Congregation Shema Yisrael

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.