Podcasts about Hanukkah

What if a single, solid piece of gold could teach us about unity? Explore the profound symbolism of the menorah in Parshas Beha'aloscha and discover how its intricate design serves as a metaphor for the unity and diversity within the Jewish people. We'll weave insights from the Midrash, Rashi, and the teachings of the Arizal to show how the menorah represents a harmonious blend of different tribes and customs, all focused towards the central light, symbolizing the Almighty. The episode offers a rich tapestry of tradition and faith, highlighting the importance of uniformity and equality, especially during Hanukkah.Imagine a world where materialism is mastered, not the master. The Talmudic prophecy of Moshiach arriving on a donkey takes on new meaning as we explore its metaphorical significance in today's material-driven society. This episode emphasizes the intrinsic value of every Jew, likening them to gold refined by trials, and underscores the connectedness of the Torah, God, and the Jewish people. We'll reframe traditional blessings as reminders of the unique responsibilities borne by the Jewish people, advocating for inclusivity and compassion over claims of superiority.Can you envision a world where everyone maximizes their unique talents and gifts? Through a moving tale of a sage who pursued his destiny against all odds, this episode highlights the essential responsibility to fulfill one's divine purpose. We'll draw from historical examples in the Talmud and stress the role of parents in nurturing their children's talents, ensuring they flourish in their unique roles. This conversation also extends to the broader societal and religious contexts, where understanding and fulfilling one's responsibilities is key to maintaining harmony and peace. Join us for an inspiring exploration of unity, diversity, and purpose, as represented by the components of the menorah._____________This episode (Ep 7.33) of the Parsha Review Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe on Parshas Beha'aloscha is dedicated in honor of our Holy Soldiers in the Battlefield and our Torah Scholars in the Study Halls who are fighting for the safety of our nation!Download & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 10, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on June 11, 2025_____________DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!_____________SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.tansistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com_____________EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area!_____________#Torah, #Parsha, #Numbers, #Bamidbar, #Menorah, #Unity, #Diversity, #JewishPeople, #Materialism, #Moshiach, #Donkey ★ Support this podcast ★

What if a single, solid piece of gold could teach us about unity? Explore the profound symbolism of the menorah in Parshas Beha'aloscha and discover how its intricate design serves as a metaphor for the unity and diversity within the Jewish people. We'll weave insights from the Midrash, Rashi, and the teachings of the Arizal to show how the menorah represents a harmonious blend of different tribes and customs, all focused towards the central light, symbolizing the Almighty. The episode offers a rich tapestry of tradition and faith, highlighting the importance of uniformity and equality, especially during Hanukkah.Imagine a world where materialism is mastered, not the master. The Talmudic prophecy of Moshiach arriving on a donkey takes on new meaning as we explore its metaphorical significance in today's material-driven society. This episode emphasizes the intrinsic value of every Jew, likening them to gold refined by trials, and underscores the connectedness of the Torah, God, and the Jewish people. We'll reframe traditional blessings as reminders of the unique responsibilities borne by the Jewish people, advocating for inclusivity and compassion over claims of superiority.Can you envision a world where everyone maximizes their unique talents and gifts? Through a moving tale of a sage who pursued his destiny against all odds, this episode highlights the essential responsibility to fulfill one's divine purpose. We'll draw from historical examples in the Talmud and stress the role of parents in nurturing their children's talents, ensuring they flourish in their unique roles. This conversation also extends to the broader societal and religious contexts, where understanding and fulfilling one's responsibilities is key to maintaining harmony and peace. Join us for an inspiring exploration of unity, diversity, and purpose, as represented by the components of the menorah._____________This episode (Ep 7.33) of the Parsha Review Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe on Parshas Beha'aloscha is dedicated in honor of our Holy Soldiers in the Battlefield and our Torah Scholars in the Study Halls who are fighting for the safety of our nation!Download & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 10, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on June 11, 2025_____________DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!_____________SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.tansistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com_____________EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area!_____________#Torah, #Parsha, #Numbers, #Bamidbar, #Menorah, #Unity, #Diversity, #JewishPeople, #Materialism, #Moshiach, #Donkey ★ Support this podcast ★

With E3 a thing of the past, Brad officially dubs early June as "Gamer Hanukkah" (more commonly known as Summer Game Fest) - A week (or more) long celebration of the gaming industry that comes with a boat load of big gaming announcements and reveals! We devote the entire first segment to talking about our expectations and dreams for the event, including the possible reveals for Resident Evil 9, a remake of Final Fantasy Tactics, IO Interactive's new James Bond game (Now titled "First Light"), and more! In the second segment, Brad talks about Pipistrello and the Cursed YoYo - a game that might quell the wait for Mina the Hollower - and Chris Davis brings impressions of two new (and upcoming) indie games: Deliver at all Costs and Hell is Us (demo). Discussion - Summer Game Fest Predictions (1:25) Impressions - Pipistrello and the Cursed YoYo (53:50) Impressions - Deliver at all Costs (1:12:40) Impressions - Hell is Us Demo (1:29:10) 4Player Minute (1:42:40)

If you feel weighed down by guilt or shame, there is hope for you. Barbara Rainey explains the solution found only in Jesus.Barbara Rainey invites us to reflect on the parts of ourselves we've always wished were different, sharing openly about her own lifelong struggle with shyness. Through storytelling—from childhood memories to passages in C.S. Lewis's Narnia—and a deep dive into John 9, Barbara reminds us that God doesn't make mistakes with our design or our past. Even the things we might view as handicaps, she says, can be purposed for God's glory. Join Barbara and host Michelle as they explore what it means to find confidence and healing through Jesus, the Son—who is, indeed, enough for every painful chapter in our story.Timestamps00:00 "Narnia Storytime"06:09 "The Paradox of a Good God"07:17 "God's Sufficiency for Your Past"12:29 "Jesus' Initiative and Compassion"15:45 Born with a Shy Nature18:06 "Embrace Your God-Given Traits"20:07 "Barbara Rainey Podcast Outro"Key Topics1. Introduction: Struggles with Our Insecurities and Personality TraitsBarbara Rainey poses a reflective question about what personal traits listeners wish they didn't have.Michelle introduces Barbara's own struggle with shyness.Establishing a theme of personal dissatisfaction with innate characteristics.2. Assurance of God's Purpose and No Mistakes in CreationBarbara asserts that God doesn't make mistakes in our design or life circumstances.She affirms that, even if we never understand why we're made a certain way, we can trust God's intentions.3. The Search for Satisfaction and God as the Ultimate SourceMichelle discusses universal longings and the tendency to search for fulfillment in things apart from God.Introduction to the idea that God—Father, Son, and Spirit—is sufficient for every need.4. Literary Reflection: Excerpt from The Chronicles of NarniaBarbara reads a passage from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”The children's discovery of Narnia and initial encounter with Mr. Beaver.The children ask about Aslan and learn He is both powerful and not “safe,” but fundamentally good.Drawing parallels between Aslan and God: Good, not always “safe,” mysterious in His ways.5. Wrestling with Wanting a Predictable and Safe GodBarbara shares her own desire for a God she can understand and predict.Insights on learning to accept God's goodness even when His ways are beyond comprehension.Introduction of the theme: “God is enough for our past, present, and future.”6. Focus on God the Son: Jesus is Enough for Our PastPlan to examine three aspects: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; today focusing on the Son.Context-setting for the selected scripture:The significance of the word “believe” in the Book of John.Exploration of belief as a feminine noun in Greek, and its relational implications (e.g., women's faith at the tomb).Scriptural context for John 9:Story takes place midway through Jesus' ministry, during the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah).7. The Story of the Man Born Blind: John 9Jesus notices the blind man, highlighting divine initiative.Consideration of the man's lifelong dependence, potential for isolation, and feelings of hopelessness.Disciples' question about the source of the man's blindness reflects human desire to find blame and maintain control.Jesus' response: blindness is not a result of sin, but an opportunity for the works of God to be displayed.8. Theological Implications: God's Sovereignty and Human StruggleReference to Exodus 4:11: God as creator of all abilities and disabilities.Wrestling with the discomfort that God can allow suffering or hardship for His purposes.God's higher plans may involve temporary or lifelong struggles to display His glory.9. Personal Application: Identifying Our Own “Handicaps”Barbara shares her own story of lifelong shyness and feeling different.Listeners are prompted to identify and reflect on their own “handicaps” or lifelong struggles.Sharing experiences of feeling like a mistake within one's family or community.Encouragement to see personal struggles as purposeful in God's plan.10. Conclusion: Believing God's Good Purposes in Our StoriesReflection on the blind man's faith and response to Jesus.Posing a question to listeners: Will you trust God's purpose and believe, like the man born blind?Michelle's summary: It takes faith to believe that Jesus is enough for our past and that God is wise in all He allows.11. Closing and Next Episode TeaserMention of resources (Barbara's Substack and epic poem “The Wonder of the Word”).Preview of part two: “God the Father is enough for our present.”

382 Images of Ourselves    It's a sad fact of life that we internalize narratives that are made for us at an early age, we are told we are too emotional, that we're too bossy, that we're too big, and if we do not actively try to reframe or unlearn these narratives made for us, we are forced to live out a story someone else made up for us. It is our duty to reach out and take the power back for ourselves, to wield the pen as a mighty sword, and write our own narrative for the sake of our growth and inner peace.  In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Lindsey A. Lee, discuss the importance of becoming the person you want to be, showing up for yourself and those you love, and how vital it is for our growth as human beings to sit with the narratives we have about ourselves and decide for ourselves if these narratives are our own genuine thoughts and beliefs or if they were a planted idea.   Highlights Is the person you became, the person you wanted to be or the person you needed to be to survive? How do you show up for the people who need you? What stories and perceptions from others are you still holding onto?   Quotes “My greatest performance was pretending to be okay.” “There was emotion in my home, it just didn't look like mine. It looked like yelling, fighting, and shutdowns.”   Dear Listeners it is now your turn, The thing that I want to ask you, you remember every time at the end of these conversations I'm asking you to consider something for yourselves. My dear friend Netty Owens asked me one time: What is the object in your image of yourself that you would like to hold on to? And I talked about the Hanukkiah, the Jewish candelabra that we use for Hanukkah. And there's one candle that's separated from the rest, so there are 9 holders, 8 for the 8 nights of Hanukkah, and the one is the leader candle or the Shamash. That candle is the one we light first, we say the first prayer and then we light all the other candles with that candle. And I like to think of myself as a Shamash, someone who knows that by lighting other candles I am in no way diminishing my own light and that when we light other candles we bring more light. And for that brief moment when we connect like Lindsey and I did, for two and a half minutes our flames were together which made that an entwined hyper bright flame, even for that one moment, and it changes the energy and dynamic in a room. Guaranteed. So I am asking you listeners, what is your image of yourself? Just like Lindsey wants to be radiant and exudes that radiance when she owns that language, what will be yours? And, as always, thank you for listening.    Mentioned in This Episode The Four Agreements   About Lindsay Lindsay is a wellness mentor, educator, and founder of Honeydew U—a lifestyle platform helping women embrace authenticity, align with purpose, and heal through spiritual growth. She's also the host of Honey, Do You!, a soulful podcast exploring wellness, spirituality, and womanhood. With a background in education, business, and holistic wellness, Lindsay empowers women to break free from expectations and live with intention. Through mentorship and transformative storytelling, she creates spaces where women feel seen and supported. Be sure to check out Lindsay's Facebook and Instagram! As well as her podcast Honey, Do You!   About Sarah "Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision." In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I've realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don't realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they're sharing them with. My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home. The audiobook, Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available! Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana. Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!  

May 21, 2025Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy JewsEpisode 81 - 3rd Anniversary Special - Dungeons & DreidelsA year has passed since the goblins were driven from the village and the light of Hanukkah was saved by the hero called Hershel… or so everyone thought. Now, on the final night of the town's Hanukkah celebration, the wind howls and dark clouds gather above. Join the village's unlikely heroes—a blacksmith, a tailor, a butcher, and a teacher—as they defend their home, unravel a mysterious return, and stand together to protect the light. Because Hanukkah isn't just about miracles… it's also about rolling initiative.00:00:43 Character Introductions00:01:43 In a tiny village, a few miles outside of Ostropol…00:02:37 Exploring the Festival00:06:15 Yankle's Dreidel Game00:15:44 Eight Festival Knights00:31:46 Uninvited Guests00:55:09 The Return of the Goblin King01:04:00 Hershel's House on the Hill01:20:58 Something Old, Yet Familiar01:34:10 The True Power of the Dark01:42:21 The Final Battle of Light and Dark02:11:45 Hebrew Runes Appear02:24:44 The End of the Eighth NightShare this episode with a friend: https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-81-dungeons-and-dreidels Connect with us online, purchase swag, support us with a donation, and more at www.torahsmash.com.Character Information:Terry Black (played by Ethan Lane-Miller) Gnome Paladin. He is the town blacksmith.Dima Silkthread (played by RDY) Halfling Rogue. He is the town tailor.Lazar Wolf (played by Joel Swedlove) Orc Barbarian. He is the town butcher.Morah Fenwin Gigglesong (played by Sparkle Peters) Elf Bard. She is the village teacher.Dungeon Master (Barak Malkin) Keeper of the chaos, spinner of dreidels and destinies.   Perhaps for this game we say… Dreidel Master.

