Posts with the category “rabbis-reflections”

Shavuah Tov,Yeshua will return. Those who confess Him as Lord and believe in their hearts that He has been raised from the dead will be saved.For if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord, an...  Read More

Shabbat shalom,This week we have another double portion. Behar which translates to “on Mount (Sinai),” Bechukotai which translates to “in My statutes.” This reading covers Sabbatical years, the Year o...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 52:3c(1g) God’s lovingkindness is every day.There it is… a short “tag line,” just sitting out there like an orphan.  In Hebrew it reads, “Chesed El Kol-Yom.”  It’s a simpl...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 52:1 For the music director: a contemplative song of David, 2 when Doeg the Edomite came and reported to Saul telling him, “David went to Ahimelech’s house.” 3 Why do you brag about evil,...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:20 In Your favor do good to Zion. Build up the walls of Jerusalem. 21 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will be offered on Your altar....  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:18 For You would not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it, nor be pleased by burnt offerings. 19 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Yo...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,We considered Yeshua demonstrating favor to His immediate friends Martha, Miriam, and Lazarus. Favor is also illustrated in relationships that are a step removed from a favored friend.  We...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:17 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.The Hebrew words of this verse (there are six words) have been put to music more than once.  https://www.youtube.com/watc...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,_______Special Announcement:  This Sunday, May 3rd is the annual Jewish Food Festival, known as “Knoshville.”  It will be held from 11AM to 2PM at the Arnstein Jewish Community Center, ...  Read More

Early Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 51:16 Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God—God of my salvation. Then my tongue will sing for joy of Your righteousness.Like so many verses of Scripture, this verse is in the fo...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:15 Then will I teach transgressors Your ways and sinners will return to You.Here, in this verse, there is a turn.  Up until now, David has been rather self-focused.  First he is repuls...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:14 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.May I provide an amplified version based on my understanding of the Hebrew words?  “Return to me (the) j...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:13 Do not cast me from Your presence—take not Your Ruach ha-Kodesh from me.Don’t do it Lord!  The psalmist is imploring God… (paraphrasing) “Although You would be acting within Your ri...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:12 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.Today, after the weekend break (Shabbat and Yom Rishon (the first day, Sunday), we continue with the second...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,The word charis (grace/favor) is right in the middle of the Greek word that expresses gratitude: euCHARISteo. It is the recognition of favor and the reciprocation of that favor. As Yeshua ...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,This week we have another double portion. The total number of portions in the Torah reading cycle is 54, which reflects the maximum number of readings for a leap year (a year containing...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},_______Day 20 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶרBaruch Atah Adonai Elo...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Thursday, April 23, 2026 Shalom {{firstName}}, I have been asked by the family to officiate the memorial service (celebration of life) for our dear friend, Dr. Raymond Finney.  I...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Shalom {{firstName}},_______Wednesday, April 22nd is Yom HaZikaron (beginning Tuesday at sundown), Israeli Independence Day, when the entire nation rejo...  Read More

Shalom {{firstName}},_______Tuesday, April 21st is Yom HaZikaron (beginning Monday at sundown), Israeli Memorial Day, when the entire nation mourns those who were wounded or died in any of Israel’s ma...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:8 Surely You desire truth in the inner being. Make me know wisdom inwardly.Our verse today starts in Hebrew (transliterated), “Hen-Emet,” meaning, “Behold the truth.”  This truth in th...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,We not only find the emotional content of favor through definitions. We see charis illustrated in some stories recorded in Scripture. In these narratives we find that Yeshua favored His fr...  Read More

Shabbat shalom,Torah Portion Tazria-Metzora Leviticus 12:1-15:33By Jeffery FreemanThis week we have a double portion. Tazria translates to “conceive” (become pregnant) and Metzorah which translates to...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:5 For I know my transgressions (Pesha) and my sin (Chatah) is ever before me. 6 Against You, You only, have I sinned (Chatah), and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are just...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:5 For I know my transgressions (Pesha) and my sin (Chatah) is ever before me. 6 Against You, You only, have I sinned (Chatah), and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are just...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:4 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.There is washing and then there is washing.  At the Seder, we wash our hands with running water (Ur’chatz).  But this w...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:3 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your mercy. According to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.As verse 3 begins (the last part of verse 1 in most Christian Bibles)...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:1 For the music director: a psalm of David, 2 when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba.“King David sinned!!!”  That’s your headline.  David was Israel’s second k...  Read More

Yeshua is the perfect pattern for understanding the process of growing in God’s favor. For those who see grace primarily as undeserved favor, Yeshua growing in charis may be a difficult concept. Howev...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,_______Day 7 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶרBaruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, As...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,_______Day 6 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶרBaruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-...  Read More

Shalom, _______Day 5 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶרBaruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kid...  Read More

Shalom,_______Day 4 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶרBaruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kid’...  Read More

Shalom,Rabbi Trail: You might have noticed that I don’t count the Omer the same as most of the wider Jewish community.  Ordinarily I like to go along with the customs of traditional Judaism, but this ...  Read More

Shalom,Shalom again!  Today we’re going to take a break from our series on the Psalms (we’ll pick it up tomorrow), and focus for a moment on “Yom HaBirkurim,” the day of the first fruit offering, aka ...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Sunday, April 5, 2026Shavuah Tov {{firstName}},Day 1 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמ...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,Fellow believers, Rabbi Michael has kindly offered me the opportunity to share some thoughts on the weekly Torah portion with you. My first writing happens to occur in a week that does ...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Friday, April 3, 2026 (Early) Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 50:7-15 – Part 9Psalm 50:7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. 8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, for your burnt offerings are continually ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. 8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, for your burnt offerings are continually ...  Read More