Podcasts about synagogues

Lighting Hanukah Candles in the Synagogue by Rabbi Avi Harari

Rabbi-Cantor Hillary Chorny's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, December 20, 2025. (Youtube/Zoom)

Rabbi Matt Shapiro's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, December 20, 2025. (Youtube) Special Guest: Rabbi Matt Shapiro.

On the evening of December 14, 2025—the first night of Hanukkah—Rabbi Benjamin Elton was driving home from performing a wedding, looking forward to lighting candles with his family. Then his phone began to explode with messages. There were gunmen at Bondi Beach. His wife and children were in lockdown at a nearby event. Names of the dead were coming through—colleagues, community members. For several terrible minutes, he couldn't reach his wife. And he wondered whether he was going to come home to find that he had lost his family. By the time the shooting stopped, fifteen people were dead, among them two rabbis, an eighty-seven-year-old Holocaust survivor, and a ten-year-old girl. They had been gunned down at a public Hanukkah celebration on one of Australia's most iconic beaches, before a large crowd of Jews who had gathered to light the menorah in the open air—because that's what confident, integrated diaspora communities do. The massacre at Bondi Beach was the culmination of two years of escalating anti-Semitism that the community had been warning about since October 7. Synagogues firebombed with congregants inside. Cars set ablaze in Jewish neighborhoods. Swastikas painted on schools and daycares. Weekly pro-Palestinian marches past synagogues every week, with chants of "globalize the intifada." A van discovered full of explosives along with a list of the addresses of Jewish institutions. And through it all, a government that offered sympathy and money for security, but never quite confronted the deeper problem. Until, finally, the community's darkest warnings came true. Rabbi Benjamin Elton is the chief minister of the Great Synagogue in Sydney—Australia's oldest Jewish congregation, founded in the 1820s, whose pulpit has traditionally made its occupant a primary representative of Judaism to the wider society. He holds a PhD in Jewish history from the University of London, and before entering the rabbinate, he worked in Britain's Ministry of Justice. He is a scholar of Anglo-Jewish history, a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Sacks scholar, and, just over a decade ago, spent a year in residence as a fellow at Tikvah. This week, Rabbi Elton has been burying his friends. He joined Jonathan Silver, the editor of Mosaic, to discuss the recent trials of his family and community, and the growing threat to Australian Jewish security.

Rabbi Bronstein is joined by Jean Hanff Korelitz, author of The Sequel, a novel that offers an antihero to root for while illuminating and satirizing the world of publishing.

Former federal Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg seems like a man destined to return to politics as he unleashes a furious tirade against Anthony Albanese, accusing the government of standing by while anti-Semitic hatred and radicalisation gripped Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Synagogue Of Satan Part 2 (re-broadcast of Ep. 34)

In Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl—Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City and the first Asian-American to be ordained as a rabbi in North America—recounts her experience of going from feeling like an outsider to becoming one of the most admired religious leaders in the world and offers a spiritual guide for everyday living. In conversation with David Leonhardt, an editorial director for New York Times Opinion and the author of Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream. This event was held on October 22, 2025, presented by Sixth & I with support from The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and promotional support from the Union for Reform Judaism.

Gregory Scruggs tells us the tale of the oldest existing synagogue in the United States.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabbi-Cantor Hillary Chorny's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, December 13, 2025. (Youtube/Zoom)

Rabbi-Cantor Hillary Chorny's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, December 13, 2025. (Youtube)

