Bagels and Blessings

Chris leads Friends of Israel (FOI)’s ministry in the United States and Canada. After graduating from the Institute of Jewish Studies, he received his B.S. in Bible from Cairn University (formerly Philadelphia Biblical University) and a Master’s of Theology in Old Testament studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. Chris serves as host and teacher of The Friends of Israel Today radio program, contributes an editorial to their bi-monthly publication, Israel My Glory, and teaches at conferences and churches throughout the United States.

Tuvya Zaretsky is one of the founders of the Jews for Jesus ministry, beginning his service in February 1974. He was raised in Northern California in the institutions of American Judaism. And he came to believe in Yeshua (Jesus) in 1970.During his career, Tuvya has provided leadership of Jews for Jesus branches in Chicago, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Tel Aviv. Tuvya is also the founder of JewishGentileCouples.com, a free counseling service for intercultural couples, operating out of the Jews for Jesus LA branch.Tuvya earned an M.A. Missiology in Judaic Studies at The Fuller Seminary School for World Mission and the Doctor of Intercultural Studies degree from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is married to Ellen, who is also a Jewish Believer in Jesus. They have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Today we had another “ask the Rabbi” session!  Rabbi Jim explained why Messianic Jews still celebrate Yom Kippor and other Jewish holidays.  Rabbi Jim is our Rabbi at Congregation Shema Yisrael in Rochester, New York. 

Rachel has worked at several synagogues teaching Hebrew, and interned with the Jerusalem Institute of Justice after college. She founded and currently leads the young professionals group and co leads the drama club at her home congregation, Eitz Chaim Messianic Congregation in Plano, Texas. When she’s not serving at Eitz Chaim she works as a lawyer for the leading travel software and technology company. Rachel also enjoys escaping the city to go hike mountains and explore our National Parks.  

David “Moose” Garrett and his wife, Kathleen, have served on staff with Jews for Jesus since 1981. David has served in a variety of positions including ministry to young people for over 30 years. He currently serves as Director of the Alumni Ministry. The Garretts have two married daughters, Virginia and Monica, and eight little friends.

Rabbi Michael Shorb is a third generation Messianic Jew.  Even though he was raised in a believing home, his own personal faith and commitment to the L-rd didn’t come until much later.  While in the service, he became friends with a believer and while visiting his friend’s farm, he heard the friend’s mother, a devout believer, praying for him and calling out his name before the Lord. God began to place people in Shorb’s life who would pray for him, minister to him, and eventually he surrendered to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord called him to reach Russian speaking Jews.  He went to Kyiv and he traveled to Ukraine four times a year, where he became a member of the world's largest Messianic congregation in Kyiv.  While in Ukraine, Rabbi Michael went into prisons and to rehab centers.  He experienced the casting out of demons and those who were instantly healed from drug addiction.  But the Lord showed him that his true calling was to be in his own home, near Baltimore, Maryland.Rabbi Michael had visited Israel and had pondered making Aliyah, but he clearly heard the Lord tell him to go home to his people in Maryland, where there are approximately 250,000 Russian-speaking Jews.  The Lord impressed on him that if all the believing Jews left, who would teach his people?Rabbi Michael's Congregation, Beit Chesed (House of Mercy), is located in Baltimore County in Reisterstown, Maryland. 

Rabbi Jim Appel has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Shema Yisrael since 1996 and a Jewish follower of Yeshua since 1977. He is ordained by the International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues. Rabbi Jim previously worked for Xerox Corporation in Webster, N.Y., for 24 years as an optical engineer and engineering manager. He holds more than 45 patents in the areas of copier imaging systems and laser printing. Rabbi Jim received a bachelor’s degree in optical engineering from the University of Rochester in 1967 and a master’s degree in physics from the University of Southern California in 1970. Rabbi Jim decided to follow Yeshua after a long spiritual search. He grew up with parents who taught him that G-d did not exist and organized religion deceived and oppressed people. In 1967, after completing college, Jim became disillusioned with life as an atheist.  He rejected his parent’s teachings and began his search for spiritual reality. This search took him into the world of mind-altering drugs and yoga meditation, and ended with a dramatic encounter with Yeshua the Messiah, who revealed himself to Rabbi Jim in the privacy of his bedroom without the assistance of any other person. Rabbi Jim and his wife, Diane, live in Brighton, and they have two grown children.

Rebbetzin (Rabbi’s wife) Candyce Hyslip is passionate about seeing the revival of our Jewish people manifest through healthy Kingdom relationships. She believes that wholehearted surrender and relational transparency are key to maturing in our identity in the LORD. Through her teaching, worship, written devotionals, community events, and hospitality she intentionally fosters a safe environment that deepens connection with the LORD and each other. It is within this atmosphere that healing, encouragement, and empowerment is appropriated to fulfill the unique calling God has created for each of us.

A Gentile believer who loves Yeshua found himself trapped in Israel October 7, 2023. I hope you enjoy this exciting interview!Elias Duran was born in New York City, has been happily Married for 36 years and is the father of three children - a boy and two girls. Elias is a carpenter and floor installer in New York.  He loves the Lord and loves to travel around the world. His favorite place is Israel where he has been seven times.  In this interview, Elias shares what happened when he was in Israel during the events of October 7, 2023. He is looking forward to returning to Israel.

Gloria is a Messianic Jew living in Texas, but her story begins in Nigeria where she was born and raised. At the age of 12, a neighbor faithfully stopped by her home after school each day for 3 years, getting her to memorize the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John). Through that simple act of love, she came to faith in the Messiah — a decision that has shaped her life ever since.Today, Gloria is a wife, a mom of three, and a CPA who runs her own accounting firm in Texas. She loves using both her faith and her professional gifts to encourage and serve others, and she’s passionate about sharing the hope of the Messiah with everyone she meets. She’s been on multiple mission trips to the middle east, and especially carries a burden for the persecuted church in “unreached places” like North Korea and much of the Islamic world.