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.

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."

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?

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?"

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?

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."

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!

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!

[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!

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.