Podcasts about shabbat shalom

Hashem's Name is not mentioned even once in the Megillah, yet He is involved in every last detail of it. Hashem, who has the past, present, and future revealed before Him at all times, orchestrates events long before they are needed so that His plan can ultimately come to fruition. The fact that the palace of Achashverosh was relocated to a small city called Shushan Habirah was itself a tremendous hidden miracle. That is where Mordechai lived, and that is where the salvation of the Jewish people was destined to unfold. The Vilna Gaon writes that the fact that Vashti decided to make her own party — seemingly for no reason — was only because Hashem was setting the stage for her to be summoned and ultimately removed from her position as queen. Hashem was arranging events years in advance, preparing the path for the moment when salvation would be needed. Haman suggested that Achashverosh grant himself the authority to act independently in any matter that concerned him personally, without consulting his advisors. Haman's intention was clear. He planned to later tell Achashverosh that the Jewish people were not following the king's directives. That would be seen as a personal affront to the king, giving him full power to decree annihilation upon them. But this, too, was the Yad Hashem. For later, when Esther would reveal that Haman sought to harm her, Achashverosh would now possess full independent authority to decree death upon Haman without consulting anyone else. The very mechanism Haman built for destruction became the instrument of his own downfall. The Megillah teaches us how to connect events in our own lives and recognize the Yad Hashem within them. When we step back, it becomes obvious how intimately Hashem is involved in each and every one of our lives. Someone recently sent me a story that was told by Sruli Shain on Stories to Inspire. He heard it firsthand from Shuli Rosenblum, who works at Bagel Hole in Brooklyn. One Friday afternoon, Shuli Rosenblum decided to bring home some leftover chocolate chip muffins from the bagel store for his family. On his way home, he stopped by his parents' house to visit his father, who had injured his leg and was resting with it elevated. He wished his parents Shabbat Shalom and left the muffins there so they could give them to the grandchildren if they came to visit. Mr. Rosenblum had his leg elevated on a special motorized footrest attached to his recliner, controlled by a lever on the side of the chair. Early Shabbat morning, at around 5:00 a.m., he woke up and began learning Chumash while sitting in that chair. He dozed off. His sefer slipped from his hands and struck the lever on the side of the chair, causing the entire chair to reposition forward. Not only could he no longer elevate his leg, he could not sit in the chair properly at all. Since he needed his leg elevated to recover, he went outside to see if anyone was walking by who could help him. He saw a man and tried to explain what had happened. The man responded, "Don't worry. I'm a Shabbos goy. I know exactly what to do." He came inside and fixed the chair. Before the man left, Mr. Rosenblum wanted to give him something in appreciation. He offered him one of the kosher chocolate chip muffins that his son had brought over the day before. The man suddenly turned pale. "I can't believe this," he said. "G-d really watches over His people." He explained that he works as a caretaker. Every Saturday morning, he visits an elderly Jew in his nineties, Mr. Fried. He helps him get ready for shul, gives him something to eat, and then accompanies him there. Usually, Mr. Fried's wife buys him a muffin for breakfast. But that Friday, she arrived at the bakery too late, and they were already closed. The caretaker assumed they would not know the difference and bought a chocolate chip muffin from a non-kosher grocery store. He was on his way to give it to Mr. Fried when he was unexpectedly stopped at 5:30 in the morning and offered a kosher chocolate chip muffin instead. Both men stood there in awe at how perfectly timed their encounter had been. After Shabbat, Mr. Rosenblum called the Fried family to tell them what had happened. They were even more moved. They explained that their father would often tell them that during the Holocaust, there were times he did not eat for days because he refused to eat anything non-kosher. Now, decades later, Hashem protected him once again, ensuring that his lifelong commitment to kashrut remained intact, even though he had no idea what was unfolding behind the scenes. Hashem is involved in every moment of every person's life.

On today's supernatural Friday Podcast, we start a 2-part testimony of a pastor who died and went beyond the veil to both hell and heaven.  This testimony is one of the most powerful encounters many have heard, so listen and receive.  

Click here for full SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT If you've ever read books to a baby or toddler, you're familiar with board books, those small sturdy books with stiff cardboard pages that can withstand drool and rough handling. But just because these books are designed for babies doesn't mean they are baby-ish. Suzy Ultman's deceptively simple storytelling in board book format has brought about a historic moment. For the first time ever, a board book has won a Sydney Taylor Book Award. Among the four Jewish board books Suzy has created so far, the one that got her the gold was Shabbat Shalom, Let's Rest and Reset. Her signature bright, quirky, cheerful art, paired with reassuring, calming text, invites us to stop all the doing and just be. If you need to give a baby gift, I highly recommend one or all of Suzy's Jewish board books... but you might actually want to get copies for yourself because they are like tiny mantras about Jewish concepts and Jewish pride. SHOW NOTES: Suzy Ultman's website and Instagram Buy Shabbat Shalom, I Like Your Chutzpah, It's a Mitzvah, and How Do You Jew? Creative Bug online classes from Suzy Ultman Heidi's tikkun olam suggestion: use Democracy.io to email your reps CREDITS: Produced by Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band Newsletter: bookoflifepodcast.substack.com Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate Your feedback is welcome! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

