Beth El of Manhattan, Two-Testament Synagogue

From the Haftarah paired with the Torah portion, "Behar," we look at the idea of how things can be rightly counted, and how God and people can rightly be counted upon. This focus was propelled by the Counting Of The Omer leading to Shavuot.

In this week's Torah portion, the "Eternal Lamp" is described, that hangs over synagogue altars all over the world. It is a "God Idea." It came from God and was transmitted to humans to manufacture. This is a massively different thing than human beings making up religious ideas or practices, and naming them to be from, or of, God. We will ponder this through the modern lens of "Virtue-Signaling."

In this parasha we see Moses crying out for true comradeship in his calling and journey - while already well into the journey, and already surrounded by people. He cries out for real, deep connection - to people - and to God's direct presence. What is the meaning of these outcries from a man already deeply into God's Presence and already surrounded by family and 'friends?'

This week's parasha is entitled, "Metzora" – The Leper. As it worked out, our rabbi was away this weekend, and one of the synagogue's pulpit leaders happens to be ... a dermatologist! :-) It seemed ideal serendipity. So - here is Dr. Sherry Shieh-Poticha, MD - dermatologist - teaching on the Torah portion with the title of a skin-disease: "Metzora" / The Leper. May it all be for shalom!

In the Haftarah paired with this week's parasha "Tazria," we see two stories of apparently opposite behavior by the prophet, Elisha (the successor of Elijah). A very "relaxed" standard toward a certain instance of idol worship by Naaman, followed by a very severe standard his servant Gehazi when he sought to enrich himself. If we read deeply, we find clear reasons for the vast difference in kindne...

[Guest Speaker, Scott Poticha] In this week's parasha, "Shmini," a great day for Israel is followed instantly by a tragic one. At other times in Scripture, a terrible day turns into a great one. How do we navigate as Believers in a life that can so suddenly vary this much? We ponder this, especially in light of the October 7th Hamas Pogrom against Israel.

The old song goes, "In every age, a hero or sage comes to our aid." Why? Because we need them! Let's explore having the clarity to see what is needed in our era, and rise to do it! Kadima! Am Yisrael Chai!

In the Haftarah with this week's Torah portion, "Pekudei" we see the character trait modeled in God that He almost never needs to "swear" or "promise" anything: just saying "it will be" is enough. This is a character trait we, as God-followers, are commanded to emulate: both Messiah Yeshua and his half-brother Ya'acov ("James") command us, "Do not swear. Let your 'yes' mean (only) 'yes' and your '...

Why are you ... you? What does your combination of strengths and weaknesses, abilities and inabilities all mean? This week's sermon is a "fusion" to two core ideas: from the Parasha "Vayakhel," the extremely specific intention with which God created the artist Bezalel, and placed him in the time and location to fulfill the reasons for his createdness – along with Yeshua the Messiah having assured...

Sound doctrine is built from learning what Rav Saul called "the whole counsel of God." We pick up this week where we left off last week with "whole counsel of God" theme in Haftarat "Tetzaveh." We see this week commands from God to, "Tell Israel the *whole* Temple design, *all* its facets and *all* its laws." This is echoed in Messiah Yeshua's command, "make disciples (by) teaching them *all* I ha...

Rav Saul wrote, "I did not shrink from declaring to you 'the whole counsel of God.'" Why would any spiritual leader "shrink from" declaring to his flock "the whole" of God's prophetic output? This week's parasha commands us to "see to it you build according to the pattern." The whole pattern. How do we get it, and what traps can we avoid that would leave us with only part of it?

In this week's parasha, "Mishpatim" there is an apparent non-sequitur. A leap from broadly applying religious practice laws to very specific cooking advice. Is it really a non-sequitur? Or – is it the God of the Entire Universe "going local" with advice creating certainty as to a particular time, place, practice, or project of His will underway? We explore.

Fear is a natural part of our overall composition as humans. Like any part of our nature, it can be either healthy or unhealthy, proportional and rational, or disproportionate and irrational. What does Scripture say about healthy and unhealthy fear -- especially in relation to God? It turns out ... quite a lot. We explore this content this week, driven by the Torah portion, "YItro."

