Beth El of Manhattan, Two-Testament Synagogue

<p>In North Carolina last week, people of both political parties, facing Hurricane Helene's recent damages impeding their ability to get to voting stations, became a shining example of what America can be if her citizens decide to be the non-adversarial, right versions of themselves. Let us feast together on the encouragement coming from a great real-life example of many Scriptural precepts about partly-agreeing/partly-disagreeing members of a community working as a team.</p>

<p>How Yeshua the Messiah's atonement provided by God is not just "'a' way to God," but "'THE' (exclusive, single, only) way" to God ... given there were countless people who lived and died before His arrival in Israel; and there have always been human beings far out of reach of hearing about, or knowing of the faith of Israel.</p>

<p>Handling things of the highest value in ways their value deserves; and avoiding toying with things in life not meant to be toyed with.</p>

<p>Shabbat "Shuvah" is the "Sabbath of 'Return'" after Yom Teruah (aka, "Rosh HaShanah") and before Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. Returning to God is taught to us by Messiah Yeshua in the form of the parable of "The Prodigal Son." It is a powerful model of how return from irrational separation into relational joy is enabled by rational and spiritual erasure of ill-founded shame.</p>

<p>Creating rightful newness by removing what IS, which has no or lesser merit - and replacing it with what SHOULD BE, having greater merits as to accuracy or truthfulness. Specific example: assaying for merit the system of "trope" - the tradition of singing the Torah scroll's contents –– rather than following the one clear model Scripture gives us (per Isaiah 8:20) of how to run a Torah service. (Nehemiah 8:8). </p>

<p>From the Parasha, as to how the Levites became the priesthood. Don Quixote style, they saw things others did not see, and so acted in ways masses of other others did not act. Human history's heroes are such. We explore this idea together. </p>

<p>The ceremony of the First-fruits commanded in this parasha has the impact of connecting FORWARD parts of the Jewish journey in God's will with the PREVIOUS legs of the journey. As Yeshua of Nazareth taught, "Others before you have labored, and you have entered into their labors." Healthy connection to the past is important to the present and future. We explore this in the parasha "Ki Tavo" today.</p>

<p>The path of God-following offers us guidance at times seeming supremely wise, and at other times, outright folly. How shall we find our way forward with such polar opposites of possibility? </p>

<p>The ritual at the end of this Parasha ends with a statement of the impact of "doing what is 'yashar' in the sight of God." Yeshua our Messiah taught us often, saying, "The kingship/dom of God is like ..." followed by a parable to open up how God's reign "works" in the real world. We use these Scriptures and others to open the idea of seeking God's view of what is "yashar" in any given situation.</p>

<p>In this week;'s Torah parasha, "Re'eh" – are commanded to see. This by the God who made us capable of "scotoma" - the willful blanking out of relevant ideas and rational thought leading to healthy conclusions, and replacing them with ill-formed prejudices, gaslighting, and other unhealthy psycho-gymnastics. What is a human-being trying to find and walk in truth to do?</p>

<p>Parashat "Ekev" - a study in the nature of, and results from, hearing God, when He calls to each of us.</p>

<p>It is natural for human beings to seek comfort: relief from stress, or healing from harm. In this, as with all human appetites, we are prone to both accuracy and error. CAN genuine comfort be found? And if so, WHERE? What IS it? WHAT does it feel and look like? What placebos try to replace it? This week's parasha "V'Etchanen" and its Haftarah (from which the Shabbat's title, "Nachamu" derives) propel us to explore these ideas. </p>

<p>Essentially, this sermon is about living during season of history when shalom is in short supply. In an era of conflict, how do we, as believe ... live, and do more than just survive? How do we love, enjoy life, do meaningful work that brings us personal satisfaction ...? All these, during times of crisis or war? We explore.</p>

<p>This week's Haftarah shows how far into folly we humans can go when we invent "religion" from of our own ideas. How do we avoid falling into the traps of false religion, and end up with genuine "revelation" – knowledge or direction from On High?</p>

<p>The central concept in this week's parasha is rightful "zeal," as demonstrated by Pinchas ben Eliezer. We look this week at such zeal in modern Zionism - in Hemda Ben Yehuda, the 2nd wife of Eliezer ben Yehuda, and partner in the resurrection of the Hebrew language, whose unpublished autobiography of the life she and her husband lived for the sake of their work was, "The War With Satan" – clearly, not a tale of life in any kind of Disneyland. A tale of unflinching commitment. Zeal.</p>

<p>From the Haftarah for "Balak" (Micah 5:6-8) - a stunning portrait of Israel's sojourn in Exile, easy to read past because of the poetry within which it is expressed; and the uneasy subject of human jealousy as it influences Antisemitism and other behavior from ancient times up to the present day. We dive in - deep.</p>

<p>After our People lived 430 years next to the Nile River - a four thousand mile source of always-flowing fresh, drinkable water -God led us into a terrifying desert: "The Tzin Wilderness." It was a landscape appearing void of water, food, and safety. Then, Miriam the prophetess died, so our leadership team was down from 3 to 2. Our People were being tested to the limit of their endurance. What can we learn from the Torah's record of this season in our history? A great deal, indeed. Let's dig in.</p>

<p>In this week's Torah portion, we see the standard for genuine spirituality set - Aaron's almond branch budded: the only one to do so among all the tribes; and this singular token, God directs to be put "on watch" in the Tabernacle, to quench the complaints of the "B'nai Mey-ri" (sons of rebellion). We are directed to the immense importance of genuine truth-seeking vs. self-exaltation by outwardly "noble" appearing conduct, as the rebel Korah displayed it. The difference is profoundly worthy of study; and so, study it, we do. Enjoy!</p>

<p>Directly inspired from this week's Haftarah in Joshua 2 in the story of Rahab. The Founders of The United States of America chose to separate themselves from the greatest military power on earth - and on this date in 1776, openly published why. The courage and clarity it took to choose this "treasonous" path is an inspiration to every generation since - and was quoted by Golda Meir on 14 May 1948 after she had signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence! Let's feast on this concept on this 4th of July 2024 - just short of 250 years after that fateful day in Philadelphia that LITERALLY saved the entire world from falling prey to tyranny 166 years later. Huzzah!</p>

<p>God says in this week's HAftarah, "I'm arriving now ... and here's what will happen as a result." We explore what this Haftarah opens up about the reality of God's שְׁכִינָה "Shechi'nah" - his manifest, dwelling Presence, which the Messiah Yeshua's atoning sacrifice made available to us without our judicial debt of sin before God blocking the way.</p>

<p>The Gershonites were given a dismaying assignment by God in this parasha: the exact same kind of labor they did as slaves back in Egypt. We never read of one word of complaint from the Gershonim ... how did they do it? How did they accept their assignment from God in a "good spirit?" The Kibbutz Mentality, as expressed in this sermon, is a clarity as to VALUE: "A community of THIS kind MUST rise HERE." All focused action follows such clarity.</p>

<p>In this parasha, we read "in the wilderness of Sinai." We were taken into the desert. But ... what about when God allows the desert to close in on us?</p>

<p>The Jewish People, and all God-following Two-Testament Believers, have gone through many seasons of history during which "big" problems – like being enslaved, being in exile, being exploited, or hated, or hunted, or blamed en masse - have gone unsolved by prayer and the "arrival" of God's "mighty hand and outstretched arm for years, decades, or centuries – and yet, within their personal capsules of community and context, God-followers are being met by God and led by Him, and having their prayers for smaller scale in their immediate sphere answered. How are we Believers supposed to navigate such seasons? We study this.</p>

<p>From the Haftarah paired with the Torah portion, "Behar," we look at the idea of how things can be rightly counted, and how God and people can rightly be counted upon. This focus was propelled by the Counting Of The Omer leading to Shavuot.</p>

<p>In this week's Torah portion, the "Eternal Lamp" is described, that hangs over synagogue altars all over the world. It is a "God Idea." It came from God and was transmitted to humans to manufacture. This is a massively different thing than human beings making up religious ideas or practices, and naming them to be from, or of, God. We will ponder this through the modern lens of "Virtue-Signaling."</p>

<p>In this parasha we see Moses crying out for true comradeship in his calling and journey - while already well into the journey, and already surrounded by people. He cries out for real, deep connection - to people - and to God's direct presence. What is the meaning of these outcries from a man already deeply into God's Presence and already surrounded by family and 'friends?'</p>

<p>This week's parasha is entitled, "Metzora" – The Leper. As it worked out, our rabbi was away this weekend, and one of the synagogue's pulpit leaders happens to be ... a dermatologist! :-) It seemed ideal serendipity. So - here is Dr. Sherry Shieh-Poticha, MD - dermatologist - teaching on the Torah portion with the title of a skin-disease: "Metzora" / The Leper. May it all be for shalom!</p>

<p>In the Haftarah paired with this week's parasha "Tazria," we see two stories of apparently opposite behavior by the prophet, Elisha (the successor of Elijah). A very "relaxed" standard toward a certain instance of idol worship by Naaman, followed by a very severe standard his servant Gehazi when he sought to enrich himself. If we read deeply, we find clear reasons for the vast difference in kindness vs. severity.</p>

<p>[Guest Speaker, Scott Poticha] In this week's parasha, "Shmini," a great day for Israel is followed instantly by a tragic one. At other times in Scripture, a terrible day turns into a great one. How do we navigate as Believers in a life that can so suddenly vary this much? We ponder this, especially in light of the October 7th Hamas Pogrom against Israel.</p>

<p>The old song goes, "In every age, a hero or sage comes to our aid."</p><p>Why?</p><p>Because we need them! Let's explore having the clarity to see what is needed in our era, and rise to do it!</p><p><br></p><p>Kadima! Am Yisrael Chai!</p>

<p>In the Haftarah with this week's Torah portion, "Pekudei" we see the character trait modeled in God that He almost never needs to "swear" or "promise" anything: just saying "it will be" is enough. This is a character trait we, as God-followers, are commanded to emulate: both Messiah Yeshua and his half-brother Ya'acov ("James") command us, "Do not swear. Let your 'yes' mean (only) 'yes' and your 'no' mean only 'no.' Anything other than that comes from evil." WOW. That is a character-standard worth exploring, and applying to our own words! So - let's. </p>

<p>Why are you ... you? What does your combination of strengths and weaknesses, abilities and inabilities all mean? This week's sermon is a "fusion" to two core ideas: from the Parasha "Vayakhel," the extremely specific intention with which God created the artist Bezalel, and placed him in the time and location to fulfill the reasons for his createdness – along with Yeshua the Messiah having assured us, "I will not leave you as orphans: I will come to you," giving us the "Paraclete" – God's spirit "called alongside" to guide us into all truth, help us. This all leads to the assurance we can "know the things freely given to us by God." We can know. We have not been left here on earth to wander aimlessly. We can live "the guided life."</p>

<p>Sound doctrine is built from learning what Rav Saul called "the whole counsel of God." We pick up this week where we left off last week with "whole counsel of God" theme in Haftarat "Tetzaveh." We see this week commands from God to, "Tell Israel the *whole* Temple design, *all* its facets and *all* its laws." This is echoed in Messiah Yeshua's command, "make disciples (by) teaching them *all* I have taught you." This runs counter to creation of "sound-bites" – memorable catch-phrases. "Sound doctrine" cannot be built out of one or a few catchy audio-tidbits.</p>

<p>Rav Saul wrote, "I did not shrink from declaring to you 'the whole counsel of God.'" Why would any spiritual leader "shrink from" declaring to his flock "the whole" of God's prophetic output? This week's parasha commands us to "see to it you build according to the pattern." The whole pattern. How do we get it, and what traps can we avoid that would leave us with only part of it?</p>

<p>In this week's parasha, "Mishpatim" there is an apparent non-sequitur. A leap from broadly applying religious practice laws to very specific cooking advice. Is it really a non-sequitur? Or – is it the God of the Entire Universe "going local" with advice creating certainty as to a particular time, place, practice, or project of His will underway? We explore.</p>

<p>Fear is a natural part of our overall composition as humans. Like any part of our nature, it can be either healthy or unhealthy, proportional and rational, or disproportionate and irrational. What does Scripture say about healthy and unhealthy fear -- especially in relation to God? It turns out ... quite a lot. We explore this content this week, driven by the Torah portion, "YItro."</p>

<p>This sermon comes from the Haftarah text for this week's portion on "Shabbat Shirah." The battle for Israel's survival was on - Devorah, Barak, and the Army of Israel, especially the tribes of Issachar and Zevulun, were all ON the battlefield, and the battle had already begun. But – the tribes of Reuben and Dan were hanging back ... showing themselves (in their own view) to be "spiritual" or "wise" ... with "plausible" excuses to be away from any risk to life, limb, or property. What is this Haftarah teaching us?</p>

<p>In the Exodus narrative we see God visit punishing judgments not only on Pharaoh as Egypt's governing leader - but also onto the entire Egyptian populace, Did God destroy and torment "innocent civilians." The Scriptures open up genuine understanding of this deeply challenging topic" are "civilians" always automatically "innocent?"</p>

<p>As we navigate varying seasons of ease or challenge in our lives or in our era, what is it about "faith" or "faithfulness" that allows us to retain a *healthy* (non-delusional or denial-based) positive inner state and momentum, no matter what circumstances may be swirling around us? </p>

