A Wake-Up Call, One Loyal Egg, and a Season to Return

4 days ago

8 min read

Welcome to the Shalom Bridge Family!

Shalom, and welcome to Shalom Bridge — a community bringing together Jews and Gentiles to explore our common heritage in G‑D's covenant with Israel, and to walk together in the renewed life we share through the Messiah.

Grow Shalom Bridge.

Thank you for your support of Shalom Bridge. If you give through the converge portal we kindly ask that you continue your support through one of our other support avenues. Your support has been a critical to life changing ministry and we are so grateful. We are also very thankful for the support of the Converge network of Churches. They have been a great source of encouragement and have assisted us for several years in the start-up of Shalom Bridge. They continued this service well past the normal time for them to do so. Thank you, Converge. You can continue your support by giving through our website or through Zelle (503)816-7599 or through cashap using the QR code below.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/partner-with-shalom-bridge-making-disciples-of-yeshua

News

Shiloh Campus Update: Praise the Lord for another gloriously chaotic week!

For several days, Judith was feeling so much better that we actually squeezed in some walks between the chores — practically a vacation by our standards. We also got to enjoy fellowship with fellow believers, both online and in person, which was a wonderful bonus.

Then, right on cue as the new week rolled in, the chest pains decided to make a comeback and knock Judith down for a couple of days. She's tired and a bit wobbly, but she's slowly clawing her way back to the ever-patient pile of tasks that have been waiting (not so patiently) for her.

Meanwhile, the goats remain their usual delightfully nosy selves — leaping into the truck bed, raiding the chicken feed, and sprinting toward us like we're delivering the mail every single time we step outside. We're still building the fence out of whatever spare materials we can scrounge up, valiantly trying to make it look less like a quilt and more like an actual fence. Speaking of patchwork, I'm also on permanent duty patching the holes that our most determined escape artist, Deborah the goat, insists on punching through the fence around the pin.

On the egg front, our hens have officially begun laying — and by "begun," I mean we're pulling in a grand total of one egg a day. Not to be outdone in the minimalism department, the quail have joined the strike with their own single daily egg. The weather flipped from scorching to suddenly rainy and cool, which may explain the quail's sudden thriftiness. As for the chickens, they're still young and mid-molt after a brutal summer, so honestly, we're just grateful for the one loyal egg we do get.

This Week's Parashah

(A parashah or Parashat is a term meaning portion~ in this case, it is referring to a portion of the TORAH)

This Week's Parashah

This Shabbat we read Parashat Ha'Azinu (הַאֲזִינוּ, "Give Ear" pronounced hah-ah-ZEE-noo), Moshe's (moh-SHEH) final song to Israel before his death (Deuteronomy 32:1–52). This Shabbat is also known as Shabbat Shuvah (שַׁבַּת שׁוּבָה, "Sabbath of Return"), since it falls within the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.

Yom Teruah (יוֹם תְּרוּעָה, "Day of Shouting"), known as Rosh HaShanah (רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, "Head of the Year"), was observed September 11–13 with the sounding of the shofar (shoh-FAR), per Leviticus 23:23–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 . That call to awaken now leads toward Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, beginning at sundown September 20 .

In Ha'Azinu, Moshe calls heaven and earth to witness Israel's story — G-D's faithfulness, the people's failures, and His promise of restoration even after exile. The song ends in hope, not judgment.

Reflection: The shofar sounded the wake-up call; Yom Kippur will seal the verdict. Shabbat Shuvah is the quiet middle ground between them — a moment to stand, like heaven and earth in Moshe's song, as witnesses to our own lives this past year. What is one thing you're ready to return to, or return from, before the gate closes?

Antisemitism Watch | September 08,-September 15, 2026

Antisemitic incidents made headlines across three continents this week, ranging from street violence to online harassment campaigns.

Physical attacks. In London, three 14-year-old Jewish students from Hasmonean Boys School were verbally and physically assaulted on a bus the day before Rosh Hashanah, the second such attack on students from that school in ten days. In Berlin, two men attacked a 43-year-old woman with a broken glass bottle after noticing her Star of David necklace, shouting antisemitic insults before fleeing; no arrests have been made. In Munich, 93-year-old Holocaust survivor Charlotte Knobloch received a death threat referencing a Star of David and a recent far-right election win, prompting her to cancel a public appearance.

Online harassment. Amy-Jill Levine, newly named president of the Catholic Biblical Association and its first Jewish leader, has faced a wave of coordinated online abuse. Researchers identified a cluster of accounts posting identical scripted attacks within minutes of each other, tied to known extremist-linked figures.