Complete Jewish Bible page: 88Exodus 25:1-27:19page: 1500Hebrews 8:1-9:5

The pasuk says in this week's Parashat Terumah, וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם Hashem commanded the Jewish people to make a Mishkan so that He could rest His Presence among them. Obviously, the Presence of Hashem cannot be contained in a physical building. Perhaps one of the lessons we can learn from here is that if we make a place for Hashem to come into our lives, He will reveal His Presence to us in ways that can transcend nature. How do we make that place? By believing in His control and His abilities. The Be'er HaParasha related a story that recently took place, heard directly from the man involved. A man whom we'll call Yehuda had just merited his first baby after four years of marriage. Last year on Chol HaMoed Pesach he was learning the sefer Netivot Shalom, and there he read that if a person has proper emunah — namely, that nothing is hard for Hashem and He can always help no matter what the issue is — then he can merit his own personal Keriat Yam Suf. The sefer advised having those thoughts and feelings especially on the seventh day of Pesach, when Keriat Yam Suf occurred. Yehuda came home that day very excited to put into practice what he had just learned. He was going to work on believing that Hashem can do anything, including giving him and his wife a baby. He also invited his sister to stay with them for Shevi'i shel Pesach, as she had been struggling with shidduchim for almost seven years. He wanted her to also have this emunah so she could have her very own Keriat Yam Suf as well. They read stories about emunah and statements of Chazal about Hashem, and they truly took to heart that Hashem could help them in an instant. They felt so strong in their emunah that they could already feel the joy of salvation. Now, less than a year later, on the Sunday of Parashat Beshalach, this sister celebrated her wedding. And on Tuesday of Parashat Beshalach, Yehuda and his wife celebrated the birth of their very first baby. True belief in Hashem's salvation can do wonders. A woman told me she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was instructed to schedule surgery immediately to have it removed. The doctors sounded very negative and instilled a great deal of fear in her. She is a woman who learns emunah daily and refused to let the diagnosis overtake her. She focused on emunah, on Hashem, and on praying, and two weeks later the surgery was done. They told her they believed they removed everything, but she would need months of chemotherapy going forward. She asked them to please take a biopsy before starting any chemo. They told her it was ninety-nine percent certain cancer and she would definitely need treatment. She answered, "I am going to be from the one percent. Please check it." She then went and strengthened her emunah even more, reviewing articles she had saved about how doctors' prognoses are meaningless when it comes to Hashem. She even sent them to her family to strengthen them as well. At the next appointment she asked again if they had taken the biopsy. Once again they told her it was ninety-nine percent a problem, but they had done the test and were waiting for results. Once again she said, "Ninety-nine percent means there is one percent that it is fine, and I believe Hashem can put me in that one percent." The next day, Erev Shabbat, she received a call from one of the doctors who told her, "Your prayers must have been answered. Everything is fine. You don't need any chemotherapy." She felt the greatest feeling — the feeling of Hashem's salvation, the feeling that her emunah was rewarded. She was overwhelmed with gratitude. The more we want Hashem in our lives, the more He reveals Himself to us. Shabbat Shalom.

Join us today on our supernatural Podcast, as we share an amazing testimony of a young lady who was barren and addicted to drugs....then God.  Listen and receive an impartation today.  

B"H This is your daily reminder that Hashem loves you. Not in theory. Not in some distant theological way. With an eternal love. Ahavat Olam. A love that we say twice a day because we forget. It's not meant to stay in the siddur. It's meant to land in your heart. To be felt. To be lived. And when we access that love, especially on Shabbat, when the noise quiets and the distractions fall away, we're meant to pass it forward. Shabbat is the gift that lets us feel that love more clearly and bring it into our homes, our words, our relationships. Hashem loves you. Infinitely. Forever. Shabbat Shalom. #Judaism #Shabbat #God #Emunah #Love To watch Torah Thoughts in video format, click HERE Subscribe to the Torah Thoughts BLOG for exclusive written content! Please like, share and subscribe wherever you find this!

Have you ever been corrected by G-d? Do you have trouble taking in good things? Join Rabbi Kevin Solomon of Congregation Beth Hallel as he imparts a plea for us to stay open to G-d's correction, but also His forgiveness, because it is powerful enough to overcome anything we are weighed down with. G-d gives us these things freely because He loves us so deeply, so we must receive Him and utilize His blessings. Shabbat Shalom!Judges 6.12-15; 1 Samuel 15.9; 1 Samuel 15.22-23; Genesis 4.3-7; Proverbs 3.11-12; Deuteronomy 1.21; Deuteronomy 1.26; Genesis 45.4-5; Genesis 45.8; Genesis 50.15-21; Galatians 5.4-6Prayer Requests or send an email to info@bethhallel.orgCBH WebsiteDonateYouTube Channel

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

The pasuk says in this week's parashah Mishpatim, regarding one who injures another, וְרַפֹּא יְרַפֵּא — verapoh yerapeh. Chazal learn from those words that a doctor was given permission to heal. The Gemara explains that one might have thought that since illness comes from Hashem, perhaps people do not have the right to intervene. The Torah therefore explicitly grants permission. The Torah uses a double expression — verapoh yerapeh. One explanation is that although the visible healer may be the doctor, we know that the true healer is HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Hashem commands us to go to doctors because He wants the world to function through teva, through natural means. Therefore, we must take medications, we must follow treatment instructions, and we must do our hishtadlut. At the same time, we must know the entire time that healing will only come if Hashem decrees that it should. There have been times when the greatest specialists gave a grim prognosis and suddenly everything turned around and the patient recovered. There have been times when treatment options appeared limited, yet the body responded far beyond expectations. There have been times when two people received the exact same diagnosis, went to the same doctor, followed the same treatments, and yet their outcomes were completely different. Why? Because Hashem decided that this one would be healed and that one would not. Believing that Hashem is the One who brings the healing is a tremendous zechut which can hasten the process. It is not easy to maintain that clarity when we are sitting in doctors' offices, filling prescriptions, and pursuing every possible avenue to get better. And that is precisely why the zechut of seeing through all of it is so great. We have seen so many times when we thought healing would come through one channel, and in the end it came from somewhere completely different. That is a reminder that it is not the avenue that brings the healing — it is only Hashem. Rabbi Rosen from A-Time shared a story that began in 2017. Their organization had developed an innovative medical machine for couples struggling with infertility who had already exhausted every option. When the rabbi shared the news of the discovery, many childless couples felt renewed hope, especially a man named Binyamin and his wife, who had already been waiting for ten long years. After so many disappointments, this finally seemed promising. As they waited for final approval to use the machine, obstacles began to mount. There were restrictions, safety concerns, and endless regulatory requirements. Before anything could proceed, laboratory testing had to verify that the laser and special dye were safe. Then the hospital stalled. Months turned into years. With every delay, the window of opportunity for Binyamin and his wife was narrowing. In the end, they were forced to confront the painful reality that this path was no longer viable. A-Time then attempted to pursue a similar approach in Israel, where regulations were somewhat more flexible and innovation could move faster. They acquired another machine and began testing there. Hope was renewed. Then COVID struck, and everything came to a halt. When the world gradually reopened, they resumed where they had left off. They sent samples to one of the most advanced genetic teams in the world. The results that came back were devastating. The project would not succeed. Binyamin and his wife felt their hope drain away once more. It seemed that nothing else could be done, that the road had ended. Yet with Hashem running the world, there is always hope. Out of nowhere, a group of infertility specialists discovered a new technique utilizing modern technology. The Borei Refu'ot revealed yet another pathway for healing. Baruch Hashem, after nineteen long years of waiting, just a few months ago, Binyamin and his wife were blessed with their own baby. Hashem is the only Healer. We must place our bitachon in Him. With Hashem's help, He will open our eyes to see the cures He has already created for every illness in the world. Shabbat Shalom.

