Podcasts about Simchat Torah

One of the fundamental principles of emunah is recognizing that when Hashem wants to help someone, He has endless ways of doing so. We naturally look for salvation through the avenues that we can see, but Hashem is never limited to those avenues. He can provide exactly what we need in ways we could never anticipate. A man related that his daughter needed a $20,000 loan toward the purchase of an apartment in Eretz Yisrael. His brother, who lived in Florida, generously agreed to lend her the money and planned to send it by wire transfer. This took place shortly before Yom Kippur, and the payment on the apartment was due shortly after Succot. After Yom Kippur, his daughter became concerned that the money still had not been transferred and asked her father to remind his brother. He spoke to him, and the brother assured him that he would take care of it soon. Succot arrived, and still no transfer. The daughter was feeling tremendous pressure. The payment deadline was approaching, and international transfers often take several days to clear. But her father refused to make additional calls during Chol HaMoed. "Hashem has His plans," he told her. "You'll get the money when you need it." Then came Simchat Torah and the tragic events of October 7. A few days later, the brother finally sent the money. The transfer took several days to reach Israel, and the dollars were converted into shekalim at the exchange rate that existed on the day the funds arrived. Before the war, the dollar had been trading at approximately 3.7 shekalim. But after the turmoil that followed, the dollar strengthened dramatically against the shekel. On the exact day the money reached the account, the exchange rate climbed to 4.06 shekalim per dollar, one of the highest rates in many years. As a result, the very same $20,000 produced approximately 7,000 extra shekalim. A week later, the exchange rate began falling again. Since the loan eventually had to be repaid in dollars, and the exchange rate later dropped significantly, she would need far fewer shekalim to repay the same amount. In effect, Hashem ended up giving her tens of thousands of extra shekalim toward her apartment at no cost. Looking back, it became clear that what initially appeared to be an annoying delay was actually part of a carefully orchestrated plan to help her in a way that nobody could have foreseen. A similar lesson can be seen from the following story. A representative traveling on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah, which is raising money to support the yeshivot in Eretz Yisrael, related that due to government funding cuts and the challenges facing the Torah world, tremendous sums of money are needed to keep the yeshivot functioning. While visiting a certain city, he approached a wealthy individual and asked if he would host a gathering in his home. The man happily agreed. He offered to open his house and pay for all the food and expenses associated with the event. However, he made it clear that he did not intend to contribute any money toward the cause. Several days before the event, the wealthy man happened to be going through some old papers that had belonged to his grandfather, who shared the exact same name as he did. Among the documents, he discovered a decades-old letter from Rav Shlomo Wolbe addressed to his grandfather. Many years earlier, Rav Wolbe had helped arrange his grandfather's shidduch. Out of gratitude, the grandfather had sent Rav Wolbe thirty dollars. Rav Wolbe replied with a heartfelt letter thanking him, but explaining that he did not want to accept payment for helping with the shidduch. Instead, he wrote that there was a pressing need in Eretz Yisrael to support yeshiva students(it also mentioned difficulties with them being drafted to the army) and encouraged him to direct the money toward that cause. He added that if the donor wished to contribute more, it would be a tremendous zechut. The wealthy man sat there stunned. The letter was addressed to his own name. It was as if Rav Wolbe himself was speaking directly to him, urging him to support Torah students in Eretz Yisrael during a time of great need. He viewed it as a clear message from Hashem and proceeded to contribute an extraordinarily large sum. These stories teach us a powerful lesson. We often think that our livelihood, success, or financial assistance depends on specific individuals. We believe that if a certain person says yes, everything will work out, and if he says no, the opportunity has been lost. But that is not how Hashem runs the world. Hashem can make a delayed transfer become worth thousands more than an on-time transfer. He can arrange for a letter written decades ago to inspire a donation that seemed impossible only days earlier. He can provide assistance in ways that we could never imagine. Our job is to make a normal hishtadlut and trust in Him. Very often, when something appears to be delayed, blocked, or unavailable, we assume that help is not coming. In reality, Hashem may already be preparing something far better than what we had in mind. We must remember that the source of our salvation is never a person, a bank, a donor, an employer, or the market. The true Source is always Hashem, and His ability to help us is unlimited. When He decides it is time to send a blessing, it can arrive in ways that leave us standing in awe of His incredible hashgachah.

