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Journeying through large swaths of the Jewish world of the 18th century, Rav Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806), known by his acronym the Chida, was privy to the broad range of the various Jewish communities across Europe and North Africa, as well as observing the happenings within each community as an objective observer. He recorded his impressions of his travels, which remains an invaluable historical document, produced by one of the greatest Torah scholars in recent centuries. As a world class Torah scholar who served as a fundraiser on behalf of the Sephardic Old Yishuv of the Land of Israel, the Chida spent the majority of his life on the road, eventually settling in Livorno, Italy, where he served as rabbi until his passing. His literary output was immense, with his many seforim remaining popular until this very day. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Read Online“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:17–19Saints Peter and Paul are often referred to as two of the great “Pillars of the Church.” They each played an incredibly essential role in the establishment of the early Church. And though each of their roles was essential and foundational, their roles were as different as they were different as persons.Peter was a family man, a local fisherman, uneducated and quite ordinary. From what we know about him prior to being called by Jesus, there was nothing that made him uniquely qualified to become one of the pillars of the new Church to be established by the Son of God. Jesus simply called him, and he responded. Jesus got into Peter's boat, ordered him to lower the nets, and produced a huge catch of fish. When Peter saw this miracle, he fell down at Jesus' feet and acknowledged that he was “a sinful man” who was unworthy of being in Jesus' presence (See Luke 5:8). But Jesus informed Peter that he would from now on be catching men. Peter immediately left everything behind and followed Jesus.Paul describes himself as “a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili′cia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gama′li-el, educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day” (Acts 22:3). Paul was well educated in the strictest interpretation of the Jewish law, understood philosophy and was quite zealous as a young man. Recall, also, that prior to becoming a convert to Christianity, he “persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13). In many ways, Paul would have been seen as the most unlikely person to be chosen to be a pillar of the Church, because he so vigorously opposed it at first. He even supported the killing of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Though each of these men would have been considered by many as very unlikely founders of the Christian Church, this is exactly what they became. Paul, after his conversion, traveled far and wide to preach the Gospel, founding several new Churches throughout Asia Minor and Europe. Eventually he was arrested in Jerusalem, brought to Rome for trial and was beheaded. Over half of the New Testament books are attributed to Paul and half of the Acts of the Apostles detail Paul's missionary journeys. Paul is especially known for his missionary activity to the Gentiles, those who were not Jews. Peter's role was truly a unique one. His name was changed from “Simon” to “Peter” by Jesus. Recall Jesus saying, “And I tell you, you are Peter (Petros), and on this rock (petra) I will build my church…(Matthew 16:18). “Peter” in Greek is Petros. However, the Greek word petra means a rock as a solid formation that is fixed, immovable, and enduring. Therefore, Jesus chose to make Peter a solid foundation of immovable rock on which the Church was to be built.You, too, have been called by our Lord to a unique mission within the Church that has not been entrusted to another. In your own way, God wants to use you to reach certain people with the Gospel as He did with Saint Paul. And like Saint Peter, God wants to continue to establish His Church upon you and your faith. Reflect, today, upon these two holy and unique pillars of our Church. As you do, ponder how God may want to use you to continue their mission in this world. Though Saints Peter and Paul are among the greatest and most consequential Christians within our world, their mission must continue, and you are among the instruments that God wants to use. Commit yourself to this mission so that the preaching of the Gospel and the rock foundation of our Church will remain strong within our day and age just as it was of old. Saint Peter, you were uniquely chosen to be a rock foundation of faith upon which the Church was established. Saint Paul, you went forth to preach this faith far and wide, establishing many new communities of faith. Please use me, dear Lord, to continue the mission of Your Church so that the faith may be firmly planted in the minds and hearts of all Your people throughout the world. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Jusepe de Ribera, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Zibby chats with award-winning poet Edward Hirsch about his memoir, MY CHILDHOOD IN PIECES: A Standup Comedy, where dark comic microbursts of prose relate a childhood in an aspiring middle-class Jewish family in the 50s and 60s. Edward discusses the book's innovative structure—told in punchy, titled snippets that blend humor and heartbreak—and how it allowed him to unpack long-buried memories of a complex, often painful childhood. He reflects on memory, identity, and growing up with sharp-tongued parents and blended family dynamics, and then delves into how comedy and poetry became tools of survival and storytelling.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/45yTqZPShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A fascinating weekly study of the Scriptures that brings to life the meaning of the biblical text using history, original languages, and Jewish culture. This podcast will strengthen your faith and your understanding of the Bible. Hosted by author, attorney, pastor, and founder of Covenant Journey, Mat Staver. Learn more and get involved at CovenantJourney.org
Study 28-Luke 22: 47 – 23: 25 The arrest and trials of Jesus. The story now moves steadily towards the death of Jesus. It is told with remarkable economy and simplicity in all four gospels. Not even the failure of the leading apostle and founder of the early church is left out. Read Luke 22: 47 – 53. Question 1: Would you be thinking more or less of the eleven now if they had NOT tried to defend Jesus with their two swords (22: 38, 49 ) probably against an overwhelming force? Why? Their reaction to the approach of the crowd, which Mark describes as ‘armed with swords and clubs’, is an entirely natural one. It shows that they were not cowards. It also shows that they had not taken all of Jesus’ message really into their hearts and minds. Few of us have. Presumably the clash of one or two swords could easily have led to a more general skirmish in which Jesus could have been killed. But in the purposes of God his Son had to be tried, falsely accused, condemned and judicially killed. Without the legal decision of “guilty” Jesus would not have been dying for our sins. The universal responsibility of everybody for his death, symbolised by those directly involved, would not have been incurred. A great many prophecies, such as hanging on a tree (Deut 21: 23), would not have been fulfilled. Read Luke 22:54–62. Question 2: Peter lied - and lived to do much good work for his Lord. Was he justified in doing so? Should we do the same under certain circumstances? What circumstances? Is a life more important than the truth? When, and when not? In a way it is impossible to answer this question. We do not know, and neither did Peter, what would have happened if he had not lied. A life is more important in many ways than telling the truth yet the truth or the lie will define the life for ever. In the history of the church many, many people have refused to deny Christ and died. Let’s hope we never have to answer this question for real. Hebrews 6: 4 – 6 could be taken as a comment on what Judas did. Question 3: In the light of those verses what was the essential difference between the actions of Judas and Peter? What warning should we take from this? And what encouragement? The action of Judas was taken completely deliberately; Peter stumbled unwillingly into his denials. So many of our sins occur when we too stumble unwillingly into error. It is a great relief for us that Peter was not cast away from his position but lived to do so much good and die for his Lord in due course, about 30 years later, in Rome. Read Luke 22:63–23:25. There seem to have been many meetings that night in the effort to find grounds to condemn Jesus. Luke only records a ‘trial’ at daybreak (22: 66); Mark records one in the