Congregation Shema Yisrael

Shabbat Shalom. This morning, Lord willing, we will be reading together 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2. This section of 2 Corinthians as part of 2 Corinthians 3-6 holds as very special place in my heart. This is because it is where I go for encouragement in ministry. 2 Corinthians gives us a model for what it means […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn continued his study in Isaiah with Isaiah 50:1-51:8. Source

Because human beings tend to think in pictures, we sometimes learn and remember a truth better when it is taught to us through a story, or by the use of images, symbols or metaphors. This is why the prophets of Israel so often employed parables, or else compared individuals, nations or situations to things that […] Source

This week’s parasha is entitled Ki Teitzei, meaning, “When you go out,” it is from the book of Deuteronomy 21:10 -25:19. This parasha opens at the conclusion of the second of three discourses that Moses gave to Israel. The topic of this discourse is what God expects of Israel. Here, Moses goes into his final […] 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

We can have a rich spiritual life or a poor spiritual life; the choice is ours. If we choose to have a rich spiritual life, we can do things to make it happen. What does a rich spiritual life look like? What characterizes a rich spiritual life? A rich spiritual life produces a desire to […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn covered Isaiah 49 and discussed God’s two servants: Israel and Messiah. He also highlighted the messianic prophecy in verses 5-7. Source

This week Rabbi Loren, Rebbetzin Martha, Rabbi Glenn, and Rebbetzin Alexandra discussed Proverbs 17 together. Source

Today’s Parasha is titled “Re eh”, which means “to see”. This Torah portion, from Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17, describes a blessing and a curse from God.  In chapter 11:26 – 28, God says, “see, I am setting before you a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord and […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn covered Isaiah 46-48 (as well as Daniel ch. 5 – the fall of Babylon to Darius). The larger theme was God’s patient, gracious dealings and future restoration of Israel, but His coming judgment on Babylon. Source

The name of this week’s parasha is Eikev, which means “consequence”, and covers Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25.  In this parasha, the Israelis are promised blessings for obedience to Adonai’s commandments, and penalties if they disobey His commandments; they are also reminded to remember all that He did for them.  If the Israelis obeyed Adonai’s commandments, they would […] Source

Rabbi Loren and Rabbi Glenn discuss together Proverbs 14. Source

This week Rabbi Glenn reviewed Isaiah 44:24-28 and its context, and went on to study all of Isaiah 45 (Cyrus’ decree / God’s sovereignty). Source

In The Sound Of Music, Julie Andrews sang: Raindrops on roses And whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things. What are a few of your favorite things? Try to think of five. If what I’m about to […] Source

The Torah portion for this Shabbat is called Va’etchanan, meaning “and I pleaded”. It covers Deuteronomy chapters 3:23 through 7:11. As the parasha opens, Moses was pleading with Adonai to reconsider allowing him to cross over into the Land of Promise. God’s answer was a firm “No” but He did allow Moses to ascend Mt. […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn continued his study in Isaiah with Isaiah 44:1-45:3. Source

Every so often, the evangelical world is rocked by news of some high-profile leader walking away from the Faith. This past month, it was Joshua Harris (no relation), who first achieved notoriety with his best-selling 1997 book I Kissed Dating Goodbye – published when he was just 19 years of age. It was followed by […] Source

This week our parasha is Devarim, which means words and covers Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22. Parasha Devarim is the first Torah portion of Deuteronomy and is the name for this book in Hebrew. Parasha Devarim teaches us the importance of learning from our past and breaking the cycles of sin that repeat constantly in our lives. The […] Source

Rabbi Glenn continues his study in Isaiah this week with Isaiah 42:20 – 44:8. Source

In 2017 the suicide rate in the U.S. was the highest it has been for at least 50 years, as reported by CBS News. Some experts after reviewing the data attribute this to an “epidemic of hopelessness”, which has lead to more drug related deaths and suicide. Last month the L.A. Times reported on a […] Source

This week, we have a double Torah portion with Mattot, meaning “tribes,” Numbers 30:2 – 32:42, and Masei, meaning “journeys of,” Numbers 33:1 – 36:13. Chapter 30 contains Adonai’s instructions regarding the making of vows to the Lord or the making a binding obligation; in other words a promise that cannot be broken. Both men […] Source

Rabbi Jerry finishes his two part study on Healthy vs. Unhealthy Congregations.  He discusses the need to act in love, discipleship, and inclusion. Source

God is real. He is great. He is so great, we have only the tiniest inkling of how great He is. And He is good. And He is righteous. Everything He does is right, because that is who He is. That’s His nature. Not only is He our Creator, when we joined the rebellion of […] Source

This week’s parasha is entitled Pinchas meaning (Phinehas). Pinchas is also translated as “dark skin”. Our Torah portion covers Numbers 25:10- 30:1 Adonai gives Moses instructions about Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, grandson of Aaron, great nephew of Moses and also the nephew of Nadab and Abihu, whom Adonai killed in the sanctuary […] Source

This week Rabbi Jerry began a two part study on Healthy vs. Unhealthy Congregations.  Using the book Everyone Is Normal Until You Get To Know Them by John Ortberg he discussed being authentic, empathetic, accepting, dealing with conflict, and forgiveness between individuals. Source