All of Israel just stood and watched; but Pinchas acted; because he felt the same "zeal" God felt. What is the right kind of "zeal?" How do we acquire zeal that is healthy? People have zeal for many things, ranging from exalted pursuits like human rights to mere spending of time, in hobbies like video gaming, activity clubs, tv bing-viewing, etc. How do we rightly acquire and rightly use healthy zeal?

All of Israel just stood and watched; but Pinchas acted; because he felt the same "zeal" God felt. What is the right kind of "zeal?" How do we acquire zeal that is healthy? People have zeal for many things, ranging from exalted pursuits like human rights to mere spending of time, in hobbies like video gaming, activity clubs, tv bing-viewing, etc. How do we rightly acquire and rightly use healthy zeal?

Redeeming (Not Wasting) Your Time

Invited to give the Erev Shabbat sermon via "Zoom" on 7 July for the weekly Torah portion, "Pinchas" – our Rabbi Bruce puts focus on the zeal of Pinchas directly affirmed by God, Himself; and asks, "How can we each develop healthy zeal for rightful things, causing us to use our time wisely rather than just 'spend' it, getting nothing of genuine value in line with God's will in return?"

Invited to give the Erev Shabbat sermon via "Zoom" on 7 July for the weekly Torah portion, "Pinchas" – our Rabbi Bruce puts focus on the zeal of Pinchas directly affirmed by God, Himself; and asks, "How can we each develop healthy zeal for rightful things, causing us to use our time wisely rather than just 'spend' it, getting nothing of genuine value in line with God's will in return?"

Sermon in Cape Town, South Africa 7 July 2023

This week's parasha shows the Israelites being slandered "because they are mighty." Why do people who are not mighty slander those who are? Messiah Yeshua - as his path was getting harder - taught His disciples how to have "fullness of joy" while facing such upticks in challenge. This excludes slander of those who outshine us, urging us in the Haftarah to walk "in modesty (accuracy and righteous relationship to one's self-image) with your God." It is a worthy lesson.

This week's parasha shows the Israelites being slandered "because they are mighty." Why do people who are not mighty slander those who are? Messiah Yeshua - as his path was getting harder - taught His disciples how to have "fullness of joy" while facing such upticks in challenge. This excludes slander of those who outshine us, urging us in the Haftarah to walk "in modesty (accuracy and righteous relationship to one's self-image) with your God." It is a worthy lesson.

Accessing Messiah's Joy

Criticism is often a placebo for genuine spirituality. The Letter of Ya'akov ("James") almost did not make it into The "New Testament" – because the redactors were concerned it places "too much" emphasis on ACTION rather than "faith &amp; grace" (mere words and ideas). This sermon starts with the premise, "if you see a man drowning, do you CRITICIZE his poor swimming technique, or DO something (entailing EFFORT, or even RISK to yourself) to rescue him?" 

Criticism is often a placebo for genuine spirituality. The Letter of Ya'akov ("James") almost did not make it into The "New Testament" – because the redactors were concerned it places "too much" emphasis on ACTION rather than "faith &amp; grace" (mere words and ideas). This sermon starts with the premise, "if you see a man drowning, do you CRITICIZE his poor swimming technique, or DO something (entailing EFFORT, or even RISK to yourself) to rescue him?"

Useful Religion

Two Torah portions in a row - last week's Shalakh and this week's Korakh - Moses and God kept losing "the best people." Why? How did Moses and the remaining crew keep "enduring to the end, so as to be saved" in a calling repeatedly seeing "the best of the best" turn out to be not only useless - but toxic? From where and what came their "endurance" – and whatever "success" they had? 

Two Torah portions in a row - last week's Shalakh and this week's Korakh - Moses and God kept losing "the best people." Why? How did Moses and the remaining crew keep "enduring to the end, so as to be saved" in a calling repeatedly seeing "the best of the best" turn out to be not only useless - but toxic? From where and what came their "endurance" – and whatever "success" they had?

Moses And God Lost "All The 'Best' People"

Numbers 13 holds forth for us how different people can view challenges through entirely different lenses. 10 said "No, we can't." And 2 said, "Yes, we can." Why? How? What can we, as pioneers of Two Testament Judaism, still in 1936 so-to-speak, developmentally, in the era of the "Tower And Wall Kibbutz," learn from it?