Every once in a while, I read a d'var Torah that takes my breath away—an interpretation that is original, creative, casts a new light on an old question, and does it so persuasively that I can no longer see any other way to read the text.Josh Foer is the founder of Sefaria, a free online digital library of Jewish texts. He is also the co-founder of Lehrhaus, a Jewish tavern and house of learning in Cambridge. He is also on the board of The Jim Joseph Foundation where he recently offered a new lens on Esau. According to Josh's stunning read, Esau was the first Jew who was not into Judaism. He would not be the last. He is the patron saint of many Esaus today.Esau's father was Isaac, his mother was Rebekah, he had family yichus, but he preferred to marry a “leggy Hittite,” in Josh's phrase. This reading of Esau offers us a lens for all our children and grandchildren who choose not to value or live out their Judaism. This chronic challenge has never been more acute.There are our children and grandchildren who opt out because they never saw the value in it. Because they were never wired to connect to Jewish life. Because they fell in love with and married a non-Jewish partner, and raising Jewish children is not their priority. Because they are alienated by Israel and the posture of their parents and Jewish institutions to support Israel in these polarized times.What do we do when our rising generation is not into it?Here Josh Foer offers his most sparkling insight. Why did Esau forgive Jacob? Why did Esau kiss Jacob? Josh's answer: Because Esau was deeply good with his own life. In the intervening twenty years, Esau had moved on. Esau was busy and happy living his own life as a patriarch of his own clan. Esau was not living a Jewish life. But he was living a very happy and fulfilled life.After the reconciliation, the Torah offers us the genealogy of Esau, page after page of Esau's descendants. Historically Jews never got Genesis 36. What is it in the Torah for? Why does the Torah bother to give us five pages of who begat whom in the unimportant story of Esau. Synagogues seldom to never dwell on the eye-glazing irrelevancy of Esau's generations. The classic Jewish voice on Esau's generations is that of Rashi, who dismisses it as so much sand that a person sifts through until they find the pearl, the thing that matters, the person that matters, the story of Joseph and his brothers.Josh Foer's brilliant read on Esau reminds us that Esau is doing just fine. We who do not see him are the poorer for his not being part of our life. If Josh is right, and if we ought not to lose a single soul, what are we to do about the many, many Esaus in our families today? If we love and accept them for who and what are, is that wisdom? Or is that giving up on the Jewish story? Do we have a choice to make here, and if so, what is that choice?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump and Hegseth are gearing up to send your kids to die for Israel. Venezuela is the next domino to fall. America's churches have been turned into Israeli fundraising centers and Third-Temple death cults run by fake Khazar “Jews” and their bought-off goy preachers. Pastor Chuck Baldwin joins Stew to burn the entire satanic system straight to hell.   The criminal cabal is using YOUR money to bomb kids overseas and replace us with third-world invaders, all funded by the biggest lie ever told: federal income tax. Peymon Mottahedeh joins Stew tonight to prove there's NO LAW requiring you to file or pay, and shows you exactly how to legally cut them off tomorrow and starve the beast.   The COVID “vaccine” was a military grade bioweapon attack on humanity and the monsters who mandated it are still in power. Paul Rozell lost his 28 years at United Airlines for refusing the poison jab.   Erika Kirk is exploiting Charlie's tragic assassination to push a phony narrative that he secretly lived a Jewish lifestyle and observed Shabbat, all while hawking his posthumous book to promote Judaism and Israel over real Christianity. The truth is Charlie was waking up to the cabal, rejecting their wars and influence, but now his untrustworthy inner circle is rewriting history for power and millions.

Rabbi Avraham Bronstein is joined by bestselling author and legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin to discuss "The Pardon," his examination of American history, presidential power, and the far-reaching implications of political forgiveness.

Rabbi Avi Havivi's siddur class at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles via Zoom - December 9, 2025. Special Guest: Rabbi Avi Havivi.

The Synagogue Of Satan (re-broadcast of Ep. 33)

Rabbinic Intern Aviva Frank's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, December 6, 2025. (Youtube/Zoom)

Rabbi Matt Shapiro's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, December 6, 2025. (Youtbue) Special Guest: Rabbi Matt Shapiro.

Pastor Dru addresses the divisive tendencies within both society and the Christian community, urging believers to follow Jesus' example of embracing a "both-and" approach in their faith journey by balancing teaching and compassionate action.

A pre-chanukah gathering at the Boca Raton Synagogue...

Rabbi Avraham Bronstein is joined by author Allegra Goodman to discuss Isola, her novel that tells the timeless story of one woman's fight for survival, inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine.

Rashi Class, a weekly exploration of Torah featuring a deep dive on the text and lively conversation focused on an 11th-century French commentary, conducted by Rabbi Adam Kligfeld at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, this week beginning with Shemot/Exodus 12.40. (Facebook/Zoom)

Rabbi Avi Havivi's siddur class at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles via Zoom - December 2, 2025. Special Guest: Rabbi Avi Havivi.

À la synagogue, chaque geste compte by Rav David Touitou

Pastor Michael discusses the experience of spiritual awareness in India and parallels it with Paul's feelings in Athens, where he was moved by the sight of idols and the spiritual blindness of the people, prompting him to act.