We've known Rekha for over a decade now, from our days at UCB to the time we saw her at a Hanukkah latke thing here in LA, and she's the nicest and funniest! You know her from lots of stuff including the Between Two Ferns movie, as a writer on Grand Crew, and most recently from Dropout TV, where she has hosted a ton of stuff including her latest Smartypants, whose second season debuted in March. On today's episode, we find out how dating is like writing a comedy sketch, going on dates with Staten Island rude boys, how many AP classes Rekha has taken, feeling like you're behind everyone else romantically, the future Mall Wars and MORE! PLUS, obvi, we answer YOUR advice questions! If you'd like to ask your own advice questions, call 323-524-7839 and leave a VM or just DM us on IG or Twitter!*Donate to displaced black families of the LA fires here* (Yes, still!)ALSO BUY A BRAND NEW CUTE AF "Open Your Hearts, Loosen Your Butts" mug! And:Support the show on Patreon (two extra exclusive episodes a month!) or gift someone a Patreon subscription! Or get yourself a t-shirt or a discounted Quarantine Crew shirt! And why not leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts? Or Spotify? It takes less than a minute! Follow the show on Instagram! Check out CT clips on YouTube!Plus some other stuff! Watch Naomi's Netflix half hour or Mythic Quest! Check out Andy's old casiopop band's lost album or his other podcast Beginnings!Theme song by the great Sammus! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this session, we'll examine some surprising features of Maimonides‘ masterful Laws of Hanukkah, paying especially close attention to its structure and his description of the miracle which stands at the center of the holiday.

In this shiur, we will utilize halachic sources together with a teaching of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter, the Sefas Emes, to explore the unique nature of the obligation to recite full Hallel on Hanukkah.

What happens when an art historian discovers Nazi memorabilia being sold at auction houses without ethical consideration? For Beatrice Levine, it sparked a journey that would transform her career and personal identity.Growing up as a military child in Germany during the 1990s, Beatrice developed a natural curiosity about Holocaust history and her own Jewish heritage. Though her father was ethnically Jewish, her family practiced the cultural aspects rather than religious observance – what Beatrice colorfully describes as "that East Coast big, lox-loving Jewish family" where everyone watched Seinfeld and said "oy" but didn't attend synagogue. This early exposure to German history planted seeds that would later bloom in unexpected ways.After pursuing art history and landing positions at prestigious auction houses, Beatrice witnessed disturbing practices surrounding Nazi artifacts and potentially looted artwork. The auction world's casual approach to selling items like Hermann Göring's weapons and Nazi tableware created what she calls "a queasy feeling" that eventually led her to specialize in provenance research – tracking the ownership history of artworks to identify those stolen during the Holocaust. The resistance she encountered when raising ethical concerns revealed how deeply rooted these problems were in the art world.When academic institutions pushed back against her research focus, Beatrice found her way to specialized Holocaust studies programs, ultimately pursuing a PhD focused on these ethical questions. Perhaps most remarkably, she formally converted to Judaism in 2023, completing her Mikvah ceremony just one month after the October 7 attacks – a decision that speaks volumes about her commitment to this path.Today, Beatrice balances serious academic work with a lighthearted approach to art history on her popular social media accounts. Her "Culture Quota" Instagram follows her mantra of providing "safe spaces" where people can enjoy art and culture as a respite from constant heaviness, while still occasionally addressing serious historical topics.Whether discussing the ethical dilemmas of inherited Nazi artifacts or sharing her favorite Real Housewives moments, Beatrice brings authenticity and depth to every conversation. Her story reminds us that confronting difficult history isn't just an academic exercise – it's deeply personal work that can transform both individual lives and our collective understanding of the past.What artifacts from difficult periods of history do you have questions about? Join the conversation and let us know how you navigate these complex ethical waters.TopDogToursTopDogTours is your walking tour company. Available in New York, Philly, Boston, & Toronto!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Bonus Q&A: Why Christians Stopped Celebrating Biblically-Commanded Holidays Like Passover & Hanukkah If you've enjoyed this content, please subscribe to my channel! Support Theology in the Raw through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw 0:00 INTRO0:32 Why did Christians stop celebrating Biblically commanded holidays? Passover, Sukkot, Shavuot, Hanukkah (Jesus celebrated). Not salvation issue but is it a loss?7:55 Do you think biblical inerrancy should be a central or peripheral doctrine for Christians? 16:13 Are Christians who use Social Media or books to call out fellow Christians violating Matthew 18 about having private conversations first? 20:32 We have friends whose child is trans but say they do not have gender dysphoria. Is this common? I don't remember you ever addressing this in your writing. 22:33 Can you please put the death knell on dispensationalism and rapture theology?! Would you call it a heresy or a deception?! 26:17 Any ideas/strategies for campus ministry staff to engage with non-believing LGBTQ students well? 34:48 I've read that Rahab plays a subversive role in Joshua, though it's not explicit. What safeguards ensure this reading stems from the text, not modern agendas? 39:09 What are your thoughts on Christian missionaries evangelizing a group then insisting the group adapt to their cultural values e.g. modesty/how much they wear 43:55. What are your thoughts on Christian couple traveling alone before marriage? Should they care about perception even if they're not sleeping together? 47:12 Can I be saved if I believe gay marriage is wrong in God's eyes but still choose to marry someone of the same sex? 50:12 Conditional Immortality: I've never heard you point out the duality of Rev 20:10 vs 21:8. Same punishment, very different results. Why not? Seems vital. 52:41 When reading church history, do you sometimes feel discouraged or unsettled (or maybe you feel encouraged)? What helps you read and keep healthy perspective. Join the Theology in the Raw community for as little as $5/month to get access to the full length Q & A episode at patreon.com/theologyintheraw  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Rise Up with Father Jonathan Meyer! Today's Gospel begins with a surprising detail—Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Dedication… Hanukkah! Yes, Jesus celebrated Hanukkah because He was a faithful, practicing Jew. Just as Jesus went on pilgrimage, observed holy days, and prayed throughout the day, we are called to follow His example.   But there's more—you are now the temple! Through your baptism and the renewal of your baptismal promises at Easter, you were consecrated as a dwelling place of God.   Let today be a day to rejoice: You are a temple. Jesus celebrates you. Amen.

Pastor Chris Alford

This week, Yael Steiner and Jonathan Schwab trace the rich story of the menorah, one of Judaism's oldest and most powerful symbols. The menorah has become an all encompassing symbol of Judaism in part because of the commercialization of the Christmas and Hanukkah season in the United States. But it has a complex history that started long before big box stores. From its origin in the Book of Exodus to its central role in the Holy Temple, and from the Roman plunder depicted on the Arch of Titus to its prominent place on the State of Israel's national seal, the menorah has transcended time and geography to become a potent emblem of Jewish resilience, ritual, and identity. Click here for a summary and sources referenced in the episode. Click here to read The Menorah by Theodor Herzl. Click here for images of the menorah. Be in touch. We want to hear from you. Write to us at nerds@unpacked.media. This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a brand of OpenDor Media. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠youtube⁠. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠ ⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠ ⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠ ⁠Wondering Jews