On today's supernatural Friday Podcast, we share a story of a former muslim who found Jesus in his journey.  Let this testimony give you all hope for those you are believing to come to salvation.  

Parashat Mishpatim [Exodus 21:1-24:18] is largely taken up by the Covenant Code. One way to look at the Covenant Code is to see it as the details for which the Ten Commandments, read last week, are, so to speak, the chapter headings. The end of the parashah is narrative, entitled by Sarna in his JPS Commentary on Exodus as “The Renewal of the Divine Promises” and “The Ratification of the Covenant”. It is perhaps fair to say that our conversation meanders between these two foci of law and narrative. Give a listen and let us know what you think. Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

Living Emunah 2891 The Power of a Simple Word of Praise When Yitro heard about how Hashem saved the Jewish people from Mitzrayim, he immediately exclaimed, "Baruch Hashem asher hitzil etchem." Baruch Hashem for saving you. As the pasuk says: וַיֹּאמֶר יִתְרוֹ בָּרוּךְ ה' אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד מִצְרַיִם וּמִיַּד פַּרְעֹה The Gemara says that the Jewish people were held accountable for not saying "Baruch Hashem" before Yitro did. Although they did sing the Az Yashir, the Be'er Yosef explains that they did not praise Hashem specifically for saving them from the dangers of Egypt and Pharaoh. Furthermore, they sang as a group with ruach hakodesh, whereas Yitro said his praise on his own. We have no idea how valuable it is when an individual says even one word of praise to Hashem. The Chachmei Kabbalah, who understand what takes place in the upper worlds, teach us that praising Hashem creates a massive impact in Shamayim. When Hashem is praised here, all the angels gather and praise Him above, and the honor of Hashem becomes glorified in both the upper and lower worlds. In Birkat Hamazon we say, "Ve'al hakol Hashem Elokeinu anachnu modim lach u'mevarchim et shemecha," and the Chesed La'alafim explains these words based on how the Alshich explains the pasuk: כִּי טוֹב חַסְדְּךָ מֵחַיִּים שְׂפָתַי יְשַׁבְּחוּנֶךָּ (תהלים ס״ג:ד)׳ There is a kindness that Hashem does for us that is greater than life itself. What is that kindness? That Hashem gives us the zechut to say His praises. The angels in Heaven wish they could say even one word of praise to Hashem in this world. In Shamayim, Hashem is revealed, and it is obvious that He should be praised. But in this world, Hashem is hidden, and we do not understand His ways. If someone in this world can say one word of praise, it is the greatest zechut. Those who have passed on and now see the glory of Hashem and the value of praising Him wish they could return to this world for just one moment to say one word of praise. This is the meaning of what we say in Birkat Hamazon "Ve'al hakol Hashem Elokeinu anachnu modim lach.... Above all, we thank You, Hashem, for the mitzvah of Birkat Hamazon that You gave us, which consists of praises and thanks for the food we ate, as the Torah commands: וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ Through this, Hashem shows us His great love for us. He knows how valuable mitzvot are in this world, and He gives them to us so that He can reward us for all eternity for performing them. A person can give praise to Hashem at any moment, in any language, and in any way he wants. When people are enjoying blessing and goodness, their praises are extremely valuable. But even more so is when a person is going through difficulties or struggles and nevertheless rises up and praises Hashem despite what he is experiencing. Those praises are infinitely greater. Every time we say the words "Baruch Hashem," we are praising Hashem. The Zohar says that the Jewish people could not receive the Torah until Yitro said those words, "Baruch Hashem." How fortunate we are that we can say them at any time. Even if we do not understand the true value of praising Hashem, we should make use of the opportunity to do so as much as we can. Shabbat Shalom

On today's supernatural Friday podcast, we share 7 modern-day miracles that the Lord did as He did in days past for the people of Israel.  Listen today and realize He can do the same for you.  

Parashat B'shallach [Exodus 13:17-17:16] is the 4th parashah in the Book of Exodus. It features the dramatic crossing of the Sea of Reeds [14:1-31] with the companion poem [15:1-19], and a number of misfortunes: the lack of water, the lack of food, another lack of water [the Exodus story of Moses & The Rock, reprised in Numbers 20:1-13], and the attack of Amalek, which will reverberate through biblical history and beyond. It is a partiuclarly rich parashah in a book that is known to have several. We hope our conversation lives up to the parashah! We take note of the return of the body of Ran Gvili to Israel for a well-deserved dignified burial. This is the first time since 2014 that there are no Israeli hostages in Gaza. It is a time of complex emotional responses, but surely thanksgiving is one of them. We continue to keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Yitro [Exodus 18:1-20:23] features the organization of the judiciary, prompted by Yitro's suggestion to Moshe on how he could reduce the burden on him, and the revelation at Mt. Sinai, where depending on one's belief system, Moshe received the Torah, the Ten Commandments, or something else. It is hard not to get caught up in chapter 19, which is the description of the revelation itself, preceding the Ten Commandments in chapter 20. What is the purpose of revelation? why on a mountain? how do the various characters -- God, Moshe, the Israelites -- come off? Shabbat Shalom!

B"H There are two deep emotions that show up again and again in the story of Yitro, and they speak directly to anyone drawn toward Judaism. First is shema — not just hearing, but listening deeply, internalizing, and responding. Feeling a quiet but persistent call from Hashem. Second is love of Am Yisrael. Yitro didn't just hear God — he saw God's hand in Jewish history and wanted to belong to this people. Conversion isn't only about mitzvot or belief. It's about hearing the call, loving the people, and choosing to join a story that Hashem is clearly guiding. You were at Sinai then. You are part of us now. Shabbat Shalom. #Torah #Judaism #Conversion #JewishConversion #JewishConverts To watch Torah Thoughts in video format, click HERE Subscribe to the Torah Thoughts BLOG for exclusive written content! Please like, share and subscribe wherever you find this!

