Congregation Shema Yisrael

This week’s Torah portion, which covers Numbers 25:10 up to chapter 30, is entitled Pinchas, who was the son of Eleazar and the grandson of Aaron.  In last week’s Parasha, after being enticed by Moabite women, many men of Israel succumbed to the worship of Ba’al.  Because of this, God brought down a plague that […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn reviewed 1 Samuel 1 briefly, then went on to study 1 Samuel 2:1-24. Source

This week Rabbi Glenn began the study of David starting with 1 Samuel and covered 1 Samuel 1, along with some foundational ideas forming the basis of our study of the life of David. Source

This week’s Parasha is called Balak, which means devastator, and covers Numbers 22:2 – 25:9.  In last week’s Parasha, the Israelis decisively defeat the Amorites because the Amorites did not want them passing through their land. This week we find the Israelis camped near the border of Moab. King Balak saw how the Israeli army […] Source

Rabbi Paul knows that Messiah’s Community in Corinth was doing well in many ways, but was also facing temptations, which, if yielded to, would harm the community. One temptation: testing God by complaining about the leaders. Instead of being thankful for all of the leaders, and supporting all the leaders, many of the people in […] Source

This week’s parashah is entitled Chukat meaning ‘statute’ or ‘regulation’. It covers Numbers 19:1 -22:1. It teaches us about the ordinance of the red Heifer, the water of purification, Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ sin, the bronze serpent and tells of Moses’ approaching death. Today I would like to […] Source

Because of the catastrophe that took place in Eden, human beings are alienated from God, who is the source of life. Because we joined the rebellion of the fallen angels, the authority to rule humanity was transferred to Satan and the demons. Satan, the leader of the fallen angels, became the god of this world. […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn launched the new study of King David by going through his introductory notes (see below).  He then read and discussed Judges 19-21, in order to set the historical situation into which Samuel would emerge, and through him, Saul and David. There was also about 10-15 minutes of Q/A.     Short […] Source

Paul Defends Himself From The Criticism That He Is Not Worthy Of Being Supported As A Leader; He Had The Right To Be Supported But Chose Not To Use That Right Because of the Fall, human beings are alienated from God, and alienated from one another. Humanity is broken, fractured, disunified. We are divided along […] Source

The name of this week’s parasha is Korach, which means “Korah” and covers Numbers 16-18.  Moses’ authority was challenged by a faction led by Korah, son of Kohath, from the tribe of Levi, along with Dathan, Abiram, and On from the tribe of Reuben, along with 250 Israeli leaders.  They objected to the restriction that […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn previewed the next study on the life of King David. Source

The community had written Paul a letter. One of the matters they wrote about was about male/female relationships. This part of Paul’s letter is his response. In the earlier part of this chapter, the Rabbi had instructed Messiah’s followers in Corinth about marriage, singleness and divorce. Paul continues with the subject of marriage. Now about […] Source

The parasha this Shabbat is called Sh’lach L’cha, meaning “send out for yourself” and spans Numbers: 13-15. God said to Moses, “Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel.” Moses chose one leader from each of the tribes, and […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn examined Scripture Twisting: 20 Ways the Cults Misread the Bible by James Sire and talked about common ways God’s Word is twisted. Source

The Corinthian community had previously written Paul a letter. One of the matters they wrote about was about male/female relationships. This part of Paul’s letter is his response. When Paul wrote this letter, the culture of Corinth, like our culture today, was not teaching people the truth about sex. Corinth known for the sexual promiscuity […] Source

This week’s parasha is titled, Behaalotecha, meaning “when you set up,” and covers Numbers 8:1 – 12:16.  “When you set up” refers to setting up and directing the light of the golden lampstand of the tabernacle, the construction of which was described in Exodus 25:31 – 40. Chapter 8 describes the cleansing of the Levites.  […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn finishes his study of Genesis. Source

Christianity is about Christ. Messianic Judaism is about Messiah; having a close, personal relationship with the Messiah. It’s about having the Spirit of the Father and the Son living in us, teaching us, guiding us, transforming us into the likeness of Yeshua. The emphasis of the New Covenant is faith, not law. It’s about walking […] Source

Our parasha for this week is Naso which means “lift up”.  Parasha Naso covers Numbers 4:21–7:89 and concerns priestly duties, laws for dealing with an unfaithful wife, the Nazirite vow, the Aaronic blessing, and the consecration of the Tabernacle.  This morning I plan to focus on the Nazirite Vow. We find in chapter 6 the […] Source

Rabbi Glenn spends this week’s Bible Study going over the biblical holiday of Shavuot. Source

The Jewish holidays are fantastic. Year by year they pace our lives according to the cycle God has designed into nature. They teach us many things. They remind us of some of the great things God has done in Israel’s history. They are prophecies which reveal God’s plan to redeem a remnant of fallen humanity. […] Source

Today’s parasha is BaMidbar, meaning “In the Wilderness” and begins the book of Numbers covering Numbers 1:1-4:20. A little over a year has passed since Israel had left Egypt.  They had been encamped at Mt. Sinai while God has been preparing them to march into the Promised Land.  When they first left Egypt, they were […] Source

This week during the Bible Study Rabbi Glenn went over Genesis 47:27-49:10. Source

(or: how to completely destroy your credibility) Don’t you just love it when you hear a Christian (usually one with a pride issue) claim that there aren’t any good churches and say something like, “I want to be part of an authentic ‘New Testament’ church.” My response is, “Oh really? Like, say, the Church at […] Source

This week we have two Parashas: B’har (meaning, “on the mountain”), and B’chukotai (meaning, “in my statutes”). They cover Leviticus 25:1-27:34. The Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai. He said, “Tell the Israelis when you enter the land that I am giving you, that you must let the land have a special time of […] Source