Numbers 13 holds forth for us how different people can view challenges through entirely different lenses. 10 said "No, we can't." And 2 said, "Yes, we can." Why? How? What can we, as pioneers of Two Testament Judaism, still in 1936 so-to-speak, developmentally, in the era of the "Tower And Wall Kibbutz," learn from it?

Two Affirmers vs. Ten Nullifiers

How healthy people made decisions to leave safety and comfort and go into lack and danger on frontiers in order to raise up things they believed to the core of their souls were so necessary, their "normal" and "comfy" lives among "their peeps" were acceptable risks or casualties. 

How healthy people made decisions to leave safety and comfort and go into lack and danger on frontiers in order to raise up things they believed to the core of their souls were so necessary, their "normal" and "comfy" lives among "their peeps" were acceptable risks or casualties.

The Chair and The Coffee Can

On Shavuot, we recite the Torah-commanded trope, "My ancestor was a perishing Aremean." Yet – that description of his current state was not the final word on it. We see Ruth, a woman excluded from Israel by law – with her widowed and child-bereaved Jewish mother in law, Naomi, declaring "all hope for me is past." Yet – while these both seemed accurate at the moment, they was not close to the final word on either woman's existence. Let us truly learn  Shavuot's lessons this year, in a way letting us live them genuinely in the year to come!

On Shavuot, we recite the Torah-commanded trope, "My ancestor was a perishing Aremean." Yet – that description of his current state was not the final word on it. We see Ruth, a woman excluded from Israel by law – with her widowed and child-bereaved Jewish mother in law, Naomi, declaring "all hope for me is past." Yet – while these both seemed accurate at the moment, they was not close to the final word on either woman's existence. Let us truly learn Shavuot's lessons this year, in a way letting us live them genuinely in the year to come!

"'Perishing' Was Not The Last Word"

Right use of our words in quantity and quality has been, in our present era, moved from the Biblical standards "where many words are, error is unavoidable" and "a harsh word stirs up anger," and "a slandering tongue hates the one it crushes" – into admiration of fast and hurtful speech, using humor to devastate others and using quantity to word-swamp rather than listen. Are values like, "Let your words be few" and "be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger" still valid in the present age? 

Right use of our words in quantity and quality has been, in our present era, moved from the Biblical standards "where many words are, error is unavoidable" and "a harsh word stirs up anger," and "a slandering tongue hates the one it crushes" – into admiration of fast and hurtful speech, using humor to devastate others and using quantity to word-swamp rather than listen. Are values like, "Let your words be few" and "be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger" still valid in the present age?

What Comes Naturally - NOT!

This is audio of the 8 April 2023 Passover Service segment in our synagogue when we observe the commandments Yeshua our Messiah gave us to remember Him in two key elements of the Pesach Seder, and do them forever "in remembrance of Me" – the 3rd cup of the Seder (after dinner) called "The Cup of Redemption," and the breaking/eating of the "Afikomen" – which does not mean "dessert," but is Greek for "I have arrived." We close by singing "the" Passover hymn, "Adir Hu" (He Is Mighty).

This is audio of the 8 April 2023 Passover Service segment in our synagogue when we observe the commandments Yeshua our Messiah gave us to remember Him in two key elements of the Pesach Seder, and do them forever "in remembrance of Me" – the 3rd cup of the Seder (after dinner) called "The Cup of Redemption," and the breaking/eating of the "Afikomen" – which does not mean "dessert," but is Greek for "I have arrived." We close by singing "the" Passover hymn, "Adir Hu" (He Is Mighty).

Messiah's Memorial in Passover

Rabbi Bruce L. Cohen’s sermons at Congregation Beth El of Manhattan – an unaffiliated Conservative Synagogue of "Two-Testament" Judaism in the Upper East Side of New York City – where Jewish people and “People of Calling” (not born Jewish), and Interfaith couples come together in Manhattan since 1993 to observe, connect, and celebrate. For more information, please visit us online at www.bethelnyc.org or an Facebook.

Ps 119 gives us an intimate portrait of King David's love, not only for God's "Torah" (teaching) - but the individual laws and statutes (chuk'eem and meeshpat'eem): he "meditated" on them in a way that "made (him) wiser than (his) enemies." How? We explore that dynamic to rescue Leviticus from being the book everyone skips on their treks through the Bible, seeking stories and songs that hold one's attention. We hope this two-sermon series will rescue Leviticus from Devotional Oblivion in your Scripture-learning life. :-) On the weekly portion, "Tzav" – Enjoy!