What does sofrito—a base of herbs and spices used in Puerto Rican cooking—have to do with reimagining business, food security, and conveying a history lesson about a rich and sometimes complex culture? For today's guest, it's everything. If you've ever wondered how to weave your culture, creativity, and calling into one powerful movement... then this episode is the recipe you've been looking for. In this episode, you will hear:   Food has a cultural foundation passed through generations. Cultural identity can be preserved and taught through everyday meals. How to make the best sofrito if you don't have time to cook. Food is more than just food – it's heritage, intention, and a story. The story of the Puerto Rican pasteles is shared. Food choices are power moves, shaping local or global economies. Imagination makes it possible to wear multiple hats and still stay rooted in purpose. You don't need permission to do things differently, just the will and a plan. This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact by Melissa Llarena Audible   Audio Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0CY9BZH9W/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0   Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0CK2ZSMLB   Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0D5B64347/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0   Or, download a free chapter at fertileideas.com       About Crystal Diaz   Crystal Díaz has spent nearly two decades at the intersection of food, marketing, and cultural advocacy. She co-founded PRoduce, Puerto Rico's digital marketplace for locally grown food. Crystal is also the force behind El Pretexto, the island's first culinary farm lodge, where food and imagination meet 2,600 feet above sea level. A committed advocate for food security, she collaborates with Espacios Abiertos to advance agricultural policy. Crystal holds two master's degrees, including one in Food Studies from NYU. She's been recognized by Fast Company and El Nuevo Día for her creative leadership and impact in the local food movement. Quotes that can change your perspective:  “If you really want to learn about something and you're obsessed about it, there's always ways to learn, to make it happen.” – Crystal Díaz   “With every single meal that we do, with every single snack, everything that we eat, you are impacting economies. And if you want to support your local communities and you want to see them, everybody having a better life, you might want to spend that dollar closer home and making sure that all of the ingredients that are on that food are closer to home so that money stays closer to home.” – Crystal Díaz   “Sofrito is very personal. You know? It's part of how your family has done it… but also learn that there is a lot of history into it. It's not something that we do because we do it. There is a lot of history to it.” – Crystal Díaz   “We are on a little island. We don't have that much territorial extension, so we can't think about our agriculture as other countries that have large extensions of terrains and flats and stuff like that. We need to think about it differently.” – Crystal Díaz   “Puerto Rican food is full of history, is complex enough, is flavorful enough, and varied… so I can pull something like this [a culinary farm lodge] up in Puerto Rico.” – Crystal Díaz SHARE this episode with fellow food lovers, cultural storytellers, and moms on a mission to raise rooted kids. Crystal's insights on local food, identity, and imagination will inspire anyone looking to nourish their family and community from the inside out. Let's keep our culture alive—one pastel, one sofrito, and one big idea at a time. Supporting Resources:   Website: https://www.elpretextopr.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elpretextopr  Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/@elpretextopr/ Subscribe and Review   Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.    I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. About Fertile Imagination   You can be a great mom without giving up, shrinking, or hiding your dreams. There's flexibility in how you pursue anything – your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The limitations on your dreams are waiting to be shattered. It's time to see and seize what's beyond your gaze. Let's bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids along any path – you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There's only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what's been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It's like kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it's alert!    In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book – featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes – we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination!  Advance Praise    “You'll find reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life in this book!” —MARTHA HENNESSEY, former NH State Senator    “Melissa invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom (and dad too) truly happy to work on…even after the kids are in bed.” —KEN HONDA, best-selling author of Happy Money    “This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours.” —MAUREEN TURNER CAREY, librarian in Austin, TX   TRANSCRIPT   00:00:00 Crystal: Come up with ideas to make it easier for food producers to produce more food because we are in a little island. We don't have that much territorial extension. So we can't think about our agriculture as other countries that have large extensions of terrains and flats and stuff like that. We need to think it differently.  00:00:25 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, your weekly podcast to inspire you to dream bigger. Plan out how you're gonna get to that next level in business, find the energy to keep going, and make sure your creative juices are flowing so that this way you get what you really want rather than having to settle. Get ready to discover founders have reimagined entrepreneurship and motherhood.  00:00:47 Melissa: Ever wonder how they do it? Tune in to find out, and stretch yourself by also learning from diverse entrepreneurs who might not be moms, but who have lessons you can tailor about how you can disrupt industries and step way outside of your comfort zone. I believe every mom's superpower is her imagination. In this podcast, I'm gonna give you the mindset, methods, and tools to unleash yours. Sounds good? Then keep listening.  00:01:17 Melissa: So what does sofrito, which is essentially a base of herbs and spices used in Puerto Rican cooking, have to do with reimagining business, food security, and passing along really critical history lessons. Well, for today's guest, it is everything. And if you've ever wondered how to weave your culture, creativity, and calling into one powerful movement, then this episode is the recipe you've been looking for.  00:01:49 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. This is your weekly podcast designed to inspire you to dream bigger in your business and your life. Also, to help you find the energy to keep going because how are you going to sustain what's necessary to be big and to keep your imagination flowing so that this way you could feel inspired, lit up like a Christmas tree or Hanukkah candles. I'm your host Melissa Llarena. 00:02:17 Melissa: I'm a mom of three high energy boys. No. They did not get their energy from me. Psyched. They did. I'm also a best selling author of Fertile Imagination and an imagination coach for mom founders who are reimagining what success and motherhood can look like on their own terms, and that's really important.  00:02:34 Melissa: Now, if you've ever stirred a pot of sofrito, you already know this. Right? You know that the blend of flavors tells a deeper story. It tells a story that sometimes has made its way across generations. It preserves a culture, and it does nourish more than just our baby's bellies.  00:02:56 Melissa: So today's guest, I am thrilled to invite Crystal Diaz. Now she's taken the same approach in terms of her business ventures. She's a foodpreneur, culture keeper, I love that, and community builder. She wears four hats and in today's episode we're gonna go through each of those hats. One of which is as the owner of El Pretexto, i.e. The Excuse, a culinary farm lodge in the countryside of Puerto Rico where she serves 100% locally sourced meals and lives her mission every day.  00:03:33 Melissa: She has lots of degrees and an MA in food studies from NYU, which is why if you're watching the video, you could see, I hope, my NYU t-shirt. Hit subscribe if you see it and you love it. Subscribe on YouTube. Hit follow on this podcast. 00:03:53 Melissa: A little bit more about Crystal. She was recognized by Fast Company as one of the most creative people in business in 2022 and was named one of El Nuevo Diaz women of the year in 2023. She's the real deal. In this episode, we're gonna explore how Crystal uses her imagination as her main ingredient, whether it's in terms of the way that she's carving away for Puerto Rico to have its own food centric cultural immersive experience or even by how she decided to commute to NYU from San Juan every single week, which was creative in and of itself, or even in terms of the way that she describes the depth of a very famous Puerto Rican dish.  00:04:43 Melissa: Oh, and side note, I actually have her real life best on the planet, sofrito recipe. My gosh, do not run away, For sure. Check out the sofrito recipe we articulated in this conversation. You're gonna walk away with yummy ideas for how to use your own imagination to nourish your business, your family, and community, and it's gonna be so important even if you're not working in food.  00:05:13 Melissa: So before we dig in, I would appreciate if you hit follow, if you're listening to this on iTunes. Why hit follow? Because every time someone hits follow on iTunes, it tells me that I need to bring more guests with stories like this to the podcast. And I get really excited and when a mom is excited, it is a very good day in her entire home. So go ahead, hit follow. You will absolutely get that dopamine hit that everybody needs or if you're watching this on YouTube, then hit subscribe. I would be so appreciative and again, I will do the dance of joy. Okay. So enjoy the conversation.  00:05:54 Melissa: Crystal Diaz, thank you so much for this conversation on the Mom Founder Imagination hub. We are delighted to have you here. Crystal, just to kind of set off the scenery, why don't you explain to us where you are in Puerto Rico? What's outside your windows? 00:06:10 Crystal: All right. Well, let's… our imagination hub in a car. We are in San Juan, and you drove forty five minutes south, up to the mountains. Now we are in Cayey. I am at El Pretexto, which is also my home, and we are overlooking… we're up in the mountains, 2,600 feet over sea level, overlooking the Caribbean Sea at the south, and all the mountains slowly winding down all the way to the coast. 00:06:43 Crystal: And you will have some crazy chickens surrounding you. In my patio while you are probably sipping a wine or a coffee, depending on the time of the day. Enjoying the view and, surrounded by trees, lush greenery all over the place. And there are gardens on your side, also as well. So you are surrounded definitely by nature and you feel at peace. That's where we are.  00:07:15 Melissa: Oh, okay. Cool. So let's bring that sense of peace to this conversation. I am excited because I'm sure any listener right now who is a mom, has a business, might feel a little frazzled now and again. But right now, for the next thirty minutes, this is a peaceful zone. We are in Puerto Rico right now. 00:07:37 Melissa: Okay. So, Crystal, now I'm gonna ask you an obvious question, as you just described what you are surrounded by in Puerto Rico. But you attended NYU, and I'm just kind of super curious. You could have stayed in New York, let's say. Right? You could have been like this chef at a restaurant in New York City, Michelin star, etcetera, etcetera. But you decided to return home. And so I'm just curious, like, what informed that decision?  00:08:13 Crystal: Well, you will be surprised with my answer because I never left home. I commuted every single week to New York. Coming on to the city, take my classes, back to my home. So for two years, I was traveling every week to New York for one day.  00:08:34 Melissa: Oh my gosh. Yeah. That is so surprising. Okay. So now I'm just curious here. Okay. So you were on a plane. So, usually people complain about their commute. Right? 00:08:48 Crystal: Uh-huh.  00:08:49 Melissa: They have this whole return to work aggravation. Here you are getting on a plane every single week to take courses at NYU. So then let me ask you this other question. So I know that it's a little off track, but now I'm just way curious. Why did it have to be NYU? That's quite the pull.  00:09:13 Crystal: Yeah. Well, my background is in marketing, and I have a BA in Marketing with a Minor in Advertising and Public Relations. Then I worked with a newspaper for fourteen years. So my background is all about business and marketing. Then I did a first master degree here in Puerto Rico, in the University of Puerto Rico, about cultural action and management. And then, I wanted – because at this point, I believe that I am not passionate anymore. I am kind of obsessed with food, and I guess we will get into that later. 00:09:58 Crystal: But, I wanted to learn the policy part of it. And in Puerto Rico, we don't have any program in any of the universities nor public or private, specifically about food, and way less food policies and advocacy and that type of perspective on the food system, which is what I wanted to learn. So that's why I ended up in New York. I decided to do this because it's a direct flight. So it's gonna be a three hours and a half flight going in, then the one hour in the A train until Westport. 00:10:49 Crystal: Even though I know it's intense, it was pretty straightforward. You don't have make a stop then take another plane. And I was studying and reading all my plane hours, so there's no excuse to not complete your assignments, I guess.  00:11:07 Melissa: Yeah. I love that. Okay. So, hey, that is 100% using your imagination because I think a lot of us, myself included, I wouldn't have considered that to be an option in my mind. I still don't. Right? It's gotta be a certain set of circumstances that make that a possibility. But, I love that now that's an idea that we just planted in someone's head. Right? If they really are obsessed. Right?  00:11:35 Crystal: And if you really want to learn about something and you're obsessed about it, there's always ways to learn, to make it happen. And to my point, New York is so expensive that I spend way less money in flight tickets than actually living there.  00:11:56 Melissa: Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. Okay. So this is really interesting. Okay. So you could have stayed in New York, but you didn't even choose to stay in New York when you were taking classes at NYU. So now you have the whole, like… that's just so that's fascinating, Crystal. You really gobsmacked me right now with that piece of information.  00:12:18 Melissa: So along the same lines of using your imagination and thinking totally out of the box, let me ask you this one question. So, El Pretexto, of course, we'll go into what it is and all of that. But I also wanna understand because on your website, you say that you've traveled the world. Right? So you've seen all these different culinary experiences. And using your imagination and imagining where or how would you imagine Puerto Rico's cuisine fitting into the landscape of world gastro– I can't say the rest of that word, but I know it's a real word.  00:12:57 Crystal: Yes. Well, for me, I love to travel. I am a girl of no luxuries. Right? I don't care about purses or new shoes or jewelry. It's like I don't judge, but I don't care. So where I spend my money and my time, which I can't… money, you can recover it somehow, but time is just one time. You just have every minute that you have.  00:13:27 Crystal: And I like to spend those traveling and getting to know other cultures and exposing myself to other cultures. And I think that those travels have pushed me to understand and appreciate what we have back here at home and also understand the opportunities that we have back here at home. Not everybody is doing it perfectly, but you can definitely learn how it is done in other places. And I'm talking generally. Right? Depending on what you are interested.  00:14:01 Crystal: But you always learn of how the world do things in other places. So, I in my case, I love food and I try to expose myself, not only to eating in good restaurants or good food, but I love to go to markets. I even go to supermarkets every time I travel. I like to visit farms and I noticed, especially in Mexico, you can see this – Peru is developing this a lot and Italy has it all set. 00:14:40 Melissa: On lockdown.  00:14:41 Crystal: But you have these culinary experiences where you get to… expose to their cuisine, with a local chef and and you go to their farmers' markets and you get the whole country but with a special focus in food. And I was like, “You know what? Puerto Rican food is full of history, is complex enough, is flavorful enough, and varied so I can pull something like this up in Puerto Rico.” So that's how one of our offerings about the curated food experiences came to be because I was sure that somebody will have the curiosity to get to know Puerto Rico from its food.  00:15:33 Crystal: So that's how I got into there. And I think that because I am obsessed with the fact that Puerto Rico imports 90% of everything that we eat, I am then focused on cherish and enhance and share that 10% what it can be if we actually put a lot of effort into grow that 10% into 20%, let's say.  00:16:08 Melissa: That's interesting. So okay. So, I mean, I'm not cynical, but, in my opinion, I kind of believe that the person that controls food source kinda controls a lot. And that's not fantastic. And so I'm just wondering from a policy perspective and as you think about this share of stomach or however it's really considered, are you also part of that conversation too? Like, are you actively advocating for that too?  00:16:45 Crystal: Yes. Yes. I always say I have a couple of hats for all those also thinking that you only have to do one thing and one thing only. If you want to do one thing and one thing only, that's okay. But in my case, I am focused on food, but I try to deal with it from different perspectives. So I have four hats.  00:17:09 Crystal: And one of my hats, specifically works with food policy advocacy. And we try to understand the local food policies that are in place, understanding what programs work, what programs doesn't work, and then trying to make it as… to come up with ideas to make it easier for food producers to produce more food. 00:17:41 Crystal: Because we are in a little island. We don't have that much territorial extension, so we can't think about our agriculture as other countries that have large extensions of terrains and flats and stuff like that. We need to think it differently. And I am not against importation. We all have globalized diets, and we love olive oil, and we can't produce that in Puerto Rico. And we love wine, and we can't produce that in Puerto Rico.  00:18:16 Crystal: So it's not like, all the way 100%. That's not what I mean. But definitely, we should aim to have, let's say, half of our stomach-share full of food that is produced locally. Not only because of its nutritional value, but also because it means economic growth and development for our island and our local communities. So every dollar that you spend on food… somebody might be hearing us while they are eating something.  