Ruach Israel

What if the “Lord’s Prayer” isn’t foreign to Judaism—but deeply rooted in it?

In this message, we explore the Avinu Shebashamayim (“Our Father in Heaven”) as the centerpiece of Yeshua’s Sermon on the Mount. By tracing its structure and themes, we discover how this short prayer reflects the heart of Jewish prayer—echoing the Siddur, the Kaddish, and the Amidah.

Far from being a new or separate prayer, the Avinu gathers together the language, hopes, and rhythms of Israel’s tefilah—and invites us to pray them with renewed focus and trust.

By Senior Rabbi Nathan Joiner at Ruach Israel, March 14, 2026

In this message we step back and explore the larger structure of Yeshua’s Sermon on the Mount. As the layers of the sermon unfold, we discover that the Avinu Shebashamayim—the Lord’s Prayer—sits at the very center of the entire teaching. Even more surprising, the very heart of the prayer contains a simple request that reveals something profound about life in the Kingdom of Heaven. This message explores the structure of the sermon and prepares us to rediscover the depth and Jewish roots of this prayer in the messages ahead.

The Narrow Path or the Wide Gate that leads to destruction. Did Pharaoh's choice teach us anything about we are to live?

Abby Tang shares things to ponder from Parashat Tzav.

Virtually join with us once again for a Passover that is worth remembering.

Prepare your home and prepare your heart. Rabbi Nathan has some thoughts on how to best prepare for the Pesach festival.

After situating Yeshua’s teaching within the world of Jewish prayer, we now take a closer look at the text itself. In Matthew 6:5–8, Yeshua exposes two distortions of prayer—performance and manipulation—and reveals what true Jewish prayer is meant to be.

A D'rash on Giving.

In this message from our Sermon on the Mount series, we explore Yeshua’s teaching on prayer in Matthew 6 through the lens of Jewish prayer.

How could this be? What can Anatevka teach us about lighting the hanukkiah, the nine-branched menorah lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah?