschool: Deborah listened to God and told Barak what to do. When Barak was unsure, Deborah trusted and obeyed God and led the people. This session will focus on ways that Deborah listened to what God said and did those things. God has a plan for His people. God wants us to obey and follow His plan. 

Imam Jamil, Digital Control & the African Hajj Crisis — One Ummah News HourDescription:As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullāhi wa Barakātuh.This week on One Ummah News Hour, we go deep. Four investigative reports that span continents, technology, faith, and the Ummah's fight for dignity:The life, loss, and legacy of Imam Jamil Abdullah al-Amin — a warrior of justice silenced.“Digital Fatwa” — how tech, states, and algorithms are rewriting who can speak Islam online.The “Mining Papers” — land deals in the Sahel where Muslim communities are paying the price of extraction.The African Hajj Passport Crisis — technology and bureaucracy blocking the most sacred journey for tens of thousands of African Muslims.No distractions. No fluff. Just truth-driven coverage for the Ummah.Subscribe now and stay connected to the global Muslim story. For the One Ummah News Hour — truth, justice, unity.Wa Assalāmu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullāhi wa Barakātuh.

Barak Jacuzi pulled up and shared the story behind his boxing fight with Lumu, why the nomination for Content Creator of the Year means so much to him, and more.This conversation is full of energy, insight, and big moments from one of the most entertaining personalities in the culture.The voting lines are officially OPEN, show love and support by voting for your favorite artist here:https://tinyurl.com/msxpf262Purchase your tickets to the gala show here;https://unkuthiphop.hustlesasa.shopSpotify Playlist; https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MzhTancPtivS6ffhONsr8?si=0dfa8e4c0ca04a76YouTube Playlist; https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5yFZMqIXMMYoD9x1f9t-SpRomhTBrpiI&si=S_bTnhDeYEPFSvfpAdo Veli Podcast Season 15, Episode 22 (Episode 386)

This week I have three stories for you. The first, a mysterious tale from the court of Reb Mottel of Chernobyl about a suffering servant, the second the Kotzker Rebbe faces a desperate father begging him to save his brilliant son-in-law and the last, the Chofetz Chaim boards a train for a historic gathering of European rabbis and refuses to step off the train. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/unfinished-work To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

RESILIENCE by Barak Zilberberg https://www.amazon.com/RESILIENCE-Barak-Zilberberg/dp/B0D8GGKTP9 Barakzilberberg.com In "From Humble Beginnings: The Journey of Barak Zilberberg," embark on an inspiring and compelling tale of resilience, perseverance, and triumph. Barak Zilberberg invites readers to explore his remarkable life story, tracing his roots back to his grandparents who survived the atrocities of World War II and the Holocaust. Despite facing unimaginable adversity, their strength and determination laid the foundation for Barak's journey. Born into a typical Jewish family, Barak's story is a testament to the power of persistence and the human spirit's capacity to overcome the odds. With captivating honesty, he reveals the trials and tribulations he faced, mirroring the humble beginnings of renowned figures like Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and Howard Schultz. These icons, much like Barak, started with little but their dreams and unyielding willpower.

In this message inspired by the book Holy Roar by Chris Tomlin and Darren Whitehead, we explore Barak and Tehillah—praise that begins in humble trust and rises into the unique song only your soul can sing. Discover how worship becomes alive and transformative as God inhabits the praise of His people.

