Nashville Sabbath Fellowship

Parashat Shoftim opens with the command to appoint judges and pursue justice, making it a fitting reading for the month of Elul—the season of spiritual accounting before Rosh Hashanah. This teaching explores Yeshua’s warning to “settle matters quickly” before reaching the judge and applies it to the work of teshuvah: examining ourselves honestly, refusing to justify our failures, repairing damaged relationships, and returning to HaShem while He is near. Before the heavenly court convenes, we still have time to put the case on the table, make amends, and seek the mercy of the King.

In Parashat Re’eh, Moshe repeatedly calls Israel to simcha—to rejoice before HaShem as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. But biblical joy is more than happiness when life is going well. This teaching explores a deeper kind of joy: the joy of knowing HaShem, walking in His ways, and recognizing His goodness even in the ordinary rhythms of life.

In Parashat Eikev, Moses calls Israel to "serve HaShem with all your heart," prompting the rabbis to ask: What is the service of the heart? Their answer is simple yet profound: prayer. This teaching explores the Jewish understanding of prayer as an act of worship, dependence, and relationship with God. Drawing from the Torah, the sages, and the teachings of Yeshua, we discover why prayer is more than asking for what we need, it is the daily service through which we draw near to HaShem, entrust our lives to Him, and cultivate a living relationship with our Creator.

In Parashat Va'etchanan, Moshe tells Israel that the nations will one day recognize the wisdom of God's Torah and draw near to the God of Israel. This teaching explores how that ancient promise is being fulfilled through Messiah Yeshua, as people from the nations are brought near to Israel's covenants and learn to walk in God's ways. "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD."

In Parashat Devarim, Moshe begins his final words to Israel not with condemnation, but with loving rebuke. Drawing from Rashi, Maimonides, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, and the Talmud, Dr. Rick explores the difficult but necessary role of correction within a community of faith. What makes rebuke life-giving instead of destructive? Moshe shows us that truth is best received when it is spoken with humility, compassion, and genuine love for the other person.

In this teaching, we explore Yeshua’s difficult words, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword,” through the lens of Parashat Pinchas and the covenant of peace given to Pinchas. Peace that ignores sin, falsehood, or injustice is only an illusion. True peace comes when God's truth is revealed, repentance takes root, and righteousness is restored.

In Parashat Korach, we explore the subtle danger of seeking honor. Korach presents his rebellion as a righteous concern for the holiness of the community, but the sages reveal a deeper motivation: jealousy, resentment, and a desire for recognition. This message examines how the pursuit of honor can distort our vision, damage relationships, and pull us away from God's purposes. What is the antidote to the spirit of Korach?

In Parashat Shelach, the twelve spies returned from the Promised Land with the same facts but very different conclusions. While Caleb and Joshua saw God's promise, the other spies magnified the obstacles and lost sight of God's goodness. Drawing on the teaching of Rabbi Yisroel Ordman, this message explores the importance of cultivating an ayin tovah—a "good eye" that learns to recognize blessing instead of focusing on faults. Through the stories of Miriam, the spies, and the mitzvah of tzitzit, we discover how gratitude shapes the way we see the world, the people around us, and even HaShem Himself.

In Parashat Beha’alotcha, Moshe reaches his breaking point and cries out, “I cannot bear this entire people alone.” But instead of offering a simple leadership structure, HaShem shares His Spirit with seventy elders so they can help carry the burden of the community. This teaching explores why some problems require more than organization or efficiency, they require wisdom, compassion, and hearts shaped by the Spirit of God.

In the haftarah for Nasso, we explore the prophecy of Eliyahu at the end of the Book of Malachi and its connection to the mission of Yochanon the Immerser: “to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.” Why does Scripture place such importance on family reconciliation? This message examines the painful reality of family estrangement, the role of forgiveness and healthy boundaries, and the hope of restoration through repentance. What does it mean to keep the door open for reconciliation while remaining faithful to God? And how can we participate in Eliyahu's mission of preparing a people for the Lord?