On episode 40 of the Executive Perspective, Ron and Rob delve into the recent protest at the Park East Synagogue, where participants were permitted to protest and counter-protest directly in front of the house of worship. They will discuss the planning failures by the 19th Precinct Commander, which led to the Police Commissioner issuing an apology to the congregation. Additionally, they will discuss the harsh criticism received by 1st Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro as well as the response by Mayor-elect Mamdani. ️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5689366474915840 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trust in the Lord! That is what God said and He hasn't changed! Listen as Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky share the good news of what happens when His people listen and obey, and stand faithfully. This is still true today!

God will give us the victory if we just trust in Him! Fear not! Listen as Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky shares the good news of God's love for HIs people as we trust in Him, He will direct our paths.

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, November 29, 2025. (Youtbue/Zoom)

What is the difference between legalism and righteousness? Are we living by God's standards? Are we imposing them on others? Do we allow others to have their own beliefs, or do we impose ours on them?

Explore the biblical account of Joshua chapter 8, where the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, conquer the city of Ai. This detailed sermon delves into the spiritual lessons drawn from this victory, focusing on themes of repentance, obedience, and faith. It emphasizes the importance of seeking God's guidance and the power of collective effort in overcoming obstacles. The discussion further draws parallels between ancient biblical teachings and modern challenges, encouraging viewers to rely on divine strength in facing life's battles.

Rabbi-Cantor Hillary Chorny's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, November 29, 2025. (Youtbue)

Time Stamps:3:55 - Icebreaker Clips/Stories19:57 - Rubin the Retard/Foreign Policy Round-up1:05:50 - National Guardsmen SHOT in DC1:36:01 - Satan's SynagogueWelcome to The Morning Dump, where we dive headfirst into the deep end of the pool of current events, conspiracy, and everything in between. Join us for a no-holds-barred look at the week's hottest topics, where we flush away the fluff and get straight to the substance.Please consider supporting my work- Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/nowayjose2020 Only costs $2/month and will get you access to episodes earlier than the publicNo Way, Jose! Rumble Channel- https://rumble.com/c/c-3379274  No Way, Jose! YouTube Channel- https://youtube.com/channel/UCzyrpy3eo37eiRTq0cXff0g My Podcast Host- https://redcircle.com/shows/no-way-jose Apple podcasts- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-way-jose/id1546040443 Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/0xUIH4pZ0tM1UxARxPe6Th Stitcher- https://www.stitcher.com/show/no-way-jose-2 Amazon Music- https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/41237e28-c365-491c-9a31-2c6ef874d89d/No-Way-Jose Google Podcasts- https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5yZWRjaXJjbGUuY29tL2ZkM2JkYTE3LTg2OTEtNDc5Ny05Mzc2LTc1M2ExZTE4NGQ5Yw%3D%3DRadioPublic- https://radiopublic.com/no-way-jose-6p1BAO Vurbl- https://vurbl.com/station/4qHi6pyWP9B/ Feel free to contact me at thelibertymovementglobal@gmail.com#NationalGuardShot #GuardsmenAttackedDC #DCShootingIncident #NationalGuardDC #ShotInDC #GuardsmenViolence #DaveRubinRetard #RubinTheRetard #DaveRubinFail #RetardRubin #DaveRubinExposed #RubinIdiot #SatansSynagogue #SynagogueOfSatan #SatanicTemple #DevilsSynagogue #SatanWorship #EvilSynagogue #DarkSynagogue #SatanicConspiracy

Accepting God's power to change our lives is our only hope of being allowed entrance into heaven! We have been given the gift; do you choose to receive it? He is calling us into eternity, and we have the decision to enter or not!

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. New York correspondent Luke Tress joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Last Wednesday, roughly 200 rowdy protesters disrupted an Israel-immigration event outside the Park East Synagogue. Tress was there and paints a picture of the events and the evolving responses from Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Days after US pro-Palestinian protesters shouted chants including “Globalize the Intifada” and “Death to the IDF” outside the Upper East Side synagogue, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, apologized to the congregation during Shabbat services. Is this allaying the community's fears? We then dive into the question several lawfare groups are now asking: Can a US law protecting abortion clinics push back against protests at synagogues? This week, anti-Zionist activist groups in New York City backed a Muslim leader who led a walkout from a college interfaith event last week after decrying a fellow panelist as “Zionist.” We learn how the mass exodus was basically shrugged off by those in attendance -- but why it is important to illuminate this and other similar events. Jewish groups at the University of Pennsylvania have expressed concern after federal authorities pressed the university in recent days to provide personal information about Jewish staffers in an investigation meant to combat antisemitism on campus. Tress untangles this saga. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Anti-Zionist protesters chant ‘Death to the IDF’ at New York City synagogue ‘We need to make them scared’: NYC synagogue protest crosses new red lines NYPD chief apologizes for allowing ‘turmoil’ outside synagogue Can a US law protecting abortion clinics push back against protests at synagogues? Imam at NYC college interfaith event blames Jewish speaker for Gaza, leads walkout NYC anti-Zionist groups back walkout from interfaith campus event to protest Hillel leader Penn Jewish groups ‘concerned’ as feds seek info on Jews for antisemitism probe Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: The entrance to Park East Synagogue, with dueling protesters on each side, separated by police, in New York City, November 19, 2025. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One sin? What's just one? Confess it today, now so that you can enter heaven as His spotless bride! His mercy is great, but there can be NO sin! Yeshua died for this purpose, and He wants to give the gift of faith to you today!

