Rabbi Joe Bell

Shalom!   I thought this was from 2012 but now I think it was from 2017.   In any event, I am happy to re-post this wonderful interview with Rabbi Joe!

Rabbi Joseph “Joe” Bell was raised in a Jewish home in the Boston area. He has a strong Orthodox Jewish pedigree, and attended synagogue with such luminaries as Sheldon Adelson, Robert Kraft (New England Patriots owner) and family, Barney Frank, etc. It was a very prominent synagogue and Bell was very comfortable being Jewish and practicing Judaism.

Boston is also where he began his search to know God at the age of 28. It was then that he began to read the Bible (his Bar Mitzvah Bible) looking for God, seeking His power to change the direction of his life. He prayed at that time and asked God to come into my life if He was real.

Bell says, “I wasn’t looking for Jesus. After I began reading the Tanakh, people began to pop into my life and tell me about Messianic prophecies. Finally somebody connected me to a Jews For Jesus missionary who I agreed to talk by phone with. Her name is Sharon. But before Sharon, one of my employees saw me reading the Bible and pointed me to Messianic prophecies. She challenged me to read Isaiah 53. After reading it, she asked me who it was talking about? I said it sounds like Jesus. She said it is Jesus. So after months of reading and talking with my employee and with Sharon by phone, I decided to go meet with my Rabbi.

“I told the rabbi that people were sharing prophecies with me and pointed out Isaiah 53. The rabbi became visibly irritated and barked ‘That’s not Jesus Christ!’ I said, ‘Fine, who is it?’  He had no answer… And I knew that he really didn’t know.  About ten months passed and a series of events led me to read the New Testament Gospels and within a month I invited Jesus into my heart as my Messiah and Lord. God immediately spoke to my heart and told me to go out to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles and tell them about Him. I received this message after going to Church for the first time with a Christian friend who saw me seeking. I had spent the day fasting and confessing my sins to God after Church. I went through some sort of deliverance that day alone in my home, then I believe God spoke those words to me in my house that night.

 

Lily Isaacs - Again!

It isn't every day that you hear country bluegrass music on Bagels and Blessings!   I first aired this interview about 2 years ago after hearing The Isaacs minister at the Messiah Conference.   Imagine my surprise and delight to learn of their Jewish roots!    So enjoy this unique music and also a few Passover tunes!

Today's show featured a pre-recorded interview with Lily Isaacs, the matriarch of The Isaacs, with a personal story as layered as the group's signature vocals. Born in Germany to two Polish-Jewish Holocaust survivors, Lilly moved to the U.S. when she was two-years-old. Her family settled in the Bronx where she studied theatre and performed off Broadway. In 1971.

The Isaacs, a multi-award winning family group who began singing 35 years ago are based out of Hendersonville, TN. The vocalists are mother Lily Isaacs and siblings Ben Isaacs, Sonya Isaacs Yeary and Rebecca Isaacs Bowman. Playing their own acoustic instruments and joined by other band members, The Isaacs have a unique style that blends tight family harmony with contemporary acoustic instrumentation that appeals to a variety of audiences. Their musical style has been influenced by many  genres of music including bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, and country, contemporary, acoustic and southern gospel. 

Karen Davis Interview

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Karen Davis.   It was so much fun!   This show includes lots of her music.   I know you will enjoy it!

Karen is the Worship Director of Carmel Congregation (“Kehilat HaCarmel”), a Messianic congregation located on the top of Mount Carmel, Israel, where her late husband David served as Founding/Senior Pastor for 25 years. Karen was born in the U.S. in a Jewish family. Karen then had a life-changing encounter with Jesus (“Yeshua”) in New York City where she was developing her musical talents. She and her husband immigrated to Israel in 1989 and founded House of Victory rehabilitation center for Jews and Arabs and Carmel Congregation in 1991. Karen and her “one new man” worship team of Jews and Arabs are dedicated to building unity in the Body of Messiah in Israel through praise and worship.

Karen is a recording artist and songwriter, well-known internationally for her Messianic praise and worship music. She has recorded numerous solo albums of original music in Hebrew and English, which are distributed internationally by Galilee of the Nations/Sony Music. Her latest recordings are “Songs of Eternity,” “Songs in the Night,” and “The Lord Roars from Zion – Songs of the Warrior Bride.” Karen is also a featured artist on the highly-acclaimed Galilee of the Nations recordings “Adonai,” “Elohim,” and the “Heart for Israel” series.

Permanently residing in Israel, Karen and her late husband David also ministered for many years internationally as a team with a strong emphasis on the prophetic and the “one new man” in Yeshua. Since her husband’s passing Karen continues to speak and lead worship internationally, with a passion to see the “warrior bride” of Messiah arise in the nations.

Her latest release is "Songs of Eternity," from Galilee of the Nations.

Music and Encouragement!!!

Shalom!   Today's show is all about trusting the Lord!   Fear not, do not be afraid, for He is with you and He is in control!

I pray you stay safe, have what you need, and remember that no matter what, God loves you!

Enjoy some encouraging music and be blessed!

Richard Hill Interview

Shalom!  Here's another great interview with Richard Hill. 
 

Dr. Richard Hill serves as Messianic Pastor of Beth Yeshua Messianic Congregation in Las Vegas, NV since 2003. He also serves as Ministry Representative with CJF Ministries since 2000. Dr. Rich received his Ph.D. from Antioch Baptist Seminary in 2010. He is hosting a Prophecy Cruise from Los Angeles to San Diego and Ensenada in Dec. ’20.  He is the author of two books:  Israel in Prophecy, A Chronology and Freedom in Messiah: A Messianic Jewish Roots Commentary on the Book of Galatians.  Dr. Rich has been in the Messianic Jewish movement for the past twenty-five years.  Please visit his website (www.bethyeshualv.org; www.cjfm.og) to buy the books or for more information or call 702-256-0840.

Enjoy the music and thanks for listening!!   Oh....and happy Purim!

 

"Aunt Norma" Interview

Today's show features a short interview with a 90 year old Jewish lady who is contemplating whether or not Yeshua could be the Messiah.   Everyone calls her Aunt Norma, so I shall comply!

How often do we get chances like this?   You will enjoy this sweet exchange and hopefully will be prompted to pray for her to know the truth!

Enjoy lots of fabulous music too!

Annette Sofaer Interview

It was a privilege to hear this wonderful testimony!  

In their early married years Josh and Annette Sofaer served as missionaries with Jews for Jesus in New York City, then for another five years in Los Angeles.  They felt called to return to New York so that Josh could develop Jews for Jesus' youth and camp ministries on the East Coast, so Josh and Annette served in New York from 2000-2011, during which time their daughters Eliana and Taliah were born, and Josh became the branch director.  

During those years, Annette was a full-time mom, with side duties such as leading a moms Bible study and helping wives of missionary trainees transition to life in ministry.  In 2011, the Sofaer family moved to Portland, Oregon so that Josh could complete a master's degree at Western Seminary.  

In August 2012 the Sofaer family moved to Los Angeles so that Josh could begin directing the Jews for Jesus work in Southern California.  Though the family is still very much in the midst of transitioning to a new area, Josh and Annette are excited to see what the Lord will be doing through Jews for Jesus there.  In 2015, Annette returned to part-time staff with Jews for Jesus, first in church relations department, and now as a missionary to the Jewish women in the Southern California area.

Enjoy amazing music, as always!