Shalom, friends! Explore, listen, reflect, and grow in your understanding of the Scriptures!

Have you explored this week's Torah portion yet?

We invite you to visit our Weekly Torah Portion page, where you'll find audio teachings, insightful articles, and practical lessons that connect the ancient Scriptures with the challenges of everyday life.

This week, in our Beyond the Surface section, we're featuring two thought-provoking articles:

• Circumcision for Abraham, for Joshua, and for Me — Exploring the significance of circumcision, the covenant with Abraham, and what it means for us today.

• The Children of Abraham Are Not Exempt from Trials — Understanding why following Yehovah doesn't exempt us from life's challenges and how we can remain faithful through them.

Discover how Yehovah's instructions remain relevant today and how we can put His Word into practice as followers of Yeshua.

Shalom and blessings!

Eating more fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to support your health, but have you considered what else might be on your produce?

Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes its Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists to help consumers make more informed decisions about pesticide exposure.

The Dirty Dozen identifies produce with the highest levels of pesticide residues, while the Clean 15 highlights fruits and vegetables that generally have fewer residues. These lists can be especially helpful if buying everything organic isn't practical for your budget.

Which Foods Should You Buy Organic?

The 2025 Dirty Dozen list includes spinach, kale, collard and mustard greens, strawberries, apples, grapes, nectarines, peaches, cherries, blackberries, pears, potatoes, and blueberries. These are the foods to prioritize when shopping for organic produce.

Strawberries deserve particular attention. According to the findings discussed in this episode, nearly 99% of tested strawberry samples contained residues of at least one pesticide, while some contained multiple pesticides. Washing your berries is a good practice, but it may not remove all residues.

Peaches and apples raise additional concerns because certain chemicals used in conventional production and storage may persist beyond simple washing. Blackberries also joined the Dirty Dozen in 2025, making organic options worth seeking out.

If your budget doesn't allow you to buy everything organic, focus on the foods you eat most frequently. Regularly eating spinach and strawberries? Prioritize organic versions of those foods first.

The Important Limitation of These Lists

Here's something many shoppers may not realize: the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 primarily address pesticide residues, but they don't provide a complete picture of chemical exposure.

Herbicides, such as glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup), are not comprehensively accounted for in these rankings. The episode also discusses research suggesting glyphosate exposure may affect the gut microbiome, including beneficial bacteria and the production of short-chain fatty acids that support intestinal barrier function.

This is an important distinction. A food appearing on the Clean 15 doesn't automatically mean it is free of all potentially concerning chemical residues — UNLESS it is USDA Organic certified. In that case, that food is indeed free of chemical residues.

Make Smarter Choices for Your Health

The goal isn't to become afraid of eating fruits and vegetables. It's to become a more informed consumer.

When possible, choose certified organic produce, particularly foods you eat regularly, and especially if they are on the Dirty Dozen list. Consider organic oats, wheat, chickpeas, and lentils as well, since these crops may be treated with herbicides shortly before harvest in an effort to speed up their drying time (this process is called desiccation).

Locally grown produce can be an excellent option, but buying local doesn't automatically mean a crop was grown without pesticides. Ask growers about their farming practices.

Most importantly, remember that what you eat consistently matters. You don't necessarily have to overhaul your entire grocery list overnight. Start with the foods you consume most often and make thoughtful changes as your budget allows.

The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 are useful starting points, but they are not the final word on food safety. Understanding their limitations can help you make better decisions for yourself and your family.

In case you didn't know, we have a podcast called "From The Heart" that airs every Sunday. The Rood ladies are bringing it to the table, and we hope it will help women and men alike in their everyday walk with YHVH.  💝  Here's the link:

https://aroodawakening.tv/from-the-heart/

Encouraging Word of the Week ✨
His Excellency!

Hebrew: " ga'a vah"….gah-av-aw

 Psa 145:5 

I declare the esteemed splendor of Your excellency, And the matters of Your wondrous works.