00:18:55 Crystal: So you imagine whatever you're eating right now, let's say it cost you $1. It depends on where the ingredients came from, that dollar went to that place. It depends on where it was processed, part of that dollar went to that place. And then if you bought it in the supermarket or if you bought it in Amazon, to who you gave that share of that dollar.  00:22 Crystal: So with every single meal that we do, with every single snack, everything that we eat, you are impacting economies. And if you want to support your local communities and you want to see them, everybody having a better life, you might want to spend that dollar closer home and making sure that all of the ingredients that are on that food are closer to home so that money stays closer to home. And that's how I see it. 00:19:58 Crystal: How do we make that that share of that dollar that we as consumers have the power to choose where it goes. And, by the way, there are some parts that we have the power and some part we don't have the power. I understand that. But how do we make an effort in whatever way we can to stay as close as possible to our home.  00:20:24 Melissa: So I think you said that… was that one out of your four hats? 00:20:28 Crystal: Yes.  00:20:29 Melissa: What are the other three?  00:20:30 Crystal: Well, El Pretexto, which is a bed and breakfast, is our Puerto Rico's first and only culinary farm lodge. This is my home, but I also welcome guests here. So El Pretexto is my second one. I'm the co-founder of PRoduct, which is a digital marketplace that connects local food producers with consumers directly. We're trying to shorten that food chain and make it easier and convenient to get local products on your home. We deliver island wide. So that's my third hat. And then I have a super small, digital, marketing agency with another partner, and it's all focused on food and beverage. So everything is about food but from different perspectives.  00:21:25 Melissa: Yeah. That's so interesting because it's almost like you have a little supply chain kind of going on. Right? It's like we've got a lot going on, but it's all related to eating, which is essential. But I think it's smart. I mean, you have your little niche there. Huge niche. We keep being hungry, so you're in a good spot, I would say.  00:21:49 Melissa: So let me understand this idea about food and how you saw it as an opportunity for Puerto Rico because it has a rich history. Right? So me as a mom, for example, I'm second generation from a Puerto Rican perspective. As a mom, for me, passing down culture is urgent. It's almost on the verge of extinction, I feel, because of where I am generationally. Like, I'm, quote, unquote, “amongst people that I know I'm not,” quote, unquote, “supposed to know Spanish.” I'm not, quote, unquote, “supposed to literally make rice and beans every day,” which by the way, I don't have to. But my goodness, my children really like their rice and beans. And I am so lazy. So that is all I make because I just want one pot.  00:22:40 Melissa: But anyway, so culture, food, that's the one way that I pass it along. Right? You are what you eat. So guess what? My kids are Puerto Rican and Cuban, at this stage. Yes. They have Dominican in them, but, hey, that's just my culinary preference. So tell me about this idea of culture, Puerto Rican culture. And I would be super curious if you could maybe choose an example of a cuisine or food and just kind of walk us through how that kind of expresses culture or maybe there's a story behind it that is unique to Puerto Rico.  00:23:20 Crystal: Well, for me and my mentor used to be doctor Cruz Miguel Ortiz Cuadra, which was the only food historian in Puerto Rico. He passed two years ago, but I learned so much from him and pretty much I was his daughter. He inherit me all his library, which I have here, home. And, so we discussed this a lot. And I think that we both shared that the ultimate dish that represents the Puerto Rican culture will be the pasteles. For those that doesn't know what a pastel is, it's a tamal like preparation. But the tamales are corn based and they use corn leaves to wrap it up. The pasteles puertorriqueños is made out of a dough made out of root vegetables mainly. 00:24:20 Crystal: It will have bananas and plantains that we got from our African in [inaudible]. It will have pumpkin, which were already with our Taino peoples here in America. It will have yautia, which also was here in Puerto Rico. And then, it will have some pork stew that was brought by the Spanish people. So you have in one dish our full heritage of the three cultures that have conformed the Puerto Rican-ness in just one dish.  00:25:01 Crystal: And then that works too will use, what is the ultimate base of flavor of the Puerto Rican cuisine, which is the sofrito. And the sofrito itself also is a blend of African, Spanish, and Taino ingredients, but it's a bricolage of flavors and smells that then go into the stew that then is used to make the pastel. And the pastel is also representative of the most authentic Puerto Rican soul because el pastel is wrapped as a gift.  00:25:40 Crystal: And if you were poor and there was a lot of poverty in Puerto Rico at some – we still have, but there used to be a lot of poverty back in the days. If you didn't have any resources, monetary resources to gift things, you will make pasteles with the things that are on your patio. You will have that growing up in your patio, in your garden, and then you will do pasteles, and you will gift that to your adult, kids, to your sisters, to your brothers.  00:26:13 Crystal: And so because it's – now we have technology, and now we can use food processors and so on. But back in the day, you had to grate that by hand. So if you have that gift, I am not only gifting you my talent and the products that I grow in my patio, but I'm also gifting my time. So it's a very meaningful way of telling someone that you really care about them. 00:26:42 Crystal: And that's all about Puerto Ricans. We care. We care a lot. We want to share everything that we have. And all the visitors that we have, they all can say that Puerto Ricans are always nice to them. Even if we have people that doesn't speak so much English, they will take you to whatever place you wanted to go, trying to understand you and enjoying our island. So I think that the pastel is representative of all the goodness of the Puerto Ricans.  00:27:16 Melissa: Let's pause for a second. If you've been nodding your head all along while listening to Crystal talk about food as fuel for imagination, then I wanna put this on your radar. My book, Fertile Imagination is for any mom who's ever thought, “I know I'm capable of more, but I don't know where to start.”  00:27:39 Melissa: And as one Amazon reviewer said this of my book, Fertile Imagination, which is all about maximizing your superpower to make your maximum impact, She says this, “It's a non judgmental kick in the butt to start valuing your whole selves and to create a new reality where we combine motherhood with our big dreams. Whether you're chasing an idea during nap time or whispering your big vision,” this is hilarious, “into a spatula, then this book is your creative permission slip.”  00:28:17 Melissa: You're gonna hear stories, especially if you like this conversation with Crystal. You're gonna hear a story as well from a podcast guest that I had here who is a James Beard award winning chef, Gabriele Corcos. And you're gonna learn about how he has really latched on to this idea of novelty as his way to explore new categories of interest in his one beautiful life. So I want to just be sure that you realize that this conversation is the beginning of the process. I wanted you to see through Crystal how if your imagination was reawakened, you can start to reimagine how you approach your own life. And I think that's important.  00:29:04 Melissa: But then the book, Fertile Imagination, goes on and adds some tools that you can actually use to incorporate your imagination into your one divine life. And here's the thing, because you could use your imagination from any place you are in the world, you won't have to hop on a plane and go to any place. You can actually just close your eyes and replug in to the little girl that you once were who had all these beautiful ideas that you wanted to play out in the world and that's what I want for you. 00:29:41 Melissa: So here's what I have for you. Just go ahead to fertileideas.com. If you're driving, if you're running, if you're walking, you could do this in a bit. Just go to fertileideas.com and you could download a free chapter of my book, Fertile Imagination. What's really amazing about that chapter is that that chapter basically takes you to a place where you can go and travel back in time, to that moment when you were most free, to that moment where you had the world totally ahead of you and you were imagining what you wanted for your one divine life. That's what I did when I got on stage at the Magnet Theater in New York City 100 years ago now, so it feels. 00:30:25 Melissa: But I talk about that moment for me in that chapter that you can get for free right now on fertileideas.com. So back to the show. Again, shop the book. This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination, every mom's superpower. Go to fertileideas.com. Grab the free chapter. Why not? What are you gonna do? Have an amazing time reading a free chapter? That's the way to set yourself up for success for this summer. All right. Enjoy the rest of the conversation.  00:30:55 Melissa: I've never ever heard of un pastel in that way. I'm just like… it's fascinating because I also think it's… maybe it's just me, but I feel like there's a bit of an acquired taste to it too. Like, for me. Right? When I think about a pastel and I compare it to a tamal, I do not think about a Mexican tamal at all. I think about Cuban. I think about– 00:31:26 Crystal: Yeah. Sure. 00:31:28 Melissa: And for me, it's really fascinating to hear the story behind the pastel in the sense that it's very, very comprehensive. You could… I mean, I bet you there's probably books already. Or maybe you're gonna write a book. Maybe you got a fourth – a fifth hat to wear, right? You can write about pasteles. I mean, it's not a bad gig.  00:31:49 Melissa: But I think it's really interesting. And I think it's a testament to the fact that irrespective of where someone travels to the depth with which they can get to know and appreciate a culture is almost unlimited in a way, right? It's… like, for me and my family, I am not a Disney World person. But I've been to Disney World because it's kinda like, “Oh, we just go to Disney World and I have three kids.” And you got a cat. That's a little bit of a cat. She's got a cat. If you're watching this on video, you see her big and fluffy cat. Is your cat Puerto Rican though? 00:32:29 Crystal: She is Puerto Rican. She is a sato cat.  00:32:31 Melissa: Aw.  00:32:32 Crystal: She's a rescue one.  00:32:34 Melissa: So cute. She probably eats pasteles because she's got meat on her. She's a solid cat. But, yeah, just the depth with which you could understand a culture, what I'm hearing from you, Crystal, it can absolutely include history and and careful attention to the food that you're eating. Right? I think about just everywhere that I've traveled and every time I've eaten food, it's kind of like there's almost a story or a reason for why something is on a plate, and it's not always superficial. It's not just labor profile. It could have to do with political conversations. It could have to do with whoever decided that that food would make its way to that region.  00:33:27 Melissa: But let me ask you this question then. So just to kind of close-up this conversation on something that I think is very practical, I'm gonna ask you a very selfish question. Okay, so I'm on the quest for the perfect sofrito. I'm gonna tell you what I do for my sofrito. So it's my ritual on Sundays. I take all the peppers that I find, red, green, yellow, and even orange because it comes in that pack. I also then buy cilantro. I'm in Texas, so let's just be mindful I'm limited in some of the things I can get.  00:34:05 Melissa: Also because I'm a health conscious mom, I put bone broth in the blender so that this way things can blend. Right? I put onions. I put garlic. I put some oregano. That is what's in my sofrito on a good day. Melissa's like, “Okay. I am ready to make a sofrito.” How can I enhance that sofrito, or how do you teach people that visit El Pretexto how to make their own sofrito?  00:34:39 Crystal: Well, sofrito is one thing as the pasteles. Right? Everybody have their own recipe, and everybody says that their mom's sofrito is the best. Right? [inaudible] My mom's sofrito is the best. So that's the one that I do. And I'm happy to share the recipe for you because I have it written.  00:35:03 Crystal: But there are two schools of Sofrito to begin with. The school that says you do your Sofrito on a Sunday and you don't touch it… you don't do another Sofrito batch up until that one is gone in one or two weeks. And then you have my mom's school, which is you do your sofrito every time that you're gonna cook. 00:35:28 Melissa: Gotcha. Right.  00:35:31 Crystal: Obviously, that's nice for those that are retired and have all the time in the world. I do it that way. I'm not retired, but it's because I have a– 00:35:40 Melissa: That's your job. 00:35:41 Crystal: That's how she does it. And I don't want to, to your point, I want to continue her way of doing things. So, there are onions. We don't use all the colors of the bell peppers. We actually use cubanelle pepper. Onion cubanelle, then we will have the aji dulce, the sweet little pepper we need. We will have the cilantro, but we will also have culantro. [inaudible]. Yeah? And then, we will have garlic in it, a little bit of oregano, and pretty much that's the base. 00:36:29 Crystal: So depending on who you ask, there are people that will omit having the onion, and they will do it when they are cooking, if they're doing a batch. And then you will have people that will go all the way in with a lot of culantro in it, so it has that strong flavor to it. My mom's is more balanced in how much goes of each little thing in there. And we also use the bone broth, but not to blend the sofrito, but to stew the rice. If it's gonna be a stew rice, we will do bone broth instead of water with the rice. 00:37:18 Crystal: And then, the beans, we like them vegetarians. We don't use any hams or meat cuts into it. But, again, that's us. There are people that say that the most flavorful ones is with a piece of ham in it and whatever. But, I like… my mom's and mine are vegetarian. And my cat starts again.  00:37:43 Crystal: But, sofrito is is very personal. You know? It's part of how your family has done it. And as I told earlier, it's also a blend of these three cultures that goes into it. A lot of cultures have mirepoix or other type of base of flavors into their food and this is ours. So you have to make it yours but also learn that there is a lot of history into it. It's not something that we do because we do it. There is a lot of history into it. But, yeah, happy to share my mom's one with you. 00:38:29 Melissa: Yeah. For sure. Crystal, this was so amazing. So I would say around now, a lot of individuals are planning their summer holiday trips and vacations and all of that. So, maybe you can share where people can learn more about you, can learn more about El Pretexto if that's an option to them to kind of explore, and just follow your journey. 00:38:53 Crystal: Yeah. Sure. Well, a friendly reminder that it is an adults only project. So this might be your chance to… El Pretexto actually translates to “The Excuse.” So this might be your excuse to having your parents take care of the kids and hop down to the island and have a little bit of a honeymoon. But, El Pretexto, you can find it at elprotextopr.com. We're also in social media @elprotextopr in Facebook and Instagram.  00:39:30 Crystal: There you will meet our chickens and photos of our garden and our harvest and the breakfast, and maybe you get a little bit hungry. In our website, you will find different options because you could come for a weekend or you could come for a weekday stay, but also you could come for these curated food experiences, which are in very specific dates around the year. We also have dinners, farm to table dinners in our property. We invite guest chefs to cook dinners, around the year.  00:40:08 Crystal: And, also, I take people to other places in the countryside to enjoy a beautiful lunch, but getting to know another piece of countryside around the island. So, El Pretexto is no other thing than the celebration of the beautiful diverse countryside of Puerto Rico. And you can check all the information there. So, yeah, feel free to follow me there.  00:40:37 Melissa: Thank you so much, Crystal. This has been amazing. Have an awesome rest of your day. Keep enjoying the peace and serenity of the mountains and the Caribbean Sea and all the beauty that you see outside your window. Thank you so much for this conversation.  00:40:53 Crystal: Thank you. Thank you for the invitation.  00:40:56 Melissa: So what's your version of a sofrito? Right? Let's take it out of the kitchen and into your home office. What sort of things for you can you put together to create your next big idea, whether it's something for business, something for your personal life or something for your family this very summer. I am so excited to have had Crystal Diaz for this conversation because I think she's inspiring all of us. She's giving us a good idea of all the ways that we could color our own individual rainbows.  00:41:33 Melissa: At the same time, I want this to just remind you that your imagination could be stirred into anything, right? Especially like tonight's dinner. So catch up on Tuesdays on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub and until then, keep cooking up ideas that only you can serve. I honestly think there's a place in this world for imaginations. And irrespective of AI and technology, at the end of the day, it's only as good as the person behind the computer screen, our prompts, our ideas, the way that we decide to use these resources.  00:42:10 Melissa: And that is the best case for you to actually keep your imagination going and playing with it. So thank you for this conversation. And again, if you are interested in learning more about the book, just go to fertileideas.com. Have an amazing rest of your day, moms.  