One of the greatest gifts Hashem has given us is the ability to speak to Him. A person can turn to Hashem at any moment, from any place, and ask for His help. Sometimes we pray for ourselves, and sometimes we pray for others. When we pray for others, we may never get to see what our tefillot have accomplished. We say a few words, shed a few tears, and then move on with our lives. But we must know how valuable every tefillah is. Sometimes Hashem allows us to see just how powerful one heartfelt tefillah can be. A rabbi related the following story, which he heard directly from the man to whom it happened. One evening at around 7:30 in Bnei Brak, there was a knock at a man's door. Anyone with a large family can imagine what a home looks like at that hour. Children everywhere, the house bustling, everyone busy. He opened the door and saw a man standing there. "Mazal Tov," the visitor said. "I just had a baby girl." "Mazal Tov," the man replied, but he was confused. He barely knew the person standing at his door and couldn't understand why he had come. The visitor then asked if he could come in for a few minutes. After sitting down, he said, "I want to take you back about nine months, to Simchat Torah. "I had been married for eighteen years without children. Most of the time I managed, but Simchat Torah was especially painful for me. Everywhere I looked, fathers were dancing with their children. I felt I couldn't take it anymore. I decided I was not going to pray in my regular shul that day. Instead, I went to a different shul where you happened to be praying. "I was sitting by myself there, and you came over to me and asked why I was sitting. You then told me to gather up my children and go dance with everyone. "I answered you sharply. I told you that I had specifically come to this shul because I couldn't bear watching everybody celebrate with their children when I didn't have any. I felt like you had poured salt on my open wound. "You may not have realized it, but after our conversation, I watched you walk over to the Aron Kodesh. You started crying out to Hashem, saying, 'Ribbono Shel Olam, why did I just say that? Why did I speak that way? What did I do? Please help this man. Please send him a yeshuah.'" The man had no idea that anything had come from that tefillah. The visitor continued, "You didn't know my name. You didn't know my story. You knew nothing about me. You simply stood there and begged Hashem to help me, with tears streaming down your face. "Before Sukkot, we had just received results from a major specialist telling us there was virtually no chance we would ever have children. But from Motzaei Simchat Torah until now, everything changed. "Today, after eighteen years of marriage, my first child, a baby girl, was born. You are the very first person I came to tell. I wanted you to know that your tefillah helped bring this yeshuah." Look at how valuable even a short tefillah can be. A person may think that a few words spoken to Hashem cannot possibly make a difference, but they can. This man wasn't even asked to pray. He didn't know any details. He simply felt the pain of another Jew. And when he realized that he may have added to that pain, he ran to the Aron Kodesh and cried out from the depths of his heart. Nine months later, Hashem showed him what those words accomplished. We never know what one sincere tefillah can accomplish. We never know how much can be achieved when we pray for another person with genuine care. Every tefillah matters. Every tear is counted. And sometimes Hashem allows us a glimpse into the incredible power of our words.

What happens when you have a good job, mentors you trust, and a clear path forward — and you walk away anyway?Shlomo Ashkanazy (Co-Director, WashU JLIC) and Ami Yunger (COO, Mizrachi Canada) both built careers in the Israeli tech world before pressing pause to go on shlichut in North America. Neither choice was obvious. Neither was painless. And neither of them regrets it — mostly.In this conversation, they unpack the real calculus behind leaving stability for something harder to define. From their shared roots at Yeshivat HaKotel and OurCrowd, to navigating anti-Semitism on a college campus and in Toronto's streets, to Shlomo's gut-wrenching decision on Simchat Torah 2023 about whether to board a plane back to Israel — this episode doesn't stay on the surface.What we talk about:Why both of them credit OurCrowd — and its mission-driven culture — as the bridge between tech and shlichutThe nonlinear career path: real talk about professional anxiety, histadlus, and bitachonAmi on being COO of a Jewish nonprofit and why "COO" isn't just a fancy title for a shaliachShlomo on starting WashU JLIC from scratch — and what happened when 50 students showed up to his empty house on October 9th, 2023The anti-Semitism reality in Canada: bullets through shul windows, hiding event locations until 10 minutes before showtime, and how you maintain Zionist pride when it's being weaponized against youShlomo's still-unresolved guilt about not getting on a plane after October 7thThe 40-year test: how do you make a decision when the downside isn't catastrophic, but the stakes feel enormous?Guests:Shlomo Ashkanazy is Co-Director of JLIC at Washington University in St. Louis, which he and his wife founded as the inaugural couple. Ami Yunger is COO of Mizrachi Canada, where he supports the organization's growth across programming, operations, and community.