Why is your calling important? What unique purposes can the Jewish people fulfill by returning to the Jewish Messiah? Join Dr. Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries, as he provides an analysis on Romans 11 and the olive tree that connects us all while providing a glimpse into the future of the Messianic Jewish movement. We can be encouraged knowing that we have unique yet intertwined callings that pour into the ultimate plans G-d has for His people and the whole world. Shabbat Shalom!Romans 11.16–24; Ephesians 2.8-9; Luke 21.24; Matthew 23.37; Romans 11.11Prayer Requests or send an email to info@bethhallel.orgCBH WebsiteDonateYouTube Channel

audio only Shabbat Shalom Complete Jewish Bible January 31,2026page 71Exodus 13:17-17:16page 273Judges 4:4-5:31page 1408Romans :6:1-23

A young man told me how deeply he had been hurt by a close family member, and how difficult it was for him to move on. He wished he could forgive and let it go, but it felt almost impossible. I told him that perhaps Hashem was giving him an opportunity to do something extremely difficult, and through that, to access an abundance of blessing waiting for him in Shamayim. We then opened the אור החיים in this week's parashah, Beshalach, on the pasuk " מה תצעק אלי ". There, he quotes from the זוהר הקדוש that when the Jewish people were trapped at the edge of the ים סוף , there was a מידת הדין upon them. They were considered unworthy of salvation because they too had been involved in idolatry like the Egyptians. The זוהר explains that to access the mercy needed to overcome מידת הדין , a person requires great merits. Since Hashem wanted the Jewish people to be saved, He gave them an opportunity to perform a heroic act. They were commanded by משה to march into the sea and rely on Hashem to split it. They would be entering the water until it reached their nostrils, placing their lives at risk. The great emunah and bitachon they demonstrated enabled them to overcome the דין and merit salvation. Similarly, the זוהר writes in parashat Vayera on the pasuk describing the destruction of Sedom, that " וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹקים אֶת אַבְרָהָם וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת לוֹט ". The זוהר explains that when Hashem has a special love for a person, He sends him a "present." What is this present? A poor and needy individual who requires help. If מידת הדין would come upon that person, the act of chesed he performs can provide the merit needed to overcome it. When Hashem was bringing דין upon Sedom, He first gave Avraham a present in the form of the three angels who appeared as ordinary guests. Through Avraham's extraordinary hospitality, Lot would later be saved. This is the meaning of "Hashem remembered Avraham"—He remembered the chesed Avraham did for his guests. The mefarshim point out that in both cases—the Jewish people at the ים סוף and Avraham Avinu—the opportunities Hashem gave were extremely difficult. Avraham was on the third day after his brit milah, in intense pain at age ninety-nine, on the hottest day, yet he ran to serve his guests like royalty. The Jewish people were asked to walk into a raging sea, relying purely on Hashem. These were not simple acts; they required going far beyond normal limits. Yet they were gifts from Hashem that brought salvation. A man once told a rabbi about a relative who had to care for a sick patient around the clock, and how overwhelming it had become. The rabbi immediately shared these words of the זוהר and said that apparently Hashem has a special love for this relative, and is giving him a great gift through this opportunity. When a person is given a very difficult task, it is often a sign of Hashem's great love, granting him a chance to earn enormous merit. Shabbat Shalom.

During this week, as we observe the Holocaust Remembrance, we found some amazing testimonies of how gentiles help rescue Jewish holocaust victims.  Listen and be encouraged to pray for the salvation of all Israel.  

B"H People are always curious how Jews “control the wealth” or “run the world.” So here's the inside version. Judaism actually has a very simple framework for making a living, and it comes from the story of the manna in the desert. First, we don't believe it's really in our control. A living comes from Hashem, and asking Him for it is real and necessary. Second, we work. Six days a week. You still have to go out and gather. And third, the part people miss, we stop. Shabbat. We rest and trust that the world doesn't fall apart when we pause. Trust, work, rest. That's the whole “secret.” Shabbat Shalom. #Wealth #Money #Torah #Judaism #Shabbat To watch Torah Thoughts in video format, click HERE Subscribe to the Torah Thoughts BLOG for exclusive written content! Please like, share and subscribe wherever you find this!

24 January, 2026

24 January, 2026

Complete Jewish Bible page: 70Exodus 10:1-13:16page: 619Jeremiah 46:13-28page: 1257Matthew 26:17-27:66

In this week's parashah, Bo, we learn about the final three makkot. Chazal tell us that a large number of Jews passed away during the makkah of Choshech. Rav Shlomo Kluger writes that the people who died in Choshech were those who did not have enough emunah to follow Hashem into the desert. They wanted the others to first go and conquer the land, and only then would they be willing to follow later. The Rav adds that all of those neshamot were destined to come back into the world in the final generation before Mashiach, and their job would be to overcome very difficult tests in the area of emunah. If they succeed, they will make their tikkun and live on for all eternity. One of the most difficult parts of emunah is when a person is harmed by another individual. The natural reaction is to think that the other person used his free will to do wrong and that it was not from Hashem, chas v'shalom. The Sefer HaChinuch, in the mitzvah of lo tikom v'lo titor, as well as other sources, teach us that even though the person who caused the harm did use his free will and is fully accountable for his actions, it was only able to happen because it was the will of Hashem for the person to be affected that way. Nothing can ever happen to a person through a baal bechirah unless Hashem wants it to happen to him first, and always for his best. The Yitev Lev writes that one of the lessons we learn from Yetziat Mitzrayim is that when a person causes harm to another, the one who received the harm must take to heart that it was Hashem who was giving life to the one who harmed him, and that person was only His messenger. The Maggid of Mezritch writes that when a person is causing harm to another and the one who is being harmed fully believes that it is only coming from Hashem and that it is for his absolute best, that belief nullifies all the judgments against him. The Passu says כִּי הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶיךָ ה', כִּי הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶיךָ יֹאבֵדוּ. The Yitev Lev explains that when a person knows that his enemies are being sent by Hashem כִּי הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶיךָ-- ה, then הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶיךָ יֹאבֵדוּ, those enemies will stop bothering him. All of the stress and heartache caused by other people is simply Hashem giving a person what he needs in order to fulfill his mission in this world. When a person fully believes that it is really Hashem and not the one who appears to be doing it, that itself can accomplish the tikkun that he needs. It is extremely hard to take the person out of the picture and honestly feel that he is not responsible for the harm. When Yosef HaTzaddik revealed himself to his brothers, he said to them, "I am Yosef, your brother, whom you sold to Egypt." The Or HaChaim HaKadosh explains that Yosef was telling them that even while they were selling him, he still felt close to them like a brother. How could Yosef possibly have felt that way? Because when Shimon and Levi were lowering him into the pit with snakes and scorpions, all he saw was Hashem in control. As he later said, "It was not you who sent me here, but only Hashem." With the proper outlook, we too can live our lives with this emunah, seeing only Hashem in everything that happens. Rabbi Menashe Reizman said to imagine how the newspaper articles would read if the Chafetz Chaim were writing them. Of course, HaKadosh Baruch Hu would be in every headline. It would say: Hashem made it that this person was attacked. Hashem made it that this person was arrested. Hashem made it that this person won the lottery. We hope that we are living in the generation of Mashiach, and if our tikkun is to pass the test of emunah, we must take this message to heart and understand that people cannot harm us or give us anything. Everything happens only by the word of Hashem, and it is always for our best. Shabbat Shalom.

