Chris Katulka: Thank you for joining us for The Friends of Israel Today. I'm Chris Katulka, your host and teacher. Now listen, I want to encourage you to take note of our website, FOIradio.org. When you get there, you can listen to over nine years worth of content on the site, featuring teaching about Israel and the Jewish people from a biblical perspective. You'll get insightful interviews and great teaching from the scriptures. Again, that's FOIradio.org. Now, today actually we're going to feature some of the ministry of the Friends of Israel. The Friends of Israel isn't just a teaching resource, it's actually a ministry that's serving Jewish people all around the world. It's a part of the DNA of who we are at the Friends of Israel that dates back to 1938 when we were helping those Jewish people who were suffering under Hitler's hand in the Holocaust. And since 1938, the Friends of Israel has been ministering to Jewish people globally, and that's why today, we're going to talk about the Friends of Israel in action, what we're doing around the world to connect with our Jewish friends.

And so today we have Jeff and Arlene Berg from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania talking about the ministry that they're doing and actually, how they have just been nominated as one of the Righteous Among the Neighbors by the Holocaust Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You're going to want to hear this, but first in the news, Turkish President Recep Erdogan recently met with Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul last month. The Turkish president, who in the past has called Hamas a “liberation group”, encouraged Palestinians to unite for victory against Israel in its war in Gaza. This meeting comes on the heels of Hamas leadership looking to move its current base in Qatar according to the Wall Street Journal. Well, here's my take. Under the leadership of President Erdogan, Turkey, the once bastion of Muslim liberalism that stood between the east and west, has become increasingly Islamic, to the point that even Erdogan supports and endorses the Radical Iranian proxy group, Hamas. What we are witnessing actually is a very unholy alliance of Turkey, Iran, and yes, even Russia.

Chris Katulka: Well, I am so glad to have Jeff and Arlene Berg on the program this week. Jeff and Arlene, great to see you and hear from you.

Arlene Berg: Same here. Go ahead.

Jeff Berg: Oh, we're excited.

Chris Katulka: Oh, that's great. Well, Jeff, I want to start with you. I want to highlight your ministry in Pittsburgh and beyond, we like to say here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. So Jeff, I want to first start with you. Tell us about your call to Jewish ministry. When did you sense the Lord's calling for you to serve Him in this incredibly unique way?

Jeff Berg: You'll find this very interesting, but my start started when I was in elementary school and I wasn't saved and I met a young kid my age and I was new to the school, but this boy was just bullied to death. He was like prey and there was something... I wasn't saved, something that was in myself, I said, this guy needs a friend. So I befriended him and he was Jewish, Moroccan Jewish. He was just a little different and maybe that's why everybody was after him. A couple years later as that friendship grew, I was invited to his bar mitzvah and my whole family went, and that was my first exposure to real Judaism. And then later on, after we parted ways, after being way out of high school and so on, I was in college and he was working in Cleveland somewhere and I came to know the Lord in about 1974. And somewhere in that time period, He did, and God brought us back together and he was trying to share his faith with me, and I was with him.

Then, I had the opportunity a few years later, I was invited by, at the time, Baptist Mid-Missions, to work on a kibbutz with about 60 college students and we were spread out up in the Galilee. It later became Baptist for Israel Institute. So, on my way home or at the airport, Bruce brought my car back and he said, "I was invited to this Bible study at the Cleveland Hebrew mission. Do you know Arlene Check? Man, she's something else." And then he was sharing with me, "My wife is not interested, could you come?" And I knew of the mission through my church, so I thought, "Wow, this would be great." I just wanted to go for the Bible study. But the Lord began to work on my heart and I began to see these Holocaust survivors that just kept refusing and refusing and rebelling in these Bible studies. And I started volunteering with the missionaries and then my friendship with Arlene began to start as well.

Chris Katulka: So that's how you two met. You met through that program.

Jeff Berg: Yeah. But after that, when we got married, Bruce again came back in and was my best man. It is just wonderful just how this all came to being, but coming back to talking about the Holocaust and Jewish work, I would say he was the spark that catapulted me, sort of.

Arlene Berg: Amen.

Chris Katulka: That's who the Lord used. And not only did he use that to catapult you into Jewish ministry, but he also introduced you to your wife, Arlene. Arlene, you're with us as well. Tell us how did God give you... I like that word. There's a calling and there's a spark. How did God give you the spark to go into Jewish ministry?

