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 What does it mean to walk in the way we were called — as a community? Ephesians 4:4-16 teaches us how to come together around God’s higher purposes through community life. How can you use the gifting God has given you and become a community builder? This is the third... Read More →

 Rabbi Nathan continues with the series on the Book of Ephesians. The first half of the Book of Ephesians is about the larger story. God is working to bring peace and make all things well in our world. As we move into the second half of the letter (Ephesians 4:1-2) we learn... Read More →

 Rabbi Nathan begins a series on the Book of Ephesians. Community life is important at Ruach Israel. Strengthening community is our congregations strategic focus for 2021. What does the life for the community in Messiah look like? Let’s see what Rav Shaul (the Apostle Paul)... Read More →

   Direct Link to Youtube video of message. Mussar and the parable of the rich man (humility, trust and generosity)       Read More →

On the Shabbat before Purim (Shabbat Zachor) the parsha reads several disturbing passages in the Bible that command us to “blot out the Amalekites,” the descendants of Hamon who tried to instigate genocide in the story of Esther.  At Ruach Israel, we do not shy away from... Read More →

The Nearness of HaShem: The Incarnation Parashat Yitro describes the great theophany at Mt Sinai where we received the Torah from G-d. Using our Torah, Haftara and Besora readings Rabbi Nathan unpacks the incarnation in Jewish terms – how the physical mediating presence of... Read More →

 Direct Link to Youtube video of message. The Great Jewish Hope! Rabbi Nathan takes us through the seven verses and psalms used in Hebrews 1:4-2:4 to proclaim proclaim the hope we have in Yeshua — the Messiah who is greater than the Angles. During these days, let us walk... Read More →

Direct Link to Youtube video of message. Drash Identity, calling and purpose – lessons from Parashat Shemot:         Read More →

Direct Link to Youtube video of message. A Journey into the Wilderness As of January 1 2021, Rabbi Nathan has is the new Senior Rabbi at Ruach Israel allowing Rabbi Rich to transition to Rabbi Emeritus after his 40 year tenure. After discussing Parshat Vayechi, Rabbi Nathan picks... Read More →

Direct Link to Youtube video of message. A Journey into the Wilderness Have you been through a wilderness experience? Drawing insights from Jacob’s time in the wilderness in Parshat Vayetze and Yeshua’s time in the wilderness in Luke 4. Rabbi Nathan shares some important insights... Read More →

Direct Link to Youtube video of message. “To Have a Why” Living a full life from Chayei Sarah Rabbi Nathan features the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’s commentary on Parsha Chayei Sarah draw important spiritual lessons for living a life true meaning and purpose.       Read More →

Direct Link to Youtube video of message. The Biblical Plan for Anxiety It is easy to say, “Don’t be anxious. Trust in God.” But in these challenging days anxiety seems to be the new normal for many people. Using lessons on trust from the life of Abraham in our weekly Parsha... Read More →

Direct Link to Youtube video of message. The Healing Power of Repentance – a Yom Kippur Message  During our Kol Nidre service over Yom Kippur, Rabbi Nathan helps to brings Repentance to life. T’shuvah is not harsh and condemning. Instead, it is about drawing near to... Read More →

Direct Link to Youtube video of message. The Healing Power of Forgiveness – Shabbat Shuvah On Shabbat Shuvah, the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Rabbi Nathan shares a moving message on forgiveness. Our time ends with a prayer, walking through eight steps to... Read More →

Direct Link to Youtube video of message. The Drama of the High Holy Days Before Rosh Hashanah 2020, Rabbi Nathan helps us enter into the High Holy Day drama — the real spiritual realities that are happening behind the scene of our lives.       Read More →

Direct Link to Youtube video of message. A Prophecy of Micah Micah gives us an important message of hope in the deepest sense. In this message Rabbi Nathan unpacks how Micah points us toward the eternal Messiah who would be born in the small town of Betlechem, embody justice,... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan Direct Link to Youtube video of message. A Message for Fathers Rabbi Nathan shares lessons he has learned while daddying his six children over the past eleven years. Many of these lessons go beyond being a good dad and are relevant for for everyone. Enjoy!     Read More →

Rabbi Nathan Direct Link to Youtube video of message. In the wake of the tragic and brutal death George Floyd Rabbi Nathan shares important reflections for our community — a message of hope and unity in a very confusing and anxious time.     Read More →

 Direct Link to Youtube video of message.   Hebrews Series 6: The Household of King Solomon At the beginning of COVID, Rabbi Nathan leads us through 2nd Samuel 7:14 and discusses why the Book of Hebrews quotes this important Messianic verse in the opening chapter. These... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan – COVID-19 and The Ashes of the Red Heifer Direct Link to Youtube video of message. We are in uncertain times. At the last minute, we had to close in person services at Ruach Israel and go online in order to do our part to slow the spread of Covid-19... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan continues in our study in the book of Messianic Jews…   Where does Yeshua fit into the hierarchy of Angels? He doesn’t. He bears the name that is above every other name and is far above the Angels. Hebrews 1:4-14 goes through seven rabbinic style proofs... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan continues in our study in the book of Messianic Jews… . “After He made atonement for our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3b) How would our early first-century Messianic Jews have understood these weighty words for... Read More →

Many Jews today argue that Jews simply cannot believe in a divine messiah. Because of this assumption, Messianic Jews sometimes experience discrimination. But was this always true? Rabbi Nathan unpacks how Hebrews 1:2b -3 would have been heard by first century Jewish ears. . In... Read More →

Much pain has been caused by reading the Book of Hebrews outside of its Biblical and historical context. Rabbi Nathan unpacks the dangers of the traditional reading of Hebrews 1:1-2 and helps us to re-live the beginning of this important Messianic Jewish exhortation in... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan walks us through the who, what, when, where and why’s for the Book of Hebrews. Written to the early Messianic Jewish community in Jerusalem, Hebrews is an essential book for us contemporary Messianic Jews urging us to hold fast to Yeshua — the very heart of our... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan discusses the real message that Hanukkah holds for us today.   Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur Project” can be purchased at:... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan brings a message on Jewish identity from this week’s parsha, Balak   Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur Project” can be purchased at:... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan talks about Genesis and Science The slides displayed are available online at: Google Docs Slides Watch the slides as a Youtube presentation from the Ruach Israel Channel: https://youtu.be/uf6m41aWSKg   Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan brings a special Shavuot Torah study, “From Mt Sinai to Acts”   Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur Project” can be purchased at:... Read More →

Rabbi Nathan walks us through a Messianic Jewish understanding of the Temple, sacrifices and Yeshua’s atoning work helping us to understand more clearly what Yeshua came here to do. From Shabbat morning during the weekend of the Refuah Shlema Healing Conference Julie... Read More →