early part of the night; Matthew and John add further details. Luke was writing to Theophilus, a senior Roman citizen, and that probably affected which episodes he was most interested in. Question 4: In that case what things in the trials is he most likely to have wanted to concentrate on? It was important to him to try and show the Romans in as good a light as possible. Pilate had a very bad reputation in the Roman world anyway so he was not concerned with putting him in a good light. But he did want to show that there was a fair trial and that Jesus was condemned partly as a result of Jewish agitation and partly for Roman political reasons. His main concern was to establish who Jesus really was. So we have 3 titles in these verses: Messiah (or Christ, or Expected and Anointed One) (22: 67; 23: 2), Son of Man (22: 68) and Son of God (22: 70) Question 5: When Peter looked back at these events he was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 2: 22 – 36). What made him so sure? If the council had accepted that Jesus was the Messiah what would that have meant for them? What actions would it have committed them to take? Peter remembered the resurrection above all. That was the ultimate proof that Jesus was who he said he was. If the council had recognised Jesus as the sort of Messiah they expected they would have been in immediate revolt against Rome. They thought they would have had to take up arms and tackle the Roman army, which no one could do successfully. Read Daniel 7:7, 13, 14, 17 – 28 again. How would the council have understood what Jesus said in 22: 69? How would the Roman authorities have understood his claim if they had known the background? A previous Caesar, Augustus, was the (adopted) son of Julius Caesar. After Julius was killed he was venerated as a god, which made Augustus a “son of god”! What would the idea that Jesus was the Son of God have meant to the council? What implications would it have had for the Roman authorities? The crowd of 23: 13 must, in part at least, have been the same one we read about in 19: 37, 39. How can you account for such a major turn around? What should this caution us against? Who was most responsible for the condemnation of Jesus: the crowd, the Jewish leaders, the Roman authorities, or Jesus (Jn 10: 17, 18!)? Were we also responsible as those needing redemption? Another obvious question we can ask ourselves, but never really answer until it happens, is: the trial exposed the forces, commitments and loyalties of all those involved: the council members, Pilate, the crowd and Jesus. Faced with similarly difficult choices how will we react? Will we cling to our securities and dreams and avoid moving out of our comfort zones, or will we ‘take up our cross’ and follow him? It would have mattered a great deal as without the legal decision of “guilty” Jesus would not have been dying for our sins. The universal responsibility of everybody for his death, symbolised by those directly involved, would not have been incurred. A great many prophecies, such as hanging on a tree (Deut 21: 23), would not have been fulfilled. Of course, it could never have happened that way anyway (Jn 7: 30). 5) The action of Judas was taken completely deliberately; Peter stumbled unwillingly into his denials. 7) The Resurrection. 9) Angels, Israel as a people, and the king of Israel (Ps 89: 26, 27) are called sons of God in the OT. The last of these is the meaning implied here. The council would have understood him to be saying that he was the King of Israel (see 23: 2). The Romans would have thought him to be claiming to be one of the many gods of those days and probably would not have been too concerned by that. 10) As Messiah he was the representative Israelite and is now the representative Christian (Rom 5: 15 – 17). We are in Christ (the Messiah). As Son of Man he is a human being standing in our place (Heb 2: 17 – 18). As Son of God he is the Saviour who, being God, is able to die for us all (Heb 1: 3; 2: 9). 12) This has been much argued about through the centuries. The best answer is probably all of them, and us. 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On June 22, American B-2 bombers dropped hundreds of tons of explosives on three nuclear sites in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Right after President Trump announced that the pilots were out of Iranian air space, the world started to learn the details of Operation Midnight Hammer, the extraordinary American mission to neutralize Iran's nuclear-weapons program. News coverage started immediately—and some of the most incisive and careful analysis appeared outside of the legacy media. Some of the best news coverage in English could be found at the Free Press, the Daily Wire, and the Call Me Back podcast. Rather than bring on the guests who've already offered up their analysis in those venues, we thought it would be valuable to have a series of conversations on dimensions of this war—not only Operation Midnight Hammer, but the last two weeks beginning with the Israeli airstrikes on Iran—that take up some of the deeper, less immediate concerns. War is violent and bloody. But war is also a teacher, and it reveals things about the nations who wage it. “Living Through History: Learning from the Twelve-Day War” is a series of conversations from the Tikvah Podcast at Mosaic and featuring its host, Jonathan Silver. These include a discussion with Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on what the war reveals about providence and Jewish history; with Hussein Aboubakr Mansour about what the war reveals about the clash of civilizations; with the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, about what the war reveals about the U.S.- Israel relationship at this moment in Zionist history; and with Victor Davis Hanson about what the war reveals about the American interest. Today you can listen to the first, with Rabbi Soloveichik.
Listeners call in with everything from questions about running a business without a smartphone to the heavy realities of growing old, wondering about the afterlife, or converting to Catholicism when the stakes are personal and raw. A surprise appearance from Hugh Grant’s thoughts on tech distractions slips in, and stories unfold—some heartfelt, some funny, all woven with genuine concern and encouragement as Patrick brings warmth and clarity with every discussion. Kyle – I think vast majority of kids can get by without smart phone (01:42) Audio: Hugh Grant on childhood addiction to tech (07:29) Elizabeth – The brother of my husband hasn’t been to mass in a long time. How might we convince him to go? (14:23) Jim - Matthew 11:12 references heaven being stormed by violence. What does this mean? (24:24) Gabriel - I am on my way to becoming a Catholic, but my family are very devout Baptists. How can I approach them about my conversion? (30:25) John - Can you help me understand what happened to the people who lived in Israel before the Jewish people? What happened to them? (40:52) This is a Previously Aired episode from 06/02/2025
Mary welcomes back Jim Fletcher to discuss the growing malevolent force of Jew hatred around the world, particularly in Europe. The walls are closing in on the Jewish people and the level of hate is astonishing. There seems no possibility of stemming the tide either, so since it will only increase, how late is it? What is the end game? We look at systemic antisemitism that is as old as time, so we should not be surprised but in the modern era, are we really unable to police the hate in the hearts of humans? Not in these times, is my conclusion. And unfortunately, it appears the church has taken their eye off the ball on this. We look at the seriousness of this and other observations about the current headlines regarding Israel. Jim is an Israel expert, regarding their history, their current state, the church, and what is to come. A sobering but essential talk on what is really going on around the world with God's chosen people. His prophecy blog, "The God That Answers", can be found on Patreon here. Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A
Now, we're down to the marrow. Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg wrap a mini-series dive into the role of meat— and specifically, the pig — in Jewish life. They do this with an assessment of their own eating habits, reflections on autonomy and identity, and thoughts for practitioners the world over on how to incorporate more openness into our understandings of what it means to eat Jewishly.------------------------------Catch up on previous episodes in this mini-series on the Jewish discourse around meat with Episode 488- Meat: The Key to Jewish History? - John Efron and Episode 487: Pigs Are Very Jewish - Jordan Rosenblum.Access full shownotes for this episode via this link. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation -- support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!
