Podcasts about shabbat shalom

In today's supernatural Friday episode, we share a testimony of a man who was crushed by a truck and should have died, yet he lived, and the miracle only gets better.  Must listen to the rest of the story.   

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

On today's supernatural Friday podcast, we share Kathyrn Kuhlman's testimony on what it's like to walk in the anointing.  As you listen, you will desire to walk in a greater measure of the anointing that the Lord has made available for us all.  

Do you take responsibility for your actions? Do you ever find it too easy to point your finger at others instead? Join Rabbi Kevin of Congregation Beth Hallel as he calls out the speed at which we can play the blame game rather than taking ownership of our actions, even when some circumstances are out of our control. No temptation can overcome you when you combat it with G-d, so we must be accountable and do our part to persevere through struggles. Shabbat Shalom!Exodus 32.1-4; Exodus 32.24; Genesis 3.9-13; 1 Corinthians 10.12-13Prayer Requests or send an email to info@bethhallel.orgCBH WebsiteDonateYouTube Channel

Greetings and Opening Remarks:   Rod Thomas welcomes listeners on a warm sunny Shabbat in the DFW area, expressing gratitude for their fellowship and hoping the episode finds everyone well and blessed.   Housekeeping Items:   Announcement about the upcoming two-month Kenya Missions Trip, which may affect the regular posting schedule of TMTO. Request for prayers and financial support for the trip, especially for the needs of widows and orphans in western Kenya and a potential partnership with a Sabbath-keeping congregation in Homa Bay. Encouragement to support Hilary's non-profit, Qumran Family Foundation.   Main Discussion:   Title: Book of the Law versus Book of the Covenant: The Ten Commandments Alone or All of Torah? The Question: A listener's question about the placement of the Book of the Covenant inside the Ark of the Covenant and the Book of the Law beside it. Importance of the Question: The answer strikes at the heart of the Nazarene-Messianic Faith Community, addressing whether to keep the whole Torah or just the Ten Commandments. Recent Experience: Rod shares his experience with 10-Commandment-Only Keepers during a missions trip to Kenya. Scriptural References: Various passages from Deuteronomy, 1 Samuel, James, and others are cited to support the discussion. Controversy: Explanation of the Book of the Law versus Book of the Covenant controversy and its implications. Exegetical Analysis: Detailed analysis of Galatians 3:19 and its context within the broader discussion of Torah and Grace. Role of Torah: Torah as a guide, tutor, and schoolmaster, revealing sin and pointing to the need for a savior. Conclusion: Emphasis on the importance of keeping Torah in the spirit of obedience and faith, with a call to conduct personal study and prayer.   Closing Remarks:   Rod concludes the episode with a prayer for blessings and encouragement to conduct personal "Berean-style" study. Wishes the listeners Shabbat Shalom and Shavuatov.

On today's supernatural Friday podcast, we share a testimony of a muslim who murdered a Christian only to find out later he was resurrected.  There is much more to this testimony, so listen entirely and be blessed.  

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

Read from the Complete Jewish Bible by the late David Sternpage: 200Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11page: 495Isaiah 40:1-26page: 1278 (new testament)Mark 12:1-44

Your Nightly Prayer

In this week's parasha, V'etchanan, we have, arguably, the most well-known pasuk in the entire Torah: "שמע ישראל ה' אלוקינו ה' אחד" This pasuk is the root of all of our emunah that Hashem is our G-d and He is the only One in control. The Gemara says in Masechet Sukkah (p. 42) that when a child is first able to speak, his father should teach him this line Shema Yisrael. With this, we are training our children and imbuing them with emunah from the earliest age. Something of such vital importance can't wait until the child is 5 or 6 years old, it must begin from the moment he/she can speak. We should not underestimate how much emunah our children can absorb. Emunah should be spoken about in the home and children should be trained from very young ages in it. I recently received an email which said, "Ever since I started listening to the Daily Emunah messages, it's as if I entered a whole new world. Growing up I was religious, but I never thought about Hashem too deeply or how He plays a role in our lives, but in the last two years, since I began listening, I became a whole new person. I'm so much happier and calmer and accepting and so grateful for the inspiring emunah lessons. I am a preschool teacher and one day, as my students walked into class, Hashem put a thought into my mind. I decided I was going to repeat a chizuk message in emunah to them in an age appropriate manner. I saw how they drank up every word with so much enthusiasm. I noticed how hungry their souls were for a connection to Hashem, even though they all came from religious backgrounds. From then on, every single day, I started repeating another chizuk lesson to them in a kid friendly way. It didn't take too long and I started noticing changes in my students' behavior. For example, little Esther told little Channah, 'I lost the snack that my mommy gave me this morning, but I am not upset because I know Hashem did it out of love and one day I'll find out why.' Channah replied, 'Did you make sure to thank Hashem for your lost snack?' This kind of talk has become the norm in my classroom, from just a little emunah message every day." I received a different email from a woman who says she speaks about emunah in her house all the time. It has changed the way her entire household thinks, and they are so much happier as a result. A few weeks ago, she was visiting her in-laws with her five year old son on Shabbat and, while he was playing outside, something banged into his eye very hard. There was no ice there so she took her son back to her house which was not too far away. While they were walking, she said out loud, "Baruch Hashem, I just remembered, I bought margarine right before Shabbat. That's the best thing to put on your eye." The little boy said in response, "Mommy, Hashem knew I was going to get a bump, so He told you to buy the margarine. He didn't tell you I was going to get the bump because then you wouldn't let it happen." The proud mother was so grateful for her little boy's response. His immediate thought that Hashem put it in her brain to buy the margarine just for him was so beautiful. He's only five. Emunah is for the very, very young as well. As a note of advice, if a very young child gets a bump and we tell him it was from Hashem for his best, he might not take it the right way, he might even come to resent Hashem because, at that time, the child is in pain. The key is to teach the child the lessons beforehand so that the child, on his own, will say it's from Hashem for his best. And when the child does that, we should make him feel so special and tell him how proud Hashem is of him for having that emunah. Shabbat Shalom.

Join us today on our supernatural Friday Podcast as we share a testimony of a young Iranian man who finds the Lord on his own in Iran and is later stabbed for sharing the gospel.  The rest of the story is what will amaze you, so listen in and be blessed.   

Parashat Va-etchanan [Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11] is always read on Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat after Tisha B'Av, so named because nachamu is the first word of the haftarah [Isaiah 40:1-26]. It seems appropriate that the Shabbat we come out of our commemoration of the death and destruction associated with Tisha B'AV that our Torah reading includes both the first paragraph of the Shema [Deuteronomy 6:4-9] and the Ten Commandments [Deuteronomy 5:6-18]. It is not too much to say that these two texts are foundational to Judaism, and that we best mark the turn from Tisha B'Av towards consolation and the upcoming High Holy Days by recommitting ourselves to them. Our conversation focused on the metaphor of the כור ברזל [kur barzel, translated as iron blast furnace, in the NJPS translation] for the first twenty minutes or so. We then shifted to a consideration of comfort, the theme of the haftarah. We continue to keep in mind the hostages, dead and alive, may they be speedily returned to their families. We are also mindful of those defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. May all who are hungry find the necessary food for survival and nourishment. Shabbat Shalom.