The Holocaust taught us what happens when Jews are powerless. “Never Again” didn't stop the horrific massacre in Israel on Simchat Torah, October 7th. October 7th taught us what happens when we don't finish the job. The only language our enemies understand is total defeat.Join Our Whatsapp Channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkavRznXy731nxxRyptCMvFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/AviAbelowJoin our Telegram Channel: https://t.me/aviabelowpulseFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulse_of_israel/?hl=enPulse of Israel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelVideoNetworkVisit Our Website - https://pulseofisrael.com/Donate to Pulse of Israel: https://pulseofisrael.com/boost-this-video/

In this Radio Feature, Rabbi Gary discusses Simchat Torah. This 1 minute episode will air on KKLA 99.5 in Los Angeles, beginning October 31, 2025, on Fridays during rush hour.Send us a text

SUKKOTSukkot is a seven-day festival that follows five days after Yom Kippur. It was to be observed by “living” in “booths,” or the “sukkah,” which served to remind the Jewish people of the forty years they wandered in the wilderness, when the nation came out of Egypt, in route to the Land of Promise. They dwelt in temporary structures, and the Lord Himself dwelt in the Tabernacle. Because the “sukkah” was a weak structure, it symbolized the fragility of their own lives, and the loss of Israel's national aspirations. It also served to remind the nation of their future hope of restoration and glory when Messiah returns and establishes the Messianic Kingdom (Amos 9:11).According to Leviticus 23:33-43, four plants were to be used in the worship of the Lord on this occasion. First, is the פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר “fruit of goodly trees,” or the etrog, which is a citrus-type fruit much like an extra-large lemon. Second, is the כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים “branches of palm-trees,” known as the lulav. Third, is the עֱנַף עֵץ-עָבֹת “boughs of thick trees,” also called the hadass, the branch of a myrtle tree. Fourth, is the עַרְבֵי-נָחַל “willows of the brook,” referring to the aravah, the willow branch. It ought not surprise us then that on Sukkot, Yeshua, himself, would make certain statements regarding his Messiahship in connection with these two most important ceremonies. During the water pouring ceremony, which symbolized Israel's prayer for rain and the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the nation, Yeshua said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from his innermost being” (John 7:37-38). In connection with the “lighting of the lampstands” ceremony, Yeshua proclaimed on Sukkot, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Prophetically, Sukkot will have its fulfillment during the Messianic kingdom. While the first four festivals were all prophetically fulfilled by the first coming of Messiah, so the latter three festivals will be fulfilled by the second coming of Messiah. Zechariah foretells, “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem, will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16).SIMCHAT TORAHSimchat Torah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret ("Eighth Day of Assembly"), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (occurring in September or October on the Gregorian calendar).YouTube: https://youtu.be/AnJGKyLWYBISend us a text