In this lesson, two radio announcers discuss the Jewish "Festival of Lights" in Chinese. Get the abridged history of the holiday along with your essential candle vocabulary. You'll be ready for your first Chinese Hanukkah in no time. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1558

In chapters 10-12, John uses Jewish holidays of Hanukkah, Passover, and the Triumphal Entry to show us Jesus is bigger than we may think.

THE SO-CALLED silent centuries between the Book of Malachi and the Gospel of Matthew weren't as quiet as we've been taught.This month, the Iron and Myth crew discusses a fictionalized account of Judea's struggle for independence in the second century BC from the rule (and gods) of their Greek overlords by Iron and Myth regular and best-selling author Brian Godawa (Godawa.com), Judah Maccabee Part 1: Abomination of Desolation and Judah Maccabee Part 2: Against the Gods of Greece.  Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com) and Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net) join Brian to discuss the historical and theological significance of the centuries between the Old and New Testaments, focusing on the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabees. We analyze the role of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Maccabean revolt, and the implications of these events on Jewish history and theology.  Our conversation also explores the nature of historical fiction and how it can be approached from a truth perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding divine authorities and principalities in the context of these narratives. Brian shares how he balances myth and history in biblical narratives, emphasizing the concept of ‘mytho-history' as a blend of mythological and historical storytelling. He explores the role of fiction in understanding scripture, the importance of cultural context, and how integrating non-biblical stories can enhance biblical narratives.

Cozy up near the flickering menorah to hear how Josh and Blue celebrate Hanukkah with Periwinkle! We'll make latkes, sing Hanukkah songs and play dreidel until we drop! This special episode of Good Night Bedtime Stories is brought to you by Story Time with Josh & Blue. You're just in time; Josh is about to read Blue a story! Listeners will skidoo with Josh and Blue into storybooks where sweet and silly sleepy-time adventures await. In this popular official Blue's Clues & You! podcast, Josh will tell tales of Blue's adventures, sing songs, and help Blue (and You!) wind-down for a snuggly, restful snooze.

THE SO-CALLED silent centuries between the Book of Malachi and the Gospel of Matthew weren't as quiet as we've been taught. This month, the Iron and Myth crew discusses a fictionalized account of Judea's struggle for independence in the second century BC from the rule (and gods) of their Greek overlords by Iron and Myth regular and best-selling author Brian Godawa (Godawa.com), Judah Maccabee Part 1: Abomination of Desolation and Judah Maccabee Part 2: Against the Gods of Greece.  Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com) and Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net) join Brian to discuss the historical and theological significance of the centuries between the Old and New Testaments, focusing on the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabees. We analyze the role of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Maccabean revolt, and the implications of these events on Jewish history and theology.  Our conversation also explores the nature of historical fiction and how it can be approached from a truth perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding divine authorities and principalities in the context of these narratives. Brian shares how he balances myth and history in biblical narratives, emphasizing the concept of ‘mytho-history' as a blend of mythological and historical storytelling. He explores the role of fiction in understanding scripture, the importance of cultural context, and how integrating non-biblical stories can enhance biblical narratives. The Gilberts' new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Derek's new book Destination: Earth, co-authored with Donna Howell and Allie Anderson, is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Follow us! X: @viewfrombunker | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbertTelegram: t.me/gilberthouseSubstack: gilberthouse.substack.comYouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelationFacebook.com/viewfromthebunker Sharon's novels Winds of Evil and The Armageddon Strain are available now in paperback, ebook (Kindle), and audiobook (Audible) formats! Get signed copies of the first two books of The Laodicea Chronicles now at GilbertHouse.org/store! Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! The building has HVAC, a new floor, windows, insulation, ceiling fans, and an upgraded electrical system! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at www.GilbertHouse.org/donate. —— Download our free app! This brings all of our content directly to your smartphone or tablet. Best of all, we'll never get canceled from our own app! Links to the app stores for iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle Fire devices are at www.GilbertHouse.org/app. Please join us each Sunday for the Gilbert House Fellowship, our weekly Bible study podcast. Log on to www.GilbertHouse.org for more details. Check out our weekly video program Unraveling Revelation (unravelingrevelation.tv), and subscribe to the YouTube channel: YouTube.com/UnravelingRevelation. —— Special offers on our books and DVDs: www.gilberthouse.org/store. —— JOIN US AND SPECIAL GUEST CARL TEICHRIB IN ISRAEL! Our next tour of Israel is October 19–30, 2025 with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For the latest information, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel. Discuss these topics at the VFTB Facebook page (facebook.com/viewfromthebunker) and check out the great podcasters at the Fringe Radio Network (Spreaker.com/show/fringe-radio-network)!

THE SO-CALLED silent centuries between the Book of Malachi and the Gospel of Matthew weren't as quiet as we've been taught.This month, the Iron and Myth crew discusses a fictionalized account of Judea's struggle for independence in the second century BC from the rule (and gods) of their Greek overlords by Iron and Myth regular and best-selling author Brian Godawa (Godawa.com), Judah Maccabee Part 1: Abomination of Desolation and Judah Maccabee Part 2: Against the Gods of Greece.  Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com) and Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net) join Brian to discuss the historical and theological significance of the centuries between the Old and New Testaments, focusing on the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabees. We analyze the role of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Maccabean revolt, and the implications of these events on Jewish history and theology.  Our conversation also explores the nature of historical fiction and how it can be approached from a truth perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding divine authorities and principalities in the context of these narratives. Brian shares how he balances myth and history in biblical narratives, emphasizing the concept of 'mytho-history' as a blend of mythological and historical storytelling. He explores the role of fiction in understanding scripture, the importance of cultural context, and how integrating non-biblical stories can enhance biblical narratives.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: “Are we ready to celebrate AND surrender to Jesus?"Scripture: John 12:9-2511:47-48,Psalm 118:19-26,Zechariah 9:9-10,Luke 14:25-33,2 Corinthians 4:16-18Bottom line: We will follow Jesus in celebration AND surrender when we see him clearly.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTIONTitanic compartmentalization.Bottom line: We will follow Jesus is celebration AND surrender when we see him clearly.Outline (Kent Hughes)I. The King Presented (12-19)Context - 3 groups come and intercept Jesus and his followersPilgrims coming to purify themselves before the PassoverLocals and pilgrims who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the deadReligious leaders furious and bent on execution for blasphemy"Hosanna" = Save! (Ps 118)Donkey's colt (Zech 9:9-10)Delayed understanding"The whole world has gone after him."II. The King Pursed (20-22)Greeks = Gentile truth seekers"We would like to see Jesus" --continuous senseIII. The King's Proclamation (12:24-26)Jesus' response to their inquiry but to everyoneTo live you must die--to do this life that you will live in this life and beyondDies "alone" - “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬To die alone is to die but not be buried in the ground. To die and be put into the ground leads to life in this parable.https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.12.24.ESVNo exceptionsDie => Follow => Serve => HonorCrown preceded by the cross/crucifixionFor JesusFor usAdditionalThe Triumphal Entry of Jesus is one of the most well-known events in the Gospels, and it's rich with meaning. It's recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19.Here's the basic scene:It happens at the beginning of what we now call Holy Week, (Sunday) just a few days before Jesus' crucifixion (Friday). Jesus is approaching Jerusalem, and as He nears the city, He sends two of His disciples to find a donkey and her colt, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 — “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.”Riding a donkey (instead of a war horse) was deeply symbolic. It showed that He came not as a conquering military leader but as the humble, peaceful Messiah. As He rides into Jerusalem, crowds gather and spread their cloaks and palm branches on the road. They shout:“Hosanna to the Son of David!”“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”“Hosanna” means “save us,” so they were both praising Him and calling out for deliverance. The crowd was hoping for a political savior to overthrow Roman rule, but Jesus had come to bring a far greater salvation — freedom from sin and death.This moment is full of contrasts:He's welcomed as a king, but within days, He will be rejected and crucified.The crowds are shouting praise, but soon many will shout, “Crucify Him!”It fulfills prophecy and shows Jesus embracing His mission, knowing exactly where it will lead.It's called the “Triumphal Entry,” but the triumph is not in immediate victory — it's in Jesus walking the path of suffering for our salvation. The Triumphal Entry is saturated with Old Testament echoes and themes that quietly (or loudly!) proclaim Jesus as the true King, the Messiah, and the sacrificial Lamb. Let's unpack a few:Zechariah 9:9 — King Comes on a Donkey“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”Jesus intentionally fulfills this prophecy. Kings sometimes rode donkeys in the ancient Near East to symbolize peace. When Solomon was crowned, he rode King David's mule (1 Kings 1:33–35). So Jesus riding a donkey is a royal claim — but a humble, peaceful one. He's not coming as a warlord; He's coming as the Prince of Peace.Psalm 118:25–26 — The Hosanna PsalmThe crowd shouts:“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”This is a direct quote from Psalm 118, a psalm used in pilgrim festivals, especially Passover. “Hosanna” originally meant “save us now!” — it's a plea for salvation and a cry of praise. Psalm 118 also speaks of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, which Jesus applies to Himself later in the week (Matthew 21:42).Palm Branches — Victory and KingshipPalm branches were symbols of victory and kingship, often associated with Jewish nationalism (think of the Maccabean Revolt about 150 years earlier, where palm branches celebrated military victory). The crowd is treating Jesus like a conquering hero, anticipating national deliverance from Rome.(See notes below for more)Transition:"So, when Jesus rides into Jerusalem, He's not just making a political statement — He's weaving together centuries of prophecy, promise, and hope. He is the promised King, the humble servant, the Passover Lamb, the cornerstone, and the very presence of God returning to His people.And of course, all of this sets the stage for the cross. The King enters not to take power by force, but to lay down His life." -ChatGPTConclusion:Bottom line: I can trust God with everything, even when in need, because he provides, he cares, and he is with us.George Mueller, champion of orphans in England when asked, "What has been the secret of your life?" hung his head and said, "There was a day when I died." Then he bent lower and said, "Died to George Müller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of brethren or friends." -Hughes, p. 307-308What about you?Do you celebrate Jesus but not surrender to his rule and reign? The latter undoes the former. Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬InvitationHow do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTES"George Müller (1805–1898) was a Christian evangelist and the founder of the Ashley Down orphanages in Bristol, England. Originally from Prussia (modern-day Germany), Müller lived a rebellious youth but experienced a profound conversion in his early twenties. Moved by compassion and a deep trust in God's provision, he established homes for orphaned children at a time when many were homeless and destitute.What set Müller apart was his radical reliance on prayer. He famously never solicited funds directly but trusted God to provide for the needs of thousands of children under his care. Over his lifetime, Müller cared for over 10,000 orphans, established schools, and distributed vast numbers of Bibles and tracts. His legacy continues as a testimony to God's faithfulness and the power of prayerful dependence.If you want, I can also give you some powerful quotes or stories from his life!Of course — here's a quick bio on George Müller:George Müller (1805–1898) was a Christian evangelist and the founder of the Ashley Down orphanages in Bristol, England. Originally from Prussia (modern-day Germany), Müller lived a rebellious youth but experienced a profound conversion in his early twenties. Moved by compassion and a deep trust in God's provision, he established homes for orphaned children at a time when many were homeless and destitute.What set Müller apart was his radical reliance on prayer. He famously never solicited funds directly but trusted God to provide for the needs of thousands of children under his care. Over his lifetime, Müller cared for over 10,000 orphans, established schools, and distributed vast numbers of Bibles and tracts. His legacy continues as a testimony to God's faithfulness and the power of prayerful dependence." -ChatGPTKey Themes in the PassageJesus' fame is peaking — His miracle with Lazarus draws crowds and stirs belief.Conflict intensifies — The religious leaders feel threatened and plan to destroy both Lazarus and Jesus.Messianic hopes rise — The crowd greets Jesus as King, but their expectations are political and immediate.Fulfillment of prophecy — Jesus knowingly fulfills Scripture, showing He is the promised King, though His kingdom is not what they expect.Misunderstood glory — Even the disciples don't grasp the full meaning until after the resurrection. -ChatGPTGenesis 49:10–11 — The King from JudahJacob's blessing over Judah includes a fascinating image:“The scepter will not depart from Judah… He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch.”The image of the donkey and colt ties Jesus back to this prophecy of a ruler from the tribe of Judah — which Jesus is.Timing: Passover Lamb Selection DayThis one is stunning. Jesus enters Jerusalem on the 10th of Nisan, the day Jewish families selected their Passover lambs (Exodus 12:3). He is, in effect, presenting Himself as the Lamb of God, chosen for sacrifice. John the Baptist had already called Him this in John 1:29 — “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”God's Glory Returning to the Temple (Ezekiel 43:1–5)Ezekiel saw a vision of God's glory returning to the temple from the east. Jesus, the embodiment of God's glory, approaches Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives to the east (Luke 19:37). There's a sense that God is coming back to His house — though, heartbreakingly, many will not recognize Him. -RC SproulFrom RC Sproul“In the intertestamental period, something took place that would define the Jewish people in terms of their national identity for centuries to come. In the second century BC, the temple was desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, leader of the Seleucid Empire. In response, a Jewish man named Mattathias, who was committed to the ancient covenant of Israel, determined to rescue the temple and the nation from the invasion of the Seleucids. Mattathias became the leader of a guerrilla group that fought against the Seleucids. When he died, the leadership of this insurrectionist movement passed to his son Judas, who became known as Judas Maccabaeus, which means “the hammer.” Judas Maccabaeus became a national hero, a Hebrew Robin Hood, who wreaked havoc among the troops of the Seleucids. He put so much pressure on the Seleucids that in 164 BC they released the temple for the Jews to practice their own faith. That event was met with so much celebration that a new feast was instituted called the Feast of Dedication or the Feast of Lights. We know it as Hanukkah, which is celebrated even to this day. Later, Judas' brother Simon Maccabaeus actually drove the Seleucids out of Jerusalem altogether, and when that happened he was acclaimed a national hero and was celebrated with a parade, something like a ticker-tape parade in New York. In that parade, the Jews celebrated his victory with music and with the waving of palm branches. At that point in Jewish history, the palm branch became significant .. as a sign and symbol of a military victory, of a triumph. In fact, that symbolism became so deeply rooted in the Jewish consciousness that when the Jews revolted against the Romans in the decade of the sixties AD, they dared to mint their own coins with the image of a palm branch, because it is their national symbol of victory. When the people waved their palm branches to welcome Jesus, they cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!” (v. 13b) Why did they say this? The word hosanna is derived from a Hebrew word that literally means “save now.” Both this plea and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD” are found in the hallel, a series of psalms that were sung every morning at the Feast of Tabernacles. The series starts with Psalm 113 and goes through Psalm 118. In Psalm 118, we find these words: Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. (vv. 19–26) Every Jewish pilgrim was familiar with the words from the hallel, so when the crowds came out to see Jesus, they naturally used those words. The plea “Save now” near the end of the quoted passage is the English translation of the root word of hosanna. The words “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD” and the additional description shouted by the people, “the King of Israel!” indicate that the people looked to Jesus for salvation, though most likely in a military sense.”John - An Expositional CommentaryR.C. SproulOUTLINESSee above.QUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonThe Light Has Come, Leslie NewbiginThe Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT Google Gemini