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22Isaiah 1:1-27Acts 7:2-60 this weeks parashaaapeople get together and taste that Gods word is good

Your Daily Prayer

Join us today on our supernatural Friday podcast as we share a testimony of an ex-atheist who was on his deathbed and then Jesus!!!  

Parashat D'varim [Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22] is the opening parashah of the Book of Deuteronomy. Having reached the eastern border of the Promised Land, Moses addresses the people for the last time in a series of discourses, culminating in his death alone atop the mountain, to be buried by God in a place unknown to any human. We spent over half our conversation discussing Moses as prophet and leader at this particular time in his life, and what he had to say to his people as his life comes to its conclusion while the people ready themselves to begin their lives anew in Israel. In the remaining time we discussed the haftarah [Isaiah 1:1-27]. This Shabbat, the one preceding [and this year immediately preceding] Tisha B'av, observed Saturday night and Sunday, August 2-3, 2025, is called Shabbat Chazon, the Shabbat of Vision, after the first word in the Book of Isaiah. It is the third of the three haftarot of admonition, which will be followed by the 7 haftarot of consolation. We continue to keep in our hearts and minds the hostages, dead and alive, who remain in Gaza, may they be speedily returned to their families. And we hope and pray that the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces be removed from harm's way. Finally, echoing the words of the Haggadah of Passover, may all who are hungry come and eat. Shabbat Shalom.

00:00 – Introduction & Opening01:15 – Accusations of Genocide in Gaza03:30 – The Truth About Aid Distribution & UN Failures06:10 – Hamas Stealing Aid and Exploiting Civilians08:00 – Hostage Negotiations Breakdown09:45 – IDF Advances into Final Areas of Gaza11:20 – Israel Rejects Global Ceasefire Demands13:00 – Knesset Overthrows Interior Minister Over IDF Exemptions14:30 – Political Pressure from Haredi Religious Parties16:10 – Global Media Spreads Anti-Israel Propaganda18:20 – Misuse of Photos & Staged Media Content20:00 – Church Fire in Samaria: Media Misinformation21:40 – USAID Confirms Aid Theft, But Can't Name Hamas23:30 – Hamas Thinks It's Winning the PR War25:10 – Far-Right Israeli Calls for Full Gaza Takeover26:30 – France Pushes for Palestinian Statehood27:55 – Knesset Votes to Annex Judea & Samaria29:15 – U.S. Lawmakers Support One-State Sovereignty30:45 – Why Annexation Matters Prophetically32:00 – American Media Battle: Epstein vs. Obama Scandal34:10 – Obama-Biden Collusion Narrative Exposed36:00 – Media Complicity & Israel's Political Targeting37:30 – Comparing Modern Corruption to Watergate39:00 – Watch Judea, Samaria & Temple Mount Closely40:00 – Signs of the End Times & “Beginning of Sorrows”41:15 – Join Us for Feast of Tabernacles 202542:10 – Closing Thoughts & Call to Prayer42:50 – Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

Numbers 30: 2-36:13Jeremiah 2:4-29James:4:1-5:201 John 2:1-3:24

Your Nightly Prayer

In Parashat Matot, Moshe Rabbeinu is commanded by Hashem to avenge the Midyanim for causing Bnei Yisrael to stumble in the most severe sins. Moshe responds by selecting one thousand tzaddikim from each shevet, totaling 12,000 men. He sent them off to war along with Pinchas, the Aron HaKodesh, and the special trumpets used in battle to invoke Hashem's favor and bring victory. The Torah then states: " וַיִּצְבְּאוּ עַל־מִדְיָן " – They encamped against Midyan. Ramban explains that this means the Jewish army surrounded Midyan on three sides, leaving one side open. This was a direct command from Hashem, meant to offer the enemy a chance to flee. Even in war, we are commanded to show mercy. And Ramban adds that this wasn't a one-time instruction—this principle of compassion applies to all future optional wars. Later, the Torah testifies that the Jewish army wiped out Midyan without losing even one soldier. It was openly miraculous. To confront such a large enemy with only 12,000 men and suffer no casualties was clearly the hand of Hashem. This pattern has repeated itself throughout Jewish history. We show compassion to our enemies—and we experience miraculous victories. In a recent conflict, the Israeli Air Force flew nearly 400 warplanes over Iran. Not a single jet malfunctioned. There were no mechanical failures, no planes struck by enemy fire, and not one pilot was injured or captured. Before the operation, Israeli defense officials estimated that between 400 and 800 civilians could be killed in Iranian missile assaults. Some projections feared that if Iran fired all of its 2,000+ ballistic missiles, the death toll could rise to 4,000. In the end, only 687 missiles were fired. Of those, 97% were intercepted. Iran also launched 1,200 drones—99% of which were downed by Israeli defensive systems. According to military experts, these numbers are almost statistically impossible. But when Hashem is protecting us, statistics do not apply. Although we did not merit a completely casualty-free outcome like the war against Midyan, we witnessed an unmistakable miracle. And it wasn't only us who saw it. Even non-Jewish journalists around the world began to acknowledge that something beyond nature is protecting the Jewish people. A British journalist by the last name Heath recently wrote an article exploring the world's irrational hatred for the Jews. He asked: Why does a nation this small inspire so much hostility? In his own words: A nation this small should not be this strong. Surrounded by enemies, condemned in the UN, targeted by terror, boycotted, slandered, and attacked—and yet, the Jewish people thrive in every area: military, medicine, technology, agriculture, security, intelligence, morality, and resilience. They turn desert into farmland. They make water from air. They intercept rockets midair. They rescue hostages from the heart of enemy territory. They survive wars they are supposed to lose—and they win. The world watches and can't explain it. So they grasp for explanations: American aid, high-tech trickery, some hidden secret—anything but the truth. Because the truth means admitting it's Hashem. By all logic, the Jewish people should have disappeared long ago. That's how the story of every exiled, enslaved, and persecuted minority ends. But the Jews didn't disappear. We are stronger than ever. There is no cheat code that can explain how a nation returns to its homeland after 2,000 years. There is no rational explanation for how a people go from gas chambers to global influence. There is no historical precedent for surviving the Babylonians, Romans, Crusaders, Inquisitions, Pogroms, and Holocaust—and still standing strong today. Israel doesn't make sense—unless you believe in something higher. And that's what drives the world crazy. Maybe history isn't random. Maybe evil doesn't have the last word. Maybe the Jewish people aren't just a nation—but a living proof that there is a G-d in the world. Once a person admits that Israel's survival is divine, his entire moral compass has to reset. Because then he is not watching the final chapter of a fallen people, but rather the unfolding of something eternal. So the world tries to deny it—but it is becoming more and more obvious. We are incredibly fortunate to be the Am Hashem. We must appreciate that privilege and honor it by living as true representatives of Hashem—through our Torah and our mitzvot.. Shabbat Shalom.