Verse of the Week: 1 Timothy 6:6

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."

We live in a world that constantly tells us we need more. More wealth, more possessions, more comfort, and more security. Yet the apostle Paul reminds us that true gain is not measured by what we accumulate in this life, but by our faithfulness to Yehovah. Biblical contentment is not simply being satisfied with our circumstances. It is a settled confidence that Yehovah is faithful, that His ways are righteous, and that His promises are worth more than anything this world can offer.

Throughout the Torah, Yehovah taught His people this very lesson. When Israel wandered through the wilderness, He provided manna daily, teaching them to depend upon Him rather than their own resources. Deuteronomy 8:3 reminds us that man does not live by bread alone, but by everything that proceeds from the mouth of Yehovah. The same principle remains true for us today. Our security is not found in financial stability, material abundance, or earthly comfort. It is found in walking in obedience to Yehovah's commandments and trusting Him to sustain us.

Yeshua reinforced this truth when He taught that we cannot serve both Elohim and wealth (Matthew 6:24). He never promised His followers a life free from hardship. Instead, He called us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him. As the world grows increasingly unstable, we must ask ourselves where our treasure truly lies. Are we building our lives around temporary comforts, or are we preparing our hearts to remain faithful to Yehovah regardless of what comes?

True godliness is not merely an outward appearance of righteousness. It is a life transformed by faith in Yeshua, demonstrated through obedience to Yehovah's Torah, love for others, humility, and steadfast endurance. Contentment does not mean becoming complacent in our spiritual walk. It means recognizing that even when earthly comforts are stripped away, we still possess the greatest treasure of all: our relationship with Yehovah and the promise of His coming Kingdom. The same Elohim who sustained Israel in the wilderness is able to sustain His people through whatever trials lie ahead.

So, this week, examine where you have placed your confidence. Are you pursuing the temporary rewards of this world, or the eternal treasures of Yehovah's Kingdom? Practice gratitude for what He has already provided, resist the temptation to measure His blessings by material possessions, and seek to walk more faithfully in His commandments. Remember that contentment is cultivated through daily trust and obedience. Whatever circumstances you face, remain steadfast in Yeshua, knowing that the greatest gain is not found in what we possess, but in belonging to Yehovah and remaining faithful to Him until the end.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” -- Ecclesiastes 3:1

Shabbat Shalom from the Ambassador Family!
Love, Angie

Shalom, dear family in Yehovah! 👋

Have you ever wondered how the ancient rebellion at Babel may have influenced religious traditions and institutions throughout history?

We invite you to explore our latest article:

📖 From Babel to Rome: The Legacy of Babylon

This thought-provoking study explores the legacy of ancient Babylon, examining historical connections and how certain beliefs and practices may have been passed down through generations.

As followers of Yeshua, we are called to examine what we have inherited, question long-held traditions, and seek the truth revealed in the Scriptures.

📖 Read the full article here:
https://aroodawakening.tv/from-babel-to-rome-the-legacy-of-babylon/

We encourage you to read, reflect, and share your thoughts with our community!

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV)

Shalom and blessings to our entire family!

Shalom, everyone!  😀

This week, as we explore Gen. 6:9 0 11:38 (Parashah Noach), we invite you to take a few moments to discover our latest infographic!

It offers a clear, visual overview of the key events and lessons found in this Torah portion—from the corruption of humanity and the Flood to Yehovah’s covenant with Noach and the generations that followed.

Take a look, reflect on its message, and share what stands out to you!

May our study of the Torah continue to strengthen our faith and guide our daily walk with Yehovah.

Shabbat Shalom!

Thank you to everyone — kids and adults — who submitted their entries for our "Sukkah Decorating Contest!" Winners will be randomly drawn during the October 16 episode of Shabbat Night Live. Each winner, one for kids and one for adults, will get their sukkah design on a T-shirt!