From the Inside Out: With Rivkah Krinsky and Eda Schottenstein
Send us a textIn this episode of From the Inside Out with Rivkah and Eda, we sat down with Rabbi Shais Taub for a powerful Gimmel Tammuz conversation that goes far beyond memory — and deep into mission.What does it mean to live with the Rebbe today? How do we access his guidance, clarity, and belief in us — especially for those who never met him?This isn't just a conversation about the Rebbe's teachings — it's about what happens when someone sees your soul, knows your potential, and believes in you more than you believe in yourself.We talk about soul work, burnout, dating, divine direction, and what it looks like to keep moving forward even when you don't feel ready. Whether you're in a season of doubt, transition, or spiritual searching — this episode will remind you that you're not alone, and that you're already more than enough.EPISODE SPONSORSONE SOUL MATCHMAKINGOne Soul is a premium matchmaking service founded by podcast host Rivkah Krinsky, dedicated to helping Jewish singles from all walks of life find meaningful, lasting relationships. One Soul curates thoughtful matches based on values, lifestyle, and real connection.Visit www.onesoul.org to sign up for our international singles database and explore our premium services. Follow along on Instagram @rivkahkrinsky for more insight, connection, and dating guidance!THE SWESS The Swess, founded by our podcast host and psychotherapist Eda Schottenstein, blends fashion and function to support your mental wellness in style. From first-of-its-kind adjustable clothing to sleek tools like the Set and silicone earbud holders, The Swess is your go-to for pieces that simplify life and elevate your everyday.Visit www.theswess.com and use promo code INSIDEOUT for 20% off. Follow @swesslifestyle on Instagram for more tools, tips, and thoughtful design.GUEST BIORabbi Shais Taub is a renowned teacher, author, and spiritual guide known for making deep Jewish wisdom accessible and profoundly relevant. He is the author of "G‑d of Our Understanding," a groundbreaking work on Judaism and recovery, and a senior lecturer at Chabad.org. Through his popular platform SoulWords, Rabbi Taub offers teachings that speak directly to the soul, addressing everything from emotional healing and faith to purpose, clarity, and growth. His work has impacted thousands across the world seeking spiritual insight grounded in timeless Torah truth.You can find Rabbi Taub's teachings and donate to his campaign here: https://www.soulwords.org/CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro: Living with the Rebbe Today03:12 – When Someone Believes in You More Than You Do10:45 – Connecting to the Rebbe Without Having Met Him17:30 – From Ego to Essence: Why We Pray for Others24:05 – Burnout, Boundaries, and “Never Retiring”30:58 – Clarity vs. Certainty: What Soul Words Awaken39:40 – The Origin of SoulWords45:55 – Gimmel Tammuz: A Mission, Not a Memory48:15 – Final ReflectionsCOMMUNITYJoin the Community! Connect with us on socials to discuss Episode 101, share insights, and continue the conversations you want to have:
Consider DONATING to help us continue and expand our media efforts. If you cannot at this time, please share this video with someone who might benefit from it. We thank you for your support! https://tinyurl.com/HereIAmWithShaiDavidai NEW ORDER MERCH!! https://here-i-am.printify.me/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadyxrG4LjvtjdxST9OlPhLrlkc98L0bnOwVevbq-B4YRP33yIQgwimjqE5bYw_aem_HDn3ScZcGWRnbD_8A36Zlg NEW SUPPORT ME ON PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/ShaiDavidai --------- Guest: Jess Escalante IG: https://www.instagram.com/_jescalante_/?hl=en In this episode of "Here I Am," host Shai Davidai sits down with Jess Escalante, a proud, queer, progressive Jew and inspiring activist. Jess shares their unique journey from El Salvador to the United States, their experiences growing up in a multicultural environment, and the intersection of their Jewish identity and LGBTQ+ advocacy. The conversation explores Jess's path to Judaism, the challenges and acceptance they found along the way, and their reflections on recent events in Israel. Together, Shai and Jess discuss the complexities of identity, community, and the importance of inclusivity within Judaism and beyond.
Full Text of ReadingsSolemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Lectionary: 172The Saint of the day is Saint Cyril of AlexandriaSaint Cyril of Alexandria's Story Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril, recognized as a great teacher of the Church, began his career as archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, with impulsive, often violent, actions. He pillaged and closed the churches of the Novatian heretics—who required those who denied the faith to be re-baptized—participated in the deposing of Saint John Chrysostom, and confiscated Jewish property, expelling the Jews from Alexandria in retaliation for their attacks on Christians. Cyril's importance for theology and Church history lies in his championing the cause of orthodoxy against the heresy of Nestorius, who taught that in Christ there were two persons, one human and one divine. The controversy centered around the two natures in Christ. Nestorius would not agree to the title “God-bearer” for Mary. He preferred “Christ-bearer,” saying there are two distinct persons in Christ—divine and human—joined only by a moral union. He said Mary was not the mother of God but only of the man Christ, whose humanity was only a temple of God. Nestorianism implied that the humanity of Christ was a mere disguise. Presiding as the pope's representative at the Council of Ephesus in 431, Cyril condemned Nestorianism and proclaimed Mary truly the “God-bearer”—the mother of the one Person who is truly God and truly human. In the confusion that followed, Cyril was deposed and imprisoned for three months, after which he was welcomed back to Alexandria. Besides needing to soften some of his opposition to those who had sided with Nestorius, Cyril had difficulties with some of his own allies, who thought he had gone too far, sacrificing not only language but orthodoxy. Until his death, his policy of moderation kept his extreme partisans under control. On his deathbed, despite pressure, he refused to condemn the teacher of Nestorius. Reflection Lives of the saints are valuable not only for the virtue they reveal but also for the less admirable qualities that also appear. Holiness is a gift of God to us as human beings. Life is a process. We respond to God's gift, but sometimes with a lot of zigzagging. If Cyril had been more patient and diplomatic, the Nestorian church might not have risen and maintained power so long. But even saints must grow out of immaturity, narrowness, and selfishness. It is because they—and we—do grow, that we are truly saints, persons who live the life of God. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media
If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, its crazy lunatic government will flip out and nuke us all. Watch out for Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, those guys are a bunch of maniacal antisemites who want to attack Israelis just because they're Jewish. Oh no, Putin is invading Ukraine completely unprovoked because he's a madman who hates freedom and won't stop until he's conquered all of Europe. China is building up its military because the megalomaniacal Xi Jinping wants to take over the world; all those US military bases surrounding China are just a defensive measure to contain Beijing's insanity. Assad just went nuts one day and started slaughtering his own people out of nowhere. Gaddafi is a sexual sadist who's giving Viagra to his troops to help them commit mass rapes in Libya. Saddam Hussein is so crazy and evil he's trying to obtain weapons of mass destruction to give Americans another 9/11. The North Koreans used to be far too insane to be allowed to have nuclear weapons because they'd nuke San Francisco immediately, but after they obtained nuclear weapons they were miraculously cured of this rare psychological disorder. The stories of the western empire ask us to believe that everyone who finds themselves in the imperial crosshairs is an irrational actor whose loony behavior can only be attributed to some uncontrollable defect within their own minds, or who will soon snap and do something nutty if they are not contained by force. Reading by Tim Foley.
Every single good deed—and even a good thought—in Avodat Hashem is incredibly precious. When a person sees in the future the immense reward given for even the smallest intention, he will wish he had done more. Sometimes, even one thought of teshuvah can change everything. In this week's parashah, we read about the earth opening up and swallowing all those who joined in Korach's rebellion. Yet the Torah tells us that the sons of Korach did not die. Chazal explain that at the very last second, just before they were swallowed, they had a thought of teshuvah—and that alone saved them. The Midrash emphasizes that they didn't even have enough time to speak a word of repentance. Hashem accepted their teshuvah based solely on a thought. In last week's parashah, we learned that Kalev was promised he would enter the Land and that his children would receive an inheritance there. Rav Moshe Feinstein, in Darash Moshe , asks what Kalev did to earn such a great reward. He answers that when Kalev spoke up against the spies and expressed Emunah that Hashem could bring them into the land, for a brief moment the Jewish people believed him. Although they quickly reverted to fear and doubt, that fleeting moment of emunah was considered a moment of teshuvah. It was so precious that it brought great merit—not just to the people—but to Kalev himself as their source of inspiration. We should never underestimate anything we do in our service of Hashem. It is never "all or nothing." Every small act counts. A man shared that he had been walking with his friend Chaim, when Chaim's phone rang with a reminder that his hour of shemirat halashon was about to begin. The man found it odd—why keep it for only one hour if we are obligated to guard our speech all the time? Chaim explained that of course we try to keep these halachot at all times, but even setting aside one hour of extra vigilance is extremely valuable. It's a way to strengthen ourselves and build up consistency. Every extra moment of self-control is meaningful. Chaim then told a story he knew firsthand. His parents' neighbor, Nitzan, once called him asking for guidance on how to become fully observant. Until then, Nitzan had not kept mitzvot but said that something happened that completely changed his outlook. A few months prior, he had decided to keep a small part of Shabbat—from midnight on Friday night until 10 a.m. Shabbat morning. People laughed at him when they heard this, thinking it strange and inconsistent, but he felt it was a meaningful step he could take. He kept his commitment seriously. On one Friday night, he was out driving with friends and saw that it was 11:30 p.m. He told them firmly that no matter where they were, he would be getting out of the car at 11:50. His friends tried to persuade him to stay with them until around 12:15, but he wouldn't budge. At 11:50, he stepped out of the car and turned off his phone. He was far from home, so he slept on a bench and planned to take a taxi at 10 a.m. when his personal observance of Shabbat would end. When he got home the next morning, his parents were overwhelmed with joy and tears. They had just heard that the car he had been in the night before was in a devastating accident. Everyone in the car had died. They thought he had been with them. He told them that it was his decision to keep even a small part of Shabbat that had saved his life. That moment became a turning point for Nitzan. He decided from then on that he wanted to become fully observant. Every little act in Avodat Hashem matters. Even a moment of restraint, a fleeting thought of teshuvah, or a limited commitment can be the key to transformation—or even salvation. We can never underestimate the power and value of the smallest efforts or intentions. Shabbat Shalom
Alison and Amanda talk about the simplicity of Southwest Airlines, getting status shamed, fasting for future fitness, and a radical new bug repellent. Sis & Tell, an award-winning weekly comedic podcast, is hosted by southern Jewish sisters the Emmy-nominated Alison Goldstein Lebovitz from PBS' The A List and Time Magazine's 2006 Person of the Year, Comedian Amanda Goldstein Marks.
NYC Democratic mayoral primary. Bombing in Iran. Newsboys' Michael Tait scandal. Find us on YouTube. This week, Mike Cosper and Russell Moore discuss the results of the New York City Democratic mayoral primary and the projected win of democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani. Michael Wear joins to discuss the implications for the larger Democratic party. Yossi Klein Halevi and CT's Israel correspondent Jill Nelson join to talk about the United States' bombing of Iran and the possibilities of peace in the region. Lastly, CT's chief operating officer Nicole Martin joins us to discuss former Newsboys member Michael Tait and his history of abuse. GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: Join the conversation at our Substack. Find us on YouTube. Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Michael Wear is the founder, president, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life. Wear is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life. He writes for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Catapult magazine, Christianity Today, and other publications on faith, politics, and culture. Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He codirects the Institute's Muslim Leadership Initiative, which teaches emerging young Muslim American leaders about Judaism, Jewish identity, and Israel. He writes for leading op-ed pages in the US, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and is a former contributing editor to The New Republic. Jill Nelson is Christianity Today's Ukraine and Israel correspondent. She holds a master's in Middle Eastern studies from the University of Texas and began her journalism career as a reporter and anchor in South Dakota. For nearly 20 years, she covered Ukraine and the Middle East for World News Group. Nicole Martin serves Christianity Today as chief operating officer. She is the author of several books including Nailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering and Surrender and Made to Lead: Empowering Women for Ministry. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today's editor in chief) and Mike Cosper (director, CT Media). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: TJ Hester Music: Dan Phelps 'Executive Producers: Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe reflects on the miraculous events following Israel's preemptive strike on Iran, emphasizing the open miracles witnessed over the past two weeks, such as the halting of Iran's nuclear program and the unscathed survival of a family in Haifa despite a direct missile hit. He urges listeners to express gratitude to Hashem through blessings like HaTov VeHaMeitiv and Psalm 100, highlighting that these miracles—unlike everyday miracles like a functioning body or technology—are a divine call to deepen one's relationship with God. Rabbi Wolbe stresses the importance of vocalizing appreciation to internalize inspiration, drawing parallels to Yisro's transformative response to miracles, encouraging listeners to break from routine, perform mitzvahs, and strengthen their spiritual connection to Hashem.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 22, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on June 27, 2025_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Miracles, #Israel, #Gratitude, #Hashem, #JewishInspiration, #Mitzvah, #Torah, #Iran, #Psalm100, #B2_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org ★ Support this podcast ★
As we discussed all week about the Lord's covenant with the Land of Israel and its people, we have a testimony of one of those sheep coming into the Kingdom. Listen in and let it elevate your intercession to see the Word fulfilled.