Join us today on our supernatural Friday podcast as we share a testimony of a former gangster who encountered the supernatural God and became a minister of that redemptive message of the Kingdom.  

Your Nightly Prayer

What do you do when you're an Israeli comedian set to perform in Paris on the very day the world learns the fate of the Bibas family? Yohay Sponder faced that moment in February 2025—and chose to take the stage. Wearing an orange tie in their honor, he brought laughter to a grieving crowd. Since October 7th, he has used comedy to carry pain, affirm his identity, and connect through resilience. Hear how his Jewish identity shapes his work, how his comedy has evolved since the Hamas attacks, and what he says to those who try to silence him. Recorded live at AJC Global Forum 2025. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC. Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  From Broadway to Jewish Advocacy: Jonah Platt on Identity, Antisemitism, and Israel Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War: The Dinah Project's Quest to Hold Hamas Accountable Journalist Matti Friedman Exposes Media Bias Against Israel Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman:   Israeli stand up comedian Yohay Sponder: first gained popularity for his funny Monday shows in Tel Aviv, which attracted a following on YouTube. A few years ago, Sponder made the decision to perform Israeli comedy in English to reach a wider audience and a wider audience it has reached. He has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, and in May, launched the North American leg of his international tour in Baltimore.  Sponder is with us now on the sidelines of AJC Global Forum 2025. Sponder, welcome to People of the Pod.  Yohay Sponder:   Thank you so much for this eulogy. Manya Brachear Pashman:   I'm curious how you found your way to stand up comedy and tell us a little bit about your upbringing in general.  Yohay Sponder:   Doing comedy, I always been fascinated about the laughing reaction of humans. You know, it's fascinating, if you think about it, if you have the ability to improve the frequency in the room. As a kid, I was really intrigued by that. So you saying few things, and people go, haha. It's like designing a vibe.  So as a kid, I was attracted to that. So as a kid, you watch video cassettes, back in the day, I would watch all of the comedy stuff. I had all of them cassettes. I was very, very affected by it, impersonations, imitating them, doing jokes of my own, and always around that.  And in my show, I'm talking about comedy. I have a bit about comedy in my show that I'm saying that I was, I wasn't just the class clown in my school. I was the jokes technician. If you had a broken joke or a joke that didn't work, you would come to me. I would fix it for you, bring it back. Not using it as my own resume. I would bring it back, when it's fixed. Manya Brachear Pashman:   That's great. So you helped others clown around as well. Yohay Sponder:   Yeah, I was a clown teacher.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Were you raised in a secular home, a particularly Jewish home? Yohay Sponder:   I was raised in a, let's say secular but Jewish, celebrated holidays, family Friday night family dinners. But we weren't like super Shabbat keepers. I think I became closer now, when, after my father passed away, I for the Kaddish and I put tefillin a little bit. And the war, you know, this war, activated a lot of Jews to the to this kind of level. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Right. You're sitting across from me, and you're wearing a gigantic Star of David. On your chest. Yohay Sponder:   Yeah, you see what she did, you see what she did? You're sitting across and you're wearing a gigantic Star of David.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Have you always worn that or did you put it on after October 7? Yohay Sponder:   No, it's after the war kicked in. I don't know. I had a vision that that's what we should do right now. We need to be out there and show other Jews that we're there. That's what I felt. And I imagine that, I need a big star of David. And the day I thought about it, I saw that. So there was a sign for me, like I had this vision, that I need a big star of David here. And less than 24 hours, that one find me. I didn't look for it. It came across my eyes. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Which I imagine you'll be wearing your Magen David on tour. The tour itself is called Self Loving Jew. What is the meaning of that title? Yohay Sponder:   So, basically, you know, this is so awesome, because before October 7, you could argue of other opinion. You could hear some people saying, Yeah, but maybe we should this. After October 7 that we know so all these monsters that came and attack us, the self hating Jews that they're doing now, super horrific, disgusting job of mocking us. And I find it really bad, and I think so I'm I'm bringing the other side. I'm just bringing the you know, it doesn't mean that I hate someone that is not Jewish. I'm just, I want to inspire other people to be to love themselves, even if they're not Jewish. But as Jews, we have to love us, because we're probably the last ones to love us, and if we won't love us, that's that's over for us.  And people, people saying that it's very harsh to compare the self hating Jews of now to the Kapos and and I'm saying, yes, it's it's not fair for the Kapos, because they didn't have a choice. You guys have a choice, and you did it just for likes and for other people from other cultures to like you. I really, I really believe.  I really deeply believe I'm coming from there. I'm coming from the war. I really believe that the people that don't, they don't give us the credit, people that not supporting Israel, they're uneducated. I really believe in that they don't know enough. They might be not bad people, but they might be stupid people.  Self hating Jews, like whatever Dave Smith, all these guys that try to be liked by, you know, others, and they they just out of their own idiocy. Listen, you don't know anything about what's going on. As Douglas Murray told them, ou've been there. You saw those things that you're talking about when you're saying, Israel, starving the Gazans you're never seeing the the trucks that going every day. You're You're an idiot. You're just an idiot. You listen to other people, and you listen to other lies.  And they will say, No, I just want peaceful. We all want peace. Just the fact that you're Jewish, it means that you want peace. We say Shalom when we see each other, when we say Shabbat Shalom. The holiest day of the week. We say telech bshalom, tachzor bshalom. Go in peace, come back in peace. You don't want peace more than I want. We all want peace, but we're willing to fight for peace because we have to make sure that no innocent people from both sides, by the way, will get hurt.  So yeah, it's really bad and shitty situation, war, but you blame us without checking it. So anyway, I don't want it to make it too much political. It's not political, by the way, Self Loving Jew. It's about loving yourself and being, you know, being in touch with what's going on right now.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   So there is so much misinformation out there, you launched your you started doing English language comedy to reach a wider audience. Now you're doing an English language international tour. Do you have a message that you want to get out to the wider world to especially this region where there is so much misinformation and misunderstanding? Yohay Sponder:   Yeah, the message is that, we're living in a time that it's very hard to agree on something, and I really miss the days that we all agree that the world is round. You know, a little long ago, a few years ago. But yeah, the message is that you do your research and come to laugh with us.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   It's an important message that gets forgotten. October 7, and its aftermath were so horrific. Did you press pause on your comedy career for a little while? At what point did you find it acceptable to make people laugh again in the aftermath? Yohay Sponder:   No, it took time. It took time. It took a day. Manya Brachear Pashman:   One day. Okay. Yohay Sponder: Because right after that, after the attack, they start to arrange people to go to volunteer in squads and families that got evacuated from their house and soldiers and hospitals, people got wounded. So I've been around. I did that. That was my duty service. And also I did regular reserves duty, stuff like that.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   And what did you do on reserve duty?  Yohay Sponder: I was in Ramat Gan patrol. So not super serious, but I did what I did.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   And at what point did you go back to the stage and so more standup? Yohay Sponder:   So I'm running the show Funny Monday, I think roughly a month after October 7, we get. Maybe two months, yeah, something like around that. January, maybe, I remember, like a little bit after that, the show went back and we did stand up in English. People really followed what's going on in Israel. No matter what you do from the country, they follow that. And we had strong they were saying, Wait, Shahar Hassan, my co-host, very good friend. Really funny man, serious comedian, like one of A-list, Top list. And people follow, people watching what we have to say. That was the main purpose of Funny Monday, when we launched it in 2016 nine years ago.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Did it shift? When you restarted it after October 7, was it different? How so?  Yohay Sponder:   Yeah. We always talked about current events, what's going on in the world? It's the international perspective of not just news, but Israel perspective and stuff like that. So in that case, you're talking about Iran's attack. What the news with Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu? Whatever is happening politically, or current events and yeah, people were more attached to the screen those days. And also in comedy. It's a great form of art to deliver, you know, your point of view, or your, yeah, your what you want to say. So it's, it was great to do that, and till this very day, that's what we do.