Welcome to the Shalom Bridge Family — Goats, Grace, and Ki Tavo
- Dr. Eugene
- 6 days ago
- 10 min read
NewsletteR
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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Shiloh Campus Update: Thank you so much for your wonderful prayers, support, and encouragement. Judith has had several good days with more energy and strength. Hallelujah!!!
I've come to a realization: life before goats was calmer. It is, however, a whole lot more entertaining with them around — and this past week proved that even the goats couldn't keep up with the drama we managed to stir up without them.
It started on our drive home from a hospital in Boise, Idaho, where Judith had gone through another round of testing. Somewhere in the third lane from the right, our truck decided it had had enough and simply stalled out. We coasted safely to the shoulder, conveniently right past a road construction sign — because why not add a little extra ambiance to the moment. With traffic whizzing by at 80 mph, "safe" is a relative term, but we'll take "relatively safe" over the alternative any day.
Hazards on, I assessed our predicament: over 100 degrees outside, and a quarter mile between us and the nearest fuel station. Judith, ever the picture of calm, was in no shape to make that walk in the heat and leaving her alone in a hot car was simply not happening. So, I did what any reasonable person running out of options does — I started praying, hard.
Enter our unexpected hero: a kind gentleman who pulled over to help diagnose the truck and offered us a ride to the station. Answered prayer, delivered curbside. He only spoke Spanish, so Judith stepped in as our interpreter. He gave the truck a valiant effort, and then, in the spirit of full disclosure, mentioned he happened to be on the run from the law. As you do. This gave me a brief moment of "wait, what?" — but between the heat, the highway, and the lack of other volunteers, we decided to stretch our faith. My wife, ever practical, asked the very reasonable question: "Is it safe to ride with him?" I assured her it would be fine, especially since she'd be sitting safely behind him (a very scientific safety plan, I admit). He got us to the station in no time and wouldn't accept a dime for his trouble. Angels come in all sorts of packages, apparently — some of them fugitives.
From there, our wonderful daughter and equally wonderful son-in-law came to the rescue, driving 224 miles round trip to bring us home. The truck, meanwhile, got towed to a mechanic in Caldwell, Idaho, where the verdict came in: a bad fuel pump and a bill of $1,322.22. Ouch indeed. Huge thanks to Curt at Rogers, who diagnosed and fixed it in record time — turns out he'd repaired the exact same issue on the exact same year, make, and model just the day before. Some things you just can't make up.
Back on the home front, my mom — AKA Super Mom — held down the fort with the birds and goats, including milking duty, since Judith wasn't quite up to wrestling a goat for the last few days. She did double duty and didn't even ask for a cape.
We finally got home hoping for a peaceful Shabbat, but even that had a plot twist in store. Just as we neared Havdalah, marking the end of Sabbath, we got phone calls warning of new fires possibly near our house. A quick search revealed dark smoke billowing behind the mountain ridge, and evacuation zones went up with everyone on standby. Once again, we turned to prayer, joined by many in our fellowship and partners.
The evacuation zones shifted and crept right up to our property lines — oy vey indeed. But the good news, as of last Sabbath, is that they haven't advanced any further. They remain right where they stood at the close of the Sabbath day, and we're holding onto that with grateful hearts.
Between fugitive Good Samaritans, fuel pumps, fires, and goats left unattended, it's been a week that reminded us just how faithfully we're being watched over — even when the truck misbehaves.
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
(A parashah or Parashat is a term meaning portion~ in this case, it is referring to a portion of the TORAH)
This Shabbat (shah-BAHT), synagogues and Messianic Jewish congregations around the world will be reading and reflecting on Parashat Ki Tavo (כִּי תָבוֹא, pronounced kee tah-VOH, meaning "when you enter" or "when you come in") from the book of Devarim (דְּבָרִים, pronounced deh-vah-REEM), "Words". Found in Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8, this portion continues Moshe's (moh-SHEH) closing address to Israel, presenting instructions for the first-fruits and tithe declarations upon entering the Land, the dramatic blessings and curses proclaimed from Mounts Gerizim and Ebal, and a solemn recounting of the covenant Israel is entering with God.
Prayer: Blessed are You, O L-RD our G-D, King of the universe,
Who sanctifies us by YOUR Word
And has commanded us to live in and through Your Word.
Parashat Ki Tavo
"When you enter the land... you shall take some of every first fruit of the soil... and go to the place where the Lord your God will choose" (Deuteronomy 26:1–2). Before Israel plants a single seed of settled life in the Land, G-D asks for gratitude first. The farmer doesn't wait for a bumper harvest to say “thank you” — the earliest, best fruits go up before anything is kept back.
