Pastor David M. Berman is a Messianic Jew, raised in a rabbinical synagogue and fully immersed in Jewish life and culture. He was miraculously saved in 1983. He sensed a strong call to reach Gentiles (non Jews) with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has done so for over 35 years. A pastor, Church planter, pastoral trainer, and much media interviews. He reaches Jews online and answers questions.
Jonathan resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Elisangela, and their two daughters. He has a heart for Los Angeles and is excited to see Jewish and interfaith families thrive in the Heritage Community!
I’ve known Bob for many years. In this broadcast he shared how he discovered that Jesus is the Messiah.
Bob Mendelsohn served as the director of Jews for Jesus in Australia and New Zealand for 25 years..He now spends half the year in Nashville and half in Sydney. He grew up as an Orthodox Jew in Kansas City, became a university drop out, and looked for the meaning of life in the counterculture of the 1960s.
I enjoyed my interview with Lydia Jacobs. She is another person I saw at the Messiah conference in July.
Lydia Jacobs is a Jewish believer in Jesus. Both her parents are also Jewish believers and she was raised in a Messianic Jewish home in Upstate New York. Growing up, she attended Shema Yisrael in Rochester and Brith Hadoshah in Buffalo. For four years she traveled with the Liberated Wailing Wall, a traveling music missionary team through Jews for Jesus.
Anthony has written four books and has written religious articles for the Messianic Times, Jewish Voice Today, Charisma and Ministries magazines, and the Western New York Catholic. He has also written articles on the Arab-Israeli conflict for the Jerusalem Post, the Buffalo Jewish Review, and the Orthodox weekly Yated Ne’eman in New York City. Cardinale also brings to his writings his dramatic touch as an award-winning playwright.
Gay was raised in a Jewish and when she asked her orthodox grandmother about Yeshua, she was smacked in the face. She had no clue that there was a God that cared to speak to us! However, after losing a five year old daughter at 37 years old, the Lord revealed himself to her in miraculous ways, and her life has been totally different ever since.
Elie Grunhaus was my FIRST guest ever on Bagels and Blessings. It was August 2, 1997. I had a chance to do a "one time, one hour" show and I thought I might as well pretend to be a real DJ. The Lord gave me the name "Bagels and Blessings," and I invited Elie to come on the show - I knew he had great diction and a fun story! Little did I know that the show would become a regular and last for so many years! God is full of surprises!
Today you will hear part 1 of his story -- stay tuned for part 2 next week!
Here's a little bit about him:
Elie came to trust in Yeshua as his Messiah in 1973, despite being raised in NYC by parents whose experiences during the holocaust left them doubting God was even real or cared about their suffering. Through a miraculous set of circumstances he found his Messiah.. And that pivotal decision has brought God to the top of his radar in just about every facet of his life: his wife, their two kids, and the many experiences in which he has seen God's reality and care for him in so many ways. Elie and his wife Sherry reside in Kentucky and are former members of Congregation Shema Yisrael in Rochester, NY.
What a blessing to reconnect with Jeffrey D. Miller! Here's a little background:
Jeffrey D. Miller was raised in a traditional Jewish home, but spent twenty-four years of his life as an atheist. However, in 1983 he had a miraculous encounter with the living God and committed his life to Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah. For 30 years, Jeffrey D. has traveled the country and overseas ministering in hundreds of churches and Messianic Jewish Congregations about how Jewish it is to believe in Jesus, and bringing reconciliation through the love of the Messiah.
It was great meeting Jonathan over the phone. He has a very interesting story. Here's a little background:
You may ask, "How does she find new people to interview?" Well, I'm glad you asked! Sometimes I find them on Facebook, other times through a recommendation. And occasionally someone contacts me and asks to be on the program!
I found Cookie Berman through a mutual contact on Facebook. She is delightful and I know you'll enjoy our interview together. Here is her story:
In the late 80’s I remember telling my mother I was planning to get baptized and she responded “before you do that, I want you to find a nice young Rabbi and tell him that I did a bad job of bringing you up as a good Jewish girl.” (Jewish Guilt 101.) It was a difficult journey but this is how my life went from growing up as a Jewish girl and finally finding my redeemer, Yeshua HaMashiach! Baruch HaShem!
My new friend Rene has written another adorable book called "Zoe Discovers the Feast of Weeks at Pentecost." It was great having her back on the air!
As a review, Rene is an extraordinary women. She is an author, teacher, and "Chief Farmhand"
at Safe Haven Oasis and Messianic Fellowship, Church Ministries Coordinator
at Chosen People Ministries and Co-founder at Safe Haven International Network.
We had a delightful conversation and not only will you hear her story, you will hear some great Shavuot music!
Today's broadcast featured an interview with Messianic author Susan Salganek. Suanhas a Masters in Special Education and worked with exceptional children as a teacher in both private and public schools. She also has facilitated workshops for parents and teachers. She grew up in a secular Jewish background in Brooklyn, New York. “I was always searching to know who God is and wanting a relationship with Him.” she says.
