Podcasts about shema

The Rebbe encourages the writer not to fear people and to strengthen trust in Hashem. He advises increasing Torah and mitzvot to receive blessings and gives practical guidance for the wife's distress, including checking mezuzot, giving tzedakah, and reciting Shema before sleep. He expresses joy at the writer's participation in the Chag HaGeulah. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/015/012/5625

Hi Adik-adik, selamat merenungkan Firman Tuhan ya! Doa kami, Adik-adik semakin dekat dengan Yesus, Tuhan dan Juruselamat pribadi kita. Tetap terus terhubung dengan Tuhan Yesus ya melalui doa dan saat teduh setiap hari, seperti carang yang melekat pada Sang Pokok.Renungan Audio ini dibuat untuk anak-anak layan GKI Kebayoran Baru. Pada edisi Juli 2025, renungan masih didasari oleh Saat Teduh Anak Raja (STAR) terbitan Binawarga.............................................................Edisi 30 JULI 2025Pembaca Renungan : Benny PosposMusik : Andreas TakdareProduksi : Tim Shema - Podcast Anak GKIKBPenanggung jawab : Komisi Anak GKI Kebayoran Baru

Hi Adik-adik, selamat merenungkan Firman Tuhan ya! Doa kami, Adik-adik semakin dekat dengan Yesus, Tuhan dan Juruselamat pribadi kita. Tetap terus terhubung dengan Tuhan Yesus ya melalui doa dan saat teduh setiap hari, seperti carang yang melekat pada Sang Pokok.Renungan Audio ini dibuat untuk anak-anak layan GKI Kebayoran Baru. Pada edisi Juli 2025, renungan masih didasari oleh Saat Teduh Anak Raja (STAR) terbitan Binawarga.............................................................Edisi 29 JULI 2025Pembaca Renungan : LIke AssaMusik : Andreas TakdareProduksi : Tim Shema - Podcast Anak GKIKBPenanggung jawab : Komisi Anak GKI Kebayoran Baru

Love and Torah – what's love got to do with it? This study series is based on the “Two Great Commands” – love Yahweh and love your neighbor. As he begins this lesson, Rabbi Steve Berkson explains that in the Christian world, it is just love and no Torah, and then asks the question, “What does that look like?” He explains that your expression of love toward the Creator is submission, as Messiah Yeshua said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” What does the movie Charlie & the Chocolate Factory have to do with the Kingdom of Elohim? Rabbi Berkson then turns to Psalm 119 to show us the heart of King David and what he wrote about his love for the Torah of Yahweh. Rabbi Berkson once again dissects the words in these passages so that you will have a deeper understanding of what Yah expects of you, so that you can do it and receive the blessings. To learn more about MTOI, please visit our website at https://mtoi.org. https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwide https://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Satan's Place in Heaven Let's start with our familiar text: Awake, O north wind, And come, wind of the south; Make my garden breathe out fragrance, Let its spices be wafted abroad. May my beloved come into his garden And eat its choice fruits!” (So 4:16) This call to “Awake, O North” is thought to encompass three distinct calls recorded in 1. Jeremiah 31:7-8 (exiles of Israel), 2. Isaiah 41:25 (Messiah) 3. Gog and Magog (Ezek 38:2) Why are Gog and and Magog are so attracted to “the beloved city” and its inhabitants to want to destroy them at least twice in Biblical history? Last week's study of the yetzer ha-ra, or evil inclination, as it pertains to satan, was a key piece to the answer. If we can understand that the power of satan is strong against the holy things of this earth, that will explain it. It does need to the be strong to cultivate evil from the wicked. They are already his willing subjects. It is the holy who require him to exert his maximum strength. This sounds incredible, but Scripture reinforces this Jewish principle: “The evil inclination, as a general rule, gravitates toward holiness, and functions at its greatest strength where holiness resides...Evidently, it is because the forces of evil concentrate their greatest efforts on enticing the righteous, those people most deeply immersed in holiness.” (Midrash Rabbah to Shir HaShirim 5§4) WHAT? You're telling me that if I pursue holiness by obedience to the commandments that I make a bigger target? I put that in all caps because we always seem so surprised and indignant when bad things obstruct our pursuit of the Word. I'm not usually an all-caps writer. More than one question mark is just a bridge too far, though. I don't think I've ever had a peeve as a pet, but if I did want a pet peeve, that would probably be it. Multiple question marks instead of one. Only one per interrogative. Please. So, yes, Scripture suggests that holiness acts like a magnet to evil. Even more perplexing, sometimes the Ruach HaKodesh leads us to the place or situation to be be tested in the Word. Here are a few examples of the principle: “I was watching Satan fall from Heaven” (Lk 10:18) “...there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.” (Re 12:7-9) “And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.” (Re 12:13; 16, 17) “the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.” (Job 1:6) e. “...a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, ‘These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.' She continued doing this for many days.” Acts 16:16-18; 8:9-18) f. “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Mt 4:1) When Scripture identifies the intense effort to sabotage the righteous ones and the Holy City Jerusalem, then it is quite evident that the dragon's desire to dominate the heavens is still strong even when bound! For that reason, the satan, the evil imagination, must be bound in our daily lives. It does not go away...it is bound. Disciplined. Exercised authority over. How do the pre and post millennial battles with Gog of Magog (the wicked among the nations, “Amalek”) relate to the texts of Shir HaShirim 4:16 and 5:1? Both attack the Garden-ruled Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Song of Songs 4:16 invites the awakening of the Anointed One to execute the process of the resurrection of the righteous dead and the purging of the wicked, including the satan. He will be bound and tossed into the Abyss, which will be sealed over him for 1,000 years. That's important. If he is only bound or imprisoned by the Holy One, then we cannot try to kill it.

On today's show, Episode 181, this is the SECOND PART of a discussion that I had with Professional Mechanical Engineer Andrew Hoy about the biblical Hebrew Ohel Mo'ed – the tabernacle or the tent of Elohim (“God”) as described in the Bible in Exodus Chapters 26 and 27. As a professional mechanical engineer and the son of a professor of mechanical engineering, Andrew Hoy approached the subject of the tabernacle structure with exacting attention to detail, drawing on his knowledge of Hebrew, textual biblical evidence, and the mathematical constant referred to as 3.14, commonly known as “pi.” What Andrew discovered in the Exodus Hebrew texts challenged him to reconsider the traditional tabernacle model and to begin accepting the textual biblical evidence showing that the Israelite Tent or Tabernacle was a circular structure with a dome-shaped design. Join me for the second part of our discussion about what Andrew discovered about the biblical tabernacle and why the information is so vital to our Hebraic and Messianic Torah Walk of Faith.

Part 3 is a followup to parts 1 and 2 since 'nothing happened yet.  Plus some interesting things to note about the Septuagint version of Daniel 9:25-27. Is the dire straits SOME YEAR a possible time to watch for events surrounding the rebuilding of Jerusalem to begin especially since the dire straits always follow the 2nd counting of the Omer.  In today's followup we just look at interesting possibilities but it is always a great time to be 'watching' for the fulfillment of biblical prophecies so that we are not 'caught unawares'.

This week's annual cycle Torah reading is parsha "Pinchas," Numbers 30:2 through chapter 32) and - in part at least - it wraps up one of the mysteries in the Torah, how can a people so blessed of YHVH fall so quickly into idolatry, and beset by 'plague?' But there is far more, and the issue of "vows" literally envelops the narrative. As it still does today. The Erev Shabbat reading: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SSM-7-25-25-Matot-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3 The Sabbath Day midrash is at attempt to connect a collection of dots that range from broken vows and lying prophets to bioweaponry and ELE asteroid impacts. The prophet Bilaam really wanted to curse the mixed multitude of Israel, but was explicitly forbidden to do so, on pain of death - as he learned "the hard way." Only "the word that Elohim puts in my mouth, that I shall speak." And yet, like so many ancient popes and modern traitors in politics, he thought he was smarter than God Himself, and could find a "workaround." It cost him. Today we don't have a Moses to "hang 'em high," or a Pinchas to literally run them through, 'en flagrante delecto,' with a spear. Which only makes the potential consequences all the more deadly. And imminent. "Matot: From Vows and Oaths to Lying Prophets and then Treason - to Plagues and Planet X" https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/WT-CooH-7-26-25-Matot-Broken-Vows-Lying-Prophets-Treason-and-Planet-X-podcast-xxx.mp3 The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:

Hi Adik-adik, selamat merenungkan Firman Tuhan ya! Doa kami, Adik-adik semakin dekat dengan Yesus, Tuhan dan Juruselamat pribadi kita. Tetap terus terhubung dengan Tuhan Yesus ya melalui doa dan saat teduh setiap hari, seperti carang yang melekat pada Sang Pokok.Renungan Audio ini dibuat untuk anak-anak layan GKI Kebayoran Baru. Pada edisi Juli 2025, renungan masih didasari oleh Saat Teduh Anak Raja (STAR) terbitan Binawarga.............................................................Edisi 28 JULI 2025Pembaca Renungan : Endang HidayantiMusik : Andreas TakdareProduksi : Tim Shema - Podcast Anak GKIKBPenanggung jawab : Komisi Anak GKI Kebayoran Baru

Joseph Bell was born Jewish and raised in Conservative Judaism in his hometown of Newton, Massachusetts (a suburb of Boston). At the age of 29, through a friend's loving encouragement, Joe finally relented to read the New Testament. He then recognized how very Jewish the New Testament is. Through a miraculous work of the Lord, Joe asked Yeshua to come into his life. Joe committed his life to Jesus and immediately dove into serving the Lord. Jews for Jesus invited him to study theology with Dr. Louis Goldberg and train as an evangelist; thus Joe began his formal ministry training in New York City — leading over 100 people to faith in Jesus that summer. In 2007 Joe received full ordination as a Jewish Rabbi by IAMCS[International Association of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues]. Joe currently serves as Executive Director of For Zion's Sake Ministries and as Rabbi of Ari Yehudah Messianic Congregation in the town of Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia.

This weekend on "The Chosen People," Mitch Glaser and Robert Walter equip you to share about God's triune nature with Jewish people. Learn how this biblical doctrine is embedded in the Hebrew Scriptures and foreshadowed in famous passages like the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4–5).

Hi Adik-adik, selamat merenungkan Firman Tuhan ya! Doa kami, Adik-adik semakin dekat dengan Yesus, Tuhan dan Juruselamat pribadi kita. Tetap terus terhubung dengan Tuhan Yesus ya melalui doa dan saat teduh setiap hari, seperti carang yang melekat pada Sang Pokok.Renungan Audio ini dibuat untuk anak-anak layan GKI Kebayoran Baru. Pada edisi Juli 2025, renungan masih didasari oleh Saat Teduh Anak Raja (STAR) terbitan Binawarga.............................................................Edisi 26 JULI 2025Pembaca Renungan : Endang HidayantiMusik : Andreas TakdareProduksi : Tim Shema - Podcast Anak GKIKBPenanggung jawab : Komisi Anak GKI Kebayoran Baru

Hi Adik-adik, selamat merenungkan Firman Tuhan ya! Doa kami, Adik-adik semakin dekat dengan Yesus, Tuhan dan Juruselamat pribadi kita. Tetap terus terhubung dengan Tuhan Yesus ya melalui doa dan saat teduh setiap hari, seperti carang yang melekat pada Sang Pokok.Renungan Audio ini dibuat untuk anak-anak layan GKI Kebayoran Baru. Pada edisi Juli 2025, renungan masih didasari oleh Saat Teduh Anak Raja (STAR) terbitan Binawarga.............................................................Edisi 27 JULI 2025Pembaca Renungan : Endang HidayantiMusik : Andreas TakdareProduksi : Tim Shema - Podcast Anak GKIKBPenanggung jawab : Komisi Anak GKI Kebayoran Baru

Mark Call takes a look at one what may be one of the most important weeks of real news the nation's history, ending Saturday, 26 July, 2025.

It is now not only obvious, but eminently provable that Obama and the Deep State "intel community" committed treason. The only remaining question is whether or not the concept of "justice," and the Rule of Law, is even a factor in AmeriKa-with-a-K. But the related question that host Mark Call asks today is, do we understand why "good faith" once mattered? When people not only violate their oaths before God, but pat themselves on the back for doing so, and then are rewarded for their treachery - the Rule of Law is dead. "A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable." -- Cicero So what then happens... "When Good Faith becomes Just Plain EVIL"

A good title for today's show is easy: "Let's Talk Treason!"

News and commentary for Thursday, 24 July, 2025.

1) In the 1 st brocho before Shema each morning we quote from Tehillim that HaShem creates the “large luminaries”. Ostensibly that creation was only short-term? 2) Some Poskim advise us to keep wearing our Tefilin until after Oleinu. Would that also be fulfilled if I switch Rashi Tefilin to RTs sometime before Oleinu? 3) In addition to the Challos being covered, is there an issue re. other foods being exposed on the Shabbos table before Kiddush? 4) On the Shabbos that is Erev Tisha b'Av, may I take a Fast-Aid tablet – to ease my fast on the following day? 5) Whilst reciting Shmoine Esrei I realized that I'm facing the wrong direction. What should I do now? 6) Some men come to our Chabad House wearing shorts. May we give them an Aliya? 7) Is carrying permitted within a city park that is totally enclosed by a fence? 8) Frum publications write G-d rather spell out in full. Does that rule apply to books too or only to newspaper articles – since they typically end up in trash? 9) Feedback re. Head-Tefilin being exactly centered; Gasos or Dakos: 10) Feedback re. Wine-Pops or Grape-Juice-Pops: a) Commercial ones are just chemicals; b) What about the after-brocho?

Angels don't have free will—so whats so impressive about a "robot" doing Hashem's bidding?