Jeffrey Epstein's saga was never just the story of a sex-trafficking billionaire; it was the story of how power, intelligence, and money fuse into a single machine of influence. Documents released by the House Oversight Committee and reporting from outlets such as Drop Site revealed that Epstein's Manhattan apartment hosted figures like Yoni Koren, a senior Israeli intelligence officer tied to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Leaked emails and calendar entries show wire transfers, coded errands, and meetings that overlapped with Barak's dealings with former CIA Director Leon Panetta and other defense officials. These records—paired with years of silence from major media—suggest that Epstein operated as a broker of access, moving seamlessly between finance, technology, and national-security circles while prosecutors, politicians, and governments looked the other way.Behind the procedural delays and partisan noise in Washington lies the same motive that shielded Epstein in life: protection of the powerful. The stalled congressional vote to release the full, unredacted “Epstein files” reflects bipartisan fear of what the documents might confirm—that the scandal wasn't an anomaly but a glimpse of how the modern intelligence economy actually works. Epstein's homes, jets, and investments formed a web where blackmail, espionage, and profit overlapped. Whether he acted as asset or opportunist remains unproven, but the surviving records make clear that his network touched the highest levels of state and corporate power. What's at stake in the fight over those files isn't gossip—it's the map of a system built to ensure that truth itself remains classified.to  contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Jeffrey Epstein's saga was never just the story of a sex-trafficking billionaire; it was the story of how power, intelligence, and money fuse into a single machine of influence. Documents released by the House Oversight Committee and reporting from outlets such as Drop Site revealed that Epstein's Manhattan apartment hosted figures like Yoni Koren, a senior Israeli intelligence officer tied to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Leaked emails and calendar entries show wire transfers, coded errands, and meetings that overlapped with Barak's dealings with former CIA Director Leon Panetta and other defense officials. These records—paired with years of silence from major media—suggest that Epstein operated as a broker of access, moving seamlessly between finance, technology, and national-security circles while prosecutors, politicians, and governments looked the other way.Behind the procedural delays and partisan noise in Washington lies the same motive that shielded Epstein in life: protection of the powerful. The stalled congressional vote to release the full, unredacted “Epstein files” reflects bipartisan fear of what the documents might confirm—that the scandal wasn't an anomaly but a glimpse of how the modern intelligence economy actually works. Epstein's homes, jets, and investments formed a web where blackmail, espionage, and profit overlapped. Whether he acted as asset or opportunist remains unproven, but the surviving records make clear that his network touched the highest levels of state and corporate power. What's at stake in the fight over those files isn't gossip—it's the map of a system built to ensure that truth itself remains classified.to  contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Jeffrey Epstein's saga was never just the story of a sex-trafficking billionaire; it was the story of how power, intelligence, and money fuse into a single machine of influence. Documents released by the House Oversight Committee and reporting from outlets such as Drop Site revealed that Epstein's Manhattan apartment hosted figures like Yoni Koren, a senior Israeli intelligence officer tied to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Leaked emails and calendar entries show wire transfers, coded errands, and meetings that overlapped with Barak's dealings with former CIA Director Leon Panetta and other defense officials. These records—paired with years of silence from major media—suggest that Epstein operated as a broker of access, moving seamlessly between finance, technology, and national-security circles while prosecutors, politicians, and governments looked the other way.Behind the procedural delays and partisan noise in Washington lies the same motive that shielded Epstein in life: protection of the powerful. The stalled congressional vote to release the full, unredacted “Epstein files” reflects bipartisan fear of what the documents might confirm—that the scandal wasn't an anomaly but a glimpse of how the modern intelligence economy actually works. Epstein's homes, jets, and investments formed a web where blackmail, espionage, and profit overlapped. Whether he acted as asset or opportunist remains unproven, but the surviving records make clear that his network touched the highest levels of state and corporate power. What's at stake in the fight over those files isn't gossip—it's the map of a system built to ensure that truth itself remains classified.to  contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's saga was never just the story of a sex-trafficking billionaire; it was the story of how power, intelligence, and money fuse into a single machine of influence. Documents released by the House Oversight Committee and reporting from outlets such as Drop Site revealed that Epstein's Manhattan apartment hosted figures like Yoni Koren, a senior Israeli intelligence officer tied to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Leaked emails and calendar entries show wire transfers, coded errands, and meetings that overlapped with Barak's dealings with former CIA Director Leon Panetta and other defense officials. These records—paired with years of silence from major media—suggest that Epstein operated as a broker of access, moving seamlessly between finance, technology, and national-security circles while prosecutors, politicians, and governments looked the other way.Behind the procedural delays and partisan noise in Washington lies the same motive that shielded Epstein in life: protection of the powerful. The stalled congressional vote to release the full, unredacted “Epstein files” reflects bipartisan fear of what the documents might confirm—that the scandal wasn't an anomaly but a glimpse of how the modern intelligence economy actually works. Epstein's homes, jets, and investments formed a web where blackmail, espionage, and profit overlapped. Whether he acted as asset or opportunist remains unproven, but the surviving records make clear that his network touched the highest levels of state and corporate power. What's at stake in the fight over those files isn't gossip—it's the map of a system built to ensure that truth itself remains classified.to  contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

This week I have two stories from you told by the late great Reb Shlomo Carlebach about Yossele the Holy Miser. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/yossele-the-holy-miser To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

