“From Springs and Cisterns to Shalom: Shiloh Updates and a Call to Stand with Our People”

Dr. Eugene
Jul 8
9 min read

Welcome to the Shalom Bridge Family!

Shalom and welcome to Shalom Bridge, a community where Jews and Gentiles come together to rediscover our shared roots in G‑D’s promises to Israel and to live out the transforming life we have in Messiah together

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News

Shiloh Campus Update: It’s been a toasty week here at Shiloh, right along with much of the country! The week before, we had a bit of unplanned “adventure” with our spring. First the water pressure dipped, then it trickled, and by afternoon…nothing. Not a drop. After several hikes back and forth between the spring and the line down to the reservoir, we finally found the troublemaker: a very determined tree root that had broken into the pipe and made itself right at home.

Once we pulled out an eight-foot root (yes, eight feet!), the water came rushing back—hallelujah! We’ve put in a temporary fix for now and will be replacing the pipe, but in the meantime we’re extra grateful every time we turn on a faucet and something actually comes out.

Meanwhile, life on the land is anything but boring. Our little flock keeps growing, and so do the bushes, grass, and weeds. The campus is sending us a very clear message: “It’s time for goats and sheep!” They’d make wonderful co-laborers, especially for taming the overgrowth and helping with fire mitigation.

Right now, we have 50 quail, 13 chickens, and 4 guinea fowl bustling about. Our quail covey is giving us around 8 eggs a day, and that number is creeping up as more of them start laying. It sounds like a lot until you see how tiny they are! We’ve asked some talented bakers and chefs to help us dream up special recipes—and, L-RD willing, a market—for these charming little speckled treasures.

This Week's Parashah

(A parashah or Parashat is a term meaning portion~ in this case, it is referring to a portion of This Shabbat, synagogues and Messianic Jewish congregations around the world will read and teach Parashat Matot-Masei (מַטּוֹת–מַסְעֵי) from the book of Bamidbar, “In the Wilderness” (known in the Christian Bible as “Numbers,” from the Greek Septuagint), covering Numbers 30:2–36:13.

[This week's devotional is drawn from the Halftarah reading Jeremiah 1:1-2:3; 2:4-28; 3:4; 4:1,2]

Prayer: Blessed are You, O L-RD our G-D, King of the universe,

Who sanctifies us by His commandments

And has commanded us to engage with Your Word.

Broken Cistern and Living Water

“This is what the Lord says: ‘…They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water’” (Jeremiah 2:13).

In our portion, Jeremiah paints a heartbreaking picture. Israel has traded a flowing spring for a cracked, handmade cistern. Imagine turning away from a cold, pure mountain stream in order to drink from a muddy pit that leaks. No wonder the L-RD calls this “astonishing” (Jeremiah 2:12).

The G-D of Israel presents Himself as the fountain of living water—ever-fresh, ever-satisfying. In Messiah Yeshua, this image bursts into fullness: He offers “living water” to the Samaritan woman (John 4), and promises rivers of living water to those who believe (John 7). The Source has not changed; the spring still flows. What has changed is our willingness to drink from HIM alone. Sometimes we allow the wild roots to remain and eventually the life giving water is blocked.

Yet Jeremiah reminds us that access to living water does not mean we can neglect the integrity of the “cistern” of our lives. A cistern that is cracked—compromised by idolatry, blocked by hypocrisy, or disobedience—cannot hold even the water G-D freely gives. We may attend services, study Torah, speak of Yeshua, and still find ourselves spiritually parched if our character is fractured by double-mindedness.

Integrity and obedience do not earn the water; they form the vessel that can receive and retain it. When we walk in covenant faithfulness—turning from idols (Jeremiah 2:11), returning to the L-RD with our whole heart (Jeremiah 4:1)—our lives become sound containers for His presence. The same Messiah who offers living water also calls us to repentance, holiness, and truth in the inner parts. Through HIS holy Spirit (Ruach ha Kodesh) the wild roots are removed and water flows.

Today, let us ask: Where have I dug my own broken cisterns—my own sources of security, identity, or comfort apart from G-D? Then, let us return to the fountain of living waters, and invite the Spirit to mend our cracks, that we may both receive and hold the life that flows from Messiah.