<p>The end of Genesis and beginning of Exodus are valuable reading if it is truth we seek, not "life-hacks" guaranteeing a safe, easy, or profit-laden life. God's own project hits more bumps in the road and impacts with more human frailty and more evil than we could possibly have imagined: and this is God's own project! May He help us to gain understanding from the time when His promised "nation," after 3 generations, was still only 70 people in number, many of whom were highly dysfunctional people – and a famine forced them to leave The Land that God Himself had promised was "yours and your descendants after you, forever."</p>

<p>As we leaving 2023, this sermon given on 16 June 2021 seemed so appropriate a focus, it led us to choose that weekend's service for rebroadcast when we were prevented from meeting in person by a Covid-19 outbreak in our Staff. Thank God all are again testing "Negative (Covid-free)," so will be meeting again this Saturday 6 January in person. We hope if you are local, you will join us in person: and If not - "virtually" via our livestream on YouTube and Facebook channels. Shalom - and Happy New Year 2024!</p>

<p>We could not meet this past weekend due to a Covid19 breakout in our staff - happily all are recovering nicely. We re-broadcast a sermon from earlier in the year that was not made into a Podcast: it followed a "Giyur" (Conversion) service in our synagogue in September. It is rich with meaning and applicability for now and the coming year before us. We pray you enjoy it! Shalom!</p>

<p>[GIven to Cape Town, South Africa via Zoom on 15 Dec 2023] In this week's Haftarah for "Mikketz," we see a king put on the spot to answer a question only modern genetic science could. He does. He is supernaturally given wisdom beyond human limits, In this post-Hamas Pogrom era of upscaled Jihad against The State of Israel and against Jews everywhere, it seems essential that a sense of justifiable hope for seemingly impossible solutions is needed, if it can be had. Let's study, and see it together. And – may it all be for shalom! </p>

<p>This recording contains a preliminary statement propelling from the song "Ma'oz Tzur" traditionally sung for Hanukkah; and afterwards, the sermon "Show Them Yeshua" attempting to context the multi-dimensional Messiah into (hopefully) accurate and unsimplified form - especially during the very challenging season following the Hamas Pogrom still underway since 7 October. It closes with the singing of Maoz Tzur (Rock Of Ages) vocals by Janna, piano by Rabbi Bruce.</p>

<p>In this week's parasha, Jacob's life continues to seem to go from wrong to wronger. The wife he really wanted dies first, leaving him go on in a calling filled with danger and challenges after his heart has been cut out. We see Jacob rise here in the name he gave the son whose birth took away his beloved Rachel. The combination of reality and clarity-of-calling has great relevance for Two Testament Jews in the wake of the Hamas October Pogrom.</p>

<p>Jacob is the 2000-year "source code" for the antisemitic portrait of Jews as deceitful money grubbers. Starting with the common mistranslation of his name "Ya'acov" - (consequent, or pursuant) wrongly as, "Deceiver" – and moving to how allegedly "just plain folks" alleged Harry Truman figure Esau, is falsely ennobled at Jacob's expense --- we see in the text it was actually "thank God I'm a country boy" Esau who deceived by failure of candor, and attempted to theft by fraud when he sought to obtain from his father to receive the birthright he had earlier sold to Jacob. </p>

<p>After an event like the Hamas Pogrom of 7 October - how do we find our way forward not falling into the two extremes of response: Unrelenting Engagement vs. Utter Avoidance? Today we explore where strength for the moment AND recovery from its impact and demands can be found: and how soundly to balance them.</p>

<p>"He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps" was true on the morning of 7 October 2023, when over a thousand armed murderers stormed into Israel and slaughtered 1400 Jews in one day ... in Israel. And Kidnapped over 200 more. And let 200,000 be displaced. God was awake, aware, and present ... and did nothing to prevent what happened. So ... now what are we, as "Believers" to believe, think, say, and do. It is the Holocaust set of questions ... all over again. Let's not turn away or invent epithets. Lets engage.</p>

<p>God saw the Hamas Massacre Jews in October 2023 coming - and did nothing to prevent it, nor even warn of its approach. How do God-followers go forward in faith and positive spirituality, knowing as Messiah taught us, "not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from Your Heavenly Father?" And what are we to not only believe or think ... but do, since as Scripture teaches, "faith without action is dead."</p>

<p>One week into The Hamas Pogrom in Israel - the mass slaughter of civilians by missile attack and ground-assault --- all aimed at civilians. Atrocities not seen since the Holocaust - happening on the Holidays of Shmeini Atzeret and Simchat Torah and Shabbat - on the 50th Anniversary of The Yom Kippur War. "God saw the light - that it was good; and separated between light and darkness." We are seeing the terrible difference between light and darkness, right when we are beginning again. It's what we do.</p>