High Holy Days – Eitz Chaim Congregation

For Erev Yom Kippur 2024, Rabbi Schiller looks at Psalm 51, the steps of Repentance, including seeing your sin; confessing your sin; mourning your sin; hating your sin; and turning from your sin, the ultimate motivation of which is abiding in the joy of our salvation in Messiah Y’Shua

For Rosh Hashanah Day, Rabbi Schiller looks at the Parable of the 2 debtors, Simon the Pharisee and the Immoral Woman, in Luke 7, where the immoral woman ends up with her sins forgiven, and not Simon, as she acknowledges the depths of her sin and the costliness of her salvation, and gives all to Y’Shua, falling down at His feet.

For Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Schiller looks at the Parable of the 2 sons and the Parable of the Vineyard in Mth 21, focusing on themes of repentance, that we’re tenants, not owners, in God’s vineyard, and that we’re in need of radical grace.

For Yom Kippur Day, Rabbi Schiller looks at the theme of holiness, how we should act as the Temple of God, how to overcome backsliding, how to return to our first love, and how to walk in the fear of the LORD.

For Erev Yom Kippur, Rabbi Schiller looks at Gen 3 and our sin nature, which results in self-centeredness, lack of trust in God, and destroyed relationships. Just as Satan deceived us through the Tree and brought death to Adam and his seed, Y’Shua, the 2nd Adam, redeems us through another Tree and brings life to all who trust in Him.

For Shabbat T’Shuvah, Rabbi Schiller looks at the account of how Pinchas stopped sin in the camp in Num 25, and how we are called to die to sin, die to self, and die to the ways of this world, if we are to serve the LORD.

For Rosh Hashanah Day, where we welcome King Messiah’s Presence into our midst, Rabbi Schiller looks at the account of the bringing of the Ark of God into Jerusalem, and how the Ark both shows us the chasm between us and God, with the death of Uzzah, but also the Provision of the Gospel, with the Mercy Seat, resulting in David dancing before the LORD.

For Yom Kippur Day, Rabbi Schiller looks at Forgiveness, whereby true biblical forgiveness entails no longer withholding attention, affection, or honor from someone who has wronged you.

For Erev Yom Kippur, Rabbi Schiller looks at the topic of sin as slavery and addiction, which we can overcome only by tasting and seeing that the LORD is good – personal interaction and encounter with Y’Shua that replaces the fire of sinful habits burning in your heart.

For Shabbat T’Shuvah (Sabbath of Repentance), Rabbi Schiller revisits the Parable of the Prodigal Son, focusing on the self-righteousness, spiritual pride and religious spirit of the Older Brother, with a warning to parents not to overlook spiritual issues in the so-called easy, compliant child who outwardly follows all the rules and is obedient, but inwardly may be a legalistic Elder Brother.