Jeffrey Epstein's saga was never just the story of a sex-trafficking billionaire; it was the story of how power, intelligence, and money fuse into a single machine of influence. Documents released by the House Oversight Committee and reporting from outlets such as Drop Site revealed that Epstein's Manhattan apartment hosted figures like Yoni Koren, a senior Israeli intelligence officer tied to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Leaked emails and calendar entries show wire transfers, coded errands, and meetings that overlapped with Barak's dealings with former CIA Director Leon Panetta and other defense officials. These records—paired with years of silence from major media—suggest that Epstein operated as a broker of access, moving seamlessly between finance, technology, and national-security circles while prosecutors, politicians, and governments looked the other way.Behind the procedural delays and partisan noise in Washington lies the same motive that shielded Epstein in life: protection of the powerful. The stalled congressional vote to release the full, unredacted “Epstein files” reflects bipartisan fear of what the documents might confirm—that the scandal wasn't an anomaly but a glimpse of how the modern intelligence economy actually works. Epstein's homes, jets, and investments formed a web where blackmail, espionage, and profit overlapped. Whether he acted as asset or opportunist remains unproven, but the surviving records make clear that his network touched the highest levels of state and corporate power. What's at stake in the fight over those files isn't gossip—it's the map of a system built to ensure that truth itself remains classified.to  contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's saga was never just the story of a sex-trafficking billionaire; it was the story of how power, intelligence, and money fuse into a single machine of influence. Documents released by the House Oversight Committee and reporting from outlets such as Drop Site revealed that Epstein's Manhattan apartment hosted figures like Yoni Koren, a senior Israeli intelligence officer tied to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Leaked emails and calendar entries show wire transfers, coded errands, and meetings that overlapped with Barak's dealings with former CIA Director Leon Panetta and other defense officials. These records—paired with years of silence from major media—suggest that Epstein operated as a broker of access, moving seamlessly between finance, technology, and national-security circles while prosecutors, politicians, and governments looked the other way.Behind the procedural delays and partisan noise in Washington lies the same motive that shielded Epstein in life: protection of the powerful. The stalled congressional vote to release the full, unredacted “Epstein files” reflects bipartisan fear of what the documents might confirm—that the scandal wasn't an anomaly but a glimpse of how the modern intelligence economy actually works. Epstein's homes, jets, and investments formed a web where blackmail, espionage, and profit overlapped. Whether he acted as asset or opportunist remains unproven, but the surviving records make clear that his network touched the highest levels of state and corporate power. What's at stake in the fight over those files isn't gossip—it's the map of a system built to ensure that truth itself remains classified.to  contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Leaked emails between Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak reveal Epstein's involvement in brokering high-level security and intelligence deals across Africa, including Côte d'Ivoire, where his efforts coincided with the country's new cybercrime accord with Israel. Epstein appears to have acted as a shadow intermediary—opening doors between Barak and African officials while helping Israeli-linked security firms sell surveillance systems to governments later accused of repressing dissent. Ghislaine Maxwell's recent deposition adds another layer, with her claim that Epstein worked “with and for African warlords,” suggesting his role extended beyond business into covert operations tied to Western and Israeli interests.These revelations expose a darker truth: Epstein's global ventures were never just about wealth or depravity—they were about access, influence, and deniable statecraft. Through Barak, Epstein became a bridge between Western intelligence, Israeli cyber firms, and authoritarian regimes seeking control over their populations. If substantiated, these leaks suggest governments and intelligence networks used Epstein as a middleman for dirty work—outsourcing surveillance, political manipulation, and backchannel diplomacy through a convicted sex offender precisely because his involvement could be disavowed.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Leaked emails between Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak reveal Epstein's involvement in brokering high-level security and intelligence deals across Africa, including Côte d'Ivoire, where his efforts coincided with the country's new cybercrime accord with Israel. Epstein appears to have acted as a shadow intermediary—opening doors between Barak and African officials while helping Israeli-linked security firms sell surveillance systems to governments later accused of repressing dissent. Ghislaine Maxwell's recent deposition adds another layer, with her claim that Epstein worked “with and for African warlords,” suggesting his role extended beyond business into covert operations tied to Western and Israeli interests.These revelations expose a darker truth: Epstein's global ventures were never just about wealth or depravity—they were about access, influence, and deniable statecraft. Through Barak, Epstein became a bridge between Western intelligence, Israeli cyber firms, and authoritarian regimes seeking control over their populations. If substantiated, these leaks suggest governments and intelligence networks used Epstein as a middleman for dirty work—outsourcing surveillance, political manipulation, and backchannel diplomacy through a convicted sex offender precisely because his involvement could be disavowed.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Leaked emails between Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak reveal Epstein's involvement in brokering high-level security and intelligence deals across Africa, including Côte d'Ivoire, where his efforts coincided with the country's new cybercrime accord with Israel. Epstein appears to have acted as a shadow intermediary—opening doors between Barak and African officials while helping Israeli-linked security firms sell surveillance systems to governments later accused of repressing dissent. Ghislaine Maxwell's recent deposition adds another layer, with her claim that Epstein worked “with and for African warlords,” suggesting his role extended beyond business into covert operations tied to Western and Israeli interests.These revelations expose a darker truth: Epstein's global ventures were never just about wealth or depravity—they were about access, influence, and deniable statecraft. Through Barak, Epstein became a bridge between Western intelligence, Israeli cyber firms, and authoritarian regimes seeking control over their populations. If substantiated, these leaks suggest governments and intelligence networks used Epstein as a middleman for dirty work—outsourcing surveillance, political manipulation, and backchannel diplomacy through a convicted sex offender precisely because his involvement could be disavowed.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

