Early in this week’s parasha we are introduced to the new and exotic station given to Aaron and his sons—the role and office of the Kohanim (priests). They would become the highest religious authorities in the Torah, providing a stable…
Category: Good News
Yitro – An Aristocracy of Humility
Listen to an audio version With the arrival at Sinai, Israel begins to forge in earnest its national identity. It is only in covenantal relationship with the God of their forefathers, the God to whom the entire world belongs that…
The Hallmark of Equality
This week’s portion, Shelach Lecha contains some obvious themes within a familiar narrative. Be bold! Do not fear! Trust God! The majority is not always right! The context of course is the twelve spies going into the land of promise…
Shavuos all Over Again
Yankee Hall of Famer Yogi Berra was renowned for his unique and often comical way of turning a phrase. One expression that became part of the American lexicon was, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” Déjà vu, of course,…
Peace and Patience: Staying in a Place Called Calm
This week as we count the Omer, we are examining the middot (character traits) of Peace and Patience. The Apostolic Witness refers to these as the “Fruit of the Spirit”, or the character we demonstrate when we live by God’s…
Bo – Passover Lambs and Hesed Community
Listen to an audio version Every year the gift-giving season comes earlier and earlier, to the point that some desperate merchandisers try to lure us into their stores with X-mas in August promotional ads. But as we read Parashat Bo…
Our Hope Has Not Perished – Vayera
For many of us this has perhaps seen like a year of hopelessness. The nation is politically bifurcated and the negative campaign ads continually suggest that we are on the verge of collapse and driving over the cliff. But the…
The Fourth Word
For millennia, the historical church has read and studied the “last words” of Yeshua’s crucifixion during lent and in preparation for the Easter Holy week. But I think this tradition has a very special and unique value for Messianic Jews…
Chaya’s Bat Mitzvah Speech
This past Shabbat we had an adult Bat Mitzvah at congregation Shuvah Yisrael. What made this so unique is that the Bat Mitzvah, Chaya Levy had converted to Judaism decades ago. In her drash Chaya shares from her Torah, Haftarah…
First Entry; Good News for a Change
As is normally the case with the first entry on a blog few will take notice of this post. But it is important to me since it is helpful in organizing my own thoughts and articulating a purpose for this…