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   So you really though, have to read the room, right? I mean, different audiences, I imagine, receive your comedy in different ways, especially in different regions of the world. So I'm curious if there are differences in the kind of humor that resonates with an Israeli audience, and the kind of humor that resonates with an American audience or a European audience. Yohay Sponder:   So that's the thing, why I love my country so much, because you can just stand up in any form you want. You can go as dark as you want in Israel or as political as you want. We have some issues right now with people having fight with each other, of political issues, and we have a lot of demonstrations and stuff. So there's that. But beside that, you can get away with a lot of what people say here in America, woke culture, politically correct. In Israel, we don't have it. You don't stand up like in the 80s. If someone looks gay in the audience, you say, Hey, you look gay man. That's very gay. You're fat. You these, you're old, you're very brown. We just say that, and that's fine. No one canceled. We don't even know what it means to cancel someone. No one get canceled in Israel. Manya Brachear Pashman: Holocaust humor, is that acceptable in Israel? Yohay Sponder: Yeah, it's not just it's acceptable. For example, from my wife's point of view, she was shocked when people came back to say, wow, mitlachot poh shoah—the shower was like, it's the Holocaust. Holocaust shower. They sang that. There's something that you say in the army and it's kind of fine. No one like, hey, how can you compare this? Because the water was cold, so they were called. So they say, but in the Holocaust, no water at all, was gas.  And also, when my wife told me, Don't honk like this, it's ghetto. You know, it's American thing to say, Don't honk. It's ghetto. It's like, I'm pretty sure that in Auschwitz, they didn't have cars.  Manya Brachear Pashman: She's talking about a different kind of gheto.  Yohay Sponder: And she said, like, you can't do these jokes. Yeah, you can't do this. She's like, she's from American perspective, you can't do these jokes. It's horrible. It's like, that's jokes we do here all the time. And in Israel, you use Nazi sometimes, like, as a, not only as a bad thing. It's like, accuracy. You say, like, Nazis coming on time. I need a Nazi plumber, not . . . someone that is a good commander. When I'm having the perspective of my wife and American people, I understand how horrible that is.  However, some Holocaust survivors testify that they had humor in the camps. They used humor, even dark humor, in the camps, and it helped them raise their frequency and raise their morality and maybe survive, maybe humor saved them. So when you saying too soon, sometimes it's, yeah, it's too soon for someone but it's okay for someone else.  I see black humor as spicy food. We all have our own scale for it. You can, you can eat spicy like a crazy mental person, and I can just taste it. And, you know, it's too harsh for me, and vice versa. So I did jokes about October 7, in November 7, and horrible ones, and it was also with the Holocaust. That's how horrible that was. So maybe it's too soon for the Holocaust. It's too soon for October 7. I said, the people that compare compared October 7 to the Holocaust. And I'm saying at least in the Holocaust, no one kidnapped Holocaust survivors. It's not even a funny, like, haha, funny. It's like, oh shit, yeah, yeah, that's the joke. It's not a joke of a punch line. It's a punch in your belly. Yeah. Manya Brachear Pashman:   What have been some of the most memorable moments from your shows, from your live shows, and I'm talking good and bad, have there been really positive responses and have there been really ugly? Yohay Sponder:   So let's just take this afternoon in Paris that I'm sitting in my hotel and Instagram and social media exploding from what's going on with the releasing of the Bibas babies. That we're getting back coffins, and I'm getting, I don't know, hundreds of messages from people that like we don't know if we're coming to the show. Two shows sold out in a huge theater in Paris. I'm not there every day. That's the show. That's it. One day since October 7, and no one knows when I'm going to come again. And my heart is broken, and people tell me we want to come but we can't. What do you think we should do?  Now, I responded to all of them, my wife and I responded to all of them, you do what you feel. I totally support your feelings. And the show is going to happen, and we get together tonight, and it's going to be a group hug, but if you can't make it, that's fine. I went on stage with an orange tie that I bought, and we talked it through. Arthur is the comedian and producer of those shows. He opened the show, he talked about the situation, and we did the shows. Now, that's the beauty of it, that's, that's the genome of the Jewish people. That's so in us to . . . . what we talked earlier about the Holocaust survivors that testify that they want to laugh, they want to have a good time. They don't want to let these terrorists decide for us what we gonna feel. Yeah, we feel bad. Yes, you're the worst people on the planet. I wish God will wipe you out, or IDF as fast as possible. You're a disgusting dirt of…but for us, for what we can do right now, we're gonna, we're gonna do our best to raise our morality and frequency. And I did the shows. I'm not gonna lie to you, I was very sad. But you know, the people that, that's what Bob Marley said after, he got shot, you know, and he did the show anyway, and he said, the people that want us to feel bad, they don't take a day off. So how could I? That's a very nice thing to say. Manya Brachear Pashman:   You had a show at City Winery where some people in the audience came with, maybe with intentions to protest, or at least they expected to disagree with you, and they met up with you after the show. And what happened? Yohay Sponder:   After my show, one of the presidents of the BDS organizations. She approached me and she said, we came to hassle the show. We came to ruin your show. So like, why you didn't do it? And she said we were waiting for the right moment, but the more the show went on, the more we liked what you said. You talk a lot about peace, you talk a lot about mutual values and how to solve problems, and you talk about the nice things of the Jewish tradition and the Jewish religion. We couldn't ruin that. We have conscience and we also liked you.  They liked the show. They wanted to ruin it, but they loved it, and they laughed. I told her, that's exactly what I do. In my stand up show, when you see that bit, it's with the whole structure of what happened there and how I almost made peace with these guys, but it didn't work out.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Maybe you need to do your stand up routine in Gaza and that would solve everything. Yohay Sponder:   I checked that. They don't have comedy clubs there. I said that when I hosted the show, we have an Arab comedian, a friend of ours. You know, people like they don't know that, but Arab-Israelis, are Palestinians. To their definition, to the Palestinians definition, it's the same thing, but they don't identify as Palestinians. It's like we're Muslims, we're Arabs. Anyway, they're with us. They're like siblings to us.  So when I introduced him, I also made fun of the situation. I said, When is going to be in Palestine? When it's going to be the Jewish comedian goes on stage like you going here and stuff like that, and there is no comedy clubs in Ramallah or in Gaza, but Inshallah, when there will I go and I do a spot. Manya Brachear Pashman:   How many of your shows, as you've been traveling around, have actually been canceled or moved or postponed. I read something about your Amsterdam show, for example, was moved to an undisclosed location because of security concerns. Has that happened elsewhere? Yohay Sponder:   Australia. And they tried to cancel my show in Brussels, didn't make it. They tried to cancel my show in Paris. They couldn't make it, but demonstrated outside. And every time that thing happened, I got a lot of press covers and interviews, and people get insane. And like, oh, we have to support and come to see the show. So every time it happens, I doubling or sometimes tripling the amount of people. Which is so weird, you know, because they're always the people they hate us. Always go, oh, Jews, money and you guys this, and you made me make more money. I didn't want to make that much money.  I want to make third of the amount of money. But because of your protesting. Your hate, that's how bad you are of what you do. And how amazing we are what we do. You know, I didn't want to make that much money, so now I hire them, the protesters. So they work for me.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   They do your marketing, generate publicity. So none of the shows have been successfully cancelled? Yohay Sponder:   No, the Amsterdam show canceled. The Boom Chicago, which also surprising. Your name is Boom Chicago. What's your security concerns. That's gonna be a boom. Let it be.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   But I thought it was moved.  Yohay Sponder:  We moved that like because they a week before the show, they said we're not doing the show. And was like, guys, let me respond. Let me say something. No, no. Police said that. We called the police. We have their numbers, you know, we call them. They say, No, we didn't talk to them. And then they wrote, we can help you find a Jewish venue. So I told him, we can help you find a Jewish lawyer. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So there was no show? Yohay Sponder:  Not in the Boom Chicago. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Got it. Yohay Sponder:  And I'll never go there. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And not in Amsterdam?  Yohay Sponder:  No, it was in Amsterville.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Got it, okay. Amsterville, is that next to Amsterdam? Yohay Sponder:   Turns out, yeah, they didn't know that too. Was was a very nice theater, I think, three times' size of the Boom Chicago, and we had a great time. And I'll go there again. And it's not just the Boom Chicago, when we try to rebook it, a lot of other venues, more than 30 venues, didn't want to have me there.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   So is there anything else that I haven't asked you that you really want to share with our audience? Yohay Sponder:   Yeah. I mean, listen, I'm not sure that the audience is going to be 100% Jewish, right? So the message is going to be split for both. So I'll talk to them. So if you guys are Jews, I wanted to know that everything's going to be fine, and we got this, and raise your head, and we're good. We're going to be good. This is probably the last one. It's the last one. I think Messiah is coming, right? We're going to be fine, all right?  And if you're a non Jewish person watching it, you're an ally. So I want to thank you. We don't take it for granted. It's very important that you're around. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Sponder, thank you.  Yohay Sponder:   Thank you so much.   

