Saturday, December 30, 2023
The Smiling Sheep and Ethel Chadwick
Saturday, December 23, 2023
Crystal Buchhalter Interview
Crystal grew up in Detroit, MI singing choral, traditional Jewish, Tin Pan Alley, musical theatre and liturgical music in her synagogue under the apprenticeship of well known Cantor, Harold Orbach; at which time she also started performing around Metro Detroit. She then began studying classical voice at Interlochen Fine Arts Camp where she first considered a career as a classical artist and Cantorial Soloist. She has a degree in classical voice from Oakland University in Detroit and has since performed with The Collegiate Chorale in NYC, Nashville Opera, & as a Cantorial soloist from San Francisco to NYC, as well as London, Israel & South Africa, and has directed and performed on national and international tours. She most recently led worship for the Jews for Jesus 50th anniversary convocation on Cyprus & is the advocate for multiple musicians in Israel on behalf of the Nashville based ministry, Artists in Christian Testimony. She is currently recording an album of virtuosic Cantorial music in Nashville.
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Jamie Ellen DeOliveira
Jamie Ellen De Oliveira is a Jewish Born, Messiah Yeshua Believing, Messianic Recording Artist! Born to a mom that was on Broadway, and a dad who was a music publisher, the writing seemed to be on the wall!
Saturday, December 9, 2023
Jocelyn and Corey Brown
This sweet couple attend Shema Yisrael Congregation here in Rochester, NY and it was a delight to interview them.
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Yochanan Marcellino Returns
It was great reconnecting with Yochanan Marcellino at the Messiah Conference this past July. Here’s a little background on him:
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Simeon Greenberg Interview
What fun to interview Simeon recently! Here's some background:
Simeon Greenberg grew up in ministry with his family, beginning in his father’s synagogue as a volunteer and worship leader until becoming the videographer for the Tree of Life Bible Society. Simeon has spent the past 6 years recording and editing hundreds of videos full of biblical content. Simeon is happily married to his wife of three years and now works as the Media Manager for the TLV Bible Society, distributing biblical study content across multiple platforms and countries.
Note, Simeon's Mom, Daniah, was my mentor and taught me how to be a worship leader many years ago!
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Stephen Segal Interview
Saturday, November 11, 2023
Josh Turnil interview
Joshua Turnil is the director of Jews for Jesus in France and Switzerland, overseeing the work in francophone Europe. Joshua was born in New York, and has a bachelor’s degree in French literature. His wife, Delphine, who is French, also serves with Jews for Jesus. They have three children: Ilan, Lilya, and Levia. Joshua has participated in, and produced five music albums, as well as video projects such as the life story of resistance fighter and Holocaust survivor, Ruth Gottlieb. Joshua is uniquely qualified to speak to the question of antisemitism, as his Paris office is often the target of antisemitic threats and is under the constant vigilance of the French police. Also, he has worked side by side with leaders of the French Jewish community and church leaders to actively fight against antisemitism.
Saturday, November 4, 2023
Dr. Walter Kaiser Interview
Dr. Kaiser is a retired theology professor and old testament scholar. He taught at Wheaton Graduate School and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has written about 90 books on the Old Testament and loves Israel and the Jewish people. Dr. Kaiser has 6 more books waiting for publication and he has led over 25 tours to Israel. He considers himself an "armchair archeologist," having never actually participated in a dig.
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Rabbi Ron Cantor Returns
Rabbi Ron serves as President of Shelanu TV, the only 24.7, Hebrew language TV channel sharing the message of Yeshua. He also serves as the Israel Director for God TV, where he hosts two TV shows—Out of Zion and Get Real. Ron was born into a Jewish home, circumcised and Bar Mitzvah'd, but he did not know God! He realized at age 17, there must be more. This led him on a journey where he discovered that Yeshua (Jesus), whom I thought was for the Gentiles, was in fact, the Jewish Messiah.
He received his degree from
Messiah Biblical Institute and recently obtained his master's in theology from
the King's University. Rabbi Ron served
as the Associate Rabbi at Beth Messiah Messianic Congregation in Rockville, MD
until his family moved to Odesa, Ukraine to work at the Messianic Jewish Bible
Institute. In Ukraine, they birthed a congregation in Bedichev, the city upon
which Fiddler on the Roof was based. They then moved to Budapest, Hungary.
In 1999, they accepted an invitation to teach Jewish Roots at the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry. In 2003, Ron and his wife Elana, a native Israeli, along with their girls, made aliyah (moved to Israel). He served as the co-pastor and interim senior pastor of the King of Kings Community in Jerusalem.