Israel is Forever
A powerful appeal for Bible-believing Christians to uphold and pray for the Jewish people and their Holy City (Psalm 122:6). To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29
Many news clips most missed. Plus Q update July 4th. Remember 7+4=11 and 2025=9. The inversion. Thank you for Listening to Right on Radio. https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Prayerfully consider supporting Right on Radio. Click Here for all links, Right on Community ROC, Podcast web links, Freebies, Products (healing mushrooms, EMP Protection) Social media, courses and more... https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Live Right in the Real World! We talk God and Politics, Faith Based Broadcast News, views, Opinions and Attitudes We are Your News Now. Keep the Faith
God specializes in the dramatic reversal—as evidenced in the ultimate example of the cross of Christ. Pastor John Munro explores Esther chapter 8, where God transforms the Jewish people's fate from annihilation to vindication.
In this episode of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe reflects on the miraculous events following Israel's preemptive strike on Iran, emphasizing the open miracles witnessed over the past two weeks, such as the halting of Iran's nuclear program and the unscathed survival of a family in Haifa despite a direct missile hit. He urges listeners to express gratitude to Hashem through blessings like HaTov VeHaMeitiv and Psalm 100, highlighting that these miracles—unlike everyday miracles like a functioning body or technology—are a divine call to deepen one's relationship with God. Rabbi Wolbe stresses the importance of vocalizing appreciation to internalize inspiration, drawing parallels to Yisro's transformative response to miracles, encouraging listeners to break from routine, perform mitzvahs, and strengthen their spiritual connection to Hashem.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 22, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on June 27, 2025_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Miracles, #Israel, #Gratitude, #Hashem, #JewishInspiration, #Mitzvah, #Torah, #Iran, #Psalm100, #B2_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org ★ Support this podcast ★
Support our sister on X and buy her book and join the Give Send go linked at @AnnaVanDellenGod arranged the assignment of this specific centurion to Jesus' hometown and ministry base of Capurnaum in advance for Jesus. Matthew 4:13Luke 7:1 – 10This centurion was advocated for by the leaders of the Jewish people when he had a need due to his generosity in building them a synagogue.Consider Acts 10:28. How much offense did he overcome? Psalm 119:165 (KJV)Matthew 8:5 – 13Same events are described.Differences in the accounts pertain to different aspects being found memorable by Luke / Matthew.Same centurion in my opinion as a student. Matthew Henry Commentary responsibly handled each event separately having no historical record to link them. (make mention of Grok calling Mark 15:16 & Matthew 27:27 a “rhetorical exaggeration”) I must incorporate more than consensus of experts because God's Word is life. Consider “safe & effective” evidence clock.If centurion wouldn't have carried out crucifixion, he would likely have been killed immediately, as well as his men. An example of a do or die situation.Mark 15:16 – 39Note that Simon of Cyrene's sons were mentioned by name in this account. In my inexpert opinion, this is because their lives became marked by God's blessing as a result of their father's service. (Save the explanation for time's sake.)Important detail: first account or witness attesting the centurion said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”Matthew 27:27 – 54Same events are described. Again, the differences come from what each disciple found memorable.Important: this passage contains the second witness verifying that the centurion said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Deuteronomy 19:15Luke 23:33 – 47Very important detail: Luke 23:34 Jesus asked God the Father to forgive them (including the centurion).Important detail: the Bible refers to the centurion saying “This Man was in fact innocent,” as praise to God. I've learned a number of things from looking into how the Bible defines different terms at times.Same centurion.Consider how spiritual progress even works.Acts 10:22 says that the entire Jewish nation spoke well of him. Were there two such centurions?Given the scope of the Romans soldiers' involvement in Jesus' crucifixion (around 600 of them), I think it's realistic that the centurion who had supervised it ended up being promoted in a significant way.God answered Jesus' prayer for the centurion's forgiveness. He wasn't guilty for Jesus' death, even though he seems to have profited from it significantly. However, the centurion seems to have remained very mindful of his role in Jesus' death.Acts 10:2 Consider his entire household feared God – how easy is that to achieve, even for a strong leader?Acts 10:7 Consider his close associate was someone devout.Acts 10:33 He viewed himself as being before God in what he did in his life.
How do we relate to the most recent events in the Middle-East? In 638 the Moslems transformed the city; but what was their motivation? What created the divisions of Jewish observance in the 10th century? Why was the Golden Gate sealed off? How did the Christian East-West Schism of 1054 affect Jewish lives in Jerusalem? To register for the Maharal - Prague Tour 8th-11th September contact: giana.elav@gmail.com Chapters 00:00 The Treaty of Jerusalem: A Historical Overview 04:03 The Islamic Conquest and Its Impact on Jerusalem 09:46 The Role of Caliph Omar and the Covenant of Omar 13:56 The Dynasties of Islamic Rule in Jerusalem 19:52 The Jewish Community in Jerusalem: A Historical Perspective 25:50 The Golden Gate and Its Significance 31:37 The Cultural Exchange Between East and West 37:45 The Fatimid Period and Its Tolerance 41:39 The Decline of Islamic Rule and the Rise of the Crusaders
EPISODE 557 - Ronald Okuaki Lieber - The Long Journey Out - from the place where I now am, the diary of that journeyAuthor's BioI am of Japanese and Jewish lineage, born in Tokyo, a late post WWII baby. I grew up moving every year until the age of 14 when my parents settled in Petersburg, VA. I graduated with a BS in Biology from the College of William and Mary, then served two years as a Peace Corp volunteer in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. I returned to live in NYC and eventually graduated from the MFA Program at Columbia University. I later began psychoanalytic training at the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies. After graduation, I became the Director of the institute and editor of its journal, Modern Psychoanalysis. I have been in private practice since 2001 as a licensed psychoanalyst and recently completed a plant medicine guide training program at the Center for Medicine Work in Philadelphia.My entrance into poetry begins with these lines from “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798” by William Wordsworth:And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime Of something far more deeply interfused, Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, And the round ocean and the living air, And the blue sky, and in the mind of man: A motion and a spirit, that impels All thinking things, all objects of all thought, And rolls through all things. Those lines form the basis of my book The Long Journey Out. I was a sophomore in college, adrift in the back of the room in a second semester composition class when the professor read those lines. They woke me from my stupor. There, in those lines, I heard a kindred voice that spoke to an experience I had, an LSD trip, that was, to borrow a cliché, awash in the ineffable, a boundless sense of oneness where any distinction between self and other sundered. That voice joined with another, “An unexamined life is life not worth living,” from which a path emerged, unknown to me at the time--and forgive if what follows sounds pretentious--that took me to Jung, the Peace Corps and Costa Rica, Gurdjieff, poetry, eastern doctrine through The I Ching and the Bhagavad Gita, the TS Eliot of The Four Quartets, Heidegger's Being and Time, the gospels of the New Testament, and too many other books to enumerate, and an abiding curiosity about the unconscious, thus the study and practice of Freud and psychoanalysis, meditation, making do in the East Village of the early 80s, Ashtanga yoga, domestity and two wives and two children, dabbling along the way into neuroscience, windsurfing, and cosmology. The book The Long Journey Out is, from the place where I now am, the diary of that journey.https://www.ronaldokuakilieber.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca
In this edition of Exploits, Christine Darg reviews the extraordinary efforts of an Orthodox Jewish scholar in Jerusalem who seeks to exonerate and reclaim Jesus by addressing historical and theological tensions between Judaism and Christianity. Prophetic actions include the call for a symbolic retrial of Jesus and a Pinyon HaBen ceremony to symbolically welcome Jesus back into the Jewish fold.