Parashat Mattot-Massei [Numbers 30:2-36:13] is a double parashah which concludes the Book of Numbers. It is one of the longest readings of the year, even for those who use the triennial cycle. Our focus this week was the curious story about the tribes of Gad and Reuven, and the half-tribe of Menashe. As the Israelites' forty-year journey is coming to an end, with the entrance into the Land of Israel imminent, these tribes, blessed with much cattle and flocks, decide they want to stay east of the Jordan. How to unpack this story? Give a listen! We continue to be mindful of the hostages being held in Gaza, both the living and the dead, may they be speedily returned to their families. We also keep in mind those defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov [the month of Av, which marks the 11th yahrtzeit of my father, Mel Chesler z”l, is this Shabbat].

Are you expecting for G-d to do something? Do you feel like you are just checking a box with your faith? Join Rabbi Kevin Solomon of Congregation Beth Hallel as he reflects on Rabbi Robert's quotes and emphasizes the importance of proactively expecting G-d to move in our lives. You have to take action with the trust that G-d is working to support us, and will continue to move us forward, as long as we seek and wait on Him with intention. Shabbat Shalom!Psalm 62.6-7; Psalm 20.7-8; Psalm 5.4; Daniel 3.16-18; 1 Peter 1.8-9Prayer Requests or send an email to info@bethhallel.orgCBH WebsiteDonateYouTube Channel

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

Numbers 25:10-30:1Jeremiah 1:1-2:3Colossians 2:8-4:6Can I capture your attention

Your Nightly Prayer

In the beginning of this week's parasha , Pinchas, we read about the great rewards Pinchas received for doing the will of Hashem under very difficult circumstances. The Midrash at the end of parashat Balak asks how could it be that Moshe Rabbenu forgot the halacha of what was supposed to be done with Zimri and Kozbi? Thr Midrash answered, it was מן השמים, in order to give Pinchas the ability to get what Hashem wanted to give him. Although when we read the pesukim it seems like everything happened in the natural course of events, in actuality, it was Hashem pulling the strings. Now was Pinchas's time and if, in order for that to happen, the greatest Rabbi in history needed to forget a halacha , then that's what was going to happen. But it goes even further. Every person's tests and opportunities for growth have already been mapped out for them way before they were even born. Hashem knows what each person needs to fulfill his mission and He sets each person up with the tests that they need to accomplish that mission. The Vilna Gaon writes, Bilaam was being tested by Hashem to see if he would go to curse the Jews against His will. Hashem sent him many obstacles to give him help with that test and he failed each time. That story, as well, seemed very natural. The nation of Moav became afraid of the Jews after they conquered Sichon and Og, and so they hired someone who seemed capable of cursing them to remove the threat. Chazal tell us, one of the things Hashem created on the sixth day of Creation during bein hashemashot was the פי האתון – the mouth of the donkey who tried to dissuade Bilaam from continuing on. This means, already from the beginning of time, Hashem was preparing the tests that Bilaam needed to go through. Korach was tested when he didn't receive the position he wanted. His job was to say, "It's מן השמים ," and accept it. But instead, he made a revolt against Moshe and Aharon. There as well, everything seemed very natural, but Chazal tell us, the spot of the earth which swallowed up the eida of Korach was created already on bein hashemashot during the six days of Creation. At that time, when Hashem was creating the world, He was already preparing the necessary components for the test he was going to give Korach thousands of years later. Avraham Avinu's tenth test of Akedat Yitzchak , which we are still benefiting from today, did not just happen at that time. That ram that he slaughtered instead of Yitzchak was created during the six days of Creation. Already from then, Hashem was planning out every single nisayon that Avraham would need to go through. And the same is true of every single individual. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations we don't want to be in and we start trying to figure out how we got there. Our job is not to backtrack and see how we could have avoided it. Our job is to do what Hashem wants us to do in that very situation. Every circumstance we find ourselves in had been carefully planned out for us to achieve our purpose here. What may seem to be a bunch of natural happenings is nothing other than the yad Hashem. In life, we need to pass each test as it comes. We don't know how much is riding on each one of them. The next test could be what we need that will make us zocheh to the beracha that we have been seeking. Every one is necessary for us to pass and b'ezrat Hashem, if we do, then we will be fulfilling the purpose of our creation. Shabbat Shalom.