On today's supernatural podcast, we share an interview about the move of God among young people that is hidden.  In this episode, we share how and why this move is happening and how we can be a part of this move of God.  

B"H This video is permission. Permission to be ambitious, goal-oriented, and to work hard in every area of life for six days. And it's also permission to stop. Shabbos is the weekly practice of believing that, right now, everything is whole and complete. Nothing more to fix, nothing more to achieve. We pause, we rest, and we let ourselves be exactly where we are. That pause is what gives us the strength to keep going. Shabbat Shalom. #Shabbos #Judaism #Torah #Peace #Wholeness To watch Torah Thoughts in video format, click HERE Subscribe to the Torah Thoughts BLOG for exclusive written content! Please like, share and subscribe wherever you find this!

Parashat Bo [Exodus 10:1-13:16], which includes the final 3 plagues, also has one of my favorite chapters in the entire Torah. Chapter 12 is read twice a year for those who complete the Torah reading annually, for the first 20 verses are read on Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, the shabbat coinciding with Rosh Hodesh Nisan or just before it, and the final 31 verses are read on the 1st day of Passover. The chapter includes a description of Pesah mitzrayim, the Passover celebrated by our ancestors in Egypt, and Pesah le-dorot, the Passover celebrated in subsequent generations to commemorate that 1st Passover. And there is much else! We continue to keep in our hearts Ran Gvili, the remaining hostage yet to be returned to Israel for a proper, dignifiied burial. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va'era [Exodus 6:2-9:35] is the second parashah in the Book of Exodus, and a lot happens. Moses returns to Egypt and takes the mantle of leadership, appearing before Pharaoh with his brother, Aaron, his mouthpiece. In one place, God tells Moses, who is concerned about his public speaking deficiencies, that he will be like God, and Aaron his prophet. Very quickly, the text moves through the first 7 plagues, preparing for the denoument next week, with the last three plagues and the Exodus, the actual leaving of Egypt. There is so much to say about this parashah, but we focused on the roles of Moses and Aaron. We were missing Jeremy again this week, who is sitting shivah for his father, Michael Kaplan z”l, who died last Friday and was buried on Sunday. Our condolences to Jeremy and his family. We continue to keep in mind Ran Gvili, who remains the single hostage whose body has not been returned for its much deserved proper and dignified burial. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. Shabbat Shalom.

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

In this week's parasha, Va'era , we read about seven of the makot which Hashem brought upon the Mitzrim . The Ramban says one of the lessons we are supposed to learn from the makot is that in the same way it was obvious that Hashem was behind those open miracles, it's also supposed to be obvious that Hashem is controlling the world through nature as well. If a person's roof is leaking, it is Hashem who caused it to happen. If a person's car got dented, it was Hashem who made it happen. If a person made money through a business deal, it was Hashem who made the deal for him. And whenever a person receives any type of help from another individual, it was Hashem who brought it about. Each time a person experiences any situation in life and he attributes what happens to the workings of Hashem, that is included in the mitzvah of אנכי ה' אלוקיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים. A woman told, she was going through a lot of hardships. When Chanukah came, she managed to put them out of her mind and was looking forward to spending one of the evenings at her parents' house who were hosting a Chanukah party. That night when her son came home from school, he was very upset about his basketball practice. He made everyone in the house miserable because of it and, in the end, things got so bad, they didn't end up going to her parents' party. This made matters much worse. The next day, she did not want to talk to anyone, especially her son. That evening, her husband reminded her they had a Bar Mitzvah to attend. She wasn't feeling well, she was in a terrible mood and did not want to go, but she forced herself to go because it was the Bar Mitzvah of a close friend of theirs. She sat at a table there feeling sorry for herself, not wanting to talk to anyone. But then, a friend came over to say hello and that friend began talking to her about how difficult it has been raising her children. And then she mentioned, her eldest son, who was a senior in high school, just spent the whole night crying because his basketball team lost the game and it has been a strain on the house. This woman couldn't believe the hashgacha that was taking place. Here, she felt her son's attitude which ruined the previous night was so silly and now a friend, who she hadn't spoken to in a very long time, comes over to tell her the same thing happened in her house. This gave the woman so much chizuk . She felt Hashem talking to her and was able to move on happily, despite all the problems she was having. Her belief that it was Hashem who orchestrated that, and sent that friend to talk to her, is a mitzvah in its own right. So in addition to all of the other benefits that she received from that meeting, she also got a spiritual elevation by fulfilling a mitzvah. A relative of mine told me that for whatever reason, she hadn't made chulent in the past three months. This past Shabbat, she prepared it and, as usual, was planning to plug in the crock pot right before she lit the candles, but it completely slipped her mind. Her housekeeper had polished the tray that her candles are set upon this past week and therefore the tray was a little out of place so she moved the tray back into place and, all of a sudden, a small folded yellow piece of paper came out from underneath and fell right into her hands. She opened the paper and it had just one word on it. " Chulent ." She had written that note three months before to remind herself not to forget to plug in the crock pot. And on this day, it "accidentally" fell into her hands. She was so excited seeing how Hashem reminded her to plug in her crock pot. Although one could look at this and say, "Yeah, that just happened to be," she is fulfilling a mitzvah by believing it was all done by hashgacha peratit . The more we accustom ourselves to seeing the yad Hashem in everything that happens, the more we will be fulfilling the main purposes of Hashem's performances of the makot in Mitzrayim . Shabbat Shalom.

On our supernatural Friday podcast, we share a testimony of a young lady who was a devout muslim, but God!!!! Enjoy this one.  