Today, The Fellowship's C.J. Burroughs shares the story of a woman who escaped a death train to Auschwitz.
In Episode 404 of The Andrew Parker Show, host Andrew Parker welcomes Steve Hunegs, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC), for a timely and wide-ranging conversation on the centrality of Israel to the Jewish people, the rise of antisemitism across the political spectrum, and the urgent need for education, security, and bridge-building in today's fractured world.Together, they explore the historical and moral significance of Israel—from the Torah to the Declaration of Independence—and how false narratives like apartheid and settler colonialism are weaponized against the Jewish state. Steve offers critical insights into how antisemitism has adapted over time, showing up on both the far left and far right, and how ignorance has fueled the normalization of dangerous rhetoric in American politics.Andrew and Steve don't shy away from hard truths—discussing misalignment in the Democratic Party, the need for bipartisan accountability, and what's at stake for Jewish Americans. But this episode is also filled with hope: from grassroots educational efforts and Holocaust education trips abroad to interfaith partnerships and the enduring work of the JCRC in defending democratic values.This is a deeply personal and politically powerful episode you don't want to miss.Listen now to understand the stakes, the struggle, and the strength of a community determined to stand tall.Support the showThe Andrew Parker Show - Politics, Israel & The Law. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and X. Subscribe to our email list at www.theandrewparkershow.com Copyright © 2025 The Andrew Parker Show - All Rights Reserved.
Annette Charak reflects on the joys of Jewish learning and what it means to live a meaningful Jewish life in the public square - where civic responsibility, cultural identity and moral leadership meet.
What's the Big Deal about Israel? Whether viewed through Jewish or Christian lenses, Israel holds a central role in understanding God's work in history and His plans for the future.Isaiah 49:6We are (LIVE) on our website's [Morning Devo] podcast now!:::: sELAH rADIO Network https://soulwinnerz.org ::::::::: https://live.soulwinnerz.org and we want to see who you are by simply clicking here https://chat.restream.io/fb :::::Join the Adult Bible Study: https://soulwinnerz.org/adultSponsored by: Bethlehem Kung Fu Center https://bethlehemkungfu.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-blaze-bible-study--525630/support.
In this poignant episode of Parsha & Prose, Rabbi Shlomo Gemara and Avrum reflect on the tragic loss of seven IDF soldiers in Gaza this week. Rabbi Gemara shares a deeply personal connection, drawing from his experiences in the Lebanon War, where he lost friends in a tank attack. He reflects on the weight of their final moments and the enduring impact of such losses.
In this poignant episode of Parsha & Prose, Rabbi Shlomo Gemara and Avrum reflect on the tragic loss of seven IDF soldiers in Gaza this week. Rabbi Gemara shares a deeply personal connection, drawing from his experiences in the Lebanon War, where he lost friends in a tank attack. He reflects on the weight of their final moments and the enduring impact of such losses.
Dr. Jay unpacks the remarkable account of how Jesus proved He was the Lord of Life in Matthew Chapter 9. The woman with the unending blood flow and the dead twelve-year-old girl. are actually two sides of the same narrative. You'll be amazed how these two events combine to prove Jesus' power over death!Frothy Thoughts with the Truth BaristaVisit HighBeam Ministry, The Truth BaristaCheck out the Frothy Thoughts Blog!Check out The Truth Barista Books!Check out The Truth Barista YouTube Channel!
As Canadian public schools and universities wind down the 2024-2025 academic year this week, Jewish students can enjoy a desperately needed break from what has, by many accounts, been a difficult year for antisemitism in classrooms and on campuses. In the past school year alone, The CJN has reported on more than 70 stories involving protests, vandalism, harassment, lawsuits, school board policies and other incidents that have occurred since Oct. 7: masked anti-Israel protesters smashed buildings at McGill University; a high school in Ottawa played a pro-Hamas song during the Remembrance Day ceremonies; a professor offered students extra marks for cutting class to join, and write essays about, a pro-Palestinian protest; Jewish teachers and at least one pro-Israel school board trustee have been accused of anti-Palestinian racism. Unsurprisingly, enrolment in private Jewish day schools has been soaring, as worried Jewish parents transfer out of the public system so their kids won't be bullied—or worse. And the pro- and anti- Israel battle playing out in Canada's classrooms, school board meetings and most recently during convocation and graduation ceremonies has been impacting Jewish teachers and faculty and students in many ways. On today's episode of North Star, host Ellin Bessner sits down with The CJN's education beat reporter, Mitchell Consky, to take stock of the biggest stories of this past academic year and what the upcoming fall semester could look like. Related links Read more about how, if at all, Canadian universities moved to adopt any of the divestment requests of the pro-Palestinian encampments' students, in The CJN. Learn how Jewish students on campus are publishing their own newspapers because pro-Israel, Zionist views are banned from longtime legacy campus outlets, in The CJN. Hear why the former dean of U of T's medical school, Arnie Aberman, gave back his honorary degree in protest over campus antisemitism. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Andrea Varsany (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Bret Higgins Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to North Star (Not sure how? Click here)
On Wednesday's Mark Levin Show, Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, is a Marxist and an Islamist who supports Hamas slogans, the BDS movement, and holds anti-Semitic views, though he reportedly denies these claims. If voted Mayor of NYC he will cause New York City's decline, with good people leaving and radical Islamists arriving. Mamdani's positions, including his criticism of Israel and Marxist beliefs, are incompatible with American values and pose a threat to New York City, particularly given its large Jewish population. Mamdani's nomination reflects a broader strategy by Islamists to infiltrate American institutions. We need to confront these ideologies directly. Also, ‘Pardon Me' Steve Bannon is deceiving hardworking, middle-class, blue-collar conservatives and MAGA supporters. Bannon is a con artist who leaked information against President Trump and his family, resulting in his White House dismissal in Trump's first term. He is fake MAGA, exploiting the conservative movement for personal gain; we need to recognize his deception. He is the establishment and is undermining Trump's presidency. Later, Trump explained of Truth Social that he was shocked that there was an ongoing legal witch hunt against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his leadership in a historic victory against Iran. Netanyahu is an unparalleled warrior who eliminated a significant nuclear threat. Trump demands the trial's immediate cancellation or a pardon for Netanyahu. Finally, Rep Byron Donalds calls in and defends Trump's decision to neutralize Iranian nuclear sites, calling it the absolute right call and praises Trump for succeeding where past presidents, particularly Obama and Biden, failed by empowering Iran through misguided policies like those of Robert Malley. Donalds emphasizes Trump's clear stance against Iran possessing nuclear weapons while avoiding