News and commentary for Wednesday, 23 July, 2025. And this may in fact be one of the most important news shows I've ever done, and certainly one of the most important events - if it includes the necessary follow-through - in American history: For the first time ever, a sitting US President, with the assurance of ample documentation, rightfully accused a former president of Treason. And there are a LOT of "dots to connect."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Thank you for joining me today and following us throughout Project 23. If you would like to learn more about this project, click the link to discover more and partner with us. Our text today is Mark 12:28-34: And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. — Mark 12:28-34 In a moment filled with debates and trick questions, one man dares to ask something sincere: "What's the most important commandment?" That's the right question. And Jesus doesn't hesitate. He quotes the Shema from Deuteronomy 6—words every Jewish boy and girl had memorized: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. That's it. That's the whole law in two lines. Love vertically. Love horizontally. The man nods. He gets it. He says it back to Jesus, and Jesus replies: "You are not far from the kingdom." We complicate faith. Jesus simplifies it. It's not about rules or rituals. Not about knowledge or appearances. It's about love—real love. Do you love God with your whole being? Do you love people as you love yourself? That's the measuring stick—not how much you know, but how well you love. And it's convicting, because most of us are pretty good at loving ourselves. We think about ourselves. Protect ourselves. Excuse ourselves. But Jesus says: That same energy you give yourself? Give it to others. And more than that—give all of yourself to God. The love God wants is total. Not partial. Not occasional. Not reserved. All of it. This command doesn't leave room for compartmentalized faith. It pulls everything into the light: affections, thoughts, decisions, actions. So live all in for him who lived all in for you. #GreatestCommandment, #Mark12, #LoveGodLovePeople ASK THIS: Why does Jesus say these two commands summarize the whole law? Which area of love is hardest for you—heart, soul, mind, or strength? Who is someone God may be calling you to love more intentionally? What does “not far from the kingdom” mean in your life? DO THIS: Ask God to show you where your love for Him has grown thin, and who around you needs the love you've been withholding. PRAY THIS: God, help me love you with all that I am—and love others the way you love me. Let my faith be full of real love, not empty religion. Amen. PLAY THIS: “The Heart of Worship”

News and commentary for Tuesday, 22 July, 2025.

1-12凶惡園戶的比喻。1｢樓｣:看守葡萄園用的瞭望台。 13-17納稅給該撒｣的問題。13｢希律黨的人｣:參3:6註。 18-27復活的問題。18｢撒督該人｣:多為祭司和貴族，不信復活和靈界，崇敬摩西。26｢荊棘篇｣:神在荊棘火焰中向摩西顯現的經文(出3:1-6)。 28-34最大誡命的問題。29-30｢以色列啊…愛主你的神｣:申6:4-5，通稱“示瑪“ (Shema)，猶太人每天早晚念誦。31｢愛人如己｣：引自利19:18。 35-37論基督的神人二性。36：｢主｣指神。｢我主｣指基督。基督是神也是人，人性上是｢大衛的子孫｣；神性上是｢大衛的主｣(參羅一3~4)。 38-40論假冒為善的人。38｢長衣｣：紳士階層的標誌。 41-44稱讚寡婦的奉獻。42｢小錢｣：是當時最小的猶太銅幣。｢大錢｣：價值最低的羅馬銅幣，馬可對其外邦讀者解釋幣值。

News and commentary for Monday, 21 July, 2025. Finally, the topic is TREASON. And it's about time.

Love and Torah – what's love got to do with it? This study series is based on the “Two Great Commands” – love Yahweh and love your neighbor. In this episode, Rabbi Steve Berkson takes us to the book of Psalms, starting in Psalm 11. He points out the contrast between two types of people – those who are called “the wrong”, and “the upright”. Yahweh loves those who pursue righteousness, doing what He has determined is right, and He hates those who know to do right, but don't. Then, moving to Psalm 33, Rabbi Berkson shows us how Yahweh, because of His great love, created everything by the word of His mouth, His Torah. If that was not enough, He takes from His creation a group of humans and calls them His inheritance – those who love Him enough to walk in all of His ways. From there, Rabbi Berkson leads us into the 119th Psalm that was written by the man who was called the man after Yah's own heart. You can see this by the way King David wrote about the Torah of Yah and how he loved it and Him. Rabbi Berkson once again dissects the words in these passages so that you will have a deeper understanding of what Yah expects of you, so that you can do it and receive the blessings. To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org. https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwide https://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The Rage and Age of Gog and Magog Let's start with our familiar text: Awake, O north wind, And come, wind of the south; Make my garden breathe out fragrance, Let its spices be wafted abroad. May my beloved come into his garden And eat its choice fruits!” (So 4:16) This call to “Awake, O North” is thought to encompass three distinct calls recorded in 1. Jeremiah 31:7-8 (exiles of Israel), 2. Isaiah 41:25 (Messiah) 3. Gog and Magog (Ezek 38:2) Why are all three being called to "Awake" simultaneously? To awake in Scripture can have a few connotations. The contextual explanation is that there has been a period of inactivity, and the prophetic call is to arouse each group to action. Messiah will begin to gather the exiles who have aroused from a period of spiritual apathy, and simultaneously, Gog and Magog will awaken in that generation to create the chaos and darkness necessary to awaken Israel from spiritual "sleep." Because the gematria of Gog and Magog is 70 [Gimmel-Vav-Gimmel Vav-Mem-Gimmel-Vav-Gimmel, 3+6+3+6+40+3+6+3], they are thought to represent the symbolic 70 nations of the world, which will gather against both 1. Adonai and 2. Israel. Various commentaries make oblique references to Gog and Magog, but it will not be understood fully until the day arrives. Some say it is the descendants of Amalek among the nations. Amalek, from which King Agag arose, is the murderous spirit of Edom, or Rome, the fourth beast, headed by Babylon. In that sense, Gog (chief person) and Magog (his nation, people) has arisen in every generation to provoke the Holy One and people who trust in Him and obey Him. The Scriptures cited below reiterate that Gog and Magog are not a single ruler and nation, but a wicked remnant embedded among all nations. In some generations, they will rise up with enough strength and cunning to marshal huge numbers of the population to join their murderous schemes. The pre-millennial war will bring Israel to repentance, and Adonai Himself will destroy Gog and Magog with confusion, thunder, hail, blood, and lightning (Ezek 38-39). In other words, an amalgam of Egypt and Assyria's judgments. Psalm Two is traditionally associated with Gog of Magog: Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing?The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,“Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!” He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” (Ps 2:1-6) The commentators note that in this attack of Gog, it revisits an important precedent in Babel: at the tower of Bavel, the united conspirators agreed to attack Heaven itself. As a result, YHVH confused them, and the 70 languages of the nations were born. This is the traditional location of Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue. Amalek in the Torah portion Balak is referred to "first of the nations," in other words, the first to openly rebel against Heaven itself by attacking Israel in the wilderness; this "first" attack was also the first direct attack against Heaven since the "nation of mankind" attempted to penetrate it rebelliously at the Tower of Bavel. At the final attack of Gog from Magog, the nations will once again undertake to assemble and attack YHVH and Messiah DIRECTLY, thinking the Holy City Jerusalem has a “Patron” who will defend it. They believe this was the wicked Amalekite Haman's fallacy, attacking the Jews first instead of their God. Something will cause them to believe they have the wherewithal to wage war directly against YHVH and King Messiah. What do Gog and Magog have to do with the third “awakening” of the winds?

Host Mark Call takes a look back at some of the major events and incredible acts of self-immolation during still another of the most explosive weeks of the new administration, ending Saturday, 10 July, 2025. And still no real sign of the truly different kinds of 180's necessary to "repair the breach."

