Congregation Shema Yisrael

This week Rabbi Jerry continues the study through 1 John. He covers 1 John 2:1-11 and discusses the importance of loving those who are part of Messiah’s Community. Watch Below: Source

I want you to take a moment, and imagine with me a perfect day. Imagine it’s 73 degrees and sunny, with just a few occasional clouds to set off the beauty of a brilliant blue sky; the humidity is low and periodically a slight and refreshing breeze. Now, forget that this is Michigan – it […] Source

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

This week our parasha is Ha’Azinu which translates to “Listen” and covers Deuteronomy 32. Ha’Azinu is the penultimate parasha and contains the final teaching and warning of Moses for our people.  This teaching takes the form of a song, written in double columns in the Torah. The song prophecies our people’s future disobedience and destruction […] Source

According to Rabbinic tradition from Rosh Hashanah to the end of Yom Kippur, the gates of heaven are open to receive our prayers and atonement. This is so we may survive the new year by being written in the book of life. But when the Shofar is blown at the end of this service the […] Source

I’ve got good news and bad news for you. Which do you want first? Doesn’t matter, I’m giving you the bad news first; and this is it: Yom Kippur doesn’t work. Let me clarify. Yom Kippur, as it is constituted today, doesn’t work. It doesn’t even come close. It isn’t that anything is lacking in […] Source

Among the Jewish people, there are various greetings used during the Days Of Awe, the ten days between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. Good Yom Tov – good holiday. Chag sameach – happy holiday. And then there’s l’shana tova tickatayvu – may you be written for a good year. Written for a good year? What […] Source

The man and his wife were driving down the road one morning in his old pickup truck; the same one he took her out in on their first date all those years ago, when pickups had bench seats. This particular morning she had a slightly frustrated look on her face. “What is it?” asked her […] Source

This week is Shabbat Shuva which is known as the Sabbath of Return. In Hebrew, Shuva relates to the word Teshuva which means repentance.  Occurring between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, this is a special Shabbat focused on repentance and return. Repentance is a word we use a lot, but to quote Inigo Montoya in […] Source

This week’s parasha is entitled Vayelech, which means, “And He Went.”  It covers Deuteronomy, Chapter 31:1 – 31:30.  As the parasha opens, we find out that this day will be Moses’ last day on earth.  As Moses mentions in verse 2:  I am a hundred and twenty years old today; I am no longer able […] Source

Join Rabbi Glenn as he begins 1 John with 1 John 1 with a discussion of Light vs. Darkness. Watch Below: Source

I once read the following 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? Well, anyway, I disagree. You know, there’s […] Source

What’s the purpose of life? Some common answers: Being successful. Enjoying life. Raising a family. Continuing the species. Doing meaningful work. Having meaningful connections with others. Helping save the planet. When He was asked, “what is the most important commandment”? – what’s the most important thing that needs to be done to achieve the purpose […] Source

Shabbat Shalom. This week’s Parasha is Nitzavim, which means, “Standing” and covers Deuteronomy 29:10-30:20. We begin in verse 10 with our people standing before the Lord. The covenant made through Moses is renewed for the generation about to enter the Promised Land to establish them as Adonai’s people. In verse 15 we read that the […] Source

It is my privilege this morning to end our summer series through the Psalms. As this series ends for now it seems fitting to end on one of the greatest psalms. A psalm referred to in Jewish liturgy as Hallel HaGadol, the Great Hallel, the Great Praise, Psalm 136. Psalm 136 is both familiar and […] Source

Click Here For Rabbi Glenn’s Notes This week Rabbi Glenn begins a new series through John’s first letter. Watch Below: Source

Knowing the truth is essential. However, the demons know the truth but are not saved. Along with knowledge, we must have faith in the Good News about the risen Lord and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah. After we have faith, it’s essential to develop a close, personal, intimate relationship with the living God. The Psalms were […] Source

This week’s parasha is titled Kee Tavo, which means “When you come in,” Deuteronomy, chapter 26:1 to 29:9.  This parasha covers regulations regarding tithing once the Jewish people enter the Promised Land, as well as blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Chapter 26 covers tithing.  Each year, the people were required to set aside […] Source

Rabbi Jerry leads this Bible Study this week on the Parable of the Lost Sheep found in Matthew 18:12–14 and Luke 15:3–7. Watch Below: Source

This week’s parasha is entitled Ki Teitzei. Ki Teitzei is translated as “When You Go Out” and it covers Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19. This morning’s parasha can easily be summarized by saying that it is filled with commandments and instructions. There are roughly 70 or so commandments contained in this portion of scripture. They cover a wide […] Source

(The coronation, victory, fame, and divine nature of King Messiah) Whenever the wickedness and insanity in the world starts to get to me (and it’s been more frequent and more pronounced of late), I find comfort in contemplating the wondrous things that await us in eternity. The words of the familiar hymn come back to […] Source

This week our parasha is Shoftim, which mean “Judges”, and covers Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9. Parasha Shoftim teaches us the importance of justice, and how if we claim to love the Lord, we need to love justice as well. Our parasha picks up towards the end of Deuteronomy 16 with the need to have judges in every […] Source

A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away. Abimelech means “my father king” and likely was a title for the kings of the Philistines – like Pharaoh was a title for the king of Egypt. The Abimelech referred to here is most likely […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn concludes the Book of James with James 5. Watch Below: Source

Who are you? How do you know who you are? These are profound questions we wrestle with throughout our lives. Today, much of this sort of self-reflection revolves around the concept of identity. Identity seems to be the buzzword of the last few years. We talk about racial identity, gender identity, sexual identity, political identity […] Source