The Daily Quiz - Entertainment, Society and Culture Today's Questions: Question 1: Name the movie that matches the following plot summary: 'The son of a city's mastermind falls in love with a working-class prophet.' Question 2: Which of these is a four-sided spinning top, played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah? Question 3: Which French actor has featured in films including Cyrano de Bergerac and La Vie en Rose? Question 4: How does that Latin phrase 'Familia supra omnia' translate into English? Question 5: Which writer created the television series 'The West Wing'? Question 6: Which of these quotes is from the film 'King Kong'? Question 7: What is the title of the film in which the protagonist uses tattoos to keep track of his life? Question 8: Which film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2014? Question 9: Which children's TV character has friends called Muck, Lofty, and Scoop? This podcast is produced by Klassic Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We read in Parashat Pekudeh (40:2) of G-d's command to Moshe that the completed Mishkan should be erected on Rosh Hodesh Nissan, the first day of the month of Nissan. The Midrash tells that in truth, the artisans built the various parts of the Mishkan very quickly, and the Mishkan was ready to be assembled already earlier, on the 25 th of Kislev, a little over two months after the work began. However, Hashem decided to postpone the assembly of the Mishkan until the month of Nissan, due to the unique significance of this month. The Midrash continues that the 25 th of Kislev "protested," as it were, objecting to its having been denied the privilege of being a special day, the day of the Mishkan's inauguration. Hashem assured this day that it will be compensated – and, sure enough, many centuries later, the 25 th of Kislev became the first day of the joyous holiday of Hanukah, celebrating the Jews' miraculous triumph over the Greeks and the rededication of the Bet Ha'mikdash, which the Greeks had defiled. The day of 25 Kislev was at first denied its holiday – but it was later compensated with "interest." Whereas the first of Nissan, commemorating the inauguration of the temporary Mishkan, is not marked by a great deal of fanfare, the 25 th of Kislev became a day of great festivity observed by Jews around the world for millennia. The Midrash's comments bring to mind a different Midrashic account, regarding the fish in the Yam Suf (Sea of Reeds). When Hashem drowned the 600 Egyptian horsemen who had pursued Beneh Yisrael into the sea, the fish were overjoyed, and prepared to indulge in the robust feast that had just been presented to them. But just as they were set to eat, the bodies of the Egyptian horsemen were sent ashore. Beneh Yisrael feared that the soldiers had not drowned, but rather came ashore, and thus still posed a threat. In order to allay the people's concerns, Hashem had the sea expel the remains of the Egyptian warriors onto the shore where they were standing, so they would see them and know that their pursuers were indeed dead, and they were thus no longer in danger. The fish were, naturally, disappointed over the sudden loss of the large amounts of food that they thought they would soon be enjoying. Hashem repaid the fish years later, during the battle waged by Beneh Yisrael in the times of the prophetess Deborah against the army of Sisera. During this war, Hashem drowned the enemy's 900 chariots in the Kishon River. As compensation for having lost the 600 Egyptian horsemen – the fish were given 900 Canaanite soldiers. This is a reason given for the custom that many have to ensure to eat fish on Shabbat. Many people might have serious misgivings about closing their businesses on Shabbat, or about taking off from work, worrying about the loss of income. The fish reminds them that Hashem always repays in full – and with "interest" – for the sacrifices we make for Misvot. Whatever expense or loss we incur for the sake of a Misva is more than worth it – because we are guaranteed to receive much more than we've lost. The Gemara (Besa 15b) teaches that Hashem tells us: "My children! Borrow on My account to make the day [of Shabbat] sacred, and trust Me that I will repay." Hashem guarantees that all the money we spend for Shabbat and holidays is being charged to His account, and He will repay us in full. And, as we have seen, He not only repays the money we spend, but also gives us much more. Performing Misvot is always the greatest investment we can ever make, one which guarantees to bring us the most profitable returns.

In this episode, Rabbi Miriam Berger discusses how the Torah remains a beacon of wisdom for modern times. She recounts the profound story of Jews in a concentration camp who, amidst profound darkness, lit a single Hanukkah candle, a symbol of hope. What lessons can we draw from their unwavering faith during times of severe hardship?Rabbi Berger also sheds light on the Torah's rich traditions, showing how dietary laws are foundational in strengthening community ties and elaborating on Shabbat's crucial role in disconnecting from the relentless pace of digital life. This creates space for reflection and rejuvenation with loved ones.Moreover, Rabbi Berger explores the ethical framework the Torah provides for contemporary social and personal challenges. From the ethical treatment of strangers and the less fortunate to how these ancient precepts can guide our actions today, the discussion spans a broad spectrum of moral guidance.Join us for a conversation that connects historical scripture with urgent issues of the present day, offering a unique perspective on how to lead a purposeful life grounded in compassion and justice.For a transcript of this show, go to https://wellnesscurated.life/echoes-of-the-torah-in-contemporary-life-2/If you liked our episode, you can subscribe to our podcast on any of the major podcasting platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Please leave us a review on Apple iTunes and help others discover this podcast. You can visit wellnesscurated.life and follow us on Twitter @WellnessCurated, On Instagram @wellnesscurated.life,On Facebook @Wellness Curated by Anshu Bahanda,On LinkedIn @Wellness Curated by Anshu Bahanda, And on YouTube @wellnesscuratedbyanshubahanda. for more wellness tips to help you live your best life.

Welcome back to Ryan and Brian's Bible Bistro! In this episode, your hosts Ryan and Brian dig into the rich imagery of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John 10, but with a twist—they take a long, meandering path through the Old Testament to uncover the deeper context. From Genesis to the prophets, the shepherd motif isn't just about care and comfort (think Psalm 23); it's a complex tapestry of God's faithfulness, human failure, and ultimate redemption.Here's what's on the menu this week: Shepherds in the Bible: Ryan and Brian explore how shepherds pop up everywhere in Scripture—literally with Abel, Abraham, and Jacob tending flocks, and figuratively with leaders like Moses, David, and even God Himself (Genesis 49, Numbers 27). Sheep Without a Shepherd: A recurring Old Testament theme (1 Kings 22, Ezekiel 34, Zechariah 10) reveals the chaos of God's people under flawed human rulers—greedy, violent, and scattering the flock. Sound familiar? Jesus picks up this thread in Matthew 9 and John 10. God as the True Shepherd: Passages like Isaiah 40 and Jeremiah 23 show God stepping in where human shepherds fail, promising to gather His scattered sheep Himself. Spoiler: Jesus fulfills this in a big way. John 10 Unpacked: Jesus declares, “I am the Good Shepherd,” contrasting Himself with the “thieves and robbers” (greedy, violent leaders) who came before. Set against the backdrop of Hanukkah—the Feast of Dedication—this claim hits different, challenging even the heroic Maccabean legacy. Practical Bible Study Tips: Learn how to dig into Old Testament backgrounds to enrich your understanding of the New Testament. (Shoutout to Logos Bible Software for making it easier!)Ryan and Brian also share a hilarious real-life shepherd encounter from the Jesus Trail and reflect on how Jesus' voice still calls us today—unlike the noisy distractions of false shepherds. Plus, a nod to 1 Peter 5, where church leaders are urged to shepherd God's flock with care, not greed.Grab a coffee and join us at the Bistro as we connect the dots from ancient pastures to the eternal Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. Resources Mentioned: Check out Kenneth Bailey's books, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes and his work on shepherds, linked at thebiblebistro.com. Visit our website for show notes, past episodes, and book recommendations—your purchases through our links help keep the Bistro brewing!Connect With Us: YouTube: Ryan and Brian's Bible Bistro Facebook: The Bible Bistro Website: thebiblebistro.comIf you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and tune in next Tuesday for more tasty theological bites. Thanks for stopping by the Bistro!

Happy Year 2! In Episode 54, Brennan is joined by David Dines (a.k.a. Hanukah Lewinsky) as they talk about David's journey as a New York City drag queen! Drag has always been such a beautiful, multi-faceted art form, and a staple in the queer community, and it walks hand in hand with theatre performance as a viable career!Support the showHost/ Production/ Editing: Brennan StefanikMusic: Dylan KaufmanGraphic Design: Jordan Vongsithi@batobroadway on Instagram, Threads, and TikTokPatreon.com/batobroadway

In this conversation, Jenny Mire welcomes award winning author Brian Godawa to the show. Brian dives into the story of Judah Maccabee and the Maccabean revolt, exploring the historical context, the significance of the Apocrypha, and the prophecies in the Book of Daniel. Brian discusses how these elements intertwine to provide a deeper understanding of Jewish history and its implications for Christian faith. In this episode, Brian also discusses the historical and theological significance of the Maccabean Revolt, the origins of Hanukkah, and the implications of Daniel's prophecies. The discussion wraps up touching on themes of spiritual warfare and the divine council, emphasizing the interconnectedness of earthly and heavenly realms, and what the church needs to do to step into her authority.You can find Brian at www.godawa.com Click here for Judah Maccabee Part 1

In this conversation, Jenny Mire welcomes award winning author Brian Godawa to the show. Brian dives into the story of Judah Maccabee and the Maccabean revolt, exploring the historical context, the significance of the Apocrypha, and the prophecies in the Book of Daniel. Brian discusses how these elements intertwine to provide a deeper understanding of Jewish history and its implications for Christian faith. In this episode, Brian also discusses the historical and theological significance of the Maccabean Revolt, the origins of Hanukkah, and the implications of Daniel's prophecies. The discussion wraps up touching on themes of spiritual warfare and the divine council, emphasizing the interconnectedness of earthly and heavenly realms, and what the church needs to do to step into her authority.You can find Brian at www.godawa.com Click here for Judah Maccabee Part 1