The story of Jesus doesn't begin in Bethlehem - it begins in Genesis. Rabbi Jason Sobel joins us to explore how the whole Bible, from creation to new creation, points to one Messiah and one redemptive plan. His new book, Transformed by the Messiah, invites readers to rediscover the power of Scripture as one seamless narrative rather than two disconnected halves. In this episode, we trace how the Hebrew Scriptures set the stage for the Gospel: Joseph's betrayal and restoration, the feasts that frame the Kingdom, and the prophetic rhythms that pulse beneath every New Testament page. Jason shows how the Messiah fulfills - not replaces - Israel's story, inviting both Jew and Gentile into God's covenant promises. We also talk about how this restored vision transforms how we live - rooted in God's faithfulness, connected to His appointed times, and awakened to a Messiah who holds all of Scripture together. The goal isn't to add something new but to recover what's been there all along: the unity, beauty, and coherence of God's Word from beginning to end. Key Takeaways The Bible tells one continuous story of redemption, not two separate Testaments. Transformed by the Messiah helps readers see how every part of Scripture points to Yeshua. The Old Testament provides the framework; the New Testament reveals the fulfillment. Joseph's life foreshadows Messiah's rejection, suffering, and ultimate reconciliation. The biblical feasts - especially Sukkot - reveal the shape of God's Kingdom plan. Seeing Jesus through His Jewish context restores depth and meaning to our faith. Transformation in Messiah is holistic: spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical - reflecting God's shalom. Chapter Markers 00:00—Welcome & Israel tour crossover 01:17—Rabbi Jason's encounter and journey to Yeshua 08:02—Bridging Old and New without “strange fruit” 15:28—Transfiguration and Sukkot explained 20:02—Numbers, gematria, and the “vav” 27:31—Behind the scenes of The Chosen 32:50—Living Jewish after Oct 7 38:58—Simchat Torah and hostages timing 41:52—Sukkah vs. “roof” (Gog) insight 47:27—End-times drift and loving Israel's Messiah 49:36—From information to formation: practices 54:15—Book release details & where to find it 57:52—Pre-order and why it matters 58:20—Shalom and close This episode invites you to read the whole Bible in high definition - seeing Yeshua where the story has always pointed. Explore more resources at The Jewish Road, dive deeper through Fusion Global at fusionglobal.org, and pre-order Rabbi Jason Sobel's new book, Transformed by the Messiah, to experience how the Jewishness of Jesus brings Scripture - and your life - into full color.

In this week's parsha, the story begins: God creates the world, light breaks through darkness, and humanity takes its first breath. But Bereshit is more than a tale of beginnings. It's an invitation to start fresh, to choose connection and creation once more. This week, that sense of renewal feels especially real. Twenty hostages returned home just before Simchat Torah, and across the world, Jews are finding their way back: lighting candles, learning Torah, rediscovering what it means to keep Shabbat. So what does it mean to begin again, not only in the Torah but in our own lives? Tune in to find out.

Join us for a historic episode of InGrace from Israel's Hostage Square, where we capture the jubilation of 20 hostages reunited with their families after 737 days of captivity. Hear exclusive interviews with families and global supporters as we celebrate this miraculous moment on Simchat Torah, two years after the crisis began.

SBS Hebrew spoke with two members of the Jewish community when Simchat Torah celebrations multiplied into hostage release parties. Here, two women speak of their relief and jubilation.

Today in History: King Solomon sent the people of Israel home after they celebrated the dedication of the Holy Temple for 14 days (see 2 Chronicles 7:10). Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Torah) is the last day after the Feast of Tabernacles (see Leviticus 23:36). We celebrate having read the whole Torah and we start “in the beginning” again in Genesis. * In Israel, this holiday is celebrated the day before This week's portion is called VeZot HaBracha (This is the blessing)TORAH PORTION: Deuteronomy 33:27–34:12, Genesis 1:1–2:3HAFTARAH: Joshua 1APOSTLES: Acts 28:17–31What verse spoke to you most today and why?Did you learn something about God?Daily Bread for Kids is a daily Bible reading podcast where we read through the Torah and the Gospels in one year! Helping young Bible-readers to study God's Word, while also discovering its Jewish context!THE KIDS' JOURNAL is available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arielmedia.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠BUSY MOMS who want to follow the Daily Bread readings on podcast for adults, can go to ⁠⁠https://dailybreadmoms.com⁠⁠The Bible translation we are reading from is the Tree of Life Version (TLV) available from the Tree of Life Bible Society.INSTAGRAM: @dailybreadkids @arielmediabooks @dailybreadmomsTags: #DailyBreadMoms #DailyBreadJournal #BibleJournaling #Messianic #BiblePodcast #BiblicalFeasts #Journal #biblereadingplan #Messiah #JewishRoots #Yeshua #GodIsInControl #OneYearBible #MomLife #MotherCulture #FaithFilledMama #BiblicalWomanhood #Proverbs31woman