What are you going through? God can use it to your good! Call on Him, that He might use the things in your life, good or bad, to bless you!

Rabbi Avraham Bronstein sits with author Menachem Rosensaft to discuss "Burning Psalms," a collection of 150 psalms that lament, rage and seek comfort as they reimagine ancient texts in the shadow of the Holocaust.

Rabbi Avi Havivi's siddur class at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles via Zoom - November 25, 2025. Special Guest: Rabbi Avi Havivi.

Who is your Father? God? Do you trust and follow Him? When you are faced with difficulties, He is the only One who can save you! Trust Him!

Listening to the voice of God, what are the criteria for a prophet? We will be called to account as we trust the words of those who speak for Him! Today is important to obey and know what God's Word is!

Custom Mary I wish I had a dollar for every time I've heard someone say, "It's just man's tradition. It's just a custom." At its worst misunderstanding, the tradition or custom is seen adversarial to Torah obedience and as evil. As a simply uninformed understanding, it's a lack of research or direction into how Yeshua taught and lived customs and traditions...of men.   For instance, the letter of the Torah does not say to go to a synagogue every Shabbat. But how should one "hear" the Word, which is a commandment? Synagogues were an answer to that question. The Torah was read every Shabbat, so Scripture tells us that Yeshua went to synagogue every Shabbat:   • And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. (Lk 4:16)   Yeshua wouldn't do something evil, so this was a good custom even if the Torah does not say, "Thou shalt enter the synagogue every Sabbath." How to differentiate among the direct mitzvah (commandment), the custom or tradition that helps one to do the mitzvah, and an outright tare? The answer comes from knowing that the Word is the seed from which we grow fruit and that the heart's intent is a vital indicator of the fruit grown from it. My offer to help with a Biblically sound way to look at customs and traditions for believers was to write the booklet: Truth, Tradition, or Tare: Growing in the Word.   This brings us back to our topic of hospitality over the last several weeks. Hospitality is how we invite the very Presence of Adonai into our homes, towns, and gatherings. In the following account of hospitality, the hostess is a woman named Martha, and she had a sister named Mary (Miriam). Custom dictated that a host or hostess like Abraham and Sarah provide a safe refuge, water for washing, and food and drink for their guests. It was customary. Traditional. Martha busied herself providing these customary things for Yeshua and his disciples, but Mary was more, well, I'm going to say it...not Custom Mary:   • Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Lk 10:38-42)   Martha was missing something in her hospitality, just as we can miss it in any custom or tradition we practice: why do we do it? To strengthen our relationship to the Holy One and His Word? Or to earn righteousness or the esteem of others through our own efforts?   Yeshua gently pointed out to Martha the important aspect of customary hospitality: it is to strengthen the relationship between the ministry of the Word and the recipients of the Word. To make it come alive. In this case, the Word was literally alive in Martha's home!   In fact, Yeshua would have greeted the home with peace when he entered, just as he instructed his disciples to do. Instead of receiving the peace, Martha remained in a state of worry and bother. She did not receive the blessing. Mary, however, was eating and drinking it in, getting to know what the Living Word should be in her life. The custom of hospitality is to enable Kingdom ministry, to provide a temporary little Temple sanctuary for the minister.   Martha was not wrong if she wanted to continue preparing food to serve the disciples, but she was wrong if it became contentious and destroyed the very relationships she should be strengthening with other believers. Yeshua was well able to perform a miracle of bread, oil, wine, fish, or any other meal she was serving. He'd certainly done it for others who offered what little they had, and so had Elijah. And I'm sure he was prepared to wait if her meal took longer. After all, he was there to grace her with his Presence, not to grade or promote her on culinary skills. He wanted her to drink him in!   To Martha, however, the customary, traditional way a woman of the First Century was viewed as valuable was in her domestic skills. To Yeshua, his custom was to invite all to sit and learn at his feet. Male, female, Jew, non-Jew, slave, free...all could learn and grow in the ministry of the Word. It was the better part of hospitality. It didn't negate the need to feed and house the visiting ministers, the other part, but it was the better part of the whole equation. Perhaps, Yeshua is saying, the point of the serving is forging peace with people and Heaven. Hospitality is the designated vehicle for it.   