During this time, they birthed
the Isaiah 2 Initiative, taking Israeli young adults to third-world nations to
preach the message of Yeshua. In Nigeria, we saw many miracles, and tens of
thousands profess faith in Yeshua.
In 2013, Ron agreed to become the lead pastor of Tiferet Yeshua, a Hebrew-speaking congregation in Tel Aviv. Three years later, they turned the congregation over to a native-born Israeli, and while still functioning as an elder there.
In 2020, GOD TV partnered with
several Messianic Israeli leaders to birth Shelanu TV. Ron was asked to become
the president.
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Lori Kate Lowenhar returns
It's been many years since I last interviewed Lori. She is an amazing woman and will share how life is in Israel since the tragic events that recently took place. Plus we will hear some of her music from One Lev, her wonderful singing group.
Originally from Elkhart, Indiana, Lori grew up playing the flute and clarinet. She graduated with a Music Education degree from Cedarville University and began traveling internationally performing Jewish Gospel Music with the Liberated Wailing Wall. Upon moving to Israel, her musical training allowed her to teach a variety of instruments to students in various schools in the Jezre'el Valley.Lori Kate has now been living in Israel for more than 25 years. She's part of an amazingly talented trio, playing clarinet in the musical group, One Lev.
Saturday, October 14, 2023
John Ross Interview
Rabbi John and his wife Becky have been members of Congregation Beth Messiah since 1994. John became the worship leader and youth pastor in 1995 and served in that role for 23 years. After that he transitioned to a role as a teaching elder before becoming the congregational leader in 2021. John and Becky have four grown children and one grandchild. John received his education from Houston Baptist University (B.S. in Biology and Theology), Masters International University of Divinity (Doctor of Biblical Studies) and Liberty University (M. Div. and D.W.S in Worship Studies).
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Mary Rose Schneider Interview
I met Mary at the Messiah Conference this past July. She is a lovely lady!
Mary Rose Schneider is a born-again believer in Yeshua who is working on making her life a praise to God. As a music teacher for 27 years, she works with highschoolers with varying challenges. She is a Klezmer clarinetist who has played with other Klezmer musicians from all over the world. She has a daughter, who is married, and is a photographer.
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Gay Block Interview
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.
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Pastor Greg Stone Interview
Pastor Greg is the Director of Jewish Ministries at Gateway Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Pastor Greg is a Jewish believer who accepted Yeshua almost 32 years ago. He has taken special joy in teaching the church and community about the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. "Many people see me as an 'Old Testament' scholar," Stone said. "Really I am about the bridge between the two testaments.” Saturday’s broadcast also provides information on Yom Kippur and special music.
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Rick Fisher Returns
It was great seeing Rick at the Messiah Conference!
Rick Fisher is a 76 yr old man that was raised in a Jewish home, attended Hebrew School, was Bar Mitzvah and did a year towards confirmation before he got tired of all of it because it was curtailing his social life. Rick did not begin actively searching for G-d until his early 40s. He found Yeshua and for the last 33 years, he has been privileged to serve Him as a worship leader in Davidic dance (among other things) at Congregation Beth Yeshua in Philadelphia. Rick found new life in Him and is eternally grateful.
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Dawn Bell Interview
Dawn Bell was born in a Gentile home and became a believer at an early age. Later on after starting her career as an airline pilot she met Joe Bell, fell in love and married. The Bells served with Jews for Jesus on the Liberated Wailing Wall for 2 years and then moved back to Dawn’s home town where they started a congregation, and a bagel business. She currently serves with Rabi Joe at Ari Yehudah Messic Congregation as Rebbetzin and worship leader while working as a 737 pilot.
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Rabbi Michael Oyler
Rabbi Michael grew up in Ohio and accepted an invitation to receive Yeshua from Reverend Curt Thomas in May,1988. Rabbi nurtured his commitment to Yeshua at Cathedral of Life under the ministry of Bishop C. Herschel Gammill and Pastor Dana Gammill.
Approximately a year after earning his degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, Rabbi Oyler began a three year internship under Rabbi Murray Silberling of Beth Emunah Messianic Congregation in Agoura Hills, CA and returned to Ohio in April of 1998 to help plant Canton’s first "Messianic" Congregation, The Star in the East.