BHChag Sameach

As the High Holy Days come to a close, Jews around the world spend one last day in an intense celebration with God before resuming their normal routines.Simchat Torah, a day whose name means “Rejoicing in the Torah,” is unlike any other observance we experience in synagogue.As Yael Eckstein describes in this podcast, the entire congregation—from the youngest children to the oldest adults—takes out the Torah scroll and joins in a never-ending circle of dancing and singing. The celebration marks the completion of reading through the Torah, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, before the reading cycle begins again.But the lesson of Simchat Torah lasts all year long, Yael teaches. This joyful day is a reminder that the way to stay close to God and transform inspiration into action throughout the year is through His Word. Listen now!Visit our Learning Center to learn more about Simchat Torah.

The celebration of Simchat Tora and Shmeni Atzeret have been going on for thousands of years and they have evolved over time. Prof. Jeffery Woolf, a professor in the Talmud department in Bar Ilan University explained the evolution of the holiday to reporter Arieh O’Sullivan and spoke about the dichotomy of the celebration with the coincidence of the tragic events in Jewish history like the October 7th Hamas attack. (photo: Chaim Goldberg/flash90) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing In God Podcast Program Number: GIG #272   Title: From Generation to Generation   Web Description: In the wilderness the children of Israel learned the consequences of not following the Word of God. And they set themselves to rehearse the Word repeatedly so that they and future generations would not fail to follow that Word. As Christians today we cannot expect that we will have the faith and success we need if we are not following what God has made real to us. And we must have the same determination to rehearse His Word.   Show Notes: Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, remembers the time when Israel lived in tents for forty years in the wilderness. This was a time when one generation died off because of their disobedience and a new generation was taught the Word of God. They had learned from the wilderness that they lived by the Word of God, and therefore every new generation must be taught to live in the Word. This is why a special day is observed at the end of Sukkot each year. This day is called Simchat Torah, which means “the joy of the Torah.”   Every year the Torah is read in the synagogue from beginning to end. And every year at Simchat Torah, this annual cycle repeats. It is a continual reminder of what Moses told the people before they entered the land: “Will you make the same mistake the previous generation made, which cost them forty years in the wilderness? Or have you learned your lesson? And if you have learned your lesson, will you be able to keep that lesson alive for yourself and for your children?”   We see then the importance that Judaism places on rehearsing the Word. Do we as Christians realize that it is just as important for us? We face challenges that seem too big for us, just as the giants in the land seemed too big for the generation that failed in the wilderness. But those giants were not too big for God then, and our challenges are not too big for Him today. We need to believe what God has spoken to us and believe in His power to accomplish what He said. It is all there in His Word. And we need to make rehearsing His Word a major focus of our times together and in our daily lives.   Key Verses:   •       Deuteronomy 8:1–6. “You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you.” •       Deuteronomy 6:1–3. “This is the commandment … that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD.” •       Hebrews 12:5–9. “God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” •       Romans 10:17. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” •       Deuteronomy 6:4–9. “You shall teach them diligently to your sons.” •       Deuteronomy 11:18–21. “You shall teach them to your sons.” •       Deuteronomy 31:10–13. “Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD.”   Quotes:   •       “We should come away from the celebration of Sukkot refreshed in the memory that God is all powerful, that He is able to give us what He's promised.” •       “When we get together to fellowship, there should be a focus on worship and the Word. We can still barbecue and have fun and have other conversations. But what is the focus of it? What is the purpose of fellowship? The true purpose of fellowship is to get together surrounding the Word and the worship so that we're creating faith within ourselves.” •       “Even as aliens we had the right to come and stand at the gate during Sukkot and hear the Word of God so that we could learn, and we could understand, and we could fear the Lord our God. And we could walk with Him and have long life and prosperity and blessings.”   Takeaways:   1.    The battle is against forgetting. If we are reminding ourselves, then faith comes by hearing. If we hear it, then we can have faith to do it. 2.    We need to find the things that are foundational to our faith—who we are and what God has spoken to us—and we need the faith right now to walk in them. 3.    Let us not leave the Feast of Tabernacles. Let us enter a year of hearing the Word of God.