WHAT HISTORICAL LESSONS MUST SHAPE GAZA'S FUTURE? HEADLINE 1: Israel is at its wit's end with the porous Egyptian border.HEADLINE 2: Israel and Greece wrapped up joint military exercises this week. HEADLINE 3: Turkey held a terrorist summit in Istanbul on Wednesday.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Hebrew University Professor Netta Barak-Corren.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/--Featured FDD Pieces:"Learning the Right Lessons From ‘A House of Dynamite'" - Bradley Bowman and David Adesnik, Real Clear Defense"Iranians Challenge the Regime by Celebrating Cyrus the Great" - Janatan Sayeh and Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD"The US must not endorse Russia and China's vision for cybersecurity" - John Yoo and Ivana Stradner, The Hill

This week I have three stories for you. The first begins with Reb Zusha of Anipoli at a roadside inn, where a simple act sets in motion something that will return years later in the most unexpected way. The second opens in 1914, as Reb Meshi Zahav rushes to the Stoliner Rebbe for a blessing — and discovers that when a tzaddik says "stay," there's always a reason.And the last takes us to the town of Pandel, where Reb Chaim Veiler, a great Torah scholar, teaches us what true service looks like through the simplest of acts. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/i-saw-it-on-your-forehead To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

This week I have three stories for you. The first begins with a powerful count who sets out to rid his land of a Rebbe — and discovers that Heaven has other plans. The second starts with an unexpected blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe that will one day turn a life upside down in the most miraculous way. And the last opens on the streets of Poznań, where a city gathers to welcome its new Rav — unaware of the quiet wonder about to unfold. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/the-empty-chariot To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

Join Kate and Sheila as they journey through Judges, a book of disobedience, oppression, crying out to God, judge (aka leader) appointed, deliverance, and peace cycling over and over. God was clear- take over the land, but instead His people intermarried and started to worship idols. Downward spirals are never pretty, but they can teach a great deal. In chapter 2, the text says they failed to teach the next generation.Ch. 4-Deborah the prophetess helps her insecure commander, Barak (Be Brave-God's in control)Ch. 5-the resourceful Jael bravely uses what she has on hand (a tent peg) to kill the man Barak was afraid of (Serve God with what we have on hand)Ch. 6-Gideon's story shows the patience of God and how He meets people where they areCh. 8 Gideon goes from “the Lord will rule over you” to building an ephod that became a snare to the peopleCh 11- Jepthah's unwise vow that cost his daughter's life (Watch our words closely)Abimelech killed his 70 half-brothers on a stone (the youngest escaped) (he received 70 silver coins-is money ever the answer?)Abeimelech was killed by a millstone a woman dropped out of a tower (Another resourceful woman)Samson – never trust someone (Delilah) who seeks to weaken you (Pick your friends carefully)“In those days there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing.” Judges 17:6 and 21:25 (Ask what does God want me to do instead)Talk about a rollercoaster ride! Please join us & discover how this book can guide, real change always starts from the inside! 

When the story you're living in feels stuck, broken, or chaotic—what if you're telling the wrong story? In Judges 4, God interrupts Israel’s cycle of oppression with a powerful narrative shift led by unexpected heroes. We’ll explore how Deborah, Barak, and Jael reframe their reality—and how your story can be reframed too. Join us as we rediscover the God who goes ahead of us, breaks destructive cycles, and opens the way out.

This week I have three stories for you. The first begins with a man's wish to be someone else — and the unexpected way Heaven answers him. The second follows a meeting between a beggar and a Rebbe that changes both their lives. And the last takes us to the bedside of an aging tzaddik, where a single moment reveals the heart of divine partnership. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/when-heaven-listened-closely To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter