Congregation Shema Yisrael

Rabbi Loren taught the Bible Study again this week and covered 1 Samuel 20. Source

Paul Defends Himself And His Ministry; The Corinthians Are Paul’s Letter Of Recommendation; Contrasts Between Old And New Covenants Paul and his team started Messiah’s Community in Corinth, which was one of the most prominent centers in Greece. The congregation grew into a significant community. After being there for a year and a half, Paul […] Source

The name of this Shabbat’s parasha is Vayera, meaning “and he appeared”, and covers Genesis 18:1-22:24. Abraham saw God and two angels (in human form) near his tent and invited them in, offering them food and water. Adonai promised to return the same time the following year, and Sarah will give birth to a son! […] Source

Rabbi Loren covered the Bible Study this week for Rabbi Glenn and covered 1 Samuel 18 And 19. Source

Being in spiritual leadership is such an easy gig. It’s the little things; like how everyone respects your advice, and nobody causes problems. Nobody questions your motives or takes issue with your decisions; nor do people compare you with other preachers. Criticisms are few, always presented in love and gentleness, and never behind your back. […] Source

After reviewing the themes of 1 Samuel and 1 Samuel 16, Rabbi Glenn then covered all of 1 Samuel 17. Source

The parasha for this week’s Sabbath is entitled Lech L’Cha which means “go forth yourself.”  It covers Genesis Chapters 12:1- 17:27. In the previous chapters, we were provided with events that had taken place up until the time of Abram. From Chapter 12 on, Abram and his seed are almost entirely the only subjects of […] Source

This week’s Parasha starts out with God saying these words: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation.  Noah walked with God and had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” This was the time before Moses had given the law, so Noah does not have the standard of what would be righteous on his […] Source

What church or congregation do you go to? It seems like a good question, but I am liking it less and less because it’s phrased in much the same way that we might ask someone: what supermarket do you go to? Our relationship to Messiah’s Community is to be much more than going to a […] Source

Rabbi Glenn continued the study this week with 1 Samuel 16. Source

The final weekly parasha is entitled V’zot HaB’racha, meaning,“and this is the blessing” and completes the annual cycle of Torah readings. Shortly before his death, Moses pronounces a blessing over the 12 tribes – a reiteration of what Jacob prophesied over his 12 sons five centuries earlier. The two blessings contain differences, and some of […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn covered 1 Samuel 15, specifically Saul’s abject failure in dealing with the Amalekites. Source

Here we are, in the midst of Sukkot, the most joyous of all Jewish festivals. This holiday is also known as Zeman Simchateinu – ‘The Season of Our Rejoicing’. In fact, so significant is this seventh of the seven God-ordained holidays, occurring in the seventh month, lasting seven days, and featuring the sacrifice of seventy […] Source

Today we celebrate the 3rd day of Sukkot or the Feast of Booths.  My first experience with a Sukkah and Sukkot was when I was around 8 years old and still attending Reform Hebrew School.  I remember being herded with my classmates to see the Sukkah that was built outside.  It was very similar to […] Source

We are very close to the end of Yom Kippur and the Days of Awe.  In a few minutes, we will sound the Shofar a final time and then go and break our fasts.  Hopefully, this has been a meaningful time for you of self-reflection through prayer and maybe even fasting.  But it is possible […] Source

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How many of you used to watch the game show Family Feud? Maybe some of you still do. Steve Harvey has hosted it since 2010, but there have been six different hosts in the show’s history. Did you know it’s been on the air for 46 years? I remember when it first came on, and […] Source

Praising God For Overcoming Troubles; When We Are Comforted In Our Troubles We Can Comfort Others; The Degree Of Suffering And Comfort Are Related; Troubles Teach Us To Rely On God; We Are To Pray For Those Who Serve God And Are In Danger Paul and his team had experienced tremendous opposition, even deadly opposition […] Source

This week’s parasha is entitled Ha’Azinu, which means “give ear.”  A modern-day translation would be a command to “listen” to what is about to be said.  Ha’Azinu covers all of Deuteronomy, Chapter 32, which contains 52 verses.  With this being Shabbat Shuvah, the Great Sabbath of Repentance that occurs between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, […] Source

For Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Glenn took the Bible study through the Akedah, the binding of Issac and had a short Q & A. Source

L’shana Tova.  During our Rosh HaShanah services we read Twelve Reasons Why We Blow The Shofar.  These reasons range from a reminder of the faithfulness of the patriarchs to the eventual end of all wars with the return of Messiah Yeshua.  The reasons why we blow the Shofar may be varied, but the sound of […] Source

A Rosh HaShanah Meditation on Matthew 25:1-13. Introduction: Did you know there’s a Jewish wedding feast to take place in Heaven? It’s true! In fact, the Scriptures are filled with examples of God portrayed as a Husband, and Israel His bride. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “For your Husband is your Maker, whose name is the […] Source

Background Information; Paul and Timothy Wrote This Letter To Messiah’s Community In Corinth And God’s Holy People In Achaia; Praising God For Overcoming Troubles Today we are starting a new book of the Bible, actually a letter, known as 2 Corinthians. To better understand Rabbi Paul’s second letter to Messiah’s Community in Corinth, it’s helpful […] Source

We have a double-parasha this morning: Nitzavim and Vayelech. Nitzavim means ‘Those taking a stand’ and Vayyelech means ‘And he went’. These two parashas span Deuteronomy 29:9 (29:10 in our English Bibles) through 31:30. The parasha opens with all Israel assembled to stand before Adonai. In fact, the usual verb for ‘stand’ (omayd) isn’t the […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn’s study of The Life Of David continued with 1 Samuel 13-14.2 Source