In the Margin - July 20, 2026

IN THE MARGIN

Week of July 19, 2026

TEMPLE AND PRESENCE

Before the week fills with appointments, messages, and unfinished work, take a moment to remember that God is near. Scripture speaks of His presence with both comfort and reverence. The God who cannot be contained by heaven chose to dwell among His people. His presence shaped the tabernacle, the Temple, the worship of Israel, and the language of the New Testament. We may not begin Monday morning standing in a sacred courtyard, but we can begin with an awareness that our ordinary lives are lived before a holy God. That changes how we pray, speak, work, and treat the people around us.

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In the Margin Blog from Elizabeth Shulam

In depth dialogue on this week’s theme of:

The Temple was central to Jewish life, worship, memory, and expectation.  It was the place where heaven and earth were understood to meet in a particular way, where sacrifice, prayer, repentance, priestly service, and communal worship all gathered around the holiness of God……..

Temple and Presence: Learning to Live Before a Holy God

Keep Reading

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A recent national survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that many Jewish adults in the United States feel less safe than they did several years ago. Around three in ten said they had experienced verbal abuse, online harassment, property damage, or physical assault connected to their Jewish identity during the past year. Nearly four in ten also said they feel less comfortable displaying visible signs of Jewish identity.  

Read More Here from The Associated Press

These numbers describe more than a political debate or a passing news cycle. They describe neighbors, families, students, congregations, and communities learning to measure how safely they can live openly as Jewish people.

Temple and presence remind us that holiness shapes how people are treated. Standing against antisemitism begins with refusing silence, correcting harmful language, learning the truth, and making Jewish friends and neighbors feel seen rather than abandoned.

The Blue Heart Movement invites Christians and other allies to stand visibly with Jewish people and Israel. Wear the heart. Share its meaning. Speak clearly when hatred is disguised as humor, politics, theology, or social commentary.

Learn more about the Blue Heart Movement:https://www.netivyahinternational.org/blueheart

GET YOUR FREE Blue Heart Movement STARTER PACK HERE:

Blue Heart Movement: https://www.netivyahinternational.org/blueheart