Posts with the category “rabbis-reflections”

Shalom,Psalm 54:8 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You. I will praise Your name, Adonai, for it is good. 9 For He has delivered me from all trouble, and my eye has gazed upon my enemies.The rab...  Read More

Shalom,Rabbi’s note: Tomorrow is our final day of preparation for the trip to Israel which starts before “o-dark-thirty” on Wednesday.  I’ll try to get an RR out, but I can’t make any promises. ______...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 54:6 Surely God is my helper. My Lord is the supporter of my soul.Did you notice in part 1 (see the RR for last Friday, May 22nd) this Psalm is labeled (along with some others that are si...  Read More

Shalom and Chag Sameach,Everybody should know about God’s grace, and we have the privilege of making His favor known. It is an honor to bear witness to this reality. We can proclaim His saving favor t...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,Here is a reminder that Sunday, May 24th is Shavuot.  We will have a joint service with Grace and Glory in the sanctuary followed by a picnic on the grounds.  Please bring a side, salad...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 54:1 For the music director, on stringed instruments, a contemplative song of David, 2 when the Ziphites came and said to Saul: “Is not David hiding himself among us?” 3  ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 53:7 Who will give salvation for Israel out of Zion? When God restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!Today we end our study of Psalm 53 with the last verse.  O...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 53:6 There they are in great dread—where there is nothing to fear. For God has scattered the bones of those besieging you. You have put them to shame, for God has rejected them.Boo!  Did ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 53:4 All have turned aside—together they have become corrupt. There is no one who does good—no, not even one! 5 Will the evildoers never learn? They consume My people as they would eat br...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 53:3 God looks down from the heavens on the children of men, to see if anyone understands, who seeks after God.The Hebrew word is “Shaqaf” meaning to look down from a lofty position.  In ...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,God’s favor is as certain as His love. The certainty of His acting favorably towards us is as sure as tomorrow’s sunrise. (Hosea 6:3) His intervening love is everlasting – it is always rel...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,This week’s Torah Portion is Bamidbar, which translates to “in the wilderness. This portion includes a census of fighting men, naming leaders, organizing the camp, Levites replacing the...  Read More

(Early) ShabbatPsalm 53:1 For the music director: on Mahalath, a contemplative song of David. 2 The fool says in his heart: “There is no God.” They are corrupt, commit vile injustice. There is no one ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 52:11 I will praise You forever for what You have done. I will hope in Your Name, for it is good, in the presence of Your kedoshim.Here is my own amplified translation of verse 11, which ...  Read More

Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 52:8-10(6-8) – Part 5Psalm 52:8 Then the righteous will see and fear, and laugh at him: 9 Here is the man who did not make God his stronghold. Instead he trusted in his great riches...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 52:6 You love only devouring words—treacherous tongue! 7 God will pull you down forever, and snatch you, rip you out of your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living. SelahYet aga...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 52:4 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceit. 5 You love evil instead of good, lying rather than speaking right. SelahDavid is not yet done trashing “Doeg.”  Thi...  Read More

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