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Eighth [day] of Assembly and Simchat Torah [The Joy of Torah]

Eighth [day] of Assembly and Simchat Torah [The Joy of Torah] (17.10.2022)

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

Twenty living Israeli hostages now home. Pres. Trump met with world leaders at the Peace Summit in Egypt. Hamas conducting executions in Gaza. Former hostage Luis Har recounts his time as a hostage. Israel celebrates Simchat Torah "the Joy of Torah."

From childhood reading to spiritual renewal, this episode explores how the Torah serves as the ultimate guide for living and rebuilding our inner worlds. Drawing on personal reflection, Jewish wisdom, and the story of Rabbi Akiva, we explore how Simchat Torah invites us to revisit our beginnings with fresh eyes. Discover how each year's Torah cycle offers new insight into who we've become, and how teshuvah allows us to renovate our lives with grace and intention.   The Rise & Shine Podcast Series is made possible by the generous support of Bonnie Vozar of Chicago, Illinois. If you would like to sponsor an upcoming podcast, please email us at info@momentumunlimited.org

Rabbi Yisroel Bernath delivers a moving Simchat Torah sermon celebrating the miraculous return of the hostages, a moment when prophecy, pain, and prayer converge into pure joy. He draws a profound parallel between this homecoming and the essence of Simchat Torah, a holiday where Jews dance not because of ritual, but because of belonging. Rabbi Bernath reminds us that Jewish joy cannot be taken, it is divine, defiant, and eternal. Through the story of Isaac's hidden treasure and the timeless circle of Torah dance, he calls every Jew, believer and skeptic alike, to join the dance of unity, gratitude, and faith reborn.Key Takeaways:A Living Prophecy: Jeremiah's words, “Your children shall return to their borders”  come alive as we witness the hostages' return, transforming tears of despair into tears of gratitude.The Essence of Simchat Torah: Unlike other festivals tied to specific mitzvot, Simchat Torah's commandment is simply to rejoice. We dance with closed Torah scrolls because joy transcends knowledge, it's about belonging, not perfection.Eternal Jewish Joy: The attack that began on Simchat Torah was meant to steal Jewish joy, yet this very year, that joy is reclaimed. Jewish joy is not circumstantial; it's the pulse of our people.The Treasure Within: Like Isaac discovering the treasure under his own oven, we rediscover that the greatest strength and hope lie not in distant places, but within ourselves and our faith.A Call to Dance: Rabbi Bernath invites everyone, regardless of belief or pain, to dance with Heaven itself. This Simchat Torah, every step is a declaration: Am Yisrael Chai.#hostages #Judaism #Jewish #hostagesreturn #jewishunity #simchatorah #AmYisraelChai #Faith #resilience #Israel #IsraelHamas Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: theloverabbi.com/eventsSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

How much do you want to dwell with G-d? Do you think G-d wants to spend time with you? Join Rabbi Kevin Solomon of Congregation Beth Hallel as he highlights G-d's loving nature and how His desire to draw us near shines through on Shemini Atzeret stronger than ever. G-d loves you so much that He wants to tabernacle with you as you live out your life, so it is imperative to respond to such love by accepting that and deepening your connection to G-d. Chag Sameach!Leviticus 23.36; Leviticus 23.39; Numbers 29.36; Revelation 21.2-4; Isaiah 40.8Prayer Requests or send an email to info@bethhallel.orgCBH WebsiteDonateYouTube Channel

Two years after October 7, Jews around the world mark Simchat Torah, finishing and beginning again the reading of the Torah, and thinking about our stories, both ancient and present. How do we tell our stories in a world and to a world that doesn't seem to want to hear them? On this episode of TEXTing IRL, Elana Stein Hain and Yoni Appelbaum, deputy executive editor at The Atlantic, study the writings of Rav Soloveitchik, uncovering how the ability to be heard when telling one's story makes one free, and how listening with empathy and humility allows one to tell the truest and most compelling stories. We are grateful to the Walder Charitable Fund and Micah Philanthropies for their generous support of TEXTing. Episode Source Sheet Watch the video version of this episode ⁠here⁠. You can now sponsor an episode of TEXTing. Click HERE to learn more.  JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