On a local level, Rabbi Oyler has hosted community Passover Seder celebrations for the past 23 years, a regular at National Day of Prayer observances, participated in Canton Naturalization ceremonies and has opened the Ohio House of Representatives in Prayer.
A teacher at multiple Messianic conferences both on the regional and national level, some of his topics have covered stewardship, worship, Jew and Gentile relationships, the Jezebel spirit, the theory of the rapture in the End of Days, and solving the mystery of the birth of Yeshua/Jesus.
Rabbi Oyler and his wife Rachelle have been blessed with 5 children...Jadin James, Ariel Simcha, Michael Shalom, Shiphirah Rachel, and Evan Michael.
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Rabbi Greg Hershberg
Rabbi Greg Hershberg was born in New York City and raised in Orthodox Judaism. In 1989, he married Bernadette and while on his honeymoon in Israel had a visitation from the Lord that turned his heart to serving God.In 1992, Rabbi Greg became involved in the Messianic Jewish Movement and was ordained through the International Association of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS). He became the leader of Beth Judah Messianic Congregation. In 2002, the Lord moved Rabbi Greg and his family to Macon, Georgia, to lead Congregation Beth Yeshua.The ministry went global in 2010 and Congregation Beth Yeshua became Beth Yeshua International (BYI). What was a local storefront congregation became an international ministry/training center in Macon, Georgia, with congregations and schools in India, Kenya, Australia, Germany, Israel, and across America. Rabbi Greg currently resides in Macon, Georgia, with his wife, Bernadette, and their four children. More about Rabbi Greg can be found in his autobiography, From The Projects To The Palace.
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Rabbi Henry Morse
Henry M. Morse is an ordained Messianic Rabbi with a degree in Bible and Theology from Central
Bible College in Springfield, MO. Formally known as “The Great Benafucci,” Rabbi Henry did acrobatic tricks and rode a unicycle to reach many young people. He has been in full time ministry for over 40 years; serving as youth minister, evangelist, missionary and congregational leader. Henry has ministered in twenty countries and 45 states. He has authored 2 books. Henry lives in Stoughton, MA, with his wife of 39 years, Cherri, he has five grown children, 7 granddaughters, and 2 grandsons. He is the founding Rabbi of Messianic congregation Sha'ar Hashamayim and has served there for 17 years.
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Saturday, August 12, 2023
Brian Slater Returns!
It’s always a pleasure to chat with my dear friend Brian Slater. Here is his bio:
Brian is a Messianic believer who lives in Israel. Brian is CEO/Director of Abundant Bread of Salvation and has managed and established several others of the same works in Tel-Aviv. He has also established an additional Food Pantry in the center of Netanya that serves many Holocaust Survivors amongst the 350 families he serves on a monthly basis. This same facility now also houses the ministry headquarters. He has worked at times as a nurse, giving free medical care and assists in directing the day-to-day operations as well as counseling in a Messianic drug and alcohol treatment center in Netanya. Over the last several years, Brian also has worked closely on many projects serving two local orphanages that house over 500 poor and needy children. Furthermore, he was recently awarded a Certificate of Honor from the Israeli Ghetto Survivors Association for his aid to Shoah-Holocaust Survivors. This is the 6th time he has been interviewed on Bagels and Blessings.
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Valerie Long Interview
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Kassia Pereira Interview
What a blessing to meet Kassia at the women’s retreat this past April. Since childhood Kassia has had a hunger and curiosity to know God. She found Jesus reading the Gospel, or actually He found her. The Bible became a passion and the people in the Bible became her people, her friends, brothers and sisters. Their lives became her inspiration. Deep inside Shabbat had always been a mystery and when someone told her she could not teach Hebrew because she is a woman, Adonai led her to Congregation Mishkahn David. Kassia decided to learn Hebrew to read the Bible in Hebrew. All the little details of her faith that never made sense finally clicked into place. Now Kassia is part of God’s story- her life is in the Bible ... she is counted with the stars!
Saturday, July 22, 2023
John Kanter Interview
John Kanter was born in Los Angeles to Jewish parents of Russian ancestry. At age 16, he trusted Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah of Israel, for forgiveness of sin and eternal life. John has been involved in Messianic ministry for over 30 years. He has served as a Messianic pastor, para-church minister, national ministry representative, and radio broadcaster; preaching and teaching the Jewish context of the Scriptures to numerous churches both domestically and internationally. John is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary.
John and his wife Terry have a married son, Stephen, and a grandson Joel.
Enjoy his faith journey and some wonderful Messianic music!