This week's annual cycle Torah reading is parsha "Pinchas," Numbers 25:10-30:1) and it contains what is sometimes perhaps one of the most perplexing stories in the Torah, that of the cohen or priest Pinchas, who runs through two open idolators with a spear, and is awarded the eternal "Covenant of Peace (Shalom)" by YHVH Himself for the effort. The Erev Shabbat reading: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SSM-7-18-25-Pinchas-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3 The Sabbath Day midrash is all about the 'apparent' contradiction. Actually, contradictions, plural: How can a man be given that eternal Covenant of Shalom for what some might call "murder"? And, given the context, and history, this is also a man who is often thought to be a "type and shadow" of the then-coming Messiah Himself. Can Pinchas somehow be a role model? And what are the parameters, the indications, for anyone else to do anything of the sort? No wonder it's been called "problematic." And yet the story is undeniable. The connections to the prophet Eliyahu, or Elijah, who was also notably "zealous" (the Hebrew word is the same, as Mark points out) for YHVH are dramatic, and referenced in both the haftorah selection, and even Paul's commentary in Romans 11. And Eliyahu, too, had a hand in the deaths of SO many pagan "priests of Baal." How do we connect these dots? "Pinchas: Yahuah's Covenant of Peace - at the Point of a Spear" https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/WT-CooH-7-19-25-Pinchas-Covenant-of-Peace-at-the-Point-of-a-Spear-podcast-xxx.mp3 The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:

Shmuel, currently the Director of Lech L'cha Discipleship Ministry, served as the Associate Pastor of Adonai Roi (The Lord is My Shepherd) Congregation before joining the team of Lech L'cha. Shmuel was born in Tel Aviv to Jewish parents who immigrated to Israel fromIndia. He attended a Messianic Congregation for much of his childhood,and became serious about his own faith when he was 15 and, at a youth camp, decided to give his life to the Lord.After graduating from high school, he served as a combat medic in the Israeli army on the Golan Heights and in Lebanon. Later, while majoring in Geography at Tel Aviv University, Shmuel was drawn to serving in summer camps with a strong aspiration to reach out to youth - knowing how important it is for this age group to have someone to challenge them in the Lord.  After working for several years in security for El Al (Israeli Airlines) and the Israeli Consulate in New York, Shmuel returned to Israel and began attending Adonai Roi Congregation in the spring of 2003. That same year, he was invited to become the Youth Pastor. Through meetings with other youth leaders from different congregations around Israel, Shmuel met Suzie, who is also a native-born Israeli. In 2006, they married and currently have four children: Together they continued to be involved in leading youth and young believers in the inter-congregational youth group Neged Hazerem (Against the Flow) gathering the youth of multiple congregations together for weekly events. They were also actively involved in Katzir (The Harvest) organizing nationwide youth camps. Shmuel and his family moved to Yad Hashmona, a Messianic village in the Judean hills a few years ago, and they are blessed to have him serve in Lech L'cha. Shmuel's passion is to disciple the next generation of believers in Israel, equipping them to continue in their God-given callings.

David Justice and Mark Call discuss the major events of the week, just how badly the Trump Administration has been damaged, and what may thus matter next.

News and commentary for Thursday, 17 July, 2025.

In just over a week, the incompetence and perfidy surrounding the botched "Epstein Hoax" has become as big a threat to the new administration as another assassination attempt. But it smells more like suicide. Host Mark Call suggests that the latest "Trump 180" is in fact so jarring that it's almost plausible to believe the man who ran so effectively for President on a platform antithetical to what has been happening lately is some type of body double, or AI replacement. And whatever the Truth might be, it sure looks like something big has come apart at the seams. There are vital considerations at play now: "From Complacency to Disillusionment - in less than 6 Months"

Does Hashem really need us? Yes—but only because He set it up that way. Rabbi Stark is currently giving the daily Hachzek mussar shiur. To access click the link below: WhatsApp Chat Free Sefer Hachzek App (Apple) Hachzek App (Google)

News and commentary for Wednesday, 16 July, 2025.

