Congregation Shema Yisrael

This week Rabbi Glenn covered Isaiah 58 (with corollary readings in Isaiah 1, Zechariah 7 and Matthew 23). Source

One day, two little kids, brothers, were playing “Noah’s Ark” in the bathtub, and they made an impromptu ark with a few animals. After the “flood” subsided (meaning bath time was over), and they were in their pajamas, they decided to also act out Noah’s sacrifice when he came off the ark. One of the […] Source

This week our Torah portion is Vayera, which means “And He Appeared.” Vayera covers Genesis 18:1-22:24. Genesis 18 begins with the Lord and two angels appearing to Abraham disguised as men. Abraham greets them and immediately offers his hospitality. During their meal of bread, meat, and milk, the Lord promises Abraham this time next year […] Source

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Yeshua and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know […] Source

We grow up in a fallen world that is satanically controlled and endarkened and deceived and wrong about many of the most important things. The wrong thinking of the world influences us and harms us. This is the word of the Lord: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the […] Source

The Parasha for this week is Lech Lecha – which means “Go Forth Yourself”, and covers Genesis 12:1-17:27 – the call of Abraham. At this time his name was still called Abram. God instructs Abram to go forth from his country. Adonai tells him to leave behind his relatives and his father’s house and go […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn covered Isaiah 56:9-57:21. Source

Shabbat Shalom. Have you ever experienced a congregational split? Have you ever felt burned out from God’s Community? If so today’s message is for you. This morning, Lord willing, we will be looking at Galatians 6:1-10. In this passage we see Rabbi Paul address various issues in the community at Galatia. A community that had […] Source

This week’s Parasha is entitled Noach, Noah, and covers Genesis 6:9-11:32. In Chapter 6, we read that Noah was a righteous man.  The Bible does not say that he was the only righteous person at that time, but we do know that, overall, the world was corrupt and that man’s thoughts had turned to wickedness […] Source

 This week Rabbi Glenn did a Q/A and discuss issues, including: The historical roots of replacement theology The significance of animal sacrifices in the Millennial Temple Taking every opportunity to engage with people about the Gospel (phone, store, restaurants [and why it’s important to tip well]) Reckoning with the times in which we live (exciting […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn studied Isaiah 56:1-8, with a number of corollary readings about God bringing Jews and people from all nations to Himself. Source

This week’s Parasha is entitled V’Zot HaBerachah, meaning (this is the Blessing). It is taken from the book of Deuteronomy 33:1- 34:12. Here we have the record of the final words of Moses; the man of God to the Israelis. These words also take the form of a song. Often, Moses set before the people […] Source

On the first day of the seventh month, Yom Truah, the day for sounding the shofar, also known as Rosh HaShana, we blew the shofar and considered the things the shofar reminds us of. For the Yamim Nora’im, the 10 Days of Awe from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur, we confessed our sins and turned […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn continued his study of Isaiah with Isaiah 54-55. Source

Sukkot is a joyful time to celebrate the glory and power of Adonai. We are called to remove ourselves from the hustle and bustle of modern life and to seek Adonai in the peace of the Sukkah. Sukkot, like the other High Holidays is a time for introspection, to examine our relationship with God. We […] Source

Here we are – once again approaching the most delightful of holidays, Sukkot – the Feast of Booths, or Shelters, or Tabernacles; the seventh of the annual God-given holidays found in Leviticus chapter 23; completing the cycle of these sacred times. Whatever name you choose to call it, Sukkot is, I think, the most joyous […] Source

The name of this week’s parasha is Ha’Azinu, which means “listen”, and covers Deuteronomy chapter 32.  In this parasha, we see Moses speaking the words of a song that tells of Adonai’s greatness and His wonderful provisions for the Israelis, along with their rejection of Him that results in their misery and suffering, and concludes […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn went over the study from last week, discussed the article “Mystery of the Messiah”, and an excerpt from Rachmiel Frydland’s “The Rabbis’ Dilemma: A Look at Isaiah 53”.  He also took questions. Source

For The Tablet Magazine Article Referenced In This Message Click Here As we reach the end of Yom Kippur and blow the Shofar last time, our hope is that we are all written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. But being in a right relationship with God goes beyond our outward appearances. All our fasting, […] Source

The story is told of a man who was a lover of old books. One day he ran into an acquaintance who, in the course of their conversation, casually mentioned that he had recently thrown away a Bible that had been stored in the attic of his family’s home for generations. “I couldn’t read it,” […] Source

Rabbi Paul wrote this to Messiah’s people in Corinth: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). Today is Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Repentance, the special Sabbath between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. It’s a day for self-examination and repentance. Repentance means turning away from what is […] Source

We are nearing the end of the yearly cycle of Torah readings, at which time we’ll return to Genesis. This week’s parasha, entitled Vayyelech, covers Deuteronomy 31. Israel has just reaffirmed the Covenant, and been assured, on the one hand, of great blessings if we would be obedient, but warned of dire consequences if we […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn covered Isaiah 52:13-53:12. for the Bible Study Source

L’Shana Tovah. Besides this greeting for Rosh Hashanah, we also wish one another a “sweet new year”. In a little while we will be celebrating the new year with sweets of all kinds, including the very traditional apples and honey. Now the origins of our tradition of apples and honey is debated but there are […] Source

Years ago at a diner in New Jersey I read a humorous saying on a packet of sugar: “experience is a valuable thing; it helps you recognize a mistake when you make it again.” You know, they say the mind is the first thing to go. I disagree. What is the first thing to go? […] Source