Congregation Shema Yisrael

We finished Rosh HaShana/Yom Truah, the Jewish New Year and the Day To Blow The Shofar, the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month, the month of fulfillment, and we blew the shofar, and considered the important things that the important shofar reminds us of, like our need to be spiritually alert while we wait […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn reviewed and continued Genesis 15. Source

Without a doubt, Sukkot is the most joyful of the seven God-ordained annual holidays. In my book it’s as much fun as Purim and Chanukkah combined! Now to be honest, you could chalk some of it up to relief at having made it through the repentance and solemnity of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. But […] Source

Shabbat Shalom.  Tomorrow evening begins the holiday of Sukkot or the Feast of Booths.  During the day tomorrow we will be building our congregation’s Sukkah, and so this morning I would like to spend some time and consider the lessons the Sukkah and Sukkot have for us today.  The Sukkah teaches us of our complete […] Source

This morning’s parasha is called Ha’azinu and means “Give ear”. It covers Deuteronomy chapter 32. The Song of Moses represents the last time that Moses will speak to the Israelis before he dies on Mount Nebo. This song was meant to be taught to every Israeli as a reminder of the past, and a warning […] Source

Today is Shabbat T’shuva, the Sabbath of Repentance. It’s the Sabbath between Rosh HaShana/Yom Truah, the first day of the seventh month, the day we blow the shofar, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It’s the Sabbath of Repentance because these ten days are a special time to repent. T’shuva means repentance. Repentance means […] Source

The name of this week’s parasha is Vayelech, which means “and he went” and covers Deuteronomy 31:1-30.  Moses told the Jewish people that when they entered the Promised Land, Joshua would be their leader, and Adonai would go before them to deliver the nations there into their hands.  Those nations would suffer the fate of […] Source

Shabbat Shalom.  We come to Rosh HaShanah after a year filled with deep darkness, profound brokenness, and what seems to me at least like chaos run amuck.  I do not think many of you would disagree with me in feeling that we live in very uncertain times.  I could recite an endless list of reasons […] Source

Happy New Year, everyone! I know that for some of you this is your first High Holidays experience, and I’m excited for you, because you are going to discover that thematically there is so much about these three important Fall holidays that points us to Yeshua the Messiah, and the salvation He provides, and His […] Source

Set Free From The Law Of Sin And Death; The Law Of The Spirit Who Gives Life; Messiah Became Our Sin Offering; We Must Live According To The Spirit, Not The Flesh; We Must Set Our Minds On What The Spirit Desires; We are Obligated To Serve God The Way He Wants To Be Served […] Source

This week’s parasha is entitled, Nitzavim, meaning “standing.”  It covers Deuteronomy 29:9 – 30:20. In Chapter 29, all the people have gathered before the Lord in order to enter into the covenant with Him.   In verse 15, we find that not only does this covenant involve those present at that time, but that this covenant […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn reviewed the question of Malkitzedek’s identity, looking also at Psalm 110:4 and Hebrews 7.  Then he went on into Genesis 15 and covered verses 1-6. Source

Our Relationship To The Law Has Changed; We Are No Longer Under Its Authority; We Are Able To Serve God In The New Way Of The Spirit; The Law Is Not Sinful – We Are; The Law Reveals Sin Is Living In Fallen Human Beings; We Can Be Freed From The Power Of Sin Only […] Source

Several years ago I was on an Orthodox Jewish website doing some research.  During my browsing I discovered their “Ask the Rabbi” section and an article caught my eye.  The question concerned whether motives mattered when giving tzedakah, charity. The person writing was concerned because they had been giving charity regularly, but lately were giving […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn reviewed the context of Genesis 13 and proceeded to study Genesis 14.  He highlighted the consequences of our choices. Avram made good choices, as this chapter amply illustrates. Source

Because Of Our Faith In Messiah, We Have A New Master – God, Not Sin. We Have A New Nature; We Have A New Life; We Are Under Grace, Not Law; We Have The Ability Not To Sin; We Are To Make A Commitment To Serve God With All That We Are This is a […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn reviewed the context of Genesis 12 and proceeded to study all of Genesis 13. He also took a number of questions as well. Source

Salvation Comes From Faith, Not Law; Grace Is Greater Than Sin; Life Is Greater Than Death; One Man Can Do So Much Good For Many Others – If That Man Is Yeshua! At the beginning of human history, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and joined the rebellion of the fallen angels. That one sin had […] Source

This week’s parasha is entitled Shof’tim which means “Judges”. It takes us from Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9. Moses was instructed to choose men to be judges and officers in every town that Adonai their God had given Israel. These men were to always be fair in judging, so that controversies might be settled, injustices made right, the […] Source

This week Rabbi Glenn reviewed Terah’s initial journey (ch. 11) and Genesis 12:1-4 from last week. He then proceeded to cover the balance of Genesis 12. Source

Rabbi Paul wanted the Christians and Messianic Jews in Rome to know about salvation; and the way to be saved. He wanted them to know the need for salvation; to value their salvation; and to proclaim the Good News about faith that produces salvation to others. Not more money; not more education; not better politics, […] 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 Jerry Weinstein led the Bible Study for Rabbi Glenn.  He continued the study in Genesis with Genesis 12:1-4. Source

The Torah portion for this Shabbat is called Eikev meaning “consequence”. Israel is told that if they will be faithful to observe Adonai’s commandments, the ‘consequences’ will be blessing and health, prosperity and protection. But that’s a big ‘IF’. God promises to go before us to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, who […] Source

Humanity is broken. The world is a mess. Tensions are rising between nations. In the United States, there is a growing divide between the two main political parties. There seems to be growing animosity between racial groups. There is a growing inequality between the super-wealthy and everyone else. Most people are unfulfilled and unhappy. Why? […] Source