Send us a textIn The Dance of Return, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath delivers a moving Simchat Torah sermon celebrating the miraculous return of the hostages, a moment when prophecy, pain, and prayer converge into pure joy. He draws a profound parallel between this homecoming and the essence of Simchat Torah, a holiday where Jews dance not because of ritual, but because of belonging. Rabbi Bernath reminds us that Jewish joy cannot be taken, it is divine, defiant, and eternal. Through the story of Isaac's hidden treasure and the timeless circle of Torah dance, he calls every Jew, believer and skeptic alike, to join the dance of unity, gratitude, and faith reborn.Key Takeaways:A Living Prophecy: Jeremiah's words, “Your children shall return to their borders”  come alive as we witness the hostages' return, transforming tears of despair into tears of gratitude.The Essence of Simchat Torah: Unlike other festivals tied to specific mitzvot, Simchat Torah's commandment is simply to rejoice. We dance with closed Torah scrolls because joy transcends knowledge, it's about belonging, not perfection.Eternal Jewish Joy: The attack that began on Simchat Torah was meant to steal Jewish joy, yet this very year, that joy is reclaimed. Jewish joy is not circumstantial; it's the pulse of our people.The Treasure Within: Like Isaac discovering the treasure under his own oven, we rediscover that the greatest strength and hope lie not in distant places, but within ourselves and our faith.A Call to Dance: Rabbi Bernath invites everyone, regardless of belief or pain, to dance with Heaven itself. This Simchat Torah, every step is a declaration: Am Yisrael Chai.#hostages #Judaism #Jewish #hostagesreturn #jewishunity #simchatorah #AmYisraelChai #Faith #resilience #Israel #IsraelHamas Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: theloverabbi.com/eventsSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Rabbi Pinchas Allouche, head Rabbi at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Scottsdale, and the host of the Rabbi Allouche podcast, joins Seth for the full hour with a special guest from Israeli, Hillel Aaron, to talk about this week's Torah portion coming from Deuteronomy 33, the upcoming Jewish holiday Simchat Torah, and his perspective of the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textThis Shabbat is a miniature Simchat Torah.Support the show

We were both under the weather this week and unable to record a fresh podcast, so to mark the anniversary of the October 7 massacres, we thought we would re-release our interview with one of the survivors, Tal Shimony.In the words of Tal, her friends were “brutally murdered for just dancing.”The stories of survivors from October 7th must be heard.On that day, Hamas invaded Israel and massacred 1,200 people in their homes, on the streets, and at the Nova Music Festival. Hundreds more were taken hostage, and many still remain in captivity or have died.These people were not at war. Some were dancing at a festival, others were observing the Sabbath and preparing for Simchat Torah, the Jewish holiday where they would celebrate the Torah and enjoy a meal with loved ones.The mainstream media have done their best to blame the victims, and so many people in Europe and America have celebrated the massacre of innocent people. Universities, particularly in America, have become cesspits of antisemitism. Terror-sympathizing pro-Palestinian groups have even blocked Jewish students from attending classes, and college administrations have allowed it to happen.We could not accept this. So we flew to Israel and interviewed the bereaved, the survivors, and even those who fought back. We took their words and turned them into a verbatim play called October 7. We have taken this play to America's most elite and hostile colleges, and we intend to take it around the world.We wanted to mark this important anniversary, so please listen to Tal's interview. She was working as a producer at the Nova Music Festival with her boyfriend when the attacks started. In this episode, she talks about the tragedy and horror she witnessed firsthand, her grief, and her own work to help others understand what happened through the Nova interactive exhibition.We need to keep October 7 the play on the road for everyone who needs to see and hear the truth about what happened on that tragic day. Please go to unreportedstorysociety.com or october7theplay.com and give what you can. Please reach out to us as well if you would like to see the play come to your hometown or university.Please visit unreportedstorysociety.com and give what you can so that we can keep bringing the weekly scoop, movies, plays, and other special projects to you. All donations are tax-deductible.Also, subscribe to our Substack, Stories.io, where you can get more news beyond the weekly scoop.

