Posts with the category “rabbis-reflections”

Want a presentation of this?  Here is a link.https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FiZO1ypjel9LenW8W22be5Id3cIOcwb3/view …and from Messiah Yeshua, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the r...  Read More

Ekev (because, as a result of in the TLV) comes from Deuteronomy 7:12, Then it will happen, as a result of (ekev) your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them…In Parshah Ekev, Israel ...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 60:4 You made earth shake; You split it open. Heal its fractures—for it shudders. 5 You made Your people see hardship. You made us drink wine of staggering. 6 To those who...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 60:1 For the music director, on the “Lily of the Covenant,” a Michtam of David, for teaching, 2 when he fought with Aram-Naharaim and with Aram-Zobah, and Joab returned and struck down tw...  Read More

Shalom.Psalm 59:15 They return at evening, snarling like a dog, prowling about the city. 16 They wander around for food. If they are not full, they stay up all night. 17 But I—I sing of Your strength!...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 59:13 The sin of their mouth is the words of their lips. So let them be caught in their pride, and for uttering a curse and a lie. 14 Consume them in wrath, consume them till they are no ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 59:11 My God in His lovingkindness will go before me. God will let me look down on my foes. 12 Do not slay them, lest my people forget. With Your power shake them and bring them down, O L...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,Rabbi’s Note:  David submitted the RR below, giving me the option to use it or send it back to him (and he would submit something else for this week).  You see, David is a “man under autho...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,The Parshah this week is Va’Etchanan which comes from Deuteronomy 3:23 I (Moses) pleaded (Va’Etchanan) with ADONAI…In this parshah, Moses pleads to enter the land, Israel is commanded t...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 59:Psa 59:7 They return at evening, snarling like a dog, prowling about the city. 8 See, they are spewing with their mouth—swords in their lips—“After all, who is listenin...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 59:5 For no guilt of mine, they run and set things up. Awake! Help me! Look! 6 For You are Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel! Rouse Yourself to punish all the nations. Show no merc...  Read More

Shalom,Rabbi’s Note: Take a look at the Hebrew date in the “Daily Bread” section below.  You know what that means?  The RR for tomorrow, July 23rd is for Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of the Hebrew month Av...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 59:1 For the music director: “Do Not Destroy,” a Michtam of David, when Saul sent men to watch the house to kill him. 2 Deliver me from my enemies, my God! Set me on high, away from those...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,Rabbi’s Note:  The link below takes you to a beautiful six minute video David prepared for us.  I watched it and find it an excellent companion to this RR.  David and I agree, enjoy.  http...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 58:11 The righteous one will rejoice when he beholds vengeance, when he washes his feet in the blood of the wicked. 12 Then men will say: “There really is a reward for the righteous. Ther...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,This week we start the last book of Torah. Deuteronomy, Devarim in Hebrew, is the plural form of devar – meaning word. So, Devarim is words. This comes from the opening verse, “These ar...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 58:7 O God, break their teeth in their mouths. Tear out the fangs of young lions, Adonai. 8 Let them flow away like water that runs off. When he bends his bow, let the arr...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 58:4 The wicked are strangers from the womb. Speaking lies, they go astray from birth. 5 Their venom is like a serpent’s venom, like a deaf cobra shutting its ear— 6 not hearing the voice...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 58:1 For the music director: “Do Not Destroy,” a Michtam of David. 2 Do you really speak of justice, O “gods”? Do you judge with fairness, sons of man? 3 No, in heart you devise injustice...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 57:11(10) For Your lovingkindness is great up to the heavens, and Your truth to the skies. 12(11) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let Your glory be over all the earth!Today, we fini...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 57:9 Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 10 I will praise You, my Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to You among the nations.Rabbi Trail:  Last Frida...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,The other day a few of us were praying and concern was expressed about the world our children and their children would inherit. We know of people who are so filled with anxiety and pessimi...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,This week is a double portion. Mattot, “tribes,” from Numbers 30:1 Moses spoke to the princes of the tribes (hammattot) of Bnei-Yisrael…Massei, “journeys,” from Numbers 33:1 These are t...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Rabbi’s Announcement: You may be aware that I write these RRs for the next day, so as I write this it is Thursday morning, July 9th.  I’m celebrating today because it is the ann...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 57:5 My soul is in the midst of lions. I lie among those breathing fire—sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongue is a sharp sword. 6 Be exalted, O God, above the heaven...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 57:3 I will cry out to El Elyon, to God who accomplishes it for me. 4 He will send from heaven and save me. He rebukes the one trampling on me. Selah God is sending His mercy and His trut...  Read More

Shalom {{firstName}},Psalm 57:1(1) For the music director, “Do Not Destroy,” a Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. 2 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for in You my soul ...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Friday, July 3, 2026 (Early) Shabbat Shalom,Rabbi Trail: Welcome to the club!  That was my greeting offered by many Israelis when I was introduced to them as an “Oleh Chadash” (a...  Read More

Shalom,Rabbi Trail: Let’s take a moment to assess where we are in the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s “Dry Bones” prophecy found in Ezekiel 37.  I feel like the State of Israel is connected.  It starts with ...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,The books Ruth and Esther, provide examples of the hidden hand of Adonai as He moves through circumstances. Neither record miracles, or report prophetic oracles, or provide examples of spi...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},Torah Portion Pinchas Numbers 25:10-30:1(29:40)By Jeffery FreemanThis week’s Torah portion is Pinchas. Its name comes from Aaron’s grandson Pinchas, Phinehas in most Engli...  Read More

Shalom {{firstName}}, Rabbi Trail: Pro-Israel Americans are not “monsters!”  700 rabbis, including yours truly, from a spectrum of expressions of Jewish faith, including Messianic Judaism, have endors...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Shalom,Rabbi Trail:  This really is a “rabbi trail” (or maybe “Rabbi’s Perspective”), a break from my series on anti-Semitism.  We’ll get back to that tom...  Read More

Shalom,Rabbi Rant:  “Never Again!” is a universal promise that followed the horrors of the Holocaust.  It means, never again will Jews be hunted and slaughtered without a fight.  (More on this tomorro...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Monday, June 29, 2026 Shalom,Rabbi Trail:  This may be more of a “rabbi rant” than a “rabbi trail.”  The rapid rise of anti-Semitism has had my attention, and I feel compelled to...  Read More

Shavuah Tov {{firstName}},The Unimpeded ViewBy David HarwoodI wrote a song titled On The Hill. Its chorus expressed this desire: “All I want is to bless Your holy name forever. Forever…” A friend said...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,Parshah Balak gets its name from the king of Moab, who plays a significant, albeit negative part in this weeks’ reading. Numbers 22:2-3 – When Balak son of Zippor realized all that Bnei...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 56:4,(3,) – Part 3Psalm 56:4(3) In a day when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.There are only 5 Hebrew words in verse 4, while there are 14 Engl...  Read More

Shalom, Rabbi Trail:  The last day our group was in Israel was June 5th.  We paid a visit to the Israel Museum which houses “The Shrine Of The Book.”  https://www.imj.org.il/en/wings/shrine-book  Ordi...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 56:1 For the music director: “A Silent Dove Far Away,” a Michtam of David, when the Philistines had seized him in Gath.David continues the poetry of his autobiography.  He now relates the...  Read More