Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Who is My Neighbor?

When I was growing up we didn’t really know our neighbors. We might have recognized them, said hello to them when we saw them, but really we had no idea who they actually were, nor did we much care. We were busy and so were they. Getting to really know people takes time and effort, and it’s even harder today than when I was growing up. We often nowadays have to literally go way out of our way to even say hello to people!

Who is my neighbor today? When Messiah Yeshua was asked this question he gave the illustration of the Samaritan fellow who helped the Jewish guy who was robbed and left for dead. The Samaritan went way out of his way to help someone who, in the content of their day, absolutely didn’t live next door to him. Yet the Samaritan expressed neighborly help that the two Jewish guys didn’t, who quite possibly might have lived on the same block as the Jewish guy who was robbed!

Maybe identifying a neighbor isn’t as much about proximity as it is about intentionality!

How often do we intentionally look to connect with people, regardless of where we find them? How often do we consider the needs of others, even when it inconveniences us, or even costs us? This month we celebrate Purim, and remember a couple of people who knew who their neighbors were. Individuals who weighed the personal cost of caring, and took intentional action anyway.  

At the end of the parable, Messiah Yeshua asked the Torah lawyer who initially asked the question, “Which of these three seems to you a neighbor to the one attacked by robbers?” And he said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” Then Yeshua said to him, “Go, and you do the same.”

Who is your neighbor?

Forward for Messiah,

Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi & Director

Sunday, February 4, 2024

True Passion!

Superbowl Sunday is almost upon us!! For many it’s more about the commercials than the game. Yet there will be many passionate to see if they catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift this year. Passion is an interesting concept. I say concept because I think too many people do not know exactly what passion really is. They express enthusiasm, stating their love for pizza or brats, or as we see with the Superbowl, their allegiance to their favorite superstar… or sports team. But is this real passion? Of course there are the romantic notions of love expressed, but is much of this real passion?

The English word for passion comes from the Latin word patere, which means to suffer. The Hebrew word for passion is נָ֫פֶשׁ (nephesh) which has to do with our very being, our souls. Thus passion is more than mere superficial enthusiasm; it’s something much deeper.

True passion demands intense emotional and personal suffering

in regards to something longed for!

I think of Rav Shaul, (the Apostle Paul), and his statement “…my sorrow is great and the anguish in my heart unending. For I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people… who are Israelites.” (Romans 9:2-4 TLV)

That’s true passion! That’s my passion! This is what drives me to get up early and work late. I want to see my Jewish people come to know who Messiah Yeshua really is!

What are you passionate about?

Forward for Messiah,

Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi & Director

Sunday, December 3, 2023

G-d’s Illuminators!

Light is often used in the Bible to describe G-d’s people as His illuminators in the world. When G-d called Israel, He called them to be His light to the Nations: “I, Adonai, called you in righteousness, I will take hold of your hand, I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.” (Isaiah 42:6 TLV). Messiah Yeshua, when speaking to his talmidim in Matthew 5:14, also made this point, calling them to be the light of the world! He then added: “Let your light shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 TLV).  

G-d is always looking for people to shine His truth into His world.

Chanukah relates a low point in the history of Israel. The Jewish leadership in Jerusalem was living “lightless” among the Greek Syrians, following their pagan traditions and assimilating even some of their beliefs. A few faithful Jews refused to go along and so persecution came about against those Jewish people who refused to “get with” the Greek program; those faithful Jewish people chose to live as persecuted light rather than as prosperous darkness. Their actions led to a great victory for G-d and a spiritual revival for Israel. It is this rededication to G-d to live as a Jewish light among the nations that we celebrate at Chanukah.

What a responsibility and privileged it is for us to live as lights for the Light of the World: Messiah Yeshua!  This month, with everything going on both here and overseas, reflect deeply about what this personally means for you and how you can be someone who spiritually lights up a room!

Forward for Messiah!

Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi  & Director

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Before Honor, Humility!

What is required to achieve genuine honor? Real honor is lacking in our society today, as everything related to character is like much of our societal values: cheap and superficial. What is required of us if we want to pursue real honor in our lives? It seems counter intuitive, but the answer is to pursue humility, meekness, in our lives. In Proverbs 15:33 it says that humility comes before honor. The Hebrew word for honor is “kavod” meaning “weightiness”.

As believers we must understand that real honor in life from G-d comes as a result of genuine humility before G-d!

The two major themes of Rosh Hashanah are Personal Repentance and G-d’s Kingship. We must keep in mind that we get to the first one by thoroughly understanding and appreciating the second, and humility is fundamental to both. Understanding deeply who G-d is and what he is capable of should compel us toward personal repentance.

How are you actively recognizing G-d's sovereignty over your life? Remember: Fearing the L-RD leads to a proper understanding of G-d’s sovereignty. Not recognizing G-d’s sovereignty leads to personal arrogance, which leads to personal destruction. What do you need to repent of? Humility leads to personal repentance which results in personal honor.

How can you work toward Humility?

·         Accountability - Honestly submitting your personal actions for review to others

·         Deference – Learning to understand submission and respect before others

·         Teachability – Desiring for yourself deep personal change and development 

One final thought: sometimes we miss out on the honor G-d wants to bestow upon us because we fear man more than we fear G-d. Something to stay aware of!

Forward for Messiah!

Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi  & Director

Friday, September 1, 2023

Observance because of our Love!