Join us today on our supernatural Friday Podcast.  On today's episode, we share a story of a gentleman who had a dream of going to hell that triggered his full freedom.  

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

WE HAVE NEW INTERNET SERVICE AND IT WORKS FASTER ... INSTEAD OF A 4 HOUR HOUR UPLOAD IT ONLY TAKES 1 MINUTE.... YEAHCOMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE BY DAVID STERN PAGE: 175Numbers 22:2-25:9PAGE 752Micah 5:6-6:8page 15222nd Peter 2:1-1:22

Join us today on our supernatural Friday podcast as we share a testimony of a young Jewish girl who had a supernatural visitation by Jesus.  This visitation led to many miracles in her life.  Listen in today and believe the same for yourself and those you are believing for.  

Parashat Balak [Numbers 22:2-25:9] primarily tells the tale of Balaam the seer, who is commissioned to curse the Israelites, of whom Balak is deathly afraid. Balak's plan does not go as planned, as God has other plans for Balaam, one of which involves the famous talking donkey, a precursor to the perhaps more famous Mr. Ed. According to the rabbis, the mouth of the donkey was created on the eve of the first Shabbat, late in the 6th day of Creation, suggesting that already imbedded in Creation was this talking donkey in order to remove the donkey from the realm of the supernatural. Most of the parashah is taken up with Balaam's four oracles about Israel, concluding with three oracles against the nations. Of particular interest to synagogue goers is Numbers 24:5, which has been incorprorated into the liturgy as the Mah Tovu, the first verse of a paragraph recited upon entering the synagogue for prayer. It is quite striking that this line is uttered for the first time by a non-Jew. The Parashah concludes with the first half of the story about the apostasy at Baal Pe'or. The Israelite men are seduced by Moabite women, which occasions a plague on the Israelite population, which is only stayed when Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron the High Priest, kills one such couple [the man is identified as a member of the tribe of Simeon and the woman as a Midianite] in flagrante delicto. This story will be concluded at the beginning of next week's Parashah, which is Parashat Pinchas. We continue to be mindful of all the hostages who remain in Gaza, the dead and the living, may they be restored to their families immediately. 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.

What is your relationship with the L-rd? How can you utilize your trials? Join guest speaker and member of Congregation Beth Hallel, Godfrey Gad, as he breaks down the multiple facets of our relationship with G-d, particularly how He is a Father and King, and how we can navigate this complexity. While G-d is our Father and we can come to Him anytime, by knowing His love we are able to recognize Him as sovereign. Shabbat Shalom!John 16.33; Matthew 16.13; Daniel 11.32; John 1.12; Galatians 4.6; Romans 8.14-16; Revelation 4.8-10; Matthew 5.11-12; Revelation 2.10; 1 Peter 5.2-3Prayer Requests or send an email to info@bethhallel.orgCBH WebsiteDonateYouTube Channel

Numbers 19:1-22:1Judges 11:1-33JOHN 3:1-21lets humble ourselvesbefore ADONAI .... YES BE GRATEFUL!

The Torah tells us in this week's parashah, Chukat, that the nation of Kena'an waged war against Bnei Yisrael. Rashi explains that they weren't actually Kena'anim, but Amalekim who disguised themselves as Kena'anim. Their goal was that when the Jews would pray to Hashem to save them from Kena'an, their prayers would go unanswered—because in reality, the attackers were Amalek. The next pasuk says that the Jews made a neder: if Hashem would help them succeed in the war, they would donate all the spoils to Him. And indeed, the next pasuk states: וַיִּשְׁמַע ה׳ בְּקוֹל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּתֵּן אֶת־הַכְּנַעֲנִי וַיַּחֲרֵם אֶתְהֶם וְאֶת־עָרֵיהֶם וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם־הַמָּקוֹם חָרְמָה Hashem heard their voice, gave them victory, and they fulfilled their promise by dedicating everything to Him. We find a similar idea with Yaakov Avinu when he fled from Esav. He made vows to Hashem in the merit of being protected. Although in general Chazal discourage making nederim, they allow it in times of distress. The Gemara in Masechet Eruvin (64a) learns from the vow the Jews made regarding their war against Amalek the tremendous power of using one's money for mitzvot in order to receive Hashem's extra mercy. The Gemara explains that if a convert passes away without any heirs, his possessions become ownerless. If someone acquires them and suddenly becomes wealthy, that wealth is at risk due to ayin hara. But if he uses part of it for a mitzvah, like buying a sefer Torah, the mitzvah protects the rest of the wealth. Another opinion says this also applies to someone who marries a woman who brings a large dowry into the marriage; he should use part of that money for mitzvot to guard it. A third opinion adds that even someone who profits handsomely from a business deal should invest part of the earnings in mitzvot to protect the rest from ayin hara. A final opinion mentions a sofer who writes tefillin. Rashi explains that even buying tefillin helps guard the wealth. However, the Maharsha explains differently: even a sofer who doesn't make much must use part of his earnings for mitzvot. Why? Although he may not have ayin hara on him, he might think his parnasah is coming from his skill and beautiful handwriting, forgetting that Hashem is the One giving him success. That attitude— כֹּחִי וְעֹצֶם יָדִי עָשָׂה לִי אֶת הַחַיִל הַזֶּה —can itself be a danger. To counter that, he must give some of his earnings to Hashem to express true recognition that He is providing. The Maharsha explains this is why the Gemara uses the case of Bnei Yisrael's war with Amalek as a proof rather than Yaakov's flight from Esav. In war, they could have believed it was their own strength that brought the victory. But they showed they knew it came from Hashem by pledging everything to Him. And this is why the Pasuk uses the words אם נתן תתן regarding the Jewish people's vow. Meaning אם נתן -if it will look like things are happening on their own in the natural way of the world, then please Hashem, תתן - we want to recognize that you are the One giving us the victory. The Me'iri writes similarly: people with yirat shamayim constantly reflect that their success comes only from Hashem. That awareness makes them enthusiastic to use what they have in Hashem's service. May we always remember that all we have and achieve is from Hashem, and may our recognition fill us with sincere hakarat ha-tov that drives us to give back with open hearts. Shabbat Shalom.

On our special July 4th podcast, we share how intercession was behind the events of the writing of America's national anthem.  Listen to this story, and that song will never be the same to you.  

