This week’s Torah portion is known as Emor—which means “speak”—and it covers Leviticus 21:1–24:23. After God gave Israel the ten commandments, he commissioned Israel to be a “priestly kingdom and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6). Israel’s requirement for holiness was directly connected to the character of God. Leviticus lays out the nation’s dietary restrictions, religious…
In this Red Alert episode, we talk with Rachel Simons, founder of Seed & Mill, whose sesame-based brand quietly challenges many of the misconceptions promoted by the BDS movement. Through food, storytelling, and genuine human connection, Rachel shows a reality far more truthful than the slogans often heard in Western culture. For Christians who care…
This week we are reading Leviticus 16:1 to 20:27. The reading calendar combines two portions, so this week’s assigned reading is on the longer side. The first portion is titled Acharei Mot, which means “after the death,” because the narrative picks up right after the burial of Aaron’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu. The second…
We are excited to share a powerful new episode of the Jerusalem Connection Red Alert Report, featuring documentary filmmaker Igal Hecht, our partner in an important new project: Beyond the River. This sweeping documentary series—currently in production with support from The Jerusalem Connection—aims to cut through misinformation and bring clarity to the complex history of…
This week’s reading is called Tazria and it covers Leviticus 12:1–15:33. This portion is completely occupied by issues of ritual impurity. Last week’s reading, Shemini, was concerned with the structural boundaries between the sacred and the profane, as it pertained to the Tabernacle and priesthood. Tazria–Metzora shifts the lens toward the human body and the…
In this Red Alert Report, we sit down with Paul Calvert, a UK journalist living in Bethlehem, to unpack the complex and often misunderstood realities facing Christians in Israel, Gaza, and under the Palestinian Authority. This conversation was recorded on February 28, 2026, just hours before Operation Epic Fury began. Its release was delayed to…
This week’s Torah portion covers Leviticus 9:1–11:47. The portion is titled Shemini, which in Hebrew means “eighth,” because the text begins “on the eighth day.” In the Bible, the number seven symbolizes the completion of creation. In Genesis, God finishes his creative work in six days and rests on the seventh. Number seven is forever…
Our latest Jerusalem Connection Red Alert Report brings you a powerful firsthand account from Liz Becker, co-founder of Strong Voices for Israel and daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Liz recently returned from Israel after spending time there during the outbreak of the most recent war—and her experiences offer a deeply human perspective on what Israelis…
As we enter the sacred seasons of Passover and Holy Week leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we’re excited to share a brand-new episode of the Jerusalem Connection Red Alert Report that brings fresh clarity to the deep biblical connections between these two foundational celebrations. This week, we sat down with Rabbi Aaron Allsbrook of Ohav…
This week’s Torah portion covers Leviticus 6:8–8:36. The second reading in Leviticus is titled Tzav, which means “Command!” Like last week, the text dryly expounds on how the priests are to present the sacrifices in the tabernacle. Details include how they are to dispose of the ashes, eat the grain offerings, and maintain the eternal…
We are honored to share a powerful new episode of our Jerusalem Connection Red Alert Report, featuring the remarkable testimony of Marzi Amirizadeh—a woman whose journey from oppression in Iran to freedom in America reveals the extraordinary resilience of faith under fire. Born just months before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Marzi grew up in a…
In Jewish tradition, the book is called Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1−5:26), based on the opening words that translate as “And He called.” The book opens exactly where Exodus concludes, with the Israelites camped at the base of Mount Sinai. After the glory of the Lord had filled the tabernacle, God summoned Moses into the tent of…
Bridging Generations: The Importance of Young Adult Outreach for Israel In a cultural moment where the significance of Israel and its place within the Christian faith is often misunderstood—or overlooked entirely—the need for intentional young adult outreach has never been greater. Amanda Saxton, Young Adult Outreach Coordinator for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), offers…
This week’s Torah portion is Vayakhel-Pekudei, which covers Exodus 35:1–40:38. This is our 22nd Torah portion in the annual reading cycle and our final Exodus study. The transition between the instructions for the tabernacle and its actual construction marks one of the most repetitive sequences in the Torah. While Exodus Chapters 25–31 provide the divine…
In this episode, we speak with Pastor Michael Beener of City of Life Ministries in Sderot—one of Israel’s most targeted cities. With more than 13,000 rockets fired since 2001 and only 15 seconds to reach shelter, Sderot’s residents live under constant threat. Yet their story is one of faith, resilience, and hope. We’re also joined…
This week’s Torah portion is Ki Tissa, which covers Exodus 30:11–34:35. It is also the week Jews in Israel and abroad celebrate Purim. Purim is the joyous Jewish holiday that marks the survival of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire after a plot to annihilate them was thwarted by the bravery of Esther…
Today’s podcast episode offers an urgent and deeply insightful conversation with Rabbi Shmuel Bowman, Executive Director of Lifeshield, who joined us earlier today directly from his bomb shelter in Israel—during the fourth missile alert of the day. His firsthand perspective provides clarity, context, and spiritual grounding at a time when many are seeking to understand…
This week, we explore the Torah portion called Tetzaveh, which translates to “you command.” This section covers Exodus 27:20-30:10. Much of the reading is about the priesthood, one of the most critical institutions in Israel’s spiritual architecture. Tetzaveh covers the sacred vestments, exactly what the priests were supposed to wear, from their head covering to…