Congregation Shema Yisrael

Shabbat Shalom.  This Shabbat I had originally planned to bring a message on either God as our Peace or God as the source of Truth.  While both are topics I am passionate about the Lord lead me to a completely different place for my message today. As many of you know I have just finished […] Source

I want to consider something in the Word of God that I find particularly fascinating, and I think you will too: the appearances of God that are found in the Tenach (the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings – aka the Old Testament). There’s a special word for an appearance of God – theophany. Why […] Source

This week’s parasha is titled Emor, which means “speak.”  Our passage is Leviticus, chapter 21:1 – chapter 24:23 and covers further rules for priests on how they are to be holy ones, separated for God’s purposes. Additional responsibilities come with leadership, so it is appropriate that the Levites would be held to a higher standard […] Source

This week Rabbi Loren covered Proverbs 23. Source

Knowing messianic prophecy is very important, very helpful, very beneficial – for many reasons. Knowing messianic prophecy builds us up in our Most Holy Faith. The prophecies demonstrate that the Bible is a supernatural book inspired by God. Only God, who created time, and is beyond time, can give accurate and detailed predictions to people, […] Source

This week we have a double parasha, Acharei Mot, which means “After The Death”, and Kedoshim, which translates to “Holy Ones”.  Between these two parashas we will be covering Leviticus 16-20. These two parashas cover the Yom Kippur service, sexual sins, punishment for child sacrifice, and the repeated teaching to observe the Lord’s commandments.  However, […] Source

Rabbi Loren lead the Bible Study this week going over Proverbs 22. Source

This week we have a double parasha with parashas Tazria and Metzora, which translate to “She bears seed” and “Infected one”.  Parasha Tazria covers Leviticus 12:1-13:59 and parasha Metzora covers 14:1-15:33. These parashas talk about the importance of ritual cleanliness from a variety of different sources of uncleanliness. We begin with Leviticus 12, which details […] Source

This week’s text will be uploaded with a later newsletter. Source

The name of this week’s Parasha is Shemini, which means “Eighth”, and it takes us from Leviticus 9:1 through 11:47.  Moses summoned Aaron, his sons, and the Israeli elders on the 8th day after the 7 days of ordination for Aaron and his sons were completed.  Aaron was instructed to sacrifice for himself an unblemished […] Source

Many of you have met our two dogs, Ranger and Scout, who we got from the local animal shelter back in 2011. They’re great dogs, and very easy going when we have company. Now at the time we were looking into animal adoption (and I’m an advocate for adopting rather than buying purebreds) you know […] Source

In place of the normal Bible Study, Philip Haney, Founding Member of the Department of Homeland Security presented What Is Happening in America Today. Philip Haney is the author of “See Something Say Nothing” and has been a guest on Megyn Kelly and Sean Hannity. Source

It might not seem like it, but there is a great war raging right now, and Christians and Messianic Jews are in the middle of it. We’re in the middle of a war between God and the good angels versus Satan and the fallen angels, the kingdom of God versus the kingdom of darkness. It’s […] Source

Rabbi Glenn continued the study with a very important lesson this week. He talked about the many parallels to be found in this narrative between King David and King Messiah Yeshua, and the all-important issue of our loyalty to Him. Source

Today is Passover and the first day of Matza, the seven day holiday when we don’t eat unleavened bread. Most peoples, if not all peoples, have special days to celebrate or remember important events. Israel’s annual holidays which are outlined for us in Leviticus 23, are unique because they were given to the Jewish people […] Source

Passover begins Friday night. This morning, I want to get us ready for Passover by looking at the first part of the key chapter in the Word of God about Passover – Exodus 12. Most peoples, if not all peoples, have special days to celebrate or remember important events. Israel’s annual holidays, which are outlined […] Source

This week’s parasha is entitled, Tzav, which means “Command,” and it covers Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36.  The book of Leviticus was written to show Israel how to live as a holy nation, in fellowship with God, and to prepare the nation for the high service of mediating the redemption of God to all other nations. […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn continued the study of 2 Samuel with 2 Samuel 10-12. Source

We live in a world in which darkness covers the Earth and thick darkness is over the peoples. People are confused about many things, including the most basic things and the most important things. For example, a google search for: “what’s the right way to live?” provided these gems of wisdom: There is no right […] Source

This week’s Parasha is called Vayikra, which means “and he called”.  It Covers Leviticus chapter 1 through chapter 6:7.  In these chapters,  we will be covering five sacrifices that El Gabor, Mighty God,  required of the Jewish people. The first sacrifice is the burnt offering, followed by a grain offering, peace offering, sin offering, and […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn covered 2 Samuel 8 and 9 and took several questions. Source

Human beings are in the most desperate need of forgiveness. Why? At the beginning of our history, Adam and Eve were tested. The Lord warned them not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and if they did, “moht tamoot – dying you will die.” They would most […] Source

The parashas this Shabbat are Vayakhel, meaning And He Assembled and Pekudei, meaning amount or number, and concludes the book of Exodus. We again meet Bezalel and Oholiab and those working with them to skillfully and lovingly craft the articles for the Mishkan. This is a bittersweet passage. Bitter, because it comes right after the […] Source

This week Rabbi Loren taught the Bible Study and covered Proverbs 21. Source

The spirit is willing but the flesh, the old nature, is weak. One of the things that makes us weak is that we are easily distracted. We can lose focus on important things that are right before us than can result in serious injury or death to ourselves or others. Here’s one example: there are […] Source