I. Core Concepts of God's Nature God as "Abba Father": Meaning of "Abba": A Hebrew word meaning "daddy," signifying an intimate and close relationship. Biblical Basis: Romans 8:14-16 and Galatians. Implications for Relationship: God does not withhold good things or do evil against His children. It implies full adoption rights, including the same inheritance as Jesus (co-heirs with Christ). Contrast with Human Perspective: The concept challenges traditional views of God as distant or formal. God is Love (Agape): Definition of Agape Love: Unconditional, independent of human actions, unmerited, and undeserved. Biblical Basis: 1 John 4:16 ("God is love"), John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world..."). Intensity of God's Love: Emphasized by the word "so" in John 3:16, leading to the ultimate sacrifice of His only begotten Son. "World" in John 3:16: Refers to the people of the world, not just the planet. Eternal Life (Zoe): Defined in John 17 as knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. It is a person, not just a concept or a place. God's Love in the Old Testament vs. New Testament: Old Testament Context: Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5): "O Israel, the Lord our God is one." The word "one" (echad) is a "uni-plural" word, implying a unified plurality (like "group" or "herd"), which the Jewish people often misunderstood as a strict singular, creating an obstacle to seeing Jesus as Son of God. Greatest Commandment: Love the Lord with all heart, soul, and strength. No one could perfectly keep this, highlighting the need for a Savior. Purpose of the Law: To make people conscious of sin and point them to a Savior (Romans 3:20, Law as a schoolmaster). Perception of God: Portrayed with anger and wrath (e.g., Flood, Sodom & Gomorrah, deaths under the Law). New Testament Context: New Commandment (John 13): Love one another as Jesus loved us (demonstrated through servant leadership like foot-washing). This supersedes the Old Testament law. Love as an Action Word: Not merely a feeling, but something demonstrated and done (e.g., Timothy caring for others in Philippians 2:20-21). Impact of Love: Fulfills the law (Romans 13:8), covers/obliterates a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), and drives out fear (1 John 4:18). The Finished Work of Christ: Jesus absorbed all God's wrath and judgment on the cross (John 12, Isaiah 53-54). God promises never to be angry with His people again (Isaiah 54). God's Provision: Everything needed for life and godliness is already provided (2 Peter 1). Faith receives what God has already provided, it doesn't move God. God's Nature in the New Covenant: God does not cause sickness, disease, or natural disasters; these are not "acts of God" in the sense of divine judgment against His children. He is for us, not against us (Romans 8). II. The Power and Practicality of God's Love Love Fulfills the Law and Covers Sin: Romans 13:8: Love fulfills the law, meaning there is no law against one who lives in love. 1 Peter 4:8: Love covers/obliterates a multitude of sins – God "remembers your sins no more" (Hebrews 8:12). God's Perception of Believers: Sees them as perfect, complete, lacking nothing through Christ. Love Drives Out Fear: 1 John 4:18: "Perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment." Receiving God's Perfect Love: As we receive His love, fear and anxiety are dispelled. Overcoming Fear: Through active participation (singing songs of deliverance, asking in faith). Perspective on Demons: They are powerless "maggots" that can deceive but not defeat. Our Identity and Acceptance in Christ: Accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6): The Greek word "charito" (highly favored/blessed) is applied to believers, just as it was to Mary. We are "the Beloved." Ephesians' Emphasis: Shows our identity, how we are blessed, forgiven, redeemed, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and seated with Christ in heavenly places. Knowing God's Love: It surpasses knowledge; it's an experience in the heart, not just a mental concept. Love Compels Our Actions: 2 Corinthians 5: The love of Christ compels us; our lives are no longer our own. Motives for Action: Not for personal gain, financial benefit, or praise of men, but out of care for others (like Timothy). Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15): A profound picture of the Father's unconditional love, compassion, eagerness to forgive, and restoration. The father ran, embraced (epipto – a bear hug), kissed (continuously), restored (ring, robe, sandals), and celebrated. He would not let the son even finish his repentant speech. Love is Preeminent: 1 John 4:19: "We love because he first loved us." God initiated the relationship. God's Foreknowledge and Orchestration: God knows who will choose Him and orchestrates their lives from the womb (Psalm 139). Goal: Discipleship: God's goal is to make disciples who can operate in His love and bless others (like the good ground in the parable of the sower). Remembering God's Interventions: Keep a "book of remembrance" of how God has supernaturally intersected your life. The Greatest of These is Love: While faith and hope are important, love is eternal and central to God's defining characteristic. How Love is Expressed (Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23): Joy in the Lord, Peace, Longsuffering (Patience), Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. Gentleness: A gentle answer turns away wrath. Self-Control: Speaking life, controlling appetites. Love Surpasses Understanding: Ephesians 3: God's love has immeasurable width, length, depth, and height, surpassing all knowledge. It is infinite in all directions, as is His forgiveness. Being Filled with the Fullness of God: Living out of our spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit within us to flow out in supernatural ways (healing, deliverance). Our Perfection in Christ: Our spirit is perfected the moment we are born again; sin cannot penetrate it (Hebrews 10:14, 1 John 3:9). This perfection is our witness to the world. God as Our Daddy: 1 John 3:1: "Behold what manner of love the Father (Abba) has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God." Receiving His Love: It is a gift to be received. II. Quiz What is the significance of the word "Abba" in understanding our relationship with God, and where in Scripture is it primarily found? Explain the concept of "agape" love as described in the source material. How does it differ from a conditional or earned love? How does the speaker differentiate the meaning of the word "world" in John 3:16, and what does he say eternal life (Zoe) truly means according to John 17? According to the source, what was the primary obstacle for Jewish people in the Old Testament to recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, related to their understanding of the Shema? What was the ultimate purpose of the Old Testament Law, and how did it demonstrate humanity's need for a Savior? Describe how Jesus's "new commandment" in John 13 supersedes the Old Testament law, and what specific action did Jesus perform to demonstrate this new commandment? How does the "finished work of Christ" change the perception of God's wrath and anger, particularly in relation to natural disasters? Explain the concept of "faith" as receiving what God has already provided. How does this differ from the idea of "moving God" through prayer or other actions? According to the source, how does God perceive believers after they accept Christ, and what happens to their past sins? Describe at least three actions of the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son that illustrate God's unconditional love and forgiveness. III. Quiz Answer Key "Abba" is a Hebrew word meaning "daddy," signifying an intimate and close relationship with God. It is primarily found in Romans 8:14-16 and Galatians, emphasizing that we have received a spirit of adoption, allowing us to cry out "Abba, Father." "Agape" love is described as unconditional, independent of human actions, unmerited, and undeserved favor of God. It means that we don't have to do anything to receive it; it is freely given once we become His child. The speaker states that the word "world" in John 3:16 refers to the people of the world, not just the planet. Eternal life (Zoe) is defined in John 17 as a person: knowing God the Father and Jesus whom He sent. The primary obstacle was their misunderstanding of the Hebrew word "echad" (one) in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4). While a singular word, it has a plural meaning (like "group" or "herd"), but they interpreted it as strictly singular, preventing them from seeing Jesus as the Son of God. The Old Testament Law's purpose was to make people conscious of their sin (Romans 3:20) and to point them to a Savior. Its impossible standards, such as being perfect as God is perfect, demonstrated that no one could keep it, highlighting the universal need for a redeemer. Jesus's "new commandment" in John 13, "love one another as I have loved you," supersedes the Old Testament law, including the Ten Commandments. He demonstrated this by washing His disciples' feet, showing what it meant to be a servant and to love others through action. The "finished work of Christ" means that Jesus absorbed all God's wrath, anger, and judgment on the cross once and for all time. Therefore, God is no longer angry with His people and does not cause sickness, disease, or natural disasters as a form of judgment. Faith, in this context, is described as simply receiving what God has already provided for us through the finished work of Christ. It differs from "moving God" because God has already moved and provided everything; faith is our act of reaching out and taking hold of what is already available. God perceives believers as perfect, complete, and lacking nothing, through Christ. Their past sins are not remembered by God; they are "covered by the blood of Christ" and "obliterated," as if God has no recollection of them. Three actions of the father in the Prodigal Son parable illustrating God's love are: (1) He saw his son "still a great way off" and had compassion, running to meet him; (2) He "fell on his neck" (gave him a bear hug) and began continuously kissing him, not allowing him to complete his repentant speech; and (3) He immediately restored his son with a ring, cloak, and sandals, and celebrated his return, refusing to treat him as a servant. IV. Essay Format Questions Discuss the speaker's emphasis on God's love being "multifaceted" and "like a mosaic." How does this perspective challenge a "one-dimensional" understanding of God, and what are the practical implications for believers? Compare and contrast the Old Testament and New Testament portrayals of God, focusing specifically on the concept of God's wrath and judgment versus His unconditional love. How does the "finished work of Christ" serve as the turning point in this theological understanding? Analyze the role of "love as an action word" in the Christian life, drawing on examples from the source material such as Timothy's character and Jesus's "new commandment." How does this active love relate to fulfilling the law and addressing sin and fear? The speaker states that God's love "surpasses knowledge" and is an experience of the heart. Explain what this means in terms of intellectual understanding versus spiritual reception. How does this concept connect with the idea of being "accepted in the beloved" and filled with the "fullness of God"? Examine the speaker's discussion on the nature of faith as "receiving what God has already provided." How does this understanding impact a believer's approach to prayer, healing, and general reliance on God, and what common misconceptions about God's responsiveness does it challenge? V. Glossary of Key Terms Abba: A Hebrew word meaning "daddy" or "father," used to denote an intimate, affectionate, and close relationship with God. Agape: A Greek word for unconditional, selfless, and benevolent love, often used to describe God's love for humanity. Charito (Accepted in the Beloved): A Greek word meaning "highly favored" or "blessed," used in Ephesians 1:6 to describe believers' status in Christ and also used by Gabriel to Mary. Discipleship: The process of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, mimicking His character and putting faith into action, going beyond simply being a "believer." Echad: A Hebrew word for "one," which in the context of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4) implies a "uni-plural" unity (like a group or herd), rather than a strict singular, which the speaker argues was misunderstood by some Jewish people. Epipto: A Greek word meaning "fell on" or "embraced," used in the parable of the Prodigal Son to describe the father's bear hug and in Acts to describe the Holy Spirit "falling upon" believers. Finished Work of Christ: Refers to the complete and perfect salvation achieved by Jesus Christ's death and resurrection on the cross, through which all of God's wrath and judgment for sin were absorbed. Law (Old Testament): The Mosaic Law given to Israel, which, according to the speaker, served to make people conscious of sin and point them to a Savior, rather than being a means of salvation itself. New Commandment: Jesus's command to "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13), presented as superseding and fulfilling the Old Testament Law. Perfect Love: Refers to God's flawless and complete love, which, when received by believers, has the power to drive out all fear. Portrait of God: The speaker's method of presenting God's multifaceted nature, similar to assembling pieces of a mosaic, to provide a comprehensive understanding beyond simple definitions. Prodigal Son: A parable from Luke 15 used by the speaker to illustrate the Father's unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, and restoration towards those who return to Him. Royal Law of Love: A New Testament principle emphasizing love as the guiding law for believers, fulfilling all other laws. Zoe (Eternal Life): A Greek word for eternal life, which John 17 defines not as a concept or a place, but as a person: knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ.