Institutional concerns. A UK watchdog documentary alleged "malignant" antisemitism within the National Health Service, citing a nurse given a Nazi salute by a colleague and a patient told "Jews kill children for fun." Separately, a new study found that nearly 60% of social media posts referencing the 9/11 anniversary also pushed antisemitic conspiracy theories, often linking the attacks to unrelated libels.

By the numbers. New York City data show Jewish residents, roughly 10% of the population, accounted for more than half of the city's reported hate crimes so far this year, as overall hate crimes rose nearly 16%.

These incidents, spanning assaults, threats, and coordinated online campaigns, underscore a continued rise in antisemitic activity worldwide, prompting renewed calls for accountability from institutions and platforms alike.

חָזָק (Chazak): The Heart of Courage

A Time of Awe, Reflection, and New Beginnings

On September 11, 2026, we entered Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It was also a day that brought painful memories as we remembered the thousands of lives lost through terrorist attacks. That morning, I gathered with a group of women to pray and encourage one another in God’s Word. My heart was heavy as I prayed for the families and friends who continue to carry the loss of those they love.

Rosh Hashanah means “Head of the Year,” while Leviticus 23:23–25 calls it Yom Teruah—the Day of Trumpets. The blowing of the shofar was a spiritual wake-up call, inviting God’s people to stop, listen, reflect, and turn their hearts toward Him. It begins the traditional ten-day period leading to Yom Kippur—a season of reflection and repentance.

So why does this matter to us as Christians? We are not obligated to observe these feasts, nor are we saved by observing them. Jesus alone is our Savior! Yet there is tremendous treasure in understanding them. They give us a beautiful opportunity to intentionally pause, allow God to search our hearts, repent where needed, and realign our lives with Him. They also help us understand the biblical world of both the Old and New Testaments—and remember that Jesus Himself was Jewish.

And there is something prophetic about the sound of the trumpet! Scripture connects the trumpet with the return of Jesus and the gathering of believers (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:52).

May this be a season of refreshing, realignment, repentance, and joyful expectation. As you come before the Lord, remember that you do not have to walk through this season alone. If there is something on your heart that you are reflecting on, surrendering, or believing God to do, please reach out to us. We would be honored to partner with you in prayer, encourage you, and stand with you as you seek the Lord during this meaningful season.

Let’s walk this journey together, praying and encouraging one another!

So, during these Days of Awe, let’s not only look backward—let’s look forward with expectation! What is God awakening in you? What is He asking you to surrender? What new thing might He be preparing?

L’Shanah Tovah—may we have a good and sweet New Year! We praise You, Lord Jesus, and thank You, Abba Father, for all You have done and all You are yet to do!

Prayer: יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃ יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃ יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם׃

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Through this prayer HIS name has been placed upon us!!! (see Numbers 6:27) May we walk worthy of HIS name!!!

Resources

Podcasts and More. Did you know we also host a weekly podcast called “Shema Shalom”?

Each episode is designed to encourage your faith and deepen your walk with the L-RD. You can listen anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, or directly on our website.

We’d love for you to join us—wherever and whenever you listen!

You can also stay connected with Shalom Bridge on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, where we share updates, encouragement, and teaching throughout the week. You’ll find our podcast episodes and weekly Parashah blogs anytime on our website at www.shalombridge.org.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and generous support. Your partnership enables us to continue sharing this message of hope and reconciliation with the nations. We are deeply grateful to walk this journey with you.

Stay connected with us at www.shalombridge.org or connect@shalombridge.org.

B’Shalom, Dr. Eugene & Judith Saunders

Partner with us to make disciples for Yeshua. Pray about making a gift today to support this ministry? There are many ways to give. You can give online through our Website using Zeffy, give via Cash App, Zelle (through 503-816-7599), or send a special offering to Shalom Bridge at 12745 South Rock Creek Lane, Haines, Oregon 97833. Please prayerfully consider partnering with us. Your help and support are greatly needed and appreciated.

*The photo below is the evacuation zone lines. The blue dot is our house.

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“There is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” — Sha’ul (Paul) Galatians 3:28

At Shalom Bridge.org, we believe that unity is the heartbeat of truth and that love across lines, fulfills the vision G‑D gave us. Thank you for being part of something sacred—and for choosing to build bridges where walls once divided.

With deep gratitude and hope,

The Shalom Bridge Team Bridging faith. Growing love. Finding shalom.

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