Saturday, July 15, 2023
Paul Bukzbazen Interview
My good friend Diane told me she met an interesting Messianic believer while visiting family in South Carolina. I called Paul Buksbazen and had a delightful conversation with him. I know you will enjoy this interview!
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Michele Rosenbaum
I have known Michele for many years and finally got to interview her!
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Elaine Fawcett Interview
Recently I attended a wonderful Women's Retreat and met some lovely ladies from Rhode Island. This is the first of three interviews that I did while attending the retreat.
Elaine Fawcett was raised Catholic and in her college years she was interested in science. She met a scientist who believed in God and seeds were planted. Years later a co-worker invited her to his church and she went to an Easter service. Still not interested in Jesus, she felt more drawn to Judaism. After her grandparents died she found out that she was, in fact, Jewish! She heard God's voice say "keep the Sabbath!" Elaine sought out others that keep the Sabbath and found a fellowship in Rhode Island. She fell in love with it! Today Elaine is part of Mishkahn David in Rhode Island (Rabbi Brian Samuel) and is deeply in love with Yeshua!
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Judith Benhamou Returns
It was fun chatting with my long-time friend Judith Benhamou. Judith was raised in a Jewish home but was drawn to Jesus when she was a little girl. She met her Jewish Messiah at 25 years old and fell in love with him. She discovered many other Messianic Jews and has never looked back. This year Judith celebrates 50 years (herJubilee) as a Jewish believer in Yeshua.
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Peter Oliveira
I really enjoyed interviewing Rabbi Peter Oliveira! Formerly the Messianic Rabbi of Congregation Mishkahn David in Rhode Island (Rabbi Brian Samuel is the current Rabbi) Rabbi Peter and his wife Lisa felt called to work at an orphanage in Haiti. They sailed with their children on a sailboat from Rhode Island and it took almost a year to arrive there. They saw miraculous healings while there. It’s truly an amazing story.
Saturday, June 10, 2023
Ellen Herr Interview
Gotta love social media! I found another Messianic believer! Fun interview! Here is some background on Ellen Herr:
Ellen was born into a Jewish family and raised in Lancaster, CA where her parents started the first synagogue. As a young adult Ellen moved to Los Angeles and began to search for a relationship with God. This was during the Jesus revolution where many young Jewish people came to faith in Yeshua. Ellen visited a Messianic congregation in the San Fernando Valley and gave her heart to Yeshua. She began attending the congregation and became the office manager there. Later Ellen worked for the Anti-Defamation League for a few years. Ellen met and married a wonderful Jewish believer. For the past thirty years they have lived in Las Vegas and her family has been very involved with the Messianic community there.
Saturday, June 3, 2023
Joe Miterko Interview
I enjoyed getting to know this talented young man.
Joe Miterko grew up in a Messianic gentile home and has been involved in music ministry for as long as he can remember. In 2008 while on a trip to Israel, he felt the powerful presence of the Lord, and it changed his life forever. Originally from the Connecticut area, he now lives in Boston, teaches piano, plays at various Messianic functions, and has a deep love of the Lord.
Saturday, May 27, 2023
Dr. Jay Christianson Interview
I was delighted to find Dr. Jay on Facebook. He is a fascinating man. Here is some background:
Dr. Jay Christianson is the founder and President of High Beam Ministry and has faithfully served in ordained ministry since 1994. He is a pastor, teacher, worship leader, speaker, Israel tour leader, independent researcher, Jewish-Christian Dialogue participant, and outspoken advocate for Israel and the Jewish community.
Through his online High Beam Ministry, Dr. Jay hosts the weekly Truth Barista Podcast, authors the Frothy Thoughts Blog, teaches Bible classes, and produces Bible study resources.
He is an enthusiastic teacher who focuses on understanding the Bible from the original Hebraic-Jewish context. He first became excited about the Hebraic heritage of Christianity in 1986. Since then, he has led tours to Israel and twice participated in Bridges for Peace’s Institute of Israel Studies in Jerusalem, Israel. He enjoys teaching Christians about the Jewish foundations of their faith and encouraging interfaith understanding between Christians and Jews.
Dr. Jay Christianson holds a Bachelor of Arts (University of Minnesota), a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies (North Central University), a Master of Arts in Judeo-Christian Synergism (Masters International University of Divinity), and a Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies (Master’s International University of Divinity).
Jay and his wife, Jeanne, reside in Naples, Florida.
Check out his website: The Truth Barista Podcast | Highbeam Ministry