Congregation Shema Yisrael

Hear the words of the prophet: Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east, and they are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike bargains with the children of foreigners. […] Source

This week our parasha is called Ki Tavo which means (When You Come) and it covers Deuteronomy 26:1-29:9. The book of Deuteronomy consists mainly of three discourses of the law delivered by Moses a short time before his death. Here Moses gives his third and final discourse to the Israeli people. The dominant theme is to […] Source

Concluding his series on basic biblical doctrines, Rabbi Glenn teaches on the topic “Can I Trust the Bible?”  Next week he will begin a study on Ezra/Nehemiah/Haggai. Source

This week’s Parasha is Ki Teitzei, translated:  “When You Go Out”.  It covers Deuteronomy Chapters 21 through 25:19.  In these chapters, we find 72 of the Torah’s 613 commandments. Chapter 21 includes the command that when you went to war against your enemy, and the Lord delivered them into your hands; if you saw a […] Source

God is real. He is a person. He loves us. He created us in His image, so that we would have a close personal relationship with Him and live with Him forever. But, because we joined the rebellion of the fallen angels, all of humanity is alienated from HaShem, this supreme Person. Before we leave […] Source

God is a person. In fact, He is HaShem, the Name, the Person, the Supreme Person. Because He is a person, with mind, emotion and will, and we are persons, we can relate to God as we relate to human beings. The same principles of relationship apply to our relationship with God. David was one […] Source

Represent Well! Shof’tim (“Judges”) Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9 If A. W. Tozer was right, that the truest measure of a man is how he thinks about God, perhaps the truest measure of a nation is how its judicial system works. When innocent people go to prison, either because an ambitious prosecutor only cared about a high conviction rate; […] Source

The name of this week’s Parasha is Re’eh, which means “see” and covers Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17.  Moses presented the blessings for obedience, and the curses for disobedience, to Adonai’s commandments described earlier in Deuteronomy 11.  Upon entering the Promised Land, the Jewish people would proclaim the blessings on Mount Gerizim and the curses on Mount Ebal, […] Source

This week’s Torah portion is titled Eikev. It takes us from Chapters 7:12 to 11:25 in the book of Deuteronomy.  Eikev translates to English as – because; but more specific – “a consequence of” referring to an action. Parasha Eikev is a continuation of Moses translating God’s commandments, judgments and statutes to the newly formed […] Source

Rabbi Glenn continues his discussion on the nature of salvation. Source

Rabbi Loren & Rabbi Glenn are joined by Rebbetzin Martha and Rebbetzin Alexandra in a round table discussion of Proverbs 28. Source

Tonight begins a study of the doctrines of sin (hamartiology) and salvation (soteriology).  This study will continue next week and will focus on the relationship of man’s response to the Good News of Messiah’s completed work of salvation and the intersection of Divine election and human will. Source

This week’s Torah portion is entitled Va’Etchanan, meaning “And I Pleaded.”  It covers Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11.  This Parasha is a rich and powerful reading.  In addition to the preparations and warnings for crossing over the Jordan and possessing the inheritance God has promised His people, it contains the reiteration of the Ten Commandments, the Shema, instructions […] Source

Introduction Recently we have been making our way through Yeshua’s “Sermon on the Mount” which is His signature teaching. Over the centuries, famous rabbis have been known for having their own signature teachings; notable perhaps for emphasis on a particular aspect of Torah or focus on a specific attribute of God’s nature, or for having […] Source

During the first and part of the second hour, the Bible Study was a review of Pastor Dan Lewis’ notes and some of Rabbi Glenn’s notes about the Divine Nature including Yeshua’s deity, the Person of the Holy Spirit, and the doctrine of the Trinity. The last half hour was devoted to praying for Israel and […] Source

This Shabbat’s parasha is entitled, D’varim, and covers Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22.  D’varim comes from the Hebrew in the opening verse: “Eleh had’varim…”, “these are the words.” D’varim is also the name of this 5th and final book of the Torah. Deuteronomy reveals much about the attributes of God. It is directly quoted over 40 […] Source

Introduction Across history, various rabbis have been known for their particular teaching; notable perhaps for emphasis on a particular aspect of Torah or focus on a specific attribute God’s nature, or a unique interpretation on an historical event. Disciples are supposed to be able to articulate their rabbi’s particular teaching. More than that; their lives […] Source

This week our parasha is Masei which translates to “Journeys”.  Masei covers Numbers 33:1-36:13 and completes the book of Numbers.  This parasha summarizes the journeys of our people and contains strong warnings that apply not just to the generation entering the land of Israel, but to those reading today as well. Chapter 33, written to […] Source

Gently Restoring People Who Sin; Carrying Others’ Burdens; Don’t Compare Yourself To Others; Sowing To The Spirit, Not The Flesh; Boasting Only In The Cross; A Final Prayer God has made it possible for us to live by the Spirit – to get close to God and stay close to God and live a God-honoring, […] Source

This weeks Torah portion is Mattot, meaning “Tribes” and spans Numbers chapters 30-32. Here in chapter 30 Moses has summoned the leaders of the tribes and has important instructions to give them, specifically about the sacredness of fulfilling one’s vows. God commands the absolute necessity of making good on our oaths when invoking His name, and […] Source

Rabbi Glenn gives a teaching on prayer in this continuing series. During the second hour, he discusses some of the things we ought to be praying for. Source

Politicians love to cite the “Sermon on the Mount” when put on the spot about what Bible passage they like best. Reality: it is far and away the most difficult teaching ever given, in terms of our inability to attain to it. Across history, various rabbis have been known for their particular teaching; notable perhaps […] Source

Rabbi Glenn continues his series on the foundations of the faith with a teaching on the Holy Spirit.  He also discusses gifts of the Holy Spirit. Source

Fire Works! (How suffering produces perseverance and maturity in the life of the believer) James 1:1-4 and 5:7-11 How would you feel if at the end of a phone conversation with a friend just before you’re headed out of town on a trip, they said something like this: “I hope you have a really difficult […] Source

This week’s parasha is entitled Balak, the name of the King of Moab, which means “devastator” or “one who lays waste”. It takes us from Numbers Chapter 22: 2 through 25:9. This parasha opens as Israel traveled to the Jordan Valley in Moab, where they camped near the Jordan River, across from Jericho. Israel’s tribes […] Source