Ps 119 gives us an intimate portrait of King David's love, not only for God's "Torah" (teaching) - but the individual laws and statutes (chuk'eem and meeshpat'eem): he "meditated" on them in a way that "made (him) wiser than (his) enemies." How? We explore that dynamic to rescue Leviticus from being the book everyone skips on their treks through the Bible, seeking stories and songs that hold one's attention. We hope this two-sermon series will rescue Leviticus from Devotional Oblivion in your Scripture-learning life. :-) On the weekly portion, "Tzav" – Enjoy!

Everyone's Favorite Book (of the Torah) Part 2

There is hot discussion in religious leadership over, "What is the future of 'congregating?'" Are people of faith going to cease gathering together IN PERSON as humans have done for the millennia of our existence - and segue into watching a "virtual" world, and attend virtual gatherings through screens as small as those on an iPhone. What is the essence of "being gathered" by God, for God-focused purposes ... and what does cost to "forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some?" (Hebrews 10:25) We explore this together.

There is hot discussion in religious leadership over, "What is the future of 'congregating?'" Are people of faith going to cease gathering together IN PERSON as humans have done for the millennia of our existence - and segue into watching a "virtual" world, and attend virtual gatherings through screens as small as those on an iPhone. What is the essence of "being gathered" by God, for God-focused purposes ... and what does cost to "forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some?" (Hebrews 10:25) We explore this together.

Gathered

God's contract with us. God told Moses, "Write down THESE words, because THESE words are my covenant with YOU and with ISRAEL." Yeshua the Messiah echoed this concept: "My words which I speak to you, they are 'spirit' and they are 'life.'" Given the level of priority God assigns – how vital is it that we define what we expect from God according to "these words," and not some other defining source?

God's contract with us. God told Moses, "Write down THESE words, because THESE words are my covenant with YOU and with ISRAEL." Yeshua the Messiah echoed this concept: "My words which I speak to you, they are 'spirit' and they are 'life.'" Given the level of priority God assigns – how vital is it that we define what we expect from God according to "these words," and not some other defining source?

"'The' Focus"

In this week's parasha "Terumah" (Freewill Offering), the Scriptures explore how people's responses to what is requested rather than commanded reveals the nature of their hearts. And oddly oxymoronic pairing of values: materials required are requested to be volunteered: they are not demanded. God put His entire Nation-Building project into the hands of people willing to do more than just the minimum.

In this week's parasha "Terumah" (Freewill Offering), the Scriptures explore how people's responses to what is requested rather than commanded reveals the nature of their hearts. And oddly oxymoronic pairing of values: materials required are requested to be volunteered: they are not demanded. God put His entire Nation-Building project into the hands of people willing to do more than just the minimum.

Oui, Chef! (Yes, Boss!)

How could the Elders of Israel be in the very presence of God on Mt. Sinai, and "see God" as they are described in this week's portion to have done --- and still later have Aaron sink into repeated rebellions and his sons Nadav and Avihu treat God so profanely that God ended their lives over it? Shouldn't having "seen" God carried them forward with ironclad focus? Why is seeing NOT necessarily believing? And what can we learn from this section of Torah history to benefit from it?

How could the Elders of Israel be in the very presence of God on Mt. Sinai, and "see God" as they are described in this week's portion to have done --- and still later have Aaron sink into repeated rebellions and his sons Nadav and Avihu treat God so profanely that God ended their lives over it? Shouldn't having "seen" God carried them forward with ironclad focus? Why is seeing NOT necessarily believing? And what can we learn from this section of Torah history to benefit from it?

Profiting From Experience

Isn't it great when "the fix" to a problem or need is simple, straightforward, and easy? That is what Messiah taught us about a balanced diet in spiritual life, the way Yitro advised his son-in-law, Moses. "Here is the problem; and here is the solution ... which, by the way, you are not doing. Want to start today?" May God grant us the grace to walk in so simple a path to robustly healthy spirituality.

Isn't it great when "the fix" to a problem or need is simple, straightforward, and easy? That is what Messiah taught us about a balanced diet in spiritual life, the way Yitro advised his son-in-law, Moses. "Here is the problem; and here is the solution ... which, by the way, you are not doing. Want to start today?" May God grant us the grace to walk in so simple a path to robustly healthy spirituality.