Join us for another powerful Sabbath Lounge interview as we sit down with Andrew LeClair from Outside the Camp. Andrew shares his heart for living set-apart, proclaiming truth boldly, and taking the message of Messiah outside the camp—beyond tradition, comfort, and compromise. In this conversation, we discuss faith in action, obedience, and creative ways Andrew is spreading The gospel and challenging believers to examine what they truly follow. This interview is encouraging, thought-provoking, and rooted in Scripture. Connect with Andrew & Outside the Camp Support Andrew on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OutsideTheCamp   https://www.facebook.com/andrew.leclair.otc/   https://www.youtube.com/@UCf08kMe2BSEMWV3Dj-PNpPw    Check out Andrew's Gospel Tracts on Etsy (20 Bacon Pack): https://www.etsy.com/listing/1809251821/20-bacon-pack-gospel-tracts   About Sabbath Lounge Sabbath Lounge is a growing Whole Bible community bringing conversations, interviews, and teachings centered on Torah, Messiah, and living faithfully in today's world. Our goal is not to argue or divide—but to unite believers, sharpen one another, and walk out the Scriptures together. Explore more interviews and teachings on the Sabbath Lounge YouTube channel Visit and connect with us through Sabbath Lounge platforms and social spaces Be part of the growing community as we prepare for what's ahead Support the Channel! If this interview blesses you: Like the video Subscribe to Sabbath Lounge Share this interview with your fellowship, friends, and family Comment below with your thoughts or questions Your support helps spread these conversations to believers all over the world. Shabbat Shalom and thank you for being part of the Sabbath Lounge family. https://linktr.ee/Sabbathlounge.  

The pasuk says in this week's parashat Shemot, וַתֵּתַצַּב אֲחֹתוֹ מֵרָחֹק לְדֵעָה מַה־יֵּעָשֶׂה -לוֹ Simply, this refers to Miriam, Moshe's older sister, who was standing by watching what would happen to him when he was put into the Nile River. Rabbi Menashe Reizman quoted the Midrash which explains that this pasuk is referring to the Shechinah, standing there watching from afar. The Midrash proves from other pesukim how every word in that pasuk is a reference to the Shechinah. The Maharsha, Masechet Sotah, explains the Midrash is teaching us that although Moshe being thrown into the river seemed like an act of destruction, the ways of Hashem are very far from us. Miriam had a prophecy that the savior was going to be born, and this looked like a nullification of that prophecy. However, this was actually the way in which the prophecy became fulfilled. It was through this that Moshe was raised safely in the palace by the daughter of Pharoah. It also teaches us that although this took place when the harshest slavery began, it appeared that Hashem was so distant, but He was right there standing with them. During their darkest time, Hashem was making the greatest miracles—causing the daughter of Pharoah to go down to the Nile at the exact time Moshe was placed there, and then making the miracle of her arm stretching out to reach him. Rabbi Reizman pointed out that the Torah only devotes six pesukim to discussing all of the slavery in Mitzrayim. Right after that, begins the story of the redemption—how Moshe was born and how he became the go'el. Even the pesukim that speak about the throwing of the babies into the Nile mention Miryam and Yocheved, the mother and sister of the go'el. Perhaps one explanation of this is that we are not meant to dwell too much on the difficulties that we are given. It is hard for us to comprehend how pain and suffering could possibly be good for us, and therefore it is incumbent upon us not to analyze the details too deeply, but rather to trust in Hashem. When Hashem called to Moshe from the burning bush, the pasuk says that Moshe was afraid to look. Hashem appeared to Moshe in a thorn bush, symbolizing עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה -He was with us during that hard time. Moshe did not see all the harsh slave labor because he was in Midyan. The Mefarshim explain that here Hashem began showing Moshe the suffering that the Jewish people were going through, but Moshe was afraid to look because he did not want to lower his level of emunah and potentially have questions on the way Hashem was dealing with them. One of the harshest decrees was that Pharoah was killing 150 babies every morning and another 150 every evening, bathing in their blood because he had tzara'at. When Moshe heard about this, along with the fact that Jewish babies were being built into the walls as bricks, he asked Hashem what they did to deserve this. Hashem told Moshe that all of those babies were from previous generations and were receiving their tikkun. It was all chesed, meant to purify them. Hashem told Moshe that if he really wanted, he could save one—and Moshe did. That one baby-Micha- brought about the worst destruction. He was the one who took the Shem Hashem that Moshe used to bring Yosef's aron out of the sea, threw it into the fire when the Jews were waiting for Moshe to come down from Har Sinai, and caused the Egel(golden calf) to emerge alive. Until today, we are still suffering from the effects of the Egel. He later made an idol when they entered Eretz Yisrael, causing countless tragedies to befall the Jewish people. He was also known as Nevat, the father of Yeravam, who caused the exile of the Ten Tribes. That destruction came from just one of those babies. The Lev Aryeh writes that all those who perished in Mitzrayim were neshamot from earlier generations that returned for a tikkun—the generations of the Mabul, Dor HaPelagah, and the people of Sedom. The Mishnah says in Pirkei Avot, אַל תִּסְתַּכֵּל בַּקַּנְקָן אֶלָּא בְּמַה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ (Avot 4:20) The Lev Aryeh explains homiletically that this also refers to the tragedies in Mitzrayim. The word קן has the numerical value of 150. Do not look at what happened to the 150 babies in the morning and the 150 babies in the evening; rather, look at who those people really were—resha'im who needed a tikkun. Hashem is always standing near us, but He appears to be afar because His ways are so far beyond our understanding. Everything He does is chesed. We do not have the ability to comprehend His ways in this world, but we do have the ability to trust in Him. We should not dwell excessively on the difficulties; rather, we should believe that everything is chesed done out of love. And if we have that emunah, then we will be considered people who are truly loyal. Shabbat Shalom

On today's podcast, we share a testimony of an actress who hit rock bottom in her life only to see the Lord redeem it.  Listen in and believe in miracles.  

