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

Shalom,Psalm 50:6 The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. SelahHere, God is calling on heaven to speak as a witness to His righteousness.  Every court needs witnesses.  God is...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:6 The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. SelahThis sounds so lofty… “The heavens declare His righteousness.”  Again, if we’re being intellectually honest (whi...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,Philippians 3:10-11 “My aim is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death—if somehow I might arrive at the resurrection...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,God’s favor was manifest amongst the Corinthians in all speaking and all knowledge.I always thank my God for you because of God’s favor (charis/grace) that was given to you in Messiah Y...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 50:5 “Gather My kedoshim to Me, who cut a covenant with Me with a sacrifice.”Who are these people who are being gathered?  In Hebrew, they are identified as “Cha’si’day” (...  Read More