The pasuk in Kohelet says: " עֵת לָלֶדֶת וְעֵת לָמוּת " — "A time to be born, and a time to die." (Kohelet 3:2). The Midrash in Kohelet Rabbah teaches that from the moment a person is born, Hashem determines exactly how long that person will live. Every breath, every second, is measured. And it is considered a great merit for someone to live out every single moment of their allotted time in this world. We cannot begin to grasp the infinite value of just one second of life. Sometimes, patients who are suffering deeply may wish to pass on rather than continue living in pain, connected to machines. Their families, too, may struggle watching them suffer. These situations are deeply painful and emotionally charged—but they are also halachically complex, and a competent Rav must always be consulted. These are not decisions anyone should take into their own hands. Halachah teaches us that we desecrate Shabbat to extend the life of a patient even in a vegetable state, even if it's just for one more second. That is how precious life is in Hashem's eyes. Rabbi Aryeh Levin once visited a man who was suffering terribly in the hospital. The man asked the rabbi, "Why should I continue living like this? I can't pray, I can't learn. I'm just in pain." Rabbi Levin gently took his hand and answered, "Who knows? Perhaps one word of Shema said in pain is worth more than a lifetime of mitzvot done in comfort. Every breath you take now—with emunah—brings Hashem so much nachat." The man began to cry. From that moment on, he accepted each breath with emunah and gratitude. He passed away just a few days later—peaceful, uplifted, and surrounded by meaning. Chazal say: "Sha'ah achat shel teshuvah u'maasim tovim ba'olam hazeh yafeh mikol chayei ha'olam haba"—one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is greater than all of the World to Come. In just one moment, a person can elevate himself spiritually forever. The Gemara in Avodah Zarah shares three separate stories of individuals who earned their entire portion in the World to Come in one moment of their life. When Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi heard them, he wept, recognizing the unimaginable power of even a single second. The Sifrei Kodesh teach that even one thought of teshuvah can have massive spiritual effects. Even a person on his deathbed, who cannot speak or move, can—through one pure thought, one yearning for Hashem—accomplish more than all the angels in Heaven combined. If all a person can do is breathe, that breath is a treasure beyond comprehension. As long as someone is breathing, Hashem wants him alive. His mission in this world is not yet complete. A man shared with me that his father, Eddie, recently passed away. He had told his children that if he reached the end of life, he didn't want to be kept alive artificially and in pain. But when the time came, his children called Chayim Aruchim, an organization that helps families navigate end-of-life issues according to halachah. They were given a personal Rav who was an expert in this field. He came down to the hospital and explained the halachic importance—and the spiritual benefit to Eddie and his family—of staying connected to the machine, even for a short time. The Rav monitored his condition every day for ten days, ensuring halachah was followed precisely. Eventually, the doctors said Eddie's final moments had come. His children gathered around his bed and watched their father take his last breaths. They were so grateful they had consulted daat Torah and allowed their father to live every moment Hashem had intended for him. And then, just as they left the hospital, a truck drove by with the word "Eddie's" written in big letters—something they had never seen before. To them, it felt like a wink from Hashem, a small smile from Above, affirming that they had done the right thing. Every second of life is a priceless gift. In one moment, a person can earn eternity. And sometimes, the last breath we breathe with emunah is something that brings the greatest glory to Hashem.

News and commentary for Monday, 14 July, 2025.

Are you pressing snooze or snatching mitzvot? In Bilaam's poetic description of the Jewish people, he praises them as those who "rise like a lioness" and "leap up like a lion." This powerful metaphor reveals profound wisdom about how we approach each morning and, consequently, our entire lives.The Midrash explains that this lion-like rising refers specifically to Jews waking with enthusiasm to "lachtof es hamitzvos" – eagerly snatching mitzvot. This isn't sluggish awakening but springing from bed with purpose to don tallis, recite Shema, and lay tefillin. The comparison to lions is particularly apt – these magnificent creatures typically awaken between 5:30-6:00 AM with a powerful roar announcing their readiness for action.How many of us can honestly claim we wake with such vigor? When we press snooze, we're essentially saying, "Thank you for life, but I need five more minutes of death." This seemingly small decision cascades into countless others throughout our day. Successful people don't fight their alarm clock daily; they establish consistent routines that become automatic. Whether rising at 4 AM or 8 AM, creating a set schedule takes just three consecutive repetitions to begin building that "rich man's mindset."While billionaires wake early to build wealth, we have an even greater purpose – serving God from our first conscious moments. That initial choice between discipline and sluggishness determines much about our day's trajectory. "Mitzvah goreret mitzvah" – one good deed leads to another, creating a positive spiral of purposeful living.Ready to transform your mornings? Stop making excuses and start embracing Bilaam's vision of the Jewish people. Wake up like a lion, grab life by its horns, and discover how your first five minutes can revolutionize everything that follows.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!---------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly talk on the week's Parsha. Listen on Spotify or 24six! Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org ----------------Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

