Posts with the category “rabbis-reflections”

Shavuah Tov,Hebrews 11:32-34a “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets. By faith they conquered kingdo...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 41:6(5) My enemies speak evil about me: “When will he die and his name perish?” 7(6) And if someone of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely. He stores up evil in his heart, then he goe...  Read More

Shalom,This verse sets up the rest of Psalm 41.  It does so in three parts.  The first is a simple declaration, “Adonai, have mercy (Cha’nay’ni - with the accent on the second syllable).”  Chen has be...  Read More

Shalom {{firstName}},Reminder: Sunday night is/was the first light of Chanukah.  All Jewish days/holidays BEGIN at sundown.  So the first day of Chanukah is Monday which begins with sundown on Sunday ...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},Let’s continue to identify and remove roadblocks to believing and experiencing God’s favor. Let’s look at self-promotion. I can’t prove it, but I think everybody has a ten...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 41:1 For the music director: a psalm of David. 2 Blessed is the one who considers the wretched—Adonai will deliver him in the evil day.Let’s begin our series on Psalm 41.  In verse 2, the...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 41:3 Adonai will protect him and keep him alive. He will be made blessed in the land. You will not give him over to the desire of his foes. 4 Adonai will strengthen him on...  Read More

Shalom,The coming Sunday night is the first light of Chanukah.  There is still time to prepare, but time is short.  Chanukah is the feast of dedication, also known as the festival of lights.  Jan and ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:15 Let those who seek my life to sweep it away be put to shame and humiliated. Let those who wish me evil be turned back in disgrace. Verse 15 is a prayer unto the Lord.  In it is one ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:13 For evils beyond number surround me, my sins have overtaken me—I cannot see—they are more than the hairs of my head—and my heart fails me. 14 Adonai, please deliver me! Adonai, come...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,I continue a series prompted by Veterans Day, which was observed on November 11, 2025. On this date, I hope you remembered our heroes, living and dead, who have served or are serving and p...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,In our prior meditation we focused on gratitude and humility as keys to experiencing God’s favor. Let’s look at the other side of this reality: pride hinders knowing Father’s favor. It ...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 40:12 Adonai, do not withhold Your compassions from me. Let Your mercy and Your truth always protect me..  The Hebrew starts with “Atah YHVH” meaning “You are the Lord.”  ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:11 I did not hide Your righteousness within my heart. Rather I declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I did not conceal Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assemb...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:10 I proclaim good news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I am not shutting my lips—Adonai, You know!  The Hebrew Scriptures have a word for “the Gospel,” and here it is....  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:9 “I delight to do Your will, O my God. Yes, Your Torah is within my being.”  David is writing, but the Lord, Yeshua, is speaking.  Surely every verse of Scripture is a “life verse” fo...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:8 Then I said: “Here I am, I have come—in the scroll of a book it is written about me.”  Rabbi’s note: Significantly, these few verses of Psalm 40 are quoted in Hebrews 10:5-9.  The wr...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope.”In my last RR earlier this month, I ...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,Gratitude is an essential aspect of humility’s foundation. Humility opens the door for increased favor. A nuance of charis is thankfulness.Sinners love (agape) those who love (agape) th...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 40:7 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire—my ears You have opened—burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.Well, well, well!!! What have we here?  These ne...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:6 Many things You have done, Adonai my God—Your plans for us are wonderful—there is none to be compared to You! If I were to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to count!Go ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:5 Blessed is the one who put his confidence in Adonai, who has not turned to the arrogant, nor to those who fall into falsehood.This “blessed” is not that “blessed.”  This “blessed” is...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:4 He put a new song in my mouth—a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and trust in Adonai.Wait a minute… a “new song?”  And why wouldn’t we sing a “new song?”Just yester...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 40:1 For the music director, a psalm of David. 2 I waited patiently for Adonai. He bent down to me and heard my cry. 3 He brought me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. Then...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,I continue a brief series prompted by Veterans Day, which was observed less than one week ago (November 11, 2025). I hope you remembered our heroes, living and dead, who have served or are...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,I remember a time I vindicated myself and was dissatisfied with the results. I had experienced God’s vindication several times before this, and I prayed, asking where His manifest appro...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 39:13 “Hear my prayer, Adonai, and listen to my cry—do not keep silent at my tears. For with You I am an outsider, a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 14 Turn your gaze a...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 39:11 Remove Your scourge from me. I perish by the blow of Your hand. 12 With rebukes You chasten one for iniquity and You consume like a moth what he finds pleasure in. Surely all humani...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 39:10 I am speechless, not opening my mouth—for You have done it.The Hebrew for “speechless” is “Ne’e’lam’ti,” meaning “I was mute.”  The Shoresh is “Alam” which has a diversity of meanin...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 39:8 And now, my Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. 9 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of a fool. Rabbi Trail:  In verse 8, King David asks the Lo...  Read More

Shalom,Yesterday, Jan and I had the opportunity to share a few highlights of our experience at the Illumination Conference held by Ken Fish’s Orbis Ministries in Nashville last month.  I promised to p...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope.”One of the challenges we can have as...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,Most likely every adult human has had the common cold. Trying to breathe through a stuffed nose can be a trial. Nasal congestion is a nuisance. Why? Is there a problem with the air-supp...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 39:4 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue: 5 “Let me know, Adonai, my end and what the number of my days is. Let me...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 39:1 For the music director, for Jeduthun, a psalm of David. 2 I said: “I will guard my ways, so I will not sin with my tongue. I will muzzle my mouth while the wicked are before me.” 3 S...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 38:22 Do not forsake me, Adonai. O my God, be not far from me. 23 Hurry to my aid, my Lord, my salvation.King David concludes this Psalm with three quick declarations, as he implores God ...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Shalom,Psalm 38:20 My lively enemies are numerous. Many hate me wrongfully. 21 Those who repay evil for good oppose me because I pursue what is good.To...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 38:17 For I said: “Don’t let them gloat over me or exalt themselves over me, when my foot slips.” 18 For I am about to fall, and my pain is before me constantly. 19 So I confess my guilt....  Read More

Shavuah Tov {{firstName}},Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope.”One of the challenges ...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,Our last meditation considered two hindrances to expecting favor (charis): unbelief and unhealthy introspection. The obstacle we will look at in this meditation is similar to unhealthy ...  Read More