ground troop deployment, aligning with an America First policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Think you're low-maintenance until they stop texting back? Can't breathe unless you're together 24/7? Sounds like you've got a ‘Quality Time' love language. But don't panic... needing time isn't the problem, ignoring it is.Hi besties!! Today we're breaking down everything you need to know about the second most common love language: Quality Time.So before you call it quits, LISTEN UP.If you're feeling unloved, or they swear you're “too needy,” this episode is your playbook. I'm breaking down how 'Quality Time' lovers give and receive love, so you can stop misreading the signs and start getting what you actually need.Send this to your partner (yes, I'm giving you the green light) or listen yourself if you've been dating someone who blows up your phone five minutes after you leave.Your clinginess? It's not clingy.It's love. Let's talk about it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The collaboration between Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht is rightly legendary. The two men could not have been more different from each other, and like the Brahms/Joachim relationship I mentioned in my recent show about the Brahms Double concerto, the friendship between Weill and Brecht was stormy to say the least. The two collaborated on some of the most memorable works of the Weimar era in Germany, such as the Threepenny Opera, which features a pretty famous tune called Mack the Knife. Their final collaboration was on the “sung ballet” The Seven Deadly Sins. This is a piece that was written at a point of remarkably high tension within Weimar Germany. On an artistic level, the 1920s and early 1930s had seen a veritable explosion in the world of culture, with art, dance, theater, and music all featuring artists who were pushing the boundaries with wild experimentation and a kind of ecstatic fervor that produced some of the world's greatest and most memorable cultural achievements. On a parallel track however, the rise of the Nazis cast a pall over all of this. By 1933, both Brecht and Weill(who was Jewish) knew that Germany was not a place that they could stay safely. Weill ended up in Paris and then in the US for the rest of his life, while Brecht bounced around Europe before returning to East Germany after the war, hoping to be a part of the Marxist Utopia that he believed had been founded there. The simmering combination of Weill's mastery of transforming popular forms into a unique kind of classical music along with Brecht's pointed satire and brilliantly inventive libretti resulted in the Seven Deadly Sins, a piece that that brutally satirizes extreme capitalism and the degradation of the human soul that supposedly results from it. This is a nakedly political piece, and I should make it clear that by talking about it, by choosing to feature it on the show, and by regularly performing it, I don't necessarily endorse its views. Brecht was extreme in all ways, as we'll get to today, and the power of this piece in my opinion doesn't come from its politics, but from its remarkable and devastating portrayal of a human soul and the tragedies that can befall it. This is one of my favorite pieces of the whole 20th century, and I'm so happy to share it with you today. Join us!
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he breaks down today's biggest stories shaping America and the world. New Intel Confirms Iran's Nuclear Program Crippled U.S. and Israeli intelligence confirm with high confidence that Iran's three major nuclear facilities were destroyed in Trump's recent strike. The enriched uranium is believed to be entombed, though not entirely accounted for, with concerns mounting about a possible hidden site under “Pick-axe Mountain.” Trump says he may not need a peace deal at all, though inspections could still be critical. Iranian Sleeper Cells Arrested in the U.S. Federal authorities arrest 11 Iranian nationals across the country, including an ex-sniper in Alabama and a Hezbollah-linked man in Minnesota. The arrests come amid heightened fears of retaliation and infiltration following the Iran strike. Media and Deep State Under Fire Bryan criticizes CNN and The New York Times for spreading a low-confidence intel leak that contradicted broader assessments of the strike's success. He also exposes former FBI Director Christopher Wray for allegedly burying 2020 election interference evidence involving a Chinese operation to help Joe Biden. Wray is now under investigation. New York City's Leading Mayoral Candidate Sparks Alarm Democrat nominee Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old socialist, proposes radical policies including defunding police, legalizing prostitution, socializing grocery stores, and seizing apartments. Jewish groups and business leaders warn of severe consequences if he wins, while progressives like Ilhan Omar praise his candidacy. Missouri and Oklahoma Lead U.S. Mineral Comeback The two states are reviving domestic production of rare earths, cobalt, and other critical minerals once dominated by China. With government support, these states are building refining facilities, battery plants, and recycling operations that could eventually break U.S. dependence on foreign supplies. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." – John 8:32 Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code TWR using the link or at check-out and get 60% off an annual plan: Incogni.com/TWR
THE BOOK: Kickstarter is still active. MGoBlog.com/25 REMINDER: Michigan fans won the Charity Bowl, so we'll be getting together with Spencer, Holly, and Jason on JUNE 28, 6PM at the Ann Arbor District Library, then going to Venue for drinks at 8:00. Signup is here so I can give them a final count (we're at ~200 right now), or go to pizzawestern.com. THE LINEUP: Brian still on break. Seth & Craig & Sam today. NO SHOW NEXT WEEK: July 4th. Things Discussed: HTTV 2025: Craig's article on 1898 has a surprise for Buckeye Fans, because the NCAA is going to vacate Michigan's 1897 wins ANY DAY NOW. Warde with Sam last week: Credit to him for being more transparent. Sam notes he specifically came out of his no-comment stance to put to rest any ideas of vacated wins/championships. Our favorite recent commits. Seth loves Alister Vallejo: he's incorrigible. Even has Mason Graham's baby face. Craig likes Bear McWhorter. Titan Davis: really good example of the type of player you see from Lou Esposito: good length and good burst. Marky Walbridge: Most Massachusetts name ever. He looks like a TACKLE—reminds me of Blake Frazier. Sam: I think Blake is going to be the starting LT. Philosophy for how to spend your money? Seth: Baltimore Ravens. Start by putting more money to your top players. Positionally, you look at what system you run and where you can get value. Michigan runs the Ravens system, which spent less on Edge and LB to get big-time athletes in the secondary. Spend on a cornerback. Sam: Spend on a cornerback every year, because Ohio State is a receiver team, and cornerback is mostly about talent. QB, Edge, and Cornerback. Seth: if you can develop edges you can save money there. If you're struggling to develop something you spend on it (e.g. OSU with (Break: Naming the people who are in our chat) NIL Clearinghouse. The ADs don't even know what the standard will be. Guessing it will be like every other NCAA enforcement attempt, IE they will ignore 99% of it and then come down hard on Michigan when they're mad. Next battleground is in legislatures. NBA Draft: Wolf slipped to 27th but only because the Nets had 1/6th of the picks and could slot him lower. Took another Jewish guy right before him. Top of the draft: Ace Bailey was the last difference-maker; if he won't play in Salt Lake they can trade him, but the value dropped after that.