Arlene Berg: Okay, I was at in Bible school at Moody Bible Institute and I was yielded to go overseas. I wanted to be a missionary, I don't know where, but somewhere overseas. I had trouble with my eyes. I had to come home and rest them. And in the meantime, the problem with my eyes was minor, but the Lord got me home back in Pennsylvania, and during that time, it was a rough year from me. I went through several different things. I'm not going to go into it, but it was a rough year. The Lord brought me to the end of himself. He also brought me to a Jewish orthopedic surgeon who later operated on my knees. And it was through him, God led me into Jewish work. I was at Moody before I switched majors to Jewish studies, and one of the guys in Jewish studies said, "Arlene, I'm sending Hanukkah cards to my Jewish friends." I thought, "Wow, that'd be interesting, but I don't think I'd ever want to do that ministry."

So you know how that goes. So I sent a Hanukkah card to my orthopedic doctor that I had a very close relationship with, and when I obeyed the Lord and sent that card, he just blessed me.

Chris Katulka: That's amazing.

Arlene Berg: I can't go into all the details, but he blessed me because I obeyed and sent him the Word of God, and I knew beyond the shadow of doubt, after praying and praying for the next semester, he wanted me in Jewish work.

Chris Katulka: That's amazing. And here you two are together. You're serving in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Arlene, one of the most amazing things to me is your passion. And I know it's Jeff's too, but you're the one who teaches it. It's your passion for Yiddish, [inaudible 00:08:19], it's your passion for Yiddish, and you teach Yiddish classes. First of all, can you explain to our audience, our listeners very briefly, what is Yiddish?

Arlene Berg: Well, first of all, we don't teach it. We conduct Yiddish Club. They teach us more.

Chris Katulka: Oh, okay, that's good.

Arlene Berg: We both do. But anyway, I learned it back in Cleveland, Ohio years ago, conversational Yiddish. Anyway, Yiddish is not just a language, it's a culture. It's a culture of East European Jewish people, through hundreds of years there's been volumes and volumes and volumes of Yiddish literature. It's a whole culture. And the Yiddish Book Center is in Massachusetts, where is it? In Amherst, Massachusetts has rescued a million and a half Yiddish books from all over the world. They're keeping it alive, but it's a culture. And it began about 1000 AD when the French and Italian Jewish people emigrated to the Rhineland, Germany and they picked up German and it got mixed in with their languages. Then when they were dispersed, they picked up other languages, Slovak, Russian, Polish. And so it's a mishmash, but it's their heart and soul, more than Hebrew. And we have more opportunity with them, don't we, through Yiddish?

Jeff Berg: We do. We do.

Arlene Berg: It's their heart and soul.

Chris Katulka: Yeah. Yiddish is a combination, like you said, of Hebrew, even Arabic, but also mixed in with German and Eastern European languages.

Arlene Berg: Yes.

Chris Katulka: And I love that you said that, it's a culture because Yiddish died. It died after the Holocaust and really fizzled away pretty quickly after the Holocaust, which just goes to show how much of a culture it was because those were the Jewish people that were targeted the most.

Arlene Berg: Yes.

Chris Katulka: And who died were those Eastern European Jewish people who upkept that Yiddish. We call it, it's called Yiddishkeit, the Yiddishkeit culture. And I just love Yiddish and I love that you teach it. How does that help you in your ministry to have this passion for Yiddish?

Arlene Berg: First of all, I just wanted to mention, Yiddish is written with Hebrew characters. If you want to read it, it's in Hebrew, but the vowels are different than Hebrew. When we have conducted our Yiddish clubs, a lot of times we'll tell them. They'll say, "Why did you learn Yiddish? Why do you love it?" And we'll give them the answer.

Jeff Berg: Yeah. One of them asked, "Where did you meet?" And I said, "In a Bible study." And they went, "Oy."

Arlene Berg: They give us an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. They want to know why.

Jeff Berg: We really had an opportunity to really encourage a couple of Holocaust survivors. One was a translator for the Yiddish Book Center, and she was so thrilled. She told the others, "Listen to them. They're bringing, reviving Yiddish and bringing the spirit of Yiddish into our building," and she was something else.

Chris Katulka: That's so important because Yiddish is dying and it is very much a part of the Jewish culture even today. And I know for certain that there's a Yiddish resurrection that's taking place big. Yeah, there are people who want to learn the language because the language isn't just a language, it's a culture like you said. And hey, listen, Bergs, we're going to take a break really quick.

Arlene Berg: Okay.

