Bagels and Blessings

Avigayil Rivkah is a writer, speaker, and food history enthusiast who specializes in content related to Jewish culture and faith, lifestyle, andIsrael news. She has worked in both print and digital publications. Drawing from her background in Judaism, she writes articles and devotionals from a Hebraic perspective, helping readers to discover the richness of their faith. Her writing has been featured across print and digital publications, including All Israel News, Her View from Home, The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle and The Mom Co. She is a Jewish believer in Jesus, and she shares her reflections on Jewish holidays, recipes and more at a Ajoyfuljewishjourney.com.

Kimberly Otero was raised in a strong believing household and speaks often of her parents’ commitment to instill godly values and character. Unlike most young people who did not come to knowledge of Yeshua until they had satisfied their flesh and sowed their wild oats, Kim has dedicated her life to serving the Messianic community even from a young age. She was blessed to flourish in one of the oldest Messianic synagogues in the United States and even attended a Messianic Jewish day school, one of only three in the world at the time!

Kim’s desire to learn more about her Messiah in His Jewish context continued to burn brightly, and sensing the Lord’s leading, she went to college, graduating with a degree in Jewish Studies and Political Science from Florida Atlantic University. Afterward, she worked at a Messianic television ministry for 16 years called Jewish Jewels. During that time, Kim continued to serve the community of God, teaching and leading the youth, sisterhood, bar and bat mitzvah students, dance teams, etc. Looking back, she could see God’s hand of preparation for the big responsibilities ahead—assisting her husband in shepherding their own Messianic congregation, Tzur Yisrael (Rock of Israel) Messianic Congregation and teaching in her own ministry, The Outpouring. Kim has just begun recording a new podcast series on all 150 Psalms and will upload the first one on October 20. 

Robin grew up in a believing home and remembers her mother praying with her every night. She heard the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph many times. When she was 12 she went forward and prayed the sinners prayer with a counselor.  When Robin was around 15 she took confirmation classes and was baptized, and started attending many youth activities at her church.  She attended Seattle Pacific College and halfway through her junior year Robin was baptized in the Holy Spirit.

After attending a Liberated Wailing Wall concert and seeing the Christ in the Passover demonstration from Jews for Jesus, a friend invited her to a Messianic congregation and Robin fell in love with the Jewish feasts and customs. Having already learned many Jewish folk dances, Robin found the dances very worshipful and fun.  She began attending congregation 

Mariah “Blue” Jackson is a Messianic Jewish biblical teacher, author, and content creator with a passion for helping believers understand Scripture through its historical, cultural, and Jewish context. She is one of the founders of the Hood Bible Translation, a biblical commentary that helps readers engage Scripture in a Hebraic, but relatable and accessible way, and co-founder of Aaronic, a faith-based brand centered on biblical teaching, spiritual growth, marriage, family, and discipleship. Through her ministry and content, Mariah encourages believers to deepen their relationship with God, understand the Jewish roots of their faith, and apply biblical truth to everyday life.

Donna was born in Ringgold, Louisiana on June 26, 1955. She has been a life long resident of Louisiana and currently resides in Denham Springs, Louisiana near the state capital city of Baton Rouge,  home of Louisiana State University, LSU, geaux Tigers! She is a retired Professor of Nursing and is also a Family Nurse Practitioner. Donna was raised on a farm in Northwest Louisiana in Natchitoches Parish. She has four grown sons and one granddaughter. She accepted Yeshua as her Lord and Savior at the age of 9. She and her husband Jeff were high school sweethearts. Jeff was called to the ministry and she served as a Southern Baptist pastors’ wife for 20 years. She is no longer married and 13 years ago the Lord called her into the Messianic Community. She is an active member of Beth Hallel in Mandeville, Louisiana. She loves to travel and meet people especially Russian Jews. Her hobbies are singing, messianic dancing, swimming, and learning foreign languages such as Russian and Hebrew.