In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 8, the Rabbis tell a story of Jewish bravery during the Roman Empire. When the chain of Rabbinic ordination was threatened by the Roman rulers, a group of Rabbis met to ordain students at tremendous risk to themselves. What happened next? Listen and find out.
Patrick fields hard-hitting listener questions on why prayer matters if God knows everything, pulling in St. Thomas Aquinas and the nature of time, then takes on raw, personal pleas, like guiding a friend lost in adult entertainment, suggesting persistent prayer and spiritual strategies drawn from the saints. Unexpected details surface: communion’s brief presence in the body, awkward parish controversies, and callers eager for faith, grounding the episode in the messy, human search for hope and clarity. Audio: Montage of past presidents saying "no bomb for Iran" (01:32) Audio: Jerry Seinfeld – I’m Jewish and experienced a missile attack from Gaza (02:40) Elizabeth - Why is prayer important if God already knows what we are going to do? (05:41) Nora - My dear friend doesn't like religion. She is living in sin, what can I say to help her? (23:19) Bob - Why did Jesus come 2024 years ago? Why not 500 or 1000 years ago? Also, how long does the presence of Christ persist? (36:28) Sean - What is your take on pride masses in the Catholic Church? (44:56) Will – How long does the real presence exists in the body after taking Communion? (48:13)
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. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. US President Donald Trump on Thursday demanded the end of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing criminal trial. Netanyahu is on trial in three corruption cases, facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Among other comments, Trump wrote, “It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu. THIS TRAVESTY OF ‘JUSTICE’ CAN NOT BE ALLOWED!” Magid weighs in. Yesterday, it was announced that US and Iranian officials will hold nuclear talks next week, even as Tehran insisted it will not give up its nuclear program and the US has claimed the program was "obliterated." Magid breaks down some of the conflicting information and offers insight into what kind of deal may take shape following the Israel-Iran war. Israel reportedly halted aid deliveries into Gaza after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that he ordered the military to present a plan within the next two days on how to keep Hamas from stealing humanitarian assistance. Magid tries to makes sense of what is reportedly taking place on the ground. Families of hostages held in Gaza hope the ceasefire with Iran, which went into effect on Tuesday will mark a turning point — one that could lead to a truce with Hamas and finally bring their loved ones home. “Those who are capable of reaching a ceasefire with Iran can also put an end to the war in Gaza,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement. “Ending the operation in Iran without using it to return all the hostages would be a grave diplomatic failure.” Magid has some optimism for more talks and explains why. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump demands end to Netanyahu’s graft trial: ‘US saved Israel, now it’s going to save Bibi’ Trump says US will meet with Iran next week, asserts nuke deal ‘no longer necessary’ Hostage families hope Iran truce yields Gaza deal: ‘Hamas is at its weakest point’ Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2025. (SAUL LOEB / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit InwardTorah.org
The Department for Education has just released the latest figures that show another rise in the number of Education, Health and Care Plans, or EHCPs, in England. These are the legal documents that outline what support a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities is entitled to. The BBC's education reporter Kate McGough, Jane Harris, vice chair of the Disabled Children's Partnership, and Jacquie Russell from West Sussex County Council join Clare McDonnell. It's the UN's International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. At the moment, sexual violence is not treated as torture, which makes it harder to prosecute. Clare talks to the UN's special rapporteur on torture, Dr Alice Jill Edwards.Kate Burton features in a new version of Somerset Maugham's 1926 drawing-room comedy The Constant Wife in Stratford. Kate is known for many stage roles - at least 14 on Broadway - and screen hits including ABC's Grey's Anatomy and Scandal - as well as for coming from a very famous family. She joins Clare to discuss the new production.Clare also talks to LGBTQ+ trailblazer Yehudis Fletcher, whose memoir Chutzpah! opens with Yehudis, aged six, observing the sabbath with her orthodox Jewish family and all her unanswered questions about the world and her place in it. By age 16, she had been silenced, abused and lost within the care system. By 20, she had been married twice. By 25, she had three children. At 26, she found her voice and stands up in court against her abuser. And at 31, she fell in love for the first time.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Corinna Jones
Today's daf is sponsored by Aviran and Miki Kadosh on the occasion of their son, Avishai's bar mitzvah and in honor of him completing Shas Mishnayot, Masechet Tamid and Masechet Taanit during the past year. "We wish that you continue to persevere in learning, to advance and grow wise in all your hobbies and areas of interest! Mazel tov!" Today's daf is sponsored by Caroline Ben-Ari for the refuah shleima of Shaiel Ram ben Rivka. Today's daf is sponsored anonymously, "To all the women who have served as my role models for Jewish learning." In which place in prayer are personal requests inserted? What are the different opinions, and what is the basis for the dispute? What are the holidays of the idol worshippers during which there is a prohibition to sell to or buy from them? The Gemara works on the list of holidays and explains the reason behind the establishment of each of the holidays. Kalenda and Saturnalia were established in response to the first year of the first man (Adam) when he saw in winter that the days were getting shorter and thought that, because of his sin, God was returning the world to chaos. When he saw that the days were getting longer, he realized it was just the way of the world and established a holiday before and after that day on which the days began to lengthen (winter solstice). Another holiday was established in response to the successes of the Roman kingdom against the Egyptians and the Greeks. Rav Dimi explained that the Jews helped the Romans in their victory over the Greeks and ruled together with the Romans for twenty-six years before the Romans subjugated the Jews.
Of Korach's 253 collaborators, only three are named, and all three are Reubenites: Dathan, Abiram, and On Ben Peles. Dathan and Abiram remain true to Korach's cause until the very end when they and their families are swallowed alive by the miraculous sinkhole. On Ben Peles was spared thanks to his wife's wise intervention. In this very interesting podcast we trace the decision of the Reubenites to join the rebellion back to their progenitor Reuben, and learn the valuable tactic to avoid doom advocated by Jacob in his deathbed blessing to his eldest son. The lessons are valuable and instructive to Reubenintes and non-Reubenites alike. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★