This sermon comes from the Haftarah text for this week's portion on "Shabbat Shirah." The battle for Israel's survival was on - Devorah, Barak, and the Army of Israel, especially the tribes of Issachar and Zevulun, were all ON the battlefield, and the battle had already begun. But – the tribes of Reuben and Dan were hanging back ... showing themselves (in their own view) to be "spiritual" or "wise...

In the Exodus narrative we see God visit punishing judgments not only on Pharaoh as Egypt's governing leader - but also onto the entire Egyptian populace, Did God destroy and torment "innocent civilians." The Scriptures open up genuine understanding of this deeply challenging topic" are "civilians" always automatically "innocent?"

As we navigate varying seasons of ease or challenge in our lives or in our era, what is it about "faith" or "faithfulness" that allows us to retain a *healthy* (non-delusional or denial-based) positive inner state and momentum, no matter what circumstances may be swirling around us?

The end of Genesis and beginning of Exodus are valuable reading if it is truth we seek, not "life-hacks" guaranteeing a safe, easy, or profit-laden life. God's own project hits more bumps in the road and impacts with more human frailty and more evil than we could possibly have imagined: and this is God's own project! May He help us to gain understanding from the time when His promised "nation," af...

As we leaving 2023, this sermon given on 16 June 2021 seemed so appropriate a focus, it led us to choose that weekend's service for rebroadcast when we were prevented from meeting in person by a Covid-19 outbreak in our Staff. Thank God all are again testing "Negative (Covid-free)," so will be meeting again this Saturday 6 January in person. We hope if you are local, you will join us in person: an...

We could not meet this past weekend due to a Covid19 breakout in our staff - happily all are recovering nicely. We re-broadcast a sermon from earlier in the year that was not made into a Podcast: it followed a "Giyur" (Conversion) service in our synagogue in September. It is rich with meaning and applicability for now and the coming year before us. We pray you enjoy it! Shalom!

[GIven to Cape Town, South Africa via Zoom on 15 Dec 2023] In this week's Haftarah for "Mikketz," we see a king put on the spot to answer a question only modern genetic science could. He does. He is supernaturally given wisdom beyond human limits, In this post-Hamas Pogrom era of upscaled Jihad against The State of Israel and against Jews everywhere, it seems essential that a sense of justifiable...

This recording contains a preliminary statement propelling from the song "Ma'oz Tzur" traditionally sung for Hanukkah; and afterwards, the sermon "Show Them Yeshua" attempting to context the multi-dimensional Messiah into (hopefully) accurate and unsimplified form - especially during the very challenging season following the Hamas Pogrom still underway since 7 October. It closes with the singing o...

In this week's parasha, Jacob's life continues to seem to go from wrong to wronger. The wife he really wanted dies first, leaving him go on in a calling filled with danger and challenges after his heart has been cut out. We see Jacob rise here in the name he gave the son whose birth took away his beloved Rachel. The combination of reality and clarity-of-calling has great relevance for Two Testamen...

Jacob is the 2000-year "source code" for the antisemitic portrait of Jews as deceitful money grubbers. Starting with the common mistranslation of his name "Ya'acov" - (consequent, or pursuant) wrongly as, "Deceiver" – and moving to how allegedly "just plain folks" alleged Harry Truman figure Esau, is falsely ennobled at Jacob's expense --- we see in the text it was actually "thank God I'm a countr...

After an event like the Hamas Pogrom of 7 October - how do we find our way forward not falling into the two extremes of response: Unrelenting Engagement vs. Utter Avoidance? Today we explore where strength for the moment AND recovery from its impact and demands can be found: and how soundly to balance them.

"He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps" was true on the morning of 7 October 2023, when over a thousand armed murderers stormed into Israel and slaughtered 1400 Jews in one day ... in Israel. And Kidnapped over 200 more. And let 200,000 be displaced. God was awake, aware, and present ... and did nothing to prevent what happened. So ... now what are we, as "Believers" to believe, think,...