Watch on Philo! - Philo.tv/DTHLucy wakes up to some bumping around the house. She thinks it's an intruder, so she grabs her handy-dandy hanger. It's not an intruder, though, just her sister Sylvie. She's putting Lucy's Hanukkah lights on the tree because she thinks it would be fun, but Lucy doesn't want that and doesn't want her help! Sylvie clarifies she wasn't hitting on Cole, and it's clear that Cole is into her.The next day, Sylvie is talking to Lucy's daughter, Annie, sharing stories of her adventures. She asks Annie about this boy, Max, that she likes. Sylvie says that sometimes boys just need a little nudge.A health inspector comes to Lucy's bakery and tells her that she has until the end of the year to widen the hallway. She's going to have to call Cole! Bummer.Sylvie finds a secret door. Inside is a joy box full of wild clothes. She tells Annie she should wear some of these wild clothes and a super cool menorah. Apparently, Joy was their mom. She finds a recipe for Joy Bars and runs down to tell Lucy she has to make them to sell at the bakery!Lucy is reluctant, but Sylvie insists these bars will sell! And while we're at it, we need to make this place more festive!When Lucy sees that Annie is wearing Joy's clothes, she's not happy. But after talking to Sylvie and seeing how happy Annie is to be learning more about her Nana, she lets it go.Sylvie and Annie decorate the bakery and even bring in a 70s jukebox.Lucy is feeling inspired and finally asks Cole out on a date, and Sylvie helps her get ready.While out on the date, Lucy opens up about how she and Sylvie haven't been that close since their mom died. It's going great, but she ends up putting on the lip plumper that Sylvie gives her, and she has an allergic reaction.The next day, Lucy walks into her bakery to see that Sylvie used all the bakery's inventory for Joy Bars, which are very different from anything else in the healthy bakery.It's the night of the big festival, and Annie decides to be more like Sylvie and kisses Max on the cheek in a selfie. Max is like, "WTF?" and Annie runs away.Lucy goes to find her, and Sylvie hands out all the Joy Bars for free. Lucy ends up yelling at Sylvie.Sylvie decides it's best if she leaves, even though there's a bad storm. The power goes out, and while she's talking to Annie and lighting the menorah, she realizes she made a mistake and has to go find Sylvie—just as the doors blow open with the wind... aka Joy, the ghost.

Happy February, candleheads! We're back with the hot candle conversation that you know and love. This week, Selena sits down with her friend Sara Polland for a hilarious and lovely chat. Sara talks about the candles of her faith--from the Friday Sabbath to Havdalah to Hanukkah candles and beyond. They discuss what is "goyish," talk about candle-making at summer camp, incense, bathtub rituals, soap, and more! Plus, Sara introduces Selena to Portugese brand Claus Porto. Subscribe, rate, and review, candleheads! (Music: bensound.com) 

I share a powerful experience from a recent cruise during the holiday season, where Hanukkah and Christmas coincided. I reflect on the joy of celebrating Hanukkah with a large community of fellow Jews, highlighting the importance of pride in one's heritage and the connections formed during this time. I emphasize the significance of relationships and community, especially in light of recent challenges faced by the Jewish community. - 00:00 Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas Together 02:48 The Power of Community and Connection 06:07 Spreading Light in a Challenging World - This Episode Brought To You By…  Shop For Everybody  Use code SFE10 for 10% OFF

From Taiwan travels and emergency NYE vet visits, to Hanukkah beginning on Christmas and sick partners, the end of 2024 left Doree and Elise with a lot to catch up on! They also discuss their goals for Forever35 in 2025, what you can look forward to hearing more of this year, and why January is probably the worst time to make resolutions.To leave a voicemail or text for a future episode, reach Doree & Elise at 781-591-0390. You can also email the podcast at forever35podcast@gmail.com.Visit forever35podcast.com for links to everything they mention on the show or visit shopmyshelf.us/forever35.Follow the podcast on Instagram (@Forever35Podcast) and sign up for the newsletter at forever35podcast.com/newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year, weirdos, and we're celebrating the holidays with Holiday tales brought TO you, BY you, For you, FROM you, and ALLLLL about you!Today we have boogens, a Hanukkah haunting, horrible Fourth of July discovery, delivery people getting waaaaay much more than a tip, and messages from Beyond sent via ornament! Don't forget to check out the VIDEO from this episode available on YouTube on 1/2/2025!If you've got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line :)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy New Year from the J Squad! Our holiday gift to you is an episode fresh from the Members Only Mailbag! We are celebrating with our annual JJHo Office Holiday Party and trying some of our members' favorite holiday recipes. What are our favorite holiday traditions? How much candy do you need to decorate gingerbread houses? Is eggnog and orange soda really good? We will tell you!Thanks to our generous audience and followers, Jesse and Theresa's fundraising goal for Al Otro Lado flew past $25,000. They are now hoping to reach $75,000! Visit alotrolado.org/letsdosomething to do something helpful for migrants at the US/Mexico border. And thank you to everyone who has donated so far!We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman. Judge John Hodgman: Road Court is happening NOW! Get your tickets at maximumfun.org/events.

Recorded: December 16th 2024 Super Bowl champion Alshon Jeffery joins Will Compton and Taylor Lewan in Nashville. With special appearance from Titan's legend Delanie Walker who teaches the boys a thing or two about Hanukkah. The Boys discuss Pop Tarts vs Toaster Strudels.. JUCO eligibility rules, the controversial idea of relegating the ACC. Nebraska's bowl win, The MVP race, and Playoff predictions. Alshon Jeffery shares his thoughts on NIL, how basketball almost lured him away from football, and the time he cooked Will in college. Alshon takes us through his journey from South Carolina to the NFL, discussing Lane Kiffin's impact, his time with the Bears, and his transition to the Eagles, where he played a pivotal role in Philly's Super Bowl win. The conversation gets real as he opens up about Carson Wentz vs. Nick Foles, the relationships that shaped him, and the challenges of transitioning out of the game. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Bussin' With the Boys! Leave a "T1" in the comments iykyk and as always. Big hugs, and tiny lil microscopic kisses! 0:00 Intro 2:24 Delanie Is Celebrating Hanukkah 3:53 Bowl Season Is In Full Force 6:20 NFL Draft Order 9:51 Sitting Out For Bowl Games/Cam Ward 12:52 Pop Tarts Or Toaster Strudels? 21:52 JUCO Doesn't Count Towards Eligibility? 28:34 Should The ACC Get Relegated? 30:15 CFB Playoff 31:26 Nebraska Won Their “Big Bowl Game” 36:25 NFL Recap 37:41 AB Cracker Of The Year 39:02 Garrett Came In Last In Our Fantasy League 45:07 Who Wins The MVP? 54:40 Shoutout's OTW 1:04:10 Who Was “Swagoo” When The Boys Played? 1:11:35 ALSHON JEFFERY INTERVIEW STARTS 1:11:52 Thoughts On NIL 1:14:59 Basketball Over Football? 1:19:13 He Almost Went To The Other USC 1:22:18 Alshon Cooked Will In College 1:25:17 The Missing Thing For South Carolina During Alshon's Time 1:26:33 Lane Kiffin comments 1:29:54 Transitioning To The NFL And The Bears 1:32:52 Going To Philly 1:36:45 The Relationships That Shaped Him 1:37:38 Carson Wentz vs Nick Foles 1:39:34 Winning The Super Bowl 1:43:04 Playing Against A Team you Used To Be On 1:43:55 Getting Popped For PEDs 1:45:19 Developing Chemistry With Different QBs 1:49:50 Rookie Hazing 1:51:16 The Philly Fan Base 1:53:38 Best DB He Went Against 1:54:48 Best Attribute As A Player 1:57:10 Taylor's Situation With TJ Watt 2:02:54 How Was It Walking Away From The Game? 2:05:11 Twisted QOTW 2:11:01 Getting Into Podcast Space 2:12:24 Tier talkYou can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/bussinwtb

It's the end of 2024 and a holiday celebration with our friends Joe DeRosa and Rachel Feinstein, with a pop in from Santa and his elves and wrapping it up with Magician Seth Dale.  Thank you for spending 2024 with us and we look forward to what 2025 will bring. Support the show and sign up for a $1 per month trial of Shopify at https://www.shopify.com/drunk Your Holiday wardrobe awaits! Get 20% off @chubbies with the code DRUNK20 at https://www.chubbiesshorts.com/DRUNK20 Subscribe to We Might Be Drunk: https://bit.ly/SubscribeToWMBD WMBD Merch: https://wemightbedrunkpod.com/ WMBD Clips Page: https://bit.ly/WMBDClips Joe DeRosa: Tickets/Tour: https://www.joederosa.com/calendar Rachel Feinstein: Tickets/Tour: https://rachel-feinstein.com/#tourdates Sam Morril: YouTube Channel: @sammorril Instagram: https://instagram.com/sammorril/?hl=en Tickets/Tour: https://punchup.live/sammorril/tickets Mark Normand: YouTube Channel: @marknormand Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marknormand/?hl=en Tickets/Tour: https://punchup.live/marknormand/tickets We Might Be Drunk is produced by Gotham Production Studios https://www.gothamproductionstudios.com/ @GothamProductionStudios Producer Matt Peters: https://www.instagram.com/mrmatthewpeters/?hl=en   #wemightbedrunk #marknormand #sammorril #podcast #drunkpodcast #comedy #comedian #funny #gothampodcast

Hey HBs! We're here recapping THE MATZAH BALL by Jean Meltzer! From the summer camp backstory, to the grown-up pranks, the hijinks abound in this Hanukkah romance! Bonus Content: Mel's friends know how to treat her bum, Sabrina's vendetta against poo-pourri, only ONE of these pals needs to be better about using the mail system, there's a LOT of horny internal monologue for a closed-door romance, and so much more! Remember to send in your READING EMBRACES! Want to support the show? Rate and review us on your favorite podcast app! It super helps the algorithm connect us to new listeners.  Want more of us? Check out our PATREON! This Friday, we're recapping DREAMS OF A DARK WARRIOR by Kresley Cole! Credits: Theme Music: Brittany Pfantz  Art: Author Kate Prior Want to tell us a story, ask about advertising, or anything else? Email: heavingbosomspodcast (at) gmail  Follow our socials:  Instagram @heavingbosoms Tiktok @heaving_bosoms  Facebook group: the Heaving Bosoms Geriatric Friendship Cult The above contains affiliate links, which means that when purchasing through them, the podcast gets a small percentage without costing you a penny more.

In honor of the holiday season we put together some of our favorite moments of celebrating over the years including exploring Kwanza with Tim Dillon and Nick Mullen, learning about Hanukkah with Mo Mandel and Kim Congdon, Christmas Karaoke with Big Jay Oakerson, Shane Gillis and Keren Margolis, debating what counts as a Christmas movie with Shane Torres and Rob Mailloux, the Christmas parade massacre with Chrissie Mayr and Anthony Zenhauser, discussing fake vs real Christmas trees with Aaron Berg and Scott Chaplain, taking a trip to Paris for Christmas with H. Foley, Tommy Pope and Mike Figs, Christmas snacks with Brendan Sagalow and Hannah Roeschlein and so much more!(Air Date: December 25th, 2024)Support our sponsors!YoDelta.com - Use promo code: GaS to get 25% off!*Send your video submissions for the Cuntest or the Look-a-Like Contest to LuisAndZac@gmail.com!To advertise your product or service on GaS Digital podcasts please go to TheADSide.com and click on "Advertisers" for more information!Submit your artwork via postal mail to:GaS Digital Networkc/o Luis And Zac151 1st Ave, #311New York, NY 10003You can sign up at GaSDigital.com with promo code: LAZ for a discount of $1.50 on your subscription and access to every Luis and Zac show ever recorded! On top of that you'll also have the same access to ALL the shows that GaS Digital Network has to offer!Follow the whole show on social media!Tim DillonTwitter: https://twitter.com/timjdillonInstagram: https://instagram.com/timjdillonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TimDillonShowNick MullenInstagram: https://instagram.com/mulldogforeverLive Shows: https://www.mull.dog/live-showsYouTube: https://youtube.com/nickmullenMo MandelTwitter: https://twitter.com/MoMandelInstagram: https://instagram.com/TheRealMoMandelKim CongdonTwitter: https://twitter.com/kimberlycongdonInstagram: https://instagram.com/kimcongdonBig Jay OakersonTwitter: https://twitter.com/bigjayoakersonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigjayoakerson/Website: https://bigjaycomedy.comShane GillisTwitter: https://twitter.com/ShaneMGillisInstagram: https://instagram.com/ShaneMGillisKeren MargolisTwitter: https://twitter.com/kerenmargolisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerenmargolisShane TorresTwitter: https://twitter.com/shanetorresInstagram: https://instagram.com/ShaneTorresWebsite: ShaneIsAComedian.comRob MaillouxTwitter: https://twitter.com/RobLovesArguingInstagram: https://instagram.com/RobLovesArguingChrissie MayrTwitter: https://twitter.com/chrissiemayrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissiemayrpod/Anthony ZenhauserTwitter: https://twitter.com/thezencomicInstagram: https://instagram.com/thezencomicAaron BergTwitter: https://twitter.com/aaronbergcomedyInstagram: https://instagram.com/aaronbergcomedyScott ChaplainTwitter: https://twitter.com/scott_chaplainInstagram: https://instagram.com/scott_chaplainH. FoleyTwitter: https://twitter.com/hfoleycomedyInstagram: https://instagram.com/hfoleycomedyTommy PopeTwitter: https://twitter.com/tommyjpopeInstagram: https://twitter.com/tommyjpopeMike FigsTwitter: https://twitter.com/ComicMikeFigsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comicmikefigsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@figgythekidBrendan SagalowTwitter: https://twitter.com/brendansagalowInstagram: https://instagram.com/brendansagalowComedy Special: https://youtube.com/brendansagalowTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/sags2richesHannah RoeschleinTwitter: https://twitter.com/handerpumprulesInstagram: https://instagram.com/handerpumprulesLuis J. GomezTwitter: https://twitter.com/luisjgomezInstagram: https://instagram.com/gomezcomedyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LuisJGomezComedyTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/prrattlesnakeWebsite: https://www.luisofskanks.comZac AmicoTwitter: https://twitter.com/ZASpookShowInstagram: https://instagram.com/zacisnotfunnySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy Hanukkah-Eve! We're celebrating the best way we know how — by re-releasing Jackie's 2018 drunk Hanukkah episode. Jackie dunks on the Victoria's Secret Fashion show, tells you why small talk is dead, and plots to take down her annoying neighbor with laxative muffins. L'Chaim! Thanks for supporting my sponsors! Nutrafol: For a limited time, get $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping at www.Nutrafol.com with promo code BIBLE Honeylove: Save up to 20% off sitewide at www.Honeylove.com/Bible Happy Mammoth: For a limited time, get 15% off on your entire first order at www.happymammoth.com by using the code JACKIE at checkout GDefy Shoes: Go to www.GDEFY.com and use code BIBLE for 50% off your entire order Squarespace: Go to www.squarespace.com/BIBLE to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code BIBLE