Parashat Sh'mot [Exodus 1:1-6:1] is the first parashah of Sefer Sh'mot [the Book of Exodus]. The book opens up with a quick summary of the end of Genesis, detailing that Jacob and his sons came to Egypt. Very quickly these b'nai Yisrael, the children and grandchildren of Israel, the patriarch Jacob, become b'nai yisrael, the people Israel. In just a few verses, a family three-generation family of 70 becomes a nation of perhaps 2 million and more, and troubles ensue. The parashah is chockful of interesting verses, commentaries, and longer sections. eAs is often the case, we meander through the parashah. We were missing our good friend and colleague, Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, who is tending to family matters. We hope that you find our conversation sufficiently engaging, even though Jeremy is clearly missed. We continue to keep in mind Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza, and hope and pray his body will be soon returned to Israel for the dignified funeral he and his family deserve. We also have in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va-yehi [Genesis 47:28-50:26] is the last parashah in the Book of Genesis. It records the end of Jacob's life and the end of Joseph's life. In between we have the adoption of Menasheh and Ephraim, raising them to traibal status, and the elevation of Ephraim over Menashe, even though Menashe is the older. There is also the testament of Jacob [chapter 49], in which Jacob's offers his final words to each of his sons. There is much more, but an abbreviated schedule meant we did not get to everything we might have, had cirucmstances been different. In the meanwhile, best wishes for a Happy New Year. May 2026 be a year of blessing and peace. We keep in mind Ran Gvili, who yet remains a hostage in Gaza, may he be returned to his family, immediately, for a proper, dignified burial. We also have in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. Shabbat Shalom.

Complete Jewish Bible page: 55Genesis 47:28-50:26page 3681 Kings 2:1-12page 1539Revelation 7:1-17 and 14:1-7Praise God today ... humbling to see how powerful our Mighty one is.

This week's parashah, Vayechi, is known as a parashah setumah —a closed parashah—because there is no space in the Torah between the end of Vayigash and the beginning of Vayechi. Rashi explains that one reason for this is that the eyes and hearts of the Jewish people became "closed" when Yaakov Avinu passed away, from the pain and pressure of the bondage. The mefarshim ask a powerful question. Rashi himself writes elsewhere that the actual slavery in Mitzrayim did not begin until after the last of the Shevatim passed away. If so, how can Rashi say that immediately after Yaakov's passing their hearts became closed because of the slavery? The Be'er HaParashah, citing the Ma'agalei Tzedek, explains this beautifully. We know from other pesukim that the Shevatim originally came down to Mitzrayim only because of the famine. Once Yaakov passed away, and they went back to Eretz Yisrael to bury him in the Me'arat HaMachpelah, the famine was already long over. Logically, they should have stayed in Eretz Yisrael. Yaakov himself had been commanded to go down to Mitzrayim, but his children had not been given such a command. So why did they return to Mitzrayim? The answer must be that Hashem closed their eyes and hearts from even considering the possibility of staying in Eretz Yisrael. Hashem wanted the decree of slavery to unfold, and therefore He guided them back to Mitzrayim in a way that felt natural and unquestioned. It didn't have to make sense to them, because it was Hashem leading them where they needed to be. This, explains the Ma'agalei Tzedek, is what Rashi means when he says that their eyes and hearts became closed. Not that they were already enslaved, but that Hashem closed off certain lines of thought so that the process He willed could move forward. This is a lesson that repeats itself constantly in our lives. Many times, years later, a person looks back and asks himself: Why did I choose that path? From where I stand now, I never would have made that decision. The answer is often that Hashem wanted him led in that direction. Hashem guides us not only through clear signs, but through closed doors, missed opportunities, delays, and distractions. What looks like nature is pure hashgacha. Rabbi Elimelech Biderman shared a remarkable story that illustrates this idea in a very tangible way. In Brooklyn, there is a man named Rabbi Yosef who learns regularly with another Jew who, until about a year ago, was very far from Judaism. They learn together by phone several times a week, and slowly, with siyata d'Shmaya, this man has been growing in his observance. A few weeks ago, on Erev Chanukah, Rabbi Yosef discovered that his learning partner had put on tefillin only once in his entire life. Rabbi Yosef spoke to him about the importance of the mitzvah and encouraged him to start wearing tefillin daily. The man replied that he didn't own his own tefillin. He only had an inherited pair—small tefillin of Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam, as was his family custom to wear both together. But the straps had faded from black to white. Rabbi Yosef immediately understood that the tefillin were almost certainly pasul. At the same time, he knew that this man was not yet ready to hear that he needed to spend a large sum of money on new tefillin. So Rabbi Yosef decided, quietly, that he would try to raise the money himself and buy him proper tefillin according to his custom. The very next day, Rabbi Yosef woke up early, as usual, and learned with a different chavruta by phone at six in the morning. After that, however, a series of unusual delays began. One thing after another went wrong, and he missed his regular minyan. He went to a different shul on the same block, but again encountered obstacles and could not pray with that minyan either. Finally, he walked to another shul a block away, where the minyan was much later than the time he normally prays. As soon as he entered the shul, his eyes were drawn to a small tefillin bag. Attached to it was a sign that read: "Anyone who needs this may take it." He opened the bag and could hardly believe what he saw. Inside were two small pairs of tefillin—Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam. He sent them to a sofer to be checked, and they were found to be completely kosher. At that moment, everything became clear. All the delays, all the missed minyanim, all the frustrations of that morning were not accidents. They were Hashem closing one door after another in order to lead Rabbi Yosef precisely to the place where those tefillin were waiting. Finding tefillin left for the taking is rare enough. Finding two small, kosher pairs of Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam was nothing short of astonishing. It was as if Hashem had prepared them in advance, custom-made for this man, and simply needed Rabbi Yosef to arrive at the right place at the right time. This is the message of the parashah. Hashem is constantly leading us—sometimes by opening our eyes, and sometimes by closing them. Our job is not always to understand in the moment, but to trust that every delay, every detour, and every missed plan is part of a precise Divine guidance. Shabbat Shalom.

On our first Shabbat Shalom podcast for 2026, we share the greatest testimony we all can have, coming to the salvation of our Messiah, Jesus.  On this episode, we share a story of a young Jewish man who found the Messiah.  