Messiah's Rx

Congregation Beth El of Manhattan, a Conservative Synagogue of Two-Testament Judaism in Manhattan's Upper East Side since 1993. Please do visit us on the web at "bethelnyc.org." Sermon on “Shabbat Shirah” (The Sabbath Of Song”) on portion “Beshalakh” (In Sending Out), our Rabbi’s sermon is a song title: “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Often in Scripture, people do not save themselves: they are rescued. Our Jewish People in Egypt enduring 430 years of slavery  did not “escape” it - we were rescued from it. And later, we see Israel, dependent on Moses’s prayers, rescued by Aaron and Hur rescuing Moses from his human limitations. A lot of rescuing going on this week! We “get by with a little help from our friends,” as Lennon &amp; McCartney put it in their 1969 song of that title. Let's explore this week's literally "uplifting" dynamic (as Aaron &amp; Hur lifted Moses's arms.)

Congregation Beth El of Manhattan, a Conservative Synagogue of Two-Testament Judaism in Manhattan's Upper East Side since 1993. Please do visit us on the web at "<a href="http://bethelnyc.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">bethelnyc.org.</a>" Sermon on “Shabbat Shirah” (The Sabbath Of Song”) on portion “Beshalakh” (In Sending Out), our Rabbi’s sermon is a song title: “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Often in Scripture, people do not save themselves: they are rescued. Our Jewish People in Egypt enduring 430 years of slavery  did not “escape” it - we were rescued from it. And later, we see Israel, dependent on Moses’s prayers, rescued by Aaron and Hur rescuing Moses from his human limitations. A lot of rescuing going on this week! We “get by with a little help from our friends,” as Lennon &amp; McCartney put it in their 1969 song of that title. Let's explore this week's literally "uplifting" dynamic (as Aaron &amp; Hur lifted Moses's arms.)

With A Little Help From My Friends

In the Haftarah this week, we have an odd sentence from God's mouth: "... and cleansing, I will not cleanse you." Which is it? Are we cleansed, or are we not? What moved God's spirit to put this oxymoronic thought into the pen of Jeremiah? We explore "cleansed but not cleansed" by God, Himself. What does it mean for us in the real-world of God-following and truth-seeking?

In the Haftarah this week, we have an odd sentence from God's mouth: "... and cleansing, I will not cleanse you." Which is it? Are we cleansed, or are we not? What moved God's spirit to put this oxymoronic thought into the pen of Jeremiah? We explore "cleansed but not cleansed" by God, Himself. What does it mean for us in the real-world of God-following and truth-seeking?

Are We Cleansed, Or Aren't We?

Sermon on VaEra is, "God Is Saving You Anyway." An emphasis on the ways God often compassionately looks past our inability to respond to truth because we are exhausted or our burdens are overcrowding us. He also provokes us to hope again, despite long, despair-inducing apparent delays and deflections - like 430 years in slavery in a foreign land.

Sermon on VaEra is, "God Is Saving You Anyway." An emphasis on the ways God often compassionately looks past our inability to respond to truth because we are exhausted or our burdens are overcrowding us. He also provokes us to hope again, despite long, despair-inducing apparent delays and deflections - like 430 years in slavery in a foreign land.

I'm Saving You Anyway

The indispensable role of pro-activity in God-following and Truth-Seeking, as role-modeled by Moses. The different types of inertia, harmless and non-so-harmless. And - the way grace is involved in our choices to react to God's overtures, or not.

The indispensable role of pro-activity in God-following and Truth-Seeking, as role-modeled by Moses. The different types of inertia, harmless and non-so-harmless. And - the way grace is involved in our choices to react to God's overtures, or not.

When God Comes Calling

Just heard teaching on Messianic Jewish station on Tunein radio. This teacher is very honest about WORD. Learned about myself. I need more Truth like this. I subscribed to podcast. Thank you BethEl for making this available. Shalom

Parsha Korach

Rabbi Bruce L. Cohen’s sermons at Congregation Beth El of Manhattan – an unaffiliated Conservative Synagogue of "Two-Testament" Judaism in the Upper East Side of New York City – where Jewish people and “People of Calling” (not born Jewish), and Interfaith couples come together in Manhattan since 1993 to observe, connect, and celebrate. For more information, please visit us online at <a href="http://www.bethelnyc.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bethelnyc.org</a> or an Facebook.

Beth El of Manhattan, Two-Testament Synagogue

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