Every single good deed—and even a good thought—in Avodat Hashem is incredibly precious. When a person sees in the future the immense reward given for even the smallest intention, he will wish he had done more. Sometimes, even one thought of teshuvah can change everything. In this week's parashah, we read about the earth opening up and swallowing all those who joined in Korach's rebellion. Yet the Torah tells us that the sons of Korach did not die. Chazal explain that at the very last second, just before they were swallowed, they had a thought of teshuvah—and that alone saved them. The Midrash emphasizes that they didn't even have enough time to speak a word of repentance. Hashem accepted their teshuvah based solely on a thought. In last week's parashah, we learned that Kalev was promised he would enter the Land and that his children would receive an inheritance there. Rav Moshe Feinstein, in Darash Moshe , asks what Kalev did to earn such a great reward. He answers that when Kalev spoke up against the spies and expressed Emunah that Hashem could bring them into the land, for a brief moment the Jewish people believed him. Although they quickly reverted to fear and doubt, that fleeting moment of emunah was considered a moment of teshuvah. It was so precious that it brought great merit—not just to the people—but to Kalev himself as their source of inspiration. We should never underestimate anything we do in our service of Hashem. It is never "all or nothing." Every small act counts. A man shared that he had been walking with his friend Chaim, when Chaim's phone rang with a reminder that his hour of shemirat halashon was about to begin. The man found it odd—why keep it for only one hour if we are obligated to guard our speech all the time? Chaim explained that of course we try to keep these halachot at all times, but even setting aside one hour of extra vigilance is extremely valuable. It's a way to strengthen ourselves and build up consistency. Every extra moment of self-control is meaningful. Chaim then told a story he knew firsthand. His parents' neighbor, Nitzan, once called him asking for guidance on how to become fully observant. Until then, Nitzan had not kept mitzvot but said that something happened that completely changed his outlook. A few months prior, he had decided to keep a small part of Shabbat—from midnight on Friday night until 10 a.m. Shabbat morning. People laughed at him when they heard this, thinking it strange and inconsistent, but he felt it was a meaningful step he could take. He kept his commitment seriously. On one Friday night, he was out driving with friends and saw that it was 11:30 p.m. He told them firmly that no matter where they were, he would be getting out of the car at 11:50. His friends tried to persuade him to stay with them until around 12:15, but he wouldn't budge. At 11:50, he stepped out of the car and turned off his phone. He was far from home, so he slept on a bench and planned to take a taxi at 10 a.m. when his personal observance of Shabbat would end. When he got home the next morning, his parents were overwhelmed with joy and tears. They had just heard that the car he had been in the night before was in a devastating accident. Everyone in the car had died. They thought he had been with them. He told them that it was his decision to keep even a small part of Shabbat that had saved his life. That moment became a turning point for Nitzan. He decided from then on that he wanted to become fully observant. Every little act in Avodat Hashem matters. Even a moment of restraint, a fleeting thought of teshuvah, or a limited commitment can be the key to transformation—or even salvation. We can never underestimate the power and value of the smallest efforts or intentions. Shabbat Shalom

As we discussed all week about the Lord's covenant with the Land of Israel and its people, we have a testimony of one of those sheep coming into the Kingdom.  Listen in and let it elevate your intercession to see the Word fulfilled.  

June 27th, 2025Join Monte Judah as he looks at the state of the world and the Holy Land. Monte Judah breaks down Israel's bold strike on Iran ends in ceasefire. Trump's leadership lauded; Gaza back in focus. What it means prophetically for the Messianic world.See the full episode athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEZisoBr-U4https://lionandlamb.tv/programs/messianic-world-update-62725-45964d00:00 - Shalom and Introduction01:15 - War Ends: Israel-Iran Ceasefire Announced03:05 - B2 Bombers Strike Iranian Nuclear Sites05:40 - U.S. Navy Joins with Tomahawk Missile Strike07:10 - Iran's Failed Retaliation and Face-Saving Move09:00 - Trump Announces Victory, Media Reacts11:15 - Leaked Intelligence Report Causes Stir13:05 - Mossad Confirms Site Was Obliterated15:20 - Iranian Regime in Crisis: Arrests and Executions17:30 - Prophetic Impact: Israel Now a Regional Superpower19:45 - Political Backlash in the U.S.22:00 - Democrats Accuse Trump Despite Victory24:15 - Anti-Israel Sentiment in American Politics26:00 - IDF Refocuses on Gaza and Hamas28:15 - Hostage Recoveries and IDF Losses29:40 - Humanitarian Crisis: Hamas Steals Aid31:05 - Supporting Israel: Leket Food Program Appeal32:15 - Upcoming Feast of Tabernacles Event in Oklahoma34:10 - Final Thoughts and Prophetic Encouragement35:25 - Shabbat Shalom and Closing Blessing

How do you intentionally serve others? Do you talk the talk or walk the walk? Join guest speaker Rabbi Stewart Winograd of Reach Initiative International as he spurs us to action by encouraging compassion and to be consistent in how we love others in any situation. It is important to avoid a lack of dependability by coupling anointing with spiritual character through practice and discipline. Shabbat Shalom!John 3.16; Ephesians 5.1-2; Luke 19.10; Matthew 25.34-40; Acts 1.8; Romans 10.1Prayer Requests or send an email to info@bethhallel.orgCBH WebsiteDonateYouTube Channel

Shabbat Weekly Reflection

The pasuk in this week's Parashat Shelach tells us that the Meraglim (spies) came to a place called נחל אשכול , the Valley of the Cluster, and there they removed a massive cluster of grapes. This enormous cluster was later used to frighten the Jewish people, as the spies described the giants who inhabited the land and implied that Bnei Yisrael had no chance of conquering it. Then the pasuk says the place was named אשכול —"Cluster"—because of the cluster they took. But the Sefer Minchat Ani asks an important question: it seems the place was already called נחל אשכול before the cluster was taken, as the Torah says they arrived at the Valley of Eshkol before picking the grapes. The Midrash resolves this by explaining that the place was already called Eshkol, all the way back to the time of Avraham Avinu. The Midrash quotes the pasuk " מגיד מראשית אחרית "—Hashem reveals the end from the beginning—and teaches us that Hashem sees the past, present, and future all at once. One of Avraham's close companions was named Eshkol, and Hashem placed that name in the minds of Eshkol's parents because of the future cluster that would be taken by the Meraglim in that very location. But this raises an obvious question: why? Why would Hashem cause a man to be named "Eshkol" because of an event that would occur hundreds of years later? The Minchat Ani brings another Midrash that sheds light on this. When Avraham was commanded to perform a brit milah , he consulted his three friends. Aner told him not to do it—he was too old to harm himself. Eshkol warned that if he did it, he would be weakened and vulnerable to attack. But the third friend, Mamre, encouraged him, saying: "The same Hashem who saved you from the fiery furnace, from the four kings, from famine—He is now commanding you. He will protect you." This powerful moment became a lesson passed down through generations. Every Jewish child would grow up learning how Avraham courageously performed the brit milah , how Mamre showed emunah , and how Aner and Eshkol doubted. And now, centuries later, that same test returned. The Meraglim echoed the voices of Aner and Eshkol, casting doubt on Hashem's power to bring them safely into Eretz Yisrael. They cut the Eshkol—the very cluster that symbolized the mistake of the man Eshkol from generations before. And just like Mamre, Caleb stood up and proclaimed his emunah , telling the people that Hashem, who had always protected them, would continue to do so. Hashem arranged it all—placing the Meraglim at the same site as Eshkol's legacy, giving them a chance to correct the mistake of the past. This wasn't random. Their test had been developing for centuries. Nothing in this world happens by chance. Every test a person faces is custom-designed by Hashem, planned with precision before that person even enters the world. We have no idea how much our actions matter, how intentional each situation is, and how carefully Hashem prepares our challenges. In the case of the Meraglim , Hashem gave them every opportunity to succeed. He placed them at Nachal Eshkol , at the exact site where history had already taught the lesson they needed to learn. But they failed. Still, the message for us remains: Tests are given to make us great. Hashem not only gives us challenges, but also provides us with the strength, wisdom, and circumstances to overcome them. Every test we face is hand-tailored to help us grow, elevate ourselves, and earn eternal reward. If we internalize this, we'll face our own tests with clarity and strength. And with Hashem's help, we'll overcome them—and fulfill our unique mission in this world. Shabbat Shalom.