Yeshua didn't pick Martha's home so she could become righteous through serving; he picked her because she believed in him; she already was righteous. She just needed some extra training like he had to correct his other disciples on things like fighting over higher positions, water-walking, and poor demon management.   A righteous guest seeks a righteous home for hospitality, and he/she has the authority to bless that sanctuary home with peace:   • “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house* is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.” (Mt 10:9-15)      *”The House” is a euphemism for The Temple    Yeshua clarified hospitality: it is receiving by 1) providing refuge, food and drink, and water for washing as well as 2) receiving his Word. Yeshua had to remind Martha to receive the Word, too. The heart of the Temple was in the hidden place of the ark, the Word of the Torah emplaced between the two cheruvim where the Voice would speak. Out loud.   Hospitality is how the average person enters the holy Sanctuary to experience the Voice and Presence of Adonai through His designated ministers of the Word.   • “You shall keep My sabbaths and revere My sanctuary; I am the LORD.” (Le 19:30)   What did First Century Jews understand about this commandment? And why did Yeshua instruct his disciples so specifically about hospitality as they ministered in his name and authority?   Rashi explains it in his comments to Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:30:   • “'And revere my Sanctuary.' He should not enter the grounds of the Temple neither with his staff, nor with shoes on his feet, nor with his moneybelt, nor with the dust that is on his feet, i.e., he should not enter with dirty feet. And although I enjoin you to have reverence with regard to the Beit HaMikdash [Temple], nonetheless, ‘you shall observe my Sabbaths; the construction of the Beit HaMikdash does not override the Sabbath.”    Contextually, Rashi's point is that Sabbath will occur in every place for all time, and so commandments specific to the Temple services will be overridden by commands specific to Shabbat. As Yeshua understood about the magificent Temple, it would not long endure. Instead, the righteous of the earth would have to function as little sanctuaries in the nations where they lived and were sent. He would continue to build the Temple through them and to send the Presence, the Ruach HaKodesh.   In practice, Yeshua sent his disciples to continue his work; in order to do that work, they would need holy homes to provide Temple hospitality. For this, the home would need to be a “worthy” one. The family would need to conduct its daily life toward the preservation of holiness of Shabbat.    Such a family was fit for Kingdom ministers, and those minister-guests were obligated to treat it with the same courtesies as they would enter the Temple itself. Yeshua's requirements were identical to the customary Temple protocols for entry. A home that provided water to wash the feet was a prepared holy temple. As the repentant sinful woman washed Yeshua's feet with her tears, receiving his forgiveness, so a righteous home signaled receiving the guest with physical water as well as receiving the Word of shalom he or she brought to the house...and House.   The reverence of Shabbat is linked to entering the Temple itself, placing that home in a very high spiritual status, worthy of blessing for its hospitality.   The disciples would bless the homes of Custom Marys the same as they would proclaim blessings in the Temple, for the host was standing in to bless them as the priests would bless the tribes coming up to worship, and all, even those "night watcher" servants of exile from among the nations, offered blessings to YHVH.

Choosing to follow God requires a heart and mind with determination to break away from pagan or fleshly things of this world. Have you? Listen as Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky opens the bible once again in a way to see how it happened in the past and can happen even now with us!

Shabbat Teaching with Scholar-In-Residence, Yiscah Smith, in discussion with Rabbi Rebecca Schatz, at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, November 22, 2025. "Thought Leader - Spiritual Activist - Educator at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem & Applied Jewish Spirituality Online - Addressing the Spiritual Practice of Encountering the Divine Presence Within and Beyond." Learn more at https://www.yiscahsmith.com/ (Youtube/Zoom) Special Guest: Yiscah Smith.