A baal emunah is able to stay calm and composed no matter what type of adversity he is facing. The reason is because he knows for a fact that Hashem was the cause of it, and it is for his best. This attitude is much harder to have when it appears that he is in the difficult position due to other people. There, the yetzer hara tries to convince him that if it wasn't for that other person, he would not be in the position that he is in now. Yosef HaTzaddik, who was a master ma'amin, exemplified the great mida of this type of emunah, when he finally revealed himself to his brothers in this week's parasha, Vayigash . His brothers had planned to kill him, then sold him as a slave, taking him away from his father for years. He had been through so much hardship. And then he told his brothers not to feel bad about any of it because it was Hashem who used them as His messenger to bring him to the place He wanted him to be in. Yosef then hugged and kissed every one of his brothers. This is a tremendous level to reach. There are people who are able to accept the difficulties caused to them by others, but only after they see the benefits that came about as a result of them. The greatest rewards are reserved for those who are able to be calm and accepting even during the darkness when there are no benefits apparent. Rabbi Zilberstein told a story that he witnessed first-hand when he took his father to a clinic for a small procedure. There was a lot of commotion going on in one particular area and everyone realized it. When Rabbi Zilberstein inquired about it, he was told what happened. A man was there to get a couple of his teeth pulled. During the procedure, the doctor accidentally knocked one of his teeth and it went to the back of the man's throat. It was a sharp tooth which could have caused considerable damage to his lungs. The man's children, who accompanied him there, were horrified at what was happening. Specialists were called in and, eventually, they got the tooth out. Afterward, they did an x-ray on that area to make sure there was no damage and they found in the x-ray a very small, cancerous growth which was in its infant stages. They immediately took it out. The doctor said that type of growth is extremely dangerous and doesn't take too long to start doing damage. The fact that they caught it then saved this man's life. After we see the good in that doctor's "mistake" it's very easy to have emunah that it was Hashem who caused that tooth to be knocked out. But who would be able to stay calm and have full emunah that Hashem was the one behind it during the dark time, before they found the growth, when it looked like the patient was going to be negatively affected to no fault of his own? It's not good enough to believe it was Hashem only after the fact. We have to work on ourselves to believe it's Hashem the entire time. In the future, Hashem is going to show us why every single event that happened to every single individual was only because of Him for the best reasons possible. But then it will be too late to have emunah. Then it will be called ידיעה – not faith but knowledge. Now is our time to shine. We are never in any particular circumstance because of what somebody else did. We are only there because of Hashem. The more we are able to internalize this, the more peace of mind we'll have and the greater heights we'll reach. Shabbat Shalom.

On today's podcast, we share 2 amazing "Rest of the Story" episodes from Paul Harvey.  In these stories, you see the mystery of how the Lord works behind the scenes.  We also thank you all for being a part of this ministry.  

Living Emunah 2867 The Perfect Measure of Hishtadlut The Midrash at the beginning of this week's parashah says: אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר שָׂם ה' מִבְטַחוֹ "Fortunate is the man who places his trust in Hashem." This refers to Yosef, who wholeheartedly trusted in Hashem. The Midrash continues: וְלֹא פָנָה אֶל רְהָבִים — "and he did not turn to the arrogant," which also refers to Yosef, who did not rely on the Sar HaMashkim for help when he was in jail. Yet it also says that because Yosef told the Sar HaMashkim, זְכַרְתַּנִי — "remember me," נִתוֹסַף לוֹ שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים — two more years were added to his sentence. The mefarshim ask: the Midrash seems to contradict itself. On one hand, it praises Yosef for relying only on Hashem and not on the Sar HaMashkim; on the other hand, it says he was punished for asking the Sar HaMashkim to remember him. Furthermore, the word נִתוֹסַף sounds positive — like תּוֹסֶפֶת כְּתֻבָּה — as if staying longer in prison was somehow beneficial. Rav Leib Diskin explained the following. There is a pasuk in Mishlei: בְּטַח אֶל ה' בְּכָל לִבֶּךָ וְאֶל בִּינָתְךָ אַל־תִּשָּׁעֵן "Trust in Hashem with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding." (Mishlei 3:5) The Gaon explains that this pasuk refers to the highest form of bitachon — when a person needs no hishtadlut at all, like Chizkiyahu HaMelekh, when Hashem wiped out 185,000 soldiers while Chizkiyahu slept in his bed. But there is another pasuk: וּבֵרַכְתִּיךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה "I will bless you in all that you do." (Devarim 15:18) From here we learn that we must act , and then Hashem will bless our efforts. This sounds like full hishtadlut is always required, contradicting the pasuk in Mishlei. Then there is a third pasuk in Tehillim that reconciles the two: גּוֹל אֶל־ה' דַּרְכֶּךָ וּבְטַח עָלָיו וְהוּא יַעֲשֶׂה "Roll your way upon Hashem, and trust in Him, and He will do." (Tehillim 37:5) The word גּוֹל — roll — is the key.: משל למה הדבר דומה ? If someone wants to roll a barrel down a hill, all he must do is give it the initial push — and then it rolls on its own. This is how our hishtadlut must be viewed. We give the minimal beginning effort, showing that we know Hashem is the One accomplishing everything afterward. But if a person keeps checking every second to ensure the barrel rolls exactly as he wants, then he believes that his push is what makes everything happen, and he thinks he must constantly control the outcome. Proper hishtadlut means giving an effort that demonstrates that we recognize that Hashem is the One accomplishing.. That was Yosef's level. It was clear hashgachah that the Sar HaMashkim was placed with Yosef in jail, that Hashem gave him a dream, and that Yosef could interpret it. Yosef did not feel on the level of Chizkiyahu to do nothing, but he also did not want to engage in full hishtadlut. Therefore, he did not plead with the Sar HaMashkim. Instead, he minimally said כי אם זְכַרְתַּנִי — "If you happen to remember this episode, then mention me to Par'oh." He remained calm, composed, and made the smallest gesture that showed he believed his role was merely to begin the process — and Hashem would handle the rest. The Maharil Diskin says: Had Yosef done too much hishtadlut — pushing, begging, strategizing — he might have been released immediately. And perhaps he would have returned to his family. But then Ya'akov and the Shevatim would have had to come to Mitzrayim in chains. Because Yosef made the correct hishtadlut, Hashem allowed him to remain the extra two years — until Par'oh would have the dream that would elevate Yosef to become the viceroy of Egypt. Thus, the Midrash fully praises Yosef for the quality of his hishtadlut. The lesson for us is clear. We must be careful never to overdo our hishtadlut in ways that make us believe we control outcomes. If someone pleads for help in a desperate, panicked tone, he is showing that he thinks the results depend on him. If someone constantly emails a buyer until he gets a response, he thinks it is his pressure that will determine the sale. He may indeed get the response — but had he simply begun the process in the right way, he would have gotten the same outcome without the excess hishtadlut that is against Hashem's will. May Hashem help us realize always that He is the One who accomplishes everything, enabling us to make only the hishtadlut that He desires from us. Shabbat Shalom.

Join us on our supernatural Friday podcast as we share a testimony of a woman who almost died, and the Lord used it to awaken her to her ministry purpose.  This story will both encourage and direct you in your own walk of purpose.  

Join us today for our Supernatural Friday podcast as we share a testimony of a doctor who died and came back to life.  In this story, the Lord birthed a ministry to help so many.