Chris Katulka: When we come back, we had just mentioned that Yiddish was dying off because of the Holocaust, because of anti-Semitism. And that's what we're going to pick up when we come back with the Bergs. We're going to pick up on the work that they're doing in Pittsburgh and beyond to support Israel and the Jewish people as representatives of Friends of Israel to stand up against anti-Semitism, and how the Lord has been using this in order to spread His good news throughout Pittsburgh. So yes, Yiddish might have died, but it's coming back again. And you know what? It's coming back. It's coming back strong. And with that comes the power of the gospel and how God is using the Bergs to influence the culture around them. And so, stick around everybody.

I hope that you've been encouraged with the Bergs' testimony so far of their service and ministry with the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. There are so many ways to get involved with Friends of Israel, but one that we want to tell you about is FOI Equip, Friends of Israel Equip. It's our equipping ministry from free online classes and training, to internships, to volunteering and tours. This is your chance to both show your love and grow your love for Israel and the Jewish people. By going to FOI Equip, you'll be able to get trained in Jewish ministry in our free online training ministry, Bridges. You'll get free online classes through FOI Equip, which is a resource for learning the Bible from a Jewish perspective.

You can join us on one of our Encounter trips where you will come and participate in an amazing experience in New York City, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, connecting with the Jewish community of the Northeast. You'll even get a chance to do one of our volunteer trips potentially, with Origins or Hesed, our volunteer ministries in Israel. All of these things are available to you to volunteer and to connect with the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. To find out how you can participate and connect, go to FOIradio.org, again, FOIradio.org, and we'll have a link on our homepage that will connect you to all of our equipping ministries at FOI Equip. Again, that's FOIradio.org.

Chris Katulka: Welcome back everyone. We're speaking to Jeff and Arlene Berg in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There's no connection there between Berg and Pittsburgh, right Bergs?

Arlene Berg: Right, right.

Chris Katulka: And one is B-E-R-G, and one is what, how does that end? B-U-R-G-H?

Jeff Berg: There's a thing in Pittsburgh, there was a beer called Iron City, and the theme of the commercials was, "It's a Burgh thing."

Chris Katulka: It's a Burgh thing. That's great. Well, the birds are in Pittsburgh, and I want to talk about this really quick because just about five and a half or so years ago, the Tree of Life Synagogue, Jeff, in Squirrel Hill was attacked by a gunman. It was, I believe, one of the deadliest antisemitic attacks of Jewish people in American history. 11 Jewish people were murdered. And I believe during that time, you two were actually hosting one of our Friends of Israel Prophecy Up Close conferences. How did that event at Squirrel Hill, at the Tree of Life Synagogue, how did that affect your ministry in Pittsburgh?

Jeff Berg: Oh, greatly. Well, being at the conference when that took place, I was going out to get the food and Arlene was there with the people, and all of a sudden people were getting cell phone notifications. And when I was in the car going to Chick-fil-A to bring back all the sandwiches, all of a sudden I'm getting all these phone messages from people that we don't really talk to all the time.

Arlene Berg: We didn't know what was going on.

Jeff Berg: We didn't know what was going on. And then all of a sudden it hit and it just changed in there. But yeah, I believe it was Sunday night. They had a very, very large vigil at a big auditorium near Squirrel Hill, and it was filled to capacity with standing room, probably people standing three people deep all the way around this place. Probably about 3000 people inside and thousands outside.

Arlene Berg: In the rain.

Jeff Berg: In the rain. And it was just something that was really to behold. And we met a man, we knew a man that actually came to one of our Yiddish clubs that missed the shooting by five minutes. His ride was late, and he kept saying, "I'm lucky." And we said, "God has a plan for you." And we were able to share the gospel, although he wasn't that interested.

Arlene Berg: That's given us openings, right?

Jeff Berg: Yes.

Arlene Berg: With people.

Jeff Berg: Yes.

Arlene Berg: Sharing comfort.

Chris Katulka: That's amazing. Another opening that you have that just absolutely, I get excited about is that you were a part of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicler, said that you all, the Bergs, are one of the Jewish Chronicler's volunteers of the year for the volunteerism that you do at the assisted living center in Pittsburgh. Talk about that really quick, Arlene. I'm very interested in this because I think it's important to see how your investment in this one location has shown the Jewish community how much you love them.

Arlene Berg: Well, through the years, we've had actual Bible studies there for non-Jewish people. And the Jewish people have come because, bring out a Yiddish word, a Hebrew word, and they would come, and then we would have our Yiddish clubs. And even those Bible studies, some were saved, no one ever knew it. But then we'd have the Yiddish clubs, people would come, and then a lot of our ministry is visiting people on a one-to-one basis. And this is our heartbeat. We love the people, and God has given us some ministry of compassion.