Prayer: Avinu Malkeinu, our Father and King, Guide and empower us to walk in Your covenant faithfulness when we feel vulnerable, weary, or surrounded by opposition. Let the words of our mouths, the actions of our lives and the meditation of our hearts honor You, and lead us to walk humbly, act justly, and love mercy through Yeshua the Messiah. Amen.

Antisemitism Watch | July 01,-July 07, 2026

This past week has seen several troubling examples of antisemitism in public life, especially in the United States, Europe and Canada.

Toronto, Canada (July 1): A Jewish real estate agent, Joseph Bitton, was assaulted by a man who identified himself as a “Houthi,” who hurled objects (including a parking pylon, brick, rocks, and metal bars) while shouting threats to kill him because of Israel; Toronto Police arrested the suspect and classified the case as a hate crime.
Montreal, Canada (July 3): An assailant repeatedly tried to pull the streimel off an Orthodox Jewish man outside a synagogue, stole multiple fur hats from Jewish men, and fled; community reports documented this as an antisemitic attack on visibly observant Jews.
Vienna, Austria (reported July 6): Jewish artist Alon Yishai was physically attacked and verbally abused in central Vienna after a protest action at a monument honoring antisemitic former mayor Karl Lueger; attackers spat at participants, shouted slurs such as “Jewish pigs,” and praised Hitler.

Attacks at or near Jewish sites

Brooklyn, New York (July 1): A man carrying a knife and baseball bat entered Chabad Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway; Jewish worshippers confronted and forced him out, detaining him until police arrested him, in an incident reported as a serious security and antisemitic threat to the community.

Antisemitic propaganda and incitement

Pamplona, Spain (July 7): At the opening ceremony of the San Fermín festival, a large banner reading “Destroy Israel” with a crossed-out Israeli flag was unfurled and held aloft by attendees, accompanied by watermelon-themed props that have become a common antisemitic symbol post–October 7; this repeated a similar message displayed at the same festival the previous year.
Australia (testimony July 7): At an Australian inquiry into antisemitism, Google representatives defended leaving online a YouTube video falsely claiming that a wounded survivor of an antisemitic massacre at a Sydney Hanukkah celebration was a crisis actor, highlighting ongoing antisemitic misinformation and denial around that attack

חָזָק (Chazak): The Heart of Courage

Intercession Before the Backstabbing Comes

Friends, let your intercession rise up like incense to His throne (Psalm 141:2)! Now is the time to intercede — for the souls of people, and for this nation — like never before.

I love this country. I love what it was built on, I love its people, and that's exactly why I can't stay silent about what I'm seeing.

I keep thinking about Isaiah 21, where the Lord sets the watchman at their post, day and night, to declare what they see. In that same chapter we read of "the treacherous dealer dealing treacherously" — betrayal, backstabbing, broken trust at the highest levels. I believe within this next year we will see that kind of political backstabbing come to light. That's why we can't stay silent, and that's why we can't stop praying.

We've heard the word "revival" so many times it almost stops meaning anything. But what does it mean — for you, for me, today? Revival means the idol comes down, in each of our own hearts first. That idol looks different for each of us: pride, comfort, the approval of people over God, anger calcified into hatred, or the way culture has rewritten what God already said about sin, including around homosexuality. Whatever it is, it has to come down.

The Lord placed you in this country to love it, to care for it — but never to replace Him with anything else. Loving this nation and putting God first were never meant to compete — they were meant to work together. That's the whole point: love this land enough to fight for it and for the souls of its people, on your knees.

My prayer is this: that hearts would turn back, ask forgiveness, and humble themselves before God; recognizing Jesus as our Lord, Savior, and true Messiah. That's how this nation sees morning again.

Just as the glory of Kedar was humbled — not by armies, but by the Word of the Lord (Isaiah 21) — the proud and the treacherous places in this nation will be humbled too. Not by politics. By the Word of God, released through the prayers of His people.

Look at your roots. Would you stand with me in prayer for this nation and the souls of this nation? Cry out to God! Be the watchman. Intercede for souls, intercede for this nation. Revival is coming, through our intercession.

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.

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Do you have a heart for ministry and a gift for video editing? We are looking for someone to help us bring Shalom Bridge Ministries to life on screen! Once a week, we would send you raw footage, and you would work your magic — cutting it together into one beautiful, shareable video. If this sounds like something you'd love to pour your gifts into, we would love to hear from you! Reach out to us at connect@shalombridge.org or (720)722-2375.

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

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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,

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