Congregation Shema Yisrael

This week Don shares his thoughts on parashas Mattot and Masei. He discusses the importance of the cities of refuge and the lessons they hold for us today.

This week Rabbi Glenn discusses narrative analogies and parallels in the Bible. Rabbi Glenn's Notes. Additional Notes.

Rabbi Loren shares how the Shema points us to the truth that we are created to Love the Lord with everything that we are.

This week Rabbi Glenn discusses parasha Pinchas and shares the importance of being passionate for the Lord, but also operating in discernment.

Rabbi Jerry shares a message about the power and compassion of the Lord in our most weakest and depressed moments.

This week David comments on the double torah portion. He discusses the Red Heifer sacrifice in Chukat, and lessons from the story of Balaam and Balak.

This week Rabbi Jerry finishes his discussion of God's Will by looking at the lives of Balaam and Balak.

This week Rabbi Jerry teaches on 1 kings 18. In 1 Kings 18, the prophet Elijah confronts the spiritually paralyzed Israelites, challenging their dangerous attempt to find a "middle ground" between worshipping the Lord and the pagan idol Baal. During a dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel, the false prophets fail to summon their god despite hours of frantic spectacle, whereas Adonai instantly answers Elijah’s simple prayer with a consuming fire from heaven. This chapter serves as a stark warning that spiritual neutrality is a destructive illusion, urging the audience to reject empty worldly idols and wholeheartedly commit to the true God.

David Goldstein teaches on parasha Korach, which covers Numbers 16:1 – 18:32. He discusses the rebellion of Korah and how rebellion against the Lord is still happening today.

This week Rabbi Jerry Continues to discuss God's Will. He uses D.A. Carson's, Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: Biblical Perspective in Tension to discuss the tension between our wills and God's Will. Click here for Rabbi Jerry's notes.

Rabbi Loren concludes his series in Jude with a discussion of God's glory and mercy and how it applies to our lives as followers of Messiah Yeshua.

Roman Clark teaches on parasha Sh'lach L'cha and the importance of faith in the lives of Joshua and Caleb.

This week Rabbi Jerry discusses the sovereignty of the Lord. He begins with a discussion of how Adonai is the one true king, and everything is under His control. Rabbi Jerry's Notes.

Rabbi Loren continues his series in Jude (Judah) by emphasizing the importance of community. He also discusses important teachings on God's mercy and our connection to the Lord through prayer.

Rabbi Glenn teaches on the importance on not having double-standards. In this week's parasha, the importance of following the Lord's commands, and the consequences for compromising God's clear teaching are emphasized.

This week Rabbi Jerry records a Bible Study on the important topic of celebrating the diversity of God's Community. He discusses the importance of identity in Messiah and what it means to remain as we were called.

Rabbi Loren continues his series in Jude (Judah). Believers are urgently warned about false teachers who infiltrate the church, twisting God's grace into a license to sin while masquerading as faithful members during fellowship meals. Jude exposes these leaders as spiritually dead and destructive, reminding the church through the ancient prophecy of Enoch that they face certain divine judgment. Jude teaches that the greatest defense against spiritual deception is not mere religious knowledge, but cultivating a deep, authentic relationship with Messiah Yeshua to gain true discernment, righteousness, and love.

Parasha Naso highlights God’s call for His people to be meticulously organized and completely devoted to His presence. Naso teaches the strict purity laws required to maintain a holy camp, the voluntary Nazarite vows for those seeking a deeper personal walk with God, and the foundational Priestly Blessing.

This week Rabbi Jerry discusses Luke 18 and 19, which contrasts different responses to God's Grace. He compares the self-righteous Pharisee and the hesitant rich young ruler against the deeply humble tax collectors. Ultimately, Believers are challenged to emulate Zacchaeus by responding to the Lord's invitation with immediate, joyful obedience and genuine, life-altering repentance.

This week Rabb Jerry continues his discussion of God’s infinite and unchanging love through His deep mercy for the distressed, His unearned grace for sinners, and His patient persistence. Through the work of Messiah Yeshua, believers receive the unmerited gift of salvation and forgiveness, demonstrating that God moves toward our suffering rather than away from it. In response to this limitless compassion and patience, we are called to approach God confidently in our brokenness and extend that same relentless forgiveness to others. Click here for Rabbi Jerry's notes.

Rabbi Loren preaches on the problem of legalism, prioritizing external rule-keeping and Sinai Covenant obligations over a living relationship with God. Pointing to Yeshua's ministry and the teachings of the early church, he emphasizes that believers are saved and made complete entirely by God's grace through faith, rather than by observing the Torah, Sabbaths, or dietary laws. Ultimately, true righteousness and spiritual fulfillment are found not in the "shadows" of external religious rituals, but in the reality of the Messiah and inner transformation through the Holy Spirit.

Rabbi Loren continues in Jude and discusses false teachers who infiltrate the community by twisting God's grace.