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For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH VOL 8 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644645.html The Chafetz Chaim writes that in the entire narrative of Bilam attempting to curse the Jewish people, there are no paragraph breaks—no פ or ס —in the Torah. This is because the danger was so severe, the Torah did not want to pause until the threat had passed. Balak and Bilam stood on a mountaintop with the potential to cause immense destruction, and meanwhile, the Jewish people were completely unaware of the danger surrounding them. But Hashem, as always, the שומר ישראל , was watching over His nation. He did not allow any harm to come to us. From the words Hashem placed in the donkey's mouth, and later in Bilam's own mouth, we see what Hashem found so impressive about Am Yisrael. The donkey referred to the שלש רגלים , and Rashi explains that Hashem was saying to Bilam: this is a nation that travels three times a year to Yerushalayim for the שלש רגלים —you will not be able to harm them. The Jewish people would leave their homes and land open and vulnerable, trusting completely in Hashem's promise that no one would invade while they were away celebrating at the Beit HaMikdash. That kind of אמונה is a shield no curse can penetrate. Bilam then says: מי מנה עפר יעקב How many mitzvot do the Jewish people perform even with the simple dust of the earth? מה טובו אהליך יעקב משכנותיך ישראל How beautiful are our shuls and batei midrash, filled with Jews praying and learning. עם כלביא יקום We are a nation that rises like a lion in the morning to grab mitzvot(Tzitzit, Tefillin, and Shema) with passion and strength. We didn't even know the danger we were in, and therefore we couldn't pray to Hashem to save us. But Hashem, who loves us infinitely, provides us with constant opportunities to earn זכויות , which He uses to protect us exactly when we need them most. As Rabbi Chananya ben Akashya teaches: רצה הקדוש ברוך הוא לזכות את ישראל, לפיכך הרבה להם תורה ומצוות Hashem wanted to give us many merits, so He gave us many mitzvot. The pasuk says: לב מלך ביד ה׳ It is no coincidence that the recent war was named " עם כלביא יקום ." Those very words came from Hashem's mouth through Bilam and now once again through the Prime Minister. They describe a nation full of spiritual power, rising early to do mitzvot—and that is our true strength. Despite the immense danger we faced—those missiles had the potential to kill thousands—Hashem once again, the שומר ישראל , stood guard over His people. Since the horrors of October 7th, we have witnessed an awakening across Am Yisrael. So many people who didn't even know the words " שמע ישראל " are now full ba'alei emunah , looking to grow in Torah and mitzvot. This renewed devotion gives us tremendous זכות , and it makes Hashem so proud of His people. We've seen the downfall of our enemies this year. We know that we are in the end of days and we await the גאולה שלמה . But we are not there yet. We are still in galut, and we are still without the Beit HaMikdash. Now begins the period of בין המצרים , the three weeks between שבעה עשר בתמוז and תשעה באב . We pray that this year תשעה באב will be a day of joy and celebration, but there is still work to be done. The pasuk says: וישא בלעם את עיניו וירא את ישראל שוכן לשבטיו ותהי עליו רוח אלוקים Bilam wanted to recall the sins of the Jewish people, such as the חטא העגל , to bring about their destruction. But what he saw instead was unity—Israel dwelling peacefully, each tribe in its proper place—and that unity brought down the שכינה , causing Hashem to transform his curses into blessings. The Midrash teaches that even if we, Heaven forbid, engage in עבודה זרה , as long as there is peace among us, no harm will befall us. That is the power of unity. Now more than ever, it is incumbent upon us to repair divisions. This is the time of year to go above and beyond to make peace, to apologize, to be more tolerant, and to bring love and unity to Am Yisrael. May these days of mourning soon be transformed into days of rejoicing. אמן .

Love and Torah – what's love got to do with it? This study series is based on the “Two Great Commands”, love Yahweh and love your neighbor. Does Yahweh have a “Love Language”? Continuing the focus on our relationship with Elohim, Rabbi Steve Berkson takes us to Deuteronomy chapter 11 to discover if Yahweh has a “Love Language” and if so, can we know what that is. From there Rabbi Berkson moves us to Deuteronomy chapter 13 to show us that Yahweh warned us about those who through deception could take us away from Him. It is our responsibility to have one who is our anointed/appointed teacher so that we can know the real and not be deceived by the false. Rabbi Berkson once again dissects the words in these passages so that you will have a deeper understanding of what Yah expects of you, so that you can do it and receive the blessings. To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org. https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwide https://www.youtube.com/@mtoi You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

This week's annual Torah cycle reading is parsha "Chukat," (Numbers 22:2-25:9) and represents a unique shift from the story of the mixed multitude "in the wilderness" to that of a pagan king who - much like Pharoah before the Exodus - is afraid of the people now lead by Moses. And it's a story that is part comedy, part prophecy, and a large part Today's Headlines. The Erev Shabbat reading: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SSM-7-11-25-Balak-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3 The Sabbath Day midrash begins where the story leaves off. Can a nation once undeniably blessed manage to curse itself? Balak: "How did an ancient pagan prophet tell us about TODAY's plague?" https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/WT-CooH-7-11-25-Balak-Modern-day-AI-Bilaam-and-Midianite-Epstein-parallels-podcast-xxx.mp3 The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:

David Brickner, currently the Executive Chairman to the Board of Jews for Jesus, became executive director of Jews for Jesus in 1996 and was the first to succeed our founding executive director, Moishe Rosen. Under his leadership, Jews for Jesus advanced internationally with missionaries in 12 countries, the largest number being in Israel.David comes from five generations of Jewish followers of Messiah Jesus. Though he turned his back on his upbringing in high school, David had a unique encounter with God in college that prompted him to attend a Jews for Jesus Bible study. David says, “I surrendered my life to Jesus in 1976 and haven't looked back.”David has authored several books, including the most recent release Does the Jewish Bible Point to Jesus? 12 Key Prophecies that Unfold God's Plan. He has been interviewed on secular and Christian radio and television shows, including Larry King Live and In the Market with Janet Parshall.A graduate of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, David also has a bachelor of arts degree in Judaica from Northeastern Illinois University in conjunction with Spertus College of Judaica. He has a master of arts degree in missiology with an emphasis on Jewish studies from the Fuller School of Mission and Theology.David is an avid reader, hiker, and mountain climber. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Sabra, and is the proud father of Isaac, Ilana, and Sivan, and grandfather of three. 

On today's show, Episode 180, I'm speaking with Andrew Hoy about the biblical Hebrew Ohel Mo'ed – the tabernacle or the tent of Elohim (“God”) as described in the Bible in Exodus Chapters 26 and 27. As a professional mechanical engineer and the son of a professor of mechanical engineering, Andrew Hoy approached the subject of the tabernacle structure with rigorous attention to detail, drawing on his knowledge of Hebrew, textual biblical evidence, and the mathematical constant referred to as 3.14, commonly known as “pi.” What Andrew discovered in the Exodus Hebrew texts challenged him to reconsider the traditional tabernacle model and to begin accepting the textual biblical evidence showing that the Israelite Tent or Tabernacle was a circular structure with a dome-shaped design. Join me for this next series of biblical studies with Mechanical Engineer Andrew Hoy as he shares with us what he has discovered about the biblical tabernacle and why the information is so vital to our Hebraic and Messianic Torah Walk of Faith.

Host Mark Call takes a look back at some of the major events and incredible whoppers unleashed during one of the most explosive weeks of the new administration, ending Saturday, 12 July, 2025. And unless they start making different kinds of 180's - that may not be all that ends.

Join the Torah Teachers, Ray Harrison, Pete Rambo, and Mark Call as they complete the study of the 'most twisted Book in the Bible,' the apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians, and chapter 6. And one of the most twisted, and even divisive, topics, too: circumcision.

