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Parashat Be’Shelach – The Role of Shabbat In this week’s drash, Rabbi Rich explores the role of Shabbat in shaping each of our lives in subtle, yet powerful ways. As with our people Israel and the desert, his goal is to grow us up. Find out how! . . . Julie Lavender’s... Read More →

Parashat Shemot – The Birth of the Messiah – Revisited In this drash Rabbi Rich explores two important but seldom asked questions: “Were the Magi – the astrologers from the East reported to have visited Miriam, Yosef and the infant Yeshua – Jews?” “What... Read More →

Parashat Vayashev – In this week’s drash (sermon) Rabbi Rich discusses the most important key to living a happy life. Using a bit of midrashic imagination, we can find the secret in the story of Joseph.. . . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and... Read More →

Parashat Toledot is all about creating continuity in Israel. In his drash and based on the Torah passage, Rabbi Rich outlines Ruach Israel’s approach to creating continuity so that the synagogue, which was incorporated on 1979 may grow and prosper for another 40 years. . . Julie... Read More →

In this weeks drash Rabbi Rich Nichol explorers the meaning of Sara‘s life and death against the backdrop of the challenges facing the Jewish community today. How can we think about the worst anti-Semitic act American history – the murder of 11 elderly Jewish people in... Read More →

In this week’s drash (sermon) Rabbi Rich details the amazing 40 year history of Congregation Ruach Israel. You will be encouraged as he tells the story of emerging Messianic Judaism against the backdrop of Abraham’s journey described in this week’s parashah. . . . Julie... Read More →

In this final sermon of the series Rabbi Rich explores the very deepest dimension of a Messianic Jew’s source of happiness. You will want to hear this one!. . . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The... Read More →

In this week’s trash, Rabbi Rich explores the Quest for Excellence as a key to happiness. Find out how this little-understood dimension of life can make a big difference for Jews who love the experience of worship on Shabbat. . . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the... Read More →

Finding our place in HaShem’s larger plan is an important key to happiness. Rabbi Nichol discusses why and how this is true. . . Following our “Oneg” the community potluck luncheon, Rabbi Rich continued his remarks teaching the meaning and purpose ... Read More →

Being happy starts with our relationship with G-d. But, it does not end there. It must involve relating deeply to other people. In this sermon Rabbi Rich explores this important concept in light of Scripture and tradition. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the... Read More →

Real Happiness Begins with Relating to God. Rabbi Rich Nichol explores this vital concept which most people agree with theoretically, but don’t know how to make real every day. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the... Read More →

Rabbi Rich explores the nature of happiness and why it is so important in our quest to live lives which invite God’s smile.. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur Project” can be... Read More →

Rabbi Rich delivers a Passover about Transformation; The Easy Way or the Hard Way. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur Project” can be purchased at: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/julielavender Read More →

Rabbi Rich helps us to prepare for Passover. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur Project” can be purchased at: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/julielavender Read More →

Rabbi Rich gives a special charge to an exceptional Bar Mitzvah and the entire assembly of family and friends. . 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 Rich discusses the Music of our congregation and shows how we can learn from a wonderful gift from HaShem. . 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 →

In Parashat Beshelach we read about manna – the mysterious food provided for Israel after our sudden departure from Egypt. A life-giving lesson emerges from this wilderness encounter between God, Moses and Israel.   . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the... Read More →

Parashat Bo – Do you want to change the world? Most good people would love to try. From this week’s Besorah (New Covenant) portion, we  will learn a surprising lesson about exactly how we can do just that. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and... Read More →

 “Unpacking the Great Conundrum:” Are we really free to make choices. Or, is freedom an illusion? Find out what Pharaoh learned – and how your life may never be the same. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the... Read More →

Parashat Vayigash 2017 In today’s drash (sermon) Rabbi Rich asks the question “What Do You See?” . 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 →

Parashat Vayashev 2017 In today’s drash (sermon) we explore the life of Jacob’s firstborn, Reuben. He is a man of good intentions…but… We discover an important lesson for each of our lives from Reuben as we begin discussing the life of Joseph, of his famous youngest... Read More →

Parashat Vayetzei 2017 On this Thanksgiving weekend we choose to be thankful for progress made. Learn this important key to happiness as we consider the lives of Jacob and Yeshua the Messiah. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The... Read More →

Parashat Toldot 2017 Rabbi Rich Nichol gives this week’s drash. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur Project” can be purchased at: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/julielavender Read More →

Rabbi Rich sings a bit of Frank to teach about how to improve the chance to make a marriage work. . . 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 →

Parashat Vayera 2017 – “Cultivating Intimacy” Rabbi Rich Nichol will explore the subject in this week’s drash. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur Project” can be... Read More →

Parashat D’varim 2017 – “We’re Back!’ The glorious days of the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were followed by four centuries of slavery. But, Moses reminds in our Parashah, “We’re back! Ready to enter the Land…ready to build a most unique nation under the sun.” ... Read More →

What Exactly Does Spiritual Maturity Look Like? This week’s parashah  – Balak – provides a glimpse that is part of the answer. . . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur... Read More →

How do we keep our Messianic Jewish faith alive, passionate and meaningful for the rest of our lives? This week’s parashah  – P. Shalach – helps us discover one vitally important part of the answer. . . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction... Read More →

Both Scripture and tradition remind us that not only is God is pleased to lead Israel through her march through history, but he is eager to lead us as individual men and woman though each of our life’s journeys. Find out how he accomplishes this as Rabbi Rich’s... Read More →

In this week’s drash Rabbi Rich discusses the Joy of Pesach. . Julie Lavender’s Bikhat HaTorah is the introduction and closing music. The complete song or the album “The Siddur Project” can be purchased at: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/julielavender Read More →