In Bamidbar we find the details of the initial census of Israel's fighting men, the arrangement of the tribes around the Tabernacle, and the specific, reverential duties of the Levites.

Rabbi Jerry discusses God's love and emphasizes that God's infinite, unchanging love is an unearned benevolence that serves as the foundation for His relationship with creation. We must base our understanding of God's love on Scripture and the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua, rather than on our personal experiences. Click here for Rabbi Jerry's notes.

Rabbi Loren continues his series in Jude. Judah warns believers to defend their faith against false teachers who quietly infiltrate the community to distort God's grace into an excuse for sexual immorality and self-rule. To demonstrate that experiencing God's blessings does not grant immunity from His judgment, the letter recalls the destruction of the unfaithful Exodus generation, the imprisonment of rebellious angels, and the fiery ruin of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The double parasha of Behar and Bechukotai concludes the book of Leviticus by outlining God's commands for the Sabbath and Jubilee years, alongside a clear contrast between the blessings of obedience and the severe, escalating punishments for breaking His covenant. Although Israel historically suffered the prophesied exile due to their persistent disobedience, the Lord demonstrated His unchanging faithfulness by restoring them to the land after they repented. Today, this message serves as an urgent call to turn away from rebellion and seek salvation through Messiah Yeshua, reminding believers that returning to God brings true peace and restoration rather than continued suffering.

This week Rabbi Jerry continues his study on God's Attributes. He discusses how God's righteous wrath and perfect justice demand that human sin be met with the consequence of death and eternal punishment. However, out of His immense mercy, the Lord willingly took this punishment upon Himself through Messiah Yeshua's death on the cross, fully satisfying the demands of His own judgment. In response to this saving grace, Believers are called to trust the Lord and diligently pursue lives of holiness while eagerly awaiting His return. Click here for Rabbi Jerry's notes.

Rabbi Loren continues his series through Jude. He discusses how Judah initially intended to write about the magnificent salvation shared by all believers. Instead, the infiltration of false teachers made him write about the importance of defending unchanging, core biblical truths. Because this faith was delivered "once for all time" without room for cultural revision or new doctrines , God's people must protect it by deeply knowing Scripture and living distinctly holy lives.

Parasha Emor outlines God's strict holiness requirements for the priests, the unblemished offerings, the appointed feasts, and the perpetual care of the tabernacle's lampstand and showbread. Ultimately, these meticulous standards and ancient rituals foreshadow Yeshua, who serves as our perfect High Priest, the ultimate sacrifice that completely removes our sin.

This week Rabbi Jerry discusses God's righteousness and justice. He shares how the foundation of God’s throne is built on His perfect righteousness and justice, which flow directly from His holiness. God requires all of humanity to follow His standard. Since we cannot achieve this through our own power, we must rely on Messiah Yeshua to satisfy God's justice. Click here for Rabbi Jerry's notes.

In this introductory message on the letter of Jude, Rabbi Loren emphasizes that our truest identity is found not in earthly status, but in being devoted servants of Messiah Yeshua. Jude also reassures Believers that despite the spiritual and internal dangers of a fallen world, they are deeply loved, called, and safely kept by God's multiplying mercy, peace, and love.

Holiness. This single word bridges our two parashas for this week. Acharei Mot ('After the Death') and Kedoshim ('Holy Ones'), which cover Leviticus 16–20. These parashas contain many commandments from the Yom Kippur service to the command to love our neighbor. This morning, we will examine Adonai’s holiness and what it means that He calls us to be holy as well.

This week Rabbi Jerry discusses the practical application of God’s holiness. He emphasizes that while we are justified by grace, we are also called to a lifelong, active journey of progressive sanctification. By intentionally turning away from sin and pursuing moral purity in our daily actions, we demonstrate the genuine evidence of our salvation and experience a richer, more joyful relationship with the Lord. Click here for Rabbi Jerry's notes.

This morning Rabbi Loren gives a different type of message. Rabbi Yeshua taught in unexpected ways that surprised His audience - using parables and vivid images, and following His example, this teaching comes in the form of a story, inspired by C. S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, which uses fiction to expose spiritual realities. This title of this story is Instructions From A Principality.

Roman Clark shares his thoughts on both of these parashas. He discusses how God's righteousness and mercy is seen in His commands concerning lepers and those who are ritually impure.

Rabbi Jerry teaches on God's Holiness. He discusses two different aspects of God's Holiness, His majestic holiness and pure holiness. Click here for Rabbi Jerry's notes.

Rabbi Glenn warns followers of Messiah against the dangerous tendency to slip into complacency and "spiritual auto-pilot" following major victories. To avoid the disastrous consequences of a lowered guard, Scripture urges us to intentionally remain vigilant by redoubling our spiritual disciplines and setting new, faith-driven goals.

Rabbi Jerry contrasts the world’s shallow pursuit of material wealth, with the true, abundant life offered by Messiah Yeshua, the Good Shepherd. He discusses how lasting peace, joy, and spiritual fulfillment are found only through faith in Messiah Yeshua's sacrifice and resurrection.