On today's supernatural Friday podcast, we share a story from an actor on "The Chosen" and how a supernatural encounter moved him out of darkness and into his purpose.  

Rashi writes at the beginning of this week's parasha, Beha'alotecha , when Aharon saw all of the Nasi'im bringing big donations to the inauguration of the Mishkan, חלשה דעתו – he felt bad that he did not have a part in them. Hashem told Aharon שלך גדול משלהם – your portion is better than theirs. Your job will be to light the Menorah and prepare the wicks . How is that better? Some of the ba'aleh mussar explain the give and take as follows. Aharon saw how others were serving Hashem and he felt bad that he couldn't serve Hashem like they were. Hashem told Aharon, I don't get impressed by how big a donation is or by what it consists of. What impresses Hashem is that each person does the job that He wants them to do – שלך גדולה – you have to consider your job the greatest job of all because only you could do it and nobody else could. Sometimes we look around at what others are accomplishing and we feel bad that we aren't doing the same. Everybody has a different job in this world to do. It does not matter what others are doing. What matters is if we are doing what we are capable of doing. Hashem loves each and every person's avodah , not because of what it is but because of who it is coming from. Even if someone has been underachieving in the past, Hashem is waiting, kavayachol, with open arms to once again become close with him. Whatever we do He adores and when we want to get closer, Hashem helps us do it. Rabbi Yechiel Spero told a story about a young couple who moved to Baltimore. On their first Shabbat as newlyweds, the bride Sarah escorted her husband to shul on Friday night. As she was sitting in the ladies' section, she noticed it was messy and decided to clean it up and organize it. While she was putting away the siddurim on the bookshelf, she saw a tefillin bag buried underneath a bunch of objects. Sarah took it and put it on a noticeable shelf so the one who it belonged to would be easily able to find it. After she finished cleaning, she admired what she did and decided to come back and do it every week. She noticed week after week the tefillin were always in that spot she put them in. She came back on a weeknight and took a picture of the bag and put up a sign with her number saying, whoever knows whose tefillin these are should please call her. She then took the tefillin to her house for safekeeping. Weeks later, she got a phone call from a woman who said she recognized the name on the bag. She was almost positive that it belonged to her old neighbor's son. That family had moved to Israel five years earlier. Although she hadn't spoken to them in years, she did have their phone number and happily gave it to Sarah. When Sarah called, the phone rang twice and then was declined, so she left a message. Two minutes later, Sarah's phone rang - it was the woman in Israel. After Sarah told her about her experience with the tefillin , she asked this woman if by any chance those tefillin belonged to her son. She heard silence on the line and then some muffled cries. Then the woman began to speak. "My son had gone off the derech 5 years ago. He struggled terribly and stopped wearing his tefillin . Our relationship has been extremely strained. We speak once or twice a year when he needs something. Today, my son called me and said, 'Mom, I want to come home. I am going to start praying again. Do you know where my tefillin are?' While he was asking me that question, your phone number came across my screen. I told him I would find them. Then I heard your message saying you had them." Hashem loves our avodah so much. Even a boy who was off the derech for 5 years, when he wanted to put his tefillin on again, Hashem orchestrated the events with amazing hashgacha to have them ready and waiting at that exact moment. Shabbat Shalom.

Join us today for our supernatural Friday Podcast as we share a testimony of a family facing a hopeless crisis with their baby.  In this story, the doctors gave no hope, but God.  Listen in and be encouraged for your situation.  

At the end of this week's Parashat Naso , the Torah goes into great detail describing the donations brought by the Nesi'im to inaugurate the Mishkan. Remarkably, each Nasi brought the exact same offering, yet the Torah repeats the full list of items again and again—spanning about 56 pesukim . Why such repetition? The Torah is teaching us a profound lesson: Hashem treasures the efforts of every individual . Even when people perform a mitzvah as part of a group, Hashem values the actions of each person separately. In a shul, there might be hundreds of people reciting the same words, but to Hashem, every word uttered by each person is uniquely precious. There is no such thing as Hashem getting "bored" of repetition. He cherishes everything we say and everything we do—every tefillah, every act of kindness, every mitzvah. The same applies when we experience His presence in our lives. Even when similar moments of hashgachah peratit repeat, each one feels new and meaningful. We're often moved by others' stories of hashgachah , and they awaken in us a desire to see Hashem's hand in our own lives too. Sometimes, we think: Those stories are inspiring, but they never happen to me. Yet we are encouraged to always hope and pray that they do. About a month ago, a story circulated about a chatan who wished to feel his late father's presence at his wedding. Miraculously, around that time, someone from Israel arrived in New York with a letter that the chatan's father had written decades earlier. Through an incredible sequence of events, the letter ended up in the hands of this chatan —dated with the exact date of his wedding. The letter, addressed to a chatan on his wedding day, was written by his father years earlier on that very same Hebrew date. The message felt as though it had come directly from his father, offering blessings from shamayim . This story was shared at a siyyum on Masechet Bava Metzia . In the crowd sat a man named *Yaakov. Hearing the story, he silently wished that he too could receive something from his late father, who had passed away over 20 years ago. The very next day, as Yaakov opened his mail, he noticed an envelope that looked like another routine request. But inside, to his astonishment, was a handwritten letter—written by his father 50 years earlier to a close friend. That friend had just discovered the letter while cleaning for Pesach and thought it would be meaningful to send it to the son of his old friend. Yaakov was overwhelmed. He couldn't stop reading the letter. As he reached the bottom, he noticed a few words written in the opposite direction—a postscript from his father asking his friend where he was up to in Masechet Bava Metzia . Yaakov was stunned. He had just returned from a siyyum on Bava Metzia , where he had wished for a message from his father. Still in disbelief, Yaakov went to his sefarim shelf and opened his Gemara Bava Metzia . Inside was a sticky note marking that he still had to complete pages 50 through 54. It was as if his father was reminding him: Your siyyum isn't complete yet—finish it properly. In that moment, he felt a powerful connection, a personal hashgachah that touched his soul. Yes, the stories we hear really can happen to us. Hashem treasures everything we do, and we are uplifted when we recognize His presence in our lives. May we always feel close to Hashem. May we always sense His guidance. And may we continue to be inspired by the miracles—big and small—that surround us every day. Shabbat Shalom.