The Halacha below was derived from multiple classes orated by Rabbi Eli Mansour in the Bekiim B'Halacha series. Click on any of the dates below to hear the original audio files, which are the sources for today's Halacha below. 05-20-2025 ; 05-21-2025 ; 05-22-2025 Should One Maintain Constant Awareness of the Tefillin While Wearing Them? This Halacha explores a fundamental aspect of wearing Tefillin: the requirement to remain mentally aware of the Tefillin while they are on. What level of concentration does Halacha demand? Does distraction invalidate the Misva? And what daily practices help us meet this obligation? We will examine opinions from the Rambam, Ben Ish Hai, and other Poskim, along with practical examples of proper behavior while wearing Tefillin. Maintaining this awareness is not simply about reverence. It reflects a deep, continuous bond with Hashem during the time the Tefillin are worn. The focus required is not only external respect—like refraining from laughter or lightheadedness—but also internal mindfulness. This internal state expresses the core idea that Tefillin are not just objects we wear; they are active symbols of our devotion and submission to Hashem. What Does "Hesah Hadaat" Mean When It Comes to Tefillin? The Torah commands us to wear Tefillin as a sign between us and Hashem. But the Sages further teach that while the Tefillin are on a person's body, one must maintain a level of awareness and reverence toward them. This is called Hesah Hadaat – a lapse of focus or consciousness. According to the Rambam and the stringent view followed by Maran and the Ben Ish Hai, a person should maintain constant awareness of the Tefillin and avoid any activities or behaviors that reflect frivolity or lightheadedness. This includes joking, social banter, or idle chatter. Even while praying The Amidah, where the focus is technically on the words of the prayer, one must avoid mentally wandering to unrelated topics. That too is considered Hesah Hadaat . However, other Rishonim, like the Rosh and the Tur, take a more lenient approach. They argue that as long as a person is not engaging in disrespectful or lightheaded behavior, it is acceptable to be mentally occupied with mundane matters. They draw proof from the Halacha that one may sleep while wearing Tefillin, implying that constant cognitive attention is not required. Nonetheless, the accepted practice, especially among Sepharadim, is to follow the stricter opinion of the Rambam—that mental focus must be retained throughout the duration of wearing Tefillin. Can One Drive with Tefillin On? This question highlights a common dilemma: If a person wants to fulfill the custom of arriving at the synagogue already wearing Tefillin, can he put them on at home and drive to Shul? On one hand, driving demands attention and would seem to constitute Hesah Hadaat . On the other hand, the act of driving is not inherently disrespectful, and it would be only for a short time. Moreover, entering the synagogue already wearing Tefillin brings great merit—the angels escort such a person. Therefore, while ideally one should avoid this situation, there is room to be lenient and allow driving to Shul with Tefillin on, especially for a short drive, relying on the lenient opinions in the Rishonim. How Long Is a "Lapse" That Counts as Hesah Hadaat? Some authorities define Hesah Hadaat as lasting the time it takes to walk four Amot (approximately 6-7 feet), which equates to just a few seconds. Others extend the timeframe to the time it takes to walk 100 Amot—about 54 seconds. In practice, a person should try to "check in" mentally at least every minute. If one finds himself mentally distracted for longer than a minute while wearing Tefillin, that could constitute a lapse. Talking, joking, or daydreaming while wearing Tefillin is highly discouraged. What Practices Help Avoid Hesah Hadaat? Touching and Kissing the Tefillin: It is customary to touch the Tefillin during key parts of prayer when they are mentioned (e.g., Ukeshartam Le'ot ). One should then kiss their fingers. This is an expression of love and awareness. Holding the Shalyad: The Ben Ish Hai recommends holding the Tefillin Shel Yad (the arm Tefillin) throughout the Shema to increase awareness and prevent distraction. Avoiding Idle Talk: Many righteous individuals accept upon themselves not to speak at all while wearing Tefillin, especially outside of prayer-related matters. Custom Visual Cues: Some communities place the word "Tefillin" at the top of their Siddur pages to help maintain awareness. Short Reminders During Prayer: Quietly repeating to oneself, "I am wearing Tefillin," during pauses in prayer can serve as a mental reset to regain focus. Summary Maintaining awareness of the Tefillin while wearing them is a Torah value with practical consequences. According to the Rambam and Maran, mental focus must be retained the entire time, even during prayer. Distractions such as joking, daydreaming, or unrelated conversation are inappropriate. Practices like touching the Tefillin, visual cues, holding the Shel Yad during Shema, and mentally checking in throughout the prayer service can help fulfill this obligation and elevate the experience of this precious Misva.

Shema contains both the essence of Torah and the instructions with which how to experience it.

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The Halacha below was derived from multiple classes orated by Rabbi Eli Mansour in the Bekiim B'Halacha series. Click on any of the dates below to hear the original audio files, which are the sources for today's Halacha below. 05/14/25 ; 05/19/25 What Is the Requirement to Maintain Awareness While Wearing Tefillin—And Is It a Torah Obligation? The Tefillin are not just a physical Misva—they represent a spiritual bond between a Jew and Hashem. Because of this, Halacha includes laws about how we wear them and even how we think about them. Is there a Torah requirement to be aware of the Tefillin at all times while they are being worn? What level of mindfulness is expected, and what happens if one becomes distracted? Is There a Torah Obligation to Maintain Awareness of Tefillin? The Torah says, "Ukeshartam le'ot al yadecha"—"Bind them as a sign on your arm." The Misva is to place the Tefillin on the body, not necessarily to be constantly thinking about them. Therefore, according to many Rishonim, including the Rambam, the main obligation is the wearing of the Tefillin, not the awareness. However, the Gemara (Menahot 36a) mentions that one must not act lightheaded while wearing Tefillin—such as joking, sleeping, or entering a bathroom. These behaviors are prohibited because of the Kedusha of the Tefillin, not because of a Torah command to actively concentrate on them at all times. What Is 'Heseh HaDa'at' and Why Does It Matter? The term 'Heseh HaDa'at' means a lapse of awareness. In the context of Tefillin, this means forgetting that one is wearing them. While not sinful in itself, such forgetfulness may lead to disrespectful behavior. For example, one may lean back or act in a light manner—something that is forbidden while Tefillin are worn. According to the Mishnah Berurah, even though there is no Torah obligation to maintain constant focus, one must still be cautious not to behave in a way that shows a lack of reverence. That is why many people avoid doing work or even walking in a public place while wearing Tefillin if they know their mind will wander completely. Do I Have to Be Focused the Entire Time I Wear Tefillin? No. One does not need to meditate on the Tefillin throughout the entire Shaharit. It is expected that during Keri'at Shema and the Amida, a person will have proper Kavana (intent). Outside those moments, the level of focus may decrease, but one should avoid completely forgetting that the Tefillin are on. This is especially important for the Shel Rosh, which contains Hashem's Name in its inner scrolls. The Kedusha of the Tefillin Shel Rosh demands that one maintain a general awareness and respectful behavior the entire time it is worn. Can One Speak, Think, or Walk Around While Wearing Tefillin? Yes, it is permissible to talk, walk, and go about regular activities while wearing Tefillin—so long as one avoids behavior that is silly, disrespectful, or inappropriate. The Halacha only prohibits things like sleeping, joking, or entering a bathroom while wearing Tefillin. Hacham Ovadia Yosef writes that working, learning Torah, or even walking down the street while wearing Tefillin is allowed, as long as one remembers they are on and treats them with dignity. Summary - There is no Torah obligation to actively focus on the Tefillin at all times. - One must avoid forgetting about them entirely and behave respectfully. - The concept of Heseh HaDa'at is important for maintaining proper conduct. - Sleeping, joking, and entering inappropriate places are forbidden while wearing them. - Speaking or walking is allowed, so long as one behaves with Kedusha and awareness.