Shemini, contrasts the joyous revelation of God's glory during the priests' ordination with the severe consequences of disregarding His divine instructions. Rabbi Glenn highlights the tragic fate of Nadav and Avihu, who offered unauthorized "strange fire" and were struck dead, illustrating the profound peril of approaching infinite holiness with self-willed religion. Shemini urges Believers to balance their deep love for the Lord with strict obedience, warning that true worship must always be conducted with profound reverence and awe.

Rabbi Glenn discusses the Land of Israel and how it was permanently given by God to the Jewish people through an everlasting covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He argues against "Replacement Theology," claiming instead that biblical prophecy foretells a physical return of the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland, which will then be followed by a spiritual restoration through the Messiah. Click here for Rabbi Glenn's notes.

Rabbi Loren shares a message about Passover. Just as the Jewish people during the first Passover required the lamb's blood for deliverance and its meat for physical sustenance, Believers today need God's full provision of both salvation and spiritual strength. While believing in Yeshua's sacrifice secures eternal salvation, Believers must recognize that this decision is only the beginning of a challenging journey. To successfully endure this path, believers must continually "feed" on their spiritual Passover Lamb through daily prayer, reading the Word, living in the Spirit, sharing their faith, and staying deeply connected to their community.

Rabbi Jerry shares a message about Passover. He discusses how the historical Passover demonstrates that genuine faith requires more than intellectual belief; it demands that we obediently trust in God's promises. Today, we face a similar need, requiring us to apply the blood of the ultimate Passover Lamb, Messiah Yeshua, to the doors of our hearts. During this holiday season, Believers are encouraged to practice self-examination and rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal and remove sin, leading to true spiritual transformation and redemption.

Rabbi Jerry shares how Parasha Tzav details the meticulous procedures for the five types of biblical offerings and the solemn ordination of the priesthood. Although Believers today no longer perform these animal sacrifices, we can see how we must still seek holiness and atonement exclusively on God's terms, a requirement now fulfilled through the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua. Furthermore, the extensive details of these commandments remind us that serving the Lord is not a casual endeavor, challenging us to give God our primary devotion and ensure the fire of our spiritual zeal continues to burn brightly.

This week Rabbi Jerry addresses the crucial issue of Antisemitism. He focuses on biblical examples of antisemitism,. He then discusses how they are motivated not just by hatred of people, but the Lord Himself. Finally, he discusses how this hatred is motivated spiritually by the hatred of Satan. Rabbi Jerry's Notes.

In the second part of 2 Peter 3, the Apostle Peter emphasizes that the perceived delay in Messiah Yeshua’s return is actually a profound demonstration of God's patience, allowing more time for people to hear the gospel and be saved. He also validates the divine authority of Rabbi Paul's writings while warning believers to remain vigilant against false teachers who twist Scripture, urging them instead to continuously grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior.

Parasha Vayikra details the specific instructions for various biblical offerings, emphasizing God's strict holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the necessity of atonement. Ultimately, these ancient sacrificial laws hold deep spiritual significance, serving to foreshadow the perfect, unblemished sacrifice and ultimate atoning work of Messiah Yeshua.

This week Rabbi Jerry explores the concept of God's triunity by examining evidence of the Trinity within the New Testament. He explains how God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are distinct yet unified. He then discusses how our lives are affected by God's Triunity.Rabbi Jerry's Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-zaurZNLYpBd7-7F1x1_dVp4Vm_CyD7o/view

Rabbi Loren begins 2 Peter 3 which warns believers about scoffers who deny the promised return of Yeshua . The fact Messiah Yeshua has not returned yet is a reflection of God's merciful patience, granting humanity time to repent before the current universe is completely destroyed in judgment. In light of this truth, Believers should strive to live holy, pure, and peaceful lives as they eagerly anticipate the promised new heavens and new earth.

The double Torah portion Vayakhel and Pekudei details the joyful, obedient assembly and precise accounting of the Tabernacle's physical construction by skilled artisans. These passages teach us the importance of serving the Lord with a willing heart, acting with integrity, and carefully following His specifications in every area of our daily lives. Ultimately, this magnificent earthly structure served as a temporary shadow of heavenly realities, pointing toward the eternal hope and direct access to God secured through the sacrifice of the Messiah.

This week Rabbi Jerry explores the concept of God's Triunity in the Tanakh. He discusses the Tanakh's foundation in monotheism while examining how original Hebrew grammar reveals a unified plurality. By looking closely at specific Old Testament passages, we see clear attributes of absolute deity applied to both the prophesied Messiah and the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, understanding this perfect relational harmony within the Godhead provides a profound model for our own spiritual growth and connection with others.Rabbi Jerry's Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jrXDf_XJTLaT5JvzrnJfDBQ1zDW5SaTG/view