MARK 5:21-24a, 35-43 21 When Jesus had crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." 24 So Jesus went with him. 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?" 36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the Synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." 37 He did not let anyone follow him except for Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. NIV 84 LESSON NOTES Faith is the common ground that connects everyone to Jesus. Jairus and the woman in Mark 5 could not be more opposite—economically, socially, religiously. Yet the only thing that brings both into an encounter with Jesus is faith. The gospel equalizes everyone at the feet of Christ. Faith must move us to come to Jesus even when it means leaving the crowd. Jairus steps out from the great crowd and publicly falls at Jesus' feet—an act shocking for a synagogue ruler. True faith is willing to break from the crowd, reputation, or comfort to seek Jesus. Faith requires continuing with Jesus when circumstances suddenly turn toward despair. When Jairus receives news of his daughter's death, Jesus immediately speaks: “Do not be afraid, just keep on believing.” Faith is not a moment—it is a daily, ongoing choice to trust Jesus beyond fear, loss, or confusion. Faith ultimately conquers in Jesus, not by avoiding death, but by trusting the One who transforms death itself. Jesus doesn't merely reverse death for Jairus' daughter—He redefines death as sleep for all who belong to Him. His power over nature, demons, disease, and now death shows He alone can break death's grip. The story points us to the final awakening for all who “fall asleep in Christ.” Jesus' tender words—“Little girl, wake up”—foreshadow the day He will awaken all His people. Death is not the end; it is a temporary sleep from which the Lord will rouse His children. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Where do you personally find it hardest to “step out of the crowd” and come openly to Jesus? What crowds—social, cultural, relational—make faith costly for you? 2. Think of a time your faith was shaken by unexpected news or suffering. What helped you keep walking with Jesus rather than turning away? 3. Jesus tells Jairus, “Do not be afraid, just continue believing.” What fears most often compete with your faith today? How might you intentionally respond to them with trust? 4. How does Jesus' view of death as temporary sleep reshape the way you think about loss, grief, or your own mortality? 5. In what ways do we sometimes place our faith “in faith itself” rather than in Jesus? What practical habits help keep your trust centered in Christ rather than in your own spiritual performance?

What walls do we have that we need to surrender, to allow God to do what needs to be done in our lives? That becomes holy ground! Time to get right with God and give all to Him!

Scholar-In-Residence Yischa Smith's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, November 22, 2025. "Thought Leader - Spiritual Activist - Educator at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem & Applied Jewish Spirituality Online - Addressing the Spiritual Practice of Encountering the Divine Presence Within and Beyond." Learn more at https://www.yiscahsmith.com/ (Youtube) Special Guest: Yiscah Smith.

https://thecommunists.org/2025/10/05/news/manchester-synagogue-attack-serves-division/ This attack comes at a time when the ruling class is working hard to create and deepen ethnic and religious antagonisms between workers at home and abroad. Trigger-happy police on our streets is one more repressive move by the state we can expect to see being justified by the ‘threat of islamic terrorism' – a threat that the British imperialists themselves have created, and now use as a pretext for cracking down on all domestic dissent. Subscribe! Donate! Join us in building a bright future for humanity! www.thecommunists.org www.lalkar.org www.redyouth.org Telegram: t.me/thecommunists Twitter: twitter.com/cpgbml Soundcloud: @proletarianradio Rumble: rumble.com/c/theCommunists Odysee: odysee.com/@proletariantv:2 Facebook: www.facebook.com/cpgbml Online Shop: https://shop.thecommunists.org/ Education Program: Each one teach one! www.londonworker.org/education-programme/ Join the struggle www.thecommunists.org/join/ Donate: www.thecommunists.org/donate/

From the November/December 2025 edition of The Scottish Rite Journal.  Any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be found in the corresponding print edition.Make sure to like and subscribe to the channel!  Freemasons, make sure you shout out your Lodge, Valley, Chapter or Shrine below!OES, Job's Daughter's, Rainbow, DeMolay?  Drop us a comment too!To learn how to find a lodge near you, visit www.beafreemason.comTo learn more about the Scottish Rite, visit www.scottishrite.orgVisit our YouTube Page: Youtube.com/ScottishRiteMasonsJoin our Lost Media Archive for only $1.99 a month!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv-F13FNBaW-buecl7p8cJg/joinVisit our new stores:Bookstore: https://www.srbookstore.myshopify.com/Merch Store: http://www.shopsrgifts.com/