The Jewish High Holy Days are coming up, and with it the many services, traditions and special readings specifically related to this holiday season. One book from the Bible that is read on the Shabbat during Sukkot is Ecclesiastes. Many struggle with understanding why this book is even in the canon of Scripture, let alone being the focus of one of our most important holidays. I believe Ecclesiastes is included because it reminds us to contemplate the intentions of our life: “Why do I do what I do?”

It is so easy to go through the motions of “religious practice”, even for people who say that their religious practice is “free”, without old “man-made” liturgies and service structures. I see this often when I am speaking in churches: people barely singing along in a hymn book or when the worship band is leading. They are present, but not fully engaged. Certainly in my own synagogue I see this way too often: mouthing words from the siddur liturgy is not the same as reading the liturgy with heartfelt and passionate love of G-d!

The Hebrew Scriptures often use the word שָׁמַר (shamar) in relation to diligence before G-d, especially regarding his instructions. The word means to keep, guard, watch … observe. Interestingly enough, in the prophetic literature G-d is constantly rebuking Israel for their observance, but not because they are not being observant in their practice, but because of the lack of diligence and proper intent in their observance. As Isaiah 42:20 states:

“You have seen many things, but you do not pay attention. Though ears are open, no one hears.”

We must remember that our actions (attending services, reading Scripture, serving others) must be the result of our active and intentional relationship with G-d. We should not do these things simply out of duty or ought, even if G-d commands us to do them (which he does in the Scripture). G-d wants us to keep his commandments because we love him! As Messiah Yeshua said in John 14:15:

 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

I still firmly believe that there are people around us sincerely seeking to know the truth of who G-d is. Are they able to see the truth of G-d in our observance? When they walk into our religious services, will they observe us in heartfelt and passionate worship of G-d because of our love for Him? When they observe us at work, at the store or in the neighborhood, are they able to see the diligence and watchfulness of our faith shining out in the details, values and priorities of our lives? 

If we say that we love G-d and our Messiah Yeshua, we each must be diligent that our observance is truly heartfelt, and as a result of this, obvious to those around us who need to know G-d’s love for themselves.

Forward for Messiah,

Rabbi Kirk Gliebe

Friday, August 4, 2023

Training Up a Child!

In our “instant gratification” focused world today, it’s no surprise that children and youth are suffering! It doesn’t help that parents seem to have forgotten how to parent, leaving kids to learn how to grow up and mature on their own. Even parents who profess to believe in Messiah Yeshua and G-d’s Biblical principles seem to be failing at passing this down to their kids. This month, I would like to share what I have learned about what it means to spiritually train up children and youth. No kids of your own? These principles can be helpful for mentoring anyone!

The first principle is that training up a child starts by recognizing who the Boss is: G-d!  Deuteronomy 6:4-9 makes clear to us as parents that we must model committed faith if we hope to see it develop in our children.

The second principle is that training up a child requires a lot of work over time! Proverbs 22:6 is used by too many parents who seek to console themselves with the hope that their child is eternally saved. They hope that a prayer said at 4 years of age seals their eternal status, even though they haven’t attended a place of worship since they were teens and are living godlessly in their current lives. Parents & Grandparents, this Hebrew text doesn’t refer to teaching little kids, instead it speaks about intentionally working to spiritually form adolescents: our teens and young adults!

The third principle is that training up a child demands a proper relationship in the home! Ephesians 6:1-4 is clear: children are to obey and respect their parents. At the same time, parents had better be disciplining and discipling their children with intention, consistency and in love. Knowing your role, position and expectation in the home is critical!

G-d’s calling for our lives is to make talmidim (disciples), especially with our own kids. How are you doing with that?

Forward for Messiah,

Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi & Director

Sunday, May 7, 2023

The Cure for Loneliness!

Shavuot is a critically important Jewish holiday that often is forgotten about by the less observant members of the Jewish community. Why? Shavuot kind of sneaks up on people since its just a one day holiday with Scriptural observances mostly related to the agriculture calendar.  It does help that we are commanded to count 50 days from Passover in order to get to Shavuot, but then many people forget to count! Life’s busy! There’s a lot going on! Who needs one more thing to do!!

I have read several news articles recently about a new pandemic in our world: loneliness. This pandemic is unique in that it is mostly self inflicted due to misplaced priorities and poor decision making. It also seems to be very much an affliction among the world’s educated, successful and wealthy. There’s also clear evidence that its deadly, causing serious illness and even death in those infected with it.

Shavuot does seem in some ways to be an inconvenient holiday, until one remembers what the holiday is all about: its another opportunity to set aside our daily isolating activities and gather with others to celebrate our relationship with G-d! An opportunity to gather with others for communal worship, reflection, and to express gratitude to G-d for all that he has done for us. Actually we don’t have to wait for a holiday to gather with others for this. We can gather with others like this every week! And we don’t really need to wait until a weekend service to do this, we can get together with others any time!! Unless we are too busy prioritizing things that might ultimately lead to loss of relationship with G-d and others, opening us up to catching loneliness.

The author of Hebrews wrote a prescription for loneliness almost two thousand years ago: “And do not neglect our own meetings, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another—and all the more so as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 TLV) How deeply do you pursue your relationship with G-d? How deeply do you pursue relationships with others? All the Scriptures teaching can be summarized simply as “Relationship with G-d; relationship with people”. Something to think about!

Forward for Messiah!

Kirk Gliebe

Rabbi & Director