Messianic Torah Observant Israel

May the sound of the shofar wake us up to life that only comes from the Father through His Messiah. From Yom Teruah 2018, this message by Rabbi Steve Berkson goes deeper into some of the responsive reading of the liturgy. Don't miss out on new teachings every week. You are welcome to post your comments and please click on the "LIKE" button if this teaching has been a blessing to you. For more info...

Covenanted people need not worry–Yahweh is faithful to His side of the covenant. In this episode, Rabbi Steve Berkson places emphasis on “emunah”, which is Hebrew for faith/trust/belief, as it pertains to being covenanted with our Elohim. Related Teachings can be found here, http://mtoi.org/learn_with_us/learn_with_us.shtml Infocus - Ask For the Old Paths CC101: Are You Saved Making Decisions…the...

What is/are the sign(s) of The Covenant? Is baptism/immersion a sign of The Covenant? Who are those that are a part of The Covenant? Rabbi Steve Berkson takes some time making sure we understand what it is we’re involved with–The Covenant between The Creator and us. It is important we are not going on what we think we know. Related Teachings can be found here, http://mtoi.org/learn_with_us/learn_w...

There’s only one covenant that we should be concerned about, right? What if there are more than one covenant in play, with some overlapping others, that we need to understand and be concerned about? In part 2 of this teaching on covenants, Rabbi Steve Berkson gets into more detail about Yahweh’s covenant with Noah, Abraham and Isaac. Are all covenants the same? How is a “promise” different than a...

Song: Dip the Apple in the Honey

Now that you’ve learned about the relationship between salvation, faith and works, and that “saved” is not a status in the “Are You Saved” series, it makes sense to learn about the one thing that could be considered a status worth bearing–being “in covenant” or “covenanted”. In this series Rabbi Steve Berkson begins to define “covenant” as seen throughout scripture; covenants between persons and c...

If we already “possess” everlasting life, why are we instructed by Messiah Yeshua in John chapter 6 not to labor for the bread that perishes but rather for the bread that is remaining unto everlasting life which the Son of Adam gives? What is that “bread” referring to? How do men get this concept wrong? From there, Rabbi Steve takes us deeper into the Gospel of John, chapter 10 verse 24, where we...

Do you, right now, have eternal life? Do you possess everlasting life as Messiah taught about in the Gospel of John chapter 3 verse 36? This week’s teaching from Rabbi Steve Berkson is on the topic, Possessing Everlasting Life. This is an important topic to clarify simply because most people are taught that salvation “equals” everlasting life…but, is that true? Rabbi Steve takes us into the Gospel...

Continuing in the book of Revelation, Rabbi Steve Berkson takes us into chapter 3 where we find Messiah Yeshua continuing to give His praise and correction to the seven assemblies. In this teaching Rabbi Steve asks questions such as, “what does the word ‘complete’ mean?”, “Why does Messiah Yeshua refer to Himself as a thief?”, “What about this idea of being worthy?”, “What is meant by ‘white garme...

There is a particular blessing for those who read, hear and guard the words in book of Revelation. (Rev 1:3) Knowing this, Rabbi Steve Berkson takes us this week into Revelation chapters 2 and 3 where we see the apostle John write messages to seven assemblies as dictated by Messiah Yeshua. What do these messages have to do with salvation, faith and works? What is the one statement that is consiste...

Continuing on the topic of “you’re going to be judged according to your works”, Rabbi Steve Berkson reviews and reiterates 1 Peter chapters 1 and 2, adding even more insight and revelation to the words of the apostle Peter (Kepha). If your relationship with your Creator is like a marriage, what do you expect from Him? What does He expect from you? What is “submissive obedience”? What were the futi...

Why are your “works” or actions important? Rabbi Steve Berkson continues teaching about the relationship between salvation, faith/belief and works/actions by taking us to the letter from Peter, an emissary/apostle of Messiah Yeshua, to the chosen, and dissects what he said about being born-again and living in obedience by the Ruach. Related Teachings can be found here, http://mtoi.org/learn_with_u...

Contrary to the vast majority of those who twist the writings (2 Peter 3:16) and teach that “works” are no longer important or necessary, Rabbi Steve Berkson brings us to the understanding of why “works” are important. Related Teachings can be found here, http://mtoi.org/learn_with_us/learn_with_us.shtml • The Millennium & The Kingdom • CC101: What are You Thinking? • Do You Know the Father an...