Savage discusses various topics including media misrepresentation of Christians, the influence of Christian values on society, the decline of Western civilization, and the importance of holding onto faith in Jesus. He criticizes the media for mocking Christian values. Savage also blames Hollywood and the news business for poisoning the world and disregarding the sanctity of life. He highlights the significance of the Magna Carta and monotheistic religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Then, Savage discusses Hanukkah and the meaning it holds for all people. He shares the ideal of the eternal flame within all of us. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from Michael and The Savage Team!

House Republicans on Thursday failed to pass their backup plan to fund the government temporarily. The bill's demise left lawmakers with few options to avert a looming shutdown Friday, after President-elect Donald Trump and his ‘first buddy' Elon Musk used their respective social media platforms earlier this week to blow up a bipartisan deal. Politico politics reporter Mia McCarthy, explains the prospects of a government shutdown just a few days before Christmas and the start of Hanukkah.Later in the show, Melissa' Murray, co-host of Crooked's ‘Strict Scrutiny,' recaps an eventful year at the Supreme Court. And in headlines: Secretary of State Antony Blinken expresses optimism about an Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Amazon delivery drivers go on strike, and Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual press conference.Show Notes:Check out Mia's reporting – politico.com/staff/mia-mccarthySubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday 

Watch on Philo! - Philo.tv/DTH VisitGreenvilleSC.com/Things-To-Do/Winter/Tory is still single, much to her Bubby's chagrin. Tory explains she's just too busy right now, trying to make partner. Speaking of which, she rushes out of Bubby's breakfast to make it to work. She's swamped and ends up falling asleep at her desk. But all this work may be for naught. The company is going to experience some layoffs due to a merger, and it doesn't take long for her to get the boot.Cut to Rocky's bar. We meet Sam and his grandson, Jay. Jay is here on a mission—convince Sam to move closer to his family. When the regulars at the bar find out, they're very mad. Sam is an institution! But Sam also recently fell, though he insists he's fine.Tory talks to her parents but can't quite bear to tell them she was fired. She goes to visit her sister, and apparently it's been a while because her nephew doesn't even recognize her.The next day, both Tory and Jay end up at the store to pick up some Hanukkah candles. There's only one pack left, and they argue a bit. Ultimately, Jay ends up with them.As she leaves the store, Tory sees Jay walking into Rocky's. She follows him in, and walks out with a bartending job. Sam is pumped because he likes talking to her and calls her the granddaughter he never had.Sam loves Rocky's. It was a special spot for him and his late wife, and he insists on celebrating the first night of Hanukkah inside Rocky's.Jay and Tory end up spending more time together and start enjoying each other's company.Rocky's begins to become the go-to spot for Hanukkah, and the pair is thriving. Everything is going great, except for when Tory's parents surprise her by showing up in the city.It's clear the sparks are flying between Jay and Tory, but he's only here for two weeks. Jay starts to realize that this place, and this community Sam has built, is pretty wonderful.Turns out, Sam owns the bar and the entire building—but no one knows. He wants to leave it all to Jay and wants Tory to help make that happen legally.The word finally gets out that Tory was fired, and her mom cries. It's the first time I've been on the side of someone lying.Then, word gets out that Sam owns the building when someone comes in to make an offer on it. Jay gets mad that Tory kept this from him, so Sam pulls them both aside, sets the record straight, and tells Jay to get over it.Sam tells Tory he wants to move here, and we get a TRIPLE almost kiss moment. They head downstairs to celebrate another night and share a big kiss after lighting the menorah.

In this special December holiday hour, stories about celebration, differing traditions, and family. A mother and son do their best to keep the gifting spirit alive, a daughter tries to fulfill her mother's wish for a Trinidadian feast, and a man waits and waits for the perfect moment to kiss a date. Those and more stories in this episode. Hosted by The Moth's Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.Storytellers:Peter Aguero and his mother exchange holiday gifts made of paper.Tracey Segarra sends a Hanukkah card that her mother-in-law takes issue with.Steve Glickman attempts to escape a snowy Chicagoan Christmas for Puerto Vallarta.Dawn Fraser is tasked to find the perfect ingredients for a Trinidadian Christmas.Evan Lunt takes his grandmother's menorah to college as a keepsake of her.Bernie Somers counts down to a first kiss on New Year's Eve with a romantic interest.

Act 2: The Jew Who Saved Christmas So, remember how Bernie accidentally roofied Santa? Yeah, things have escalated. Turns out, when you drug the guy who single-handedly runs Christmas, the universe hands you the reins of a magical sleigh and screams, “Good luck, schmuck!” Act 2 is Bernie's full-blown trial by (latke) fire as she fumbles her way through saving the holiday while Santa cycles between being zonked out and, uh, aggressively unhinged. With a sleigh that feels like it's held together by Hanukkah prayers and duct tape, Bernie somehow manages to deliver presents across the Midwest. We're talking rooftops, chimneys, and more near-death experiences than a Spirit Airlines landing. Along the way, she's got to wrangle her stoned passenger (Santa with candy cane nunchucks, anyone?), give some real talk to a tiny sad orphan about divorce (because therapy was booked), and dodge TSA agent Gimble, who's basically The Terminator if he hated joy instead of Sarah Connor. And let's talk about the chaos: reindeer meltdowns. An almost crash landing. Bernie's sudden realization that “wait, this sleigh doesn't have seatbelts??” This act is a disaster in the BEST way—like if Seth Rogen got to rewrite The Polar Express. And just when Bernie starts thinking, “Hey, maybe I'm good at this?”—the universe is like, “LOL, nah.” Cue Santa going full Maccabee berserker mode. And the cast? They're killing it: Jeff Bergman, Selyna Warren, Jim O'Heir, Marissa Read, John Milhiser, Kiel Kennedy, Tiffany Black, Carla Delaney, Ashley Bell, and David Jacks make this ride more fun than watching your drunk uncle try to carve the turkey. Everyone's bringing their A-game, delivering laughs sharper than Bernie's wit and just enough heart to keep you invested in this glorious dumpster fire of a Christmas tale. ✨Act 2 of The Jew Who Saved Christmas is snarky, chaotic, and unexpectedly sweet. It's everything you'd want in a holiday comedy—plus a little weed, some questionable decisions, and a lot of screaming. Who knew saving Christmas could be this messy—or this much fun?

Happy Hanukkah, Morons! Today we're lighting the candles with none other than the the wildly talented writer, comedian, podcast host, and the most religious person Gabby Windey knows, Robby Hoffman! From Robby's time working at McDonald's and scamming straight men at the club to Jewish guilt and other holiday traditions, this episode HAS IT ALL. Plus, we finally uncover the truth about fluoride and what it really means to cherry-pick in life- Hashem made cherries for a reason, after all! Come for the laughs, stay for the insight, and maybe leave questioning everything. What, are ya nuts?! Love ya! Leave us a voicemail here!Sponsors:Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/goodguys.Get your free LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/GOODGUYSVisit metrovac.com today and use code GOODGUYS at checkout to receive 10% off any machine purchase.Right now, Prolon is offering Good Guys listeners 15% off their 5-day nutrition program. Go to ProlonLife.com/goodguysStart earning points on rent you're already paying by going to joinbilt.com/GOODGUYSPlease note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Your favorite chef influencer "Chef Bae" Brooke Baevsky chats with Heather about Heather's kitchen foibles, when your parents MAKE you cook for the holidays, getting your "conch" pierced, Heather Dubrow's 9th Day of Hanukkah, LA RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS, EATING EMU FOR THE HOLIDAYS, the most expensive thing Brooke has ever bought from Erewhon, and Heather shares a story about LISA VANDERPUMP! Original Airdate: 12/14/2023 Check out our holiday deals!! Dagsmejan: Upgrade your sleepwear! Visit https://tinyurl.com/bdernssw and use code HEATHER for an exclusive 15% off! G-Defy: Need comfy shoes? Head to GDEFY.com and use code HEATHER for 50% off your entire order! Progressive: Quote today at Progressive.com to try the Name Your Price® tool for yourself, and join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive.

Act 1: The Jew Who Saved Christmas Welcome to the holiday chaos you never knew you needed. Meet Bernie Gold—Spirit Airlines check-in clerk, reluctant adult, and connoisseur of bad decisions. It's Christmas Eve (or, as Bernie will remind you, the seventh night of Hanukkah), and while the rest of O'Hare Airport is brimming with holiday cheer, Bernie's slouching her way through TSA complaints, confiscated wine bottles, and unsolicited career advice from her aggressively optimistic co-worker, Eve. Bernie's life is a snow globe of dysfunction, and someone just shook it—hard. Enter a mysterious piece of "Miracle Gelt" that takes this night from mildly chaotic to “holy crap, is that actually Santa Claus in my parents' garage?” Let's just say Santa's not exactly in prime sleigh-piloting condition, and Bernie might've had something to do with it. What follows is a whirlwind of edible-fueled mishaps, family judgment, and a holiday disaster that's teetering on the edge of redemption. And the Cast? This lineup will make you laugh so hard you'll spill your eggnog: Jeff Bergman (@jeffbergmanofficial) – The voice legend who brings magic to every moment. Selyna Warren (@selynadoubleya) – Writer, star, and the kind of comedic genius that keeps you hooked. Jim O'Heir (@therealjimoheir) – The guy who stole your heart in Parks and Rec steals the show again. Marissa Read (@marissalread) – A double-duty powerhouse delivering laughs and heart. John Milhiser (@johnmilhiser) – Former SNL dynamo bringing the absurdity to life. Kiel Kennedy (@kielkennedy) – The gold standard of comedy chaos. Tiffany Black (@tiffanyblackness) – Pure holiday hilarity in human form. Carla Delaney (@voicesbycarla) – The kind of voice work that makes you laugh even when you don't want to. Ashley Bell (@ashleymichaelbell) – A scene-stealer who brings charm and mischief in equal measure. David Jacks – An actor who makes every moment count. ✨This isn't your cookie-cutter holiday story. It's raw, messy, ridiculously funny, and filled with just the right amount of holiday heart. Elevator Pitch: In Act 1 of The Jew Who Saved Christmas, you'll laugh, cringe, and maybe even tear up a little as Bernie Gold stumbles her way through a Hanukkah-Christmas mashup of biblical proportions. With sharp dialogue, hilariously flawed characters, and just enough holiday magic to keep you guessing, this is the start of a holiday tale that's anything but traditional—and we wouldn't have it any other way.