She became a Messianic Jew in 2001 and has served as a creator and coordinator for various classes at Congregation Beth Hallel. In 2018, she created Tell My People, a Messianic Media ministry, which became a department of ACT International.
It was fun chatting with Rick Heller today. In his own words:
I am a devoted follower and lover of Yeshua (Jesus), my Messiah. I am a husband, a father, a grandfather and even a great-grandfather by marriage. I have several degrees, including a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in human resources. I have had many careers, including: the Navy Nuclear Field, carpentry, computer instructor, and nursing in various capacities.
I still wonder what I want to be when I grow up. Not really. I have had many titles, but my favorite one was given to me by a friend, whose anointing I’ve always admired. She once said to me that she saw me as a friend of God. I don’t deserve such a title, but it resonates in my heart. I can only hope.
Sherry, my wife, and I have made our home in Florida for the last eleven years. We have a beautiful (if somewhat headstrong) dog, a Whoodle, named Maxi. He brings a lot of love, comfort and challenges into our home.
Like everyone else, we have our ups and downs and times when life goes sideways. But we love the Lord. He is the foundation of our life and marriage. Life can be hard enough with Him. We don’t ever want to be without him.
I am a sinner saved by grace, the unmerited favor of God, which I could never earn or deserve. It is in Yeshua, Jesus, my Lord and Savior, that I place my trust. When you read these stories, I hope you can catch a glimpse of His love for you.
Here is a link to his book:
Many years ago I was privileged to attend Shabbat services with the Herman family in Rochester, NY. They produced three wonderful children, all grown now, and today I played a pre-recorded interview with their daughter, Liz Stout. It's been so wonderful watching her grow up into a strong woman of God.
Liz was raised in Rochester, New York in a Messianic Jewish family. She always knew the Lord, but only dedicated her life to Him on her 18th birthday. She received her BA in religion and philosophy from Roberts Wesleyan College. She moved to Israel in 2005 in order to study for an MA in education at Tel Aviv University, where she met her husband Simon. For much of the last decade, Liz has been an elementary school teacher at a private Christian school. However, in mid-2019, she joined the Jews for Jesus family and now serves missionary in Jerusalem. Liz has a heart to see children come to know the Lord in a deep way, and to see them actively serving in their community. Liz asks that you please pray with her for the children whom she serves, that they will “dedicate their lives to the Lord and know His voice!” Liz and Simon currently reside in Jerusalem and have two young children.
I also introduced three new songs today -- one from Misha Hoyt (Goetz) and two from Paul Wilbur. Enjoy!!
I had a wonderful conversation with Mitch Glaser (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary), the President of Chosen People Ministries. He speaks and writes widely on Jewish evangelism and Messianic Judaism. He is co-editor with Darrell Bock of four academic volumes published by Kregel Publications and has authored numerous books and articles.
Listen here to learn how he came to know Yeshua and how God is using him today!
I had the pleasure of speaking with Ron Gitelman last month and am excited to share the interview with you today! Enjoy fabulous music too!
In Ron's own words:
" I was born in Denver and moved with my parents to Fayetteville Arkansas shortly afterwards. We were one of very few Jewish families in a university town that today has grown significantly. I had many Christian friends who would share the Good News with me and at 16 made an initial commitment to Yeshua. However I fell away from that commitment but in my freshman year of college at LSU I recommitted asking Yeshua to show me He is real. Since then I helped build a student led Bible Study at LSU that is still going strong today. I moved to San Francisco and became involved with Jews For Jesus and went on staff for two years before realizing that wasn't my calling. After moving around I settled in New Haven CT and after a divorce that caused much pain God brought my current wife into the picture just over a year later. I started attending Congregation Simchat Yisrael in 1998 and became an elder in 2001. I have been serving as President since 2010 a position which I will be turning over in 2021. My wife and I have been married for 20 years and have 3 wonderful children and are fierce advocates for Messianic Judaism."
Another fun interview with Dan Switzer! In his own words:
I just can't keep away from such good music!!! Greg is definitely one of my favorites in the Messianic Movement! I hope you are encouraged as you hear his wonderful music and an interview all about his faith and how God is using him!
Blessings and hugs to all!
He's 77 years young and on fire for the Lord! Shmuel Oppenheim shared his testimony on this pre-recorded interview. In his own words: "I was Rabbi of Lev HaShem Messianic Jewish Synagogue for 11 years. Retired, August 2015 from Congregational Leadership and I am still in full time ministry. Have been filling in at Messianic Synagogues and in Churches. Some are referring to me as, "The Wondering Jew." I was born in El Paso, TEXAS raised in Ysleta and spent growing up years on the Fort Quitman Land and Cattle Company Ranch. I'm a real live honest to goodness Texas Jewish Cowboy!"
Enjoy some great music too!!