Chris Katulka: That is fantastic. And that compassion is also Jeff, bleeded over into other areas of doing ministry in Pittsburgh. You all were recently, I love this, you were recently nominated Righteous Among the Neighbors by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh for the work that you're doing, teaching Christians about anti-Semitism, which is the hatred of the Jewish people and the Holocaust. Jeff, this reminds me of Genesis 12:3. "I will bless those who bless you." Tell me what this nomination means to both you and Arlene.

Jeff Berg: Actually, it's like a culmination of everything that we've done. And we were thinking back when you asked us to come on the show, this is before we joined FOI, we were with another ministry, but there was a terrible massacre in India. It was called the Mumbai Massacre, and it was a Chabad location and the leaders were slaughtered. And they had a vigil at the Chabad house in Squirrel Hill and Arlene and I went and we were the only two Christians and really the only two non-Jewish people sitting there among all these people sitting in Chabad. And it was so... Words can't even explain it. We had the rabbi that we've been very close with sitting on one side of us, another rabbi that we've known sitting on the other side of us, and the owner of the Jewish bookstore who was just in awe, but they were just so hugely grateful. And really, every time there's been a crisis, we've been there for them. And we've brought our Christian friends and people over the years have said, "Every time, we can always guarantee you're at all the meetings."

Chris Katulka: That's great. So you're talking about a massacre of Jewish people in Mumbai, India, and you show up at an event as a vigil. And I'm sure they were sitting there going, "What are you two doing here as Christians?" And that's just an amazing presence to show your love and support for Israel to Jewish people, which is why I'm so thankful that they did nominate you as Righteous Among the Neighbors. And I'm praying that that works out, and I'm sure we'll keep our audience tuned in as to whether or not you get that, the Righteous Among the Nations. But I just... We're so thankful to the Lord for you Bergs. And I'm interested in both Jeff and Arlene, I'm interested in this. Maybe someone is out there right now and they're listening to what you're doing and they want to get involved in their local Jewish community as well to be a testimony of God's love to their Jewish friends. What's the first step that they should take, Bergs?

Jeff Berg: If you can find a place to volunteer, just coming back to that, it's amazing all the people you can meet along the way.

Arlene Berg: And also, attend any of the programs they have in the community or pro-Israel rallies, any programs they have in the community. You meet people.

Chris Katulka: Yes. That's fantastic. All right, well listen everybody, the Bergs do amazing ministry right there in Pittsburgh. And if you want to connect with their ministry and you've been encouraged by what they do, and they've been doing this for quite some time, I would say they're professionals at what they do, I'd encourage you to go to FOI.org/Berg, FOI.org/Berg, B-E-R-G and there, you can connect with the Bergs. You can pray for them. And if you'd like to financially give to their ministry as well, you can go to FOI.org/Berg. And there, you heard all the amazing things that they're doing, this is a great way to connect with them and to fulfill what God has said in Genesis 12:3, which is, "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you."

And I hope today that you have been able to hear and have been able to see that God is at work among the Jewish community and that the Bergs are out there in the front lines making the truth of the Messiah known in love and support. And so again, that's FOI.org/Berg. Jeff and Arlene, thank you so much for being with us today.

Jeff Berg: Thank you.

Arlene Berg: Sheinem dank. Big thank you.

Chris Katulka: Thank you so much, sheynem dank?

Arlene Berg: Good, very big thank you.

Chris Katulka: All right, sheynem dank. We'll talk to you all soon. Bye-Bye.

Chris Katulka: A special thanks to Jeff and Arlene Berg from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for joining us today on this edition of The Friends of Israel Today. Just a reminder, you can go to FOI.org/Berg, B-E-R-G, to support Jeff and Arlene and the work that they're doing to invest the love of God into the Jewish community of Pittsburgh and beyond. Now listen, next week we're actually going to be looking at a story, an event that took place during Israel's Independence Day. That's right, Israel's Independence Day is coming very soon. May 14, 1948 is the day that Israel found its independence, and so we're going to be celebrating that and honoring that with a story that comes from their history.

Well, I'm Chris Katulka, your host and teacher. Today's program was produced by Tom Gallione, edited by Jeremy Strong, who also composed and performs our theme music. Steve Conover is our executive producer. Our mailing address is FOI Radio, P.O. Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey, 08099. Again, that's FOI Radio, P.O. Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey 08099. Our web address, if you missed it, was FOIradio.org Again, that's FOIradio.org. Or you can call us, give us a call, (888) 343-6940. That's, (888) 343-6940. The Friends of Israel Today is a production of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. We are a worldwide evangelical ministry, proclaiming biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah, while bringing physical and spiritual comfort to the Jewish people.