In part 9 of “Are You Saved?”, we read through James (Ya’akov) chapter 2 and now understand that faith/belief and works are intertwined so that one without the other cannot exist. In this lesson, Rabbi Steve Berkson takes us to the book of Hebrews, chapters 11 and 12 to show us proof by examples that “by belief/faith” those “heroes” that came before us were inspired by “salvation” to exemplify the...

In Matthew 24:12 Yeshua taught that because of the increase in lawlessness, the love of many will become cold–what is the love that’s connected to the Law (Torah)? When Yeshua said, “But he who shall have endured to the end…”–what is meant by “to the end”? Moving from there to the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:13-29, Rabbi Steve Berkson explains the idea of possessing and not possessing, ente...

Continuing from part 7, Rabbi Steve teaches further on the topic of guarding the Torah and possessing the Witness. As he takes us to Luke 10:25 we see once again Messiah Yeshua being tested by someone considered as “learned”. We also see here the word “inherit” being used regarding eternal life. What does this mean? How does it bring an critical understanding to being “saved”? In this passage we a...

Messiah Yeshua said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate…” (Luke 13:24) Does salvation and reward require effort? What is that effort? To where does the narrow gate lead? What does the saying mean, “Our righteousness is as filthy rags”? In Acts 16:30 someone asked, “What do I have to do to be saved?” How are we saved? Do we ‘need’ the writings of Paul, of Peter, or the other writers of the Ne...

What does the Hebrew name Yeshua mean? Why was Yeshua born into this world as the Messiah? In this teaching Rabbi Steve Berkson continues the topic on the relationship between salvation, faith/belief and works by looking at Yeshua as the Savior…the one who saves. Related Teachings can be found here, http://mtoi.org/learn_with_us/learn_with_us.shtml Divorce, Remarriage and Putting Away Covenant Com...

“I think that we get so verse-focused that we are missing the application, walking-it-out part.” Rabbi Steve Berkson challenges our mindset this Shavuot 2018 about how we should be walking out our faith by taking a look at how the events of Mt. Sinai and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit of Acts 2 were major launching points toward breakthrough and moving forward. Related Teachings can be found h...

Rabbi Steve Berkson focuses on the topic of “Who Shall be Saved?”, as he takes us to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13. There we find the parable Yeshua taught about “The Wheat and the Tares” – which was meant to describe two types of people within the congregation of Elohim. How do we know today who is which? Does that responsibility rest on us? If Elohim knows about this (He does), why does He a...

Has the One who chose a group of people from among a group of people and set them apart unto Himself rejected those people? Has now another group of people replaced them? Weren’t there promises made according to The Covenant that was made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Wasn’t there an expectation by the chosen people that those promises were for them? What does the Prophet Ezekiel have to say abou...

What’s wrong with Christianity? Aren’t there “good people” there? Most of us who are now in the Messianic Torah Observant community came from Christianity. Wasn’t there anything good we learned from being there? Can’t we bring something over with us as we’ve transitioned to Torah observance? Didn’t we consider ourselves as “saved” while under that system? What deadly disease can the system of Chri...

After a quick review of part 1, Rabbi Steve Berkson continues exploring the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” and the relationship between salvation, faith and works. Rabbi Steve plays the little game called, “What if I had the power to live forever and could choose those with whom to live forever.” During the Pesach seder, the tradition of “The Four Cups” is performed–the four cups being San...

Do you really understand what it means to say “I’m saved!”? From what are you saved? How were you saved? When did this “salvation” happen? Now that you are “saved”, what more is there to do? Are you saved by “faith” or by “works”? Rabbi Steve Berkson addresses these questions and more as he begins this series that is crucial to having a solid foundation of your faith. Related Teachings can be foun...

Can the dead come to life today? Rabbi Steve Berkson kicks this teaching off by taking you to Ephesians 2 where the Apostle Paul writes about the dead coming to life. This is also found in Colossians 3 where it reads, “If, then, you were raised with Messiah… Do you know what things to do to please your spouse? Are you doing what is pleasing to The Creator, in the way He intended? Rabbi Steve takes...