That ordering matters. So much of our anxiety comes from trying to secure our own future before we're willing to acknowledge who secured our past. The bikkurim (bee-koo-REEM meaning first fruit) ritual forces the opposite habit: remember first, then work. "We were slaves in Egypt... God brought us out with a strong hand" — the farmer recites his whole story standing in a field he didn't create, holding fruit he didn't ultimately grow alone.
Then comes Deuteronomy 28, the long, sobering list of blessings and curses proclaimed from Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. It reads almost like weather — blessing in the field, blessing in the basket, blessing in the fruit of the body and the soil and the herd. And the curses are simply that same list, inverted. One rabbi observed that G-D's curses aren't really active punishments so much as the absence of blessing — the ordinary danger of an unprotected world rushing back in the moment we stop paying attention to the Source,
Ki Tavo is ultimately not a threat but an invitation: come in, remember, give first, and let gratitude — not fear — be what governs a full field and a full life.
~ Shalom.
Prayer: ABBA (AH-bah), fill me afresh with Your Ruach HaKodesh. Help me to ever be thankful for the goodness and blessings. Make my hands quick to bless, my eyes quick to see the overlooked, and my heart like Yeshua’s — full of chesed (Khes-ed) for all You’ve placed in my path. B’Shem Yeshua (be-SHEM yeh-SHOO-ah), amen.
Antisemitism Watch | August 19,-August 25, 2026
Violence against Jewish targets marked this week on both sides of the Atlantic. In Manhattan, federal hate-crime charges were filed against a man who allegedly disrupted Shabbat services at Central Synagogue, striking a congregant and headbutting a guard; NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch later warned congregants of a "broader pattern" of anti-Jewish attacks.
In Surfside, Florida, a man was arrested for punching a visiting Jewish tourist while threatening his life and invoking Israel.
Court documents revealed a Maine man fired rifle rounds toward a Jewish summer camp's basketball courts, locking down children as young as seven.
In Berlin, a Jewish man was slashed with a box cutter after voicing pro-Israel views, and London police are investigating a man photographed wearing a shirt referencing a historic massacre of Jews.
Online, streamer Hasan Piker told 3.1 million followers that American Jews' visible support for Israel would provoke violence against them — remarks that split Michigan Democrats and prompted Rep. Josh Gottheimer to push for a House resolution condemning the comments.
A second Reform synagogue near Tel Aviv had a window shattered by rock-throwing this week, and NYPD released footage of suspects who threw motor oil and feces at two Queens synagogues.
Germany's antisemitism commissioner called for tougher sentencing after a record 8,725 antisemitic incidents nationwide in 2025. Monitoring groups logged 104 new incidents worldwide in one week alone, and a Canadian survey found 95.7% of Jewish university students had experienced or witnessed antisemitism in the past year.
On a hopeful note, new ADL research found a single 45-minute classroom lesson measurably reduced teens' belief in antisemitic conspiracy theories — a reminder that education remains a proven, concrete response.
חָזָק (Chazak): The Heart of Courage
Season of Equipping
What a week it has been, my friends! I know your own days are busy, but a powerful new season has arrived. My university fall semester is officially here, and with it, a divine appointment.
This semester, I am going deep into Galatians and Romans. It will be challenging, especially with common misinterpretations of the law. Yet, we stand firm on the absolute truth: Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. By the grace of Almighty God, He broke both the penalty and power of sin through Jesus’ life, cross, and glorious resurrection.
I pointed out to my professor the beauty of God's design—how He set apart the Jewish nation to preserve His Word and be a light to the world. Acts 15 beautifully protects this unity. By establishing four essential restrictions for Gentile converts, the early Church ensured that Jews and Gentiles could fellowship together, allowing non-Jewish believers the space to grow in God’s moral laws while remaining connected to the roots of their faith.
Beyond the classroom, the Lord has opened a strategic door. I’ve started my practicum at an incredible Christian organization dedicated to blessing Israel and connecting the Church with the Jewish people, working mainly in their outreach department.
Through this non-profit, there are amazing things I could potentially do. I might gain experience articulating Messianic theological concepts, articulate and practice teaching on the errors of Replacement Theology, and receive hands-on experience in global humanitarian relief—supporting Holocaust survivors and Aliyah. I could also learn to manage public communications to confront antisemitism.
Stepping into this feels huge, and you may feel the same way about your season, but let’s stand on the promise of Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." He is with us wherever we go!
God is truly using this season for equipping! Have you started something new? We would love to hear about it and pray for you!
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.
🎬 Calling All Creatives! We Want You! Join our Shalom Bridge Ministry Team!
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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*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
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With deep gratitude and hope,
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