Exactly two years after October 7, Israel stands at a turning point: a sweeping hostage deal agreed, Hamas broken, and the horrors since that day nearing an end. From vulnerability and isolation to resolve and renewal, Rabbi Dunner connects this moment to Vezot Habracha—Moshe's final blessing. How does it all connect, and what are the lessons of Simchat Torah?

Are you struggling to trust amid disappointments and challenges?In this episode of the Curt Landry Podcast, Rabbi Curt and Darrell Puckett discuss the last day of Sukkot, Simchat Torah, a day commemorating the end of the annual Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle. It's a day of rejoicing and exalting the holiness of God's Word as our life, light, instruction, and anchor.This is especially true in seasons of grief and uncertainty. Jesus is the Word made flesh, and it's in these moments He stands ready to comfort us and walk through the valley with us. It's in our moments of wounding and weakness that God's strength is perfected and His presence shows up the strongest. Join Rabbi and Darrell as they reflect on the challenges of 5785, the power of friendship with Jesus, and the wisdom of holding your plans loosely and holding tight to God.

What should you look for when shul shopping besides “that feeling”? How do you know a synagogue is right for you? And what role should a temple play in our modern lives? As we celebrate Sukkot and Simchat Torah, Rabbi Shira and Hanna offer one congregation consumer their advice.Visit a BASE Jewish CommunitySupport Chutzpod!Submit a questionContact Chutzpod!Subscribe to ChutzstackFollow Hanna on InstagramFollow Shira on InstagramFollow Shira on FacebookFollow Chutzpod on FacebookFollow Chutzpod on Instagram Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week I have two stories for you for Sukkot and Simchat Torah and then stories from previous years. The first reveals what happens when a rabbi finds the purest joy in the darkest of places, and the second follows a man whose broken heart leads to an impossible healing through the power of a tzaddik's dance. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/when-darkness-becomes-light To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

Every year, Jewish people begin a special spiritual journey that's been taken by God's children for millennia.On this podcast, Yael Eckstein shares how this can be a journey for us all—Christians and Jews alike. Preparing for the High Holy Days is a time when we can connect with God and with ourselves.As this holy season approaches, Yael will look at: how the sound of the shofar awakens the soul; how Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, teaches us about repentance; how Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, teaches us about forgiveness; how Sukkot, the biblical Festival of Tabernacles, brings unity; and how Simchat Torah brings God and His word into the new year.But first, Yael begins our journey by looking at the three spiritual paths—repentance, prayer, and charity—that begin the High Holy Days journey. Listen now!And listen to more of Yael's Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

The 5-Step Program of Spiritual Courtship, Engagement, Marriage, Honeymoon, and Real Life: Discovering the Divine Romance in Our LivesIn this sermon, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the deep and mystical relationship between G-d and the Jewish people, likened to a sacred marriage. Drawing from Kabbalistic and Chassidic teachings, Rabbi Bernath delves into the spiritual phases of this divine union, paralleling it with the milestones of human relationships: courtship, engagement, marriage, honeymoon, and the day-to-day reality of married life. Through the lens of the High Holiday season, this episode offers a journey of rejuvenating our connection with G-d, culminating in the ultimate intimacy that shapes our everyday existence.Takeaways:Courtship with G-d: The month of Elul as a time of divine dating, where G-d meets us in our natural state, inviting us to connect authentically.Engagement Proposal: Rosh Hashanah as the moment of commitment, where G-d proposes a deeper relationship, and we respond with the cry of the Shofar.Marriage Ceremony: Yom Kippur as the day of divine union, where we fast, atone, and solidify our eternal bond with G-d.Celebration and Intimacy: The festivals of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah as the celebration and intimate consummation of our relationship with the Divine.Real-Life Relationship: The month of Cheshvan as the time to nurture our ongoing relationship with G-d in the everyday moments, discovering the sacred in the ordinary.#Spiritual #Judaism #Jewish #HIghHolidays #RoshHashana #RoshHashanah #Yom kIppur #Kabbalah #Torah #chabad #mysticism #sukkot #simchatorahSign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: theloverabbi.com/eventsSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi